Farms & Farm Machinery 463

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10 FlipScreen transforms perceived unusable material into a valuable resource, helping farmers cutting costs and delivery delays by reusing soil and fertiliser

6 AgriFutures names 2026 Rural Women’s Award national nalists

35 Elders Insurance continuing to support rural Australia’s needs

40 Now Buildings completes largest ever structure in Queensland

14 TTR 7600 In nity boasting Antonio Carraro’s largest cabin and impressive features

19 Bobcat tractor kickstarts hobby farmer’s journey

22 Bourgault introduces next-generation PLDX opener

24 Lonsdale Merchants nding success with Rata Power Claw

28 Shell Rimula range making engine oil last longer for farmers

Editor Lincoln Bertelli

lincoln.bertelli@primecreative.com.au

Journalist Jackson Haddad

Contributors Trevor Whittington, Gary Northover

Design Danielle Harris, Jacqueline Buckmaster

Art Director Daz Woolley

Managing Editor Eugene Du y

Cover image

30 Muck Runner helping turn e uent into natural fertiliser

38 Maxam tyres proud to be trusted by major OEMs

44 Rocky River Ag Services re ects on dealership win

46 Digger King excavator protecting rural property

Event news

49 Full TMA conference speaker list revealed

50 Bulk Handling Technical Conference announces lineup

Industry news

62 Grower survey reveals autonomous machinery uptake

65 NFF welcomes Queensland agtech innovation fund

65 Project to connect growers and disease researchers

66 Pesticides being developed to combat major cattle issues

66 Researchers developing disease-resistant citrus

67 Study looks at nitrogen fertiliser management in cotton

68 Canola crops could secure nation’s fuel security

69 Fly species successfully pollinating berry crops

Market news & opinion

55 Global factors caused challenges to March tractor sales, the Tractor and Machinery Association says

56 WAFarmers CEO Trevor Whittington looks at the urea and diesel supply challenges

Regular items

4 Editor’s note

58 Calendar of upcoming events

76 List your item for sale!

79 Compact solution

Bobcat Forkli s launches new lithium-ion three-wheel range to Australian market

Image: Antonio Carraro

Welcome

to the latest edition of Farms

& Farm Machinery

As agriculture continues to adapt to global challenges and uncertainty, e ciency gains and cost savings – particularly with fuel and inputs – become increasingly important.

This edition of Farms & Farm Machinery highlights a number of products which can help farmers get the most out of their assets and maximise e ciency.

One of these is on our cover in the form of FlipScreen, an innovative product which helps to turn perceived unusable material into a valuable resource.

This means farmers can reuse soil and fertiliser while cutting costs and delivery delays – two crucial savings in the current climate.

Another is the Pichon and Samson machinery supplied by Muck Runner, which saves money by letting farmers use e uent as a natural alternative to fertiliser.

Shoring up every aspect of the production process – including areas which are easy to overlook – can also be important.

It is for this reason we have highlighted Maxam tyres, learning more about why major OEMs are trusting them as a quality and value option.

It is also why we have highlighted the Shell Rimula lubricant range available through Viva Energy, along with Elders Insurance which has spent a century focused on the requirements of rural communities.

Protecting machinery is always crucial, and Now Buildings has recently completed a whopping 261m long shed which showcases its ability to look a er whatever Australian farmers need.

Bourgault has added a new product to its range, namely a next-generation ParaLink Dual Xtreme opener, which has been built to integrate with one of its hoe drills.

Rocky River Ag Services was named Flexi-Coil’s dealer of the year for the second

straight time, with the dealership re ecting on this important recognition.

Another dealership pro led is Victoria’s Lonsdale Merchants, which has enjoyed plenty of success since beginning to sell Rata Equipment’s Power Claw.

Also in the machinery space, we look at Antonio Carraro’s TTR 7600 In nity tractor which brings together a host of impressive features, along with learning how a Digger King mini excavator is protecting a Queensland electrician’s rural property from bush res.

Women are put in the spotlight through the naming of national nalists for this year’s Rural Women’s Award, alongside a Queensland woman whose journey into hobby farming – all powered by a Bobcat tractor – has become a hit on Instagram.

The full lineups are now available for both the Tractor and Machinery Association’s annual conference and the Bulk Handling Technical Conference, with these being revealed in this edition.

There is also plenty of industry news, including a look at results from an autonomous machinery survey.

Happy reading!

Lincoln Bertelli Editor

Outstanding leaders

The AgriFutures Australia Rural Women’s Award national nalists have been announced, recognising their leadership in their respective states and territories

Women in rural areas can o en face unique challenges which prevent them from being able to grow their businesses, projects, or programs.

The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award has aimed to buck this trend over the past 25 years by empowering and celebrating them, while providing grants which help rural women gain new skills and knowledge.

Each year, a woman from every state and territory is named as a national nalist of the award, receiving a $15,000 Westpac grant for their project, business or program, access to professional development opportunities and alumni networks.

The national winner also receives an additional $20,000 grant, while the runner up receives another $15,000 grant.

This year’s winners will be announced on September 8, at a Gala Dinner held at Parliament House in Canberra. Below are the nalists of the 2026 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award.

Northern Territory – Kelly Shotton

Kelly Shotton is a station hand, quali ed pilot and founder of BoreWatch – an app transforming how remote cattle stations monitor and manage their water infrastructure.

The reporting platform enables station sta to document and monitor tanks, bores, troughs, fuel usage and infrastructure across large-scale properties.

It collates data into automated reports, identifying critical issues and trends without the cost of automated monitoring equipment, while capturing historical records to support long-term planning and retention of operational knowledge.

Raised on a sheep and cropping farm in Rochester, Victoria, Shotton completed an electrical apprenticeship before taking a station role with Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) at 25.

She found her calling in the industry and never looked back.

Now based in Darwin as senior head pilot for CPC, she developed BoreWatch from a practical need to streamline bore run reporting on remote stations – and recognised its potential far beyond her own operation.

With the support of the $15,000 Westpac grant, Shotton is investing in app development to commercialise BoreWatch and make it accessible to stations across Australia.

Shotton says BoreWatch was born from

her rsthand frustration while working on the land.

“When you’re on a station, there’s so much critical information getting lost in notebooks, radios or just in people’s heads. I just kept thinking, there has to be a better way to keep track of it all,” she says.

“Water is everything on a station. If something goes wrong and you don’t catch it early, it can have a huge impact. BoreWatch is about making sure people have the right information at the right time to stay ahead of those issues.

“It’s pretty surreal to be recognised like this. I’ve just been focused on building something that works and helps people on the ground, so to have that acknowledged is really exciting.”

South Australia – Narelle Zanker

Narelle Zanker is a teacher turned dairy farmer and the co-founder – alongside

Kelly Shotton (left) was named the national finalist for the Northern Territory

her husband Joel – of Dairy Adventures, an agritourism venture on the family’s 4,000-acre mixed property.

Based in Mannum, Dairy Adventures invites people of all ages to experience the heart of dairy farming by providing immersive and hands-on experiences to visitors, while delivering powerful lessons about food safety, animal care and where food comes from.

Launched in 2024, Dairy Adventures welcomed more than 1,200 visitors in its rst year – from preschoolers to retirees, schools, aged-care and disability groups – running up to four tours a week and earning a silver medal in the New Tourism Business category at the 2025 South Australian Tourism Awards.

Sharing the love of dairy with people of all ages, Zanker was also named South Australia’s 2025 Young Farmer of the Year.

The grant will support her in publishing a children’s book about life on a dairy farm for schools, libraries and homes across Australia, and creating educational resources with Dairy Australia to extend learning beyond the farm.

Zanker says Dairy Adventures is about more than showing people a farm.

“When people see the science, the systems and the care that goes into every bottle of milk, something clicks,” she says.

“We’re not just a farm, we’re a food production facility, and we want people to understand and value that.”

Queensland – Angie Nisbet

Angie Nisbet is a h-generation beef producer from remote north-west Queensland and co-founder of FarmHer Hands, an initiative focused on improving sun safety and skin health outcomes in rural Australia.

FarmHer Hands was established following her sister’s melanoma diagnosis and the loss of a close friend to skin cancer.

In response, Nisbet and her sister developed UPF50+ sun-protection gloves designed for life on the land.

FarmHer Hands is leading the AgriSkin Project – a national initiative focused on early intervention and improving access to skin health services in rural Australia, including the ‘Protect the Hands that Feed the Nation’ campaign and virtual skin check pilots for remote communities.

With the support of the grant, FarmHer Hands will be able to grow beyond physical products, with the development of school and workplace education resources, new retail partnerships and an online resource aimed at making preventative skin care more accessible in the bush.

Nisbet says the award highlights the importance of changing the conversation around health in agriculture.

“People working on the land spend long hours outdoors under some of the harshest conditions in the country, o en in remote environments, and don’t always have the same access to health services as those in metropolitan areas,” she says.

“That makes prevention critical. By raising awareness and normalising conversations about skin health, we can support better outcomes for today’s agricultural workforce and help protect future generations growing up on the land.”

Victoria – Becky Dickinson

Becky Dickinson is a mixed-animal veterinarian and founder of Veterinary Support Services (VSS), an initiative dedicated to strengthening the future of rural veterinary practice in Australia.

A er working in regional mixed practice since 2007, with a strong focus on dairy cattle, Becky recognised the urgent need for structured post-graduate support for early-career veterinarians entering demanding rural roles.

In response, she established VSS to deliver mentoring, training and professional networking pathways

Images: AgriFutures Australia

Narelle Zanker (middle) was named the national finalist for South Australia

Becky Dickinson (right) is the national finalist for Victoria

Amy Vickers (middle) is Tasmania’s Rural Women’s national finalist

Angie Nisbet (right) was named Queensland’s national finalist

FARMING

designed to improve con dence and drive retention of graduate vets.

Through the $15,000 Westpac grant, Dickinson will continue developing innovative, nancially sustainable models of post-graduate training that support young veterinarians and help secure a resilient rural veterinary workforce for Australia’s livestock industries.

“In rural communities, veterinarians play a critical role in livestock health, welfare, biosecurity and disease response,” she says.

“We know that structured supervision, education and mentoring signi cantly improve job satisfaction and retention.

“My goal is to use the $15,000 Westpac grant to create nancially viable, scalable models of post-graduate support that strengthen both individual veterinarians and the rural clinics that employ them.”

Tasmania – Amy Vickers

Amy Vickers is a 26-year military veteran and founder of Well Beyond Service, a program supporting women who have served in defence, emergency services and volunteer emergency roles.

Through ve-day rural retreats in Tasmania, she creates safe, restorative spaces for reconnection and recovery, combining equine interaction, art, yoga and structured wellbeing sessions to help participants rediscover wellness, belonging and life beyond service.

They also foster meaningful connections with rural communities through farm-based activities and lasting regional ties that support both individual recovery and community cohesion.

Vickers brings lived experience and compassionate leadership to her work, having trained as an aviation technician and later an aircra maintenance engineer in the Australian Navy.

The grant will allow her to expand the reach of Well Beyond Service and support

more women across regional Australia, while also undertaking a professional development course of her choice.

Vickers says the program is grounded in creating space for women to heal, reconnect and rediscover their identity beyond service.

“A er years of service, many women face challenges in reconnecting with themselves and nding a new sense of identity,” she says.

“Well Beyond Service creates a supportive environment where women can step away, rebuild their con dence and reconnect with community, so they can move forward with strength and purpose.”

New South Wales & Australian Capital Territory – Kristie Ivone

Kristie Ivone grew up on a beef cattle farm in Whorouly, Victoria – and a er a cancer diagnosis, she did what many wouldn’t –founded a social enterprise.

That enterprise became Boas Language Academy, born from her belief that regional communities thrive when diversity is celebrated and everyone has the opportunity to contribute.

Based in Albury, Boas Language Academy trains migrants to teach their languages and share their cultures, turning language from a barrier to a connector.

With 13 migrant teachers and more than 80 students in its rst year, Boas has delivered over 29 language courses since commencing in September 2024.

Ivone will use the $15,000 Westpac grant to expand Boas’ language o erings by training more migrant teachers and running pilot courses in languages including Swahili, Japanese, German and Hindi, and build an impact measurement framework to track and communicate Boas’ community impact and support longer-term replication across the country.

Ivone says Boas is grounded in creating connection, belonging and opportunity.

“Language has the power to bring people together and create a true sense of belonging – by supporting migrants to share their language and culture, we’re building stronger, more connected communities where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and thrive,” she says.

Western Australia – Angela Teale

Angela Teale is strategic advisor and co-founder of Starsite Pty Ltd, where she combines aerospace engineering expertise with a deep commitment to regional development.

In 2024, Starsite partnered with a major international space company to build, operate and maintain a 20.2m Lunar-class antenna in Mullewa, a world-leading ground station supporting NASA’s next missions to the Moon.

Raised in small-town Iowa, USA, and shaped by a global career, Teale knows that rural communities possess the ingenuity and resilience needed for transformative industries.

Through Starsite, she is proving that advanced technical careers can thrive in regional Australia – stimulating local economies and creating STEM pathways for young people close to home.

The grant will enable Teale to further her work expanding STEM engagement and satellite communications capability in rural communities.

Teale says the antenna project is about more than infrastructure.

“It’s about showing regional women and young people that there is a place for them in industries like space and advanced technology,” she says.

“We want to make sure these opportunities aren’t just seen from afar, but are accessible to the communities they’re being built in.”

Kristie Ivone (middle) was named the national finalist for New South Wales & the Australian Capital Territory

Angela Teale (middle) is Western Australia’s national finalist

Australia’s Most Useful Attachment

HIDDEN Benefits

FlipScreen transforms perceived unusable material into a valuable resource, helping farmers reuse soil and fertiliser while cutting costs and delivery delays

Most farms already have the gear to move material around. Loaders, skid steers, excavators – they do the heavy li ing every day.

The issue isn’t usually moving material, it’s dealing with it when it’s mixed, clumped, or inconsistent. That’s where a FlipScreen ts in.

A FlipScreen is an attachment that lets your machine screen and separate material on the spot. Instead of just shi ing dirt, gravel, or fertiliser from one place to another, you can actually process it – take nes out, break up clumps, clean it up, and make it usable again.

They’re built to suit whatever machine you’re running. The hitch is designed to match your carrier, whether it’s a skid steer, loader, or excavator, so it ts properly and works as part of the machine.

Once it’s on, it runs o your hydraulics like any other attachment. You’re not locked into one job either as the screening panels can be swapped out depending on what you’re working with – ner screens for soil or fertiliser and larger apertures

for gravel or rock. The same unit can also be used across di erent tasks without needing separate gear.

It’s not limited to just screening either. It still functions as a bucket, so you can dig, trench, and handle material normally, then process it as you go.

With the brush kit tted, it will also keep working through wet or sticky material that would normally clog up and stop you.

It doesn’t change how you run your farm, it just gives you more control over the material you’re already handling.

Sitting on resources

Across Australian agricultural properties, the same pattern o en repeats. A track wears out, it gets rebuilt, then it fails again. But the material itself hasn’t disappeared, it’s just sunk, mixed, and lost its structure. Most of the time, you’re not short of material, you’re short of control over it.

With the ability to screen and separate that mixed layer, you can li it, remove the nes, and put the usable aggregate straight back down properly – meaning the same

material but a better result. It’s a shi from replacing roads to actually managing the material that makes them.

Most farms already have gravel pits, stockpiles, or old borrow areas sitting idle. They’re o en ignored because the material is inconsistent, too dirty or too mixed to use properly.

