This week's roundup: Townsville truckie, Feedgrain Focus, Robotics and climate tech, Rate Hike Confirmed, Aussies could pay more for groceries, and more updates. Plus, fresh listings, auction dates, and more from across Australian ag. Let's get into it →

In short:

Queensland's fuel prices hit a record high this week, according to the RACQ. Transport operators say they will have to pass on elevated fuel levies while they cope with the increase.

What's next?

The ACCC says it is investigating anti-competitive conduct by major fuel suppliers in regional and rural Australia.

Kent "Dunga" Dungavell drives thousands of kilometres on dusty outback roads to deliver goods to remote communities and stations. Usually, the further he gets from the city, the more relaxed he feels.

But he expects a bit more pressure on his bottom line as he does the freight run from Townsville to towns in the remote Gulf of Carpentaria for the first time in weeks.

"This will be the first fuel I've put in since the hike," he said.
"This is probably the highest I've ever seen it jump."

Long journey west on record costs

Queensland broke its record high for diesel and unleaded prices this week, according to the RACQ.

"According to real-time fuel price reporting data, the most expensive stations currently for diesel and unleaded are on K'gari (Fraser Island), charging $3.60 per litre for both types of fuel," said the RACQ's spokesperson.

At Townsville, Mr Dungavell said he filled up at nearly $2.80 a litre, while bowser prices at the city's freight hub this week hit $3 a litre.

The experienced driver said he would normally burn up to 3,000 litres of diesel fuel on the roughly 2,000-kilometre journey, so fuelling up would add thousands to each trip.

On his multi-day return trip to Burketown in the Gulf of Carpentaria, he will be delivering building materials and general goods for the first time since flooding cut off roads earlier this year.’

Mr Dungavell said transport business owners and freight companies like his would have no choice but to pass on an elevated fuel levy to their customers.

"We don't have any big customers, our customers are all mum-and-dad operations — builders and cattle stations and families," he said.

"They understand they have to pay the premium price for it because we have to charge the premium price for it, and understandably, they're going to have to pass that on to their customers as well.

"They've got to have the stuff, no matter what."

ACCC launches investigation

Fuel prices have risen since Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping route for about a fifth of the world's oil.

Australia's competition watchdog has announced it is investigating anti-competitive conduct by major fuel suppliers in regional and rural areas.

It will probe the conduct of major fuel companies like Ampol, BP, Mobil and Viva Energy.

The federal government has also established a national fuel supply task force to shape the country's response, led by Anthea Harris, the former head of Australia's energy regulator.

Industry calling for instant relief

Large transport companies typically lock in a price each week for their diesel supply with petrol companies.

The diesel terminal gate price in Brisbane, which is the wholesale price for large volumes, rose by more than a $1 a litre from the end of February to the end of this week.

The head of Queensland's trucking association, Gary Mahon, said the federal government should provide a short-term subsidy for the price increase, instead of changing the fuel excise.

"We'd like to see some financial relief applied, particularly to road freight and the agricultural sector," he said.

"These exorbitant price increases are beyond reasonable expectations."

Shadow Minister for Energy Dan Tehan said subsidies should be considered by the federal government.

"If that sort of support is needed to make sure that we can get the fuel to where the shortages are, that's absolutely something that should be looked at," he said.

HEAVY rain and flooding in parts of Queensland, and compounding uncertainty around supplies of urea for the upcoming winter-crop season, have created some big spikes in the northern market this week.

In the south, the impact of dearer fuel and urea prices is being softened by the rosy start to the season, thanks to rain that fell at around the same time hostilities between Iran and US-Israeli forces escalated.

Table 1: Indicative prices in Australian dollars per tonne.

Rain and mixed conditions impact the north

Some cropping areas in Central and southern Qld received some very heavy rain in the week to 9 am today. Higher registrations include: Clermont 110mm; Dalby 73mm; Emerald 185mm; Jondaryan 50mm; Macalister 114mm; Miles 217mm, and Roma 72mm.

However, many districts received no rain, and the experience was similar in northern New South Wales, where higher registrations include: Narrabri 86mm; Pallamallawa 45mm; Parkes 59mm, and Quirindi 20mm.

In Qld, rain caused some road closures, but growers were generally able to outload their sorghum to export. Uncertainty around fuel pricing and supply has been a bigger issue following a diesel price rise of around 25 per cent since the Middle East conflict closed the Strait of Hormuz.

“We’re going to take a hit this week because it is so hard to change existing contracts,” Ambrose Haulage managing director Jim Ambrose said.

“We’ve priced new freight at rates to regain losses, and our customers have been wonderful.”

They include grain-trading companies, and runs include triples at Hebel on the Qld-NSW border going to feedlots in Condamine. Mr Ambrose said the fuel hike has added around $3.50/t to the base central Downs to Brisbane rate of $30/t. One grain trader said he acknowledged the higher fuel prices that trucking companies were paying.

