AgTalk Episode 31 - What Drives Farmland Values? With Rural Bank Analyst Matt Ough

Marcus Oldham AgTalk

My guest today Matt Ough who grew up in Edenhope in the West Wimmera region of Victoria.

He worked on the family’s sheep farm in his teens learning about animal husbandry and pasture management. When he finished his VCE at Edenhope College, Matt took a gap year working as a teller at a local bank branch. During his gap year, Matt decided to combine his love for farming and business by enrolling in the Bachelor of Agribusiness at Marcus Oldham College. While studying, Matt was awarded a Rural Finance scholarship which perked his interest in agricultural commodity markets and analysis. In 2014, Matt joined Rural Finance as part of their insights team.

Over the past seven years Matt has written and presented on a number of topics including livestock, dairy, horticulture and his pet topic Australian farmland values which why I have him here today. He also co-hosts RFC’s podcast - Beyond The Farm Gate which takes listeners to -inside the minds of farmers and agribusiness professionals, and well worth a listen.

Outside of work, Matt is the husband of Lauren and father of little Henry, they live in Geelong and frequently escape to the country to visit family and dream about farm ownership.

When asked why he works in agriculture he replies, ‘to change the image of farming that’s been sold to consumers over the years, I don’t have a farm but that won’t stop me advocating for those that do and selling the image that my relatives, parents and grandparents sold to me.’