F E A T U R E D

Jump in Aussies eating berries triggers potential pesticide restriction

The ballooning consumption of berries in Australia has triggered a safety review of a pesticide widely used by fruit growers.

With their high nutritional content, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries have become a favourite for families as part of healthier diets.

But amid their popularity, the national farm chemical regulator - the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) - has proposed new restrictions about the use of dimethoate.

The pesticide is used by growers to kill fruit fly larvae prevalent in NSW and Queensland, and they fear the changes will make controlling the insect much harder.

The APVMA says new data from by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand shows Australians' consumption of blueberries, blackberries and raspberries has jumped since the last review of the pesticide in 2017.

In its proposal, the APVMA says serious human health risks are unlikely to be posed by current levels of the pesticide's residues, but safety margins need to be reviewed.

It is seeking to extend to 14 days the time between growers spraying their fruit and picking it.

Currently growers must wait one day after they spray blueberries and seven days following the treatment of raspberries and blackberries.

Industry body Berries Australia says extending the dimethoate restriction period to two weeks would effectively ban the pesticide.

It points out that data it has collected over the past five years shows dimethoate usage has fallen.

Alternative controls of fruit fly, such as irradiation and spraying with other chemicals, were less effective than dimethoate, says Berries Australia. 

The APVMA says all other approved uses of dimethoate are safe, and no other chemicals used on blueberries, raspberries or blackberries require regulatory action.

Following the closing of submissions this week, the APVMA will make a decision on restricting dimethoate later this month.

WEEKLY AUCTION DATES – 2025

1.) 3^rd October 2025

INPUTS

Completed last month, the survey found high costs for inputs, such as fertiliser, ag chemicals, machinery, labour and fuel, along with concern about government intervention or policies were key factors driving a reduction in confidence in the state’s agricultural sector.

Overall, net Queensland rural confidence moved down to -2%, from 10% previously.

The survey found while the proportion of the state’s farmers with an optimistic view on the year ahead had remained stable in the latest quarter (at 24%), 26% now expected conditions to worsen (up from 14% last survey). Those expecting conditions to remain stable declined to 47% from 57%.

By region, the survey found confidence had declined almost across the board, with only producers in the south-west of the state posting a small improvement in sentiment.

And by commodity, sentiment was down among Queensland’s beef producers, at a net 14% (from 19%). 

Confidence within the state’s sugar sector also declined, with 48% of cane growers surveyed expecting a deterioration in economic conditions in the 12 months ahead (up from 37% in the previous survey) and just 10% expecting conditions to improve. 

Overall, of those Queensland producers surveyed, 44% were concerned about rising input costs, while 37% were worried about government intervention or policies. 

On the other hand, good seasonal conditions and rising commodity prices were cited as positive factors for the year ahead, by 39 per cent and 37 per cent respectively.

Rabobank state manager for Queensland Polly Saraiva said there was a level of concern around rising input costs and the geopolitical tensions that may be contributing to cost increases and price volatility.

Primary producers across Australia nominated high input costs as the chief reason for diminished confidence.

Ms Saraiva said beef producers continued to be the most optimistic commodity sector in the state, despite confidence levels declining.

“The survey found while net confidence has eased slightly, over 80% of Queensland beef producers see the outlook for the year ahead improving or staying the same,” she said.

“Beef producers are buoyed by cattle prices that are continuing to edge higher, with cull cow prices leading the charge, supported by US demand for lean trim. 

“And this demand could increase over the coming months due to the additional US tariffs imposed on Brazil’s imports into the United States, which would provide ongoing support for Australian cattle prices.”

Despite the dip in overall Queensland rural confidence, the survey found appetite for investment among the state’s producers continued to be on the rise – and remained the highest in the country. 

Overall, 37% of Queensland producers surveyed were intending to increase their on-farm investment in the coming 12 months (up from 34% in the previous survey), while a further 54% were looking to maintain investment at current levels. Just 8% were looking to wind back their investment.

Overall, 67% of the state’s producers were planning to invest in on-farm infrastructure (such as fences, silos and yards), 39% in adopting new technologies and 35% in new plant or machinery.

The survey found a lift in the number of Queensland producers surveyed reporting they are looking to expand their businesses through property purchase, with 16% planning to acquire property in the year ahead (up from 13% last quarter).

Income expectations for the year ahead were marginally down in the Queensland agricultural sector. 

Overall, 28% of producers surveyed in the state expect their gross farm income to rise over the 12 months ahead (down from 32% last survey), while 17% expect a weaker financial performance (unchanged from previously.)

