Farmers in Australia have their own annual music countdown, the Harvest 100, to celebrate their hard work during the long hours spent harvesting crops. Many agricultural workers often put in 12 to 15-hour days, racing against time to gather crops before rain can affect quality. Sally Zacher, a farmer from South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, shared her experience, stating, "If the weather's right, you just keep going. As long as you've got storage, you just go."

This year, the top song in the Harvest 100 was Jimmy Barnes's 1980s classic "Working Class Man." The song resonated with farmers, many of whom have faced challenges in getting their crops out after two years of drought. The Harvest 100, now in its fourth year, was initiated by a South Australian organization to engage local farmers, but it has expanded to include participants from across the country.

Barnes expressed his delight at topping the poll, noting that the song was written in tribute to hardworking individuals like farmers. "We're so thrilled to hear the farmers voted Working Class Man top of their Harvest 100 playlist this year," he said. "This is a song written about my audience, for people just like you farmers — people who work hard, people who strive to make a living and feed their families." This marks the second time Barnes has won the countdown, having previously taken the top spot in 2022 with "Driving Wheels."

The Harvest 100 is organized by Grain Producers SA (GPSA) as a fun way to unite the harvesting community and acknowledge their efforts. GPSA chief executive Brad Perry remarked that the winning song reflects the tough conditions farmers have faced this year.

The top ten songs in the Harvest 100 for 2025 include: 1. Working Class Man by Jimmy Barnes 2. When It Rains It Pours by Luke Combs 3. Copperhead Road by Steve Earle 4. The Best by Tina Turner 5. Oklahoma Smokeshow by Zach Bryan 6. Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi 7. The Gambler by Kenny Rogers 8. Take It Easy by the Eagles 9. Great Southern Land by Icehouse 10. Mr. Brightside by The Killers

The playlist features a diverse range of music, appealing to various tastes among farmers. Perry noted, "You can fire this on when you jump on the header and it'll give you hours of enjoyment. There's some modern songs in there, and even a couple of real classics that I probably didn't expect to make the cut."

Zacher shared her enthusiasm for the countdown, which she often listens to while working. "When it's getting late or when I'm a bit sick of it [harvesting], I'll put on Spotify and put on some music," she said. "It would be quite hilarious seeing me in the cab sometimes, because if a decent tune comes on, I do get a good boogie on, and yes, singing to the top of my voice."

This year, South Australia’s grain production is estimated at 8.5 million tonnes, which is an improvement over last year but still below the five-year average due to some regions missing crucial rain. Agronomist Adam Hancock explained that the timing of the harvest can vary significantly across the state due to differing weather and soil conditions. "The further south you go, the more rain you get. A big part of it is also temperature," he said. "For every hour you drive further north, the 30-day average temperature might be 1 degree warmer, and that really accelerates plant growth and development."

Farmers are eagerly awaiting the right conditions to begin harvesting, while the Harvest 100 playlist provides a much-needed soundtrack to their labor.