2023 through the lens of The Weekly Times

There was plenty to celebrate – and forget – about agriculture in 2023. The Weekly Times photographers were on hand to capture all the action. See the best pictures from the year.

January

The year kicked off with the annual weaner sales. Day 1 at Barnawartha saw Ben O’Kane from Wagga Wagga head out with his kids Blake, 7, and Holland, 9. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Cowgirl Tierney Jasper from Lancefield prepared for the January rodeos on the gorgeous Vega. Photographer Zoe Phillips would go on to win a Rural Press Club of Victoria award for the way this pic captured country life.

February

ABS Global beef sales and InFocus supply chain manager Annie Pumpa featured in February. Later in the year she would go on to win the Youth category in The Weekly Times/Harvey Norman Shine Awards. Picture: Nicole Cleary

The Weekly Times/Coles Farmer of the Year 2022 prize went to Nicole and Brendan Saunders, dairy farmers at Gippsland. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

March

Natasha and Hayden Benefield, pictured here with their kids Eden and Leni, shared their story about running the boutique regenerative flower farm Bloom into You, at Flowerdale. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Sophie Angus ditched Sydney to become supply chain manager at LAMBPRO. She was one of many young graduates who this year made their mark and helped fill ag’s skills shortage. Picture: Aaron Francis

April

Craig Orchard riding his horse at sunset on Lake Omeo, ahead of the 34th Dinner Plain polo event at Cobungra Station over Easter weekend Picture: Zoe Phillips

Community opposition to the proposed VNI-West transmission line project built up in April, leading to a rally at St Arnaud, including Rachael McIntyre from the St Arnaud Young Farmers. Picture: Zoe Phillips

May

Scott De Bruin of Mayura Station, Millicent, SA, shared his story in May’s edition of AgJournal. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Andrew Slater celebrated the early rains as sowing season kicked off on his farm at Corack. Picture: Zoe Phillips

June

Dairy farmers Amabel and Martijn Visscher showcased their herd at Tongala. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Cotton grower Gavin Dal Broi at Terrawarra, in Bringagee, NSW. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

July

Blake Hamilton got to show his grandfather Norm Weir’s ram, from Kerrilyn Stud, at the 2023 Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show 2023 in July. Picture: Zoe Phillips

July brought the rain in Victoria’s western district – Tom Gubbins from Te Mania Angus shows just how wet it got. Picture: Zoe Phillips

August

Cropping and beef farmer Jason Palmer with his son Sam, in the family’s canola crop. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Mick Hewitt on Pegunny Station in central Queensland featured in Ag Journal. Picture: Glenn Hunt

September

Euroa shearer Tom Birch, with his twins Arlo and Ryder, and his sister Georgia Birch organised a speed shearing event to raise funds for Beyond Blue. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The Wimmera league grand final was a thriller that saw the Ararat Rats defeat the Southern Mallee Giants at Dimboola. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

October

Brett Staines of Newry took out the Cattleman’s Cup at the 2023 Mountain Cattlemen Association of Victoria’s get together at Licola in October, riding Jack. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Cropping and cattle farmers Jacinta Taylor and her son James, riding quarter horses Sassy and Syd, in their barley crop at Tandara, while dogs Flo and Clive keep things in check. Picture: Zoe Phillips

November

Angus White, 22, on his farm at Bears Lagoon with his Kelpie pup named Bert in a barley crop. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Sharon Winsor from Mudgee was named the overall winner the 2023 Shine Awards. Sharon is an indigenous woman who runs a company called Indigiearth. Picture: Dean Marzolla

December

It’s all hands on deck with harvests in full swing. Chloe Lawless pitched in on the Lawless’s cropping farm at Burramine South. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Irrewillipe dairy farmers Greg and Kim Wilson – with their kids Ella, Henry and Lenny – run Oakhampton Dairies milking 1100 cows on 1000ha. Picture: Nicole Cleary