The Editor

Rising global tensions and the COVID pandemic have created the perfect storm for Australian exporters. Now is the time to protect our business from supply chain interruptions and ensure the resilience of our economy. Australian businesses cannot prevent these external economic shocks, but they can manage risk by diversifying their economic relationships.

The start to the grain cropping season in Western Australia has been wetter than usual which could mean higher-than-average crop disease levels in the coming months. Two new research projects aim to increase knowledge and information relating to two key crop diseases – to assist the State’s grain growers with disease management and to reduce yield losses.

Thousands of new jobs and significant infrastructure builds in regional NSW will be delivered through the 2021-22 NSW Budget, supporting the recovery and future prosperity of regional communities following drought, bushfires, floods, the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently the mice plague.

Through more than $875 million in new measures supporting South Australia’s regions, the Marshall Liberal Government will build key infrastructure, drive economic growth and recovery to ensure our regional communities thrive.

The first shipment of iron ore from processed waste materials at Frances Creek Mine are being celebrated this week as a huge sign of strength and confidence in the Territory’s mineral industry. The Territory Labor Government approved the Mining Management Plan for the Frances Creek Mine in March 2020 enabling the processing of existing ore stockpiles at the mine. NT Bullion – the operator of the mine – has been using innovative x-ray technology from German based Steinert to screen waste rock stockpiles at the site to produce export quality iron ore.

For the first time ever, Costa, Australia’s leading fresh produce grower, have sent a shipment of their premium Lovocados to Singapore by sea freight. The order of 3200 trays left Brisbane in May and arrived in Singapore in June, and there have since been twelve more containers shipped to locations across Asia including Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.

At the half-way point of 2021, Australian agriculture appears set for another strong year with the NAB Rural Commodities Index up 2.5% month-on-month in May to now be 6.2% above the same time in 2020. NAB’s June Rural Commodities Wrap, released today, reports that dairy farmers are among the producers enjoying the flow-on effects of good prices and strong seasonal conditions across many parts of the country.

Horizon Power has demonstrated the Onslow microgrid's full capacity after successfully powering the Pilbara town for a total of 80 minutes. Electricity was powered by 700 kilowatts of customer generated solar and 600 kilowatts of utility solar, while supported by battery technology.

Humpback whales have been spotted along the spectacular Ningaloo Coast, with Western Australians encouraged to support tour operators amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With the humpback whale swim tour season starting soon, visitors to the Ningaloo Coast have the opportunity to swim with these magnificent creatures in their natural environment.