Sue Neales is a leading agricultural journalist based in Australia, currently contributing to the Australian Farm Journal. Her reporting focuses on dairy farming, agribusiness innovation, and sustainability challenges, blending rigorous analysis with compelling human stories.
For pitches, emphasize stories that demonstrate tangible community impacts or innovative solutions to systemic agricultural challenges.
Sue Neales has carved a distinguished career as a journalist specializing in agriculture, business, and environmental sustainability. With over three decades of experience, her work spans investigative reporting, in-depth sector analysis, and human-centric storytelling within Australia’s farming communities. Her career began with hard-hitting international coverage, including documenting the 1993 UN-led Operation Hope in Somalia for the Sydney Morning Herald, where she highlighted humanitarian crises and geopolitical complexities[1]. Over time, she shifted focus to domestic agricultural issues, becoming a trusted voice in agribusiness reporting.
This award-winning profile of dairy farmer Barry Irvin exemplifies Neales’ ability to intertwine personal narratives with industry-wide challenges. The article explores Irvin’s resilience amid fluctuating milk prices and climate pressures, while contextualizing broader issues like supply chain sustainability and mental health in rural communities. Judges praised its "nuanced portrayal of modern farming," noting how Neales balances data-driven analysis with empathetic storytelling[9].
"Barry Irvin’s hands, weathered by decades of milking, tell a story of perseverance—one mirrored by thousands of Australian farmers battling forces beyond their control."
Early in her career, Neales reported on the U.S.-led humanitarian mission in Somalia, blending on-the-ground accounts with macro-level policy critiques. Her coverage emphasized the intersection of food security and political instability, a theme that later informed her agricultural reporting[1].
Neales prioritizes stories that highlight individual experiences within larger economic or environmental trends. For example, her "Milk Man" piece used Barry Irvin’s personal journey to explore national dairy industry challenges. Pitches should similarly anchor data (e.g., export figures, climate statistics) to relatable human narratives[9].
She consistently covers advancements in sustainable farming practices, particularly those balancing ecological responsibility with profitability. A successful pitch might detail a novel water-management system or carbon-reduction initiative, backed by verifiable impact metrics and farmer testimonials[5].
While Neales engages with complex topics, her work remains accessible to non-specialist audiences. Pitches about precision agriculture tools or genetic crop research should explain technical concepts through real-world applications rather than jargon-heavy summaries.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Agriculture, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
