F E A T U R E D

'The last of a generation?': Sophie and Josh are fighting for more than just their own futures

Nichols, who is a fourth-generation farmer in Singleton, was forced to sell half of her herd, which had been in the family since the 1970s.

"That was extremely stressful for me, having to be the person who decided to lose all that," she said.

"That was a bit of a trigger point."

Gilbert said he copped more than two meters of rainfall in just five months, which has drenched his farm in Gloucester.

"Is this the new normal of what the weather system will look like and continue to look like due to emissions?" he said.

Nichols and Gilbert are both fearful about the future of farming due to the abnormal weather changes.

They are also concerned about the lack of young people entering the industry to replace the aging demographic of farmers who will soon retire.

"It's the pressure, like a lot of young farmers, that would my generation be the last that's going to be able to farm land?" Nichols said.

"How many more bad years can we have?" Gilbert said.

Australia's first National Climate Risk Assessment report deemed the climate risk to primary industries and the food system as moderate to high, with that risk to escalate to high to very high by 2050.

It noted that climate hazards like bushfires and flooding could cause a reduction in workforce, food insecurity, and challenges for agricultural communities.

The report found the cumulative wealth loss in Australia from reduced agricultural and labour productivity due to climate change could exceed $19 billion by 2030, $211 billion by 2050, and $4.2 trillion by 2100.

Nichols has shifted operations to regenerative agriculture and installed solar batteries, which slashed her power bills in half, but it was not enough.

She finds herself spending about 15 per cent of profits each year on measures to keep up with severe weather events like east coast lows that caused flooding this winter season.

"The biggest cost to me at the moment would be trying to get the farm up and going, in terms of electric vehicles, batteries and stuff to make it more resilient," she said.

"The cost of becoming resilient on the farm is pretty costly."

Gilbert has also made changes to become resilient, but found it hard to keep up with the rapidly changing climate.

"The significant shifts in that mean that the changes have to be made very quickly," he said.

"For me, it's about looking at what climate change systems are we going to face, and what can we keep doing, and at what moment will we run out of options, and we're going to be stranded."

Nichols and Gilbert say the compounding issues may be fatal to Australia's agricultural industry, which may lead to a higher grocery bill at the supermarkets for the average consumer.

"If we end up becoming reliant on imports. I think it's devastating," Nichols said. 

"The government would have to subsidize a lot of the food production. If you're having to subsidize farming practices because of climate change, then it's never going to end. It's such a cost, and I think you just go into more and more debt."

"Our work really is to try and make farming sexy for the next generation of young people to get involved, so that we actually have a workforce and a group of people who are passionate about doing this, no matter what the external climatic events are like," Gilbert said.

Pay In-Time Finance

Cash Rate Held Again, Superweeds Strike, Beef Processor Hits Market—Opportunities and Risks Align

WEEKLY AUCTION DATES – 2025

1.) 24^th October 2025

INPUTS & COMMODITIES

Here are the main highlights for some of Australia’s key commodities and economic influences this month. 

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 are finding support from Algeria’s recent tender and firm Black Sea values, but rising carryover in Australia and Canada, subdued importer demand, and strong US shipments continue to weigh on market sentiment ahead of the new crop harvest.

Canola: Canadian canola markets remain under pressure amid a larger harvest, weak export outlook, and unresolved trade tensions with China, while European prices find support from reduced sunflower yields.

Beef: After a lift in prices through early spring, cattle prices have plateaued, and we believe they could ease slightly over the coming month. Conditions and markets remain favourable and prices should be supported, but an easing in producer demand will just see prices ease a little.

Sheepmeat: Ongoing low lamb slaughter volumes and sustained high prices suggest we have not yet seen the bulk of new season lambs enter the market. This could potentially lead to a concentration of lambs in the system and, depending on seasonal conditions, we may see a lift in volumes and softening prices late in the year.

Wool: Wool prices are rallying, with the EMI up an impressive 16.5% month-on-month. The rise appears to be due to a mix of declining production prospects and strong buying inquiries.

Cotton: ICE #2 Cotton futures declined 0.5% month-on-month. This, alongside Australian dollar strength translated into Australian cash price weakness. Signs of an improving Chinese crop, alongside demand headwinds, appear to be some of the key drivers behind recent price action.

Farm inputs: Over the past month, urea prices have finally shown some signs of relief, with prices down 12% month-on-month in Australian dollar terms. That said, if India seeks another tender soon, prices have the potential to move back the other way.

Dairy: All eyes are fixed on the strength of global dairy demand, in the face of the approaching Oceania peak milk flow,s combined with a weak outlook for Chinese import demand into 2026.

Interest rates and FX: Market expectations of RBA rate cuts have been reduced after data released in September showed the economy growing more quickly than expected and inflation running a little hotter than hoped.

Oil and freight: Oil prices rose in September as US inventories fell, US growth accelerated, and President Trump encouraged NATO allies to stop buying Russian energy.

AG MACHINERY

NEXAT is the world’s first complete, holistic crop-production system. The basic premise is simple yet disruptive: one for all – all for one. NEXAT combines all the work steps that previously required a wide variety of agricultural machinery into a single system

At the focal point is a powerful, wide-span carrier vehicle with interchangeable implements that can perform tillage, sowing, plant protection, and harvesting tasks using modular attachments developed in close collaboration with well-known and reputable manufacturers. The modules can be swapped by one person in under 10 minutes, and there are plans to fully automate this process in the near future.

NEXAT, as a wide-span interchangeable carrier vehicle, makes it possible to combine the strengths of agricultural engineering developments and jointly develop high-performance modules for holistic crop production.

