F E A T U R E D

REALM Group Australia Newsletter 882

2024 Has been a big year for REALM Group Australia:

• Our TEAM continues to grow and thank you, everyone

• Our Affiliate Program is working extremely well. Become an Affiliate www.realmgroup.com.au

• We have a new office in Toowoomba Qld

• We Have a new office in Darwin NT

• We will have a new office in Western Australia in 2025

• We have secured a livestock export contract 

• Massive News!  REALM Group Australia has secured a supply contract for new and used equipment as part of a redevelopment program! (more on this in 2025)

• We now have more finance options which include private funding.

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WEEKLY AUCTION DATES – 2025

1.) 17^th January 2025 , 2.) 30^th January 2025 ,  3.) 06^th February 2025

Ag Machinery 2025 and Beyond

Australia Agricultural Machinery Market Analysis

The Australia Agricultural Machinery Market size is estimated at USD 6.21 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 7.23 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 3.1% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

Agriculture accounts for roughly 4% of Australia's GDP. The nation has consistently progressed in agricultural mechanization. Rising demand for agricultural machinery stems from a push for enhanced productivity and quality, even as the farming population dwindles. In 2023, Australia's agricultural machinery sales hit USD 5.9 billion, up 5.4% from 2022, as reported by the Tractor & Machinery Association in "The State of the Industry 2023". Sales of combine harvesters and headers were notable, raking in USD 1.17 billion. Meanwhile, new tractor sales saw a 1.8% uptick, influenced by a shift away from lower HP ranges.

Advanced technologies, such as AI and robotics, alongside investments from major players and a surge in government initiatives, have fueled the demand for agricultural machinery. A case in point: In 2022, John Deere unveiled its P600 Precision Air Hoe drills, boasting a 15.5% wider working width and 24% lighter weight than the P500, aiming to reduce compaction, labor time, and fuel use while enhancing productivity and seed-soil contact. Australian farmers have been gradually becoming tech-savvy, and the adoption of GPS software products and tractors equipped with telematics is anticipated to spur sales of agriculture machinery over the forecast years. Furthermore, the growing usage of cost-cutting strategies for designing advanced farm equipment is projected to offer key growth opportunities for players. 

Australia Agricultural Machinery Market Trends

Rising Preference for Farm Mechanization

Australian farmers are increasingly turning to innovative techniques, such as data science, automation, and advanced communication technologies, to modernize their agricultural machinery. This includes tractors, harvesters, and irrigation equipment. For example, in 2023, John Deere introduced its 1 Series Round Balers in Australia, featuring Bale Doc technology for near real-time documentation of bale moisture and weight. Responding to consumer demand, both international and domestic manufacturers are unveiling advanced tractors for diverse farming applications. In 2023, CNH Industrial's Case IH brand rolled out the Farmall Subcompact 25SC, the smallest in its Farmall range. This tractor targets the burgeoning lifestyle segment, catering to the rising demand for small utility tractors on larger home blocks.

As per the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia, the most sought-after equipment includes self-propelled boom sprayers, high-density balers, tracked tractor technology, and automated feeding systems. Australia stands as a pivotal export market for U.S. agricultural machinery and equipment manufacturers. With nearly 95% of Australia's farm machinery and equipment being imported, and demand on the rise, it's noteworthy that most of Australia's tractors, harvesting, and haymaking gear hail from Europe and the U.S. This robust demand is largely attributed to improved seasonal conditions across many regions. From 2019-20 to 2021-22, Australia averaged annual imports of USD 1.7 billion in agricultural machinery. Consequently, the trend toward cost-effective design strategies in advanced farm equipment presents significant growth opportunities for industry players.

Demand Surges for Cultivators and Tillers in Australia

In Australia, cultivators play a pivotal role in soil preparation, managing crop residues, controlling weeds, and ensuring crops receive adequate water and nutrients. The tiller machinery market is witnessing a surge in demand, largely attributed to its affordability, appealing especially to budget-conscious small-scale farmers. Sales in the Tillage and Seeding Machinery market hit USD 510.6 million in 2023, buoyed by price hikes, as reported by the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia.

Small-scale farmers in Australia, keen on trimming agricultural costs, are propelling this market growth. This uptick in demand is further bolstered by a shrinking agricultural workforce and escalating labor costs. The Australian Farm Institute highlights that Australia boasts the world's fourth-highest wage rates. With a dwindling pool of manual laborers, farmers are turning to machinery to uphold productivity. Additionally, market prospects look promising, bolstered by initiatives like concessional loans from the Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) and agricultural investments from the Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDC).

