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🇦🇺 Australia /Good News

Farmers are increasingly embracing change, and it's bringing them hope

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Documents & data Context piece
  • Australian farmers are increasingly adopting new land management practices, offering hope despite global volatility and uncertain weather.
  • Matthew Peart, a grazier in central Queensland, successfully regenerated his family's organic beef operation using regenerative agriculture techniques.
  • A report commissioned by Commonwealth Bank found a significant portion of farmers are starting or intending to start this journey, highlighting input costs as a top concern.

Farmers are increasingly embracing change, finding renewed hope in adopting new land management practices even amidst global volatility and uncertain weather. Matthew Peart, who took over his family's organic beef operation nearly 20 years ago, transformed rundown pastures on his 6,000-hectare property in central Queensland.

It was a bit of a lonely road at times … all of a sudden you were speaking a language that most of your peers didn't really understand or couldn't relate to

— Matthew PeartDescribing the initial challenges of adopting new farming practices.

"It was a bit of a lonely road at times … all of a sudden you were speaking a language that most of your peers didn't really understand or couldn't relate to," Peart recalled. His experience mirrors findings in the first Farms in Focus report, which indicates that while farmers are adopting new methods, implementing change remains challenging.

Peart's property suffered from pasture rundown due to decades of continuous cattle stocking, leading to soil nitrogen depletion and barren paddocks. This degradation served as the catalyst for change. He transitioned to regenerative agriculture, specifically rotational grazing, which involves moving cattle between paddocks to allow the land to rest and recover. This method keeps cattle in larger mobs and rotates them around the farm.

New ideas are wonderful things until somebody wants to actually implement them.

— Matthew PeartReflecting on the difficulties of putting new farming methods into practice.

Implementing these new ideas was not easy. Peart emphasized starting with business analysis before focusing on grazing. He divided the farm's 10 paddocks into 70 smaller cells, rotating cattle daily and allowing pastures to rest. Peart participated in the survey to encourage others, stating, "My takeaway from the survey was that there are a significant portion starting on this journey or intending to start on this journey."

My takeaway from the survey was that there are a significant portion starting on this journey or intending to start on this journey.

— Matthew PeartSharing his observation from the Farms in Focus report about farmer adoption of new practices.

The results have been more profit, increased resilience, and greater optimism. Peart noted, "The ability to understand where you are in the world and how far your pastures will take you is fantastic." He also highlighted that regenerative agriculture provides a wholesome business model that can excite the younger generation. The Farms in Focus report, led by Harvard University researchers and commissioned by Commonwealth Bank, surveyed 500 Australian farmers between November 16, 2025, and March 16, 2026. Input costs were identified as the top concern among farmers.

The ability to understand where you are in the world and how far your pastures will take you is fantastic.

— Matthew PeartExpressing satisfaction with the improved understanding of his land's capabilities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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