This Month
Chinese billionaire selling cattle station empire the size of Belgium
The 2.9m hectare portfolio of East Kimberley cattle stations is being offered by Chinese-Australian property developer Hui Wing Mau.
- Larry Schlesinger
Farmland returns fall to eight-year low as El Nino hits
A $2 billion portfolio of prime farmland managed by some of the country’s leading asset managers delivered just a 2 per cent total return in 12 months.
- Larry Schlesinger
September
‘Farmers are spooked’: Why no one wants to buy sheep
Livestock prices are crashing as supply and demand dynamics pull the rug out from under the industry. And there could be more pain to come.
- Brad Thompson
Rural branch closures stir up deep emotions about the role of banks
Smithton, a small town in Tasmania, produces $840m of commodities a year. But as cash dwindles, it has lost its CBA and ANZ branches. The mayor wants answers.
- James Eyers
GrainCorp boss has no fear of El Nino as farmers count down to harvest
GrainCorp boss Robert Spurway says the company can’t control the weather but is ready to respond to whatever comes its way.
- Brad Thompson
Craigs invites bidders to taste test $200m-a-year Kiwi Costa
It exports into more than 30 markets, with North America and Asia (including Japan) making up more than 75 per cent of the revenue.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
New business guidelines aim to help firms account for impact on nature
The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures released its final rules on nature risk, which will force banks to understand the effects of lending.
- James Eyers
Dairy exporters under pressure amid high milk prices
Australian farmers are enjoying near record milk prices thanks to reduced local supply, but exports are declining as buyers look to New Zealand for cheaper options.
- Cecile Lefort
Former beef boss helps UK fund plant its flag in macadamias
Climate Asset Management has snapped up 1800ha of former sugarcane farmland near Bundaberg for $40 million and plans to convert it into macadamia orchards.
- Larry Schlesinger
Farm output to shrink by $12b as El Niño strikes
Drier conditions and lower global commodity prices are predicted to push the value of agricultural output down by 14 per cent this financial year.
- Michael Read
August
- Opinion
- Opinion
India key in recipe to avoid global food crisis
Rice and wheat shortages now threaten a world food emergency to rival the last one in 2007–08
- Peter Timmer
Corporate buyers tipped to bid for $170m of farming aggregations
Fund manager AAM has put its Sunshine Farms aggregation in NSW up for sale for more than $90m, while a European family is selling Fairview in SA.
- Larry Schlesinger
Wheat traders shrug off Black Sea flash points as exports flow
The market has shrugged off more tension in the Black Sea after Russia targeted a cargo vessel over the weekend.
- Áine Quinn, Beril Akman and Tarso Veloso
Going bananas: Australia’s biggest grower up for sale for $180m
The offering of Mackay Farming Group comprises nine farms in Tully and Lakewood that produce 13 per cent of the nation’s banana crop.
- Larry Schlesinger
Buffalo meat on the menu at NT’s Annaburroo Station
Neil Schembri hopes to develop a paddock-to-plate buffalo meat business after buying Annaburroo station east of Darwin.
- Larry Schlesinger
Corporate buyers ramp up agricultural land spending as farmers retreat
Veteran rural agents and valuers are in agreement that corporate buyers are expanding whilst many farmers press pause on expansion activities.
- Larry Schlesinger
Top farmer cottons on with green hydrogen, rare earths
The NSW government had handed $36 million to leading producer Sundown Pastoral and partner Hiringa Energy to help build a new plant.
- Brad Thompson
Wheat jumps as Ukraine says Russia strikes port
Wheat and corn prices jumped after a drone attack damaged a port facility in the Odesa region
- James Poole
July
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Putin willing to trash world markets to get his way
With things stalling on the battlefield, global commodity markets are once again becoming Russia’s favourite weapon. Nations like Australia have to stand strong.
- The AFR View
- Exclusive
- Rural property
Billionaire Peter Gunn offloads King Island cattle farms
Mr Gunn’s PGA Group has sold 1800ha of prime grazing country long-held by his family. The largest portion was acquired by the Crouch family’s Waverley Station.
- Larry Schlesinger