Australia Agricultural Machinery Industry Overview

The Australian agricultural machinery market is consolidated, with major players accounting for the majority of the market share. Some major players in the market are Deere & Company, AGCO, Kubota, CLAAS, and CNH Industrial. These players are involved in various strategic activities such as product innovation, expansion, partnership, and merger and acquisition.

Machinery Field Days in Australia

Australian Dairy Industry Trends in 2025

The Australian Dairy Industry has been a crucial part of Australia’s economy and rural livelihoods and has undergone sudden and frequent changes in recent years. The same trends follow through the year 2025, with rising dairy production, consumer demand fluctuations, and rising environmental concerns. 

Australian dairy farmers are going to face many emerging opportunities along with frequent challenges due to these transitions in new technologies, evolving sustainable practices, and export demands. This blog focuses on the latest dairy market trends, including opportunities, challenges, actionable strategies, and what to expect from these evolving trends.

1. Increase in Milk Production

A rapid growth in the milk production sector has been reported in the year 2024, all thanks to favourable weather conditions, including good rainfall and fewer heat waves during the Australian summer season. With improved milk production of more than 2.5% this year and improved farmgate margins, scholars have predicted a good growth of about 3-4% in the year 2025. 

How to grab this emerging opportunity in the near future?

While this trend seems to be a good opportunity for dairy farmers in Australia, hopping on this opportunity, and that too on time, can be a really stressful task.

Here are some ways to catch up on this upcoming opportunity:

• Try to implement rotational grazing techniques, maintaining a healthy diet with good fibre and protein to increase the chance of sustaining better milk production.

• Diversify your product range according to market research and demand. Try including trendy products like flavoured milk, yoghurt, and different types of cheese to target different types of consumers.

• Value your relationship with your local and international buyers with consistent quality at a better price range than your consumers.

2. Technological Upgradations

Innovation and technology are the new ways of life. We can observe rapid technology upgradation across different industries around us. Dairy farming is no further behind these technological upgrades that help to improve efficiency and productivity in dairy farms:

• Robotic Milking Systems: Labour Shortage is emerging as a big problem in the Australian farming sector. Hence, robotic milking systems can be used for streamlining operations and increasing milking capacity by 10-15%.

• Advanced Feeding Techniques: Precision feeding ensures the right amount of nutrients to the animals. This technique collects data by monitoring the nutritional status of animals, analyses it, and provides feed with the right amount of nutrients to the animals. This helps in boosting milk yields and their quality.

• Genetic Improvements: Selective breeding and genotyping help to produce animals that are more suitable to the production environment with genes associated with milk production traits. This has proven to double the milk production around the world.

• Data Analytics: IoT devices and data analytics are becoming more and more useful in monitoring cow health and milk quality in real-time.

How to cope with these upcoming technological challenges?

Technological upgrades can be both a challenge and an opportunity for dairy farmers in Australia. Here’s what you can do to overcome these handful of challenges and opportunities with ease:

• The government grants various subsidies and incentives to farmers who are willing to adopt new technologies. Look out for these benefits as they can help you adopt new technologies without making a hole in your pocket.

• Collaborate with small and medium farmers and use a way to share the expenses of these new technologies that can benefit all the farmers in collaboration. 

• Use data analytics tools to make informed decisions about your animal health and productivity rates. Implement feeding systems as per this data to optimise nutrition and maximise dairy production.

3. Regional Performance:

Many states in Australia have proven to increase dairy outputs in recent years. States like Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales benefit from natural rainfall, better climate, and advanced irrigation systems, which help in increased pasture lands for grazing. 

Feed Management Systems and new breeding systems in these states that help to maintain animal health and improve milk production.

How to benefit from these regional performances?

• Regional training programmes can help farmers to adopt climate-specific practices. Participating in these programmes can help you to understand your regional dynamics and improve milk production.

• Collaborate with local cooperatives and farmer associations to access shared resources like water, pasture land, and other market resources. This will help you to get exposure to a greater market size and better resources, leading to better production.

4. Export Market

Australia used to be a great exporter of skim milk powder and butter, but exports of SMP have faced a steep decline of 8.5% in 2024. This is mainly because of increased global competition from dairy producers and a shift in consumer preference towards more fresh and plant-based alternatives.

How to adopt this global demand shift as a dairy farmer?

While exports are declining in the dairy sector, there is still a chance for Australian dairy farmers to cope through this and earn better through these slight changes:

• Try to explore new markets like Africa and South-east Asia.

