F E A T U R E D

Party-loving pet Alexandrine parrot reunited with family six days after wild storm

In short:

Ivy the Alexandrine parrot chewed her way out of her aviary on Monday last week.
She survived violent storms and predators before dropping in on a party.

What's next?

Reunited with her human family, her aviary has been reinforced.

Lured in by shiny beer cans and a crowd, a party-loving pet parrot has been found safe, six days and 31 kilometres from where she disappeared in south-east Queensland.

The parrot's owners, Freya Erlandsson and Jack Tomkins, were distraught after Ivy, an Alexandrine parrot, chewed its way out of an aviary hours before a violent storm hit Gympie on Monday last week.

"Our birds are our babies. We can't live without them," Ms Erlandsson said.

"The rain and wind were so bad I thought there was no way Ivy would survive. I cried so much."

Days of desperate searches and lost parrot posts on Facebook followed.

Ms Erlandsson was starting to give up hope before the power of social media resulted in a happy reunion.

The pampered pet had survived predators, torrential rain, lightning, a heatwave, and cyclonic winds that tore down trees and cut power to tens of thousands of homes.

She had flown over bushland, beef cattle country, and macadamia and mango farms to Coondoo, bordered by the storm-battered Toolara State Forest and Great Sandy National Park.

On Saturday afternoon, Ivy dropped in on a party of 50 friends at Maree Ussher's farm.

"She flew straight in onto one of my male friend's shoulders, perched herself there, and just started trying to get into his can of beer," Ms Ussher said.

Ivy was provided with water and parrot-appropriate food.

"She just made herself completely welcome. Everybody had a lovely time with her; she loves people, obviously."

Party parrot

Ivy has form as a party parrot.

It was how Ms Erlandsson initially adopted her three years ago, when the sociable escape artist crashed happy hour at a retirement village to steal wine and crackers.

A vet check linked her microchip to a rescue organisation that had closed.

Repeated attempts to find her original owners failed, and Ivy helped heal the couple's hearts after the loss of another beloved bird, Ollie.

Community effort

Ms Erlandsson was not a member of any of the multiple Facebook groups Ms Ussher posted photos of Ivy on.

But within hours, "10-20 people, strangers" had reached out to alert her, and she headed to Coondoo, a place she had never heard of.

"I thought'‘ how could she have come that far?'" Ms Erlandsson said.

"The drive there is nothing but thick forests and farmland."

Ivy spent Saturday night safe in a caravan, but by the time her owner arrived the next day, she had staged another disappearing act, flying off.

"It was looking grim. I was screaming out for her and didn't hear her at all," Ms Erlandsson said.

Dejected, Ms Erlandsson headed towards home when Ms Ussher rang again.

By leaving out a shiny beer can and Jatz biscuits, she successfully enticed Ivy back and secured the bird inside her home.

"The drive there was just pure excitement, just shock, I couldn't believe it," Ms Erlandsson said.

Ivy was whistling and chirping hello when ABC Rural spoke to her grateful owner.

Ms Erlandsson thanked Ms Ussher and everyone who helped reunite her with her pet, who was happy to rejoin the rest of her feathered family.

I still can't believe it. It's a miracle, a Christmas miracle," Ms Erlandsson said.

Pay In-Time Finance

Season’s Shift, Markets Moving & Why Farmers Should Act Before the Holiday Slowdown

As the year winds down, farmers across the country are juggling patchy weather, late-season decisions and the early signs of summer demand building in livestock and grain markets. But there’s another seasonal pattern that’s even more predictable than the weather: the annual lender slowdown.

Every year, as Christmas and New Year approach, banks and non-bank lenders begin winding back approvals, tightening up assessment windows, and slowing settlement times. Historically, December and early January are some of the toughest months to get finance pushed through quickly. Staff numbers drop, credit teams go quiet, and turnaround times stretch from days into weeks.