Once it’s screened and sized, that ‘useless’ pile becomes a controlled supply for roads, drainage, pads, and general use.

In reality, a lot of farms are already sitting on their own small quarry without treating it like one.

Once that material is processed properly with FlipScreen, it stops being a liability and starts behaving like a resource.

Fertiliser pressure

Fertiliser isn’t what it used to be. With global con icts a ecting supply, especially of urea, availability has become unpredictable and prices have climbed. What turns up isn’t always in good condition either. Moisture-a ected fertiliser that’s clumped together o en

FlipScreen attachments screen and separate material to process it for other use

gets written o or spread unevenly, which wastes money and reduces e ectiveness.

Screening breaks it back down into a usable form so every kilogram is applied properly. If supply tightens further, being able to process and mix alternative fertiliser sources on-site becomes more than just handy.

Manure, compost, and other blends already exist on most farms, they’re just underutilised because of inconsistency.

This is the kind of job FlipScreen was designed around – getting those materials back into a usable, consistent state is the di erence.

There’s a long-standing habit of pushing unwanted material into a hole and moving on. Concrete, rock, and mixed rubble o en get buried, but buried doesn’t mean gone, it just becomes a problem later down the track.

That same material can be reused for tracks, drainage, and base layers if

it’s processed properly because it is not waste, it just hasn’t been re ned yet.

Once it’s separated properly, that ‘waste’ becomes usable again, which is where FlipScreen turns a dead end into something productive.

Soil matters

Bringing in outside soil introduces risk, whether that is weeds, pests, or poor structure. Cleaning and reusing your own soil keeps things consistent because it already suits your land.

Screening removes rocks, roots, and debris, leaving something far more

usable without the unknowns. Keeping everything on-site and under control only works if you can process it properly, which can be done e ectively with a FlipScreen.

Dirty material doesn’t just a ect the job, it a ects your machines because rocks and debris cause wear, blockages, and unnecessary strain.

Cleaner material runs through equipment more smoothly and reduces that impact. The role FlipScreen plays in the process is taking that rubbish out before it hits your gear and changes how everything runs.

The attachment’s hitch is designed to match the carrier of the machine a farmer is using

Time adds up

Waiting on deliveries, organising freight, and handling material multiple times all slow jobs down. Processing material on-site removes those delays and keeps things moving.

Jobs that would normally drag out can be completed much faster when everything is handled in one place. When everything happens on-site in one pass thanks to FlipScreen, the whole job tightens up.

Supply chains o en aren’t as reliable as they used to be, as costs change, availability shi s, and relying on external suppliers puts you at their mercy.

Being able to recover, separate, and reuse what’s already on your property gives farmers greater control over both timing and cost.

That level of control only comes from being able to process your own material, which is exactly where FlipScreen ts into the picture.

For more information, visit flipscreen.net

FlipScreen still functions as a bucket, allowing farmers to dig, trench, and handle material

Screening removes rocks, roots, and debris from a property’s soil

Images: FlipScreen

FlipScreen can break down moisture-a ected and clumpedtogether fertiliser into a usable form

Often ignored gravel pits can be screened and reused for rural roads

Unique package

Antonio Carraro’s TTR 7600 In nity brings a host of impressive features together in a tractor which suits both specialised and general farmers

“They punch above their weight, that’s what everybody says.”

That quote from Antonio Carraro Australia’s national sales manager Marco Corra begins to sum up why the Italian manufacturer’s tractors – speci cally the TTR 7600 In nity – stand out.

Among an established and impressive eet of tractors designed primarily for the specialised requirements of horticulture, the TTR 7600 In nity boasts not only the widest cabin of all Antonio Carraro models but plenty of other features that make it ideal for Australian farmers.

Hydrostatic transmission and a unique steering chassis are just two of these unique elements in the TTR 7600 In nity, along with excellent stability in hilly conditions and the ability to customise the tractor for speci c needs.

Built for ease

Antonio Carraro’s TTR 7600 In nity is powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged Kohler engine that produces 74hp (55kW).

While Antonio Carraro tractors are not

aimed at Australia’s broadacre market, an engine of this size means it is suited to those requiring more power than a hobby farmer’s basic utility machine.

The rst standout characteristic is the In nity hydrostatic transmission, which gives the tractor two mechanical speed ranges (0–15km/h and 0–40km/h) and each of these o ers three hydrostatic speeds.

These are easily controlled by a selector on the joystick and can be engaged while driving without loss of traction or power interruption.

A fully automatic option is also available, and Corra describes this “unique” transmission as being well suited to farming setups that involve more than one regular driver.

“It’s ideal for farms where there is not just one operator jumping on the tractor, but also for people that are not as experienced with changing gears,” he says.

“They can just select automatic and the machine maintains the torque according to whatever is required.”

This is complemented by a system where two speed and RPM options can be memorised by the tractor, enabling a farmer’s most used implements to be con gured for optimal use.

“Let’s say you have a mulcher, and you establish that running it at 2,100 RPM gives the optimal fuel consumption and the perfect travelling speed is 5km/h,” Corra says.

“You can record that in set one of the engine’s memory, jump on the machine, pull the shuttle forward, recall memory one and travel speed one, and the machine will gradually take you to these parameters – you don’t have to do anything.

“Then if you are, for example, changing the mulcher to a sprayer and you decide the sprayer requires higher RPM and lower travelling speed for the perfect coverage, you can set these to memory two.

“They’re very sophisticated in that regard, so as soon as you learn how to use the machine, it becomes a fully automatic

Antonio Carraro’s TTR 7600 Infinity excels in hilly environments

Images: Antonio Carraro

tractor that lets the operator work with ease.”

All of this is designed to increase the tractor’s functionality and ease of use for operators, while the absence of a clutch also provides a safety bene t in the hilly conditions where the TTR 7600 In nity does much of its work.

“It’s extremely safe in hills because of not having any clutch system,” Corra says.

“Even if you are in extremely steep conditions, as soon as you release the accelerator, the machine is fully locked on the side of the hills.”

The tractor also has an Eco driving mode, where at 40km/h the engine automatically switches to the minimum RPM necessary, helping to reduce fuel consumption and noise.

Driving flexibility

Antonio Carraro’s TTR 7600 In nity is also equipped with the manufacturer’s signature Actio chassis.

This means the tractor both oscillates and articulates thanks to a central articulated joint that allows up to 15 degrees of oscillation.

It is a gamechanger for stability and is another of the reasons why this tractor excels in hilly and steep conditions, while Corra says this feature also brings bene ts for those involved in row cropping.

Another feature present on the TTR 7600 In nity is a reversible driving turret. This is also included on several other Antonio Carraro tractors and means the driving seat can be rotated 180 degrees, allowing operators to have full vision while working with rear mounted implements.

Crucially, the mechanical speed ranges function the same in forward and reverse,

The TTR 7600 Infinity is described as punching above its weight

Images: Credit

Some models prioritise a low pro le to work under low-hanging canopies, while others are particularly narrow to handle row cropping between tightly packed trees.

The TTR 7600 In nity maintains this focus on being compact but also boasts the widest cabin of all the manufacturer’s models.

It is the only one which can accommodate a passenger inside, Corra says, while the cabin has been soundproofed, air-conditioned and features next-generation technology that absorbs vibrations and jolts for the operator.

Flush windows on all sides provides excellent visibility, something which is especially useful when driving in reverse, and it also o ers a comfortable pneumatic seat.

TTR 7600 In nity also includes a wider wheelbase, something which helps to distinguish it from two similar models.

Antonio Carraro also o ers the TR 7600 In nity and SR 7600 In nity, both of which have the same core characteristics and features such as the hydrostatic transmission and fully automatic operation as the TTR 7600 In nity but with one key di erence each.

It features the largest cabin in Antonio Carraro’s tractor range

The SR model is narrower, enabling it to work in tight row cropping environments.

“The front wheels of the axle don’t steer, but it is instead done by hydraulics in the centre which allows the machine to follow,” Corra says.

“If you go out of a row on an articulated tractor, you’re not cutting corners, you’re not touching trees and you have a tighter turning circle.”

Antonio Carraro’s other option is the TR, which is a non-articulated version and is also narrower than the TTR.

Overall, Corra says the TTR 7600 In nity is a good example of a tractor that showcases Antonio Carraro’s unique style while o ering a wide scope of appeal.

“We try to build machines that are customised,” he says.

“We have a very speci c market, which is specialised agriculture, and we generally have customers in steep conditions or tight conditions.

“The TTR 7600 In nity is also used by general farmers and everybody loves the tractor. They punch above their weight, that’s what everybody says.”

The full Antonio Carraro tractor range can be viewed online at www.antoniocarraro.it/au

The reversible driving turret enables full vision when using rear-mounted implements

New horizons

One family’s shi from suburban life to hobby farming has been signi cantly helped by a Bobcat CT4045 tractor from Clark Equipment

Had regulations at an inner-city council been di erent, Lucee’s journey into hobby farming might never have taken place.

Living in suburban Brisbane with her family, and with a business in the city, they were looking to do a house renovation and spent a long time in council getting that approved.

During the time spent navigating these challenges, Rainy Doo Farm became available and they “just fell in love with it”.

Admitting such a move “wasn’t on the bingo card”, the family’s unexpected lifestyle change and hobby farming journey began, something which has also been shared with more than 5,000 followers on Instagram through her handle @lifewithlucee.

Powering the story

Rainy Doo is located in the Samford Valley region, a rural area in Brisbane’s north-west but still less than 25km from the CBD.

As someone who had no farming or acreage experience, the rst question on

Highland cows are a recent addition to Lucee’s Queensland property

The Bobcat CT4045 tractor at Rainy Doo farm

Lucee’s mind a er purchasing the 7.5 acre property was how it could be used as a hobby farm.

“We weren’t going to pigeonhole one thing and we thought if we’re going in, let’s go all in,” she says.

“We’ve looked at animals. We’ve got some goats and we’re looking at cows.

“The property was originally a thousand acre dairy farm going back years ago, which has been split up, but we knew the land was good for cattle, which is why we originally looked at that.

“We were looking maybe at doing beef cattle and then came across Highland cows and thought ‘this is very cute’ and very much suited the house and lifestyle hobby farming.”

The next step was to nd a tractor, something which was also a leap into the unknown.

The winner was Bobcat, speci cally a CT4045 compact model sourced from Clark Equipment’s Brisbane branch.

An old tractor from another manufacturer which had served the previous owners for many years was

inherited as part of the property purchase, but a desire to have a new model which could also handle the hilly and sloping surrounds of their acreage meant reaching out to nearby dealers – including Clark Equipment, where they dealt with territory manager Tim Ho man.

“With us being new to hobby farming, we thought we just needed something a lot more reliable and that we felt comfortable on,” Lucee says.

“When we went through Clark Equipment, Tim actually came out to the property.

“He looked at the property, saw the areas and slopes that we were talking about, got an idea of the little projects we were wanting to do, and that’s how we ended up with Bobcat.

“When Tim came to see us and we had that service, we were de nitely sold.

“To know we had that advice and support just gave us a lot of con dence in this particular machine.”

All the features

Bobcat’s CT4045 provides a 45hp (34kW) four-cylinder engine and is described

by the manufacturer as o ering “a lot of horsepower at an a ordable price”.

Its turbo-charge allows for consistent high performance with impressive low-end torque even in high altitudes, Bobcat adds, while four-wheel drive as standard provides hard-working traction needed for tough jobs.

The tractor o ers three-range hydrostatic transmission, while other features include a 1,232kg hydraulic li capacity and adjustable hitch, travelling speeds up to 29.7km/h, steering brakes, tight turning radius and foldable ROPS.

The four-wheel drive was highlighted by Lucee as a standout feature which has given her extra con dence on the property’s slopes, particularly when contrasted to the old tractor they inherited that does not have this feature.

Perfect partner

The Bobcat CT4045 has been tted with a Muratori mulcher, also sourced from Clark Equipment, and they have also added a bucket to the front to help with the most common jobs.

Having spent some time using the old

The Bobcat tractor is ideal for the sloping nature of Lucee’s property

tractor before investing in the Bobcat, Lucee has seen major e ciency gains on even the simplest tasks.

“One of the main purposes was having the mulcher on the back to use it for mowing, which we have done a lot of and that has de nitely been a godsend,” she says.

“The previous owner gave us a rundown of the property and the tractor and he said it used to take him about eight hours in a day to do all the mowing and we just thought ‘we don’t have that kind of time’.

“He wasn’t wrong. It was very slow, but using the Bobcat has literally just halved the time and it’s also so much more comfortable to be on.”

Another job which Lucee recently completed was trimming the hedges on the property’s driveway, something which gave her an “oh my gosh” moment when compared to the initial experience of doing it without the Bobcat.

“In the rst month or so that we moved into the house, we did this and we had nothing,” she says.

“We didn’t even have a wheelbarrow and we did it with all hand clippers and

Bobcat and bucket and I thought ‘oh my gosh, how far we’ve come in a year’ by being able to use this Bobcat and take all the clippings down and dump them with the bucket. We’re de nitely properly equipped now.”

Constant learning

Lucee’s journey into farming has been di erent to most – seeking a lifestyle change for her family rather than plans to grow produce and make money from it.

It is a story which has resonated with an online audience for its authenticity, with the Bobcat CT4045 appearing in her Instagram videos.

Freely admitting this unexpected lifestyle change has meant learning about life on the land and how to operate machinery, she has embraced the challenges – many of which have been made easier by the Bobcat’s simplicity.

“We don’t have a lot of hands-on experience, but that’s part of our journey

do and thought we’ll have to get someone in to do it, but having this tractor and the bucket means we’ve been able to do them ourselves.

“We had some vegetable gardens that we wanted to rip out and to clear the cattle holding yard out, and it was actually so fun.

“We got in there and I felt pretty good being able to use the bucket and rip out these veggie patches and just knowing we have the ability to do things as they come up.

“Having that con dence in the Bobcat has really been the biggest thing.

“Something that stands out for me, being a female and de nitely not super hands-on either, is having the con dence to do it which de nitely shows how easy it is and the options it’s opened up.”

Bobcat of Australia is a business unit of Clark Equipment and the full range can be viewed online at www.bobcatofaustralia.com

Lucee is “absolutely loving” spending time on the Bobcat tractor

Problem solver

Seeding specialist Bourgault has introduced its next-generation ParaLink Dual Xtreme opener to Australian growers, which has been built to integrate with one of the manufacturer’s hoe drills

Bourgault Australia has announced the release of its new ParaLink Dual Xtreme (PLDX) opener.

The PLDX opener forms part of Bourgault’s broader PLX family evolution and has been engineered with a strong focus on durability, alongside improvements in seed placement accuracy and residue handling – key considerations for growers operating in increasingly variable and demanding conditions.

With the opener already in use in North American markets, its arrival in Australia introduces a new option for growers focused on improving seeding consistency and placement accuracy.

Consistency and control

At the core of the PLDX design is a focus on depth control and row-to-row consistency for optimal crop establishment.

The opener incorporates a reinforced arm and shank structure, along with updated wear components, aimed at

maintaining consistent geometry over time and reducing in-season maintenance requirements.

“The objective with PLDX was to re ne how consistently we can place seed across the entire toolbar,” Bourgault Australia general manager Craig Christensen says.

“As working widths increase, maintaining uniformity from one row to the next becomes more challenging.

“The PLDX platform is designed to address that, while also improving durability and ease of adjustment.”

