Rural
9 April, 2026
Farmer weighs crop changes amid input shortages
Wimmera farmer Chris Colvert says he has enough fuel to begin sowing his next crop, but only after paying $3000 more than usual due to rising fuel prices following the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
Coming off an average season caused by drought, he describes the situation as “a trying time,” though he remains optimistic and plans to “work it out as I go.”
He is a third-generation farmer, and his son Ty is picking up the reins to join his Dad as the fourth generation to work the Watchum farm with grain and sheep.
Mr Colvert believes panic buying has contributed to some fuel shortages, but he places most of the blame on national decision‑makers for failing to maintain adequate fuel reserves.
He argues that Australia has long lacked sufficient supplies, leaving farmers vulnerable to global disruptions.
He also says fuel suppliers shouldn’t be blamed for running out, as they, too, are waiting on delayed shipments.
Beyond rising fuel costs, Chris Colvert says farmers are now grappling with soaring prices and shortages of fertilisers and chemicals—inputs they rely on before sowing.
He faces a $100,000 fertiliser bill and is unsure whether this investment will even yield a viable crop, especially given uncertainty about future supply. “We are facing the unknown,” he says.
Because of this instability, Mr Colvert expects to make decisions about his cropping program on the run.
He is considering shifting away from cereal crops like wheat, barley, and oats, which require nitrogen-based fertilisers, and planting more legumes or lentils, which don’t require urea.
The price of urea has “gone through the roof,” nearly doubling, and is scarce even at that price, he says.
The crisis is also affecting chemical supplies. He believes the commonly used paraquat may be difficult to source due to limited manufacturing and the current crisis, so he plans to apply one round of Roundup before sowing and reassess his program later.
He says the economics of farming are becoming increasingly strained: grain prices aren’t keeping pace with rising input costs, and freight charges continue to climb amid the fuel crisis, which shows no signs of slowing.
“One of the main issues we have is that we don’t know who to believe. Do we have supplies on the way, or don’t we? We hear different things every day, and that’s a problem when we are trying to plan our cropping program.”
Despite this, he remains committed to the work, describing farming as a “valuable job” and expressing confidence that farmers will “find a way around this somehow.”