Jim began his life on a farm in the irrigation area of the Riverina in NSW. His love of farming followed everything he did and would ultimately shape his career so far. After exploring farming in Thailand in his early twenties, he returned home to work on the family farm before looking further afield, eager to pursue opportunities outside the farm gate. He became a Nuffield Scholar in 1986; and then continued his relationship with Nuffield Australia in various roles, including as CEO from 2005-2016.

Jim has always been well ahead of his time, a progressive approach to technology implementation on farm, the building of personal and industry capacity. In this epsiode, when he references his Nuffield Scholarship Report published in 1986, he mentions:

“my biggest take home message… one of the big impediments of Australian Agriculture is we aren’t utilising 50% of the human resource on farm"

Key Takeaways

• Jim Geltch shares his experiences and passions in agriculture, from growing up on a rice farm to working in Thailand and exploring agriculture in his early 20's

• He reflects on the impact of modernisation on agriculture and the need to utilise the full potential of the human resource in farming.

• Jim discusses his 1986 Nuffield scholarship and the topics he studied, including vocational education, computer-based crop modeling systems, and irrigation technology.

• He eventually transitioned out of farming and focused on value-add opportunities in agriculture. 

• He was the CEO of Nuffield Australia from 2005-2016 including as CEO of Nuffield International from 2008-2016.

• Since Jim commenced as CEO of Nuffield Australia, the organisation has undergone significant changes and growth, expanding beyond traditional farming sectors to include a diverse range of industries in agriculture and countries.

• Capacity building and reciprocity are key principles of the Nuffield program, with the aim of nurturing individuals who can contribute back to the agricultural community.

• Jim notes that promoting careers in agriculture, particularly in regional areas, is crucial for the future of the industry. He is working with Yanco Agriculture school on a Careers in Agriculture offering to support pathways for the next generation. 

This episode is part of our partnership, where we profile various Nuffield Scholars and understand their journey, careers and impact on Australian agriculture.

Nuffield episode sponsor:
A message from this episode sponsor, ANZ Agribusiness:

Farming in Australia is never without opportunity, nor challenge. From season to season, and from day to day, producers manage a myriad of risks and rewards as they produce the vast range of commodities global markets now demand. At ANZ Agribusiness, we’ve been supporting farmers to take opportunities and manage through challenges for over 150 years. We’re a proud and long term partner of Nuffield Australia, supporting its goal of capacity building for producers, their businesses, industry and rural community. Our network of regionally based Agribusiness bankers are ready to support both our existing customers, and any farming business seeking a review of their banking arrangements at any time. Find your local ANZ Agribusiness manager now.