February 2026
DALBY 07 4669 7317 TOOWOOMBA 07 4633 5513 WARWICK 07 4661 4126 GOONDIWINDI 07 4519 3801
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Bouncing back PAGE 9
Record intake PAGE 15
Still suffering Crays craze
Prominent potato and cattle producer Trevor Hall has warned shrinking farmgate margins and a lack of transparency in the supply chain are placing growing pressure on Australian farmers, with conditions expected to worsen into 2026. Mr Hall, who farms near Scottsdale in Tasmania’s north-east, is a leading figure in the Australian agricultural industry. He operates the multi-generational Quarterway Angus stud alongside a large-scale potato enterprise and is widely known for his national advocacy on behalf of farmers during price negotiations with major supermarkets and processors. COVERAGE PAGE 6
North Queensland first-generation farmer and Nuffield scholar, Nathan Cleasby, is on his way to feeding Australia’s insatiable craze for crays. STORY PAGE 5
Choc twist Consumers could start seeing cocoa-free chocolate ingredients in some confectionery products, as manufacturers seek ways to manage volatile cocoa prices and unstable global supply. In its global report Beyond the bean: ‘Big chocolate’ explores cocoa-free pathways, Rabobank’s RaboResearch division says food companies are investing in alternatives to traditional cocoa beans, including lab-grown, fermented and upcycled ingredients that can deliver chocolatelike flavours with more reliable sourcing and less price volatility. STORY PAGE 7
North Queensland aquaculture producer Nathan Cleasby. (Supplied)
Crops mixed bag Summer crop conditions in southern and central Queensland is delivering a mixed bag. Early-planted sorghum (late August/early September) is delivering “excellent” yields and is currently being harvested. However, sorghum planted in November and December is stressed
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and “really looking for rain,” following a very dry December across much of the region. Recent heavy storm activity has complicated the sorghum harvest, making fields too wet for machinery, but has provided the necessary moisture for planting mung beans.
Market conditions remain strong due to good export demand. Queensland’s overall summer crop output for 2025-26 is forecast to be robust, with sorghum production expected at 1.6 million tonnes and cotton lint at 390,000 tonnes, both well above the
10-year average. While soil moisture provides a solid foundation, industry leaders caution that weather variability remains a critical factor for final yield outcomes. STORY PAGE 3