This week's roundup: Family remembers Wilson Sprague, Practical drought-prep, All-New CH Series
from John Deere, Some Welcome Relief, and more updates. Plus, fresh listings, auction dates, and more from across Australia's ag sector. Let's get into it →

Anne Sprague will never forget watching her son learn to ride a bike in the yard on a remote cattle station north-east of Blackall.

"Wilson was very full on — he walked by the time he was nine months old," Ms Sprague said.

"He wanted to learn to ride the pushbike without training wheels. He just had that grit and determination."

Chopper pilot Wilson Sprague died in a helicopter crash while tracking a bushfire near Kowanyama, west of Cairns, on October 9 last year.

"He was flying back from picking up parts, and he'd noticed a fire started by lightning," Ms Sprague said.

"He just wasn't a bloke who would've thought, 'No, it's late in the afternoon, someone else will sort that.' He wouldn't stop until the job was done."

In a report last month, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau found the 27-year-old was not qualified for night flying, and the helicopter wasn't equipped to fly after dark.

Nine months on, his family and close friends are remembering Wilson as a passionate stockman and a "good bloke".

Growing up on a grazing property in central west Queensland, 95 kilometres from the nearest town, life was busy for the Sprague family.

From a young age, Wilson would play cattle stations with his sisters, Georgia and Holly, under the backyard camphor laurel tree.

"It was dirt under the tree, but they'd have their tracks and roads, and they'd have yards built, trucks, loaders," Ms Sprague said.

Like many who grew up on remote stations, the young boy showed a keen interest in stock work and helped muster cattle on horseback.

Ms Sprague said she remembered Wilson racing down to the stockyards to help with branding in between his on-air school lessons.

"He just had a quiet, gentle nature with animals. He always wanted to go work on stations," she said.

For his 14th birthday, parents Anne and Jason bought their son a trial helicopter flight on the Sunshine Coast, where he sat in the pilot's seat and gave flying a go.

Ms Sprague said her son's "eyes lit up".

"He never stopped talking about that," she said.

In 2016, Wilson graduated from high school and went to work for a cattle operation near Cloncurry as a first-year ringer, before mustering in the Northern Territory.

Later, he obtained a private helicopter licence and worked across three cattle stations for family-owned MDH Pty Ltd, from Mt Windsor to Rutland Plains, as a mustering pilot.

Muttaburra chopper pilot Gordon Magoffin said Wilson was the strongest person he had ever met.

"He was tough as nails — [you] could not get tougher than Wilson Sprague," Mr Magoffin said, adding that his mate could weld, drive a bulldozer, a loader and a grader.

Mr Magoffin said he had known Wilson longer than anyone else in his life, except for his own family.

He was a natural in the yards, but more importantly, a good friend.

"Wilson used to always have this water bottle at the front of his bike," Mr Magoffin said.

"Everybody would be getting thirsty, and they'd linger closer and closer to Wilson as the day went on.

"He never turned anyone down a sip of water.

"He'd be lucky to get two sips out of it by the time everyone else had leeched off him."

Will Long was a first-year ringer at Brightlands Station near Cloncurry when he first met Wilson, then head stockman.

"He's just so good with cattle and puts you in the right place, and makes you aware of everything you need to know," Mr Long said.

The pair soon became good mates.

Mr Long said Wilson taught him to be a leader.

"If you [were] doing something wrong, he'd make sure next time you were doing it right, instead of letting everyone get away with doing the wrong thing."

Mr Magoffin agreed.

"I think, in huge ways — and I've thought this for years — Wilson could instil a lot of confidence in you," he said.

"I started flying 12 months before Wilson, and I remember one of the reasons I felt so confident getting my licence was that I knew Wilson would be there.

"If he lived to 80 years old, they could have written a book on him.

"We might yet still."

Ms Sprague said she hoped Wilson would be remembered as a tenacious, loyal and gentle soul.

"He was just a good bloke," she said.

"There's a lot of good blokes out there, it's just some of them don't get taken so early."

The drought cycle in Australia is as predictable as the seasons. While we can’t stop the dry spells, we can prepare for them. Here’s how Aussie farmers are making practical moves in 2026 to weather the inevitable droughts and keep their operations resilient.

## Understanding the water landscape

In 2026, drought preparation is less about prediction and more about understanding our water resources. Farmers across the country are taking a hard look at their water sources, from the Murray-Darling Basin to local catchments. It’s about knowing exactly what you’ve got and how best to use it. Many are investing in water storage improvements, like building dams or enhancing existing irrigation systems. It’s not just about having water—it’s about having it when you need it most.

## Diversifying crops and livestock

Droughts have taught us that not all crops and livestock are equal when the rain stops. Savvy farmers are diversifying what they grow and rear. In the Riverina, for example, I’ve seen farmers shift towards drought-resistant crops like sorghum and millet, while others are integrating more resilient livestock breeds. This kind of diversification isn’t just about risk management—it’s about staying profitable when the chips are down.

