Rabobank reduces variable base rate for rural loans by 0.25 per cent
Rabobank Australia will lower the variable base rate on its rural loans by 0.25% per annum, effective 22 August 2025. This follows the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to cut the official cash rate (OCR) by 0.25%, announced yesterday. Rabobank group executive for Country Banking Australia Marcel van Doremaele said the bank was pleased to […]
Not even Genghis Khan could withhold a rate reduction as reserve bank drops base rate to 3.6%
Following the disappointment of 97% of financial commentators at the previous RBA meeting in July when they assured a rate cut was imminent, The Reserve Bank has relented at its August board meeting today and delivered the third interest rate cut of 2025, with a 0.25 percentage point reduction in the base rate. The base […]
Financial hardship support from telcos missing the mark for rural customers
A report released today by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) finds telcos are failing to consistently support customers in financial hardship and, in some cases, are unintentionally causing or making financial stress worse. Read the embargoed report here The report, ‘Keeping connected: Experiences of telco consumers in financial hardship,’ is informed by a review of […]
Quad bike deaths are dropping but experts say more action is required
The most recent report into Quad bike accidents shows there has been a small reduction in quad bike deaths at work in Australia since new safety standards were introduced five years ago, but public health experts say more needs to be done to keep farmers safe. To clarify, the report was on Quads, four-wheelers with […]
Study reveals long-term impact of drought on tropical trees is not as bad as climate change
An international study has found tropical trees have remained minimally affected by droughts, but an increase in climate change events is likely to have long-term effects on stem growth resilience. Emeritus Professor Patrick Finnegan, from The University of Western Australia’s School of Biological Sciences, was a co-author of the study led by Wageningen University & […]
National Farm Safety Week is a reminder to practise caution around all heavy vehicles
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is joining its partners this National Farm Safety Week, 20 to 26 July, in highlighting the importance of heavy vehicle safety across the agricultural sector. The initiative from Farmsafe Australia is sharing an important message as part of its 2025 theme: ‘Second Chances – Who Knows How Many You’ll Get?’ […]
Rabobank Australian graduate program 2026 offers chance to commence a career in agriculture
Applications for Rabobank’s 2026 graduate program are now open, providing university graduates interested in agriculture and agribusiness the chance to start their careers with the specialist agribusiness bank. Rabobank is offering places for graduates from around Australia to join the bank early next year, beginning with a formal 18-month graduate program, which kicks off in […]
RBA shows nerves of steel to resist a base cash rate cut forecast by all banks and 96% of the finance industry
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has demonstrated who is truly in charge of the finance sector by resisting an almost unanimous call for at least a 0.25% cut to the base cash rate. Instead, in defiance of urging by the big four banks, to the surprise of most, the base rate will remain at […]
Annual farm data collection underway for 2025
Data key to the future of Australian farms will be collected up until December 2025 in the annual farm survey program that has been running since 1977 for broadacre farms. The data collected will be used to inform responses to all the daily challenges faced by farmers, such as drought and trade disruptions. This year’s […]
Drought and flood affected farmers need interest free loans say The Nationals
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud is calling for Labor to bring back interest-free loans for farmers from the Regional Investment Corporation (RIC), impacted by Australia’s drought and floods. Mr Littleproud said farmers across Australia have been simultaneously devastated by recent floods as well as drought. “In 2020 the Coalition introduced a two-year interest free […]