Working on the business of growing yours
REAL EXPERIENCE. PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS.
Welcome
Welcome to ARC Agribusiness — an agricultural consultancy focused on helping farming businesses make confident, practical decisions. We work alongside farmers, growers, and rural businesses to strengthen farm systems, improve profitability, and plan for the future. With real-world experience and a clear understanding of the challenges facing modern agriculture, our approach is practical, independent, and tailored to each operation.
Our services span farm business planning, monitoring and reporting, system optimisation, growth and diversification, succession planning, and property oversight.
We also provide environmental and nutrient management advice, including Farm Environment Plans, winter grazing plans, fertiliser strategies, and greenhouse gas mitigation. From feed budgeting and crop yield assessments to risk management, adverse event preparedness, health and safety, and industry group facilitation, we support businesses through change, development, and long-term resilience.
This is just a snapshot of what we offer — get in touch to discuss how we can support your farm or rural business.
"WE'LL ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO FIND THE BEST SOLUTIONS"
Services
GUIDANCE FOR SMARTER FARM DECISIONS
We also look into areas such as lifting profit, boosting productivity, maximising product value, growing equity, paying down debt and managing cashflow.
Achieving higher gross margins, control costs, planning capital expenditure, undertaking development projects, managing risk, building resilience, beginning succession, setting up management systems, fine tuning business structures & governance and staff development.
"Grounded advice for
real-world farming"
Bruce Allan and Phil Reid
Meet the team
With 25–30 years of hands-on experience owning and operating their own farms, we’ve had a crack at most things — from installing water schemes and break-feeding crops, to preparing for farm audits and providing governance for equity partnerships. We’ve learned plenty the hard way, lived through multiple commodity and interest-rate cycles, and still managed to buy land and build strong, productive farming businesses along the way.
Beyond the farm gate, we’ve also worked across a range of rural industries including fertiliser, banking, agricultural research and rural real estate. These roles have broadened our perspective, deepened our knowledge, and built a strong network of trusted rural professionals. Just as importantly, we’ve spent years listening to and learning from our farmer clients — the source of many of our best ideas, and a constant reminder that practical, grounded solutions matter most.
Bruce Allan
Bruce brings a strong passion for the deer industry and a deep commitment to the wider rural sector. He has been farming since 1996 and is actively involved in the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association and Gore Catchment Group. Over the last eight years he has worked with dairy farmers on environmental plans and farm productivity. Other roles have provided broad experience across farming in the south.
Bruce holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Commerce and a Diploma in Agricultural Science from Lincoln University. Combined with his natural people skills, this background allows him to connect easily with farmers and rural businesses. He is down-to-earth, relatable, and focused on providing practical, supportive advice as an agricultural business consultant.
Bruce's key areas of expertise include:
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Deer farming (velvet, venison
breeding & finishing) -
Fertiliser & nutrient management
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Farm Environment Plans, environmental & sustainability advice
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Dairy farm productivity
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Agribusiness governance
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Farm management software
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Rural real estate
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Agri Training
NZ Deer Farmers Association, Ballance Farm Environment Awards, Gore Catchment Group, BCom(Ag) & DipAgSci (Lincoln), Massey short courses (Intermediate & Advanced Sustainable Nutrient Management in NZ, Introduction to NZ's Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Management).
Bruce Allan
027 824 5898
Phil Reid
Phil has years of practical experience on his own sheep farm and from his professional and governance roles. He brings strong people skills and technical knowledge. Being named the 1996 Young Farmer of the Year is just one of his many achievements!
Phil holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) from Lincoln University but it’s his depth of real-world experience and his down-to-earth, relatable approach that set him apart as an agribusiness consultant.
Phil has a natural ability to connect with people and understand their goals, allowing him to deliver practical, well-considered advice.
Phil's key areas of expertise include:
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Sheep farming
- Agribusiness governance
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Fertiliser & nutrient management
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Banking
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Rural media
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Agricultural research
1996 Young Farmer of the Year, BFEA, Live Strands, BAgSCi (Hons) Lincoln, Massey short courses (Intermediate & Advanced Sustainable Nutrient Management in NZ).
Phil Reid
027 205 3045
Our approach
THIS IS WHAT WE'LL DO...
Ask good questions
Listen carefully
Analyse carefully
Discuss options and solutions
Keep it practical
Monitor progress/review results
Communicate/report concisely & clearly
Get in touch
Bruce Allan
027 824 5898
Phil Reid
027 205 3045