The opener also features revised geometry intended to improve soil ow and reduce residue build-up, supporting cleaner operation in high stubble loads.

A key feature of the PLDX platform is its 1:1 dual knife con guration, which Bourgault says is designed to maintain consistent seed placement through uneven ground.

An extended-range linkage helps preserve alignment between the opener and packer, supporting more uniform

depth control across rises, dips and variable eld conditions.

Modern needs

Durability has also been a key design consideration, with the PLDX opener incorporating upgrades aimed at extending component life and reducing downtime.

These include strengthened structural components, improved wear surfaces, and updates to key pivot points such as larger one-inch pins on the lower parallel arm.

Paired with self-lubricating Extended Wear Surface (EWS) bearings, these are designed to reduce maintenance and improve longevity in demanding conditions.

Bourgault says the opener has been developed to handle a range of environments, including compacted soils and high-residue systems, while maintaining stable operation.

The PLDX opener is designed to integrate with Bourgault’s 3335 ParaLink

Hoe Drill, particularly when paired with the company’s Quick Depth Adjust (QDA) system.

QDA enables operators to adjust seeding depth across the machine more quickly and consistently, which Bourgault says is increasingly important as growers respond to variable soil moisture and seasonal conditions.

“When you combine consistent opener performance with the ability to quickly and accurately adjust depth, it gives growers more con dence in how they’re placing seed,” Christensen says.

“That becomes especially valuable in tight seeding windows or where conditions are changing paddock to paddock.”

Australian relevance

While the PLDX opener has already seen rollout in North America, its introduction into Australia comes at a time when many growers are placing increased emphasis on seeding precision and system e ciency.

Larger machinery, wider toolbars and tighter seasonal windows are placing greater demands on seeding equipment, particularly in maintaining consistent depth and seed placement across varying soil types.

Reducing blockages, improving residue ow and maintaining uniformity across the bar are seen as practical advantages in these conditions.

Bourgault Australia says local feedback and ongoing evaluation will play an important role as the opener is adopted in Australian systems.

To coincide with the launch, Bourgault Australia is o ering an introductory promotion on new seeding systems tted with the PLDX openers.

For a limited time, eligible growers purchasing a new 3335 ParaLink Hoe Drill with PLDX openers can secure the new openers at half price.

The o er is available for orders placed through to June 30, 2026, subject to availability.

For more information about Bourgault’s new PLDX opener, visit www.bourgault. au/new-bourgault-pldx-opener

The new PLDX opener has been built to integrate with Bourgault’s 3335 ParaLink Hoe Drill Images: Bourgault

Bourgault’s new ParaLink Dual Xtreme (PLDX) opener

Larger, one-inch pins are among the updates introduced by Bourgault

Thriving together

Every partnership between a manufacturer and dealer has a story behind it, and the story of Rata Equipment and Lonsdale Merchants has been a winner from day one

Lonsdale Merchants rst represented Rata Equipment’s products – speci cally its popular Power Claw – at the Wimmera Machinery Field Days in 2023.

Based at Stawell in Victoria’s west, Lonsdale took one Power Claw to show at the event with the Rata team bringing some others, and the rst sale took place before gates had even opened.

“I’d actually sent a couple of brochures to existing customers about the Power Claw beforehand,” Lonsdale general manager Michael Henderson says.

“As I was unloading and setting up for that eld day, one of them rang up and said, ‘we’ll take one today if you’ve got it there’.

“The interest seems to have grown each year because it’s a very important piece of equipment for farmers that have got it.

“I’ve had a few of them say it’s the most used implement on their farm.”

Suiting everyone

Rata’s Power Claw has become many farmers’ most used implement for good reason.

At its essence, it provides an alternative to four-in-one buckets while having a claw-like nature that allows it to comfortably pick up large items such as logs and fallen trees.

The Power Claw makes light work of otherwise tedious and laborious jobs such as pulling down and cleaning up fence lines, putting fallen timber into stacks, and general clean-up work on overgrown or untidy paddocks.

Its point of di erence is the claw, with the interlocking tines made from hightensile steel to ensure its strength and grip when handling bulky items.

It is capable of attaching to popular farm machinery including tractors, telehandlers and skid steers, with speci c

models available for each machinery category depending on size and power.

Rata’s Power Claw is available in three models – standard, mid-range and compact.

The compact models suit tractors between 25–45hp along with small standon skid steer loaders, while the mid-range claw suits tractors between 45–75hp, skid steers up to 2.5 tonnes and small loaders.

Various working widths are available within each model, giving farmers the choice of sizes between 1.35m and 2.6m wide as standard.

Rata can also custom build the Power Claw for speci c requirements, with Lonsdale having sold units with larger widths of 2.8m, 3m, 3.4m and 4m.

Ideal fit

Lonsdale Merchants is a manufacturer and supplier of various products that

One Lonsdale customer lifted three bales of wool using the Power Claw

suit agriculture and other industries such as construction.

Backed by nearly 30 years of history, the main product it manufactures is a broom that is attached to machines such as telehandlers, skid steers and forkli s for sweeping areas such as grain and fertiliser sheds.

The company’s motto of ‘e ciency, safety, results’ ties in well with the Power

Claw, a product which provides those three features.

Henderson met the Rata team when Rata’s Australian headquarters was being set up in Ballarat, and working in the agricultural attachment space meant selling the Power Claw was an attractive proposition for Lonsdale.

That rst experience at the 2023 Wimmera Field Days quickly showed

Henderson the Power Claw would be a winner; something which has proven to be consistent since.

Lonsdale’s catchment area in western Victoria encompasses plenty of broadacre farms, putting the Power Claw’s primary purposes rmly in the spotlight.

“In a general western Victorian farm, there’s a generally quite a bit of timber,” Henderson says.

Images: Lonsdale Merchants

Lonsdale also supplies brooms to sweep agricultural sheds

“Say you’re farming 5,000 acres or 10,000 acres, you’ve got trees and a lot of limbs fall down every year regardless of whether it’s wet or dry.

“To keep paddocks tidy so farmers can get around with air seeders and boom sprayers, they’ve got to keep on top of those limbs and the Power Claw is really helping there.”

Success stories

Both large-scale cropping farms and grazing operators in the Wimmera region have enjoyed success with the Power Claw since Lonsdale Merchants became a Rata dealer.

Henderson has plenty of stories of farmers getting signi cant bene ts with a Power Claw, particularly in the a ermath of major storms that have felled trees across their properties.

“Earlier in the year – and this has happened probably at least two or three times that I’m acutely aware of since we’ve been helping customers make good decisions with Power Claws – we had a windstorm going through up into the Mallee,” he says.

“Farmers have got limbs across fences

Rata’s Power Claw can be added to tractors

Telehandlers are a popular choice for the Power Claw

and it’s just hours of work if you’ve got to do it manually with a chainsaw, whereas with a Power Claw and telehandler, they can pick up limbs quickly, put them in a heap and burn them.

“Then you get the grazing guys down around Stawell and perhaps further south, which we know a lot of, who have got limbs coming down across fences.

“If you’ve got that happening and you’ve got sheep, you’ve got to do it straight away.

“Some of our other customers that are going entirely to cropping and have gone out of sheep are taking out fences.

“One of them said they cleaned up eight kilometres of fence and talked about the amount of time that it saves.”

While clean-up work is the most common reason for buying a Power Claw, farmers have also experienced bene ts beyond what they initially expected.

Around Australia, the Power Claw has even been attached to a remotecontrolled mower, while Henderson tells the story of a farmer who has been able to pick up bales of wool using it.

“One of our customers sent a picture with his front end loader and he crowded

the Claw over, come down over the top and picked up three bales of wool at a time with the Power Claw,” he says.

“The same guy said in the past they’ve had to pick up big squares or rounds of hay and they put it in the feed wagon, then they’ve got to get up there and cut the strings.

“Now they can have a big square, cut the strings, come over the top with the Power Claw, grab the bale and it all stays together because of the con guration of the tines and they can drop it straight in.”

Ongoing growth

In an agricultural landscape where time saving products are worth their weight in gold, Lonsdale customers have found a winner in Rata’s Power Claw.

“Having worked in agriculture myself for 29 years, farming and shearing, I know a lot of farmers have got trouble with knees, hips, backs and shoulders, and the Power Claw mitigates a lot of that because it’s li ing heavy things,” Henderson says.

“It’s hard to get good sta in the agricultural sector at the moment and a lot of farmers are time poor.

“It also helps them because they’ve got employees requesting them as well, making hard jobs easier, and they can put an employee on a Power Claw for a week and get huge results.

“It’s not a product that we have to worry about when we supply it and wonder if it is going to be any good for farmers.”

Having now spent multiple years as part of Rata’s dealer network, Henderson is full of praise for the relationships built and support received from Rata’s team as the partnership continues to thrive.

“They’ve been very loyal and supportive and nothing seems to be too hard or a problem,” he says.

“Their warranty and backup are absolutely exceptional and they give us a lot of con dence in their backup and their product.”

Rata Equipment’s full range can be viewed online at www.rataequipment.com

Lonsdale Merchants is located at 2426 Gilchrist Road, Stawell and can be contacted on (03) 5358 3652, 0439 006 830 or 1800 358 983 and its website is www.lonsdalemerchants.com.au

Antonio Carraro tractors made in Italy since 1910. The perfect tractor

orchards, vineyards

steep terrain

Running smoothly

The Shell Rimula range supplied by Viva Energy Australia, the Shell Lubricants Macro Distributor in Australia, is making engine oil last longer for farmers

Choosing the wrong lubricant for your machinery and equipment can cause breakdowns and accrue costly repairs and maintenance, quickly putting the engines out of service and causing unnecessary downtime on the farm.

Conversely, the right engine oil can improve a machine’s performance and ensure operations run smoothly both at peak times and throughout the year.

Shell is one of the most well-recognised oil and uid brands in the world, and as the exclusive Macro Distributor of Shell Lubricants in Australia, Viva Energy has streamlined the process of selecting the right lubricant for your machinery and equipment.

Made for farmers

Australian farmers operate in extreme conditions across all seasons, with the pressure of maintaining the nation’s food security and this is why selecting the most appropriate lubricant for their machinery plays a vital role in maximising operational e ciency.

Whether it is for a tractor, harvester, plough or seeder, Shell has developed a unique product range that assists operators in ensuring careful management of their engines.

The Shell Rimula R4 range are key products for protecting the integrity and e ciency of a machinery’s engine to ensure performance and longevity.

When developing a new lubricant, Shell Lubricants undergo rigorous rounds of tests in the widest possible range of conditions to ensure products are developed for the real world.

As part of the development process for today’s Shell Rimula R4 L, based on the API CK-4 engine-oil speci cation, over 160 million kilometres of road tests were run across multiple markets including Australia, along with the USA, Europe, and China.

“During the development process, Shell tests its engine oil formulas exhaustively,” Shell’s global technology manager for heavy duty engine oils Dr Jason Brown says.

“We use these tests to improve and re ne the additive package and enhance oil performance across its lifetime so that it delivers industry-leading protection from the moment of top-up right through to the next oil drain.”

Shell Rimula heavy duty diesel engine

Comprehensive testing takes place before new engine oils are released

Images: Viva Energy

oil uses the most advanced technology and is developed with Shell’s Dynamic Protection Plus Technology to create exceptional resistance to corrosion, wear and oxidation while producing lower vehicle emissions.

This technology is also versatile, providing protection against acid and deposit buildup in a wide range of environments to keep engines working harder and longer.

Protecting the performance of exhaust emissions control systems is not only important to ensure that machinery complies with legislative requirements, but it also ensures e cient operations.

Blocked diesel particulate lters (DPF) can increase fuel consumption, which is why Shell Rimula R4 L is formulated with reduced levels of ash and sulphur to help maintain the e ciency of the latest technology DPFs.

Being prepared

The Shell Rimula R4 range also allows farmers to plan for engine maintenance cycles with con dence, knowing that the highest quality lubricants are being used to optimise engine performance in line with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) requirements.

Operators should also refer to OEM product manuals to understand recommended service intervals, as some equipment may have a service interval

of 200 hours, while others may be up to 500. Regardless, it is best practice to keep ahead of service intervals to ensure equipment is operating at peak performance levels all year round.

Businesses seeking real time support can receive a free consultation on which lubricant is optimal for their engine through the Viva Energy Technical Help Desk (Shell Lubricant Specialists).

For the more digitally savvy, the Shell LubeMatch and Shell LubeAnalyst digital tools allow customers to input the details of

their equipment and access detailed lube matching information, as well as survey and monitor their engine health.

The Technical Help Desk can be accessed by calling 1300 134 205 or emailing technicalhelpdesk@vivaenergy.com.au

Shell Lubricants are designed for demanding Australian conditions

Shell’s Rimula R4 L

Australian farmers have relied on Shell Lubricants, including the Rimula range

Ultimate supplement

With chemical fertiliser prices surging, Muck Runner is helping livestock farmers take advantage of e uent as a natural alternative through its range of Pichon and Samson machinery

Nearly every farmer across the country has felt the e ects of the con ict in the Middle East in some shape or form, whether it’s been through the rise in diesel prices or surging input costs.

Chemical fertilisers – particularly nitrogen-based ones – are one of the most important inputs for livestock farmers and have signi cantly increased in price due to shipping disruptions which have caused limited supplies.

Urea prices have been reported to have almost doubled, with many farmers reducing their usage and nding it more important than ever to identify supplements or even replacements to chemical fertilisers.

This is especially important for local dairy farmers, who rely heavily on chemical fertilisers to grow as much grass or the desired crop per hectare as possible, in the hope of maximising their production e ciency.

What many might not realise is how much natural fertiliser is hidden on their farm in the form of e uent, the

Muck Runner supplies e luent handling machinery such as manure spreaders and slurry tankers

Images: Muck Runner

E luent can be used as a source of natural fertiliser through Muck Runner’s manure spreaders

nutrient-rich byproduct of dairy farming – consisting of cow urine, manure, rainwater, wash water, and traces of milk and chemicals.

E uent is quite o en considered to be a problem as it can have a negative e ect on the environment if it’s not managed carefully, but it also can be a highly valuable resource to farmers.

South Australian e uent handling machinery specialist Muck Runner says dairy e uent contains high levels of nutrients including nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, as well as organic matter, micro-organisms, and solids.

“All these components have already been paid for in terms of the grass, grain, hay, silage and other dietary elements that the cow has eaten to provide energy for the cow to produce milk,” Muck Runner director Tom Paltridge says.

“It makes agronomic, nancial and environmental sense to recycle these nutrients back to the paddock to help growing pastures and crops, improve soil fertility and ultimately supplement or reduce chemical fertilisers.”

Slurry tankers can ensure all parts of a farm have access to e luent

MACHINERY

Improved soil

E uent is not strictly limited to dairy farms, as it’s also produced in mass quantities on beef feedlots, piggeries and chicken broiler sheds.

Additionally, any intensive livestock farming operation can use animal manure as a source of natural fertiliser – helping alleviate the costs of chemical fertilisers while maintaining optimal production e ciency.

“Many farmers do not realise how much natural fertiliser they have in their e uent ponds and pits,” Paltridge says.

“Proper management of e uent can – when correctly applied – improve soil fertility, nutrient use e ciency and help reduce the reliance on the amount of chemical fertiliser used.

“Each cow in a herd contributes a certain amount of nutrients in their manure, so multiplied over several hundred cows means a substantial amount of nutrients being produced over time on each dairy farm. That ultimately has a dollar value associated with it.”

