Grains

The countdown is on for the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) 2026 Grains Research Update series for growers and agronomists seeking practical, science-backed strategies to boost profitability. The events return to New South Wales and Queensland starting next month, with registrations now open for forums in Wagga Wagga, Corowa, West Wyalong, Dubbo, Goondiwindi and Narrabri.

For most of the modern era, the story of food was scarcity. More people meant more demand, higher prices, and ever-expanding markets for farmers. That part of human history has now come to an end. For the first time, global population growth is slowing sharply at the same time as global food production continues to rise.

We now have a bumper crop, a tax windfall for government, and broad agreement across agriculture, transport and local government that the system is stretched. The buy-back was presented as a serious response to a real capacity, efficiency and safety problem. The only question left is whether the government is prepared to act.

This week, the comparison shifts to machinery and markets — how, in both decades a century apart, a revolution in farm equipment collided head-on with falling commodity prices and soaring machinery costs. The rhyme is almost eerie: technological leaps meeting financial cliffs.

The Kaniva A&P Society conducted another successful crop competition in November attracting a good variety of entries from across the district ... There were 21 crop entries: 3 Durum, 7 Heavy, 8 Mixed, and 3 Light. The judging covered a wide area, from Lawloit through to the Border, ensuring full representation of the district.

Painting of a new art installation at GrainCorp's Serviceton site has now finished, marking a major milestone for the town and its place on the Wimmera Mallee's growing network of silo art installations. Adelaide-based artist Jack Fran spent about two weeks painting the mural, which tells the story of the South Australia–Victoria border dispute and features historical surveyors Henry Wade and Edward White.

The Bendigo Bank Agribusiness Monthly Commodity Update for November contains several positive findings and a major milestone as the year draws to a close. Australian cattle exports reached the second highest monthly volume on record, the third-largest winter grain crop is waiting in the wings and there’s good news for consumers in the run-up to Christmas...

A key panel session at the Digital Agrifood Summit exploring Denmark's proposed carbon tax on agriculture has highlighted the need to avoid simplistic comparisons between Australian and European models. GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel said the summit, attended by leaders across agriculture, technology, and policy, prompted robust discussion about the relevance and risks of similar mechanisms in the Australian context.

Pakistan has approved market access for Genetically Modified (GM) canola from Australia. Australia is a trusted and reliable supplier of canola to Pakistan, with non-GM canola exports valued at $506 million in the last financial year – making Pakistan one of Australia’s top markets for canola. 

Confidence in Australia’s farming sector has lifted, as the nation’s farmers hang their hopes on continuing strong commodity prices – particularly in livestock sectors – and better seasonal conditions in a number of regions, the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey has found.

Australia is forecast to harvest a larger winter grain crop this year, with Rabobank estimating total volumes to reach 62.8 million tonnes in its just-released annual 2025/26 Australian Winter Crop Forecast.

On a cotton farm near Emerald in central Queensland, something unusual is taking root. Among the cotton, mung beans and peanuts that typically fill the rotation, a small but mighty crop is showing its potential to change the face of Australian agriculture: sesame.

Grain Producers Australia notes ... decision by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) of conditional approval being granted to Elders Limited’s takeover of Delta Agribusiness, requiring divestment of Delta stores, only in WA ... GPA Southern Region Director, Andrew Weidemann, said he was disappointed the ACCC had not realised all of the concerns expressed by growers, in GPA’s submission, about the Elders takeover reducing competition in 33 regional locations/communities.

The ink is barely dry on Canberra’s new 2035 carbon targets, and the climate catastrophists are already eyeing 2050, the holy grail when net zero will finally be achieved. Out in the Wheatbelt, most farmers shrug. Another distant date, another government promise, most have tuned out with the view that what I can’t see does not hurt me — a bit like the GRDC levy that nicks 1 per cent of farm-gate revenue. But let’s be clear ...

A team of world-leading researchers from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, are exploring if a small insect, the stem-boring weevil, Lixus caudiger, could hold the key to tackling flaxleaf fleabane; one of the most invasive and costly weeds in Australian grain production.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is seeking input from growers to shape investment in 'blue sky' research that could uncover the next game changer for the Australian grains industry. This engagement will build on the grower-informed priorities captured in the organisation's current, 5-year research, development and extension (RD&E) plan.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation thought it could settle the question of whether its budget was “right-sized.” Instead, it has lit a fire under growers. After a run of big harvests and strong prices, levy income has ballooned and reserves now sit at $688.4 million—up more than $100 million in a single year.

Grain Producers Australia is calling for agri-tourists to stop and think about biosecurity risks and other dangers, before entering grain farms, to try to take selfies in flowering canola crops.

Murrumbidgee Council Mayor Ruth McRae OAM has expressed deep disappointment at the closure of Coprice's Coleambally facility from 1 September 2025. Cr McRae described the news as devastating for the community and said it was disappointing to see the withdrawal of a business, particularly one that has helped drive the region's agricultural sector.

Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry production is expected to hit a record combined value of $101.6 billion in 2025-2026, according to the latest ABARES forecasts released today. ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville said the new record value was mostly down to livestock.

The travels of former Donald resident, Mary Raynes, have so far also included meetings in Puebla with Heineken and Central Altiplano Maltería, Mexico ... Australia has been right in the brew of it, supplying on average 61 per cent, up to 85 per cent of Mexico's total malting barley imports.

Sentiment in Australia’s agricultural sector has softened over the winter months, as the nation’s farmers contend with higher input costs and mixed seasonal conditions, the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey has found. The survey, released today, found net farm sector confidence has eased to a neutral reading of zero (down from five per cent in the previous survey).