• Focus on producing and exporting the best quality premium products according to newer market demand.

• Try producing and marketing products that promote new innovations in dairy products like organic, lactose-free, fat-free, and many more.

5. Inflation and Demand

Inflation has a direct impact on consumer demand. As inflation has touched new heights over the past years in Australia, demand for milk and dairy products has dropped significantly. But in 2025, inflation is predicted to stabilise, which may lead to more steady demands. 

Here is how you can boom the demand for your dairy product?

• Introduce an affordable and cost-efficient product range to cater to consumers with restricted household expenditure.

• Use digital marketing and social media to increase product reach and visibility and directly engage with consumers to answer their questions and queries. This will lead to better customer loyalty.

• Do proper market research and data analytics before launching any products.

What to expect in 2025?

While there is a greater chance of positive feedback for the dairy sector in the market, there are many key aspects that will directly follow with it. These include increased focus on innovations, new technologies, AI-based farm management tools, adoption of sustainable energy resources, government grants, better research & development, production of more consumer-centric products, and so on. 

Future opportunities stand in abundance for the Australian dairy farmers, but the key effort is how eager and efficient Australian farmers are to grab these opportunities and overcome these challenges. 

Ready to grab new dairy farming trends? Contact KG2 Australia for reliable data, insights, and market research that might help you in better dairy farming decisions. Let’s grow your dairy farm together!

Compliments Agriculture Diary.

Input Costs 2025

What will 2025 bring for Australia? Here are five things to look out for;

Environmental regulations, national political fights, and the impact of the Trump administration are among the issues on the minds of Australian farmers

In the land of drought and flooding rains (and the lesser-known Dorothea Mackellar verse, the fluctuating international commodities market), there’s always plenty for the Australian agriculture sector to talk about.

The Australian federal election

Uncertainty surrounding the 2025 federal election is the overriding concern for the National Farmers Federation (NFF), with major policies including changes to superannuation tax and the regional migration review under a cloud.

“With potential sitting weeks early next year and a federal budget ahead, we need to stay on the ball as all these issues have the potential to significantly affect farmers,” the NFF president, David Jochinke, said.

Labor’s proposed legislation to increase tax on superannuation balances over $3m was left off the list of legislation pushed through parliament in the last sitting week of the year, and Anthony Albanese is reportedly not in favour of proceeding with the change, viewing it as politically risky. The NFF has previously referred to the proposal as a “liquidity trap” for farmers, who often hold family farms in self-managed super funds.

“While we had a win … there’s always a chance the government will strike a deal if parliament sits again,” Jochinke said.

Peak cropping body GrainGrowers said its pre-election wishlist included investment in regional housing, telecommunications, biosecurity funding, and grain freight strategy.

The Trump administration

GrainGrowers is also concerned about the impact of the US election result on the cost of key inputs like pesticides.

“There is potential under Trump for policies on agricultural chemicals to be influenced by key figures like Robert F Kennedy Jr who has posted publicly that he would like to ban the ‘worst agricultural chemicals’,” the GrainGrowers CEO, Shona Gawel, said. This may have flow-on effects for Australian grain producers who use herbicides such as paraquat and diquat for weed control.

“We farm under very different conditions, from a soils and climate perspective, and it’s important independent, science-based assessments are made that take this into account,” Gawel said.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is undertaking a review of paraquat and diquat and recommended banning some use requiring higher rates of application due to an “unacceptable risk to the environment” but found there was “no imminent risk to human health or the safety of food”. The final regulatory decision is due in May.

Though uncertainty exists over whether Trump’s potential imposition of tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico will affect us here, Meat and Livestock Australia’s market information manager, Stephen Bignell, said a record year for beef production and exports in 2024 has set the scene for solid opportunities in 2025.

“The United States has its smallest herd in 72 years, which means improved competitiveness for Australian beef in major markets like Japan, Korea, and China,” he said. “With our cattle herd reaching maturity, Australia is in a position to capitalize on this global demand.”

Climate and environmental regulations

Two looming regulatory concerns for primary producers – the EU deforestation regulation and Labor’s proposed “nature positive” legislation – have been pushed back, with the former delayed until 1 January 2026, and progress on the latter halted after pressure from the West Australian premier. Proposed legislation to create a federal Environmental Protection Agency may or may not come back in the new year.

