This week's roundup: Rules to enable sheep and farmed goat eID, Heavy lambs tipped to peak at $13/kg, Case IH's new Puma, Rates Hold, But Pressure Hasn’t Gone Away, Bird flu H5N1 reaches Tasmania, and more updates. Plus, fresh listings, auction dates, and more from across Australia's ag sector. Let's get into it

As governments continue the transition to electronic identification (eID) for sheep and farmed goats, Livestock SA was recently consulted on proposed changes to the Livestock Regulations 2013, which underpin livestock traceability in our state. Four key areas have been addressed in the proposed regulatory amendments.

Following the commitment by all state, territory and federal governments in July and September 2022 to transition small stock species to eID, Livestock SA developed a set of principles to guide our position on the various elements that would need to be addressed over time to implement the new traceability system.

Besides clarifications to the HRG definition to ensure wild state goats that roam into farming areas do not qualify as HRG, as these animals may have been exposed to chemicals that pose a residue trade risk, the draft regulations achieve national harmonisation and generally align with the principles we set. However, we have several concerns and currently unanswered questions about compliance and enforcement.

For example, the proposed regulations do not sufficiently address practical concerns around eID tag retention, so without clarification, government risks penalising producers for issues beyond their control, such as tag loss during transport to saleyards or abattoirs.

Similarly, the shift to a two-day timeframe for recording livestock movements in the NLIS database is a necessary step toward ensuring rapid traceability and consistency across species. However, producers cannot be held responsible for delays in data uploads due to limitations within the NLIS database.

We will continue to work hard to ensure government better understands, articulates, and communicates any regulatory changes and compliance implications, and affords producers the time needed to adjust to the new eID system.

Credit: Travis Tobin. Thank you!

The outlook for heavy lamb is rising from the current 1095c/kg carcase weight to peak at 1350c/kg in July/August.

Sheep producers can expect to be rewarded with sustained high prices for their heavy and trade lambs over the next year as Australian processors chase the American rainbow.

Simon Quilty, Global AgriTrends, has the outlook for heavy lamb rising from the current 1095c/kg carcase weight to peak at 1350c/kg in July/August, then fall to 1100c/kg by December 2026.

The price will rise steadily to 1250c/kg CW by June/July 2027 before bottoming out at 1013c/kg in December 2027 as processors drop capacity to minimise losses.

When it comes to trade lambs, prices are tipped to peak at 1361c/kg CW by July, bottom out to 1100c/kg in November 2026 before rising to 1272c/kg in March 2027.

Looking further out, trade lamb prices are forecast to reach a low of 936c/kg in August 2027 and then rise steadily to 1094c/kg by June 2028.

This is all on the back of a sustained period of flock liquidation over two and a half years.

Market analyst Simon Quilty, Global AgriTrends, Wangaratta, was a keynote speaker at the Pasture Agronomy Service conference in Wagga Wagga on March 10.

Mr Quilty outlined how air freight of light lamb had stopped due to the crisis in the major Australian markets of the Persian Gulf states, creating a net effect of light lamb carcase weight prices falling 20 per cent from 1195c/kg to 951c/kg.

Conversely, heavy trade lamb prices have increased, creating a market opportunity for buyers to pivot towards lighter lambs for grain feeding.

The Middle East consumes 19 per cent of our nation’s lamb exports, with the majority being light lamb, and 27 per cent of Australia’s mutton exports.

“If the US-Iran conflict goes on for an extended period, mutton prices will be impacted, but thankfully we have had outstanding rain in the last two to three weeks in southern Australia, and the mutton kill is truly struggling,” Mr Quilty said.

“With that, there has been less pressure on getting product out to ports.

“In the last year, Iran has truly suffered, with airfreight of our exports into that market falling by 80 per cent. Iran has gone from being our number one market two years ago for chilled lamb carcases to number four behind Dubai, Kuwait and Qatar.”

All export light lambs are destined for either the Middle East or domestic feedlots, with an estimated 8 million head grain-fed each year for domestic and US markets.

Mr Quilty described the North American market for lamb as “exciting” with a 30kg carcase weight lamb worth AUD $16.25/kg.

This comes at a time when the Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s report forecasts a decline in Australian wool production to 251.5 million kilograms greasy in 2026, a 10.2 per cent fall from the previous year.

The number of sheep to be shorn has been adjusted down 12 per cent to 63 million, with an average cut per head comparable to 2023/24 at 4.45kg greasy.