One of the best ways to apply both liquid and solid form e uent back on-farm is using manure spreaders and slurry tankers, and with Muck Runner being the exclusive Australian importer and distributor for Pichon, as well as the Australian dealer of Samson, it can supply these machines from two of Europe’s leading manufacturers.

“The beauty of being able to o er these

two brands is that we can customise the machine to be as basic or complex as required,” Paltridge says.

“Customers on tighter budgets do not have to compromise on quality as both brands can be o ered in a standard model, and extra features can be added.

“When helping our customers decide what machine will best suit their needs, we take into account farm location and terrain, herd size, tractor size, budget, e uent management strategy and the desired outcomes for the application of e uent.”

The range of Samson products o er larger volume options for customers

Muck Runner is the exclusive Australian importer and distributor for Pichon

Trusted brands

Both the Pichon and Samson brands are renowned for their quality and reliability in spreading e uent across the globe.

Muck Runner stocks Pichon’s fully galvanised SV slurry tanker range with capacities from 6,600 to 21,000 litres, SC slurry tanker range in capacities from 15,000 to 24,000 litres and MK muck spreaders from 10 to 24 cubic metres.

Larger volume options are o ered through the Samson products, including the Samson PG 11 slurry tanker range, which is available in capacities between 17,800 and 25,600 litres, the PG 11 Genesis slurry tanker range, in capacities between 15,800 and 34,500 litres, and the TG slurry tanker range, o ered from 15,100 litres up to 24,900 litres.

Additionally, the Samson US spreader range is available in capacities between 23 and 40 cubic metres.

Paltridge says both the Pichon and Samson slurry tankers can ensure all parts of a farm have access to e uent due to their mobility.

“Certain areas that are known to be more de cient can be speci cally targeted to build up organic matter on poorer or lighter less productive soils,” he says.

As a dairy farmer himself, Paltridge understands the busy schedules of his customers and the importance of having reliable machinery, which is why Muck Runner prides itself on delivering exceptional customer service and a ersales support.

“Muck Runner has adhered to simple principles that have underpinned our success and longevity,” Paltridge says.

“We have a genuine desire to help farmers understand that their e uent resource is a valuable organic fertiliser, and help them understand the bene ts of returning it to their pastures and crops, plus we prioritise customer relationships, service and provision of anytime advice and problem solving.”

For more information, visit muckrunner.com.au

Shell Rimula Beanie

Rimula

Local partner

Backed by a long history and strong regional presence, Elders Insurance continues to support Australian farmers

For more than a century, Elders Insurance has worked alongside Australian farmers, helping protect their livelihoods through changing seasons, market conditions and risk environments.

Today, that long standing rural heritage is reinforced by the global strength of QBE Insurance, combining deep local insight with strong underwriting capability to support modern farming businesses.

According to Craig Clarke, Elders Insurance Head of Underwriting, that balance between local relationships and long term backing remains central to the business’ role in regional Australia.

“Our job is to provide insurance that works in practice for farmers – cover that re ects how farms actually operate, supported by the stability and technical depth needed to stand behind customers for the long term,” Clarke says.

Elders Insurance o ers a broad suite of general insurance solutions for Australian farmers and agribusinesses, including cover for farm and station property, machinery and plant, livestock, crops, vehicles, public and product liability, and business interruption, as well as specialised rural risks.

Clarke says underwriting decisions are

guided by the realities of farming, rather than standardised assumptions.

“Farming operations vary widely depending on scale, geography and exposure,” he says.

“We work closely with agents and customers to understand relevant risk environments and inform our approach to coverage design, rather than adopting a one-size- ts-all approach.”

For many customers, this approach is delivered through Elders Insurance Farm Pack products, which allow multiple covers to be combined into a single, streamlined policy.

Elders Insurance specialises in providing insurance for Australian farmers’ needs

FARMING

Designed to evolve as operations change, Farm Packs provide exibility while simplifying administration.

“Farms don’t stand still,” Clarke says.

“Insurance needs to adapt as machinery changes, cropping programs shi or businesses diversify.”

A de ning feature of Elders Insurance is its local agency model, with agents embedded in the communities they serve.

“Agents don’t just operate in regional towns, they live there,” Clarke says.

“That means they understand seasonal pressures, local weather patterns, supply chain challenges and the day to day realities of farming life.

“Importantly, relationships are built over years, not transactions.”

That local presence is particularly important when something goes wrong.

“Local claims handling allows for informed, practical decisions and faster responses, because agents understand the context of the loss,” Clarke says.

“That makes a real di erence during what is o en a highly stressful time for customers.”

Australian farmers are also operating amid increasing uncertainty, as more frequent and severe weather events, rising input costs, biosecurity threats, supply chain disruption and market volatility continue to reshape risk

pro les across the sector.

“Insurance plays a critical role in helping farmers manage that uncertainty,” Clarke says.

“But it’s only e ective when cover is well understood, t-for-purpose and supported by responsive service.”

Elders Insurance agents work closely with farmers to identify risks, explain cover and ensure protection keeps pace with changing operations.

When claims arise, local knowledge helps guide responses grounded in how farms actually operate.

Elders Insurance continues to invest in strengthening its service model at the local level.

Elders Insurance has more than a century of working in rural Australia

Elders Insurance head of underwriting Craig Clarke

Since 2023, the business has been undertaking a large scale Enterprise Transformation Program focused on modernising technology, enhancing data capability and simplifying interactions for agents and customers.

This includes upgraded digital infrastructure across more than 160 locations, improving connectivity, mobility and operational e ciency.

“For farmers navigating increasing complexity, our focus remains simple,” Clarke says.

“Trusted relationships, local knowledge and consistency all backed by the strength to be there for the long term.”

Elders Insurance (Underwriting Agency) Pty Ltd, (ABN 56 138 879 026, AFSL 340965), acting under its own AFSL, distributes Elders Insurance products on behalf of QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd (ABN 78 003 191 035, AFSL 239545), the product issuer. Any advice provide is general only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, nancial situation or needs and may not be right for you. Please visit www.eldersinsurance. com.au to consider the relevant Policy Wording or Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination to decide if a product is right for you.

Trusted tyres

Maxam tyres are trusted by some of the world’s largest machinery manufacturers, giving Australian farmers con dence they are accessing a quality product

As in many industries, trust carries signi cant weight in Australian agriculture when it comes to purchasing decisions.

Many farmers will only choose machinery and attachments from brands they trust, with many going as far as to carefully select products with key components – such as engines and tyres – from manufacturers they trust in that space.

While the choice of tyre may not seem as glamorous as that of a shiny new tractor, these original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) producing expensive pieces of machinery have made conscious decisions about which providers they partner with.

For a tyre brand to be o ered as standard tment on tractors and other machinery produced by the world’s biggest OEMs, it means their products have been proven and are trusted to get the job done for end users.

Farm machinery giants such as Case IH and New Holland have trusted Maxam tyres and these partnerships and endorsements are something which Maxam is proud of.

“To get to an OEM level – for them to actually put up their product name next to ours – is quite a big achievement for any tyre manufacturer,” Maxam’s Oceania

business development manager Dewald Welman says.

“If someone like Case IH and New Holland put their name behind us, that is a big call for them to make.

“For them to put that trust into us actually means a signi cant amount.”

Long-term work

Maxam tyres are backed by more than half a century of history and its parent company – Sailun Group – sells its tyres in between 160-180 countries.

It has research and development centres across three continents which have worked to create the AgriXtra tyre range which is the core of Maxam’s agricultural o ering.

These suit a wide variety of farm machinery including tractors, harvesters and implements such as seeders and planters.

A crucial moment in Maxam’s history occurred in late 2022 when AgriXtra tyres were fully approved for tment to various Case IH and New Holland tractor models.

Such approval does not come by chance.

“A lot of testing goes on behind the scenes before they even get released for the products by the OEM,” Welman says.

“With the testing, we will approach an OEM and ask if we can potentially get product on there.

“They will give us a few machines that we can put test tyres on, and the tyres have to go through quite a rigorous amount of testing before the OEM would actually accept the brand.”

Top performer

Getting this opportunity to test products with an OEM is an important rst step, but it also means little if the tyres do not pass the test.

Getting value for money is particularly important in the current economic environment, Welman says, with value being one area in which Maxam excels.

Maxam’s point of di erence in the market is being able to provide a ordable tyres – with the company saying its range is available at 50 to 60 per cent of the cost of traditional premium tyre brands – without compromising on both durability and advanced technology in the end product.

It is this combination of factors which has helped Maxam tyres to pass the test and have signi cant appeal to OEMs.

“It’s just the quality of the product and the nish as well,” Welman says.

“It looks and performs like a rst tier product, whereas a lot of other products in our category have nishes which aren’t that great and they don’t stand up in the conditions that they’re put under.

New Holland tractors are available with Maxam tyres as a standard option

“Maxam tyres just outlast and outperform any of the other tyre brands in the same tier.

“There are cost savings, but there are not quality savings. Maxam is a quality product and the OEMs wouldn’t sacri ce on putting a mediocre product on their equipment.”

Case IH and New Holland both o er Maxam’s AgriXtra tyres across a wide selection of its machinery.

Case IH’s Farmall, Puma, Optum and Magnum are among the tractors which o er variations of AgriXtra, along with the brand’s Patriot sprayers and Axial Flow combine harvesters.

New Holland is also represented across the tractor weight categories from its T5 through to the large T9, alongside the CX6 combine harvester.

These are not the only major brands Maxam has alignment with, as John Deere articulated dump trucks and a wide range of Caterpillar machinery including wheel loaders, telehandlers, skid steer loaders and motor graders all feature Maxam tyres.

Backed up

Another key part of Maxam’s local o ering – and one which Welman says should instil con dence in any farmer

unsure about using Maxam tyres – is a comprehensive warranty.

Maxam radial tyres are provided with an eight-year manufacturer’s warranty and this is supported by a ve-year in- eld hazard warranty.

“If the client actually damages a tyre within ve years of owning it, we’ll actually give them some money or credit back towards the tyres they will be putting on,” Welman says.

“It’s almost like a risk-free purchase for the farmer, because they have always got some backing from Maxam to look a er them.

“I think that’s quite invaluable, because they don’t have to use their own insurance companies and then get premium hikes, so it’s a warranty that doesn’t cost them anything.

“If they’ve got a reluctance of trying the product, that warranty should make it quite easy for them to do that, because if anything happens to the product, they’re going to get compensated.”

Maxam tyres are backed up by a strong national dealer network, with Western Australia-based Welman also a key point of contact for the Australian and New Zealand markets.

“If anything happens with a Maxam tyre and the dealer or wholesaler can’t sort it

out, then basically I’ll get on a plane and sort it out for them,” he says.

“It means we’re o ering the whole backup for the product as well, and this is something the OEMs want to have on the ground.”

Maxam tyres are available through dealers around Australia with the full product range online at www.maxamtyres.com.au

Images:

Maxam

AgriXtra is the core of Maxam’s agricultural tyre range

Maxam says partnering with major OEMs adds trust

FARMING

Next level

Building its largest ever shed in rural Queensland is just one reason why Now Buildings is turning heads

Now Buildings has always prided itself on doing things di erently.

From focusing solely on rural areas with its products, to recognising that Australian farmers have a very speci c set of requirements for strength, size and overall quality – the company aims to put the customer rst in multiple ways.

This philosophy has been a hallmark throughout Now Buildings’ almost two decades of operation – with thousands of customer reviews vouching for this – and two recent examples show the company’s commitment to going above and beyond.

The rst of these is the successful completion of its largest ever shed in Queensland, and the other is recent negotiation with suppliers to secure the best possible pricing ahead of expected market increases.

Together, they show the care and attention which goes into both every shed and every customer interaction.

Statement piece

One thing which rural Australia has no shortage of is space.

The size and scale of both land and machinery used in broadacre farming is enormous, and storing this machinery –along with the grain produced – requires a shed manufacturer who can meet these challenges.

In the north-western Queensland town of Richmond, one shed dubbed ‘The Landmark’ is showing the unique capabilities o ered by Now Buildings.

Originally built for large scale grain storage, this structure stretches 261m in length, while also spanning 20m in width and standing 7.4m high.

This delivers a total oor area of 5,220sqm, which Now Buildings says could accommodate around 520 fourwheel drive vehicles parked side by side in a showroom layout.

While grain storage was the primary

intention of this shed, the building is already proving its versatility and is currently being used to house a mix of trucks, heavy machinery, vehicles and even light aircra .

Now Buildings’ James Walker says this sheer scale and practical design o ers a clear example of how modern infrastructure is supporting regional industries.

“This kind of exibility is increasingly valuable in regional areas, where businesses o en need infrastructure that can adapt to changing demands,” Walker says.

“Whether for agriculture, transport or general industry, the emphasis is on delivering practical solutions that suit real world use.

“This approach is particularly relevant in regional communities like Richmond, where farming remains central but o en overlaps

The Landmark is the largest shed Now Buildings has ever created

with logistics, equipment storage and other business activities.

“Infrastructure that can support multiple uses helps improve e ciency and provides long term value.”

This particular shed also showcases Now Buildings’ approach of creating sheds tailored to the operations of each client.

The end result is delivering practical solutions that suit real world use, the

While ‘The Landmark’ shed stands out for its sheer size – understandably so given it is the largest structure which Now Buildings has ever created – it is also something built for quality and long-term success rather than just for show.

“Projects like this demonstrate that size alone is not the de ning factor,” Walker says.

“What matters is how well a building performs. In this case, the result is a

“The Richmond shed stands as a straightforward example of what can be achieved when design is driven by purpose and backed by experience.”

Working together

Now Buildings was created with the founders wanting to take a customer-centric approach, where quality was put rst and an excellent customer service experience was

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Its sheds keep machinery protected from Australia’s harsh conditions

FARMING

Located in rural Queensland, the Landmark measures 261m long

Large machinery can easily be kept inside a Now Buildings shed

Award winner

Rocky River Ag Services has been named Flexi-Coil’s Dealer of the Year for a second consecutive year, re ecting its dedication to the brand and its customers

Based in the mid-north region of South Australia, Rocky River Ag Services has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality agricultural machinery and exceptional a ersales support since opening its doors in 1994.

A cornerstone of the dealership’s o ering has long been Flexi-Coil’s innovative seeding technology, aligning closely with the evolving needs of modern growers.

As CNH Industrial’s sole brand for seeding equipment for the Australian market, Flexi-Coil is highly regarded among the nation’s farmers – which has been the case since 1999, when CNH Industrial completed the purchase of the global seeding business.

With a fully dedicated team of Flexi-Coil trained service sta , Rocky River Ag has a long history of providing service support and expert advice to help growers get the most out of their equipment.

These e orts were recognised at CNH’s annual Dealer Conference in late February – which was held at the Adelaide

Oval – where Rocky River Ag Services was named Flexi-Coil’s Dealer of the Year for 2025, marking the dealership’s second consecutive year receiving the prestigious award.

Rocky River Ag Services dealer principal Lynton Smart says the award re ects the dedication of the entire team.

“Last year we’ve come o a drought so we’ve really just stuck together as a team and worked through it together and done what we could for our customers to get the best result,” Smart says.

“It’s really just a team e ort as a whole, everyone has to work together.”

Smart adds receiving the award for a second year in a row is a huge honour.

“None of this is possible without the commitment and dedication from the whole team at Rocky River Ag and CNH Capital, not forgetting the ongoing support from all our customers,” he says.

“We’ve had a lot of help behind the scenes from Flexi-Coil.”

