The methods used by Australian farm managers to obtain the skills and knowledge needed to manage their businesses were examined. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 85 farm owners/managers from South Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania, and New South Wales. The farmers interviewed identified a wide range of learning sources in the following categories: (1) training (formal and nonformal educational activities); (2) people who are not part of a training activity (other farmers, acquaintances, employees, consultants, and other experts); (3) print, audio, visual, and electronic media; and (4) experience and observation. Most farmers consulted multiple learning sources before altering their management practices. The sources for learning varied according to the purpose of the learning. Training was used relatively more often by those changing their methods of keeping records. All 85 businesses surveyed had used knowledge or skills gained from participation in at least one organized education or training activity in their farm management practices, including when making changes to their practices. However, people were the most frequently cited learning source for all changes, including new enterprise and record-keeping changes. Women were more likely to report learning from experience, whereas men were more likely to use organized training activities as a learning source. (Contains 22 references.) (MN)