Farmanco Facts May 2026 Edition
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Since the last edition of Farmanco Facts, we had our annual staff conference in April where the majority of staff gathered in Perth. The 2026 Photo Competition finished (winners will be announced soon). While the Australian 2026 Ag season continues to throw up challenges.
Thanks to the Farmanco team for coming forward with thoughtful articles as usual, and to Samantha Hamilton for an outside, expert perspective of Staying the Course in Uncertain Times.
Welcome to Kate Witham, who joined Farmanco in November 2025 as a Project Consultant and brings enthusiasm, capability, and a genuine passion for supporting growers. Kate is an exciting addition to the Farmanco team, based in Esperance.
The Farmanco Pestbook 2026 has been published which you can purchase in our website store. While there, subscribe to Farmanco Facts or email subscribe@farmanco.com.au or call (08) 9295 0940.
Better Decisions on the Farm: By Recognising How we Think
Rob Sands (Farm Management Consultant)
Many farm decision errors come from common thinking traps, not lack of skill or effort.
Recency Bias. What happened last year often has too much impact on this year’s decisions.
Sunk costs and fear of losses often delay necessary change.
Farmers tend to overvalue owned assets and familiar systems.
Time is often overspent on small decisions and underspent on big ones.
Strong businesses tend to use robust analysis, benchmarks and external challenge to manage bias.
This article looks at some common thinking traps in Farm Businesses.
Land Forming & Subsurface Drainage in High & Medium Rainfall Zones
Kate Witham (Project Consultant, Esperance)
Well‑designed land forming and subsurface drainage offer a real opportunity to lift yield, improve paddock trafficability, and increase profit margins.
Drainage installation, particularly subsurface systems, can involve substantial upfront investment. Growers need better guidance to support practical implementation and evidence‑based decision‑making.
A $6.5 million, five and a half year GRDC investment led by Pinion Advisory—with Farmanco managing delivery in WA alongside partners Ag Logic (Tas) and Premier Ag Consultancy Group (Vic)—will deliver practical, regionally relevant solutions to help growers manage excess water, improve paddock trafficability, and boost crop yields.
Lifting paddock performance can be via managing excess or unwanted water via drainage, especially using systems that don’t impede trafficability or cropable area.
Is this the Renaissance of the Sheep Industry?
Greg Easton (Farm Management Consultant)
Finally, after two years of significant losses for the sheep industry, it seems the 2025 season will show a return to profit. Or at least a gross margin.
This begs the question, has the sheep enterprise turned the corner?
Yes it has, but maybe only for the next two to three years.
The WA sheep industry in 2026 is smaller, tighter in supply, and cautiously stabilising, but still facing ongoing political and market uncertainty. As the industry changes post the announcement of the live export ban, there remains pressure on infrastructure and labour.
Aussie Wheat Exports: Where does your Wheat Go?
Mae Connelly (Grain Marketing Consultant)
Indonesia and the Philippines underpin consistent demand for Australian wheat.
China is the swing buyer that drives price volatility.
Our wheat exports are more diverse than barley (China) and non-GM canola (EU), but a small number of markets do most of the work.
Australia is well placed into growing Asian demand.
This article steps through where Australian wheat is exported, which markets matter most, and how those destinations shape demand and price.
Alternatives to Chlorpyrifos
David Cameron (Agronomist)
Chlorpyrifos was a unique organophosphate insecticide. It will be missed for its soil residual activity and broad-spectrum activity.
Chlorpyrifos can no longer be used in grain crops.
Chlorpyrifos retains registrations for use in forage crops and pasture seed crops.
Limited demand will make it hard to access.
Chlorpyrifos was a cost-effective product for a range of pests and environments. As of 30 September 2025, chlorpyrifos can no longer be applied to grain crops.
Staying the Course in Uncertain Times
Samantha Hamilton (Certified Financial Planner, Oreana Financial Services Ltd)
What drives today’s market concerns.
Markets have faced crises before and recovered.
The engines of long-term growth.
A balanced perspective.
This article explores what’s driving current market anxiety, how markets have historically responded to periods of stress, and why your long-term strategy remains the most reliable guide through short term noise.
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