CNH Australia and New Zealand

product optimisation and commercial training manager for seeding and tillage, Andrew Kissel, says Rocky River Ag Services continues to set the benchmark for dealer excellence.

“Winning this award two years running is no small achievement. It shows just how committed the Rocky River Ag team is to their customers and to the Flexi-Coil brand,” Kissel says.

“They’re a dealership we trust to provide honest feedback, challenge us where it matters, and help shape the direction of our product development. Their insight and professionalism make them an invaluable partner.”

Rocky River Ag Services’ ongoing commitment to customer care, innovation, and sustainable farming solutions continues to position it as a standout leader in South Australia’s agricultural community.

For more information, visit rockyriverag. com.au or call 08 8636 2772.

Rocky River Ag Services was named Flexi-Coil’s Dealer of the Year for 2025. Left to right: CNH Australia & New Zealand managing director Brandon Stannett, CNH SA business manager Peter Brooks, CNH SA seeding & tillage specialist Luke Dohnt, Rocky River Ag Services dealer principal Lynton Smart, Rocky River Ag Services parts manager Alex Alpe, CNH Australia and New Zealand product optimisation and commercial training manager for seeding and tillage Andrew Kissel. Image: Flexi-Coil

Flexi-Coil has been a cornerstone of Rocky River Ag Services’ o ering.

Image: Rocky River Ag Services

Sturdy defence

A Digger King mini excavator has been so handy for a Queensland electrician that he has even found new uses for it in protecting his rural property from bush res

Performing maintenance on rural properties o en requires a signi cant investment in time and e ort due to their sheer size, meaning rural landowners may procrastinate and focus on other jobs which are more front-of-mind.

However, for some people, land maintenance tasks are essential, especially in preventing bush res, which can be the di erence between saving their home or losing everything.

Queensland’s Clayton Smith falls into this category, with bushland taking up the majority of his 160-acre property in the rural location of Colosseum, just south of Miriam Vale – posing signi cant bush re threats.

To reduce the risk of this, Smith has been using a mini excavator to clear nearby trees.

“The property is made up basically of all trees,” he says.

“Some of them are very close to the house and we don’t want to lose it.”

Business investment

As a sparky by day, the original intention of purchasing a mini excavator was purely for his business, so he could dig trenches for cables and conduits without having to hire anyone externally.

Having looked at various machinery brands, Digger King stood out to Smith not only for its cost-e ectiveness, but also its attention to detail.

“A lot of the other brands didn’t give me the time of day for a week or two, and it seemed like they weren’t interested in selling anything in a hurry,” Smith says.

“On the other hand, Digger King bent over backwards for me and had everything ready to suit when I wanted to start working.”

Initially, Smith was looking for a model he could transport from job-to-job in a trailer, but these smaller options lacked air-conditioned cabins, which was an important factor for him given the heat in his local climate.

Due to this, he decided to purchase the Digger King 4.5-tonne Pro Zero mini excavator, powered by a Kubota 30hp (22.1kW) engine, and featuring an enclosed cabin with reverse cycle air-conditioning, ensuring Smith experiences the ultimate comfort.

With a swing boom and zero turn abilities, Smith says the Digger King mini excavator also delivers exceptional manoeuvrability in tight-access areas, which made it ideal for precise work in his con ned job sites.

“For the price of the machine, the 4.5-tonne model was more bene cial to me than the smaller options and better bang for my buck,” Smith says.

Double value

While he has only had the mini excavator since Christmas, Smith has already clocked up 150 hours on the machine working nearly seven days a week.

Having been so impressed with the mini excavator’s high-performance capabilities, Smith realised it would also be more than handy in maintenance tasks on his property.

The hydraulic quick hitch and various attachments o ered as standard – including a 200mm trenching bucket, 500mm batter bucket,

800mm bucket and hydraulic thumb –helped reaffirm this.

Additionally, Smith purchased a 360-degree rotating hydraulic grab and a stick rake from Digger King to assist in his tree removal efforts.

“The hydraulic grab has been phenomenal removing trees up to around 150mm in diameter. It gets the stumps and roots so there’s no risk of flat tyres when you’re driving around the property,” he says.

“Once I rip all the trees out, I use the stick rake to clean up and make it all look pretty.”

Another important task the mini excavator is thriving in is levelling and fixing Smith’s main driveway on the property, which spans approximately 3.5km.

By removing tree stumps and roots, the mini excavator is ensuring the road is both safe and smooth to drive on.

“It’s probably one of the best investments I’ve ever made,” Smith says.

He also couldn’t be more complimentary of Digger King’s aftersales support.

“Their service has been second to none, it’s been phenomenal,” he says.

“If there’s any issues, Digger King is onto it really quickly.”

For more information on the Digger King 4.5-tonne Pro Zero mini excavator, visit diggerking.com.au or call 1300 676 996.

Clayton Smith has been using a Digger King mini excavator to protect his property from bushfires and to maintain his 3.5km driveway

Smith has been impressed with the 360-degree rotating hydraulic grab

Bolstered lineup

Two more speakers have been added to this year’s Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia annual conference lineup

The Tractor and Machinery Association has con rmed its full speaker line-up for the 2026 annual conference.

The program brings together a mix of industry leaders, research specialists and practical operators to address the challenges facing machinery dealerships and agribusiness.

To be held on July 29 at Novotel Brighton Beach in Sydney, the conference will centre on the theme ‘building better businesses through people, innovation and strategy’, with a clear focus on delivering practical outcomes for businesses navigating a more complex operating environment.

Leading the program is Adam Giles, CEO of Hancock Agriculture, alongside Sean Hanley from Toyota, who will provide insight into broader industry trends and future direction.

Their sessions will be supported by a lineup that re ects the range of pressures and opportunities currently shaping the sector.

Catherine Hunter from Diversity Australia will address workforce and inclusion, while Georgia Stormont will focus on sales capability and building stronger customer relationships.

Melinda Haley, senior manager at Kynetec, will again provide an industry update with current data and trends.

New additions

Several other speakers have been recently announced as part of the conference lineup.

modernising business processes.

His session is expected to cover areas including employee retention, data management, benchmarking, customer satisfaction measurement, dispute resolution and sales force e ectiveness.

Tait brings decades of experience across Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia, including senior leadership roles with New Holland Australia and CNH Industrial.

A former chairman of TMA, he

continues to work within the industry as a consultant and business coach, facilitating benchmarking groups across Australia and New Zealand.

Laura Allen, research and insights director at Australian Regional Insights, will provide a perspective on how research can be better applied within agribusiness.

With more than 16 years’ experience across both agency and client-side roles in Australia and the UK, Allen specialises in translating data into practical, actionable insights.

Her work focuses on bridging the gap between research and industry, helping organisations make more informed decisions and extract greater value from the information available to them.

Together, the program re ects a shi towards more data-driven, people-focused and performance-oriented business models within the machinery sector.

With input costs, workforce pressures and market conditions continuing to evolve, the conference aims to provide attendees with a clearer understanding of where opportunities exist and how businesses can respond.

The 2026 TMA conference is expected to again attract a strong cross-section of dealers, suppliers and industry stakeholders, reinforcing its role as a key forum for discussion and planning within the sector.

Tickets are now available by visiting www.tma.asn.au

Tony Tait, a long-standing gure in the farm machinery industry, will present on

TMA’s annual conference brings together the machinery industry for a day of discussion

Image: Prime Creative Media

Laura Allen from Australian Regional Insights has been added to the TMA conference speaker lineup. Image: TMA

EVENT Finding solutions to Australia’s grain handling challenges will be one theme of the Bulk Handling Technical Conference and Expo. Image: Trung Nguyen/stock.adobe.com

Experts unite

Bulk Handling Technical Conference has announced its 2026 program, which will feature global industry leaders sharing expertise and solutions

The Bulk Handling Technical Conference 2026 program is live, bringing together leading engineers, researchers and technology providers from the global bulk solids and materials handling sectors.

The program showcases a strong lineup of international industry leaders and technical specialists, highlighting safety, digital engineering and infrastructure performance advances.

This year’s program is anchored by several headline presentations from globally recognised organisations driving innovation across multiple sectors including infrastructure, mining and industrial processing.

Agriculture will also be represented at the event through a focus on grain handling, with many of the issues being applicable across several industries.

Intertek will present a unique method for accurate bulk material tonnage assessments, addressing one of the industry’s most critical challenges in measurement accuracy and commercial reporting.

Other key program highlights include Worley revisiting a 13km overland conveyor, exploring how modern technology is transforming energy use, capital cost and lifecycle performance in long-distance conveying systems.

KOCH Solutions will showcase IBEX and its role in the future of deep mining, focusing on next-generation systems for high-performance material handling in complex environments.

TUNRA Bulk Solids, one of the sector’s most respected research groups, will deliver multiple presentations covering conveyor belt wear resistance, safety in bulk solids handling and live wear monitoring of wall liners through experimental and simulation-based approaches.

Alongside these, presentations will be held by Luna Innovations, HMA, Prime Manufacturing, Syntechtron, Hawk Measurement Systems, BFM Australia, Geometrica, University of Wollongong, Concetti, DICE Computing, AXO33, WGA, Leap Australia, Australian Weighing Equipment, Anval and Ultra-Dynamics.

“This year’s conference is about what’s actually working on the ground and what will be helpful in the future,” Prime Creative Media’s head of marketing – events Molly Hancock says.

“From advanced simulation tools to practical safety solutions, the program has been curated to give attendees ideas they can take straight back to site.”

The conference continues to position itself as a key technical forum for the bulk handling industry, connecting operators, engineers, and technology providers with solutions designed to improve safety, e ciency and long-term asset performance.

Bulk Handling Technical Conference

This year’s technical conference program has been announced. Image: Prime Creative Media

2026 will run alongside a comprehensive exhibition, taking place over two days at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

It will feature suppliers, operators, engineers and decision makers from across the bulk materials handling supply chain, providing targeted networking opportunities alongside the chance to discover new products from a wide range of companies.

It will allow attendees to engage directly with professionals who are actively seeking solutions to the grain handling sector’s challenges, while building new partnerships and gaining valuable market insights to shape future decision making.

Bulk Handling Technical Conference and Expo 2026 is being held on September 16-17, with further details including full session timings for the conference to be released in the coming weeks.

To view the full conference program with titles, visit www.bulkhandlingexpo.com. au/conference

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Global battles

Challenges will continue for agricultural machinery sales, the Tractor and Machinery Association says, as a number of global factors combine

March has seen a continuation of the decline in tractor sales with around 900 units sold in the month.

This was 10 per cent below the same month last year and brings the year-to-date gure to 8 per cent behind last year.

Aside from some strong rises in the smaller states of South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, there was no good news with all four reporting categories showing declines.

Each of the four major states were also signi cantly down when compared to March 2025.

Tractor sales across the globe are struggling as increased manufacturing costs continue to weigh on demand.

The past 12 months or more have thrown up a variety of challenges for the industry to deal with, ranging from drought in the south of the country and the impact of tari s beginning to bite.

Needless to say, the fragile con dence of farmers is currently taking a beating as a result of the war in Iran, with a return

to stable conditions still seeming some way o .

In other machinery categories, combine harvester sales were minimal in March.

Baler sales were a bright spot, enjoying another rise of 11 per cent on the same month last year and are now 22 per cent up year to date. Sales of out-front mowers also had a good month, being 29 per cent ahead of March last year.

Finally, sales of self-propelled sprayers were down 29 per cent compared to March 2025.

The annual TMA conference will be held this year in Sydney at the Novotel Brighton Beach on Wednesday July 29.

The theme for this year’s event is “Building Better Businesses through People, Innovation and Strategy” and the full speaker lineup features in this edition (p49) of Farms & Farm Machinery

Keep an eye on the TMA’s website at www.tma.asn.au for more details, and you can also follow the association on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Baler sales were one bright spot during March in a tough tractor sales market

Tractor sales data for March 2026, sorted by weight category and state. Image: TMA

Uncertain times

With urea supply challenges adding to those being experienced with diesel, WAFarmers CEO Trevor Whittington looks at the complex issue in detail

Being an international relations tragic, I’ve been following the Iran situation closely.

My current go-to is a podcast that makes you realise very quickly that without ships, the world starves.

This brings me to the question most farmers are asking right now: will the price of diesel and urea fall back – and should they wait as long as possible for the price to come down?

The short answer is no.

My latest prediction is that diesel delivered up to May won’t fall much below $2.50 a litre, and urea contracted over that same period will remain stubbornly north of $1,200 a tonne for any orders written in that window.

Not because the world has run out of fuel or fertiliser, but because the Gulf is still a basket case and the hangover of demand will take months to clear.

Fuel supplies

Let’s focus on crude.

Prices moved from around US$60 a barrel in January to US$120 at the peak of the con ict and spent much of the period hovering around US$100.

In the short term, over seeding, the consensus is that prices will nd a oor somewhere near US$80 a barrel.

That oor is not accidental but re ects structural realities that are not going away.

The Gulf states, along with Russia, need revenue to rebuild infrastructure and replenish military capacity.

Around 80 per cent of global spare production capacity sits in the Gulf, meaning the region under pressure is also the one the market relies on to stabilise supply.

Layer on top of that damage to parts of the export and re ning system, plus higher insurance costs and tanker rates, and you end up with a market far tighter than headline production suggests.

Add to that countries like Australia –which spent years ignoring fuel security – are now scrambling to build reserves, adding further demand pressure.

Diesel is worse than petrol as re ning capacity has not kept pace with demand.

Europe has lost access to Russian diesel, as Ukraine has driven their exports to a standstill, and the rush to decarbonise has constrained re ning capacity further.

Shipping issues in the Strait of Hormuz have a ected global trade. Image: Corona Borealis/stock.adobe.com

The idea that diesel will neatly follow crude down is optimistic at best.

A er that there is one scenario that breaks this – a global recession.

Demand is already weakening, and only three months ago we were swimming in oil.

By harvest, we could well be back to US$60 a barrel or lower, so run those tanks down a er seeding – as by October we may well be back to $2 a litre.

Urea challenges

If fuel is tight, fertiliser is tighter, as the global urea market operates with very little slack.

Total production sits around 180 to 200 million tonnes per year, but working inventory is only about 10 to 20 million tonnes globally — just two to four weeks of supply.

Even a small shock to gas supply can tighten the market to the point where product simply isn’t available.

Fertiliser is not stockpiled like oil.

There is no strategic reserve and most of it sits at plants, in port sheds, or in transit.

That works perfectly well until something interrupts the ow.

Trevor Whittington is CEO of WAFarmers

The Persian Gulf is not just another supplier — it is the system.

Somewhere between 35 and 50 per cent of traded urea originates from the Gulf, with roughly 20 million tonnes exported annually from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE and Oman.

Nearly half the world’s exportable supply sits behind one choke point: the Strait of Hormuz.

Everyone has seen images of the Qatar gas plant burning, but how many plants have actually been hit? There is no clear list of o ine sites.

Across the Gulf there are roughly 15 to 25 major urea production complexes, made up of more than 50 individual production trains, supplying close to half of the world’s traded urea.

We do know that Qatar’s Ras La an industrial complex – the largest LNG export hub in the world – has been disrupted, and Iran’s infrastructure has also been impacted. Conservatively, my guess is around 5–10 per cent of Gulf production linked to urea may be a ected.

At the same time, there are likely two to three million tonnes of urea sitting at Gulf export terminals — e ectively a month’s worth of supply.

A further half a million tonnes has been tied up on vessels waiting out cease re delays or clearance.