“We will see 6.5 million sheep slaughtered this year, pointing to high mutton prices out to 2028 as the national flock will not grow back to what it was. Mutton could go from today at 750c/kg to a high of 850-880c/kg next year,” Mr Quilty said.

“The flock has fallen over the last two and a half years by 15 per cent, and if lucky enough, we might see part of that regained during the rebuild, but it may rise only by 8 per cent. Those days of the large flock are gone as wool has suffered for so long and there will be more exodus out of that Merino flock before it is said and done.”

Australian processors could expect sheep and lamb supplies to be tight for at least two years.

“The higher the US prices go in terms of quality beef, they will take lamb with it. US prices for lamb shoulders are up 20 per cent compared to this time last year, lamb racks are up 18 per cent and legs up 1 per cent,” Mr Quilty said.

“The market is in good shape, and the US takes all the valuable parts of the animal, so America is truly driving the bus.”

Driving the US demand is Gen Z blending their high-protein diet with gym culture and baby boomers focusing on protein to slow age related muscle loss. The US Department of Health and Human Services also flipped the food pyramid on its head, placing priority on protein and fats.

“What is exciting in this space is that marbling is being measured and rewarded. There is an inverse relationship between fast weight gain and feed efficiency versus marbling,” Mr Quilty said.

“Merino lambs seem to be more adept at producing marbling due to their slower growth rates over and above the faster-growing self-shedding sheep.

“Every major Australian processor is starting to develop the right equipment to measure intramuscular fat and go down this path.

“Given the challenges of the wool industry, this is a bright spot on the horizon.”

-Kim Woods

Redesigned tractor promises tighter turning, greater comfort and technology previously reserved for larger machines

Case IH has unveiled its new-generation Puma tractor range, with a redesigned standard-wheelbase lineup delivering a 20 per cent tighter turning circle while bringing the brand's latest precision farming technology to a more compact standard-wheelbase platform.

Ahead of the tractor's public debut at the upcoming AgQuip field days, Farmmachinerysales was invited to preview the new Puma 185 and speak with Case IH Product & Portfolio Manager – Medium Tractors Australia/New Zealand, Seamus McCarthy.

The Stage V-compliant range comprises the Puma 155, 165 and flagship 185 models, producing 155hp, 165hp and 185hp respectively. Built on a standard wheelbase, they are available with either a CVXDrive continuously variable transmission or the new ActiveDrive 8 dual-clutch transmission.

Big-tractor technology, smaller package

McCarthy said the biggest advancement wasn't the horsepower, but the technology now available in the standard-wheelbase Puma.

"What the next generation entails is that it takes this portfolio to the next level in relation to technology," he told Farm Machinery Sales.

"It's going to have the Case IH technology platform that's normally reserved for our higher horsepower tractors, so now customers can get the technology and the advancements of efficiencies in a compact standard-wheelbase platform."

The Pro 1200 display is now standard across the range, bringing Case IH FieldOps connectivity, guidance, ISOBUS compatibility and Tractor Implement Management (TIM) into the utility tractor segment. Case IH says an expandable electronic architecture also provides the hardware, software and connectivity foundation for future technologies as they become available, helping future-proof the platform as new capabilities are introduced.

"We think the enhancements and the efficiencies offered with the technology will more than pay for themselves," McCarthy said.

Sharper turning, smoother ride

One of the biggest engineering changes is a redesigned front axle that reduces the turning circle by 20 per cent, improving manoeuvrability around livestock yards, gateways and tight headlands. A new saddle-style suspension system also delivers a smoother ride and improved transport stability.

Operator comfort has also been improved, with cab noise reduced to 68dB and upgraded pneumatic and hydraulic cab suspension helping reduce fatigue during long days in the field.

The redesigned cab features a new MultiController Armrest, Pro 1200 display and improved forward visibility, while additional storage and optional features including a cooler box, cantilever toolbox and handwash basin further enhance day-to-day usability.

"We understand noise has a fatigue factor," McCarthy said.

"If you can reduce the noise, you feel a lot fresher during the working day and can go home to your family at the end of it feeling far less fatigued."

Efficiency meets versatility

Customers can choose between the updated CVXDrive transmission, now featuring a 3x1 mechanical layout for improved efficiency, or the new ActiveDrive 8 transmission, making its debut in the Puma standard-wheelbase range.

Case IH says independent DLG testing in Europe found the ActiveDrive 8 transmission delivered best-in-class fuel consumption of 243g/kWh for a six-cylinder tractor.

McCarthy expects the new Puma to appeal to mixed farming enterprises, livestock producers, hay and forage contractors, and broadacre operators wanting the technology of larger tractors in a more manoeuvrable machine.

