AUGUST 2025
Contents
. 7
Issue 26
9 WAVES OF TIERS Cashed-up investors are driving record farmland deals as smaller buyers retreat 16 IN THE GROVE The juice is worth the squeeze for a pioneering family operation in northwest NSW 24 BRAND STAND Building an agri-food brand is equal parts passion, persistence and perfection 32 BARE FEAT Farmers across southeast Australia remain resilient in the face of unrelenting dry conditions 34 MEAT THE MARKET
The Editor’s Desk M OREE – stretched across the vast, sun- drenched plains of northwest NSW – has long been a cradle of agricultural ingenuity. With some of the nation’s richest soils, brightest minds and, thanks to irrigation, the water to make it all work, the district has spawned farming empires that have helped shape Australia’s agricultural story. Some of those fortunes have been built in cotton, others in broadacre crops. But our cover star, farmer Dick Estens, chose a different path – one that looked well beyond the square to squeeze maximum value from every megalitre of precious water. As Conor Fowler’s feature on Page 16 reveals, Estens is an agricultural visionary. In a region far better known for cotton than citrus, he planted an idea that has blossomed into a thriving enterprise. By adding a modest juicing business to his farming portfolio, Estens transformed it into a vertically integrated powerhouse – growing, processing and bottling its own fruit, destined for consumers across Australia and the globe. Today, his operation boasts half a million citrus trees in two districts, 230 full-time staff, three processing plants and more than $100 million in annual juice sales. It stands as proof that with innovation and foresight, the sky – and the market – is the limit. If that’s not enough to whet your appetite, Sue Smethurst’s article starting on Page 24 takes you inside the journeys of Australian agrifood brands taking on the world – from Meredith Dairy’s artisan cheeses in western Victoria to Otway Pork and the globally renowned Blackmore Wagyu. Their recipe for success? Equal parts passion, persistence and perfectionism, with a dash of good luck. So whether it’s pork on your fork, cheese on your plate, Wagyu in your belly or orange juice in your cocktail, this edition of AgJournal is overflowing with stories of innovation – and inspiration. Enjoy. JAMES WAGSTAFF EDITOR
New Cattle Australia boss Will Evans sits down for a chat about the opportunities and challenges for beef
10-15 POWER AND THE PASSION Meet the 100 movers and shakers shaping rural and regional Australia
NEXT ISSUE OCTOBER 29
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Editor James Wagstaff james.wagstaff@news.com.au Designer Kylie Cuthill Advertising Enquiries Laura Sexton 0418 127 329 laura.sexton@news.com.au Published by The Herald & Weekly Times, HWT Tower, 40 City Rd, Southbank, Victoria 3006 ABN 49 004 113 937
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