Humans of Agriculture

Australian agriculture runs on more than crops, livestock, and markets. It runs on people and communities.In this episode, Skye Ward shares the story behind the Rabobank Community Fund, a program designed to invest directly into grassroots initiatives across rural and regional Australia.Since launching in 2021, the fund has invested over $4 million into projects that strengthen leadership, improve wellbeing, and support the resilience of rural communities.Skye also shares her personal story of growing up in the Monaro region, the experience of moving towns and building community as an adult, and why belonging remains one of the most powerful drivers of strong rural places.From succession workshops and financial literacy programs to melanoma skin-check trucks and simple community events that bring people together, the fund supports practical initiatives that make a real difference on the groundThis conversation highlights why investing in people and community capability is just as important as investing in farms and businesses.In this episode we exploreWhy strong communities underpin successful agricultural regionsThe thinking behind the Rabobank Community FundHow grassroots funding creates real impact on the groundExamples of initiatives supported across rural AustraliaThe role of leadership development and wellbeing programsWhy collaboration and community capability matter for agriculture’s futureFind out more & apply now!!Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March.If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life.Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au. Rabobank Community Fund!Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March.If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life.Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au.

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, we dive deep into the innovative world of AMPS Agribusiness. Join us as we sit down with Tony Lockrey, a seasoned agronomist and leader who has dedicated decades to the fields of Northern New South Wales. Tony takes us "under the hood" of AMPS's unique, grower-led model that fast-tracks agricultural research from institutions directly into the paddock.We explore how AMPS has built a seamless ecosystem connecting research, agronomy, and commercial supply. Tony shares the fascinating story of Lancer wheat, a variety that became a regional powerhouse thanks to intensive, localised trials. Beyond the science, we discuss the evolving role of an agronomist, the importance of nurturing the next generation through a "job-first" education model, and the unparalleled value of a business owned and driven by the growers themselves.Chapter Markings[0:00] Introduction: AMPS Agribusiness and the Grower-Led Model.[1:15] Tony Lockrey's Evolution: From Technical Specialist to People Leader.[3:45] The Power of Relationships: When Customers Become Family and Shareholders.[5:10] Research in the Ute: Bringing the Lab to the Paddock.[7:20] Managing the Next Generation: Moving Out of the Way for Growth.[9:05] The Lancer Story: How Localised Research Accelerates Variety Adoption.[12:30] The "How-To" Grow Guide: Turning Data into Decisions in One Season.[14:15] The Origins of AMPS: A Response to Declining Institutional Research.[17:00] Commercial Synergy: Linking Supply, Procurement, and Paddock Outcomes.[19:40] Scientific Rigour: 30,000 Plots a Year and Statistical Significance.[22:15] Paddock Geography: Understanding Elevation, Frost, and Time of Sow.[25:30] Developing the "Agronomy Eye": Training the Future of Ag.[28:10] The Changing Face of Education: Work-First, Degree-Second.[31:00] Building a Safe and Cohesive Team Culture.[34:15] The Resilience of Australian Growers: Innovation Born of Necessity.[37:00] Pride in Cohesion: Six Branches, One Mission.[39:30] Upcoming Events: Winter Crop Reviews and Research Membership. Rabobank Community Fund!Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March.If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life.Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au.

