Record annual survey response reveals evolution of South Australia’s grain producers

SOUTH Australia’s grain producers are adapting the way they operate, with more growers leasing land and adopting collaborative farming arrangements as they respond to an increasingly challenging operating environment, according to Grain Producers SA’s 2025 Annual Grain Producer Survey Insight Report.

The report, based on a record 1046 responses from grain producers across every cropping region of South Australia, provides one of the most comprehensive snapshots of the industry’s structure, workforce, business confidence and future direction.

Grain Producers SA (GPSA) chief executive officer Brad Perry said more than one-third of respondents lease land to expand and achieve scale to support their farming businesses.

“This survey shows the modern grain producer is running an increasingly sophisticated business,” Mr Perry said.

“Whether it’s employing staff, leasing land to achieve scale, planning succession or investing in new technology, today’s grain businesses are continually evolving.

“Grain producers have always planned for the long term, but the decisions they are making are becoming increasingly complex. Leasing land can help businesses achieve scale, better utilise machinery and labour, manage capital more effectively, or support succession planning.”

The report found:

• A record 1046 grain producers participated in the GPSA survey.
• Surveyed grain businesses collectively employed more than 3200 South Australians.
• More than half of respondents have succession plans already in place.
• More than 30 per cent of respondents now lease land to farm, nearly 10 per cent lease out some of their land to other grain producers, while almost one quarter are involved in share farming.
• Wheat and barley remain the state’s dominant crops, while diversification into lentils, pulses and hay continues.

Mr Perry said the report also challenged outdated perceptions of modern agriculture.

“There remains a perception that grain farming is simply about planting a crop and hoping for rain, but today’s grain businesses are complex enterprises employing staff, investing millions of dollars, managing significant business risk and making long-term strategic decisions,” he said.

“The survey also reinforces that while production may fluctuate from season to season, the financial pressures facing grain businesses remain. Rising input costs, increasing operating expenses and lower commodity prices continue to challenge profitability, even in better production years.”

Other key findings from the survey:

• Around 60 per cent of businesses have succession planning underway in some form.
• In 2025, 73 per cent cropped more than half of their land, while 35 per cent cropped more than 90 per cent of their property.
• More than half of the respondents were aged between 45 and 65, with almost 30 per cent above 65 years of age.
• More than 1.29 million hectares of grain production represented in the survey.
• Nearly 50 per cent listed fertiliser as their largest on-farm cost in 2025, followed by chemical, 27 per cent.
• 50 per cent of grain producers were positive about the 2025 harvest and are positive about the longer-term future of the industry.
• Three quarters of grain producers were profitable in 2025, but two thirds said they need improvement.
• 72 per cent of respondents said they were affected by drought in 2025, with 85 per cent experiencing yield reductions as a result.
  The full survey insights report is available online (www.grainproducerssa.com.au).