F E A T U R E D

'Brought to tears': South Australian farmer goes viral after transforming 300-acre paddock into incredible Australia Day tribute

A South Australian farmer has revealed the extraordinary effort behind a massive Australia Day tribute carved across a 300-acre paddock, as members of the public rave over the art on social media.

A South Australian farmer has lifted the lid on how he transformed his 300-acre paddock into an incredible Australia Day tribute. Harrison Schuster, 28, wowed people around the country with this year’s mural, featuring Aussie wildlife, an ANZAC soldier, and even the Southern Cross.

The Freeling man received widespread praise online, with many taking to social media to rave about the stunning creation. Some proud Aussies were even reduced to tears by his expression of patriotism. Speaking to Sky News host Peta Credlin on Wednesday, Mr Schuster explained the method behind his remarkable piece of art.

“Modern tractors have GPS nowadays, and part of that GPS actually shows us where the edges of paddocks are,” Schuster said.

“It was a bit of discussion, coming up with some additional concepts and editing it just to make sure it’s actually got some correct features - like, for example, the ANZAC hat with the fold.”

Mr Schuster said he was inspired to create an Australia Day tradition that could continue to be celebrated in years to come.

“It’s almost been to drown out the negativity of the day early. I like to sort of post it the day before to get a head start and put a positive spin on things for other people to carry on with,” he said.

The tribute was welcomed on social media, with one elderly Aussie saying he was reduced to tears, while others praised the farmer for displaying the "true spirit" of the country.

"Beautiful, celebrating the true building blocks of our nation," one wrote.

"Nice work - a true Aussie indeed," another gushed. 

"You're a legend, Harrison! Great job, you have inspired me," a third weighed in.

"Brilliant. Showing love and respect for the men and women who sacrificed for our freedom and our way of life," a fourth added.

Pay In-Time Finance

This Week in Australian Agriculture: Rates, Rain and Real-World Decisions

Australian farmers are heading into the new week with one eye on the paddock and the other on the broader economy.

Recent inflation data has lifted expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia could raise the cash rate again at its upcoming meeting. While no decision has been made yet, the possibility alone is already influencing how producers think about borrowing, cashflow and the timing of major purchases.

Across the country, seasonal conditions remain mixed. Parts of the eastern states have benefited from recent rainfall, supporting pasture growth and late-season crops, while other regions continue to manage dry conditions and tighter feed budgets. In response, some livestock producers are adjusting stocking levels, while many cropping farmers are choosing to hold grain on-farm rather than sell into currently flat markets.

Despite these pressures, overall sentiment across agriculture remains steady. Many Australian farmers are still planning equipment upgrades, transport replacements, and infrastructure improvements — but with a sharper focus on cost control and flexibility.

With interest rates potentially moving higher, how those investments are structured is becoming just as important as what gets purchased. Asset-based finance that aligns with seasonal income can help reduce pressure on working capital, particularly during planting and harvest windows.

That’s where Pay In Time Finance works quietly in the background — supporting farmers with machinery, vehicle, and equipment finance structured around real farm cashflow, not rigid bank models.

As rates, weather, and markets continue to shift, the producers who stay adaptable and well-prepared will be best placed to navigate the season ahead.

WEEKLY AUCTION DATES – 2026

1.) 8^th February 2026
2.) 15^th February 2026
3.) 22^nd February 2026
4.) 1^st March 2026

This Week’s New Year 2026-
INPUTS & COMMODITIES

Politics to play a bigger role in agri markets as global tensions rise

Key takeaways

• Wheat prices are expected to only gain in the second half of 2026 as global production comes back from record highs, and the Australian dollar weakens. 

• Canola markets are expected to recover in late 2026 as global stocks tighten and consumption hits new highs. 

• Australian cattle and chickpea exports will hinge on trade policy shifts in the US, China, and India.
  

Geopolitics, trade policy, and government intervention are set to play a defining role in agricultural markets in the year ahead, according to CBA’s 2026 Agri Commodities Outlook. 

Heavily export-oriented sectors such as grains, oilseeds, and beef will need to navigate shifting trade settings, changing import rules, and greater price volatility across key markets. At the same time, strong global competition and high stocks carried over from last year in some commodities are likely to limit upside. This will place greater emphasis on cost control, timing, and risk management for farmers. 

“We’re seeing governments play a much more active role in agricultural markets, whether through trade policy, biofuel regulation, or food security strategies,” said the report’s author, Dennis Voznesenski, CBA Director of Sustainable and Agricultural Economics.  

