‘We have had a bit of rain, but it’s never enough’: Aussie beef farmer’s warning ahead of hot, dry conditions

An Australian beef farmer has expressed caution ahead of forecast hot, dry weather forecast over the coming months, with experts saying these conditions could impact Australia’s major growing regions and increase grocery prices.

Tasmanian beef farmer Elizabeth Mahnken from Summerlea Farm in Tasmania told nine.com.au they’ve “had a bit of rain, but it’s never enough” and she remains cautious about the upcoming beef season.

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Specialist agricultural lender Rabobank reports these hotter, drier conditions in key eastern growing regions are putting major pressure crops including wheat, barley, canola, and sugar, which are at risk of reduced yields.

“August has been a lot drier than previously,” Mahnken said. “So in terms of what the season’s looking like, we are bracing ourselves for a very dry, hot, dry summer.”

For animal farmers, these conditions mean less feed for herds and the additional cost of purchasing extra food.

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“The impact is in what the feed’s going to look like, and how that translates to how much we can cut for hay, and then how much grows ... do we have enough feed to take us through into the winter and the regeneration of the soil and the paddocks.

“That pushes prices up.”

Summerlea Farm sells direct to customers so is better able to absorb increased production costs, although this still isn’t ideal.

“We are able to be price setters, not price takers,” Mahnken said.

“But at the same time, if the prices go up, then that means it’s harder for the customer to make a choice to choose local over something that’s bulk brought in from somewhere else in Australia, and they’re a lot cheaper to purchase.”

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Aussie shoppers buying less fresh food

Shoppers continue to pivot at the supermarket checkout, with a recent survey by consumer group Canstar revealing one-fifth (22 per cent) of supermarket shoppers have reduced how much fresh produce they eat to combat rising grocery costs.

According to shoppers surveyed, the average weekly spend on fresh fruit and vegetables is $32 which is a 26 per cent drop from 2025’s figure of $43. Canstar research shows shoppers are actively trying to reduce their spending in the fresh fruit and vegetable aisle.

Over two-fifths (42 per cent) say they buy only what is affordable instead of what they would like to eat, 33 per cent are buying the ‘ugly’ produce, while 25 per cent are going frozen because it’s cheaper, and 23 per cent are doing it so they don’t need to worry about fresh produce spoiling.

More than one-in-ten (12 per cent) shoppers have even admitted to reducing the weight of the produce they buy – such as removing stalks from broccoli – while 6% admit to being dishonest by selecting the cheaper version of a more expensive item at the self-serve checkout.

Canstar’s consumer expert, Eden Radford, said: “Cost-of-living pressures are reshaping how Australians shop for fresh produce. Whether buying only what’s affordable, choosing ‘ugly’ produce, or perhaps getting tactical by trying to drop some weight, it’s evident that shoppers are trying all approaches to stretch their dollar further.

“These shifting habits have had an impact, with the average weekly produce spend dropping 26 per cent to $32.

“Whether it’s adopting new saving tactics or switching supermarkets entirely, this is evidence that Australian households are taking active steps to manage rising grocery costs.”