F E A T U R E D

Hidden costs of Australia's food system are the world's highest per head, CSIRO finds

The "hidden costs" of Australia's $800 billion food system could be as much as $274 billion, among the highest per capita in the world. Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, has completed the first-ever national stocktake of the country's food system, identifying successes and challenges that need resolving.

Overall, 100,000 Australian farmers feed about 100 million people around the world, including the national population of 27 million.

The new report, released today, calls for a new approach to management and reporting on the system to meet key challenges such as resilience in the face of new challenges to farmers, delivering healthy food to all, and meeting critical sustainability goals.

The report also revealed that the hidden costs of Australia's food system could be as high as $274 billion, primarily through environmental and health impacts. It's the highest hidden cost per capita in the world.

CSIRO Agriculture and Food Director Dr Michael Robertson said knowing and understanding the state of our food system through regular reporting is the critical first step in dealing with the complex challenges and opportunities facing Australia's food system.

"Our food system is more than just producing and exporting commodities – it's also about providing equitable access to safe, nutritious and healthy food, produced sustainably for all Australians," Robertson said.

"We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously."

He said Australia's food system was an "economic and production success" that made more than $800 billion a year and was a significant employer, especially in regional areas.

But CSIRO sustainability research director Larelle McMillan said there was no coherent food policy in Australia, with government portfolios including agriculture, environment, industry, social services, health, transport, and urban planning all connected to it.

"We need to move from analysing specific parts of the food system, to establishing coordinated reporting for important food system attributes and interactions, thus enabling connected action for a national food system that serves all," McMillan said.

McMillan said a reporting system would offer valuable insights into where the food system is falling short – for example, almost a third of Australian households experience moderate or severe food insecurity each year – and where it's failing to meet the needs of all Australians.

"This can be used as a focal point to bring together a greater diversity of voice and vision to identify pathways to sustainable, healthy and affordable food for all Australians," she said.

With the Reserve Bank holding rates steady this month, Australian agribusinesses are entering the new financial year with a tone of caution—but also with clarity.

After weeks of speculation around a July rate cut, the RBA’s decision to pause has reminded rural operators that certainty, not just softness, is the foundation for planning. For many producers, this means continuing to manage cash flow conservatively while still positioning themselves for growth as the season unfolds.

Farmers in key grain-growing regions are now deep into winter crop cycles, while livestock producers are keeping a close eye on feed availability and export demand. The dry finish to the previous year has tightened working capital across parts of the country, making access to flexible, responsive finance more critical than ever.

At the same time, equipment turnover is quietly ramping up, with EOFY purchasing activity now giving way to mid-year machinery finance planning. Many farmers are taking this opportunity to review funding structures, consolidate short-term debt, or upgrade assets ahead of the next harvest window.

This is where brokers and finance specialists are stepping in with real value. At Pay In Time Finance, we’re seeing a strong push from our rural clients for smarter lending solutions—not just rate hunting, but finance that fits the operation’s actual rhythm. Whether it’s supporting a new ute purchase, machinery acquisition, or farm expansion plan, tailored advice is making the difference.

Looking ahead, eyes remain on climate forecasts, commodity movements, and any signs of policy shifts. But for now, the message from the land is clear: steady rates mean time to act, not stall. And with the right financial guidance, Australia’s agri sector is well-positioned to make this year count.

WEEKLY AUCTION DATES – 2025

1.) 25^th July 2025 2.) 22^nd August 2025

Ag Machinery

The 2025 Tractor & Machinery Association of Australia conference seeks real-world agricultural solutions

The Tractor & Machinery Association of Australia (TMA) will hold its 2025 annual conference in Melbourne on Thursday, July 24, focused on the theme - ‘Are we future ready? ’ 

The conversation will focus on Australia’s agricultural machinery sector as it adapts to accelerating technological, environmental, and economic change. Topics will include digital disruption and data-driven farming, to machinery trends and the mental health of rural communities. 

Guest speakers include: 

Lachlan Monsbourgh from Rabobank 
Topic: The Future of Farming and the Role of Data 
As Agricultural and Environmental Lead in Rabobank’s global rural portfolio, Lachlan will discuss how the future of farming is being shaped by environmental responsibility, data management, and evolving global expectations. 

Robbie Sefton AM from Seftons 
Topic: Primed for Progress: Innovation, Growth, and Opportunity in Agriculture 
A nationally respected voice in regional Australia, Robbie will speak on harnessing innovation and leadership for rural growth. With experience spanning business, government, and non-profits, she brings rich insights into shaping a resilient, future-forward agricultural sector. 

Gus Hogan from Delta Agribusiness 
Topic: Insights from On-Farm Advisors on Machinery and Technology 
As Precision Ag Manager at Delta Ag, Gus will share real-world experiences from the intersection of agronomy, data, and machinery. With a background in engineering and agtech, Gus will unpack the evolving role of agronomists and precision agriculture specialists in influencing machinery decisions and outcomes. 