The report identifies several themes shaping agricultural markets in 2026: 

Price grain for wheat markets could be short-lived

While in the second half of 2026, CBA economists expect support for wheat prices due to a return to trend yields globally and a weaker Australian dollar, the longer-term outlook is being pushed lower by government intervention. Increased geopolitical tension, as we’ve seen with Ukraine, Venezuela, and the Houthis rebel attack in the Red Sea, has led to the governments of large importing countries like China and Egypt to increase domestic production. Increased production could reduce import demand in future years and depress prices.

“When governments prioritise self-sufficiency and stockpiling, markets become less responsive to traditional supply shocks, like drought-impacted crops,” Voznesenski said.

Canola prices hinge on trade and biofuel policy

Canola demand growth, coupled with reduced production, is expected to push global stocks lower by 13% in 2026/27 and support prices toward year's end. 

Trade policy and regulation will heavily shape the trajectory for Australian canola prices this year.

China’s tariffs on Canadian canola, European restrictions on certain agricultural chemicals, and upcoming decisions on US renewable fuel policy are all expected to influence price direction for Australian producers.

Carry over global stocks are expected to cap price gains early in 2026, with stronger pricing more likely later in the year, particularly if demand from China improves and biofuel policy settings become clearer in the US.

Livestock markets face a more volatile year

After a strong 2025, Australian cattle markets are expected to experience a more uneven year ahead.

Recent policy changes in both the United States and China have altered global beef trade flows. The removal of US tariffs on Brazilian beef and China’s introduction of country-specific beef import quotas are expected to weigh on demand for Australian exports.

While strong US consumer demand and possible herd rebuild should provide support early in 2026 for slaughter-ready cattle, prices for heavy steers are expected to soften once China’s beef import quota is filled. Demand for processor cows, whose meat frequently ends up in hamburgers, should remain more supported past this point due to strong US demand for this type of beef.  

“Last year was exceptional for cattle prices across the board, but some of the key tailwinds have now turned,” Voznesenski said.

“Trade policy changes in both the US and China mean price gains in 2026 are likely to be less consistent.”

Barley and pulse markets remain well supplied

Barley and pulse markets are expected to remain well supplied in 2026, limiting price upside.

Barley supplies are forecast to ease from last year’s highs as yields normalise, but demand, particularly for malt barley, is expected to remain subdued. Pulse markets continue to face large carry-over stocks following record production, with prices sensitive to trade policy and seasonal risks rather than demand growth.

“Barley and pulses are coming off strong production years, and that surplus will continue to weigh on prices in 2026,” Voznesenski said. “For pulses, Indian import policy and weather outcomes will be the main swing factors.”

Implications for the Australian agricultural industry

The 2026 outlook points to a more complex operating environment for Australian producers, where policy decisions and geopolitics will play a larger role alongside seasonal conditions.

“For Australian producers, 2026 is less about chasing higher prices and more about managing all the volatility,” Mr Voznesenski said. “Understanding policy risk, diversifying markets, and staying disciplined on costs will be critical.”

AG MACHINERY

From garage workshop to global force: 70 years of JCB

JCB, the company that introduced the backhoe loader to the world, is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2015, marking a history of innovation and productivity for the global brand.

Since JCB produced its first backhoe in 1953, the company has manufactured more than a million JCB machines on three continents and now sells them in 120 countries. In Australia, JCB Construction Equipment Australia (CEA) has been distributing JCB products since 1999, and its 60 dealerships across the country will join in the celebrations.

The global company’s history stretches back to 23 October 1945, when JCB’s late founder Joseph Cyril Bamford CBE started work in a small lock-up garage in Staffordshire in the UK, making tipping trailers from wartime scrap metal.

Joseph Cyril’s son, Anthony, born on the same day the company was founded, now goes by Lord Bamford and is the chairman of JCB.

“He was an engineering genius, there was no doubt about that,” Lord Bamford said of his father. “He was always dreaming of things, and dreaming of better ways of doing things. The backhoe loader he invented was a godsend and started a mini revolution in construction machinery.”

The now-iconic backhoe loader represented the first time a single machine had been produced with a hydraulic rear excavator and front-mounted shovel, and Joseph Cyril’s ingenuity still bears fruit today.

“The backhoe loader was the building block for the success of JCB,” Lord Bamford said. “While we now produce many other different types of machines, it remains one of our most important products.”