## Financial and operational planning

A solid financial plan is as crucial as a good rain. In 2026, more farmers are partnering with financial advisors who understand ag cycles. They’re setting up contingency funds and exploring insurance options that cover drought-related losses. On the operational side, farmers are streamlining their processes to ensure efficiency even during tough times. It’s about being lean and mean, not just during the drought, but in the lead-up and aftermath as well.

## Technology and data-driven decisions

Technology isn’t just for the tech giants. It’s becoming a vital tool on the farm. Many are now using data from our radar feed to make informed decisions about planting and harvesting. Drones and satellite imagery are helping farmers monitor crop health and soil moisture levels in real-time. It’s not tech for tech’s sake—it’s about making every drop of water and every dollar count.

## Community and knowledge sharing

There’s strength in numbers, and Aussie farmers know this well. In 2026, we’re seeing more collaboration through local farmer groups and online platforms. Sharing knowledge and resources can make a world of difference when you’re facing a dry season. Communities are coming together to buy supplies in bulk, share equipment, and even swap labour. It’s grassroots resilience at its finest.

Where this lives is in the community—not just the paddocks. At REALM Group, we’re fostering these connections and sharing insights through our REALM360 community. Come hang out, share your stories, and learn from others who are in the same boat. Let’s keep the conversation going and ensure we’re all better prepared for whatever the future holds.

We started in the fields, threading our way through the stalks. We talked - and listened - to sugar growers like you. We spent hours in the cab. And when we were through, we came up with an all-new CH Harvester lineup. From a large, spacious cab with plenty of comfort and visibility, to more automation technology to increase productivity and decrease stress, to the sleek, updated styling - the new CH Series is our most advanced and capable sugar cane harvester yet. 

A reengineered main air inlet, along with new rear wall angles and extended vanes, optimises airflow efficiency inside the primary cleaning chamber. This eliminates wasted airflow, generates greater air velocity where it's needed, and reduces material recirculation that can restrict cleaning. The reduced fan speed maximum limit lowers the risk of excess cleaning loss.

This week has delivered a small dose of optimism for Australian farmers, with inflation continuing to ease and financial markets becoming more confident that the Reserve Bank's aggressive rate-hiking cycle may finally be nearing an end.

While interest rates remain high, greater stability would be welcome news for rural businesses that have spent the past year dealing with rising repayments alongside increasing fuel, fertiliser and freight costs. For many producers, the priority is no longer preparing for the next rate rise—it's making sure their business is positioned to perform in a higher-cost environment.

Another major development this week has been Australia's first detection of H5N1 bird flu in a wild bird in South Australia. Although there is no outbreak in commercial poultry, the discovery has prompted increased biosecurity measures and serves as a reminder of how quickly global risks can affect Australian agriculture.

Despite these challenges, confidence across the sector remains resilient. Farmers continue investing where it improves efficiency, reliability and long-term profitability, while taking a more disciplined approach to managing debt and preserving cash flow.

At Pay In Time Finance, we're seeing more producers review existing lending, refinance older facilities, and structure machinery and equipment finance to better match seasonal income. In today's environment, reducing repayments and improving cash flow can be just as valuable as securing funding for the next piece of equipment.

The message from this week is clear: while the pressure hasn't disappeared, there are signs the operating environment is beginning to stabilise—and farmers who plan will be best placed to capitalise when conditions improve.

For many rice growers, the challenge is not simply growing a crop. It is making the right decisions at the right time, in a production system where the margin for error is narrowing.

Australia’s rice industry contributes more than $1 billion annually to the national economy. It underpins regional communities, supports export markets and plays an important role in irrigated agriculture.

The production area can fluctuate significantly depending on water allocations and seasonal conditions.

At the same time, the operating environment is becoming more complex. Water availability remains constrained, input costs are high and seasonal variability is harder to predict. With that in mind, access to timely, practical information is no longer optional. It is central to maintaining productivity and giving growers confidence in the decisions they make.

This is where digital innovation will make a tangible difference on the farm.

Developed through an AgriFutures levy-funded research project at the University of New England (UNE) in partnership with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and SunRice, the Real-Time Rice Management Dashboard gives growers and advisers clearer visibility into what is happening in the paddock. The project, led by Associate Professor James Brinkhoff, brings together satellite imagery, weather data and crop modelling to generate practical insights into biomass, nitrogen uptake and crop development throughout the season.

Most importantly, the information is actionable.

Growers and agronomists can identify emerging issues earlier, in some cases weeks before they would be visible through traditional methods, creating a critical window to respond. That might mean adjusting fertiliser strategies, refining topdressing decisions or responding to variability before it begins to impact yield potential.

One of the most significant shifts is the ability to predict key dates such as panicle initiation, drainage and see variability within a paddock. Rather than managing uniformly, growers can pinpoint areas that are performing well and those that are lagging, enabling more precise and targeted management. That level of insight supports better resource use and better returns.

For advisers working across multiple farms, the dashboard is just as valuable. Having consistent, data-backed visibility supports more informed conversations with growers and strengthens the confidence behind recommendations. It shifts discussions from observation alone to evidence-based decision-making.