Season 4 of Monthly Markets opens with a strong pulse check across livestock, wool, property and grain.Tom and Mick begin with:Wagga sheep market strength, with mutton pushing 7.50–8.00 and trade lambs over 10.50The Eastern Market Indicator hitting 1677 cents — a two-year recordCattle prices holding firm at GunnedahMajor rural property listings across NSW and QLD, including Springfield, Bogo, Glenfinnan, and Goodar StationThen they’re joined by Tommy Taylor from Clear Grain Exchange for a deep dive into the grain landscape.In this episode:How Clear Grain Exchange worksEmpowering growers to set their own target pricesBringing 140+ buyers into a single digital marketplaceSecure settlement and title retention for reduced counterparty riskDigitised documentation simplifying compliance and accounting2025–26 Harvest ReviewRecord WA cropStrong Northern NSW and QLD yieldsChickpeas, lentils and canola performing wellBarley trading near parity with wheat in some regionsGlobal Market PressuresArgentina’s 30 million tonne wheat crop flooding lower-spec marketsFreight advantages favouring WA exportersStocks-to-use ratios tightening globally despite current surplusesOn-Farm Storage TrendsIncreased investment in storage infrastructureGrowers holding grain as both a price strategy and drought hedgeRisks and costs of multi-year carryChina & CanolaFirst canola exports to China since 2020Political risk remains, but diversified export markets provide resilienceFeedlots & Domestic DemandPotential 6 million head on feedFeedlots becoming a major structural demand driverBarley strength in northern markets driven by ration preferencesTommy’s AdviceDon’t miss opportunitiesSet target pricesVolatility creates upside for prepared sellersThis episode is essential listening for growers, traders, feedlot operators, advisors and agribusiness professionals planning for the year ahead. Rabobank Community Fund!Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March.If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life.Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au.

For decades, Australian agriculture has operated within a set of conditions that quietly shaped its success - stable geopolitics, expanding global trade, predictable markets, and steady productivity gains.That era is ending.In this conversation, Tim Hunt joins Oli Le Lievre to unpack the global forces reshaping food and agriculture right now, from geopolitics and trade fragmentation to climate volatility and rapid technological change. With a career spanning banking, economics, and international agriculture, Tim brings a clear-eyed, global perspective on why these shifts are structural, not cyclical - and what that means for producers, agribusiness leaders, and the wider food system.Recorded just one week out from evokeAG 2026, where Tim and Oli will be part of the MC team alongside Liz Brennan, this episode is about making sense of a changing world - and asking how Australian agriculture adapts, evolves, and leads in what comes next.In This Episode, We ExploreWhy the conditions that built modern Australian agriculture are no longer guaranteedHow geopolitics, trade, climate, and technology are colliding to reshape food systemsWhy these shifts represent long-term structural change, not short-term cyclesThe role realism plays in building resilient farm businesses and industriesWhy agriculture sits at the centre of global economics, politics, and cultureHow a top-down view of the world complements on-farm decision-makingTechnology as agriculture’s most important tailwind in an increasingly volatile eraWhat real value-adding looks like beyond branding and provenanceWhy adaptation, not protection, has always underpinned Australia’s agricultural successThe role events like evokeAG play in helping the industry respond collectively Rabobank Community Fund!Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March.If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life.Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au.

Millie Moore didn’t leave her job because she was unhappy. She left because she was curious.After four and a half years in a corporate ag role, Millie made a decision that many people talk about but few actually take. She quit, moved to Canada, and went ranching to properly immerse herself in the beef industry and test herself on the ground.That choice led to something bigger. In this episode, Millie shares how ranch life in Alberta opened doors to meat judging, scholarships, and ultimately a fully funded Masters in meat science at the University of Illinois.This conversation explores career risk, confidence, building networks without a farming background, and why agriculture offers far more pathways than most people realise. It also kicks off a year-long series with Millie, where she’ll continue to share what she’s learning across the US, Canada, and Australia.⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Quitting a corporate job to go ranching02:10 — University, early career, and choosing what not to do03:20 — Why Millie stayed 4.5 years in her first role04:40 — The fear and reality of moving overseas06:30 — First impressions of ranch life in Canada08:45 — Canada vs the US beef industry09:05 — Not coming from a farming background10:30 — “If you want to be in beef, go be in beef”11:40 — How Millie built her network from scratch13:40 — Why agriculture feels hard to break into (and why it isn’t)15:20 — Dealing with rejection and imposter syndrome19:55 — Meat judging and why it shapes so many careers22:10 — The US meat judging circuit explained24:40 — Sponsorship, alumni, and industry support26:20 — Returning to study and why Illinois made sense28:30 — What’s next and a year of conversations ahead Rabobank Community Fund!Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March.If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life.Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au.