Opinion Articles

“Everything you said I could challenge”

On January 1 in the Farm Weekly, I committed the unpardonable sin of writing an opinion. Yes, I know — shocking behaviour. More specifically, I questioned whether Australia’s apprenticeship system, particularly for ag heavy diesel technicians, is actually delivering what it claims to deliver. Some readers may recall the piece How to Jump-Start the Next Generation of Ag Technicians, if I may say so it’s worth a read or reread. Shortly after publication, I received

Trevor Whittington January 22, 2026

Opinion Articles

How the Net-Zero dream mugged agriculture

There’s a rule in politics as old as the wheatbelt: never sign anything you wouldn’t be willing to enforce yourself. Unfortunately, the Australian agricultural sector didn’t get the memo. A decade ago, farm lobby groups, industry councils, commodity groups and agribusiness roundtables lined up like schoolkids at assembly to clap along to the great net-zero revival meeting. Many signed a pledge, waved the flag, posed for the photo and strutted back to the paddock believing they’d

Trevor Whittington November 20, 2025