A winning pack of spuds
A family potato farm with operations in Waikerie is in the spotlight after it received international recognition for its contributions to the industry on the world stage. The 2024 World Potato Congress (WPC), held in Adelaide from June 23 to 26, saw Miltolo Family Farms recognised with the WPC Industry Award.
Growers to exit with only their dignity?
Jason Perrin. "What scraps do we grape growers get from you? Just $3.5m. I guess it’s obvious the future security and survival of the Riverland, the Riverina and areas of the Murray Valley are not as important as a new rugby team in Papua New Guinea."
An extra-oar-dinary Saturday row
Alexandra Bull. A foggy and chilly Saturday morning did not dampen the spirits of all 201 rowers rowing in the annual Renmark Rowing Club Wharf to Woolshed Long Row. With 44 crews on the water, slightly challenging conditions marked the start of the 36km row ... Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson also jumped into the Renmark Rowing Club eight for the last 10km
Dr Rosenthal’s Riverland journey
Hugh Schuitemaker. Progressing the quality of medical care in the Riverland has been a career-long goal for a local doctor who is set to retire. Renmark-based GP David Rosenthal will today retire after 50 years of practising medicine in the community.
Razor gang cuts funding to slash council deficit
Paul Mitchell. Berri Barmera Council has cut a list of programs and expenses from its budget, in a bid to reduce its projected deficit in the next financial year – and avoid lifting rates. Among the defunded projects are the Loveday Internment Camp, for which $53,877 was set aside in the council’s original 2024/25 budget, and the Rally for the Riverland initiative, a joint Riverland councils project ...
No package plus buybacks = wasteland
The spectre of water buybacks, plus the absence of a targeted support package for Riverland grape growers, risk turning local communities into "economic wastelands", a local MP has warned. Liberal Barker MP Tony Pasin has labelled a $3.5 million federal funding package as "too little, too late" and accused both Labor governments of ignoring the crisis confronting inland wine regions like the Riverland.
Industry support ‘a drop in the ocean’?
Hugh Schuitemaker. Further federal government support measures will be needed to overcome current local wine industry challenges, according to two senior Riverland politicians. The Federal Government last week announced a $3.5m Grape and Wine Sector Long-term Viability Support Package, aimed at assisting the wine industry to respond to the oversupply of red wine.
Gold Starrs for Riverland winery
While the Riverland wine industry is battling through some of its darkest days, a local vineyard has offered a glimmer of light with a prestigious award win. Starrs Reach Vineyard, based at New Residence, won Innovative Vineyard of the Year at the Young Gun of Wine Annual Vineyard of the Year Awards last week, returning the trophy back to the Riverland after Ricca Terra won it in 2020.
