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.

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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.

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Research Report: Farming Inputs (October 2025)

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Research Report: Self-Propelled Sprayer Testing (September 2025)

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Research Report: Sealable Storage Options (August 2025)

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