“We were paying $30/t freight last week from the central Downs to Brisbane, and now they’re up to $35; that’s our margin gone,” the trader said

The Goondiwindi-based Ambrose Haulage is running 35 trucks, and Mr Ambrose said even their trucks on the Hebel-Condamine run have been able to access fuel. Mr Ambrose explained the economics and said the company tries to be transparent on its pricing to customers.

“That western work is expensive on fuel; it’s 30-40c [per litre] more.

“Western fuel is dearer; our cheapest fuel is always in Brisbane.

“Transport’s not easy at the moment.”

Mr Ambrose is hopeful prices will drift lower by next week as Australia takes comfort in assured supply for the domestic market, despite the Middle East conflict.

“I’m assuming this will be a storm in a teacup and it will be back to normal in a fortnight.”

Sunrise Commodities managing director Scott Merson said farm gate values for sorghum rose by around $10/t over the past week.

“A lot of delivered values were higher than that,” Mr Merson said.

The stronger prices were paid for the delivered Brisbane market, where recently harvested sorghum is being exported in bulk to China.

“The rain slowed down selling, but logistically, it was not a massive issue.”

Most sorghum on the western and central Downs, and in northern NSW beyond the Liverpool Plains, has been harvested. Some sorghum downgraded because of the rain has been trading in small amounts into piggeries at a discount of around $20/t to the top grade.

“On the whole, it’s not a big problem.”

Traders report little interest from Qld and northern NSW growers in selling wheat at current levels, and with barley stocks limited north of the border, NSW growers are holding what they have. That means most new business is being executed out of up-country warehousing.

With limited subsoil moisture in most cropping districts in northern NSW, and growers alarmed by the prospects of in-crop urea being expensive and hard to get, the region’s winter crop may be a small one.

“If this continues, we could run to cover the cost of execution (of cereals) to the Downs from South Australia; it’s happened before.”

ASW-type wheat has traded into some Downs sites at a high of $370/t in the past week, although most trades have been closer to $363/t.

“Growers are not selling; where the grain is, they’re bone dry.

“What farmers are saying to themselves is: Even if we do get rain, are we better off following through to the summer crop?

As growers look at the heady cost of production for new-crop, based on the Middle East conflict’s impact on fuel and fertiliser, they are feeling that new-crop owes them even more than the current crop.

“In Queensland, we’ve got 900,000 head of cattle to feed…and then there’s the chooks; that’s a lot of demand.”

AgVantage Commodities broker Brendon Warnock said this week has seen increased volatility and uncertainty based around the fuel and fertiliser markets, both price and supply-wise. In contrast to this time last year, when ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred set up northern NSW for a strong start to winter cropping, Mr Warnock said confidence in new-crop planting was limited.

“People are mentioning that if things don’t change, [they] just won’t plant,” Mr Warnock said.

“If we were to get an east-coast low…and a widespread 200mm, they would go ahead and plant something.

“We haven’t seen a widespread rain event, and growers are saying that maybe this is the grain that’s going to have to last me for two years,” he said of on-farm stocks.

Mr Warnock said the steady increase in prices, as has been evident on AgVantage Commodities’ Market Place trading platform, shows consumers are extending coverage as prices firm.

Southern sales subdued

In Victoria, Pinion Advisory broker Andy Brown said grower selling has remained thin, with higher road freight rates to reflect dearer fuel negating firmer cash prices for wheat and barley.

“The market has snuck up, but we’ve probably lost more in freight to get it to port,” Mr Brown said.

Despite expensive fuel and urea, he said the mood in Vic was upbeat following “unbelievable rain” of 50-200mm over much of Vic’s key grain-growing regions.

“It doesn’t get much better.”

Mr Brown said he fielded three questions from just about every grower who rang him after the rain.

“The first was about fuel, the second was about urea, and the third was about canola seed.

“Everyone is upbeat, other than the fact that inputs are more expensive.”

Canola’s in-crop appetite for nitrogen has not dented its appeal to Vic growers.

“Gross margin-wise, canola is going to be well ahead of wheat; at $750/t Geelong, it’s stacking up.

“Potentially, we’ll see a few more pulses going in the ground, just because of the price of urea.”

Many Thanks LH

Agrifood systems worldwide are continuing to undergo significant change. With climate variability intensifying and margins tightening, farmers and agribusinesses are under more pressure than ever to do more with less. Despite these challenges, the industry’s entrepreneurial spirit continues to thrive, driving fresh thinking and innovative solutions to enhance the future of food production.

What agrifood tech innovations are set to make the biggest impact in 2026? We asked our users to share their thoughts, and two themes clearly stood out: robotics and carbon and climate solutions.

Check out the six organisations related to robotics and carbon and climate solutions that are turning ideas into actions and continuing to drive change across local and global agrifood systems in 2026.