AG MACHINERY

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The Skyline open-space cab offers a unique driving experience in the Fendt 5275 C SL hillside-specialist combine. All the settings are quickly to hand on the 10.4" terminal. Have everything in sight with up to two additional cameras. Save your own machine settings to keep all the data you need onboard.

Inspiring technology

Multi-Crop Separator

The front and rear concave openings can be adjusted independently and electrically. You can adapt the threshing unit to any harvesting conditions from the comfort of the cab. In the case of easily harvested crops and dry conditions, you can swing out the concave to deactivate it. This protects the straw and improves straw quality even more.

5-shaker machine

The 5275 C SL features 5 shakers. This keeps the cleaning system very compact. The efficiency is also maximised with the ideal component layout. All cleaning settings, from the blower to the sieve, are controlled from the cab.

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The loss sensors can observe the losses at all times and react to deviations in the set target value. Options include yield and moisture sensors as well as Fendt Connect. Fendt Connect collects and evaluates machine data, including the position, track, consumption, machine capacity and error messages.

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AG NEWS AUSTRALIA

SOUTHERN grainfed beef supply chain Thomas Foods International is planning to invest more than $22 million expanding its Southern Cross Feedlot in South Australia.

Australia’s largest 100pc family-owned meat processing company also expects to create up to 15 jobs by increasing the feedlot’s capacity by 41pc.

Under the proposal submitted to the Coorong District Council, TFI will increase the Tintinara feedlot’s capacity from 27,000 to 38,000 Standard Cattle Units (SCU). TFI’s last expansion of Southern Cross was completed in 2023 and brought the company to Number 12 in Beef Central’s Top 25 Lotfeeders feature. 

The expansion, which could take 18 months to complete, includes the construction of 66 new shade-covered pens, each accommodating 160 head, and the addition of a third 56-inch mill, taking milling capacity (cold tempered) to 60 tonnes per hour.

Additional hay and grain storage (both dry and tempered) will also be located near existing site infrastructure, and additional feed delivery trucks and other infrastructure will also be required.

TFI’s Southern Cross feedlot general manager, James Sage said the expansion would support increased operational demand and create further employment opportunities for locals.

“This is a significant investment in our feedlot operations which play a vital role in TFI’s  integrated supply network,” Mr Sage said.“The Southern Cross feedlot has been growing steadily in recent times, in part due to the increasing number of cattle required at the Murray Bridge meat processing plant, and the overall outlook is very positive.

“Our feedlot already represents the very best in modern cattle handling systems with a focus on animal welfare and operational efficiency. Through this expansion we are best positioning the feedlot for the long term.”

The additional 11,000 head capacity will be 100pc filled with company-owned cattle – all Angus fed for 150-day minimum and some 200-day and 270-day programs.

With those extended days on feed programs, annual yard turnover is around two cycles, adding to the need for greater future capacity.

Most of the production will go into TFI’s successful Angus Pure HGP-free grainfed program. processed at TFI Murray Bridge, plus several other sub-brands. The Southern Cross yard is 100pc no-HGP.

This expansion represents the latest investment by TFI in the feedlot, with the company investing more than $17 million over the past three years in expanding and upgrading the facilities to its current capacity and with a workforce of 40 staff. From its

What’s often overlooked in the financial side of a feedlot development like this is the cost of livestock to fill the pens. With Angus feeders in the south currently worth a conservative 550c/kg (see last week’s feeder steer update) it values the stock purchase to populate the new pens at $27.25 million, Beef Central has calculated.

The expansion proposal is currently with the Council for development assessment and if approved, TFI aims to begin building works immediately.

“The local community and the Coorong Council have all been very supportive of the feedlot development, and the financial injecting it brings to the local community,” Mr Sage said.

Like a number of large export processors across eastern and Southern Australia, TFI Murray Bridge now processes a lot more grainfed cattle than it ever did in the past -both company-fed and sourced from others. Grainfeds are now scheduled on days each week at Murray Bridge.

Originally known as Iranda feedlot, the Great Southern site has undergone a series of expansions over the years, firstly from 2500 to 15,000 around the time of TFI’s purchase, then to the current-day 27,000, and now the proposed 38,000.

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

For years, the sheep industry has been comfortable with averages:  Average weights. Average fat scores. Average prices.  

But markets are changing. Buyers aren’t paying for “average” anymore. They’re paying for experience. 

That experience lives in IMF (intramuscular fat). 

IMF is no longer just a metric. It is the difference between commodity and premium. And for processors like Gundagai, it has already become the standard. 

If you’re not breeding for it, feeding for it, and tracking it, you’re behind. 

Genetics Is Not a Preference. It’s the Path. 

