Our Journalists

James Wagstaff is Editor of The Weekly Times. He has worked in rural and regional media for almost 25 years. He joined The Weekly Times in 2004 and has served in a number of different roles including Deputy Editor, Chief of Staff and Business Editor. James was appointed Editor in July 2021. He is a four-time Rural Press Club of Victoria journalism award winner.

@james_wagstaff

James Wagstaff

Latest

News

Farmer Nat Groves walks through rain drenched paddocks on the family farm near Gunnedah in drought-ravaged North West NSW. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Where the rain has fallen in 2024

Southern NSW is in the seasonal box seat but South Australia and Victoria are feeling the effects of a lack of crucial autumn rain. See where the rain has and hasn’t fallen.

Weather

Nullarbor National Park, South Australia, Australia, Australasia, Nullarbor Plain. Picture: Getty Images

Southwest Victoria now drier than the Nullarbor

Usually emerald and fertile, southwest Victoria is now drier than the Nullarbor after an arid autumn. See how rainfall figures compare against Victoria’s Western District.

Livestock

Axe falls: live sheep exports to go in 2028

The federal government has delivered a knockout blow to the Australian live sheep export industry, announcing the trade will end in less than four years. Read all the details.

Livestock

Producers urged to make own biosecurity plans

Producers have been assured that there are extensive plans in place should there be an emergency disease outbreak in Australia, but that there is no such thing as zero risk.

Agribusiness

For The Weekly Times AgJournal November 2023. 09/10/23 goFarm general manager of Lake Boga Tom Farmer (left) with goFarm managing director Liam Lenaghan in a barley crop at their Lake Boga property in northern Victoria. Aaron Francis Photo

Who Owns Australia: Full list of 1300-plus farms, owners

Discover the families and institutions going head-to-head to secure Australia’s precious farming land in the most comprehensive list of farm ownership in the nation.

Agribusiness

Who Owns Australia: the biggest investors and landholders in the nation

Offshore pension funds have been able to tighten their stranglehold on Australian farms thanks to softer local demand. Discover the biggest players of 2024 and where they hail from.

Weather

Farmer Brent Sheahan in a crop on his family's property at Dumosa, near Quambatook. October 2020. Picture: JAMES WAGSTAFF

Season update: How are farmers tracking?

An analysis of rainfall figures shows most districts have failed to record 25mm of rain in the past two months, as cropping producers prepare for planting.

National

Isabele Roberts on her family's Ridgehaven Poll Dorsets property at Cudal NSW. Isabele is a finalist in The Weekly Times Coles 2023 Farmer of the Year Awards. Picture: Rachael Lenehan

Meet Australia’s best farmer

Farming is moving with the times – as demonstrated by a family officially declared Australia’s pick of the crop.

News

2023 Farmer of the Year finalists announced

The best and brightest of Australian ag have been honoured as finalists in The Weekly Times Coles 2023 Farmer of the Year Awards. See the nominees.

Weather

LANDSCAPE: Morning sky near Sunbury. Rain. Rain clouds. Rural Landscape. WTSocial.PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

Northern rain fuels market hope

Livestock markets could be the beneficiary of big rain forecasts across parts of northern Australia, as parts of the southeast have one of their wettest starts to a year on record.

Original URL: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/journalists/james-wagstaff