NEXT-GEN ROBOTICS: TRANSFORMING FARM PRODUCTIVITY

It’s no secret that automation, robotics and mechanisation hold the key to increased efficiency across the agrifood supply chain. The Australian Government’s National Robotics Strategy highlights the growing importance of automation, estimating that robotics and related technologies could contribute up to $600 billion annually to gross domestic product (GDP) by 20301.

Rising operational costs and labour shortages are major drivers for farmers looking to robotics to complete routine tasks such as spraying, weeding and harvesting.

At the same time, on-farm applications of these solutions are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Robotic technologies are now integrating sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and data analytics to create fully connected smart farming systems.

FIELDWORK ROBOTICS

In a bid to tackle ongoing labour shortages and rising harvesting costs, UK-based Fieldwork Robotics has developed the world’s first autonomous raspberry harvester. Using AI-enhanced 3D cameras, sensors and machine learning, the system picks fruit gently and with precision. The system is adaptable to other high-value soft fruits, including blackberries, strawberries and tomatoes.

With strong commercial traction, including a partnership with Costa Group, the company is exploring further expansion opportunities in the Australian market.

RIPE ROBOTICS

Australian start-up Ripe Robotics has created a commercial prototype to harvest stone fruits (plums, peaches and nectarines) as well as apples. The system uses specialised suction grippers and AI vision to evaluate fruit size, colour and quality during picking. Embedded data collection will support future capabilities, including thinning, pruning, spraying and on-farm sorting.

Following prototype trials in Shepparton, Victoria, the company is now working to scale its fleet for wider commercial deployment.

4AG ROBOTICS

Based in Canada, 4AG Robotics has developed a fully autonomous, computer vision-guided robot to pick, trim and pack agaricus mushrooms. The system can attach to a farm’s existing Dutch Rack shelving and delivers end-to-end harvesting, with no need for residual harvesting tasks or responsibility. Through AI-powered automation, 4AG Robotics enables mushroom growers to boost productivity with minimal labour requirements.

As of April 2025, the robots are deployed with six customers across three continents, including Australia.

Australian Agriculture Update: Rate Hike Confirmed & Farmers Adjusting Fast

This week has delivered a clear shift in the economic landscape, with the Reserve Bank of Australia lifting the cash rate again to 4.10%, marking the second increase in just over a month. 

The move comes as inflation remains stubborn, driven in part by rising global energy prices linked to ongoing Middle East tensions. For Australian farmers, this isn’t just a macro headline — it’s already flowing through to higher borrowing costs, tighter lending conditions and more expensive day-to-day operations.

At the same time, the impact on agriculture is two-sided.

On one hand, higher fuel and transport costs are putting pressure on margins, particularly for broadacre and livestock operations that rely heavily on diesel and freight. Fertiliser and input costs are also at risk of rising further if global energy markets remain volatile.

On the other hand, strong global demand for Australian agricultural exports continues to provide a solid foundation. Grain, beef and other key commodities remain well supported, giving producers confidence to keep investing — but with more discipline.

What’s changed this week is the mindset.

Farmers are moving quickly to lock in certainty where possible, manage exposure to rising costs, and structure investments in a way that protects cash flow. Equipment upgrades, transport efficiency and reliability are still a priority — but timing and structure now matter more than ever.

In this environment, groups like REV Finance are working alongside Australian farmers to structure machinery, vehicle and equipment funding around seasonal income — helping maintain momentum without putting unnecessary strain on working capital.

With rates rising and conditions shifting, decisive planning is becoming the defining advantage across Australian agriculture.

Australians could be forced to pay more for groceries as the US-Israeli war in Iran drives up the price of fertiliser.

The Middle East, known for being one of the world's most dominant suppliers of oil, also supplies up to 45 per cent of the world's urea.

Urea is the most commonly used nitrogen fertiliser that promotes high crop yields and is used for wheat and vegetables. 

Australia does not produce urea and relies almost entirely on imports, which have all but halted as the war shuts down the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Luis Gazzola, director of Gazzola Farms on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, said the increasing cost of urea will leave farmers like him worse off.

Prices have been going up for the last four years. Our cost of production has gone up 25 per cent or more," he said.

"But our returns and our produce, fruit and veggies haven't gone up, unfortunately."

National Farmers' Federation president Hamish McIntyre said this could lead to higher prices at the supermarkets.

"Fertiliser prices are already climbing, with urea now sitting at around $US584 a tonne, up nearly 30 per cent in the past month and more than 50 per cent higher than a year ago," he said.

"That's deeply concerning as farmers prepare for winter cropping, because tightening supply and soaring costs could mean fewer crops planted and ultimately higher food prices."

Monash University professor of econometrics and business statistics Robert Brooks said the extent of the consumer impact would depend on when and how much the supply chain can bounce back from the conflict.

