Farm managers in Australia face a continued cost-price squeeze and the major uncertainties of climate, product prices and input costs. The top farm managers have evolved management strategies to cope with this situation. These include: skill in producing quality products . low cost structures per unit of output . suitability of enterprises to the environment diversified business structures . high equities use of off-farm capital high level business and marketing skills problem solving attitudes persistence, timeliness and anticipation conservative but progressive management styles skill in using other people skilled information management aggressive personal development appropriate balances between physical work and business decision making. Many of these characteristics apply to farm managers world wide but their particular development in Australia's best managers has helped produce highly competitive farm businesses, well adapted to the physical and economic environment.