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Seedbed conditioning
The Seedbed Conditioner allows grain growers to increase soil carbon
Large-scale field research data from six years of continuous cropping on a 100 ha paddock in Western Australia showed that, in the 300m deep rooting depth, the Seedbed Conditioner treatment produced a 48 per cent increase in soil carbon over the no-tillage treatment.
Soil
Australia’s first national database of mycorrhizal fungi reveals hidden biodiversity beneath our feet: Western Sydney University
Western Sydney University researchers have led the development of Australia’s first national database of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, mapping the hidden fungal networks beneath our feet that support plant health, soil processes and ecosystem resilience.
Rangelands
International Year of the Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026: Celebrating Australia’s outback, landscapes and people
As part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, the NT Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is highlighting the people who drive the pastoral industry and showcasing the importance of rangelands ... Livestock Extension Officer Caleb Schwartz recently visited Ross and Jo Stanes, who manage Lyndavale Station and the Lyndavale Cattle Company, located 280km south-west of Alice Springs.
Food security
I can buy a loaf of bread and a litre of milk – How important is food security?
“Most people’s litmus test as to how well their world is going is that they can buy a loaf of bread, a litre of milk and some fuel on the way home – then all is okay.” Collins Creek resident Ray Skelton said this when he addressed council at the June 9 Kyogle Council meeting.
Crop protection costs
Thoroughbreds
What’s stopping you? Using behavioural science to improve adoption of new thoroughbred industry standards: AgriFutures Australia
There are big strides being made in research within the Thoroughbred world all of the time, but how can we ensure that the new best practice standards identified in the literature are adopted by the industry? That is a question that the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program and applied behavioural science company Evidn are seeking to answer together in their new project, launched earlier this year.
Writers' Festival
Bryan Brown headlines 15th anniversary of the Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival as region celebrates a month of words
The Southern Highlands will become a destination for readers, writers and performers this July as the Southern Highlands Writers' Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary and the region hosts its inaugural Australian Poetry Slam heat.
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Tourism - Teddy Bears
Maldon’s Great Teddy Bear Adventure
Nancy Whittaker. Tomorrow will be the start of The Great Teddy Bear Adventure (GTBA) in Maldon, from 10am - 4pm. Main Street and High Street will be awash with about 35 delightful Teddy Bear window displays, while according to Felicity Howard the Progress Hall will resemble an enchanted forest. It will be filled with live music, storytelling, and a teddy bear parade with prizes!
Midwife
Toowoomba midwife recognised for improving care for Aboriginal women
Darling Downs Health midwife Natalie Hobbs has been recognised with a national award for her leadership and work in improving maternity care for Aboriginal women. A proud Kamilaroi woman, Ms Hobbs received the Partnering with First Nations leadership award from the Pre-term Birth Prevention Collaborative, a nation-wide organisation dedicated to lowering early births...
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Masters athletics
Tom sets more Australian records
Just days after his 90th birthday Lower Clarence athlete Tom Hancock set four Australian records against Masters competitors including records that hadn’t been broken in 30 years.
Cairns Indigenous Art Fair
History - Education
Good old school days
Many memories were made at the Upper Forest Springs School which was on the corner of Forest Springs Road and The Springs Road. Opened as a Provisional School in 1898 it then became the Upper Forest Springs School in 1909, closing in 1961.
NAIDOC Week - Narrandera
NAIDOC Week begins with flag raising
Narrandera Shire Council has marked NAIDOC Week with several events and a call for the community to connect in the spirit of respect, reconciliation and understanding. A Community Flag Raising ceremony at Marie Bashir Park on Monday marked the start of the NAIDOC Week celebrations, followed by a cuppa, yarn and the Fish Trap Experience at the Discovery Hub.
Mentoring
Greater Shepparton Business Mentor Program leaves lasting impact on local businesses
Greater Shepparton City Council has marked the conclusion of its inaugural 2026 Greater Shepparton Business Mentor Program ... The program ... brought together new and emerging local businesses with experienced mentors for practical one-on-one guidance, honest conversations and support tailored to their business goals.
Lions
Change in leadership
"At its heart, Lions are about people caring enough to show up. Showing up when someone needs help. Showing up when the community needs support. Showing up even when we’re tired, busy, or would rather be somewhere else. And in today’s world, that matters more than ever": Incoming Nhill Lions President Tony Lord.
Red-tailed black cockatoos
Missing persons
Families and friends speak their truths
Speaking of the heartbreak, devastation, frustration, and emotional trauma they have experienced every day since their loved one vanished, families and friends of missing people stepped forward to share their stories and give evidence at a NSW Parliamentary Inquiry in Grafton last week.
Bird flu
H5 bird flu testing update: DAFF
Testing at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness has confirmed four additional detections of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu). This includes a detection in a greater crested tern, found near Robe, South Australia. This is the first detection of H5 bird flu in an Australian wild non-migratory seabird.
