MAY GRAIN GRABS

Welcome to the May 2025 edition of GPA’s monthly newsletter updating everyone on what’s been happening during a very busy time, on and off farm. 

The 2025 seeding program has been one of mixed fortunes across our cropping areas, with many growers having to seed into dry conditions. But in parts of NSW recently, we’ve also seen severe floods and our thoughts go out to everyone, especially the farmers, who’ve been doing it tough in those areas. 

Meanwhile, an ABC article this week claimed a Rabobank report has estimated 24.5 million hectares of wheat, barley, chickpeas and canola will be sown this year, breaking the national record of 24.1 million hectares set in 2020/21. HERE The article also quoted our very own GPA Northern Director, Brendan Taylor, about the different challenges he’s facing at Warra, three hours north-west of Brisbane. 

“Like many Queensland farmers, his barley is already planted, but conditions need to dry out to sow chickpeas. ‘The risk we've got in some places in the south here where it is very wet is, potentially if it rains again, that's going to delay planting even more,’ he said.” 

While such predictions on production certainly make for interesting headlines, we’ll see what volume of grain’s ultimately harvested and sold by grain producers, later this year. And for those who’ve seeded dry, GPA is certainly keeping a close eye on how seasonal conditions unfold from here. That’s why we’re already working closely with different authorities, and the Federal Government post-election. This includes supporting Grain Producers South Australia, with SA experiencing some of their driest ever conditions. Federal Agriculture Minister, Julie Collins, is visiting SA this week, at GPSA’s invitation, as supported by GPA, for meetings to see the conditions local growers and communities are facing, firsthand. HERE 

This week GPA is also proud to have launched our 2025 Farmer Mates Mental Health program, again supported by Nufarm Australia and other partners such as Rural Aid and Lifeline Australia. Our National Ambassador Brad Hogg will be visiting regional communities again and co-hosting events – including with GPA’s state members – to share vitally important messages about mental health and suicide prevention. This year’s program includes the launch of an exciting new podcast series – which I thoroughly recommend you take time and listen to an episode or two – and other organisations co-hosting events, with GPA and Brad. More details – including 2025 event dates: HERE 

As part of GPA’s continuing work for growers strengthening biosecurity protections, we attended last week’s meeting of Plant Health Australia members, in Adelaide. HERE Another important meeting was also held in Canberra this week for the Grains Farm Biosecurity Program, as part of GPA’s representative responsibilities for all Australian grain producers HERE. 

This award-winning program has officers employed, with State Governments, in NSW, Queensland, SA, Victoria and WA. These Grains Biosecurity Officers (GBOs) develop and deliver materials to raise awareness and training, directly to growers, consultants and other industry stakeholders. GPA will continue working with PHA, and our GBOs, to strengthen this partnership and ensure growers can access these vital resources which helps safeguard their grain production businesses; especially those provided by the Australian Grains Industry Biosecurity Plan HERE 

With Grains Australia Chair, Andrew Young, at last week’s industry event, held at Adelaide Oval, in the Bodyline Bar. 

While in Adelaide, I also attended the Grains Australia event and mingled with many other grains industry representatives; especially our very own SA members and GPA’s fantastic supporters from Viterra, GrainCorp, ADM and Australian Grain Exports. HERE 

It’s fantastic to see the continued development and evolution of this important strategic work, to consolidate ‘industry good’ functions into Grains Australia HERE which ultimately increases value and returns to growers, with enhanced market access and trade. 

Barry Large GPA Chair