NEXAT Partner

• 1 vehicle for all processing steps (minimization of necessary machines)

• Individual modules for the different processing steps

• Autonomous operation possible

• Modules are integrated and not attached (no separate chassis)

• Ready for the digital age

• Electric drive

• Hydrogen operation under development

• Widespan Controlled Traffic Farming (< 5 % Track share)

• The growth area remains permanently unused

• Driving direction crosswise on the field / lengthwise on the road

• Lower, more efficiently distributed weight

NEXAT is electrically driven. The generators are currently powered by two independently driven 550 hp diesel engines. As each module is integrated, its weight is transferred onto the carrier vehicle and optimised so that it essentially becomes a self-propelled machine. This enables the implements to be guided more accurately and with less slip, significantly reducing the vehicle’s fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.

NEXAT is a state-of-the-art modular vehicle that sets new standards in crop production by uniting and optimising each stage of the production process. The NEXCO harvesting module, for example, enables throughput to be increased by over 50% when compared to a traditional large combine. It even has an unrivaled solution for uniform straw distribution, eliminating the need for additional cultivation steps and enabling a true controlled traffic farming (CTF) to be practiced all year round. Depending on the NEXAT’s configuration, its wide-span controlled traffic method enables fields to be cultivated at a width of 6 to 24 meters. This means that 95% of the entire arable area may never be driven over again, depending on the configuration, ensuring the maximum yield potential is realised and the soil and environment are protected to the greatest degree possible.

NEXAT – Next Generation Agriculture Technology!

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!

AG NEWS AUSTRALIA

Mort & Co. Fertilisers is building a unique organic fertiliser facility, employing innovative technology to produce environmentally friendly, carbon-based fertilisers.

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

Moojepin Merinos Reflects a Turning Tide in Sheep Industry Confidence

On October 9th, Moojepin Merinos held its 2025 on-property sale. The results were solid and widely noticed.

With a near full clearance and an average just over $2,400 per head, the Thompsons welcomed buyers from across the country. Stud breeders and commercial producers showed strong interest, with more than 60 rams selling through AuctionsPlus and the rest on-site via Nutrien Livestock. It was a clean, confident sale, combining decades of on-farm experience with the reach of digital selling.

But the numbers only tell part of the story.

After a tough stretch for the sheep industry (drought, price pressure, market volatility) this level of engagement speaks to something else: renewed belief. Not just in the market, but in the value of long-term breeding programs. More importantly, in the work of families like the Thompsons, who back their rams with data, balance, and intent.

Moojepin’s focus has never been on flash. It’s on high-performance sheep that match the times. Rams that meet commercial benchmarks, adapt to tough conditions, and push the breed forward without overstepping what the land can carry. 

That steady commitment is what brought buyers back and what will carry this stud through whatever season comes next.

Sales like this don’t happen in isolation. They come from years of quiet investment. From knowing your environment. From breeding with discipline, not ego.

And perhaps most of all, they happen when trust is built between vendor and buyer, between data and decision, between one season and the next. This is where the next chapter of Australian sheep production will be written.

🐑 Sheep & Goat Care Essentials – Protecting Your Flock, Land & Livelihood

Good Evening,

Sheep and goats might be small, but caring for them well makes a big impact — on your animals, your land, and the wider livestock industry. 🐐🌾

This week’s article, Sheep and Goat Care Essentials: Protecting Your Flock, Land, and Livelihood, walks through the key foundations every small producer and hobby farmer should know — from vaccinations and parasite control to nutrition, welfare, and record- keeping.

You’ll learn:​
✅ How to prevent major flock diseases with the right vaccination program
✅ Smart drenching and parasite management strategies that save time and money
✅ Practical tips for marking, pain relief, and welfare best practice
✅ The importance of NLIS tagging and record-keeping for compliance confidence
✅ How nutrition, grazing, and biosecurity all tie together to protect your animals year- round

Whether you’re running a small mixed operation or just getting started with a few sheep or goats, these essentials will help you feel more confident and in control of your livestock management.

👉 Read the full article here: https://www.jabagrisolutions.com.au/knowledge/w8rwp9gtpw4v1w66etksuxd0tjfilb

And if you’re ready to take your learning further, check out our Livestock Production Essentials Workshop Series — designed to help small producers build real-world skills in animal health, compliance, and management.

👉 Workshop Series Link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1671378781929?aff=oddtdtcreator

Until next week —Let’s build a lifestyle we all love, the right way.

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

G’day REALM Readers,

Righto. Hiring Season for 2026 is well underway, and over the next few months, I'll be featuring stations and companies who are on the lookout for new team members.

Paraway Pastoral is now hiring across their stations in QLD for 2026, so let me give you a rundown on this company...

• The name Paraway pays homage to the Nathanial 'Nat' Buchanan - an early explorer and pastoralist nicknamed 'Paraway' (meaning 'far away') by local Aborigines. (Personally, I think Buchanan is one of the most understated explorers in Australia).

• Paraway started from the purchase of the historic Pooginook Merino Stud in the Riverina region of NSW in 2007; today it owns and operates 28 cattle, sheep, and cropping stations.

• Their land footprint is over 4.4 million hectares - making them one of Australia’s largest pastoral operators.

• They run a combined capacity of more than 250,000 cattle and 200,000 sheep. 

• Their largest property is Davenport Downs/ Springvale aggregation (~1.51 million hectares) - making it one of Queensland’s biggest cattle operations. 

LATEST STATION JOBS: RFTTEJOBS.com

Hooroo for now,
Simon Cheatham
0417 277 488 | [email protected] 
Founder | Ringers From The Top End | RFTTE.com | The Online Campfire since 2007
RFTTE PTY LTD | ABN 29 678 593 283

“Samantha Watkins Photography”

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)