Storage is full, ships are queuing, and outside of Iranian, Indian and Chinese vessels, many others are simply not entering the region.

Add to this the fact that urea and gas plants have slowed or shut and can take weeks to months to restart.

There are no huge stockpiles under tarp because urea does not store well, even in a desert.

It hasn’t even been dry — the region saw a major storm in March, with 100mm to 150mm falling across parts of the UAE, Qatar and Oman, and some areas receiving over 200mm – more than their annual rainfall.

In e ect, since the war began, we have lost around a month and a half of shipments ith roughly two to three million tonnes removed from the market.

Even if things improve, it will take weeks to contract ships, move them into position and clear the backlog.

Further complexity

There is another layer to this, which is that urea is natural gas turned into nitrogen,

and gas accounts for 70 to 90 per cent of production cost.

When gas is disrupted, plants shut quickly. When LNG tightens, countries like India with big urea plants shi to importing urea instead, competing directly with Australia.

Adding to the pressure is that since December, European and Asian gas prices have li ed. Europe, having lost Russian pipeline gas, is now racing to re ll storage ahead of winter, pulling LNG out of global markets and bidding up price which is adding even more pressure on the price of urea in the short term.

This brings us to competition.

This market does not run on price but instead runs on planting windows.

India is buying now, South East Asia is active, Pakistan and Bangladesh are in the market and Brazil has also entered it.

There is plenty of competition for those 50,000-tonne vessels which are refusing to sail into the gulf.

The odd ship is booked to arrive here in Kwinana – ordered weeks ago – but we need a steady ow.

Will urea be available? Yes. Will it be much cheaper if ordered in May for June or July delivery? I predict no.

Rocky River Ag Services

Events Calendar

Here are upcoming eld day and agricultural events for 2026. Information was current as of going to press

Casino Beef Week –Casino, NSW

Casino Beef Week is an annual celebration of this iconic Australian industry and the rural way of life. The festival provides entertainment, education and an authentic country experience for the whole family. With over 100 vibrant events, there is no shortage of fun things to see and do during the week.

When: May 23-31, 2026

More info: casinobeefweek.com.au

Rotary NQ Field Day –Townsville, Qld

From the latest in farming technology to time-honoured traditions, Rotary NQ Field Day is about sharing knowledge, strengthening connections, and honouring the hardworking hands that shape our elds and our future. From interactive exhibits showcasing cutting-edge farming equipment to engaging workshops on sustainable practices, there’s something for everyone. When: May 29-30, 2026

More info: nq eldday.com.au

Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day – Gidgegannup, WA

Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day is the place where those living and working on small farms in the agricultural sector can view and compare a selection of products and services designed for e cient farming and rural practices.

When: May 31, 2026

More Info: gidgegannup.info/ small-farm- eld-day

Hort Connections –Adelaide, SA

Hort Connections is an opportunity for networking, education and business for the entire fresh produce industry. Speakers and exhibitors will showcase the latest research, technologies, and innovations to o er new perspectives on the future of Australasia’s horticulture industry. The 2026 edition will be held in at Adelaide Convention and Exhibition Centre, along with external events. When: June 1-4, 2026

More info: hortconnections.com.au

Elders FarmFest – Toowoomba, Qld

Elders FarmFest is Queensland’s largest premier primary eld day. More than 2,500 individual companies and organisations will come to together to exhibit everything from ATVs and boom sprayers to grain driers, harvesters and rock pickers.

When: June 2–4, 2026

More info: acmruralevents.com.au/farmfest

Fieldays – Mystery Creek, New Zealand

Whether you are from in town or out in the country, a Fieldays veteran or visiting for the rst time, Fieldays has something for everyone. From the latest agricultural technology and ground-breaking innovations, to shopping, competitions

and demonstrations, live shows and tasty food prepared by some of New Zealand’s top chefs, Fieldays showcases the best of New Zealand’s primary industries.

When: June 10-13, 2026

More info: www. eldays.co.nz

Ag-Grow Field Days – Emerald, Qld

Ag-Grow dates to 1989, servicing central Queensland with some of the best from the agriculture and mining sectors. Attracting over 1,500 companies and crowds of more than 28,000 visitors, AgGrow is one of Australia’s largest eld days.

When: June 17-19, 2026

More info: www.aggrow.com.au

Alice Springs Show – Alice Springs, NT

Started in 1960, the Alice Springs Show aims to promote, encourage and advocate for the development of agricultural, pastoral, horticultural, viticultural, commercial, industrial, cultural, handicra , artistic and tourism pursuits in Central Australia.

When: July 3–4, 2026

More info: www.alicespringsshow.com.au

Mudgee Small Farm Field Days – Mudgee, NSW

The Mudgee Small Farm Field Days has been running for over 40 years and attracts approximately 20,000 people per year. With the mission to inform, educate and connect rural people with information and solution providers there are free demonstrations and talks along

The horticulture industry will gather for next month’s Hort Connections

with commercial stalls, live music and activities to suit the whole family.

When: July 10-11, 2026

More Info: mudgee elddays.com.au

Australian Sheep & Wool Show – Bendigo, Vic

The Australian Sheep and Wool Show is your one stop shop for all things sheep. More than 2,700 sheep and 30,000 people assemble in Bendigo for three days in July to attend the largest show of its type in the world.

When: July 17–19, 2026

More info: sheepshow.com

Sheepvention – Hamilton, Vic

Over the past 40 years, Sheepvention has grown and evolved into a vibrant platform celebrating the many facets of

the agricultural sector. It is more than an industry showcase - it’s a family-friendly event designed to educate and inspire people of all ages about the rich and diverse world of agriculture, fostering a deeper appreciation for farming and its role in our lives.

When: August 2–3, 2026

More info: hamiltonshowgrounds.com. au/sheepvention

Greenscapes + Green Expo –Brisbane, Qld

Greenscapes + Green Expo, now featuring the Irrigation Precinct, is Australia’s national landscaping and green infrastructure management show. The event showcases emerging technologies and best practice solutions shaping the future of landscaping, irrigation,

greenspace management, and urban planning.

When: August 5–6, 2026

More info: greenscapeshow.com.au

Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) – Brisbane, Qld

The Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) is Queensland’s largest annual event, attracting on average 400,000 people. The Ekka showcases the best of Queensland, attracting more than 21,000 competition entries from woodchop to giant vegetables, 10,000 animals from beef cattle to cats and dogs, world-class live entertainment, award-winning food and wine, carnival rides and showbags, family shopping, educational activities and much more.

When: August 8–16, 2025

More info: www.ekka.com.au

Visit tradefarmmachinery.com.au/agricultural-and-rural- eld-days-calendar

Autonomous machinery is growing in popularity among Australian farmers. Image: scharfsinn86/stock. adobe.com

New horizons

A survey of Australian grain producers has shed insight on how autonomous machinery is being both perceived and adopted

The use of autonomous machinery on Australian farms has almost doubled in the past year, according to an industry survey.

A second edition of the Grain Producers Australia autonomous farm machinery survey report has been published, which collected data from more than 200 grain producers late last year and follows the initial survey conducted in 2024.

One major nding was that 45 per cent of respondents identi ed as being users of autonomous farm machinery, a signi cant increase compared to 27 per cent the year before.

Tractors (86 per cent) were the most popular type of autonomous machinery among those using it, ahead of sprayers at 61 per cent.

Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia had the highest adoption rates, while productivity, time savings and reduced costs were cited as the biggest bene ts from using autonomous machinery.

Both perspectives

The survey also looked at the thoughts of farmers who had not already used autonomous technology.

Among this group, spraying was identi ed as the area which would be the most popular when they did start adding this technology to their operations, citing increased accuracy, reduced chemical use and improved cost e ciency as the bene ts.

Seeding and planting, tillage and soil preparation, crop monitoring and harvesting were among the other areas which non-users believe would be among the rst tasks for autonomous application.

More broadly, time and labour savings, cost reduction, safety and fatigue management and were the expected bene ts of autonomous machinery adoption.

The primary barrier to adoption remains cost, with even more respondents (68 per cent compared to 52 per cent in the rst survey) highlighting this area.

Initial a ordability was front of mind for farmers with under 1,000 hectares of land, while the larger operations were more focused on the setup costs to bring their on-farm procedures up to so ware requirements.

Proven return on investment also remains a barrier with about half of the non-adopters, following by internet connectivity constraints and safety concerns.

Despite this, the overall interest in learning more about these autonomous technologies increased from 61 per cent of respondents in the initial survey to 69 per cent now.

Code of practice

Grain Producers Australia partnered with both the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia and Society of Precision Agriculture Australia in 2019 to develop a code of practice for autonomous farm machinery, which was released in 2021.

Since then, there has been signi cant increases in the numbers of autonomous equipment being used, something which was noted in a report by Crop Protection Australia managing director Rohan Rainbow.

“A review of the global use of autonomous farm machinery details that, as of June 2024, there were around 800 autonomous machines used regularly in agricultural applications, with over 100 autonomous machines operating in Australia,” he says.

“Since this review, in just over six months, it appears that these numbers have at least doubled.

“It is estimated, based on industry and commercial manufacturer discussions, that broadacre adoption of autonomous farm equipment will reach 85 per cent within seven years.

“Much of this adoption will be for herbicide application for weed control using weed sensor-based technology, which is expected to represent at least 60 per cent of total agricultural autonomy adoption.”

The report concluded with a number

of recommendations, which include further building awareness and including practical adoption support.

Running eld-based demonstrations was another recommendation, based on this being how farmers said they wanted to learn more, along with education to highlight the di erences between fully autonomous and semi-autonomous technologies along with precision agriculture.

Repositioning the code of practice as a “practical tool for producers” would also help to increase awareness of it and

therefore help to boost con dence in autonomous technology adoption.

“The 2026 report reinforces that autonomous farm machinery is no longer a future concept for Australian grain producers,” the report says.

“Adoption is increasing, interest is strong, and the bene ts are well understood.

“However, the pace and scale of adoption will ultimately be determined by how e ectively industry and government respond to a consistent set of constraints.”

development and adoption of on-farm technology. Image: Andrii Yalanskyi/

Supercharged development

The National Farmers’ Federation has welcomed the creation of a Queensland agtech innovation fund, which it says will provide t for purpose technology to Australian producers

Queensland’s $30 million Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund has been launched, aiming to fast track the development and adoption of on-farm technology across the state’s agriculture

agri-innovators through cutting edge

The state government announced the fund will back innovative businesses which deliver bene ts in on-farm productivity,

Queensland Investment Corporation’s

“We’ve heard loud and clear from industry there’s no shortage of innovation in Queensland, but what’s needed is stronger commercialisation pathways, and greater investment in practical technologies and this election commitment delivers that.

“We set an ambitious target to increase the value of primary production to $30 billion by 2030, and this fund will help Queensland producers reach this bold goal by getting game changing technology from concept to on farm application sooner.”

Key industry bodies have welcomed the creation of the fund, including the National Farmers’ Federation and the Queensland Farmers’ Federation.

investment by the Queensland government will launch Australian agricultural technology to the world and result in home grown t for purpose tech for Australian farmers.”

QFF CEO Jo Sheppard says investing in agtech was essential for keeping Queensland’s producers competitive, productive and pro table in a rapidly changing global market.

“It’s critical that we move practical innovations out of the lab and into the paddock, where they can deliver real productivity gains for Queensland producers,” Sheppard says.

Innovation Fund is a game changer for the future of farming because it will deliver the next generation of agtech to boost on-farm productivity and pro tability,” Queensland primary industries minister

“Behind every apple we eat, every sandwich we make and every co ee we drink, farmers have embraced technology and research to produce tastier food, better bre, more e cient practices, safer workplaces, and more sustainable farms,” NFF president Hamish McIntyre says.

“This practical farming focused

better decisions

A new project will connect leading disease researchers with extension and behavioural science insights to better support growers making decisions in the paddock

A new Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investment aims to uncover the motivations behind growers’ decisions on fungicide application and

Management Extension Network (DMEN) project is set to build on the success of the Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN) investments.

growing challenge for the Australian grains industry,” Cay says.

“This investment is about equipping growers and advisers with the tools and knowledge they need to prevent and manage its impact.

“We want to challenge our assumptions about how growers and advisers make decisions, using focus groups and qualitative research to ensure the information we provide is practical, relevant and will have the greatest impact on farm.

“By accelerating on-farm innovation, we strengthen regional economies, support sustainable growth and secure the future of Queensland’s agricultural industry.”

Businesses interested in exploring how the fund can support its growth can provide information via the QIC website for review: www.qic.com/ Sowing-the-Seeds

“The current estimated annual yield loss due to grain crop diseases across Australia is $2.523 billion, even with existing control measures such as genetic resistance and fungicides,” Peek says.

AgCommunicators director and DMEN project lead Belinda Cay says the initiative will connect leading disease researchers with extension and behavioural science insights to better support growers making

“Fungicide resistance is a serious and

“Building on the work of AFREN and other GRDC investments, the DMEN project will strengthen communication and extension to support the adoption of best-practice integrated disease management.”

GRDC crop protection manager – south, Ruth Peek, says the research will seek to understand the motivations behind grower and adviser decision-making.

“Without these measures, this estimated loss would increase to $5.569 billion, which demonstrates the critical importance of e ective disease management strategies.

“The DMEN investment will help to better understand the factors that in uence grower and adviser decisions to ultimately drive behavioural change and reduce the impact of disease.”

Image: AgCommunicators

Disease Management Extension Network team members Bridget Penna and Belinda Cay from AgCommunicators, with GRDC’s Ruth Peek

Cattle tick and bu alo fly are two high-cost endemic diseases. Image: Caseyjadew/stock.adobe.com

Developing pesticides to combat cattle tick and bu alo y could solve a $300 million problem, Meat & Livestock Australia says

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is supporting research which is underway to develop new pesticides to combat cattle tick and bu alo y.

MLA says these issues have been identi ed as the two highest-cost endemic diseases for the Australian red meat industry, combining to be a $300 million problem, particularly in northern Australia.

With reports of the bu alo y spreading further south and rising resistance to current controls, MLA says the cost is likely to grow without intervention.

University of Sydney professor Joel Mackay and his team are developing the pesticides using the same cutting-edge strategies applied in human pharmaceutical development.

“The principle behind human drug discovery is to identify the individual protein which is causing the issue and then inhibit its activity by developing a molecule with a shape that is sculpted to wedge into a cavity in the protein – a

Enhanced citrus Pest solution

precisely shaped spanner in the works,” Mackay says.

“A tick has thousands of di erent proteins that do many di erent jobs. We have chosen as our target a protein that is essential for the tick’s survival and we are now working on the design of a molecule to inhibit its activity.”

During the ve-year project, around 200,000 molecules will be trialled and the most promising ones will be carefully honed to t into this cattle tick protein.

“At the same time, we will be assessing whether these candidate molecules also inhibit the activity of the corresponding protein in dung beetles and honeybees,” Mackay says.

“We will be advancing with the molecules that selectively inhibit the cattle tick protein.”

The same process will be used to target the bu alo y. MLA says pour-ons, dips, sprays and insecticidal ear tags are all commonly used to help combat the impact of cattle ticks and bu alo ies.

A research project which aims to produce new disease resistant citrus varieties will help ensure the long term viability of the industry

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researchers will lead a $2.2 million study which aims to enhance Australia’s citrus industry by investigating the genetic basis of several traits, including disease resistance and plant growth habits.

The project will see QUT researchers work in collaboration with members of the CRC Future Food Systems and Superior Production PTY LTD.

