This week's roundup: Reimagining Food Systems, Shifting gears, Ag Machinery-Case IH, Confidence Building Across the Sector, Aussie cattle farmers, and more updates. Plus, fresh listings, auction dates, and more from across Australian ag. Let's get into it →

This piece is part of the weekly series “Growing Forward: Insights for Building Better Food and Agriculture Systems,” presented by the Global Food Institute at the George Washington University and the nonprofit organization Food Tank. Each installment highlights forward-thinking strategies to address today’s food and agriculture-related challenges with innovative solutions. To view more pieces in the series, click here.

In a small tilapia farm in Honduras, once faced nearly 100% fish mortality during warm seasons due to bacterial outbreaks. Through collaboration between Cargill aquaculture specialist Jeffry Palma, CARE, and local farmers, a targeted vaccination program and improved pond management training reduced mortality to just 2%—strengthening food security and community resilience.

This example reflects a broader push toward scalable, science-based solutions in global food systems. With only five years remaining to achieve the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, progress depends on strong partnerships across sectors.

Cargill continues advancing crop genetics, disease resistance, and sustainable innovations—such as fermentation-produced stevia that significantly lowers land, water, and carbon impacts. The company has also eliminated industrially produced trans fats from its edible oils globally and is supporting methane-reducing feed solutions in beef production.

Farmer-first partnerships remain central. From biodigesters in Central America to regenerative agriculture programs in the United States and smallholder training in Malaysia, collaboration is driving measurable gains in productivity, sustainability, and income.

While no single sector can transform the food system alone, collective action between farmers, business, and development partners is helping build a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future.

Momentum in the agricultural industry eased through late 2025, following an extended period of strong growth. Farm GDP fell 2.8% in Q3 as livestock production contracted, though real GVA remained 8.8% higher over the year. Production is expected to rebound slightly in Q4 on stronger wheat and canola harvests. In 2026, real farm GVA is expected to expand 0.4% in 2026, from a projected 9.6% last year, with livestock volumes forecast to fall as farmers rebuild herds and slaughter rates normalise from elevated levels.

Activity and exports

Lower production this year will weigh on export volumes. External demand is likely to be mixed this year. Demand for meat products is set to remain strong, although beef exporters will need to redirect some beef from China markets given the new quotas. Meanwhile, grain exporters face some headwinds from increased global supply.

The Westpac Agriculture Commodity Price Index declined 1.8% q/q in Q4, but after strong growth for much of the year, the index was still up by 7.1% for 2025 as a whole. In 2026, we expect the Westpac Agriculture Commodity Price index to fall by an average 1.4% for the year as a whole. Meat prices are expected to drift lower over the year to be down around 13% from their peaks but remain 30 to 50% above 2024 average prices. Grain and dairy prices are also expected to trend lower for much of the year, amid an increase in global supply.

At the start of 2026, most prices have eased from last year’s peaks, and overall cost momentum is set to be slower in 2026. Diesel prices are projected to fall below 170¢/l in H2 2026 as global oil prices moderate and the A$ strengthens. We expect fertiliser prices to stabilise, with a modest easing through 2026 into 2027 as new production capacity comes online. Improved supply is also set to see further easing in feedstock prices this year. That said, the RBA monetary policy will be more restrictive, with the RBA reversing course from cutting rates last year.

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — One of the most show-stopping things on display this week at the National Farm Machinery Show is the Heartland Magnum tractor at the Case IH booth. This one-of-a-kind Magnum was built in Racine, Wisconsin, and honors the 250th anniversary of America’s founding with a stars-and-strips paint scheme.

 ”It’s a tribute to Americana, to the hardworking men and women who use these machines, as well as to the hardworking men and women who build these machines and engineer them,” Matt Booms, a tractor product specialist with Case IH, told AGDAILY. 

Like all Case IH tractors, the Heartland Magnum came off the assembly line in red, but a local artist was commissioned to bring patriotism to the paint. The skillfully done design feels like a natural part of the machine, and the red, white, and blue colors are augmented with strategically integrated contour lines, which depict the land contours of Racine.

But the lines also have a deeper meaning.

 ”The contour lines edge toward what our customers and our growers look at when they’re managing any data weight, whether it’s topography, yield, soil maps, or fertility,” Booms said.

He noted the machine has other subtle design elements, like the red rimming around the wheels, which relates to the red on the wheels from the brand’s autonomous concept tractor a decade ago.

Throughout the years, Case IH has done some special-edition paints or other limited-run machines, and there seems to be no better time to usher in this design than on an anniversary like what the U.S. is celebrating now in 2026. The Heartland Magnum will be on display at shows around the country throughout the calendar year.

Momentum across Australian agriculture continues to build this week, with many producers entering the season with renewed confidence and clearer outlooks.

Stronger operational planning is emerging across both cropping and livestock regions as farmers respond to improving seasonal windows and stabilising input supply chains. In several key production areas, favourable conditions are supporting early-season decision-making, allowing growers and graziers to focus on productivity rather than recovery.