For farmers, this can hit at the worst possible moment.
It’s the time of year when many are:
– Restocking after recent rainfall
– Securing feed or fertiliser ahead of summer
– Upgrading gear before harvest income lands
– Lining up tax-smart year-end purchases
– Tidying up cash flow ahead of the new production cycle

But lenders don’t move at farm speed in December — they move at holiday speed.

Meanwhile, markets remain surprisingly positive. Livestock demand has held firm, with solid buying interest coming from feedlots and processors. A bit of rain has lifted confidence across mixed-enterprise regions, and many growers are already eyeing next year’s program with optimism. Summer crops and pasture renewal planning are well underway.

This means the next few weeks are critical: it’s the last real window to secure funding before lender turnaround times blow out.

At Pay In Time Finance, we’re already helping farmers move early:
– Getting equipment and vehicle finance locked in before pre-Christmas slowdowns
– Securing working capital lines so cash flow stays smooth right through the holiday break
– Setting up restock, feed, and input finance so you’re ready to move quickly when the opportunity hits
– Making sure approvals land this month, not sometime in mid-January

If you need funding for the final stretch of the year — even if it’s just a buffer to get through the holiday period — now is the time to act.

The lenders are about to slow down. Your farm won’t. Let’s get you sorted before the season puts the brakes on the banks.

WEEKLY AUCTION DATES – 2025

1.) 12^th December 2025

INPUTS & COMMODITIES

$100 billion for the ag industry, the latest report says

THE AUSTRALIAN Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has released its latest forecast, with the agriculture industry on track to reach $100 billion for FY2025.

National winter crop production is expected to increase by 10% to 66.3 million tonnes (Mt) in 2025–26, the second largest winter crop on record.

This was despite less-than-favourable conditions in parts of southeastern Australia that experienced a drier than expected spring season, according to the report.

Summer crop production is expected to fall but remain above average.

Wheat, barley and canola were the top agri-commodities, with production numbers coming in at 35.6Mt, 15.7Mt and 7.2Mt, respectively.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said it had been a significant year for farmers.

“Thanks to their hard work, innovation and commitment to excellence, the value of our agriculture industry is on track to reach almost $100 billion this financial year,” she said.

“Our commitment to working with farmers to progress their priorities and to deliver support when they are facing challenges, particularly during drought conditions, never stops.”

The December quarter report forecasts the gross value of agricultural production will rise to $99.5 billion throughout the 2025 financial year and more than $106.4 billion, including the value of fisheries and forestry.

Winter crop production by state

• Queensland is forecast to fall by 1% to 3.7 million tonnes in 2025–26, and if realised, will be the second highest on record. This is 64% above the 10-year average to 2024–25 of 2.3 million tonnes.

• New South Wales is forecast to fall 10% to 18.3 Mt in 2025–26, the fourth highest on record.

• Victoria is forecast to increase by 17% to 9.1 Mt in 2025–26. This is up 3% from the September quarter and is now 11% above the 10-year average to 2024–25.

• South Australia is forecast to rise by 63% to 8.7m tonnes in 2025–26.

• Western Australia is forecast to rise by 14% to 26.2 million tonnes in 2025–26, just below the previous record set in 2022–23.

Summer crop production by state

• Queensland is forecast to fall by 9% to 2.3 Mt in 2025–26. This remains 31% above the 10-year average to 2024–25.

• New South Wales is forecast to fall by 22% to 2 Mt in 2025–26

Exports are forecast to reach a record $83.9 billion during the same period due to ongoing demand for Australian agriculture, fisheries, and forestry products, the report said.

The federal government’s resumed trade with China, estimated at $20 billion, has also strengthened demand.

AG MACHINERY

Right to repair reforms to be expanded to farm machinery

In short:

The federal government will expand its "right to repair" reforms to cover agricultural machinery. Farmers say the shift will give them cheaper, faster and more flexible repair options.  

What's next?

Consultation will begin early next year on how agricultural machinery can be included in the right-to-repair legislative framework.

