The Editor

The first BunkBot demonstration at Mort & Co’s Pinegrove Feedlot near Millmerran, Queensland, was deemed a huge success with lot feeders describing the new technology as a real game changer for the industry. Five more demonstration days are planned until September 2021.

Victoria’s forestry families received peace of mind yesterday when VicForests won an appeal to overturn the May 2020 Federal Court decision which affected 66 logging coupes in the Central Highlands. A bench of the Federal Court overturned last year’s decision which challenged the validity of the Regional Forest Agreements under which timber harvesting is conducted.

A new research investment by GRDC, led by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has enabled evidence-based increases to zinc phosphide (ZnP) mouse baits that will help grain growers battling above-average mouse numbers in eastern Australia. ZnP-coated wheat bait is the only registered in-crop rodenticide for the management of mice damage in broad-scale agriculture in Australia. The new Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Authority emergency use permit increases the concentration of zinc phosphide active per wheat grain from 25 mg/kilogram to 50 mg/kg.

“The smell is horrific. You can pick up all the mice you see but there is always more. I did 38 loads of washing in three days. My house is pretty much packed up in boxes,” Lisa Minogue, Farmer, Barmedman.

"The passage of the Telecommunications Reform Package and the successful design and promotion of the newly created Regional Tech Hub are two examples of where Government has listened to the needs of regional communities," Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) CEO, Teresa Corbin said. "Now in its fifth year of advocacy, the RRRCC has made considerable progress in raising the profile of communication needs for regional, rural and remote Australians. However, there is still a long way to go to close the digital divide."

George Muirhead of Bioenergy Plantations, a commercial pongamia plantation company, said there are two key factors that have substantially changed the economic potential of pongamia. “Initially pongamia was explored purely as a renewable energy, with the oil used for bio-diesel. Significant research has shown the value of the meal, which alters the economic model completely. “In Indonesia and the United States, removal of the alkaloids from both the oil and meal have made them suitable for human and animal consumption, which considerably increases the financial viability of pongamia.”

This year the Honey Festival is with us again. Much more space this time so expect this to be something special. There will be talks, demonstrations, competitions and special activities for children. An amazing programme once again - There will be dance – the Wadumbah Aboriginal Dance Group and also the Mad Tatters with their Morris dancing and fantastic costumes. There are camel rides , pony rides and the Dinosaur train. The Mounted Games will be on in the arena again. There will be Goats, Sheep, cattle and, of course, the Alpaca Show and Sale. The Bullsbrook Poultry Club will be having a young birds show.

“Xylella is one of the most significant emerging plant disease threats worldwide, and we are fortunate that it is not present in Australia,” said Andrew Tongue, Head of Biosecurity at DAWE. “Xylella has been identified as Australia’s top National Priority Plant Pest in recognition of its potential to severely affect Australia’s plant industries and environment."

Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall today pulled on the waders to help return 130, metre-long Murray Cod to their native waterways near Tamworth. Mr Marshall said today was the last of hundreds of similar events during the summer season under the NSW Government’s $10 million Native Fish Drought Response and recreational stocking programs which has seen more than 6 million fish released.