This week's roundup: New England Renewable Energy Zone, The Agricultural Commodities Report contains ABARES, Sunnydale Vintage Day, Strong Yields, Softer Prices — A Shift in Focus, Southern Queensland farmers, and more updates. Plus, fresh listings, auction dates, and more from across Australian ag. Let's get into it →

NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe has met with disgruntled landowners set to be impacted by the New England Renewable Energy Zone. She has committed to working with farmers to minimise the impact on their land, but says the renewable transition must go ahead.

The community is continuing to oppose the project, which it says will impact agricultural productivity and land values. Farmers have been told sacrifices will need to be made, as plans for the Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in the New South Wales New England region forge ahead.

In October last year, EnergyCo revised the proposed route of the Upper Hunter transmission lines to include a 3-kilometre-wide corridor running east of Scone, through the Gundy Valley and into the Walcha Shire.

The original route, announced in March 2024, started in Muswellbrook and ran west of the Gundy Valley to Walcha, closer to the New England Highway.

Local opponents say the new route threatens agriculture and the small towns along the revised transmission line corridor.

"We're united from Rouchel right up to Walcha that this line is not happening," Timor resident Domonique Travers said.

"Land values will just be destroyed if they run this transmission corridor through here; we would have to move."

Energy Minister Penny Sharpe has met with members of the Upper Hunter Responsible Infrastructure Group (UHRIG), who say proposed transmission lines for the REZ will destroy prime agricultural land and decimate property values.

"I'm glad that the various landholders took time to show me [their concerns]," she told ABC Upper Hunter Breakfast.

"All of the issues they raised to me we're taking on board, and I'm asking all of those questions directly to EnergyCo [the agency responsible for delivering the REZ]."

But despite acknowledging the issues, Ms Sharpe said the proposed route was ultimately the right one.

"There is room for these things to be moved during the process … [but] to completely change the route, that's probably less likely," she said.

"There's always going to be an impact, no matter what you do. There are really difficult questions and difficult trade-offs … [because] it's really fundamental … it's keeping the lights on."

Hopes for a compromise

Libby Crouch, whose Waverley property is in the proposed transmission corridor, said she was hopeful the visit had an impact.

"We had really high hopes for this visit, and we had some very significant issues to show the minister," she said.

"[She] was very good at saying 'I'm listening, I'm hearing you' and it remains to be seen whether any action will actually occur."

Ms Crouch believes that if Ms Sharpe and EnergyCo work with the community, a compromise can be reached.

"There's a huge amount that [EnergyCo] can do to improve what is currently a really negative outcome, by trying to mitigate the impact on farmers, the environment, bushfire risk, so we're really hoping that they do that," she said.

EnergyCo's CEO, Hannah McCaughey, said as the route was refined from the 3km study corridor to the final 140 metres, many community concerns could be mitigated.

"Once people actually understand how the construction takes place, how they can continue their farming operations around this new infrastructure, the benefits and employment opportunities, we get to a much better place," she said.

Worker sacked

Ms Sharpe's visit came amid rising tensions between parts of the community and EnergyCo. Last month, an EnergyCo contractor was let go after he was heard making disparaging remarks in a busy Scone cafe.

Ms Travers made a formal complaint to EnergyCo

"[He] joined what was assumed to be an EnergyCo video call and used the first and last name of an affected landowner and called that landowner crazy and openly laughed," the complaint read.

Ms Travers said the comments undermined the community's trust in EnergyCo.

"The arrogance of talking so loudly and brazenly, that just shows you what they're like when they're out in our communities and how they've been acting." "We're totally fed up with that."

While giving evidence to a NSW parliamentary inquiry into the impacts of REZs on local communities, Ms McCaughey confirmed the contractor had been stood down.

"This incident was regrettable and unfortunate … it was immediately acted on, and we had a zero tolerance of this sort of behaviour," she said.

"We did do a very thorough investigation after getting a complaint from a member of the community. We promptly let that individual employee go to uphold the highest standards."

