This document reports on three consecutive years of study that monitored the financial performance of a hypothetical vegetable farm located in the heart of the prime vegetable growing area of North West Tasmania. The results of this study highlight the critical importance of measuring financial performance in business terms. It not only provides a comparison with non-farm investments but can also be used to put a dollar value on the rural lifestyle.

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the research and development levies listed below and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

• Vegetable Fund