In 1975, having turned JCB into a multi-million dollar company with outposts in Europe and the USA, Joseph Cyril retired and handed the reins to his son.

In 1979, Lord Bamford started manufacturing in India, heralding a period of global expansion, and today JCB has factories in New Delhi, Pune, and Jaipur.

That global expansion also brought JCB to Australia, with the establishment of JCB CEA, and more recently to China in 2005 and Brazil in 2012.

The original tipping trailer from 1945 now stands in JCB’s World HQ as a reminder of the company’s heritage, but even with 70 years of operations behind the firm, the focus is very much on the future, according to Lord Bamford.

“While we are proud of it, our engineers are really only interested in the future and the products of tomorrow,” he said. “You cannot rest on your laurels in business; you have to be thinking of tomorrow, the changing world markets, and the products our customers need.”

The spirit of innovation and adventure remains strong at the company. Last year, the world-famous JCB GT was crowned the fastest digger on Earth by Guinness World Records officials at Bathurst, NSW, after reaching speeds of more than 110 km/h. The digger – originally designed to perform wheelies at racing events – was then taken on a tour of Sydney, ending with the season finale V8 race.

JCB CEA is the official Australian distributor for the JCB brand of construction and agricultural equipment. For more information, please visit:  www.jcbcea.com.au

Featured Auction Listings

RGA - REALM GROUP AUSTRALIA - MULTI-VENDOR MACHINERY AUCTION, AUSTRALIA WIDE

We’re now taking listings for our next up-and-coming auction.
Contact us today at 📞0419 182 804

AG NEWS AUSTRALIA

🇺🇸 REALM Group Officially Launches in the USA! 

We are proud to announce that REALM Group has officially expanded into the United States with the launch of REALM Group America. This marks an exciting milestone as we take our trusted agricultural expertise and proven services to one of the world’s most important farming regions.

REALM Group America is set to support producers, vendors, and industry partners across the US, delivering the same commitment to integrity and innovation. It results in REALM, which is known in Australia and beyond.

We invite you to follow the journey and connect with our US team on social media:
👉 Instagram & Facebook: @realmgroupamerica

To learn more about REALM Group America and our services, visit our new website:
🌐 realmgroupamerica.com

We look forward to growing together and building strong connections across the American agricultural landscape. 🌾🚜

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

The Problem With Handing Marketing to “Someone Young”

This usually starts with good intentions. You’re understandably busy, and marketing feels secondary.

Someone younger is around. They know social. They’re quick on the phone. They can post. Right? So you hand it over. And for a while, it looks fine. At least the page isn’t dead anymore, which feels like progress.

But you may soon notice that the posts don’t carry weight. More importantly, they don’t signal anything meaningful to the people you actually want calling you.

I’ve seen this across family farms, ag businesses, suppliers, and studs. The issue isn’t quite the age. And it’s not skill either. It’s context. Or more accurately, the lack of it.

Where the Real Knowledge Lives

Most rural businesses run on judgment built over the years. Sometimes generations. You know which jobs mattered and which were just noise. You know which customers are gold and which ones drain time.

The problem is that none of that lives in a content calendar.

What Fills the Gap When Context Is Missing

When marketing gets handed to someone without that background, they fill the gaps with what’s visible: Activity and surface-level updates. 

The dreaded fluff.

What We’ve Learned Doing This Properly

We’ve learned this the slow way at RD. Posting is easy. Context transfer is the work.

Before anything goes live, we ask questions that feel annoying at first. Why this job mattered. Why that one didn’t. Why is this customer spoken about carefully? Why does that topic never go online? 

That’s the material that actually counts.

Good branding and rural marketing, after all, needs accuracy. It needs to reflect how the business really operates when things get tight, not how it looks on a good week.

If your social media feels active but forgettable, chances are the person posting isn’t the problem.

The handover was. And without context, all you get is content that fills space. 

RD Creative Studio exists to help operators bridge that gap, without turning marketing into another full-time job.

If you want to talk it through, send us a message: [email protected]

Women in Ag

Women in agriculture are also among Australia’s hardest workers.

Simon Cheatham
Founder RFTTE - The Online Campfire | E: [email protected] or reply to this newsletter | Subscribe to this newsletter | The RFTTE Story | RFTTE MERCH 
0417 277 488 | RFTTE PTY LTD | ABN 29 678 593 283

“Samantha Watkins Photography”

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)