Bird flu
Bird flu - scavengers
Scavenger animals are the missing link in Australia’s bird flu response. Three experts explain
Niraj Meisuria, Michael Ward, Thomas Newsome. We’re yet to see how this deadly highly pathogenic avian influenza virus will affect our country’s wildlife. But an urgent concern is the potential for scavenger animals to spread H5N1 further by eating infected carcasses.
Foreign ownership
Murray-Darling
Rushy Lagoon
CEFC and Aviva Investors invest in Tasmanian plantation forestry and natural capital platform: CEFC, Aviva Investors, Gresham House
The CEFC, Aviva Investors and Gresham House have launched a groundbreaking $142 million project to invest in sustainable forestry plantations in Tasmania, creating local jobs and injecting significant capital into the regional economy while generating high integrity Australian Carbon Credits Units (ACCUs) and protecting an important Ramsar wetland.
Foreign ownership - land use
TasFarmers slams Federal Government’s sneaky Rushy Lagoon sell-out to foreign investor
Tasmanian farmers have reacted with anger and disbelief to confirmation that the Federal Government has ignored community sentiment and waved through the sale of Rushy Lagoon, Tasmania’s largest farm, to UK forestry investor Gresham House, clearing the way for 22,000 hectares of prime dairy and beef country in the state’s north-east to be locked up under a pine plantation.
Discretionary trusts
Regional migration
Ready to capitalise
Riverland communities are preparing for the increased infrastructure and service needs required by growing populations, according to Renmark Paringa Council's CEO, and the Loxton Waikerie mayor. The latest Regional Movers Index (RMI) study – released last month – showed a desire to shift toward regional living reached a record peak in the March 2026 quarter.
Flood recovery
Fire funding secured to restore local waterways
The North East Catchment Management Authority has welcomed funding to support the recovery of waterways and catchments impacted by the Victorian bushfires in January 2026. The fires caused significant damage to rivers, creeks and surrounding landscapes across Victoria, affecting important natural assets managed by Catchment Management Authorities.
Environment
No threat
Thick foam seen floating along sections of the Naracoorte Creek poses no threat to the environment, wildlife, or the public, according to the Naracoorte Lucindale Council ... says it is aware of the foam, but no evidence suggests the unusual sight is linked to pollution or contamination.
Motor Neurone Disease
Historic MND breakthrough welcomed by family of the late Shag Gregory
Member for Murray, Helen Dalton's historic breakthrough to establish a MND notification and surveillance framework has been described by the Gregory family as a huge step in trying to find a cure or prevention for this horrible disease.
Infrastructure spending - Qld
Olympic drain on rest of Queensland: Katter sounds alarm
Origin day should be a day that unites Queenslanders, but there’s more and more of a Brisbane vs the rest divide emerging with the government laser focused on the Olympics, the Leader of the KAP and state Member for Traeger Robbie Katter has said.
Biosecurity - Qld
EV charging
Fragmented and incomplete: Why isn’t anyone in charge of Australia’s EV charger rollout?
Hussein Dia. Plunging battery prices and cheap running costs mean battery electric vehicles are now outselling petrol cars across Europe and China. In Australia, battery EVs have reached 23 per cent of new car sales. That figure could be higher still – if it wasn’t for the question of charging.
Smart ag
From paddock problem to global opportunity – Sam Rogers’ journey with GrazeMate: AgriFutures Australia
When Sam Rogers joined the AgriFutures evoke Groundbreakers Program and Startup Alley at evoke 2026, he was already working on a challenge he knew firsthand. Growing up on a cattle property in North Queensland, Sam had experienced the labour pressures facing livestock producers and was building GrazeMate, a startup using autonomous drone technology to help farmers save time, reduce labour requirements and make more informed decisions.
Opinion
Down the rabbit hole of strategic planning
As the Cheshire Cat reminded Alice, the road you take depends on where you want to get to. The problem is not that strategic plans are useless. The problem is that too many modern plans confuse aspiration with strategy.
Bird flu - SA
Suspect bird flu case in South Australia: Scriven
A suspect case of H5 bird flu has been detected in a migratory seabird at Hardwicke Bay on the Yorke Peninsula. The giant petrel was reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline and collected and sampled by PIRSA.
Fishing - SA
King George Whiting update: PIRSA
Recreational fishers will be able to catch King George Whiting in all SA waters these school holidays ... The King George Whiting closure amendment is one of two changes introduced to support the recovery of marine species affected by the algal bloom.
Bird flu
H5 bird flu testing update: DAFF
Testing at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) has determined the giant petrel found in the Perth North Metropolitan Area (Whitfords - Mullaloo beach) of Western Australia is presumed positive for H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu).
