In late August Dennis Voznesenski chatted with Laura Henley, Commbank's Executive Manager for RAB WA Agri South, about all thing agriculture in southern WA. The broader southern WA region includes a range of agricultural industries, from broadacre cropping, sheep, cattle to even horticulture and dairy. This year’s Western Australia wheat crop is forecast by GIWA at around 10 million tonnes, historically high but down from last year’s roughly 13 million tonne record. The result is mixed across Laura’s region. The year started positively but many experienced a very dry July. Esperance is faring comparatively well while other parts of the greater southern and lakes districts required additional rainfall. The higher fertiliser and fuel cost this year influenced planting decisions, but the impact varied considerably by farmer. Most farmers shifted from one crop to another, for example, from wheat to canola, instead of reducing total area planted. As prices for fertiliser increased, farmers became a lot more deliberate on how much fertiliser they used, especially those who operated in drier regions. There has also been a continued industry shift from sheep to cropping following the announcement of the live export ban. The move over has depended on location of farmers, land capability and access to alternative markets. Apart from the shift from sheep to cropping, Laura mentioned four more major trends in her region: consolidation and rising scale of farms, increased use of technology, more enterprise diversification and stronger focus on climate and seasonal resilience. Disclaimer: Important Information This podcast is approved and distributed by Global Economic & Markets Research (“GEMR”), a business division of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL 234945 (“the Bank”). Before listening to this podcast, you are advised to read the full GEMR disclaimers, which can be found at www.commbankresearch.com.au. No Reliance This podcast is not investment research and nor does it purport to make any recommendations. Rather, this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon for any investment purposes. This podcast does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not to be construed as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any securities or other financial products, or as a recommendation, and/or investment advice. You should not act on the information in this podcast. The Bank believes that the information in this podcast is correct and any opinions, conclusions or recommendations made are reasonably held at the time given, and are based on the information available at the time of its compilation. No representation or warranty, either expressed or implied, is made or provided as to accuracy, reliability or completeness of any statement made. Liability Disclaimer The Bank does not accept any liability for any loss or damage arising out of any error or omission in or from the information provided or arising out of the use of all or part of the podcast. Usage of Artificial Intelligence To enhance efficiency, GEMR may use the Bank approved artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing content for this podcast. These tools are used solely for drafting and structuring purposes and do not replace human judgment or oversight. All final content is reviewed and approved by GEMR analysts for accuracy and independence.
