The Editor

There are approximately 7.5 million hectares of forest in Victoria, and 94 per cent of Victoria’s native forests are in protected areas that cannot be harvested or are unsuitable. Of this amount, VicForests has access to 417,000 hectares and we only harvest 2500-3000 hectares annually. This is nominally equivalent to 0.04% of all forested areas ... Thorough preparation is undertaken prior to harvesting, and VicForests puts special protections in place for priority habitat and species of concern if found in coupes.

“JEV is a mosquito-borne viral disease that mostly occurs in pigs and horses, but can cause disease in people and rarely other animals. Animals and people become infected through the bite of infected mosquitoes. It cannot be caught through eating pork or pig products. The disease is not transmitted from person to person”: DAWE.

Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, is urging farmers to register with the organisation for disaster assistance, in the wake of the devastating floods in Eastern Australia ... Growers watched on helplessly as their beloved crops were swallowed by rising floodwaters. Graziers risked their lives to move stock to higher ground, as rivers swelled to record highs.

The Australian Government has released the final report of the review into the second phase of the $1.1 billion National Landcare Program (NLP). Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud and Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the NLP is achieving positive outcomes for Australia’s unique environment and natural resources while supporting jobs in Australia’s agriculture sector.

The first Tasmanian Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan brings together existing and contemporary management strategies to form a single point of reference for deer management in Tasmania. The growing number and widening geographic range of wild fallow deer in the State continues to have increasing economic, environmental and public safety impact.

About 1.3 million tyres reach the end of their life each year in Tasmania, most of which ends up in landfill or stockpiles. Some of these tyres are now being processed into crumb rubber and blended with bitumen for use as asphalt in the State road maintenance program.

Beer lovers will rejoice at the incredible range of 175+ brews to try from 25 craft breweries and cideries such as Rocky Ridge, Colonial, Eagle Bay, Boston and Brewhouse Margaret River, including some crazy, delicious, mind boggling special and new release brews showcased by each brewer at their bar.

NSW Farmers Lismore Branch Chair and macadamia farmer Warren Elvery said there would be major losses as a result of the flooding, which was the worst he had ever seen ... “We had 347mm of rain overnight and all of the work we’ve done building up our soil and getting ready for harvest could all be for nothing."

“To be able to tour where my people have walked for thousands of years gives me a feeling that no other show has. This is for my old people, my mob, my ancestors watching over us”: Gomeroi rapper, Kobie Dee.