Source: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/assistance/fmd/statistics
HAVING peaked at $6.6 billion in June 2018, the national balance held in Farm Management Deposits (FMDs) has fallen by over $1.2 billion to a balance of $5.37 billion at the end of the March 2019 quarter, in a pattern that shows the FMD scheme is working as intended.
National Australia Bank (NAB) Agribusiness Customer Executive Neil Findlay says the drawdown demonstrates that primary producers are using FMDs to better manage their cash flow through changing market and seasonal conditions.
“FMDs are designed to allow producers to set aside pre-tax income in the good years, which is then available for use in the tougher times,” Mr Findlay said.
“Many producers have faced prolonged periods of drought, and associated record water and feed grain prices. The current FMD drawdown, while significant in terms of dollar value, is not surprising when you look at this broader context.”
Data from NAB and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources shows that there are higher rates of withdrawal in drought affected areas, indicating producers are using FMD reserves to bolster their businesses.
“In January 2019, $9.6 million was withdrawn from FMDs by NAB customers in drought impacted areas. As a percentage of total balances, this was almost triple the rate of withdrawals by NAB customers in non-drought impacted areas,” Mr Findlay said.
Across all banks, a bumper 2018 grain harvest saw Western Australia record a $6 million increase in FMD balance from the December 2018 quarter to the March 2019 quarter, which was the highest of all states. Over the same period, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria recorded $17 million, $14 million and $4 million net drawdowns respectively.
“The drought has been significant, but it’s encouraging to see that drawdowns have only been a small percentage of the total balance held, even in drought impacted areas,” Mr Findlay said.
“This suggests that many producers are saving their FMD reserves for a rainy day, to fund restocking or planting when the drought breaks. The FMD scheme is working, and it is a real positive for our industry.”
Looking ahead, NAB anticipates that tough seasonal conditions will lead to the typical pre-EOFY flurry of deposits being more subdued this year.
“We also expect to see a larger drawdown of FMDs at the beginning of the new financial year,” Mr Findlay said.
In July 2018, NAB announced that it would work to facilitate greater uptake of FMDs by offering agribusiness customers the financial benefit of being able to offset their FMD against their agricultural lending, in the form of a discount to their lending interest rate.
“FMDs are designed to build resilience into the agricultural system, but good planning and good advice remain important,” Mr Findlay said.
“As the end of financial year approaches, we encourage FMD holders to discuss their position with their financial advisers.”
Source: NAB
Your article proves the use of the FMD for what they were designed.
One problem is the death of a individual owning FMDs at the time of death, by accident or other causes when all FMD held in the deceased individual’s name become due and assessable for income tax at the time of death. the tax is often at the higher marginal tax rate . That is it is added on top of any other income that the taxpayer may have earned in the financial year up to the date of death. A double whammy.
The family has lost the bread winner, often needing
to hire replacement management and labour from then on and incurs the immediate loss through taxation of the very sources of funds that over time would have been used to sustain the business through such a crisis.
Death is worse than drought as the individual has lost the
opportunity to withdraw such funds in the most economic and business like manner to help the farm through its distressful time.
The FMD should be able to be rolled over to another farm family member who is to continue the farming activity .
Preference could be given to the spouse, ( e g what happens with superannuation, the proceeds become tax free ). The spouse or other family farming member for example could continue to observe the rules relating to the taxability of the withdrawal of FMD at a future time in accordance with the comments in the article times for drought and other economic distress.
Why encourage farmers to provide for such disaster protection, when death , the worse situation in life causes such
such damage to the family both mental stress and destroys the financial protection all governments have encouraged to pursue. Death and taxes destroy the prudent.
If it was treated like superannuation payments like the rest of the community fairness would be achieved as well as
protection for the business.
Where are you Minister for Primary Industry?