GrainGrowers Blog

Hi I’m Cathy. I farm with my family north of Koorda and we’re planting somewhere around the 9000 hectares this season. I farm with my husband Peter and our son Sandy, who is back on the farm after working away for a couple of years. Our daughter Hayley is living down south working for Nutrien.

Hi I’m Deb Charlton and I am a grower from Marrar, NSW, about half an hour from Wagga Wagga. Alongside farming, I’m also a NSW Farmers Executive Council member, a member of the NSW Farmers Grain Committee and a committee member of the NSW Farmers Agricultural Science Committee. Also a grain grower member of the National Mouse Monitory Committee and have been involved with industry advocacy for about 30 years now.

Hi, I’m Brenton. I farm with my wife Penny, about 10 kilometres south of Waikerie in South Australia’s Riverland, on low rainfall country that traditionally averages around 250 millimetres in a good year — although we haven’t seen that for a while.

I’m Andrew Messina, based at Spring Park Farms in Mullewa, about 100 km east of Geraldton. Our properties extend roughly 50 km west and 100 km south of Mullewa towards Dongara. I farm with my wife, Tracey, my brother Rod, and his wife, Sam, and we also employ five full-time staff.

Australia’s grain industry is typically viewed through a domestic lens as the source of everyday pantry staples like bread and breakfast cereal. However, this overlooks one of the most strategically important aspects of Australian grain: its role in feeding the region.

Australia has many pieces of legislation and associated regulation at both federal and state level addressing environmental impacts, and which frequently claim (in their “purposes” or in supporting documentation) to be based on the principles of ecological sustainable development.

In recent months, low-carbon liquid fuels (LCLFs) have been gaining increased attention for their potential to strengthen Australia’s grains industry and national fuel security. To support this discussion, GrainGrowers has developed a short explainer outlining key LCLF technologies and definitions.

Hi, I’m Steven Hobbs and I farm with my family at Yarrock Farms, in Kaniva, Victoria. I’m the fifth generation on the farm, with the first selection being made in 1885. We run a mixed farming operation across 800 hectares, with roughly half for cropping and half for sheep. We grow a variety of crops including cereals, legumes and oilseeds, alongside a Merino and prime lamb enterprise.

Hi. I’m Campbell Dalton, and my family and I farm across two aggregations. The first, which is where our primary business is based, is just east of Griffith in southwestern New South Wales. We also have another stock block that's about 60 kms north of Condobolin in the central west.

We are based in Kellerberrin and are a cropping operation consisting of wheat, lupins, canola, oats and a small amount of barley for hay. I grew up on the farm with Mum, Dad and my older brother. When it came to the farm, Mum and Dad had a rule that you cannot knock it until you try it. I came back in November 2022 for harvest to drive the chaser bin, I found a passion for farming and continued on from there.

My name is Dili Schoenberg, and I am pleased to tell you a little about myself and our family's farming operations. Our farm at Waterloo is basically halfway between The Barossa and the Clare Valley, so we have a choice of driving half an hour to Clare or forty minutes to Barossa to access services. We run a typical family operation, with my husband, Daniel Schoenberg being the third generation on the farm.

We are the McCosker brothers, Sam and Jack. Our family have been involved in dryland cropping here on the Western Downs for 70 years. In total, we farm around 5,260 ha, and in the last few years, we have branched out, with around 150ha of irrigated crops and a 2,500 head beef cattle feedlot, managed by Sam’s wife, Sarah.

I’m Brendan Barrows, and I am a third-generation farmer, currently cropping around 2,200ha around Borden in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. The first parcel was war service land, which my grandfather farmed, and over the years our family has progressively purchased other land, gradually increasing our holdings in the area.

This year’s IWD theme Balance the Scales is about more than vibes and cupcakes. It’s about fixing the machinery itself: addressing systemic inequalities, improving safety, and ensuring our legal and administrative systems are fair and accessible for women.

Hi, my name is Michael Nichols, and I farm with my wife Rochelle and our six kids. The younger ones are in primary school and the older boys are either at high school or working in Burnie or Launceston, which is about two hours’ drive east. Rochelle handles the bookwork and does more driving than most people would believe, keeping everything moving between school, farm, sport and life.

People have spent decades writing about cultural psychology and global leadership. Psychologist Thomas Talhelm looked at all the Eastern vs Western thinking debates and said, ‘It’s the farming.’ Why? Because farming doesn’t just feed societies. It trains them.

Every season hands growers a new puzzle, and while some things like the weather cannot be controlled, understanding the issues that can be managed is central to better decision-making and improved outcomes. No matter how long anyone has been involved in agriculture, an open mind and an inquisitive approach can open the door to new ways and new opportunities.

The Awards recognised excellence, innovation and leadership across South Australia’s grain sector and it was great to see so many individuals who are members, alumni or who have worked alongside the GrainGrowers team.