Business & Farming
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.
Bee-keeping
Varroa mite is here
The Masters Family, owners of Dalrymple View Honey at Allora have been dealing with the Varroa Mites. According to Sharon Masters, we've now got to learn to live with Varroa. For beekeepers this means testing for the mites, every couple of weeks.
Paraquat
GRDC says APVMA decision may instigate further research into use patterns
The Grains Research and Development Corporation says the decision by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority means grain growers will continue to have access to the herbicides, paraquat and diquat, under new restrictions.
Treatment resistance
Reduced sensitivity to fungicides detected in barley loose smut: GRDC
Early signs of reduced fungicide performance in barley loose smut have been detected in key grain growing regions across Australia. While there is no cause for alarm, growers are reminded to remain proactive in disease management.
Smoke alarms
From power boards to portable heaters: How cost-of-living pressures are increasing house fire risk this winter: Brooks Australia
With winter officially here, Australians across the country are turning off air conditioners and relying on heaters to stay warm, but while temperatures may be dropping, the risk of house fires increases during the colder months. ARR.News asked Jackson Holt from Brooks Australia about particular risks faced and specific advice for people in rural and regional Australia.
Truffle strike
Western Australian first – rare white truffle unearthed on Manjimup farm: Australian Truffle Traders
In a Western Australian first, 1.5 kilograms of white truffles have been unearthed from the soil of Australian Truffle Traders’ farm in Manjimup. Family business Australian Truffle Traders discovered the bianchetto white truffles, known scientifically as Tuber borchii, on their Southern Forests farm yesterday.
Research - miticides
Australia has already spent over $100 million dealing with Varroa mite. Here’s what we can do next
The honeybee mite, Varroa destructor, finally breached Australia’s biosecurity defences 4 years ago, and is here to stay. Even more concerning, our standard treatments – such as specialised pesticides – are already failing. What does this mean for Australians, and what can we do about it?
Home-based business
Sarah Josh and the elixir of invention
Necessity is often the Mother Of Invention so when mother of two, Sarah Josh, was pregnant with her third child, she went looking for natural skin care products that worked for her skin. Unable to find something suitable Sarah started making her own skincare products and sharing them with friends. Everybody loved them and, being keen to start a product-based business she could run from home, her skincare business - Liminal Elixirs - was born.
Medicine
Darling Downs Health celebrates third international accolade for stroke services
Toowoomba Hospital’s Geriatric, Adult Rehabilitation and Stroke Service (GARSS) has celebrated a major achievement during a special reunion with a former stroke patient. GARSS was recently awarded its third World Stroke Organization (WSO) Angels Gold Award, after first achieving gold status in 2025.
Research & innovation
Cauliflower waste could become protein for future foods: RMIT University
Researchers at RMIT have found that high-power ultrasound can help extract protein from discarded cauliflower leaves, opening up a potential new use for a vegetable by-product ... ARR.News found out more about the process and potential opportunities from Kinjal Furia, the study's lead author and RMIT PhD candidate.
Agricultural drones
Drone brings down powerline
SA Power Networks has issued an urgent warning about the use of agricultural drones around powerlines, after a large drone crashed and dropped a high voltage line to the ground at Wasleys, east of Mallala. The incident is the first of its kind to have occurred in South Australia.
Pollination planning
Growers urged to prepare after Landline spotlights Varroa’s pollination toll: NFF
Following ABC Landline's profile of the pollination impacts of Varroa mite, the NFF Horticulture Council and the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) are jointly calling on horticulture producers to plan now for a future where reliable, managed pollination can no longer be taken for granted.
Forestry
Rural confidence survey
Global unrest pushes Australian rural confidence lower, as farmers ‘reshape’ farm decisions: Rabobank
Sentiment among Australia’s agricultural producers continued to track lower this quarter, with concerns about cost pressures in the wake of Middle Eastern tensions remaining top of mind for farmers across the country. The quarter two Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, released today, found national sentiment at its lowest point since November 2006 as it dropped to a net reading of - 48 per cent.
Industrial hemp
Murray Industrial Hemp – $10 million to build in Barham
Murray Industrial Hemp (MIH) is thrilled with news the NSW Government has granted $10 million for a new hemp manufacturing business in Barham ... MIH will use the government funding, along with investments from local and national shareholders, to build industrial hemp processing and block manufacturing facilities in Barham.
Industry festival
Thousands embrace Clarence Harvest Celebration
Thousands of people from around the region descended on Maclean for three-day Clarence Harvest Celebration embracing the beef, sugar cane, and seafood industries of the valley. The premier weekend of the 2026 celebration followed the Clarence Kids Colour Run and Crowning Carnival and the Cane Harvest Ball, held in the preceding weeks.
Seedbed Conditioner
Grain growers can increase drought and waterlogging resilience by 300 per cent
The new practice of Seedbed Conditioning not only improves the physical, biological and chemical properties of the root zone of cropping soils, it also produces very large and near-permanent improvements in the drought and waterlogging resilience of cropping soils.
Irrigation
Indian delegation studying the Riverland’s irrigation industry
International attention has turned to the Riverland's irrigation industry, with senior Indian government officials visiting the region to study how growers are adapting to changing markets through crop diversification and agricultural transformation.
Leadership & You
Leaders must leave their ego at the door
Great leadership starts when ego steps aside, creating trust, stronger teams and cultures where people can contribute, learn and grow together.
Tribology
AgForce partnership aims to help producers reduce operating costs: Lowes Petroleum
Queensland producers will gain access to discounts on ground and aviation fuels, and lubricant services through a new partnership between AgForce and Lowes Petroleum aimed at helping reduce operating costs and improve on-farm efficiency.
Farm life
Hospitality
McNamaras make their mark
Blake Lee. Justin McNamara never thought he'd own a pub. On Saturday, he and his husband Jayden will reopen the Watchem Hotel after a three-year closure ... the venue will launch as the first-ever permanent Driver Reviver site.
Innovation
Compost invention
It seems that compost is a subject that is exercising the minds of many across the shire, and Maldon resident Oliver Messenger is one of them. He has invented a composting system that has been granted an Australian patent with an international patent in the works.
Arts administration
New GM no stranger to local arts scene
Patricia Gill. Denmark Arts' new general manager Annette Drenth has worked with the organisation for the past eight months in a ‘passion project' as a mentor ... "I have also engaged with Denmark Arts and its programs for more than two decades, as a visitor regularly holidaying in Denmark with my small family," Annette said.
Safe hands in tough times for the arts
Patricia Gill. Abbie Pedersen hands over the directorship of Denmark Arts to Annette Drenth confident in the future of the organisation.




