QUT professor Peter Prentis says Australia’s $1.3 billion citrus industry was threatened by new diseases, and labour shortages.

“To remain globally competitive, Australia’s orchard industries must undergo a transformation to produce new superior disease resistant varieties compatible with high-density orchards,” Prentis says.

“Genetic solutions to the various challenges are critical for the long-term viability of the industry.

“The cost of labour, pest and disease

management are steadily rising while grower returns rarely re ect these cost increases.

“We need new disease resistant varieties that ower and fruit more consistently at a young age to speed up returns for farmers and production companies.

In September 2025, the widely used insecticide Diazinon was phased out due to health and safety concerns, leaving a gap in insecticides for both pests.

Following the project’s conclusion, Mackay and his team hope to provide a proof-of-concept for a generic approach to the development of safer and more environmentally friendly insecticides.

“We’re also trialling this approach to assist in other agricultural industries and in medicine, including suppressing Varroa mite and the malaria mosquito without harming other, bene cial insects,” Mackay says.

“We’re really excited about the prospect of making a pesticide that is not only potent, but safe and selective.”

“We will incorporate whole genome sequencing with existing breeding approaches, such as induced mutation breeding that have a proven track record of success in citrus orchards.”

Prentis adds the project will focus on novel mutants with traits as dwar ng, seedlessness and early owering using commercial partner Superior Production’s Australian mutation breeding program.

“We will characterise the genetic basis of these important production traits for the development of new elite varieties,” Prentis says.

“An important aim of the project is to discover and validate resistance genes to Huanglongbing (HLB), which threatens citrus production globally.

“To do this we will leverage Superior Production’s extensive mutant varieties that are planted and phenotyped at their US research farm.”

The project’s full title is ‘Elucidating the genetic basis of disease, dwar ng, seedlessness and early owering in citrus through genomic approaches’.

The research team from left to right: Dr Jiyuan An, Maiko Kato, Professor Peter Prentis, Joanne Simpkins, Georgie Stephan. Inset, from top: Zach Stewart, Dr Ben Dugdale. Image: QUT

Data from above

A new study aims to tackle the challenge of nitrogen fertiliser management in the cotton industry through

Scientists at the University of New England (UNE) are investigating a new data-driven approach to nitrogen fertiliser management in the cotton industry.

Thanks to funding from the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, a feasibility study is now underway to explore the use of advanced satellite imagery and weather data to track crop growth and nutrient demand throughout the growing season.

Information based on this real-time data would be delivered through dashboards which growers could use to make fertiliser application decisions.

“Cotton demand for nitrogen changes dynamically during the season, therefore timing applications to ensure there is

availability to support high yields is important,” project lead and UNE associate professor James Brinkho says.

“Therefore, tracking eld-speci c crop growth and demand dynamically through the season using remote sensing and weather models will allow targeted applications.”

Similar technology has already been widely adopted by the rice industry, a er UNE’s Applied Agricultural Remote Sensing Centre developed a system that is now delivered commercially to guide growers on planting, irrigation, and harvest timing, and mid-season nitrogen applications.

As producers face rising fertiliser costs, UNE says a comparable tool for the cotton

Information based on real-time data would be delivered through dashboards which cotton growers could use to make fertiliser application decisions. Image: Esin Deniz/stock.adobe.com

industry could help solve one of its toughest challenges.

“Under-application of fertiliser may result in not achieving productivity goals, while over-application can cause excess vegetative growth which complicates harvest and environmental impacts,” Brinkho says.

“Recent research has indicated that there is considerable opportunity to reduce nitrogen applications without impacting pro tability.

“This would improve nitrogen use e ciency and environmental impacts, while meeting industry productivity goals, which may become increasingly important with the current volatility in fertiliser costs.”

Canola clout

Australia’s canola crops could play a role in securing the nation’s long-term fuel security, according to a new report

Australia could produce more than two billion litres of fuel every year instead of exporting around six million tonnes of unprocessed canola seed.

This is one nding of a Rabobank report, which says there is a “rare strategic window” for Australia to capture greater value from its canola crop.

Canola oil is a key feedstock used in the production of biodiesel, with the report noting a rising demand for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel to reduce emissions in these sectors.

“For Australia, this creates a genuine opportunity to rethink how canola ts into both our agricultural system and our energy system,” report lead author and Rabobank analyst Vitor Pistoia says.

The report says Australia exports around six million tonnes of canola seed each year, most of it unprocessed, which would equate to more than two billion litres of renewable diesel.

“By comparison, Australia imports more than 30 billion litres of diesel annually,” Pistoia says.

“At the moment, we export the raw material and import the nished fuel.

“That means a large share of the

Canola crops could help to secure Australia’s long-term fuel security, the report says. Image: alec/stock. adobe.com

processing margin, jobs and strategic control sits o shore.

“As biofuel demand rises, that imbalance becomes harder to ignore.”

New sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel plants are under development in the Asia-Paci c region, which the report says will increase demand for processed vegetable oils.

The two main pathways for Australia’s canola industry to capitalise on this, according to the report, are expanding domestic crushing and then either re ning domestically or increasing canola oil exports to these overseas re neries.

“Local processing could allow Australia to capture more value across the supply chain, while improving utilisation of coproducts such as canola meal,” it said.

“From a technical perspective, canola oil aligns well with the re ning pathways being built across Asia-Paci c,” Pistoia says.

“Australia’s geographic proximity to these markets also matters, as shorter shipping distances can reduce freight costs and emissions compared with some alternative origins.”

Diversifying demand for Australian

canola by including the energy sector could also support longer-term price resilience and in uence canola’s role in crop rotations, the report says.

“For grain producers, biofuels don’t replace existing markets, but they do add another demand pillar,” Pistoia says.

“That diversi cation can be valuable in managing price risk over the long term, particularly as global energy markets evolve.”

Rabobank analyst and report lead author Vitor Pistoia. Image: Rabobank

Alternative pollinator

Two Australian y species have been found to successfully pollinate berry crops, which could be an alternative to honey bees in cooler temperatures

Researchers at the University of New England have identi ed two y species as pollinators for berry crops, o ering an alternative to European honey bees in protected cropping systems.

Lead researcher, Dr Abby Davis, used in- eld cages to study the pollination capabilities of two Australian y species –the brown blow y (Calliphora stygia) and the drone y ( Eristalis tenax) in commercial blackberry and raspberry production.

“We found both species were able to successfully pollinate berry crops,” Davis says.

“However, the drone y consistently produced higher-quality fruit, particularly in blackberry, and there was no impact on the size or quality of y-pollinated berries when compared to bee-pollinated berries under natural eld conditions.

“The brown blow y was less e ective on its own, sometimes producing lowerquality fruit, but as a ower visitor, it still has potential to complement more e ective pollinators such as honey bees, stingless bees, and now drone ies.”

To build on these ndings, the research was scaled up to full-sized commercial polytunnels, looking at the drone y’s capabilities across both winter and spring production seasons.

These trials revealed drone ies can maintain higher levels of foraging activity on blackberry owers, deliver e ective pollination, and produce high-quality fruits within enclosed commercial farm polytunnels.

“The drone y pollinates commercial blackberry at a level comparable to managed honey bees, and in some cases can even outperform them under protected cropping conditions,” Davis says.

“The ies were also more active on owers during cooler temperatures when honey bee activity is o en reduced, which could improve pollination reliability in colder areas and bolster crops facing unusual weather conditions.”

As global agriculture faces increasing challenges from climate variability, pollinator shortages, and over-reliance on managed honey bees, the University of New England says nding alternative, or supplementary, pollinators has never been more pressing.

“Pollination is fundamental to agriculture, but over-reliance on managed honey bees can leave crops vulnerable,” Davis says.

“Identifying alternative and complementary pollinators is key to ensuring stable production under changing environmental conditions.”

While ies might not seem like an obvious pollinator, they share several similarities to honey bees.

For example, drone ies have hairy bodies, which the University of New England says is perfect for trapping and transporting pollen, and their diet is made up of oral resources such as nectar and pollen.

“Flies tend to get a bad reputation

The brown blow fly was one of two species studied. Seth Cole/Wirestock Creators/stock.adobe.com

because the ones we notice are the ones that bother us, but many of the species we study are ower visitors – they o en look like bees, go largely unnoticed, and play an important role in pollination,” Davis says.

“Further research is needed to re ne y deployment practices, assess pollination performance across di erent environments, and understand how managed ies interact with wild pollinator communities.

“Expanding this research to test additional fly species, crops, and production systems will be essential for realising the full potential of flies in sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture.”

The Australian brown blow fly and the drone fly were found to successfully pollinate commercial raspberries and blackberries. Image: Caner/stock. adobe.com

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MASSEYFERGUSONGC1723E IntroducingtheGC1700 seriestractorwiththesame provendrivetrain,butnew styling,operatorcomfortand ergonomicenhancements taketheGC1723tothe level,MBC230KKR01819.QLD. DIY1307096. 0468 053 227. $12,400

0427

NEWHOLLANDTL100 QUICKEQ950LOADER 3706 hoursonly.QuickeQ950 Loader. 3rd Service.Manual shuttle.420/85R34340/85 R2495%.NewLED Worklightsfrontand rear. 100hp4cylinder.PUH.4WD. 2rearspools.Recently serviced,1291799.QLD. DIY1304351. 0420 555 379. $13,400

OTHERROCKBUSTER1220 1993,Awesomemachineyou don'tneedabighorsepower tractortopullitasitsgotits own motoritsmashesthe rockstothesamesizeof road base, 6G9T26000M2GC2001. WA. DIY1303663. 0416 455 789. $47,000

VERSATILE620DT 2019,CheckoutthisusedVersatile 620DT!ImmaculateCondition! 575Hp(620Hpmax) -CumminsQSX15LTier3engine -3,446Nmpeaktorque - CAT TA2216x4Powershift transmission -416L/minhydraulicpumpwith6 electrohydraulicremotes -18,800Ldieseltank -Front&Reardifferentiallock -DeluxcabwithAgCabsuspension, -Trimblesetup -30"tracks

Hours:3973

Contact0431075312-Unitbeingheld inYatala,QLD,BVA1821017.QLD. DIY1254382. 0431 075 312. $330,000

WANTED TO BUY TRACTORS FOR WRECKING

CASE

585, 595, 685, 695, 800, 830, 832, 870 2WD, 885, 895, 900, 930, 932, 956, 970, 1030, 1032, 1070, 1194, 1270, 1370, 1390, 1394, 1594, 1690, 2090, 2094, 2096, 2290, 2290, 2294, 2390, 2394, 2470, 2590, 2594, 2670, 2870, 3394, 3594, 4230, 4496, 4694, 4994, 7110, 7210, CVX 170, CX60, MAGNUM 275, MAGNUM 290, MAGNUM 305, MX80C, MX255, MX285, PUMA, STX 375 QUADTRACK, STX425, STX440 QUADTRACK, STX450, STX485, STX500

CASE IH

1896, 4690, 4890, 4894, 5120, 5130, 5140, 5150, 7120, 7130, 7140, 7150, 7220, 7230, 7240, 7250, 8910, 8920, 8930, 8940, 8950, 9130, 9150, 9170, 9180, 9250, 9260, 9280, 9350, 9370 QUADTRACK, 9380 QUADTRACK, 9390, MX90, MX130, MX135, MX150, MX230, MX240, MX200, MX220, MXM175, MX270, MXM190, STX375, STX440, STX480

CATERPILLAR

CHALLENGER SERIES – 35, 45, 55, 65, 65C, 75, 75C, 75E, 85C, 85D, 95E, 65E TRACK MACHINE, MT765D, MT765C, MT865C

FORD

3000, 3610, 4000, 4600, 4610, 5000, 5610, 5640, 6000, 6600, 6610, 6700, 6810, 7000, 7600, 7700, 7710, 7840, 8000, 8210, 8230, 8340, 8401, 8600, 8700, 9000, 9600, 9700,, TW5, TW10, TW15, TW20, TW25, TW30

INTERNATIONAL

385, 414, 434, 444, 484, 514, 554, 564, 574, 585, 624, 660, 674, 686, 696, 706, 756,766, 786, 856, 866, 885, 886, 956, 976, 986, 1056, 1066, 1086, 1256, 1466, 1468, 1486, 1566, 1568, 1586, 3288, 3388, 3588, 3688, 3788, 4166, 4186, 4366, 4386, 4568, 4586, 4786, 5088, 5288, 5488, 6388, 6588, 6788, 844S, AW6, AW7, AWD6, AWD7, B250, B275, W6, W7,

JOHN DEERE

950, 1050, 1130, 1140, 1640, 1750, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040, 2120, 2130, 2140, 2250, 2450, 2650, 2850, 3010, 3020, 3120, 3130, 3140, 3350, 3640, 3650, 4010, 4020, 4030, 4040, 4050, 4055, 4230, 4240, 4250, 4255, 4430, 4440, 4450, 4455, 4555, 4560, 4620, 4630, 4640, 4650, 4755, 4760, 4840, 4850, 4955, 4960, 5010, 5020, 5310, 5515, 5300, 6030, 6110, 6170R, 6200, 6220, 6300, 6310, 6320, 6330, 6400, 6410, 6620, 6630 Premium, 6810, 6820, 7210, 7330, 7510, 7520, 7600, 7610, 7700, 7800, 7810, 7920, 7930, 8100, 8200, 8230, 8285R, 8300, 8310, 8320R, 8330, 8345RT, 8360RT, 8370RT, 8400, 8400 TRACK, 8410, 8430, 8440, 8450, 8520, 8520T, 8530, 8630, 8640, 8650, 8760, 8770, 8850, 8960, 8970, 9400, 9410R, 9420T, 9430T

NEW HOLLAND

7840, 8430, 8560, 8870, 8970, 9482, 9682, 9860, 9880, 9882, 9482, 9484, G210, G240, L85, L95, T6020, T7030, TG230, TG235, TG255, TG285, TJ375, TJ425, TJ450, TL70, TL90, TM125, TM135, TM195, TN55D, TN95F, TS100, TS100A, TS110A, TS125A, T9060

STEIGER

KP525, KP 1350, KP1325, KP1400, BEARCAT 3 & 4, COUGAR 2 & 4 CM250, PANTHER 2, PANTHER 3 ST310 & ST325, PANTHER 4 CM325, TIGER ST470,

VERSATILE

500, 700, 800, 835, 836, 855, 875, 895, 900, 935, 945, 946, 950, 956, 975, 976, 1150, 1156

ISOLOADERHL-PC-35

Two(2)ISOLOADERPrecastConcreteHandlingRubberTyreGantriesbuyoneorbothfortandemliftandtraveleachwithSWL35,000kg.R3696R3697. TA1222670. POA ISOLOADER21

TheIsoloader21isastraddledesignedtoliftandtransport32,000kg,6mand27,000kg 12mISOcontainersfromroadtransportvehiclesandplacethemontheground.(Filephotoasexample)Twoavailable.R3621. TA1061595. $100,000EaPlusGST

www.flt.com.au

HYSTERH18.00XM-12 withforkpositioningsideshiftcarriage, 2440mmforks,Cumminsengine,fullyenclosed airconditionedcab-Option20x40sideliftcont. frame.R3632. TA1124211.