But both remain firmly on the horizon, alongside the proposed mandatory reporting of scope 3 emissions. Mandatory climate-related disclosure laws passed the Australian parliament in September, and the first cohort of businesses will be required to prepare annual sustainability reports from 1 January. The first year of reporting is limited to scope 1 and 2 emissions, while scope 3 emissions – emissions that occur up and down the supply chain – will be required to be included in the second year of reporting.

The NFF is opposed to mandatory scope 3 emissions reporting and said that if it is introduced, it should not be before 2035.

Farmers for Climate Action says while reporting on emissions is expected to be a future requirement of international trade, smaller primary producers need more time to prepare.

“Our small farm businesses aren’t equipped to report scope 3 emissions yet, so the proposed test which excludes farmers who do not have two of: 100 employees, gross assets of more than $25m and consolidated revenue of more than $50m per year is a sensible one,” Farmers for Climate Action’s CEO, Natalie Collard, said.

Collard said renewable energy developments mean farmers are on track to make $1bn from clean energy rent by 2030.

Farm-appropriate electric vehicles are also starting to come on the market, with the BYD Shark 6 hybrid electric ute named News Corp Australia’s 2024 car of the year. “They are starting to get the range and towing capacity farmers need,” Collard said.

The growing cost of production

The GrainGrowers 2024 Annual Policy Survey identified input costs and availability as the main concerns for growers, a concern shared across commodities.

“Cost-of-production and lack of farm profitability are key issues that vegetable, potato, and onion growers will face in 2025,” Michael Coote, the CEO of industry peak body Ausveg, said.

The cost-of-living crisis directly affects the vegetable industry, resulting in consumers switching to cheaper imported frozen produce. Ausveg is calling for investment in advertising to bolster homegrown vegetable consumption.

“Lifting consumption by just one serve per person per day by 2030 would result in a $3.3bn net economic benefit across the vegetable supply chain, 13,000 new jobs, and $1.3bn in healthcare savings flowing from reduced dietary-linked disease,” Coote said.

Workforce shortages

A 2024 industry sentiment report by Ausveg found that 46% of growers were experiencing workforce shortages. Labour costs were reported to average 38% of a grower’s overall cost of production and reached as high as 71%.

Ausveg is calling for a range of measures to ensure vegetable growers can access the workers they need. Coote said this includes a review and streamlining of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme and the Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement, as well as the retention of the 88-day regional work/specified industry requirement for working holiday visa extensions.

The NFF is also calling for $175m for farmworker accommodation to support the attraction and retention of regional staff.

AG Business Support

We are proud to support our mates in the bush.

REALM Group Australia would like to introduce you all to the company that supplies our TEAM shirts and apparel.

I have personally been to both locations multiple times over the years and would like to thank Danial and his family and all the TEAM at Assef’s for their support and professionalism.

This is a great story about determination and tenacity - an Aussie Icon 

Over a century ago, in 1923, Anthony Assef arrived in Australia from Lebanon with his eldest son Fred, and soon after, opened the first ASSEF’S store in Quirindi. As the business prospered, he was able to send for his wife, Azz, and the remainder of the family, John, Azziz, Sam, and Bert. His only daughter, Freda, migrated with her husband, Charlie Serhan. Anthony Assef’s youngest son, Abraham, was born in Quirindi and went on to graduate in Medicine from Sydney University. Abe was the only one in the family who did not enter the “rag” trade.

John, Azz, Sam, and Bert were educated in Quirindi where learning to speak English was a top priority for these aspiring young businessmen.

In 1938, the Assef–Serhan family took over the shop in Heber Street, Moree, then known as “Macey’s”. By 1940, World War 2 was raging in Europe, and this was the year the Assef family acquired the present site of the Assef business in Balo Street, and the very modern ‘Art Deco’ building was erected and opened towards the end of 1940. The upstairs facade of the original Art Deco design is still well preserved.

This building was the inspiration of John Assef who had to convince his father Anthony to get the “go-ahead” to establish the building and business during the very difficult early days of the war. Throughout manpower shortages, clothes rationing, lack of transport, and other wartime problems, the business was opened as planned before Christmas 1940.

It was a success right from the beginning due to the hard work, persistence and attention of all concerned. Moree at that time was a small, isolated town served by gravel and black soil roads and the railway. The local school was a collection of peeling weatherboard buildings, and the curriculum was a very basic one. The banks, churches, hotels and Memorial Hall were the outstanding buildings of the time, and the corner A.C. Reid retail store dominated the business sector. Balo Street was fronted by many weatherboard business premises, so the new ASSEF’S building drew a lot of attention.