The Agricultural Commodities Report contains ABARES' forecasts for the value, volume and price of Australia's agricultural production and exports, and average broadacre farm performance.

Underpinning the forecasts contained in the Agricultural Commodities Report are ABARES' outlook for global commodity prices, demand and supply. Each edition of the report factors in how changes to this outlook affect Australian producers and the value of their produce. Important risks to the outlook are also considered and discussed in
each report.

A ‘medium term’ (5-year) outlook is published each year in the March edition of the Agricultural Commodities Report.

Each June, September and December edition contains a short-term outlook. In June, the forecast period is to the end of the next Australian financial year (July to June). In September and December, the forecast period is to the end of the current Australian financial year.

The Agricultural Commodity Statistics (ACS) provides comprehensive data on the Australian agriculture, fisheries, and
forestry sectors. The publication covers a wide range of commodities, such as broadacre crops, horticulture, livestock,
fisheries, and forestry products. Key areas of focus include:

The publication serves as an important resource for policymakers, researchers, and industry to track trends and make
informed decisions.

The ACS data tables are available in downloadable format at Agricultural commodities and trade data.

In a muddy field in country Western Australia, a slice of history rolled into town.

The farming town of Kojonup is usually bathed in a sea of yellow in September as the canola crops come into bloom.

But on the outskirts of the grain and sheep farming community, 300 kilometres south of Perth, one field was coloured yellow for a different reason.

More than 100 new and vintage tractors were trucked in from across the state to celebrate 100 years since the first Caterpillar was used in WA at the Sunnydale Vintage Day on Saturday.

"There's a lot of history to some of these machines," Kojonup farmer Peter Spurr said.

"There are a couple of machines here; they've got a lot of very good stories behind them."

Mr Spurr estimated the total value of the collection at $20 million.

The farmer and prolific tractor collector, who laid claim to owning the oldest tractor in the show, a 100-year-old Holt Caterpillar, said the vintage machinery was an important part of the country's history.

"They opened the country up from the early 1920s all the way right through to the 60s, clearing farms," he said.

"It just opened up agriculture in WA and across Australia in general."

"It's very special to have this machinery around, still active; it's just a testament to the brand… to see the oldest to the latest here today, and it's all still in fairly good working order."

Mr Spurr has more than 100 "bits of gear" in his personal collection.

"One day it will be too many, but at the moment I'm still collecting," he said.

Far from gathering dust, the farmer said each machine had a role to play.

"They still get out to do a special job now and again, so they're not quite completely tucked away in the shed," he said.

"They're still pretty active on the farm."

An iconic hue

In 1931, the brand changed the colour scheme of its tractors to highway yellow to increase visibility and safety, but the oldest and most historic still retain the original battleship grey paint job.

One of those early grey tractors, a Caterpillar Sixty that helped shape WA, belongs to Bob Lukins.

"The old Caterpillar Sixty, from 1928, was used mainly in the early days to clear the Albany Highway," he said.

"They used it to pull the trees down.

"It's got MRD stamped on the chassis of the tractor — that was the main road board in those days."

A founding member of the WA Vintage Tractor and Machinery Association, and a vintage tractor collector, Mr Lukins said he had no idea of the Sixty's’ history when he purchased the machine, which now holds a special place in his collection.

"I got quite excited about that because Albany Highway is a major road, and this tractor was part of that history," he said.

"It's the only one in Western Australia, so it's quite a rare old tractor."

More than 1,000 people attended the event, which Mr Lukins said took months of planning to consolidate the more than 100 tractors, graders, and bobcats into one location.

A feat that would likely go unmatched for some time.

"We'll never see a collection of Caterpillars ever again like this, I don't think so," he said.

This week, Australian agriculture is facing a different kind of pressure — not from production, but from pricing and margins.

Across several key regions, early reports are pointing to solid yields and strong output expectations for the season. Cropping conditions have held up well in many areas, and livestock supply is steady. On the surface, it’s a positive position — but it’s bringing a new challenge.

