New Ballarat Flour Mill on Track to Open This Year
George Weston Foods' Mauri division is set to launch its first greenfield flour mill in Ballarat later this year, boosting Victorian milling capacity to 180,000 tonnes of wheat per annum. The new facility will more than double the output of the existing North Melbourne mill and is slated to roll out its first bags of flour in August 2026. The project reflects over $500 million AUD (≈$330 million USD) of investment by GWF in the past decade and aligns with regional development initiatives, including proximity to the Ballarat Intermodal Freight Hub.
Bourgault Introduces Next-Generation PLDX Opener to Australian Growers
Bourgault Australia has launched the ParaLink Dual Xtreme (PLDX) opener, the latest evolution of its PLX family. The new unit adds a 1:1 dual‑knife design, reinforced arms and self‑lubricating bearings to boost seed‑placement accuracy and durability in high‑residue, compacted soils....
Reman Day Highlights Manifold Value of New Life for Parts
Reman Day, organized by the Remanufacturing Industries Council, spotlighted the growing role of remanufactured parts in farm‑machinery maintenance. CNH reported a 5,200‑tonne reduction in raw‑material consumption in 2024 and set a 90% recyclability target for new products by 2030. John Deere’s...
Fed Govt to Underwrite CSBP, Incitec Fertiliser Imports
The Australian federal government announced a partnership with CSBP and Incitec Pivot to underwrite fertilizer shipments, using Export Finance Australia’s Strategic Reserve powers. The deal follows similar arrangements with fuel firms and aims to lock in cargoes amid global supply...
Incitec Updates Supply Outlook Amid Middle East Fall-Out
Incitec Pivot, now part of ASX‑listed Ridley Corp, is offsetting Middle‑East fertilizer disruptions by sourcing urea from Indonesia and other regions, securing two cargoes in the Strait of Hormuz and arranging up to 250,000 tonnes from PT Pupuk Indonesia for 2024. The company...
Urea Squeeze Shows Signs of Easing as North Stays Dry
Urea supplies to southeastern Australia are easing as new cargoes from Brunei, Indonesia, Nigeria and Oman arrive by mid‑May, pulling prices down from a $1,600‑per‑tonne peak to around $1,400. Early winter‑crop planting is underway on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, with...
Govt Fast-Tracks $6.15B NRF to Strengthen Supply Chains
The Australian government has fast‑tracked $6.15 billion (≈$4 bn USD) of National Reconstruction Fund financing to shore up critical supply chains. The package splits into a $1 billion Economic Resilience Program offering zero‑interest loans to fuel, plastics, fertiliser and ag‑chemical producers, a $5 billion Net...
Philippines Wheat Demand Forecast to Fall as Higher Prices Bite
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service projects Philippine wheat demand to decelerate, rising only 2.2% to 7.05 Mt in the 2026‑27 marketing year after a modest 6.2% increase to 6.9 Mt this year. Higher global wheat prices, driven by...
Pulse Update: Volume Thins as Dry in North Intensifies
Dry conditions across northern New South Wales and southwest Queensland are curbing the expected planted area for chickpeas and faba beans this season. Chickpea prices have held around US$415 per tonne, offering little incentive for growers to sell stocks or...
Headwinds for Qube From Weather Events, Middle East Conflict
Qube Logistics warned that FY26 earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation will be hit by $10‑20 million AUD (≈$6.6‑13 million USD) due to the Middle East conflict and recent weather events, with an extra $3‑5 million AUD (≈$2‑3.3 million USD) loss from Cyclone Narelle...
First Point of Entry Delay Hinders Ord Cotton Industry
Regulatory approvals for First Point of Entry (FPOE) status at Port of Wyndham have been pushed back to at least mid‑2027, delaying the export of the Ord Valley cotton crop. The delay adds an estimated US$600 per container, translating to...
