Tactical AGA

12/06/2026

This is worth a read. Could be hope for spring as most are planning for dry.

Straight and simple…. State of play….

There’s the El Niño and getting stronger in real time! We need the waters to stay red near Indonesia for decent rainfall to continue! It’s almost a negative IOD!

This rarely happens a neg IOD or Indian Ocean dipole while there is an El Niño. Last time we had something similar was 1992 but it can change quickly. Normally 8 out of 10 times there’s an El Niño there’s a positive IOD July to November! So it’s hard to be neutral let alone close to negative the Indian Ocean!

This is why models have been confused since Christmas for the Indian ocean and we haven’t touched it all year making forecasts for the Indian Ocean.

A negative IOD or close to it brings a wet signal for winter across southern and central Australia while El Niño “normally” produces drier than average rainfall across eastern and south eastern Australia winter and spring.

If the red stays near Indonesia the tap won’t turn off! Basically meaning it won’t go dry or below average rainfall especially for the southern states.

This image is for the last week of June and we don’t see this majority changing into the first half of July at least!

- John

12/06/2026

Pasture growth is like spring with a mild wet winter

10/06/2026

RLEM are inflicting considerable damage on crops this season. Typical soft control measures are falling short, particularly given the mild beginning to the season, which leaves crops vulnerable to damage that is hard to prevent. Our advice is to vigilantly monitor crops and consult with experts if damage occurs.

09/06/2026

With a mild winter, many areas remain frost-free. Our hay-specific grass blend is currently performing well.

05/06/2026

The past couple of weeks have seen us concentrating on pasture and crop evaluation. Most areas have become wet. Wayne, with his vast experience, emphasizes two crucial points: planning for normal seasonal conditions and not depending solely on BOM forecasts. Crop performance is impressive everywhere, with some claiming it's the best beginning ever. Anticipating a dry spring, we're working on managing crop canopies to conserve moisture.

28/05/2026

28/05/2026

Great strike of Jackpot Rye grass established for small square hay that will end up in farm stores around Australia

24/05/2026

In 2026, we are pleased to introduce two significant pasture demonstration sites: Mt Duneed's long-term pasture persistence demo and Freshwater Creek's small plot demonstration site. Both sites will be open to visitors throughout winter and spring. Follow us for our upcoming open days.

22/05/2026

This week, we successfully established our 2026 pasture site at Freshwater Creek, Victoria. This exceptional site is poised to thrive come Spring. We were grateful for the use of an GIS AirSow seeder this year. Our gratitude extends to DLF, Mellross Contracting, Armour Group, AirSow, and numerous others who contributed to the site's realization.

13/05/2026

Notwithstanding the forecast for dry weather, we are enjoying excellent crop establishment in most regions, and anticipated weekend rainfall would match up moisture levels.