Melinda Haley from Kynetec 
Topic: State of the Industry 
Melinda has more than 20 years’ experience in data analysis and research within the agricultural industry globally. She is widely regarded as a thought leader in the provision of business intelligence, data mining, predictive analysis, and data visualisation in food, fibre, and biotechnology. 

Justin Smirk from Westpac 
Topic: Economic Update 
A veteran economist with over two decades of experience in financial markets, Justin will present a comprehensive update on Australia’s economic landscape, including labour trends, commodity markets, and the outlook for agricultural finance. 

Brad Hogg from GPA Mental Health Initiative 
Topic: Mental Health in Agriculture 
Former Australian cricketer and now national ambassador for Grain Producers Australia’s Farmer Mates Mental Health program, Brad, will deliver a powerful talk on mental health in rural Australia. Drawing on his own experiences, Brad’s message aims to reduce stigma, encourage connection, and raise awareness of support resources for farming communities. 

Related: TMA backs government productivity reforms

Related: TMA reveals Careers Awareness campaign

More speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. 

The TMA conference, open to dealers, manufacturers, advisors, and stakeholders in the machinery supply chain, will be held at Hyatt Essendon Fields, only a few minutes away from Melbourne Airport. Thanks TMA

Inputs & Commodities

Here are the main highlights for some of Australia's key commodities and economic influences for this month. The full report provides an overview of the developments to watch in the upcoming weeks.

Wheat and barley: Global wheat prices briefly rose on Middle East tensions, but the strong supply for 2025/26 outweighed it. Concerns about North American spring wheat have lifted high-protein wheat prices. Barley faces pressure from a well-supplied feed market on the back of large corn production coming from the US.

Canola: Geopolitical tensions, biofuel policy shifts, and a crude oil rally drove canola prices higher, while uncertain Canadian crop conditions and concerns over excess meal supply added complexity to the market outlook.

Beef: Cattle prices continue to trend upwards, with strong rises seen in heavy finished steers and cow prices, reflecting the stronger demand for these categories. Prices and volumes are expected to remain high as demand out of the US remains strong, but are there cracks appearing in US consumer demand?

Sheepmeat: Have new record-high lamb prices overcooked the market? Or was it more the case that processors were testing how many lambs remained? We believe that, with lamb numbers dropping, prices will now also ease back down to around the AUD 8/kg mark.
Wool: EMI prices have been stable over the past month, with prices hovering around the AUD 12/kg level. Declining production appears to be offsetting weak global demand.

Cotton: US futures have found strong support over the past 10 days, as production uncertainty is supporting prices. Australian cash prices have recorded more modest price increases as Australian dollar strength is partially offsetting global supply question marks.

Farm inputs: Urea prices have been very volatile over the past month amid the Middle East conflict. Although a ceasefire is now in place, urea prices remain elevated. The market will be closely watching for any further developments.

Dairy: A wave of announcements from dairy companies through June means that farmgate milk prices for 2025/26 across southern Australia will range between AUD 9.00 to AUD 10.00/kgMS. This represents an increase of around 10% on the final milk prices for the 2024/25 season.

Consumer foods: Monthly food inflation fell below 3% in May. Coffee was among the products that the ABS flagged are causing higher prices in the food basket, while favourable growing conditions helped with lower fresh produce prices.

Interest rate and FX: Inflation and employment data released in June were weaker than expected, prompting several other banks to join RaboResearch in forecasting an RBA rate cut this month. July will also see the expiry of the 90-day pause on US “reciprocal” tariffs.

Oil and freight: The Israel-Iran war caused June to be the most volatile month for crude oil prices since October 2023, but prices finished slightly below where they started the month, and the supply outlook ahead remains very strong.

Thanks Rabo & co

CONGRATULATIONS ROBBIE McKENZIE, CEO REALM GROUP AUSTRALIA JUNE 2025 FLUXX AWARD - SUSTAINABILITY LEADER OF THE YEAR

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

Whether you're running a small herd or growing your livestock operation, bringing new animals onto your property is always a risk—unless you're following the right onboarding steps.

At JAB Agri Solutions, we know just how critical it is to quarantine, drench, and vaccinate every time you introduce new livestock. These aren't just "best practices"—they're non-negotiables for maintaining animal health, biosecurity, and industry compliance.

We've put together a quick, practical article that explains:​
✅ Why each step matters​
✅ What we do at JAB Agri when onboarding new stock​
✅ How to avoid costly mistakes

🔗 Read the full article here:​ Why Quarantine, Drenching & Vaccination Matter

If you have any questions or would like help reviewing your livestock onboarding protocols, feel free to reach out—we’re here to help.

Kind Regards,​
Amanda Burchmann​
Livestock Production & Industry Development Specialist​
Founder | Advocate | Producer​
📞 0408 847 536​
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.jabagrisolutions.com.au

Read more here…

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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)