Harvest 2025: Early Signs and What They Mean on the Ground

So far, it’s shaping up to be a decent season. ABARES (Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) is tipping winter crop production at around 62 million tonnes - the third-largest on record - with mixed rain patterns slowing some harvest runs but boosting yields in others. In WA, the barley looks huge; in NSW, early wheat and canola reports are solid.

More crops means more handling, though. From moving grain and chaff to clearing headlands and loading feed, farms will be busy right through summer. Contractors are already booked for post-harvest clean-ups and grading jobs before the next plant. A lot of operators are also dusting off their stick rakes for fenceline clearing and paddock tidy-ups before the next round of planting.

The big conversation this year is about efficiency - doing more with less labour. A lot of mixed operations are looking at multi-use machinery and attachments so loaders can switch from grain handling to general earthmoving without extra staff.

Watch the skies, though - patchy rain is slowing headers in parts of the Central West, while southern areas are racing to finish before storms arrive.

It’s a reminder that flexible equipment and good planning still matter more than ever.