"A lot of primary production is already operating with fairly tight margins, and they're also operating in a situation where the planting and the growing cycle are seasonal, and so there are certain times where this becomes really time-critical," he said.

"On the grocery price chain end, transport then becomes a bigger part of infrastructure, so the longer you get disruption, and the longer you get higher oil, petrol, diesel and urea prices, the more you get price stickiness.

"And we do know that aspects of the supply shock that came out of the Russia-Ukraine conflict are clearly part of the inflation that we face today."

In a research note yesterday, Commonwealth Bank noted the crisis could last months and pose significant issues for agricultural production this year.

"While some of the best prepared farmers have most of their fertiliser needs purchased for the year, many don't have it delivered onto their properties, leaving them at risk of future supply shortfalls due to shipment challenges," economist Dennis Voznesenski said.

"On the fuel side, some of the best prepared farmers have sufficient purchases for a few months, but only partially delivered.

"Farmers with limited reserves could run into issues due to recent panic buying, with fuel rationing reported across different parts of the country." 

For farmers like James Duffell, who owns Farmer and Son in NSW's Riverina region, he will have to absorb the price increases.

"It's going to make a big difference to your bottom line, because a lot depends on petrol and diesel," he said.

"It's very hard for us to pass that on when we're the first ones in on the food chain.

"But if everything stops, no one gets to eat."

In practice, I’ve seen this most often after a tough season or when something new catches someone’s attention.

So a change gets made based on a new idea or a conversation that lingers. That’s fine, the adjustment often feels like a measured response to real information. In isolation, it usually is.

The trouble is it's never just one adjustment, and after a few seasons the operation is in permanent motion and nobody can quite remember what they were originally trying to do.

Where Consistency Actually Wins

From the outside, it looks like good operators are constantly improving things.

What I’ve noticed is the opposite.

The ones getting steady results are usually the ones who hold their nerve. They let a system run long enough to understand it properly. In other words, they allow the system time to talk back. 

Because once you start changing things too often, you lose your reference point.

You’re no longer measuring performance but just reacting to it. There’s a level of discipline in letting something play out, even when you feel like you should be doing more.

The Cost of “Just Tweaking It”

Most changes are framed as, “we’ll just try this” or “we’ll adjust that slightly.” But those small changes stack up. Suddenly results are harder to read. The team isn’t quite sure what the standard is anymore. You find yourself revisiting decisions you thought were already settled.

That’s where I think the line sits between refining and tinkering. So just consider these: 

When a Second Set of Eyes Helps

RD Creative Studio is a tech-forward company. We work with rural businesses on systems, tools, and digital infrastructure. But we will also be the first to tell you when the answer isn't a new tool and when the operation actually needs is to stop adjusting and let what's already there do its work. 

If your program feels like it's always in motion and never quite settling, that's worth a conversation.

Sometimes the most valuable outcome isn’t a new direction. It’s confidence in the one you’re already on.

📧 [email protected] 

G'day REALM readers,

Who's a pretty boy then? 

If you've been front and centre with a Mickey Bull like this fella above, you know there's a solid yard railing between you and him. I've heard many a war story of 'Mickey' encounters either in the yards, on a bike or on horseback - mostly close shaves and uninjured, with many a ringer high tailing it up a tree; and others who were not so lucky, including injured horses from a Mickey's unclipped horns.

Basically, a Mickey Bull is a young bull that slipped through the muster and never got castrated or branded (thus the name 'Cleanskin' as they are also commonly called). In the US, they are referred to as 'Mavericks'. These cleanskin bulls, usually around 12–18 months old, later show up running with the cows and trying to breed when they shouldn’t be. Because they can throw unknown genetics into the herd, they’re usually drafted out pretty quickly when spotted.

So whilst station workers know what a Mickey is, the origin of the name isn’t exactly clear. Like plenty of bush yarns, there are a few different stories behind the name when I asked the question recently on the RFTTE FB group...

A popular theory links the name to the phrase 'taking the mickey', meaning to tease or cause trouble. A rogue bull sneaking into the breeding mob and serving cows could easily be seen as taking the mickey out of the station owner.

Some also believe the name may come from Irish bush slang, as many early drovers and stockmen were Irish, along the lines of a young cleanskin bull being a bit wild and unruly, like one of those 'young Irish Micks'.

There are also a few more bush explanations with a bit of 'mayo' on them. Some old hands reckon the name comes from the round ears of young bulls, which supposedly look a bit like Mickey Mouse ears. Whether that’s true or not is anyone’s guess… like most bush nicknames, it probably started as a joke and stuck.

Any other theories about where the term Mickey came from, or a picture of one? Let me know, and we'll add it to the Mickey blog. In the meantime, get amongst the latest mob of jobs... 

 LATEST JOBS 

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