Case Study: From Paddocks to Premium: A soil and data-led path to profit at Tintaldra

 Farm Snapshot – Justin Costello

Location: Tintaldra, Victoria

Property size: 422 hectares

Average Annual Rainfall: 600-800mm

Eligible activities:
• Altering stocking rates and grazing intensity to maintain groundcover
• Rejuvenating paddocks through pasture seeding and pasture cropping

ACCUs issued: 457

Stocking rate increase: 26%

Premiums available: Offers of between 70-90% above saleyard pricing for sustainable grassfed cattle.

Soil Health, Measured and Verified

Justin’s soil carbon project has been built on evidence. With multiple rounds of soil sampling completed, he can see how his soils are improving over time. His AgriProve account aggregates this data, so decisions are made with confidence.

Data call-outs:

  • 10 rounds of soil sampling completed with over 250 soil samples taken, analysed and logged in the platform

  • Verified increases in soil carbon levels

  • 457 ACCUs issued to date

Making Stewardship Saleable: Premium Market Access

Justin has gone beyond building soil carbon - he has also unlocked multiple premium market opportunities through verified data on the AgriProve Platform and beyond.

Through his account, Justin has streamlined access:

-        The Greenham NEVER EVER Program

-        The Greenham Beef Sustainability Standard (GBSS)

Outside of the platform, Justin’s verified farm data has also enabled him to qualify for the Grasslands program at Teys Wagga.

As an individual landholder, these programs have quoted him premiums around 70–90% higher than average saleyard returns for equivalent stock. Just as importantly, they have given him choice: he can now compare programs and decide which market best aligns with his operation and goals, rather than being limited to a single pathway.

By making his production system visible and verifiable, Justin has opened the door to multiple premium pathways. Additional credentials will be added as AgriProve enables more farmers to access premium markets.

Herd Insights that Drive Better Management

Alongside soil data and credentials, Justin has embraced digital livestock monitoring with CERESTAG devices, linked to the AgriProve Platform. The insights allow him to track animal movement, health, and grazing patterns in real time, supporting decisions about stocking rates and infrastructure investment.

Capital and Timing: AgriProve Marketplace Opportunities

Justin was also one of the first landholders to make use of the AgriProve Marketplace to accelerate his project and strengthen his business:

  • CERESTAG hardware acquired through AgriProve, with data integrated to the account for real-time herd insights

  • Deferred ACCUs used to cover baseline soil sampling costs, preserving cash and enabling an earlier start

Combining flexible payments with access to technology allowed Justin to act early, capture opportunities, and build long-term resilience.

All the Value, in One Account

What sets Justin’s story apart is how seamlessly these elements come together in his AgriProve account:

-        Verified soil carbon gains and ACCU issuance

-        Supply chain credentials driving premium returns

-        Real-time herd insights guiding daily management

Why It Matters

Margins are tight and volatility is up. For farmers like Justin, there’s real value stored in soil and stewardship -  but rules, measurement, capital and execution create complexity. AgriProve connects the dots by analysing the property, surfacing soil and herd opportunities, lining up partners and capital, and managing verification through to outcomes. For Justin, that’s healthier soils, stronger margins and a system built for resilience.

“Since starting the carbon project, we plan for shade, water points and rest periods - not just urea prices. The AgriProve Platform pulls the data together so we can back decisions with evidence.” - Justin Costello

“Utilising the AgriProve Platform, we have gained insights into our herd. These insights highlighted the importance of a better system for troughs and also implementation into the future for more shade for animals because we have been able to see a real benefit and also a real animal welfare benefit for having shade and shelterbelts” - Justin Costello

“I think differently now since being in a carbon project - focusing on shade, waterpoints and rest periods, instead of focusing on the price of urea, and the AgriProve Platform is facilitating all the insights I need to manage better”

“What’s changed for me is having options. With the soil carbon project and the data in my AgriProve account, I’m no longer just taking whatever the market gives me - I can access different premium programs and choose the one that suits my business best. It feels like I’m becoming more of a price maker than a price taker, and that gives me confidence to plan ahead.”