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.
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?
Labor’s $430 million water buyback is another blow to Mallee food producers: Webster
The Albanese Labor Government’s latest $430m Murray-Darling Basin water buyback will take more productive water out of agriculture and put more pressure on families already struggling with grocery prices, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster said today. The deal involves the Commonwealth buying almost 86GL of water entitlements for environmental use at a cost of more than $430m.
Rare sambar deer sighting in Loxton North: Landscape SA
The Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board is urging the Riverland community to report deer sightings following the detection of a sambar deer in an orchard near Loxton North, captured on a remote trail camera. Sambar deer are a large species, reaching up to 1.6 metres tall and 300 kg, and can pose risks to people, road users and horticultural operations.
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.
Mallee exporters to be hammered by huge increases in export fees: Webster
Mallee’s food exporters face huge spikes in Commonwealth export fees after the shock release of data under the cover of a quiet Friday after sunset. The Albanese Government’s final Export Cost Recovery Implementation Statements confirm fee increases of up to 384 per cent on agricultural exporters.
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.
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.
The use of paraquat use in Australian agriculture – industry responses
In light of the pending decision on paraquat by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and recent media drawing a connection between paraquat and Parkinson's disease, Australian Rural & Regional News has sought responses from industry bodies.
Wage decision hits hard: NSW Farmers
NSW Farmers says today's Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review decision will place significant additional pressure on farm employers, with some horticulture operations facing the full 6 per cent increase to their wages bill.
Select Harvests HY 2026 results
The world’s only listed purely almond company - Select Harvests has released Half Year results announcing close to a record almond crop and increased underlying NPAT of 32.9 per cent.
Bendigo Bank Agribusiness April insights: Rising input costs squeeze farmer margins
Recent rains have given Aussie farmers a valuable head start on sowing this season’s winter crop, but higher freight, fuel, and fertiliser costs are squeezing margins across the country, Bendigo Bank Agribusiness’ latest Monthly Commodity Update outlines.
Prison-grown veggie boxes support local charities: Erdogan
Victorians doing it tough are getting fresh food on the table thanks to produce grown by Marngoneet Correctional Centre. Participants in Marngoneet’s horticulture program grow and donate more than 30 vegetable boxes each week to help Victorians experiencing food insecurity.
Bee Blitz kicks off to protect the WA bee industry: Jarvis
April is 'Bee Blitz' month in Western Australia to highlight the importance of early detection and reporting to protect the State's bee industry and crucial pollination services from harmful pests and diseases. WA undertakes State and national bee pest surveillance programs...
Farmers hit hard by food waste – New national trial targets $2.5bn in losses: Hort Innovation
Australian fruit and vegetable growers are missing out of sales of up to one million tonnes of produce that never makes it to market, estimated at up to $2.5 billion a year. In response, a new national research program aims to help farmers keep more value from every harvest by tackling surplus and losses on-farm.
Enough talk, it’s time for action – Queensland growers are at breaking point: QFVG
Queensland horticulture growers have been dealing with rising input costs for years. Now, surging fuel prices, and critical input shortages are compounding those pressures, pushing farms to breaking point, threatening jobs and the state’s long-term supply of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Australian horticulture reaches record highs: Hort Innovation
Australia’s horticulture sector has delivered a year of record?breaking performance, with the 2024/25 Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook revealing the industry has achieved its highest production value to date of $18.4 billion, up 6 per cent on the previous year. Â
Extreme weather and strong dollar create mixed new year fortunes for Australian agriculture: Bendigo Bank
Extreme weather, the rising Aussie dollar and fluctuating global demand have driven a complex start to the year for Australian agriculture, Bendigo Bank’s Agribusiness Insights team outline. Key insights from the latest Commodity Update include Pressure on producers as extreme weather impacts livestock, damages infrastructure...
Territory mango crop leads the nation: Maley
Territory growers produced 4.3 million trays of mangoes in the 2025-26 season, a 7.5 per cent increase on the previous year – the equivalent of an additional 300,000 trays of Territory mangoes flowing into domestic and international markets ... Currently, the Northern Territory continues to lead the nation in mango production, supplying 52 per cent of Australia’s total mango crop.
NFF Horticulture Council welcomes review of Code of Conduct
The National Farmers’ Federation Horticulture Council has welcomed today’s announcement by the Australian Government of an independent review of the Horticulture Code of Conduct. NFF Horticulture Council Chair Jolyon Burnett said the review is a timely opportunity to strengthen fairness and transparency in Australia’s rapidly expanding horticulture sector.
Horticulture Code of Conduct review: Collins, Leigh
The Albanese Labor Government is committed to a strong horticulture industry in Australia and is today announcing that Mr Chris Leptos AO will lead an independent review of the Horticulture Code of Conduct ... The Code regulates trade between growers and traders of wholesale unprocessed fruit, vegetables, nuts and herbs, to ensure transparency and clarity of transactions.Â
Calling farmers – Funky Food wants your surplus, your quirky and your imperfect picks
Brisbane-based, national produce rescue business Funky Food is calling on farmers across Queensland and northern NSW to let the Funky team save more fresh fruit and vegetables from going to waste, by partnering to redirect surplus and cosmetically imperfect produce directly to Australian households.
