FARMER OF THE YEAR

Young Farmer of the Year Winner: Troy Blackman

Troy Blackman has been named the 2016 Case IH Young Farmer of the Year

Alex Paull

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Almost four years ago Blackman created the Waterfall Australia sustainable farming enterprise on the NSW Mid North Coast.

Spread over three properties in the Orara Valley, Waterfall first started as a Charolais stud before growing to include pasture raised beef and egg components, as well as local contracting, farm retail shop, weekly market stall, and farm tourism elements.

In the first year of full time farming, Blackman relished months of hard physical work on the properties to implement sufficient infrastructure and organically increasing pasture health. Knowing it would take time to grow the stud, he worked on ideas gained from studying international farmers, and visiting small but successful independent farmers within NSW.

The “chicken caravan” would soon become a critical piece of infrastructure for Blackman. It houses chickens 24/7 in the field for pasture, and after purchasing its first chicken caravan, the results were outstanding.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Research Report: Agritechnica 2025 (January 2026)

This month’s Research Report covers the highlights from Agritechnica – the world’s largest trade fair and show for ag machinery and technology. The event is held every two years and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors.

editions

Research Report: Mobile Phones (December 2025)

With the closure of Telstra’s 3G network, Kondinin Group engineers Josh Giumelli and Ben White put several popular 4G phones to the test to see how they stacked up. Our standard test protocol applied over the past two decades was maintained as each handset was measured by the maximum distance a two-way call could be made from a phone tower.

editions

Research Report: Side-by-side Vehicles (November 2025)

Kondinin Group’s research team dives into the side-by-side market for this report, looking at popular diesel models, a few petrol versions and a couple of electric vehicles.

editions

Research Report: Farming Inputs (October 2025)

Inputs are unavoidable in any farming system. This Research Report focuses on several key farming inputs with a view to maximising outputs, production and profit.