Urea Outlook Brightens with 250,000t From Indonesia
Incitec Pivot Fertilisers has signed a deal with Indonesia’s PT Pupuk Indonesia to import about 250,000 tonnes of agricultural‑grade urea into Australia for the May‑December cropping window. The shipment represents roughly 20 % of the nation’s remaining fertilizer requirement for the current season, helping offset...
Indonesian Wheat Imports on the Rise
Indonesia’s wheat imports are set to climb to 13.2 million tonnes in the 2025‑26 marketing year, up from 10.5 Mt last season, making it the world’s largest wheat‑importer according to the USDA. The surge is driven by stronger middle‑class demand, expanding flour‑based...
Vic Court Fines Operator $15,000 for Drone Spray Drift
A South‑West Victorian drone‑spraying company was convicted and fined AUD 15,000 (≈ US $9,900) after spray drift damaged a neighboring property. The drift affected about 4 ha, incurring roughly AUD 26,000 (≈ US $17,200) in resowing, hay, seed, fertilizer and lost income. Agriculture Victoria highlighted that drone...
InterGrain Named as Partner in Faba Bean Breeding Program
InterGrain, a Western Australian seed firm, has been awarded the Australian Government’s $3.75 million (≈ $2.5 million USD) Collaboration Agreement to lead the Grain Research and Development Corporation’s faba bean breeding program alongside the University of Adelaide. The three‑year contract runs through June 2028...
Australia Exports 883,243t of Canola in Feb
Australia shipped a record 883,243 tonnes of canola in February, a 55% jump from January and 68% above February 2025 levels. Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany together absorbed more than 45% of the volume, while China more than doubled its...
Govt Backs Approvals Process for WA Green Ammonia Project
The Australian Treasury has added the Murchison Green Hydrogen project in Western Australia to its Front Door program, a fast‑track initiative that streamlines regulatory approvals and links developers to financing. The project, backed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, will combine 1,200 MW...
Aclonifen Herbicide Helping Win the Numbers Game in Cropping Programs
Bayer’s Mateno Complete, a pre‑emergent and early post‑emergent (EPE) herbicide blend of aclonifen, pyroxasulfone and diflufenican, is emerging as the benchmark for annual ryegrass control in Australian wheat and barley. Over 40 field trials in Victoria and New South Wales...
Australia Details Feb Chickpea, Lentil Exports
Australia shipped 292,347 tonnes of chickpeas and 179,335 tonnes of lentils in February 2026, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Chickpea volumes matched February 2025 levels and were more than triple the 89,420 t sent in January 2026, with India taking 231,197 t. Lentil...
Feedgrain Focus: Dry North Lifts Values, South Softens
Dry conditions in northern Australia have forced growers to hold back wheat and barley, lifting new‑crop prices to about $425 AUD per tonne (≈$280 USD). In contrast, southern regions are seeing softer grain values as limited export demand, a urea shortage and...
Diesel Supply, Pricing Prospects Outshine Those of Urea: Whitelaw
A cease‑fire between Iran and the United States could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a 20% drop in global crude prices, but Australian diesel and urea markets remain under pressure. Diesel prices have roughly doubled to about $3.20 AUD/L (≈$2.12 USD)...
Canola Poised for Greater Role in Local Biofuel Future: Rabo
Rabobank’s new report highlights Australian canola as a strategic feedstock for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel as biofuel demand surges across the Asia‑Pacific. Converting the country’s 6 million tonnes of exported canola seed could produce more than two billion litres of...
Guidance, Products Sought as Growers Scope Planting Options
Australian growers are grappling with depleted fertilizer and diesel supplies amid high input prices, even as a two‑week cease‑fire in the Persian Gulf offers modest relief to supply chains. To navigate the volatile environment, many are turning to decision‑support tools...
Diesel for NSW Farms Prioritised, Gulf Ceasefire Welcomed
The Australian federal government announced that diesel supplies for New South Wales farmers are being prioritised as the seeding season begins, reducing diesel‑outage stations to 124, about 5 % of the state’s sites. Minister Chris Bowen said national fuel inventories remain...