John managed and ran the business with a staff of five or six until November 1942, when he entered the Australian Army. During his absence, Azz and Sadie Assef left the family shop in Scone to conduct the “new business” in Moree.  Azz and Sadie left Moree in January 1948 but returned in 1951. Alf Scott joined the staff at ASSEF’S in July 1948 and fifty-seven years later, retired in 2005.

John went to Lebanon in 1950 where he married his lovely wife – young schoolteacher Mona. They returned to Moree in November 1950 and in the following years their children Antoinette, Paul and Rhonda were born. John was always set on doing ‘better” at all he undertook and set out to improve and add to the comfort and appearance of the store during the ensuing years.

Air-conditioning was introduced to the store, and we believe ASSEF’S was the first rural store to have this wonderful comfort during the extremely hot summers. The floors were carpeted, the layout of the store modernised, neon lighting was installed, and many new labels in clothing, footwear, country gear and fashions were introduced to Moree. Purchasing the next-door building and creating a modern arcade, upstairs offices and flats was the big step taken in 1970/71. This greatly improved the Balo street frontage and added to the business facilities in the centre of Moree.

Also, during the 1970’s the site of the present ladies and children’s departments was opened and integrated into the main building. In 1995, with his son Paul Assef at the helm, John moved quietly into semi-retirement. Major modernisation was undertaken bringing the store into the 21st century. This renovation was a huge task, employing a large workforce of local and specialist tradesmen and artists to ensure that the scheduled re-opening of the store in August 1995 took place as planned. In October 1999, John Assef passed away at the age of 87, followed by his brother Azz in July 2003.

Paul was highly motivated – as was his father John Assef and constantly sought out new labels, including many international designer labels in clothing and footwear to retail in the modern Moree store. Much of the arcade has now been incorporated into the main store. This work began in 1995 along with other major renovations, and then finalised in 2006 to create the current “surf-shop”.

Paul passed away in February 2010, and his wife, Keryn along with their son Daniel, continue to manage the business today. John’s wife, Mona, has been a tower of strength to John, Paul and Keryn throughout the years. 

Daniel’s creativity and vision saw the opening of a new kitchenware store within the Assef’s building in 2016, which was a welcome addition to the town.

Assef’s became an online presence in 2020, with the website being launched mere months before the COVID19 lockdowns began and online shopping began to rapidly increase. Assef’s was now not just a household name in rural NSW but was becoming well regarded Australia wide.

September 2022 saw the beginning of another venture for the Assef family, with the opening of a new Assef’s store in the coastal town of Port Macquarie, carrying popular, high-end labels such as R.M. Williams, Akubra, Calvin Klein, Gant, Industrie, Country Road and more.

Please email us with a picture of yourself or a family member in front of your TOWN-SIGN to [email protected]

Women in Ag

REALM Group Australia is a proud supporter of all the women making a difference in agriculture. 

Truly inspiring women in Agriculture each week we will feature women in agriculture from around Australia and globally who are making a difference. 

Please Meet, Grace Mitchelson 

If you head up to Bullo River Station in the remote Top End, there’s a fair chance that Grace Mitchelson will be your guide. This 500,000-acre working cattle station provides guests with a unique tourism experience, combining authentic outback adventures with life on the farm. Grace is one of those beautiful women who is both down to earth and supremely capable and when she effortlessly showcased Bullo River Station to anyone, they are all left in awe. 

Grace Mitchelson is a guide at Bullo River Station, which means showing guests what it is like to live on a working cattle station, and what remote outback life is like.  This involves showing the cattle activities but also activities like fishing and horse riding, things the team loves doing on their days off, as well as just exploring this amazing property.

She was born on a farm in Tasmania, where my parents still are, so I have known farming all my life.  I left Tassie in 2012 for my first job as a jillaroo in Queensland, and then I was able to transfer within the company to two other stations, one in the NT and another on the NT/WA border.  After several seasons, I wanted to get into tourism, so I got a job at Horizontal Falls for 2 years and then worked on the Great Escape expedition vessel, based out of Broome.  So, I had a lot of varied experiences when I started working at Bullo for the 2018 season.

Please send us your story a brief overview and a couple of pictures and we will be in touch. Email us at [email protected]

AG Dogs of The Week

Meet Molly Mackenzie.

Please send us pictures of your Dogs to [email protected]

Active & Upcoming AUCTION!

Let us know what you have to sell or auction - it’s FREE to List. Please email [email protected] 

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)