September 2026
DALBY 07 4669 7317 TOOWOOMBA 07 4633 5513 WARWICK 07 4661 4126 GOONDIWINDI 07 4519 3801
12808941-CV44-25
Success at the Ekka PAGES 45
A call to the capable PAGE 18
Warra Warra success Rhys Herbert and Trish Carroll from Pastoral Properties (Cropping), Warra Warra on the Darling Downs have won the AgriRisk High Achiever of the Year Award at the Australian Cotton Industry Awards. The awards dinner concludes the 2026 Australian Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast and is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of growers, innovators, leaders and researchers who strive to keep the industry moving forward. Pastoral Properties, a large-scale irrigated and dryland operation, has increased cotton yields by some two bales per hectare over the past five years and has improved fibre quality through better planting timing and careful variety selection. STORY PAGE 2
Fears for Pookila Fresh concerns are held for the future of one of Queensland’s least-known native mammals, after a landmark statewide survey found just one Pookila despite years of targeted searching. Researchers from the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) conducted more than 10,500 overnight trapping attempts across seven of the state’s 10 known sites over nearly three years. They recorded only one tick under the native rodents’ column, highlighting growing uncertainty around the species’ survival in the state. According to a research article in the latest edition of the Australian Journal of Zoology, the lone Pookila was caught in an aluminium box trap during the 640-day survey, on a private property east of Warwick near Cunningham’s Gap. STORY PAGE 24
Santa goes pie high The rich flavour and eating quality of Santa Gertrudis beef has delivered a major win at the prestigious Royal Sydney Fine Food Awards. The Mighty Santa Pie scored an outstanding 91 points out of 100 in the savoury pie category, earning gold medal honours and the title of the competition’s highest-scoring pie. Named in honour of the “Mighty Santa Gertrudis”, a breed renowned for thriving in challenging Australian environments while consistently producing high-quality beef, the pie marked a significant milestone for the breed. STORY PAGE 13
The 2025 Santa Gertrudis Breed Ambassador Eleni Fogden with the Mighty Santa Pie and a Santa Gertrudis calf at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in April this year. (Supplied)
Leaders in cotton Fifth-generation Lockyer Valley farming operation Moira Farming, run by the Brimblecombe family, has been named the 2026 Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year at the Australian Cotton Conference. The prestigious award recognises leadership, innovation, sustainability, and contributions to
the broader industry. Although the family’s cotton roots date back to 1959, they paused production in the late 1990s due to high input demands. Re-entering the market six years ago, they utilized modern biotechnology and drought-tolerant cotton to put lower-
quality bore water to productive use. Starting with 100 acres, Moira Farming has expanded its cotton program to roughly 1500 acres. The crop seamlessly integrates with their existing vegetable operations, balancing seasonal labour, machinery use, and cash flow.
Focused on future efficiency over sheer size— aiming for higher yields per acre—the Brimblecombes demonstrate how traditional farming and modern innovation can successfully drive business resilience. STORY PAGE 3