With production holding strong globally, commodity prices are starting to soften. Grain markets in particular are seeing downward pressure, while livestock prices are stabilising rather than pushing higher. For many farmers, this means revenue isn’t keeping pace with the rising cost base seen over recent months.

The result is a squeeze from a different angle — good production, but tighter margins.

What’s changing this week is the response. Farmers are shifting focus away from output and toward profitability per hectare and per head. Efficiency is taking centre stage — reducing input waste, improving turnaround times, and ensuring every dollar spent is working harder.

At the same time, more producers are reassessing their financial position. Refinancing existing loans, reducing repayment pressure, and unlocking equity to improve cash flow are becoming more common strategies — not just to manage conditions, but to stay ahead of them.

In this environment, Pay In Time Finance continues working alongside Australian farmers to restructure lending and align equipment and asset finance with seasonal income — helping protect margins while keeping operations moving.

As the season evolves, the focus is clear: it’s no longer just about producing more — it’s about keeping more of what you produce.

We are currently representing a qualified buyer seeking to secure quality rural land within the Riverina region.

Acquisition Criteria:
⦁ Approximately 3,000 acres in a single holding, or
⦁ Up to three separate properties
⦁ If multiple holdings, properties should be located within an approximate 300 km radius

Key Requirements:

⦁ A reliable and secure water supply is essential
⦁ Productive soil types, suitable for lucerne and general cropping
⦁ Shedding and structural improvements are not a priority
⦁ Residential dwellings are not required

This is a genuine opportunity for landholders considering a sale or exploring market interest.

For confidential discussions or to express interest, please get in touch with our team.
📞Dale McCleary
PH: 0474 230 633
E: [email protected]

While parts of Queensland are still drying out after the state's wettest summer in 15 years, a very different story is unfolding in the south.

Cross the Southern Downs and Goondiwindi, conditions are unusually dry.

Karara, about 200 kilometres south-west of Brisbane, recorded its second-driest summer on record, with just 94 millimetres of rain, according to Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior climatologist Zhi-Weng Chua.

And there is little sign of relief, with the bureau this week revising its outlook to show only a 35 per cent chance of above-average rainfall across Queensland from April to June.

There are no official drought declarations statewide, but many producers on the ground say it is starting to feel like one.

It has prompted many farmers to be proactive and encourage others to do the same, making decisions early and adapting before it is too late

First-time farewell

At Junabee, near Warwick, Dugald Spenceley made his first tough decision as a grazier: selling off most of his family's animals.

After just five years in the livestock industry, he has sold about 120 cattle because the lack of effective rainfall over the past eight months means the grass simply can not support them.

"It's mixed emotions," Mr Spenceley said.

"You do have an emotional attachment to the animals, but also to your business."

The hardest part was deciding what to do, but the stress eased once he committed.

The family has kept a small number of cattle and may reduce numbers further, including the sheep, as winter approaches.

Their goal, he said, was simple — protect the land now so it could bounce back later.

"It's never nice and you [don't always] get it right, but a plan is always better than reaction in many instances," Mr Spenceley said.

Why the disparity?

According to BOM, the split between a wet north and dry inland south is due to weather patterns. Between December and February, northern and central Queensland were hit by multiple tropical systems, including cyclones and inland troughs that brought heavy rain.

But those systems did not reach the southern inland districts. As a result, the southern Darling Downs has been among the driest areas in the state.

"[It's] been that area that's seen the most dry conditions over the last four months, being in the bottom 10 per cent of the historical record," Dr Chua said.

Selling while it counts

At Karara, a rural town nearly 100km south-west of Toowoomba, creeks and dams are drying up across livestock producer Bruce McLeish's property. Paddocks that would normally have tall bluegrass are thin and struggling.

The last significant rain — more than 25 millimetres in a day — was in July.

"That's probably unheard of in this country," he said.