Other industries learned this long ago. Pork. Beef. Poultry. Eating quality is written into the DNA. The sheep industry is starting to catch up and the shift is overdue. 

Choosing rams with proven IMF data is now about economics and survival. Producers who keep ignoring this are not just behind the market. They are actively breeding themselves out of it. 

You Can’t Feed What Isn’t There 

IMF does not show up because you threw out more feed. It shows up when nutrition and genetics meet with purpose. 

Grain. Pasture. Finishing programs. Each plays a role, but none of them work in isolation. Feeding needs to be intentional. Strategic. Matched to known genetic potential. Anything less is throwing money at a shadow.

Processors Want Partners, Not Guesswork 

The way lamb enters the system is changing. Processors now have the tools to measure IMF and reward the lines that deliver. 

They are not looking for more supply. They are looking for predictable quality. They are ready to pay for it. But they need trust. They need data. They need producers who can deliver to spec more than once.

So the question is simple. Are you building that kind of partnership? Or are you still sending lambs blind and hoping for a good day? 

The Line Has Been Drawn 

It’s true, Gundagai didn’t invent the standard. They just made it real. What they’ve built is a signpost for the rest of the industry.

That leaves us with two paths now: 

You can keep treating IMF like a marketing idea. Or you can lean in. You can align genetics with feeding. You can build relationships that reward what you’ve raised, not just what you’ve weighed. 

One path keeps you “average.”  The other sets you up to lead.

Hey, hobby farmers! 👩‍🌾👨‍🌾

Running a mob of cattle, sheep, or goats is rewarding — but it’s also a whole lot easier (and safer!) when you’ve got the right gear on hand. Whether you’re just starting out or have been farming for years, building your toolkit step by step makes all the difference in animal care, property upkeep, and staying compliant.

Here are a few of my extra essential must-haves when working around the yards:

• 🧤 Gloves – for everything from handling chemicals to fixing fences.

• 🩹 Antibiotic Spray or Powder – to treat minor injuries quickly and prevent infection.

• 🧊 Esky with Ice – keeping vaccines cool and effective on busy workdays.

Of course, that’s just the start! From NLIS tag readers to crushes, water systems, and good record-keeping, there are plenty of practical tools that set you up for success.

👉 Check out our full checklist and tips in the complete article here: https://www.jabagrisolutions.com.au/knowledge/1ql1wm59g464xfiok0yztxoe30nzte

We’d love to hear from you too — what’s your go-to tool you never head into the yards without? Share your must-haves and let’s support each other on this farming journey. 🌱

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…

We lost a great bloke this week, one who personified true Aussie grit - Sam Bailey, aged 58.

My sincere condolences to his wife Jenny, his Mum and Dad, brother Bill and sister Kate; and his many friends and the thousand's who have been influenced by Sam and his story over the years as a public speaker; and his riveting book 'Head Over Heels'.

It was only a few months ago that I met up with Sam, enjoying a beer or two and a few yarns - he was a bloke that always looked you in the eye, didn't mind you asking him any question about his accident or journey; loved a laugh and seeing the lighter side of life - always a cheeky glint in his eye. 

I think these lyric's from Bruce Springsteen's 'Terry's Song' ring true for Sam...

Now your death is upon us and we'll return your ashes to the earth
And I know you'll take comfort in knowing you've been roundly blessed and cursed
But love is a power greater than death, just like the songs and stories told
And when they built you, brother, they broke the mold.

Sam's story is a testament to resilience and pure grit - lots of grit. He grew up on the family property in Croppa Creek in Northwest NSW. 

In 1987, at 19, '6ft tall and bullet proof', he was working as a jackaroo on Avon Downs Station in the NT. One lazy Sunday afternoon on a day off, he and three mates were driving along a sun baked Barkly Highway when his life changed in a split second...

The accident left him a C6/C7 quadriplegic, paralysed from the chest down with limited use of his arms and hands.

Back home in Croppa Creek, Sam used 'bush mechanics' to build a hoist to access the tractor and harvester; a quad bike for getting around the property and a buggy 'to let off steam' - as well as taking up flying in ultralight aircraft. 

Sam's story was picked up by Jenny Black, an ABC Rural Reporter. A true romantic, Sam proposed to Jenny during her show on live radio. 

Sam has campaigned over the years about the importance of wearing a seat belt. 

He also continued to push the boundaries, starting the 'Helifirst' project, aiming to become the first quadriplegic to fly a helicopter. His goal was to land his chopper on a Sydney beach and into schools so he could inspire children to pursue their dreams.

Vale. Sam Bailey. You will be sorely missed.

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

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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)