Across the industry, investment sentiment remains notably resilient. Many farm businesses are prioritising upgrades that deliver measurable efficiency gains — from newer machinery and transport assets to technologies that improve labour utilisation and operational reliability. Rather than delaying decisions, producers are increasingly adopting a proactive approach aimed at strengthening long-term competitiveness.

Global demand for Australian agricultural products also continues to underpin optimism. Export markets remain active across multiple commodities, reinforcing confidence in production and supporting broader rural economic activity. This external demand is encouraging many operators to think strategically about scale, logistics and output consistency.

At the same time, financial discipline remains central. Farmers are placing greater emphasis on structuring investments in ways that preserve flexibility and align with seasonal income cycles — a shift reflecting both experience and opportunity.

In this environment, specialist finance groups with deep agricultural understanding, including Pay In Time Finance, continue working alongside producers to support equipment, vehicle and infrastructure funding strategies that complement real farm operations.

As the sector moves forward, confidence, preparation and decisive planning remain defining themes across rural Australia.

Australian cattle farmers have been dealt a blow after China announced it would cap beef imports to better protect its own producers.

COVID-era trade ruptures with China had been seemingly repaired in recent years, but 2026 brings fresh frustrations for the beef industry.

"So we have a billion dollars worth of beef that will need to go to other markets," Cattle Australia chair Garry Edwards said.

"This is something that wasn't Australia being singled out. This is a general position that China has put," Albanese said.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the Albanese government should have been able to stop the tariffs from impacting Australian farmers.

"Australia should not be included in any of these arrangements when it comes to restrictions," she said.

Nationals leader David Littleproud called on Albanese and Trade Minister Don Farrell to "make urgent representations to their counterparts in Beijing".

The unexpected upside for Australian consumers is the possibility that more beef not being sold offshore will result in a surplus that needs to be sold domestically, which could cause prices to be cut.

"We may see a reduction in domestic beef prices as a result, because you'll see more high-quality beef available within the domestic market," Edwards said.

Despite the government's talks with China, Albanese says other countries may just get more Australian beef.

"Our products are in great demand right around the world. We expect that will continue to be so," Albanese said.

Most rural marketing falls over in the same place: it only happens when there’s spare time. And spare time, as you already know, doesn’t really exist. Not when there’s always something more urgent to attend to on the farm. 

But when marketing depends on mood or availability, it becomes optional. And optional work doesn’t compound. So instead of trying to “do more,” set up a few small systems that remove decision-making from the process. 

Here are 3 marketing tasks you can systemise in under a week.

Right now, content probably depends on someone remembering to take a photo.

That’s unreliable.

Pick one rule. After every completed job, take two photos and write one short note about what mattered. Or every Friday, capture five images from the week. Choose the rule and stick to it.

Create one shared folder. Drop everything there. No sorting required.

Marketing improves the moment raw material becomes consistent.

Posting manually is where momentum fades.

Choose one day every fortnight. Load two weeks of posts into a scheduler. Meta Business Suite is fine. So is Later.

You’re not aiming for volume. You’re aiming for rhythm.

Once it’s scheduled, it runs without you having to remember.

Most good feedback never leaves a text thread.

Build one habit. When a job wraps and the client is satisfied, send a short message with a direct review link. Make the wording standard so you are not rewriting it each time.

If you do not systemise this, you will keep saying “we should get more testimonials” for the next three years.

If marketing only happens when the week is quiet, it won’t happen often. And when it does, it’ll feel rushed and, possibly, a bit forced. 

Once the structure is in place, marketing no longer competes with operations. It runs alongside it.

At RD Creative Studio, this is where we start. We help rural businesses build simple systems around the repetitive work so visibility doesn’t depend on mood or spare capacity. Then, when the engine is steady, you can choose how hard you want to push it.

If you put one of these in place this week, let us know how it goes. And if you’d rather not build it yourself, that’s work we do every day.

G’day REALM Readers,

Over the past week, severe flooding across the Barkly and Central Australian cattle country has caused widespread damage, including at Elkedra Station north-east of Alice Springs...

"The waters rose through the house in a matter of hours and well exceeded any flood activity we've had on record in four-generations since the 1940s..." said Amber Driver from Elkedra.

Amber described floodwaters rising to around 2 metres through the homestead, causing extensive damage as an 'extraordinary rain event' delivered between 220mm and 620mm in just 48 hours, more than double the annual average! With only two people currently at the station, Amber's husband, David and her son, Sonny, the immediate focus has been safety, securing food and power, and assessing what can be salvaged as waters recede.

She praised emergency services support but stressed the urgent need for improved weather forecasting/ warnings, noting the Tennant Creek radar has been offline since 2015. Without local Doppler coverage or sufficient rain gauges, station managers had very little awareness of the scale of the rain that was coming.

About 400km south-east of Tennant Creek near the NT-QLD border, Lake Nash Station recorded more than 550mm of rain in some gauges over the weekend, with up to 350mm falling in a single night. Thank you to Natalie Gibson, Assistant Manager at Lake Nash, for the photos above sent through yesterday - 'Ocean Nash' more like it!

We hope the clean up and losses for those properties impacted are not too extensive... with more rain expected, it's likely to be a late start to mustering season in the North for 2026.

Source: NT Country Hour Interview 23 Feb 2026 | LISTEN

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