Farmer Profile

James McKenna

James McKenna

 Katherine NT 0850, Australia
 2
 Northern Territory
North Queensland, Northern Territory
 Nursery Manager/Farm supervisor
 Dairy farm hand
 6-10 Years

Farming Preferences:

1 = no skill level, 4 = most skill level

  • Orchard 4
  • Beef 3
  • Specialty Crops 3
  • Market garden 2
  • Other livestock 2
  • Viticulture 2
  • Chickens 2
  • Dairy 2
  • Horse Breeding 1
  • Sugar Cane 1
  • Pig Farming 1
  • Goats 1
  • Cotton 1
  • Sheep 1
  • Aquaculture 1
  • Mixed Farming 1
  • Rice 1
  • Broad Acre Cropping 1
  • Other Farming Preferences: Tree Crops

Farming Skills:

1 = no skill level, 4 = most skill level

  • Orcharding 4
  • Fencing 4
  • Machinery Operation 4
  • Livestock Mustering 3
  • Animal Husbandry 3
  • Business Management 2
  • Human Resources 2
  • Agronomy 2
  • Book Keeping 2
  • Planning 2
  • Accounting 2
  • Marketing 1
  • Sales 1
  • Cropping 1
  • Other Farming Skills: None

Farming Methods:

1 = no skill level, 4 = most skill level

  • Conventional 4
  • Organic 3
  • Grass fed 3
  • Permaculture 2
  • Urban 1
  • Biodynamic 1
  • Regenerative 1
  • Other Farming Methods: None

Farm Opportunities Sought:

  • Equity
  • Lease
  • Share Farm
  • Vendor Finance

What have you been doing to get farm ready?

Cert 3 in agriculture Cert 3 in horticulture Worked on farms since 15. Paying off two houses as an investment to build up to farming. Currently in a management/supervisor role on a large mango and citrus property in the NT. Have worked in cattle and dairy in Vic and FNQ however tree crops are where my main interest lies.

Why are you passionate about farming?

Because of the lifestyle. I love working outdoors. Love big open spaces. Great place to raise kids. Always wanted to grow up on a farm.

Best days of being a farmer:

Somewhere on the Atherton Tablelands. The best days would be spent turning on the irrigation, checking the sprinklers, maybe discussing options with an agronomist about how to get the best quality crop this year. Get a bit of tractor work done, maybe make some plans on how to expand our operation. Get caught up with the paperwork at night.