Farmers would finally be able to have their expensive machinery repaired outside of dealership networks without repercussions under new consumer laws.

The federal government said it would expand its right-to-repair reforms to cover agricultural machinery, bringing them in line with passenger vehicles, after more than a decade of campaigning by farmers.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed the changes after meeting state and territory counterparts on Friday.

Under current Australian consumer law, most agricultural machinery is excluded from consumer guarantee protections, including the right to third-party repair, because the law only applies to goods under $100,000 in value.

Mr Chalmers said the existing laws deprived the agriculture sector and rural communities.

"These are simple changes, but they're good for our economy and good for our farmers," Mr Chalmers said.

"Waiting days, weeks or months to have machinery repaired by an authorised dealer when it could be done locally makes no sense."

Consultation will begin early next year on how agricultural machinery can be included in the right-to-repair legislative framework.

Productivity Commission modelling shows the changes could lift farmers' output, translating to a $97 million increase to gross domestic product (GDP), while greater competition in the repair sector will lead to a $311 million increase to GDP.

The commission's 2021 inquiry into right to repair found "significant and unnecessary barriers to repair for some products" and recommended amending consumer law so customers could choose their own repairer at competitive prices.

National Farmers Federation president Hamish McIntyre said the announcement was a breakthrough for farmers.

"When a machine breaks down in the middle of harvest, waiting on an authorised dealer isn't just inconvenient, it can cost tens of thousands of dollars," Mr McIntyre said.

Farmers will finally have more freedom to choose who services and repairs their machinery.

"That means less downtime, lower costs, and more control over their own businesses."

GrainGrowers advocacy and rural affairs manager Sean Cole said the commitment was "a landmark win for the industry" after years of being "left out of the tent".

He said he had heard of new equipment being "laid to waste for a couple of weeks" during peak periods, forcing farmers to resurrect decades-old machinery to beat incoming rain.

"Grain harvesters or tractors are computers on wheels," he said.

"They're not much more complicated than light vehicles, we'd argue, but they have digital locks and things that can lock people out."

Change comes as no surprise

Manufacturers and dealers said they were ready for the shift.

"We've been expecting it for some time … it's been no surprise to us," Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia (TMA) executive director Gary Northover said.

He said TMA members supported a farmer's right to repair and to use third-party technicians, with many already expanding access to diagnostic tools and manuals.

However, Mr Northover said the industry distinguished repair from modification.

"What we don't support is … the unfettered right to modify machines," he said.

"This just doesn't mean that there's a free-for-all."

While some dealers may worry about losing service revenue, Mr Northover said many already relied on third-party repairers as major customers and acknowledged there were not enough technicians to meet demand.

He said manufacturers and dealers were "broadly aligned" with farmers and keen to help craft a "fair and equitable outcome" when consultations begin next year.

Featured Auction Listings

RGA - REALM GROUP AUSTRALIA - MULTI-VENDOR MACHINERY AUCTION, AUSTRALIA WIDE

We’re now taking listings for our next up-and-coming auction.
Contact us today!

TIP OF THE WEEK

Harvest Reminder: This is the season to be…. Vigilant!

AG NEWS AUSTRALIA

Australia Uses Drones To Plant Trees, Capable Of Planting 40,000 Seeds A Day In Fire-affected Areas

In a brilliant example of technology meeting nature, Australia is using drones to plant trees—and each drone can plant up to 40,000 seeds a day in wildfire-ravaged regions.

These AI-guided drones fly over burnt landscapes, scanning soil quality and precisely firing biodegradable seed pods into the ground. Each pod contains nutrients and moisture to help young trees sprout quickly, even in difficult conditions.

This reforestation effort not only helps restore biodiversity but also captures carbon dioxide and rebuilds natural habitats destroyed by bushfires. With multiple drones working together, an entire forest can be replanted in days instead of months.