With a standard 170L/min hydraulic pump and compact dimensions, the tractor is designed to handle everything from seeding and fertiliser spreading through to haymaking, silage transport and livestock operations.

Earlier this year, the Puma series received a 2026 Red Dot Design Award in recognition of its redesigned styling and enhanced cab environment.

The first Puma 185 has already arrived in Australia and will make its public debut at AgQuip (August 18 to 20) before appearing at Henty Machinery Field Days (September 22 to 24).

The new Puma range is available to order now, with customer deliveries expected towards the end of the first quarter of 2027.

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This week has brought a mixed but important update for Australian farmers.

The Reserve Bank has kept the cash rate unchanged at 4.35%, giving businesses some short-term certainty after three increases earlier this year. But the message from the RBA is still firm: inflation remains too high, fuel-related price pressure is still flowing through the economy, and another rate rise is still possible if inflation does not ease as expected.

For farmers, that means planning cannot be relaxed yet. Finance costs remain high across machinery, equipment, overdrafts and property-backed lending. The focus now is less about panic and more about control — making sure debt structures, repayments and cash flow still make sense in the current market.

On the ground, seasonal conditions remain split. Much of northern and central Australia has been dry, while southern farming regions have received or are expecting useful rainfall across parts of Victoria, South Australia, southern New South Wales and Western Australia. This should support winter crops and pasture growth, but Queensland cropping regions remain under pressure from dry conditions.

Grain markets have also sharpened this week, with renewed Black Sea supply concerns supporting wheat and canola sentiment. Locally, growers are still weighing stronger prices against seasonal risk and input costs.

In cattle, the market remains uneven. Heavier stock are holding up better, while lighter cattle and restocker demand are more sensitive to weather and feed conditions.

At Pay In Time Finance, we’re seeing more farmers review existing lending, refinance higher-cost debt, consolidate facilities and unlock equity to protect working capital.

The message this week is clear: rates may have paused, but the smartest operators are still tightening structure, preserving cash flow and preparing early.

In short:

The first detection of the H5N1strain of bird flu in Tasmania has triggered tighter biosecurity controls on farms and wildlife sanctuaries across the state. The Royal Hobart Poultry and Pigeon Show has also been cancelled as a precaution.

What's next?

People are being urged to avoid, record, and report any dead or sick wildlife to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline. For the past 25 years, Matthew Gunningham has been farming in the green pastures of Tasmania's north-west.

But confirmation that the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu had reached the state's shores put his family-run farm on high alert.

"I feel very nervous about it," Mr Gunningham said.

"This is a business that we've poured our hearts and souls into."

An infected brown skua, a migratory seabird from the sub-Antarctic region, was found at Rocky Cape, just 15 kilometres from his farm at Shakespeare Hills. So far, it is the only case in Tasmania, with no sign of any local spread of the virus.

The bird carcass was found at Rocky Cape, on Tasmania's north-west coast

But Mr Gunningham fears for his flock of more than 4,000 laying hens if an outbreak eventually occurs.

"Let's say we [were] found to be infected, and we were directed to cull the entire flock, that would cut off the income from this enterprise entirely," he said.

"And we'd have to start back from scratch again, which would be very, very difficult — very difficult financially.

"And certainly very, very difficult emotionally."

The virus has caused devastation to wildlife and poultry farms around the world. In anticipation of its arrival, Mr Gunningham drafted a biosecurity plan for his farm more than a year ago. He activated it once cases started to rise interstate in recent weeks.

The plan includes restrictions on visitors entering the farm's paddocks and moving the mobile chicken coops closer together.

But on a free-range farm, there's only so much that can be done. "So really from here, it's just being really vigilant and watching and waiting and hoping that we don't succumb."

The detection of bird flu has prompted the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania to cancel one of its upcoming events. The Royal Hobart Poultry and Pigeon Show, scheduled for August 22, was expected to feature more than 1,000 birds. But the event will no longer go ahead.

"The risks to our exhibitors, their prized birds and the broader animal population are considered too high under the current circumstances," RAST chief executive Scott Gadd said.

"We are extremely disappointed to have to make this decision.

"This was shaping up to be the biggest Royal Hobart Poultry and Pigeon Show we have held in many years, with entries from Tasmania's north-west coast for the first time in many years."

Mr Gadd said competitors had spent countless hours preparing and caring for their birds, but a precautionary approach was needed.

"Given the current detection of avian influenza in the state and the movement of birds that would be required for the event, we believe cancellation is the responsible decision," he said.

