Help & support
Australian agriculture stands on the cusp of a new era, shaped by the resilience, ambition and ingenuity of the people driving it forward.
Data we use
A national survey that engaged 500+ Australian farmers, with 348 providing complete responses used in the analysis.
Insights from farmers
Facing rising costs and extreme weather, see how farmers are adapting to drive productivity and what’s holding back progress.
Sectors we explore
Insights were gathered across all states, farm sizes, ownership types and commodities.
Why it matters
Confidence is encouraging action
Around two in three farmers expect a positive return from investing in new approaches, signalling strong belief in the value of change on farm.
Support could help adoption
More than four in 10 farmers say financial support would help them transition to new approaches and put more ideas into practice.
Harvard University partnered with Commonwealth Bank of Australia to survey Australian farmers, in collaboration with the National Farmers’ Federation and the Australian Farm Institute.
This collaboration combines global research expertise with deep local insight to deliver a credible, large-scale view of the experiences, priorities and outlook of Australian producers.
Harvard:
Prof. Michael J. Hiscox
Clarence Dillon Professor of International Affairs, Harvard University
“Understanding the future of Australian agriculture begins with listening closely to the farmers who are now dealing with some enormous challenges.”
Australian Farm Institute:
Katie McRobert
Executive Director, Australian Farm Institute
“Good policy requires assumptions to be tested against the realities of managing a farming business in a volatile environment.”
National Farmers’ Federation:
Michael Guerin
CEO, National Farmers Federation
“Australian farmers are managing constant change and opportunity, with the collective strength of the sector depending on their experiences being reflected in the decisions that shape it.”
CommBank:
Kylie Allen
Executive General Manager, Regional and Agribusiness Banking
“At CommBank we are continuing to find ways to bring valuable and relevant insights to farmers to support their decision making, and we seek to deliver financial solutions that recognise farmers’ long term goals.”
Harvard University partnered with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) to survey Australian farmers, in collaboration with the National Farmers’ Federation and the Australian Farm Institute. More than 500 farmers engaged in the survey, with 348 providing complete responses used in the analysis. The survey was conducted between 16 November 2025 and 16 March 2026, and included farmers engaged in all types of farming, across all Australian states and territories. The study sample included farmers managing large and small farms and those farming on land they own as well as those leasing land or managing farms for owners.
Respondents were asked questions about their major immediate concerns today and when looking ahead 5 years, and their views on positive changes that could improve profitability. They were also asked for their overall predictions for profits in the current year and over the next 5 years as well as recent experience with extreme weather events.
Detailed questions were asked about their adoption (or plans for adoption) of a range of newer/innovative management practices for production across different commodities, as well as other aspects of business and land management such as energy and water use and conservation. Farmers were asked about specific motivations for adopting new approaches and expectations for their return on investment, as well as the main barriers generally to adopting newer approaches.
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