Australia’s innovation proves that healing the planet doesn’t have to be slow—when humans and machines work together, recovery can take flight.

We Have Been to Your Town! We don’t just sit in an office; we are hands-on with our Farmers! 🙌

Admin's Eating Your Margin: 3 To-Dos Before You Hire Help

There’s a moment every rural operator hits. You look around and go:

Where did my week go? Why am I still the one chasing invoices and answering people on socials between paddock work?

You think, right? I need help.

Fair. Maybe you do. But sometimes, the system is the problem and not the headcount.

So, before you add another warm body to a messy setup, here are three fixes that clean up the plumbing. 

1. Audit Your Admin Load

Start with a list:

• What are the repetitive admin tasks I do weekly?

• Which of these makes me mutter under my breath?

• Which ones absolutely need a human touch, and which ones are just bad systems?

Here’s a quick way to sort the mess:

2. Templatise Before You Delegate

Hiring someone to help is noble. But if you can’t explain the task in less than 3 steps, they’ll be stuck in your brain fog. You’ll still be interrupted. You’ll still be fixing things.

So instead of: "Hey, can you email that breeder about the catalogue updates?"

Try: "Here's the breeder reply template. Fill in the name and the latest catalogue link. Send by 4 pm. CC me."

What does this mean in practice?

• Email templates (Gmail snippets or Notion doc)

• Client onboarding checklist (what info you need, when)

• Catalogue draft flow (raw data > proofing > export > print)

• Post templates (3 types: news, sale day, community)

Templating doesn’t make things robotic. It makes delegation possible without burning the ship.

3. Don’t Hire a VA When You Actually Need a System

It’s become trendy to hire a VA. But most VAs aren’t strategists. They don’t magically know how to untangle your backend or revive a neglected Mailchimp list. That’s your job.

If your setup is this:

• Client notes in random texts and PDFs

• Canva files named "FINALfinalfinal_USETHIS"

• Invoicing half in Excel, half in memory

Then hiring someone is like adding another player to a game where you haven’t explained the rules.

TL;DR

Hiring is expensive. Onboarding is a time suck. So before you bring someone on board, ask:

🧠 Is this a workflow issue or a workload issue?
📦 Are we solving for today, or setting up a system that lasts?
 📉 Are we leaking margin without realising it?

📬 Want us to run a quick admin-and-automation diagnostic across your current stack?

[email protected]
More grounded advice here: rdcreativestudio.com.au/blog

Women in Ag

Women Working in and Sustaining Agriculture Worldwide

G'day, REALM Readers!

Every now and then, a piece of outback history resurfaces that perfectly captures the spirit, scale and character of cattle station life. Sarawak Stock Take (1985) is one of those gems - a classic documentary featuring the Malaysian-owned Rosewood stockcamp and the very first live exports to Malaysia, paired with some raw mustering footage complete with ringers in big heeled boots and Bell 47s.

I stumbled upon 'Sarawak' by accident a few years ago whilst searching for another documentary - I eventually met with the writer and producer James Knox, who kindly shared the video.

For anyone who grew up in the industry - or worked on stations during the 1980s - this documentary will feel like stepping back in time. You can almost feel the heat and smell of the Kimberley.

It’s a brilliant snapshot of a golden era, and we’re proud to share it. I'd love to know if anyone is in it. Please contact me via the details below...

Enjoy!

VIEW VIDEO: SARAWAK STOCK TAKE

Hooroo for now,
Simon Cheatham
Founder RFTTE - The Online Campfire | E: [email protected] or simply reply to this newsletter | Subscribe to this newsletter | The RFTTE Story | RFTTE MERCH 
0417 277 488 | RFTTE PTY LTD | ABN 29 678 593 283

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REALM Group Australia

REALM Group Australia (RGA) - originally est. 1992. The most trusted online Ag Marketing System in Australia. Built by Farmers for Farmers! Education is the KEY. True Pioneers - We were the first, and we are still growing. Proud Supporters of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) & Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)