The results from this work are already being seen on the ground. In the most recent rice season, dashboard utilisation reached as high as 95 per cent among growers, reflecting the value being placed on timely, data-driven insights. This strong uptake has been supported by the dedicated efforts of Rice Extension, a partnership between AgriFutures, SunRice and the Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia.

Importantly, an AgriFutures benefit-cost analysis found a six-to-one return on every dollar invested by levy payers, reinforcing the tangible value of this investment for the industry.

While tools like this do not replace grower experience or local knowledge, they do provide another layer of insight that helps connect the dots earlier and with clarity.

The dashboard has now moved into a commercialisation phase. This will allow future enhancements to be progressed, helping ensure the tool remains practical, relevant and accessible for day-to-day farm management.

There is also potential beyond rice. The same principles of combining agronomic expertise with real-time data have strong application across other cropping systems. As these tools continue to mature, their role in supporting productivity, profitability and sustainability will only grow.

Australian rice growers have a long history of adapting to change. What’s changing now is the quality, timeliness and accessibility of the information available to support those decisions.

When growers have better information, they can make better decisions. And when decision-making improves, the benefits flow to individual businesses and across the broader industry.

Much like most people, I've been listening to podcasts for years. Mostly during drives, or early in the morning before the day starts. Industry stuff, rural business, the occasional interview with someone I'd heard of but never met. I liked the format. You could follow someone's thinking across forty minutes in a way a magazine article or a social post doesn't really allow.

What I didn't expect was to end up making one.

The team started producing podcasts a while back. If I'm honest, we sort of stumbled into it. Nobody sat down and decided podcasting was the future. We started, we enjoyed it more than expected, and we kept going. The learning came later.

Along the way, a few things became hard to ignore.

The First Conversation Doesn't Start At The Beginning

When someone calls after listening to a few episodes, the conversation starts in a different place. The usual first call covers the basics: who you are, what you do, and whether you're worth trusting. When someone has already spent a few hours listening, most of that is already done. The call begins further along. 

What People Learn About You Before They Ever Call

Most of the podcasts the team produces aren't about our business. They're conversations with operators: farmers, salespeople, business owners who have been in their industry long enough to have something worth saying. The format gives them space to share how they think, what they've learned, and where they'd do things differently.

Listeners absorb that. People started referencing moments from episodes months after they aired. Not the episode itself, more like a position someone had taken or a scenario they'd talked through. They'd bring it into a conversation as if they'd already discussed it, which in a way they had.

That kind of familiarity builds on its own.

Why One Episode Can Keep Working For Months

A podcast doesn't disappear in a feed. A conversation recorded six months ago is still being listened to. Someone searching for a topic in your industry might find it tomorrow or next year. An episode recorded on a Tuesday afternoon in March can still start conversations in September.

A Thought Worth Testing This Week

What topics do people regularly ask for your opinion on? Could you talk about one of those topics for twenty minutes? Is there someone in your business who already has enough experience to fill an episode?

Most operators I talk to have spent years forming views, watching how things play out, and figuring out what actually works. That knowledge rarely gets documented anywhere. A podcast gives it a place to live.

If you're thinking about this for your business, the team works on it. Worth a conversation. Reach out to us at [email protected] 

G’day REALM Readers

I've known Chris Morrow for a few years now. The former Kimberley station manager has spent much of his career working cattle across northern Australia, and, like many station managers, he's turned his hand to just about everything along the way, from flying helicopters and driving road trains to riding horses and, most importantly, being a husband and dad.

Today, based in Broome with his wife, Bec and young daughter Georgina, Chris wears a few more hats. Alongside serving as a Director of the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen's Association (KPCA), he runs Data Drover, a business helping northern producers improve productivity through practical, data-driven solutions tailored to their operations. His wife, Bec, is a registered nurse who has dedicated much of her career to supporting remote Kimberley communities, making the couple a pretty handy team to have around northern Australia.

But Chris hasn't left the mustering behind.

Alongside the consulting side of the business, Data Drover operates a small mustering team currently working across the Pilbara. Seven of their planned sixteen musterers have now been completed, with the hard-working crew gathering cattle across De Grey, Mallina, Sherlock and Croydon stations. Despite some late-season rain creating challenges in parts of the region, the team has continued making solid progress.

One of the more traditional techniques being used this season is coacher mustering, where a small mob of quiet cattle, known as the 'coachers', is gradually built throughout the day as cattle are gathered by helicopter, horseback, motorbike and bull catcher. The incoming cattle naturally settle and follow the coachers, helping reduce stress, keep calves mothered-up and make the muster flow more smoothly.

While coacher mustering relies on skills passed down through generations, today's producers can also use the information gathered in the yards to gain a better understanding of herd performance. Alongside drafting, pregnancy testing and animal health work, Data Drover uses reproductive scanning and data analysis to help producers make more informed decisions across their business.

I reckon it's a good example of how the cattle industry continues to evolve. The stockmanship hasn't changed, but the information available to producers has, helping them make even better decisions for their cattle and their business.

VIEW IMAGES OF THE MUSTERING TEAM AT WORK: 

https://rfttejobs.com/blog/horses-to-herd-data-pilbara-muster/

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.