POAForSaleorHirePh:1800688788

2010,lowhoursandingreatconditionwithMichelin XZMradialtyres,forkpositioningsideshiftand 2,440mmForks.R3525. TA730601. ForSaleorHirePOAPh:1800688788toInspect

200811,740kg4500mmlift,sideshiftcarriageand 2440mmforks.HireorBuyFreeCall1800688788. R3405. TA369982. POA

6newContinentaltyres,Cummins6CTenginethis budgetpricedforkliftisreadyforwork.Option20'or 20x40toppickcontainerspreaders..R3712. TA1216675.

ForSaleorHirePh1800688788POA

KALMARDRT450-65S

2013,Stacksladen20x40containers5high.Cummins QSM11dieselengine.Dana15.5HR36000XMSN. H10300280. TA1153805. ForSaleorHirePOAFreeCall1800688788

2006,Cumminsengine.WideForkPositioningSideshift Carriagewouldsuitlongloadse.g.pipe.R3689. TA1216676. POAForSaleorHirePh:1800688788

KALMARDRT450

2014,SOLD-AnotherAvailable.Only11081hourswith originalCumminsengine.Stack45,000kg1st row 31,000kg2ndrow.ReadyNow.R3603. TA998021. POAForSaleorHirePh:1800688788

OMEGA16-12W

IdealfurnitureremovalistsolutionRated12,000kgwith ELME558sidesliftabletostackuptofourhigh20and 40footcontainers..353AUFL443. TA1154000. ForSaleorHirePOAFreeCall1800688788

2006,HardtofindTerminalTractorwithelevating5th wheelforquick&safetrailermarshaliingwithoutneed todismountcab.S116. TA1276949. $59,800

2008,stacks12,000kghighcube20'&40'3high.ELME 55820x40spreaderwithtopentrytwistlocks.Frontline unitreadynow.R3547. TA829125. ForSaleorHirePOAFreeCall1800688788

PRENTICE7,000KGSWL forklifttruckramps(8)topickfrom.Idealforshipping containers.Forsaleorhire.R3274. TA96974. $12,000+GST=$13,200ForSaleorHire

SNORKELMHP13/35 2012,TrailerMounted articulatedboomlift featuresasafeandstable workingheightofupto 12.6m.Stillinhirefleet, verygoodcondition.S38.

$25,000+GST

HAULOTTECOMPACT14 2014,12melectric scissorliftverypopular unit.14mworkingheight. 1unitavailable.S21.

$6,000+GST

SNORKELSRT3370 10mDieselScissorLiftVeryreliable,GreatValue, 2008dateofmanufacture. S8.

$20,000+GST

SKYJACK3219 2015,SkyJack3219 scissorlift,10year inspected,electric,5.8m platformheight.S40.

$7,500+GST

SNORKELTB47J 4WDTB47JDZTelescopic BoomLift,10Year Inspected,Hydraulic Generator,Diesel,Very reliablemachine..S39.

$35,000+GST

SNORKELTB42JDZ 42fttelescopicboomlift. 4WDDiesel.S30. $15,000+GST

SNORKELPRO126 126ftstraightstickboom, diesel,4WD,working height40.2m,good workingcondition.S36.

$30,000+GST

SNORKELTB47J 47fttelescopicboomlift. 4WDdiesel.S31. $25,000+GST

SKYJACKSJ3219

SkyJackSJ192014/2015 model,severalavailable. Goodreliablemachine.. S41.

$4,500+GST

JLG600AJ JLG600AJarticulating knuckleboom.Good reliablemachine.Highly soughtafter..S42. $35,000+GST

PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Bobcat Forkli s’ new lithium-ion three-wheel range has been launched in Australia, addressing a market demand for compact performance

The exclusive Australian distributor of Bobcat Forkli s, Li Equipt, has launched a new compact lithium-ion three-wheel forkli range engineered for tight local warehouse and logistics environments.

The Bobcat BNT Series – available in B16NT, B18NT and B20NT models – has been developed with direct end-user feedback to meet the demands of real-world Australian applications.

Li Equipt says the range is purposebuilt for con ned environments where compact dimensions and precise manoeuvrability have a direct impact on productivity.

The reduced wheelbase and threewheel con guration deliver agility in tight aisles and congested layouts.

With a tight turning radius and optimised wheelbase geometry, Li Equipt adds the BNT Series can comfortably operate in narrow racking systems, restricted picking zones and

inside shipping containers where larger forkli s lose e ciency.

Powered by advanced LFP lithiumion technology, the Bobcat BNT Series achieves a full charge in approximately two to three hours.

The high-speed charging system reduces charging time by up to 40 percent, supporting the opportunity to charge forkli s during breaks and shi changes and eliminating the need for battery swaps.

The integrated battery management system ensures reliable operation, including in cold storage and freezer applications.

Safety features include the Bobcat Guardian Safety System incorporating automatic speed reduction when cornering, anti-roll back protection, operator sensing and electronic parking brake functionality, suited to busy warehouse and logistics environments.

The lithium-ion battery is maintenance-free, and simpli ed service access with centralised electrical components help reduce downtime and operating costs.

Li Equipt national sales and dealer manager Tim Worcester says the BNT Series addresses a clear demand in the Australian market.

“The BNT Series is all about compact performance,” Worcester says.

“Australian warehouses are under pressure to maximise every square metre, and this machine delivers the reduced wheelbase and tight turning capability needed to operate e ciently in restricted spaces.

“It gives customers a genuine compact solution backed by lithium-ion simplicity and national support.”

The Bobcat BNT Series is now available across Australia through Li Equipt and authorised Bobcat Forkli s dealers.

19-29 Curlew Cresc

Tamworth NSW 2340

www.philhuntparts.com.au brendan@philhuntparts.com.au

JOHNDEERE872GP JustinforDismantling,16Foot Moldboard,20.5x25TyresandRims,Sweetrunning 6090Engine,RearRippers,AllPartsAvailable,Phone Brendan0267624466.S196. TA1297688. POA

HITACHIDX175 JustinforDismantling,BullTiltBlade,Angle TiltBlade,BladeMountedTreePusher,CliponStickrake, RipperAssywithLongSeriesTyne's,ExcConditionSealed TrackswithAlligatorJoiners,8365.25Engine,AllParts Available,PhoneBrendan0267624466.S198. TA1297690. POA

The HUNT stops here

NEW AND S/H PARTS

ALLIS-CHALMERS/HANOMAG/MASSEY

JOHN DEERE INDUSTRIAL

PARTS FOR Dozers, Loaders, Drotts, Graders, Scrapers

WRECKING DOZERS

ALLIS-CHALMERS: “M”, HD5B, HD6B, HD6E, HD6G, HD7W, HD7G, HD9B, HD10W, HD11B, HD11E, HD11EC, HD11EP, HD11 Ser B, HD15,C, HD16A, HD16AC, HD16D, DC, HD16DP, HD19,20,21A, HD21B,C, HD31, HD41B

FIAT: 451C, 555, 605C, 50CI, 70CI, 8, 8B, AD10, BD10B, FD10E, AD12, 14B, 14C, BD20, DX175

HANOMAG/MASSEY: 2244, 200, 300, 3366, 400, 500, L400C, L600C, D600D Super, D700C

JOHN DEERE : 1010C, 850 LOADERS

ALLIS-CHALMERS: TL12D, TL14, TL20, 545, 605B, 645, 745B,C FIAT: FR20B

LD3, LD5, LD6, LD7 and LD9 Scoopmobile

HANOMAG/MASSEY 22,33C,44, 55, CL55C,66C-D, 77 GRADERS

ALLIS-CHALMERS: D, DD, M65, 65B, AD30-40, 45, 145, M100A, B, FG95

DRMCO/CHAMPION 562, 600, 720, 740

JOHN DEERE 570, 570A, 670, 670A, 670B, 770, 770A, 772A, 770BH, 670CH, 670D, 672GP, 770GP, 772GP

ALLIS WHEEL TRACTORS

AC D17, D19, D21, XT190, 7000, 7010, 7020, 7040, 7060, 7080, 8010, 8050, 8070, 7580, 8550, 440 ALSO AVAILABLE Track Chains, Rollers, Idlers, Sprockets Various 4-1 Buckets, POA

HYUNDAIHL760-9 Justinfordismantling,New23.5R25 Tyres,CumminsEngine,AllPartsAvailable,Phone Brendan0267624466.S197. TA1297689. POA

JOHNDEERE772GP Justinfordismantling,6Wheel Drive,14FootMoldboard,SweetRunning6090Engine, 17.5x25TyresandRimsAllRound,RearRipperAssy,All PartsAvailable,PhoneBrendanon0267624466.S191. TA1239667. POA

Allis Chalmers • Fiat Allis • Hanomag • Massey • JD Industrial

KOMATSUFB18M

$18,000+GST

1800KGCapacity.4.5MLiftHeight.3Stage ContainerMast.SideShift.LowHours.3Wheel Compact.1YearOldBattery.FullLightKit.

.R035. TA1296175. $19,800

KOMATSUFG25HT-17

$19,000+GST

2500KGCapacity.4.7MLiftHeight.3Stage ContainerMast.SideShift.NewDigitalWeight Guage.4xNewPneumaticTyres.LEDLightKit.

.R076. TA1296203. $20,900

TOYOTATG10TOWTUG

$10,000+GST

15,000KGCapacity.LPGFuelled.3Speed Transmission.Driver&PassengerSeats.Front& RearTowHitches.LEDLights.LowHours

.PO81. TA1296229. $11,000

KOMATSUFB25-12

$18,000+GST

2500KGCapacity.4.7MLiftHeight.3Stage ContainerMast.SideShift.LowHours.FullLight Kit.4YearOldBattery.95%PunctureProofTyres.

.R060. TA1296197. $19,800

KOMATSUFG30T-17

$17,000+GST

3000KGCapacity.4.5MLiftHeight.Clearview Mast.ForkPositioners.WeightGauge.FullLED LightKit.PunctureProofTyres.LPGFueled.

.R049. TA1296206. $18,700

NISSANRV02

$37,000+GST

37,000KGTowingCapacity.Automatic Transmission.Z24NissanLPGEngine.Driver ReleasedRearTowHitch.FrontTowHitch

.L067. TA1296230. $40,700

KOMATSUFB30-11

$20,000+GST

3000KGCapacity.4MLiftHeight.ClearviewMast. SideShift.PowerSteering.2YearOldBattery. SinglePointWaterSystem.FullLightKit. .R028.

KOMATSUFG35AT-16

$19,000+GST

3500KGCapacity.4.5MLiftHeight.Clearview Mast.ForkPositioners.SideShift.LPGFuelled. FullLEDLightKit.PunctureProofTyres.

.R024. TA1296213. $20,900

TOYOTATD25 From$40,000plusGST

37,000TowingCapacity.1DZ2.5LitreDiesel Engine.AutomaticTransmission.DriverReleased Rear2LevelTowHitch.FrontTowHitch

.S492. TA1296235. $44,000

PRIVATE Advertising

QINGONGCPD20C 2012,QingongCPD20C 2-Tonne ElectricCounterbalanceForkliftExcellentCondition, SERIAL 12050720.VIC. DIY1296551. 0439 719 342. $16,489ONO

ZARMMIXERZARMMIXER StainlessSteelHeavyDuty Approx60LitreCapacityZArmMixingMachinewith Swing Away SafetyCover, Tipping MixingBin,Controlto 415V3PhaseElectricMotorandSwitch,-.VIC. DIY1285244. 0411 317 362. $15,500

VARIOUSFUSO 2019,MitsubishiFusoTruck+Complete HighPressureCleaningSetup.2019MitsubishiFUSO truckforsalewithonly53,000km.Afullysetupand uniquesystem,perfectforahighpressurecleaningor

CLARKC500Y5500

OMME3700RBDJ 2017,37mSpiderLift.Goodoverall condition.Justcompleted10yearcert,963047. QLD. DIY1315720. 0447 097 928. $150,000

UNKNOWNSANDBLASTINGPOTS Sandblastingpots. 140L.Allcompletewithhoses.Moderncontrolsmask. Excellentcondition,..NSW. DIY1283258. 0421 882 614. $2,200

CLARKContainerHandlers-worldsstrongestandmostdurable. Capacity:25,000kgs@1220mmLC.Lift:3700mm Two Stage Mast.Engine:CumminsV-555Diesel.Transmission:Clark Automatic3speedPowershift.Steering:Powerwithnewsteering orbital.Forks:2400mmRolleredTypeSideShiftingFork

SAVAGESAVAGEBROSGASFIREDMIXER SavageBros StainlessSteelGasFiredIngredientsMixingandCooking Unit,TwinCopperApprox50LitreCookingPots, RetractableMixingHead,SteelFramedMobile Treadle HydraulicPotStorageStand,Swing Away Attendants Table,Controlto415V3PhaseElectricMotorandSwitch, -.VIC. DIY1285242. 0411 317 362. $49,000

MAGLONUTOILROASTER StainlessSteelMotorisedGas FiredNutOilRoaster,ComprisingRawNutLoadHopper, CleatedRubberBeltElevatingConveyor,Vibratory

00 SiteOffices/Toilets-Male&Female/Shower.3xPortablesiteunits. 2xOffices6.0mtrs.1xToilet4.8mtrs.Fullyaircon.Officefurniture included.Carpettilestofloorarea.Fullypoweredwithfluro lighting/switchboard.Plumbedforquickconnectionofservices. FullsecuritytowindowsanddoorsOfficesonly,0.QLD. DIY1297548. 0413 703 704. $20,000

YAMATOYAMATO YamatoDataweighVolumeWeighing, FillingandSealingMachinewithStainlessSteel VibratoryInfeedHopper,SteelFramed Bucket Elevating LoadConveyor,VolumeWeighingHeadwithMetalcheck 9MetalDetector,BagSealingandFillingHead,Rubber BeltElevating Take-Out ConveyorwithMetalcheckMetal Detector,Controlto415V3PhaseElectricMotorand SwitchWholeMountedonHeavyDutySteelFramed StandwithLadderAccessandSafetyBarricades,-.VIC. DIY1285236. 0411 317 362. $18,900

SKYJACK SJ3219 2014,19'Electric Scissorlifts, several machinesoffered.Allwith227kg lift capacity, allingoodconditionandallnowout of test. LocatedinBrisbane,Melbourne& Sydney. Various.

$4,200+GST= $4,620

SKYJACK SJ6832RT 32'4x4Diesel Scissorlifts, several availableand are nowoutoftest. These are trueRoughTerrainmachineswitha 454kg SWL anda1.5metreextensiondeck,located in Brisbane andSydney.S32147-S32184D.

GENIEGS4390RT 43'4x4RoughTerrain Scissorlifts. Severalavailable.680Kglift capacity & doublerolloutextensiondecks,foratotal deck length of6.7metres.Alloutoftest& equipped with on-boardgenerators.Machines in Melbourne, SydneyandBrisbane.S4347G7.

SKYJACK SJ46AJ 46'4x4DieselKnuckle Booms. 8 unitsavailable,witha227kgliftcapacity,all in good conditionwithMajorInspectioncompletedin testuntil2027-2028.Machinesin Melbourne, Newcastle andBrisbane.KB4639-KB4647. TA1160082.

HARD WORKING

With a full 8 year warranty as standard*

The Maxam Agrixtra range delivers minimal soil compaction, a comfortable ride and improved traction which surpasses all agricultural tyre expectations.

8-YEAR FARM TYRE WARRANTY

*Maxam farm tyres come with an 8-Year warranty against manufacturing defects. This offer includes a full tyre replacement warranty for the first 12 months and a pro-rata replacement warranty thereafter.

AGRIXTRA 70

AGRIXTRA 65

AGRIXTRA XL

AGRIXTRA N

FLOTXTRA