The Dairy Women's Network will work with hundreds of dairying women across the country in next month, helping them to increase the return on their investment on rural professional advice.

Annabel Craw is an agricultural business developer and farmer who helps farmers build financial and business capability.

Dairy Women's Network chief executive Sarah Speight says dairy farmers on average spend $4,000 annually for advice from rural professionals and the Network wants to help ensure this is money well spent.

'Dairying women and their partners want to get the best return possible on the money and time they are investing in rural professional advice. They want to see a demonstrable return on their operation's bottom line – whether that's in the short or long term - or it's money down the drain.

'Our April series of workshops will help dairying women understand how to get the best out of agri-business advisors and gain that valuable return.

'To make sure you are getting the best value out of your investment it makes good sense to question how you are working with all your advisors to check that their advice is still aligned to your business goals. To do that well you need to understand the role of the advisor and know how to get your advisory team working together for your benefit.”

The Bay of Plenty workshop is on Tuesday, April 9 at Ngongataha, Rotorua, and will be run by agri-business professionals and farmers Rebecca Warburton and Annabel Craw.

Annabel says farmers need to think of business advisors as people they employ, and take control of the relationship.

'Rather than waiting for the advisor to tell you where the opportunities lie in your business, know your business well and tell your professionals where the opportunities lie so they can help you take it to the next level. In the same way you would with your on-farm employees.”

For more information about the Getting Value from Your Business Advisors Dairy Days visit www.dwn.co.nz or phone 0800 396 748. Bay of Plenty: April 9, Best Western Braeside Resort, 4 Barnard Road, Ngongataha, Rotorua.

Rebecca Warburton has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Agriculture and has worked as a shepherd and in farm consultancy and rural banking.