AuctionsPlus

StoneX has released its H2 2026 Australian Cattle & Beef Market Outlook, which discusses the key trends, drivers and forecasts set to shape the beef industry to the end of 2026. In addition, key opportunities and challenges for the sector are highlighted, as well as the outlook for prices and supply for the next six months.

The winners of the FY26 AuctionsPlus Awards have been announced, recognising the accredited assessors and agencies who have driven throughput and...

Trevor Basset of Elders Deniliquin has been awarded the Howard Gardner Award for FY26, recognised for the time he invests mentoring the next generation of AuctionsPlus assessors coming through the ranks.The award, named in honour of AuctionsPlus founding CEO Howard Gardner, celebrates an assessor who actively supports new entrants to the industry, including completing parallels and signing off new assessors as they build their capability and confidence within the network.

Angus Newcombe, owner director of Country Auctions in Tamworth, has won the AuctionsPlus Machinery Excellence Award for FY26, after listing 2,256 machinery lots on the platform over the past 12 months.Mr Newcombe has owned Country Auctions for the past 12 years, running a mix of physical and online sales from Tamworth.

Natasha Lobban: Jul 20, 2026 Livestock-related injury claims have surged 40% in the past year, emerging as one of the fastest-growing risks on Australian farms, as new data...

Sam Platts of Nutrien Ag Solutions Bombala has been named Industry Woman of the Year, powered by Zoetis, in the 2026 AuctionsPlus Awards. The win caps off a year in which she assessed 1,105 head of cattle and 5,749 head of sheep with a 95% clearance rate. The result places Ms Platts in the top 10% of AuctionsPlus product users and the top 10% of sheep assessors nationally by throughput, along with a top 40% ranking for cattle.

James Tierney, director of Riverina Livestock Agents in Wagga Wagga, NSW, has won the Gary Dick Award for FY26. The Gary Dick Award honours an assessor at the forefront of innovation on the platform, judged on clearance, throughput and product adoption alongside advocacy for the profession. Launched in 2024, it commemorates former AuctionsPlus CEO Gary Dick, who led the business from 1987 to 2014 and played a key role in its growth into a national platform.

Spence Dix & Co, Keith, has been named Top Throughput Sheep Agency for FY26, retaining the title for a second consecutive year after its seven sheep assessors completed 376 assessments across 94,118 head of sheep.It is the fourth AuctionsPlus Award for the agency, adding to its 2024 Top Throughput Sheep Agency win, a Top Throughput Combined Livestock Agency award, and a Top Throughput Sheep Assessor title for Greg Downing in 2024.

Charlie Bible of Nutrien Ag Solutions Bourke has won the AuctionsPlus Young Gun Award, powered by Zoetis. The win caps off his first year in the assessor role that has already put him in the top 10% of assessors by throughput for both cattle and sheep.Mr Bible completed his assessor accreditation at Dubbo in June last year and was signed off within a month.

Kelvin Donnan of Nutrien Ag Solutions Ararat has won the AuctionsPlus Top Throughput Sheep Assessor award for FY26, backing up last year's win with another dominant season across the platform.Mr Donnan, based in Ararat, Victoria, completed 120 assessments across 43,437 head of sheep in FY26, more than 3,000 head clear of the runner-up. It is his second consecutive year taking out the title and he finished runner-up for a number of the years prior.