Rather than wait, he is selling his cattle early while they are still in good condition and prices are strong, with a full destock looming as an option.

"You've got to think ahead," he said.

"If the market's strong and your stock is strong, you're probably better off taking it now than waiting till you're halfway through the winter."

Having lived through previous dry years, including the 2019–22 drought, he said many farmers were being more proactive.

"We're pre-empting it this time".

'Kilometres of pipelines'

At Lyra, about an hour south of Karara, David Andreatta put infrastructure in place to overcome some hurdles. His tomato and capsicum farm depends entirely on irrigation, and with little rain since November, he had to get creative.

He built a temporary 7km pipeline to pump water from a neighbour's property.

"There are a lot of farmers with kilometres and kilometres of pipelines running around the district," he said.

It pushed up costs, he said, but it was working. And despite the tough conditions, his crops are performing well.

"Our quality has probably never been better," he said.

"Yields on tomatoes are probably higher than normal."

But it has not been enough to allay concerns he has for the future, especially if dry conditions continue into next season, which could impact jobs and production. Winemakers are perhaps faring the best in the dry times.

In Ballandean, vineyards have just wrapped up their fourth strong vintage in a row.

Even with heat speeding up the growing process, the results have been impressive.

"In a year full of challenges, we've produced fruit and wines we can all be proud of," winemaker Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi said.

Despite the dry, Dugald Spenceley knows tough seasons do not last forever.

While pulling back in some areas, he is moving forward in others — even expanding by buying a neighbouring block.

"We've still got confidence," he said.

"People have got to eat."

A few months back, I got talking to an operator at a clearing sale. He'd listed a header the week before, had a good enquiry on it, and was surprised when it sat unsold. So, we looked back through the messages to see where it went wrong. 

What we found: 
Most of the interest came in Saturday morning between seven and ten. 
He saw the messages on Monday at quarter past eight. 

Two of those buyers had already put deposits on other machines by then.

That's not a dramatic story. It's how most yards I've spent time in are running. The enquiry comes in hot on the weekend (simply because that's when operators have a minute to look) and then it sits. In an inbox or a missed call log that nobody checks until the work week starts.

The team has been looking at this across a few different operators recently, and the same thing keeps showing up. The enquiries are getting through. They're just landing somewhere quiet. Nobody sees them in time. By Monday, the buyer has usually moved on, without saying so.

A check worth running this weekend

Worth a small check this weekend. Pick any Saturday. Write down every channel a buyer could use to reach your business — listings, website form, mobile, office line, messenger, email, Facebook, whatever's on your card. Then look at where each one actually ends up. Who sees it first? How fast. Is it the person who knows the machine, or someone who'll pass it on Monday morning? And if that person's at a footy carnival or out in the paddock, is there a backup?

Most operators who've done this check find at least one channel that's effectively dark on weekends. The ones that land best — the phone number that actually rings someone — often get described as "low volume." Partly because nobody else is answering on a Saturday either.

Usually, one small change does most of the work. It could be as simple as a form re-routed or a line diverted from Friday afternoon. Or an auto-reply that fires the minute an enquiry lands — just "Got your message, I'll come back to you first thing Monday." What surprised me is how often that alone is enough.

The shift is mostly in knowing where enquiries are already arriving, and making sure they don't land somewhere nobody's looking.

Does this sound like your weekends?

Drop me a line at [email protected] if any of this rings true. The team and I have been talking this through with a handful of operators recently. It’s always useful to hear what others are seeing.

G’day REALM Readers…

On Anzac Day tomorrow, it’s worth remembering that many of Australia’s bravest were shaped by country life long before war. Farms, stations, hard work, horses, drought, distance and long hours often built the character later shown in battle.

Here are some Aussie Victoria Cross recipients, many with country roots, whose bravery in the heat of battle saved many of their mates...