"Our priority must be to minimise the potential for disease transmission and protect the health and welfare of the birds involved, as well as the broader Tasmanian poultry and animal industries."

Speaking to the Tasmanian Country Hour before the cancellation, heritage bird breeder Mark Robertson said he was concerned about the future impact of bird flu.

"It's [a] concern for the hobby," Mr Robertson said.

"What would happen if, for the next four years, we don't have poultry shows?

"I'm probably one of the younger poultry exhibitors getting around.

"[But] what happens to that older generation who've been exhibiting their whole life, have a break — do they come back?

"We've seen things like that happen with COVID."

The Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary near Hobart has been preparing for the arrival of bird flu for the past three years.

"It's devastating to hear that it's finally here," chief executive Matt Clement said.

"But we are well prepared, and we are working closely with other agencies and government to mount an effective response."

The sanctuary is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and preservation of native animals.

Mr Clement said a range of biosecurity protocols were in place to reduce the risk of the virus spreading to the facility, including a zoning system to limit movement between different areas.

"So one way of us preventing the spread of infection is to really control the movement of people and equipment, and for that matter, other animals that come and go as the day goes on.

"So that compartmentalisation of our operations has been really important.

"And the moment we received notice [on Thursday] that there'd been a detection in the north-west of Tassie, we immediately implemented our zoning protocols."

While Mr Clement is confident about the protection measures in place for resident animals at the sanctuary, he is concerned about how the potential spread of the virus could affect Bonorong's animal rescue service.

"We receive around 20,000 calls for assistance every year, and I am absolutely focused on keeping that service running despite the background risk associated with this terrible disease."

He said volunteer rescuers were aware of the need to follow government guidelines, including avoiding contact with sick wildlife and referring suspicious cases to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline.

(RGA26016) (REALM Group Australia Pty Ltd) The Original Australia-wide Multi Vendor Auction Group

Starts: 25/08/2026, 08:00 am
Ends: 27/08/2026, 08:00 pm

A few issues back, we wrote about why the team started making podcasts — how someone who's listened to a few episodes calls you differently than someone who's never heard you, how an episode recorded on a Tuesday can still be finding people a year later, and how most operators are sitting on years of opinions that never get said out loud to anyone outside the office.

If that made sense to you, there's a more useful question sitting behind it, and it's the one that stops most people before they start.

What would I actually talk about for twenty minutes?

It sounds like a small problem. It isn't, really. But it's the reason most people who like the idea of a podcast never make one. Nobody wants to sit down and stare at a blank page trying to invent a "content strategy."

The team's answer is usually simpler than people expect.

The important thing to remember is that most operators aren't short on things to say. They're just not writing any of it down.

Start with what customers keep asking you. If you've answered the same question more than a handful of times — repair or replace, when to trade the header, why one brand holds resale better than another — there's an episode sitting right there.

Then there's whatever people in your industry genuinely disagree on. You don't need to manufacture an argument. Just say what you think and why.

Then there's what you've changed your mind about. Years running gear through tough seasons changes people's views, and those stories tend to land better than straight advice ever does.

And there's whoever you already enjoy talking shop with. They don't need a following. They need runs on the board and something worth saying.

Go through those four, and most people land on five topics without trying particularly hard.

Pick one question customers ask you often enough that you could answer it in your sleep. That's your first episode.

If you ever want a hand getting those conversations out of your head and into headphones, that's something the team does too. Reach out to us at [email protected]

G’day REALM Readers

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Ross Stanes several times at conferences in the NT, and his family business has advertised with RFTTEJOBS.com over the years.

Ross and Jo manage Lyndavale Station, approximately 280km south-west of Alice Springs. Their fourth-generation, family-owned operation also includes nearbyMount Ebenezer Station and De Rose Hill Station in far north South Australia and produces high-quality organic beef.

As part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026 (IYRP) series, Caleb Schwartz explores Ross’s approach to managing cattle, country, staff and a successful pastoral business.

From low-stress stockmanship and identifying native grasses to continually learning and adapting, there’s plenty of wisdom from this highly respected Central Australian pastoralist...

MeetRoss Stanes and read the full story: https://rfttejobs.com/blog/ross-stanes-lyndavale-station/

You may also enjoy our previous IYRP story: What Does It Mean to Be a Pastoralist?

Hooroo for now,

Hooroo for now,
Simon Cheatham
Founder, RFTTE - The Online Campfire
0417 277 488 | [email protected]

Robbie is definitely 'that guy!' He's even got his own cartoon character.