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

Agribusiness

REGIONAL ACHIEVER: BlazeaidRegional community award winners Kevin and Rhonda Butler from Blazeaid with and without their award on their property. Kevin feeding 1200 sheep PICTURED: DRONE feeding sheepPICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

Banks tighten screws on distressed farmer borrowers

Banks are intensifying their scrutiny of farmer borrowers grappling with the triple blow of rising interest rates, weaker farmgate returns and challenging seasonal conditions.

Agribusiness

Michael Perich, CEO Noumi, Shepparton, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

How dairy and plant milk can coexist

Producing both dairy and plant milk — once sworn enemies — is about offering choice, dairy prodigy-turned-ASX listed company boss Michael Perich says.

Farmer of the Year

Farmer of the Year Awards 2024: Top winners revealed

A dairy farming family who dramatically increased production within their dairy herd has been crowned Australia’s best farmers. See all the winners.

InteractiveWeather

Wet weather in Townsville. Heavy rain does not stop fishing at Applins Weir. Picture: Evan Morgan

Where the rain fell – and didn’t – during 2024

A clear distinction arose between a wet north and a dry south in 2024. See the rainfall totals of 196 stations across the country.

AgJournal

Lee family as eldest son Anthony Lee, takes over family's $750m business - Australian Country Choice.(Other family not there)Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

The billionaires of beef: Inside the Lee family business

Discover how Anthony Lee and his brothers have pivoted Australia’s largest vertically integrated beef company running 300,000 cattle for the future.

AgJournal

Impact Ag chief executive Hugh Killen. PIC CREDIT: Simon Scott

‘Untapped opportunity’: How to make money from regen ag

The boss of one of Australia’s biggest agricultural funds offers an insight into the future of farming and investor appetite for climate-based solutions.

AgJournal

Fruit grower Gavin Scurr from Piâata Farms in one of his pineapple fields which will directly benefit from the new Wamuran Irrigation Scheme, part of a $120 million project from Unitywater providing a reliable, climate independent source of A1 recycled water for local farmers in the Moreton Bay fruit bowl. Picture Lachie Millard

Inside one of Australia’s biggest family-owned fruit farms

Ten million pineapples, 100,000 mango trees and 3400 tonnes of strawberries and raspberries equals a sweet business for these Queensland farmers. Discover how they make it work.

Weather

For The Weekly Times Farmer of the Year Awards magazine. Tracy and Kristen LeFroy of Cranmore Farming on their property at Bindi Bindi in Western Australia's Wheat Belt. Picture: Tony McDonough

WA season back from the brink

Australia’s biggest grain growing state has roared back into contention following a sharp turnaround in seasonal conditions.

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.

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