Australia’s Feb Wheat Exports Down 19pc From Jan
Australia shipped 2.11 million tonnes of wheat in February 2026, a 19% drop from January’s 2.60 million tonnes. The decline reflects weaker bulk shipments, while containerised exports remained anchored by Southeast Asian demand. Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia were the top three container...
Below-Avg Rainfall to June Likely for Most of Australia: BOM
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology issued its April‑June 2026 seasonal outlook on 2 April, indicating a 60‑80 % probability of below‑average rainfall for most of the continent. Exceptions include far‑northern Queensland, which shows a 60‑80 % chance of above‑average rain, while the Murray‑Darling Basin...
Daily Market Wire 8 April 2026
The Iran‑related cease‑fire brokered by Pakistan caused WTI crude to plunge 19% to about $91 per barrel, triggering a 400‑point rally in Dow futures. Meanwhile, the Australian dollar proved resilient, appreciating nearly 4% year‑to‑date and firming around US$0.691 per AUD...
WA Post-Record Crop Could Be as Small as 15Mt: MP
Western Australia, Australia’s top grain producer, faces a severe urea shortage linked to the Iran‑Israel‑US conflict, prompting MP Rick Wilson to warn that the 2026‑27 crop could fall to around 15 million tonnes – roughly a 45 percent drop from the record...
Port of Newcastle Exports 2.95Mt Wheat in 2025
The Port of Newcastle shipped 2.95 million tonnes of wheat in 2025, nearly five times the volume recorded in 2024. This surge helped lift total non‑coal cargo to a record 11.12 million tonnes, surpassing the 2021 high. Wheat accounted for about 12%...
Mort & Co Fertiliser Cuts Reliance on Urea, Improves Soil
Mort & Co has launched an Australian‑made organic fertiliser granule produced from beef‑feedlot manure at its new $15 million AUD (≈$10 million USD) Grassdale facility. The granules can substitute roughly one‑third of traditional urea while delivering comparable nitrogen efficiency, as demonstrated on...
China Wheat Auction Clearance Rate Increases
China’s domestic wheat auctions under the minimum‑price program have accelerated, with a year‑to‑date clearance rate of 79.5% and a perfect 100% clearance on the March 18 auction. Average sale prices rose to ¥2,441 per tonne (about $354), reflecting strong demand from...
Fuel Excise Halved, Truck Charges Removed for Three Months
The Australian federal government announced a temporary halving of the fuel excise, cutting pump prices by about 26.3 cents per litre, and reduced the heavy‑vehicle road user charge (RUC) to zero for three months. It also postponed a scheduled 6% RUC...
WA’s CSBP Opens up on Fertiliser in Trying Times
CSBP, a major Western Australian fertilizer supplier, warned that the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is severely curtailing urea imports, a key nitrogen source for growers. To offset the shortfall, the company has accelerated domestic production of ammonium...
Daily Market Wire 27 March 2026
Severe drought across the U.S. Hard Red Winter wheat belt has driven Chicago July wheat up 7.25 cents to $6.30 per bushel, with CFTC data showing the largest ever gross long and a near‑record gross short position. Export sales surged to...
JV Kicks Off Large-Scale Pongamia Plantation in CQ
Japan’s Nippon Steel Trading and Queensland’s Energreen have launched the Green Biotechnology Solutions joint venture, planting tens of thousands of pongamia trees near Emerald. The initial phase includes 16,000 trees and a commercial nursery, allowing local landholders to grow the...
Ray White Report Shows Land Value, Harvest Correlation
Ray White’s 2024‑25 farmland research shows that Australia’s strong grain harvest did not uniformly lift dry‑land cropping values, with regional divergences driven by commodity prices and higher borrowing costs. While Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia saw median prices rise...
EU FTA Holds some Benefit for Grain, Oilseed Sector Bar Rice
The Australia‑EU free trade agreement eliminates tariffs on key grains – wheat, barley and wheat starch – saving up to $166‑$392 per tonne, and grants a $70 million duty‑free wheat‑gluten quota. Canola oil, machinery and chemicals also become tariff‑free, while ethanol...