Harry Murray VC

Harry Murray was born near Evandale, Tasmania, and left school young to help run the family farm after his father died. Later, he moved to WA, where he worked on a wheat farm. On 4–5 February 1917 at Stormy Trench near Gueudecourt, France, he led his company in savage close-quarter fighting, repelling repeated German counter-attacks while often leading bayonet and bombing charges himself. After the war, he settled in Queensland, purchased Glenlyon Station near Richmond, became a grazier and wool grower, and later served again in World War II before returning to the land.

Albert Chalmers Borella VC

Borella was no ordinary soldier. Long before World War I, he had already lived a hard northern frontier life, working the land and running a pastoral lease near the Daly River in the NT after years as a bushman and drover. In battle at Villers-Bretonneux, France, on 17 July 1918, he stormed through fierce machine-gun fire, personally silenced enemy gun crews with his revolver, captured their position and then rallied exhausted men to hold off repeated German counter-attacks while badly outnumbered. Wounded several times across the war, he came home carrying lasting injuries yet quietly devoted himself to helping returned servicemen until his passing in 1968.

Keith Payne VC

Keith Payne was born in Ingham, QLD - one of 13 children - and worked in rural jobs - including as a cane cutter - before joining the army, serving in Korea, the Malayan Emergency and Borneo before Vietnam. On 24 May 1969, near Ben Het Camp, Kontum Province, Vietnam, his unit came under fierce attack, and he was wounded by grenade shrapnel, yet he repeatedly moved through heavy enemy fire searching for wounded and scattered troops. Over several hours in darkness, he located and helped bring out around 40 soldiers, reorganised survivors and led them back to safety.

And a classic bush yarn worth mentioning... Keith was struck by a platypus spur in 1991 while trying to rescue it, later saying the pain was worse than shrapnel! Now aged 92, he is Australia's oldest living VC recipient. His book 'No One Left Behind' is an excellent read.

Mark Donaldson VC

Mark Donaldson, born in Warwick, QLD, spent part of his youth around Dorrigo in northern NSW, where country life helped build his grit - including dealing with the tragic and suspicious circumstances surrounding his mother’s death. I’ve met Mark on a couple of occasions, a very humble fella, and also read his book 'The Crossroad', which I highly recommend. He’s a pretty handy surfer, too!

On 2 September 2008 in Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan, when his patrol was ambushed, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to protect wounded mates, then crossed open ground to rescue an Afghan interpreter - earning him the VC. After the SAS, he became a strong advocate for mental health awareness, resilience and veterans’ wellbeing.

Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG

Ben Roberts-Smith, born and raised in Perth, earned the Victoria Cross whilst serving with the SAS, for actions on 11 June 2010 at Tizak, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, during an assault against fortified Taliban positions.

As his patrol came under heavy machine-gun fire from elevated enemy strongpoints, Roberts-Smith moved aggressively up steep ground under direct fire to engage the positions at close range. His actions helped neutralise key threats that were pinning down Australian troops and enabled the patrol to continue the attack. By taking the fight forward in extreme danger, he reduced the risk to his fellow soldiers and was recognised for conspicuous gallantry. 

Before this VC action, Roberts-Smith, who completed up to six operational tours of Afghanistan, is among the rare Australians to have received both the Medal for Gallantry and the Victoria Cross. He was awarded the Medal for Gallantry in 2006 after exposing himself to enemy fire during operations in Afghanistan to protect and support fellow troops under intense contact.

Teddy Sheean VC

Edward Sheean grew up in rural Tasmania, where hard work was a way of life. On 1 December 1942, in the Timor Sea, as HMAS Armidale sank under air attack, he strapped himself into his gun position and fired on enemy aircraft to shield shipmates escaping into the water. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. As he was killed in action aged just 18, his legacy lived on through generations of Australians who campaigned successfully for his bravery to receive the VC in 2020.

So this Anzac Day...

With all this unrest in the world right now, from the Middle East to growing global uncertainty, Anzac Day is a timely reminder that freedom and stability should never be taken for granted. When the moment came, these men stood tall for their mates... and their country.

Lest We Forget

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.