Water buybacks compensation
Balranald Mayor calls out built-in disadvantage stacking grant system against small councils
Balranald Shire Council Mayor Cr Louie Zaffina has called on both the Australian and NSW Governments to urgently reform the way grant funding reaches communities affected by water buybacks, saying the current competitive model gives small rural councils no fair chance.
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Farmer mental health
Narrandera event serves as timely reminder for farmers
When things get tough, the temptation for some is to pull back and deal with it alone. Which is why the upcoming community screening of Just A Farmer in Narrandera is a timely opportunity for the community ... One of the highlights will be the chance to hear directly from Leila McDougall - the filmmaker behind Just A Farmer, and a farmer herself.
Gold
Good prospects
In this historically gold-rich region, with its fascinating and varied natural surroundings, recreational prospecting seems like a fantastic activity for the whole family, doesn’t it?
Bird flu - NSW
NSW Government response in place after suspected H5 detection: Moriarty
New South Wales is responding to a suspect positive case of H5 bird flu. Samples from a Giant Petrel near Hawks Nest have tested positive for H5 influenza in preliminary testing at DPIRD’s laboratory at Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute.
Flood mitigation - Northern Rivers
CSIRO flood report must be the start of action, not the end of a conversation
The release of the landmark CSIRO Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative report must mark a turning point in how governments approach flood resilience across the Northern Rivers, with State Nationals MP for Clarence Richie Williamson calling for urgent action to ensure its findings are translated into real outcomes for communities.
Flood mitigation - Northern Rivers
Flood report a welcome step, but leaves some Tweed impacts unrecognised
Tweed Shire Council welcomes the release of CSIRO’s Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative flood mitigation report, focused on detailed flood modelling and mitigation scenarios for the Richmond River catchment around Lismore.
Water rates - Central Coast
Water rates to rise by 5.5 per cent
Merilyn Vale. IPART has announced the maximum prices that Central Coast Council can charge for water and wastewater services from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. A typical household's yearly bill for water and wastewater services will increase by 5.5 per cent.
Flood mitigation - Donald
Flood defence finally finished
After years of waiting, Donald's long-anticipated flood levee project has reached completion, with construction of the town's second demountable flood barrier recently finished by Eco Infrastructure. The second wall, located on the town side of the Richardson River, has been under construction since April 13. It completes Donald's pair of demountable flood barriers designed to protect the township from future flooding.
Murray-Darling - floodplain restoration?
Public hearing begins into Murray floodplain projects
Patrick Tucker. An independent public hearing into two proposed floodplain restoration projects near Gunbower and Koondrook is underway. At the same time, roadside signs displaying the letters "VMFRP" are prompting questions across the district ... The report also states construction would require the removal of up to 604 large and very large trees in Gunbower National Park and up to 727 large and very large trees in the Guttrum and Benwell forests.
Public parks - Denmark
Residents revolt: ‘Hands off our parks!’
Patricia Gill. A plan to ‘rationalise' historically-named parks in Denmark has drawn outrage from residents. A stream of letters to the editor in the Bulletin supports leaving the parks intact citing community wellbeing and environmental reasons.
Research - alpine ash
Can we keep Australia’s endangered alpine ash on the map? New modelling show where to focus our efforts
An alpine ash forest is a sight to behold ... Mainland alpine ash forests are now formally listed as endangered. This is because bushfires are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, which threatens to wipe out some of these forests. In our new study, we examined how alpine ash forests would change under different climate scenarios, and found that difficult choices likely lie ahead.
US cf AU
When the government is your best friend
I subscribe to Greg Ibendahl's Agricultural Economics Substack. Greg is with the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University and regularly produces practical, data-driven analyses of broadacre farming from an American perspective. His latest article ... shows we are not alone facing rising input which can turn what appeared to be a profitable wheat crop into a financial disaster. It also serves as a timely reminder that while American farmers face many of the same seasonal and economic pressures as Australian growers...
Drinking water
Kaniva celebrates treated water milestone
Residents and visitors of Kaniva will now enjoy a fully treated drinking water supply straight from the tap, marking a significant milestone for the West Wimmera community. Previously the largest town in Victoria without a drinking water supply, Kaniva’s new connection means residents no longer need to rely on rainwater tanks or packaged water for drinking and food preparation, providing greater convenience and peace of mind.
Murray-Darling - water buybacks
Regional broadcasting
Tony and Tim ask for broadcasting reform – Time to change the channel?
Madison Eastmond. Two senior Riverland politicians say they will continue to support "meaningful reforms that secure the future of regional broadcasting" following an announcement that Channel 10 will remain on local screens only for the next three months.