Higher Production to Reduce Egypt Wheat Import
Egypt’s wheat harvest for 2026 is projected at 9.8 million tonnes, a 6.5% increase over the previous year, driven by a 170,000‑ha expansion of planted area. The state‑run General Authority for Supply Commodities plans to buy up to 5 Mt for its...
Fertiliser Shortages Could Hit Australia in Late May, June: Collins
Minister Julie Collins warned that fertiliser shortages could hit Australian growers by late May or June if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. While current stocks cover the early cropping season, 95% of Australia’s urea—65% shipped through the Persian Gulf...
GTA Submission Calls for New Approach to DAFF Cost Recovery
Grain Trade Australia (GTA) has submitted a formal objection to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (DAFF) new export cost‑recovery program, arguing that the scheme over‑recovers fees and lacks industry consultation. DAFF’s Cost Recovery Implementation Statements (CRIS) will...
WA Plant to Produce 2.3Mt of Urea From Mid-2027
Perdaman’s Project Ceres urea plant near Karratha will produce 2.3 million tonnes per year, with full output slated for June 2027 after commissioning in March. The $6 billion facility will be Australia’s only domestic urea producer, dedicating at least 1 Mt to local growers....
Feedgrain Focus: Northern Values Jump as Input Costs Hit
Heavy rain and flooding across central and southern Queensland this week have tightened urea availability and pushed input costs higher, while a 25% rise in diesel prices linked to the Middle East conflict has lifted freight rates by about $5...
Fuel Standards Amended to Ease Squeeze in Regions: Bowen
The Australian government announced a 60‑day temporary amendment to fuel quality standards, permitting higher sulfur content to unlock roughly 100 million litres of petrol each month. This measure addresses regional fuel shortages triggered by Middle East supply constraints after the Strait...
Port Issues Push some Bales South for Export: Cotton Australia
Cotton Australia reports that a portion of lint bales from the Northern Territory and Western Australia are being trucked over 3,500 km to Brisbane for export, despite the closer proximity of Darwin and Wyndham ports. High transport costs, limited infrastructure, and...
Middle East Crisis Could Test Property Market Confidence
Escalating Middle East tensions are pushing diesel prices higher, tightening operating costs for Australian rural producers. The surge is prompting both crop and grazing operators to reassess input purchases, delay acquisitions, and prioritize fuel‑efficient assets. Valuers and industry leaders warn...
NSW Cotton Partnership to Face Court over Farm Deaths
Directors of New South Wales cotton giant P&J Harris & Sons will appear before the Industrial Court on April 20, facing charges over two fatal workplace incidents—a 2022 backhoe accident and a 2024 drowning. SafeWork NSW has alleged six companies within...
New Milne Mill Enables Market, Product Expansion
Milne AgriGroup has doubled its production capacity to 300,000 tonnes, creating Australia’s largest pelletised ruminant‑feed mill in Welshpool. The expansion, supported by a $5 million WA grant, enables the company to export formulated pellets across Asia and to supply 6,000 tonnes to South...
Australia Exports 91,511t Chickpeas, 300,009t Lentils in Jan
Australia shipped 91,511 tonnes of chickpeas and 300,009 tonnes of lentils in January, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Chickpea exports collapsed 85% from the December peak of 594,201 tonnes, while lentil shipments slipped 5% from December’s 316,358 tonnes....
Urea Price Jumps as Iran Fall-Out Halts Shipping
Urea prices in Australia have surged by roughly A$150 per tonne after the escalation of the Iran‑US‑Israeli conflict shut the Strait of Hormuz, halting shipments from key Middle‑East producers such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Spot prices have...
South African Corn Output Down but Not Out
South Africa’s 2025‑26 corn harvest is projected at 16.1 million tonnes, a 3.1% decline from the previous record‑high season despite a 4.6% expansion in planted area. Yield variability, especially in key provinces, outweighs the acreage gain, while white corn output edges...