Unpacking Ag

Variable weather conditions have created a challenging season for some regions around the country, leading to mixed expectations for the production and quality of the winter crop harvest. In this episode, we discuss how these conditions have led to the latest production and quality expectations for the winter crop and their impact on demand and pricing heading into 2025.   Resources and links: Cro...

In our last episode, we explored how Australian farmland values have changed over the past 12 months, moving from a strong growth period into a plateau. In this episode, we unpack the three main drivers of changing farmland values: seasonal conditions, commodity prices, and interest rates. We explain the effect these drivers have had on the market recently and what’s ahead for Aussie farmland valu...

What has twelve months of variable rainfall in Australia’s ag regions and fluctuating commodity price trends done to farmland values across the country? In this episode, we unpack the trends in farmland values in the first six months of 2024 by exploring how values performed at a national, state, and regional level.   Resources and links: Australian Farmland Values 2024 report   Connect: Rural Ban...

Spring has sprung in Australia, with dairy farmers entering their busiest period and milk production expected to peak in the coming months. In this episode, we examine seasonal conditions for prime dairy regions, assess production and pricing expectations for the remainder of the season, and look at the current state of Aussie dairy for farmers and processors.   Resources and links: Dairy insights...

Global ag markets have a significant effect on the demand for Australian products. To understand the drivers of commodity prices, we first need to look at how Aussie ag exports perform overseas. In this episode, we dive into the trends in Australian ag exports in the last financial year by unpacking the commodities and markets that experienced growth and those with some weaknesses. We also share o...

As the world increasingly looks for alternatives to fossil fuels, Australian farmers have the opportunity to embrace biofuel production as it gains ground globally. In this episode, we explore the biofuel industry and the opportunities available to Australian farmers with demand growing domestically and internationally. We also discuss sustainability challenges for the biofuel industry and how fee...

As more and more farmers look to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, it’s becoming increasingly vital for livestock farmers to understand how to minimise their most significant greenhouse gas output: methane. In this episode, we examine recent trends in methane emissions in Australian livestock and how the industry can continue growing while reducing methane emissions.   Resources and links: Nu...

Every day, new technologies are being created and released to help improve every aspect of our lives, and the agricultural industry is no different. In the last decade, sustainability has become a much bigger focus of the ag industry, and technological innovation is helping to support farmers in building profitable, sustainable farming operations. In this episode, we explore how ag tech is helping...

Between record highs in sheep supply and a price crash in late 2023, the Aussie sheep industry has had an extremely volatile and challenging 12 months. In this episode, we examine what’s next for the industry by unpacking current trends in Aussie sheep flocks, production, and demand for sheepmeat and wool. We also take a big-picture look at the longer-term expectations for the sheep and wool secto...

The first half of 2024 has already served Aussie farmers with variable operating conditions. It's vital to understand how these conditions might evolve throughout the year to enable informed decision-making. In this episode, we look at the 2024 Mid-Year Outlook report for cattle, cropping, dairy, horticulture, sheep, and wool. We discuss the expected performance of supply, demand, and prices for t...

With the planting done, Aussie grain growers have their eyes on the skies hoping for rain to produce another strong winter crop. In this episode, we discuss how seasonal conditions are expected to develop over the next few months and how seeding went across different regions. We also look overseas to examine what’s happening in global grain markets and what it could mean for local growers.   Resou...

Many local and international factors influence the Australian ag commodity market. Between continuing economic challenges for consumers, shifts in global production, and a mixed bag of rainfall, it’s time to do a mid-year assessment of ag commodities. In this episode, we answer the question, “What is the state of Aussie ag commodities right now?” We look back at our commodity outlook from December...

In the last episode, we examined the recently released 2024 Australian Farmland Values report to understand how Aussie farmland values performed in 2023. As market dynamics continue to shift, it’s more important than ever to understand the key drivers of trends in the market. In this episode, we discuss how these drivers developed throughout 2023, their effects on the performance of Australian far...

Since 1995, the Australian Farmland Values report has tracked the value of farmland around the country. Farmland is the most critical asset in a farming operation, so understanding the trends in its value is vital to making effective business decisions. In this episode, we break down the 2024 Australian Farmland Values report, evaluate the performance of farmland in 2023 on a national, state, and...

It’s Beef Week in Rockhampton so let’s talk beef! After a massive push by Australia’s cattle industry to rebuild herds over the last couple of years, we’re now seeing the fruits of that labour. Things are looking good for Aussie beef with a combination of higher Australian production and tight supply in the U.S. In this episode, we examine the performance of Australian cattle prices and production...

With the announcement of new season farmgate milk prices approaching fast, it’s time to look at Aussie dairy. In this episode, we are looking back at industry trends from the past six months, analysing changes in international dairy markets, and examining our expectations for the new season including what opening farmgate milk prices might be.   Resources and links: Dairy insights publications fro...

Rain, hail, or shine, all growers and producers recognise the impact of the climate on their operation. To enable long-term planning, Australian farmers must understand the changes we've already seen in the environment and what to expect in the coming years. In this episode, we explore how a changing climate could impact Australian farmers, the changes that have already occurred, and projections f...

In 2024, the fertiliser market has become a critical landscape of fluctuating availability and dependency. With a significant portion of our fertiliser imported, Australian farmers have directly faced the unpredictability of global market shifts and shortages. In this episode, we dive into the recent volatility of the global fertiliser markets and its impact on you. We also examine the expansion o...

Over the past decade, the Australian wool market has seen significant shifts. Producers have navigated through industry challenges, fluctuating supply and demand, and varying wool prices. In this episode, we delve into the factors that have influenced the wool market, including the roles of China and Europe in shaping demand. We’ll examine the projections for wool prices and what the future holds...

Over the past decade, there has been considerable change in the horticulture sector. Growers have needed to adapt to a market with increased production, a stronger focus on exports, and changing consumer habits. In this episode, we’ll explore the longer-term trends seen in production, consumption, and export for horticulturalists in the past decade. We’ll also look at production expectations comin...

The 2023 livestock market was one of increased supply but declining prices for cattle, lambs, and sheep. Following a surprisingly wet summer, we’ve started to see a much-needed recovery in the market. In this episode, we’ll look back on the livestock markets in 2023 and assess how we got to this recent recovery. We’ll also forecast what we might see through the rest of 2024.   Resources and links:...

Another busy winter crop harvest has come to an end in Australia as variable weather conditions created challenges across the country that resulted in mixed production and quality outcomes. In this episode, we'll explain how heavy rainfall events in the southeast and dry conditions in the west impacted the 2023 growing season. We’ll also look at the final production figures for the year and how th...

Carbon is a simple word which becomes much more complicated when we start talking about storing it, generating carbon credits, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon projects can be complex and tiring to understand and may result in fewer farmers taking on carbon projects. In this episode, we simplify the most confusing and complex aspects of carbon credits and projects. We’ll dive into wha...

Australian farmers will always rely on seasonal labour. However, border closures and travel restrictions during the pandemic led to dramatic shortages in a range of ag sectors. In this episode, we break down seasonal labour in Australia. We'll dig into which sectors have seen improvement since the borders reopened, which sectors are still struggling with shortages, and how these ongoing challenges...

We’ve been having a great time breaking down what’s happening in the ag world for you over the past couple of months, but we thought we’d shift gears a bit during the holiday period. In this episode, you’ll learn a bit about us! We dig into our backgrounds, how we got into agricultural analysis, and our favourite things we’ve learnt along the way. Happy holidays!   Connect: Rural Bank website Rura...