Council rates
5 per cent rate rise
Naracoorte Lucindale ratepayers will face a second consecutive 5 per cent rates increase as the council commits to its biggest-ever investment in roads, while a heated debate over a controversial $415,000 rural road upgrade exposed divisions over spending priorities ... Despite the budget's overwhelming focus on roads, the proposed upgrade of the Mundalena Road became the centrepiece of debate before councillors voted to retain the project.
Parliamentary process
Move to disallow
Flood mitigation - Northern Rivers
CSIRO Northern Rivers flood mitigation report – Higginson and Hogan respond
The final report of the CSIRO team behind the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative has been delivered, Scenario testing and recommendations for future flood mitigation activities in the Richmond River catchment in the Northern Rivers region, NSW, Australia. NSW Greens MP and spokesperson for the North Coast, Sue Higginson and Kevin Hogan, Federal Minister for Page, respond notably differently to the Report's findings and recommendations.
Carbon credits
Labor’s net zero land grab destroying regional jobs: Canavan, Tehan, Chester, Colbeck
The Coalition will lodge a Notice of Motion in the Senate and House of Representatives to stop Labor’s new carbon credit approval, which will lock up land and destroy regional jobs. The Coalition has moved to disallow the Carbon Credits Methodology Determination 2026, to stop Labor from paying state governments to permanently cease commercial timber harvesting across entire Regional Forest Agreement areas, in exchange for ‘carbon credits’.
Compliance and enforcement - environment laws
New environment laws leave farmers stumped: VFF
The VFF says new federal environment laws have made it much harder for farmers to manage their own land, with many now facing confusing rules, costly assessments and the risk of severe penalties for everyday farming activities ... The new rules are unworkable for agriculture and place an unfair burden on farmers.
Tax penalties
Research
New study reveals yellowtail kingfish travel further offshore than expected
A new study has found yellowtail kingfish travel much further offshore than previously thought, with some fish migrating long distances and diving hundreds of metres below the surface. The project began as a collaboration between staff from Lord Howe Island Marine Park and researchers from the Sydney Institute of Marine Science.
Plant science
Water - Vic
Desalinated water flowing ahead of schedule: Shing
Minister Shing announced that desalinated water is now flowing into Cardinia Reservoir, as Melbourne’s storage falls below 64 per cent - the lowest metropolitan storage levels in more than six years ... Without a connection to Melbourne’s water supplies, which are bolstered by the Desalination Plant, Geelong water storages would be under 10 per cent full right now - with severe water restrictions.
Smart ag
Komet bets on Irrigation Intelligence to close agriculture’s data gap: Komet Irrigation
New Application Engineering & Digital Systems division and Experience Hub will generate globally relevant insights to advance pivot irrigation science, engineering, and decision-making. Following the successful launch of the Komet Experience Hub in Brazil, Komet is expanding its investment in Irrigation Intelligence to help close one of agriculture's biggest data gaps.
Infrastructure
Casino gets its ‘Golden Gate’ with opening of suspension bridge across the Richmond River
Casino has a suspension bridge – and it’s a beauty. The 160 metre long bridge arcs over the Richmond River in a feat of engineering made possible by the Forge team.
Development processes - NT
Development authority favours developers
“These processes are so private, so closed and so favouring the developers.” This frustrated comment came from Fiona Walsh, as she closed her address to the NT Development Consent Authority (DCA). It was considering the application for a permit by the US defence contractor Lockheed Martin, via its Australian branch, for a global navigation satellite station near the Ilparpa claypans.
Circuit court - WA
Electoral redistribution - Qld
Drayton out of Condamine
Drayton will move from the Condamine electorate into the Toowoomba South electorate as a result of the Queensland Redistribution Commission's electoral redistribution, details of which were released on Monday. The move of Drayton into Toowoomba South was supported by the sitting Member for Condamine, Pat Weir.
Rodeo
What a weekend!
Carol Lyall. The Hutchison Quarries Allora Frostbite Rodeo was everything we hoped it would be and so much more. Watching families gather around the arena, hearing the cheers as the bulls exploded from the chutes, seeing the horses test every rider, and the barrel horses flying around the drums... it was one of those days that just made you stop and smile. The atmosphere was incredible, and it was so special to see our community come together to enjoy a great day out.
Yachting
New Sydney-Ball’s Pyramid-Sydney Yacht Race
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club has announced a new race from its home port of Pittwater, north of Sydney, out around Lord Howe Island, Balls Pyramid and return. Scheduled to start on October 2nd, 2026, the course covers a straight-line distance of 890 nautical miles.
Public art +
New mural welcomes visitors to Terrigal
Ivona Rose. A landmark public mural celebrating Terrigal's coastline, culture and community has been unveiled as part of the public launch of The Esplanade Terrigal ... Created by Australian artist Steve Gorrow, the large-scale mural stretches across a building facade on the Terrigal strip and serves as the most visible expression yet of The Esplanade's ambitions for the precinct.
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