Horticulture

While growers are wishing for the perfect weather conditions to push the size of their pumpkins to the max, festival organisers are preparing for Saturday, January 17 — the day of the Giant Pumpkin and Watermelon Festival. If you’ve never been before you are in for a treat.

Five Riverina growers and one labour hire provider have been issued compliance notices following surprise inspections by the Fair Work Ombudsman, with combined back payments totalling $5,710 ordered for four employees. The Fair Work Ombudsman conducts unannounced workplace visits across Australia to verify that employers are paying correct wages and overtime rates, issuing proper pay slips and providing information about employee rights.

Bendigo Bank’s 2026 Australian Agriculture Outlook report provides an in-depth perspective on supply, demand, and price outlooks for Australia’s major agricultural commodities for the first half of 2026.

Australia’s almond sector is entering a new era, as it begins large-scale orchard replanting to enable future growth and satisfy increasing local and global appetite for the popular nut, Rabobank says in a newly-released report. In its Australian Almond Outlook: Replanting for growth beyond 2030, the specialist agribusiness bank’s RaboResearch division says the Australian almond industry is "entering a pivotal transition phase"...

The beekeeping sector across the Riverina is experiencing an unprecedented financial crisis as the region grapples with the ongoing challenge of varroa mite management, placing critical agricultural pollination services at risk.

To welcome the season of festive fun, Australian Macadamias has unveiled a new hero recipe that’s made for sharing, the Cherry and macadamia celebration sponge. Light, luscious and layered with seasonal cherries, soft billows of whipped cream and a generous scattering of roasted macadamias, this cake really is a showstopper.

Queensland’s horticulture sector is doing far more than feeding the nation – it’s contributing more than $6 billion to the state economy each year and supporting almost 45,000 jobs, according to a new report released today by the Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers (QFVG).

Sebastian Calderon. Members of the Riverland's wine grape growing community last week gathered to discuss the potential economic viability of olive crops in the region. ... Sanoop Varughese, transformation and innovation officer at CCW, said the olive sector presents a unique opportunity for growers ready to diversify and future-proof their operations.

The Bendigo Bank Agribusiness Monthly Commodity Update for November contains several positive findings and a major milestone as the year draws to a close. Australian cattle exports reached the second highest monthly volume on record, the third-largest winter grain crop is waiting in the wings and there’s good news for consumers in the run-up to Christmas...

Victorian Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence has launched public consultation on proposed new legislation, inviting Victorians to share their priorities for the industry, what’s working under current laws and ideas for improvement. 

Australia’s horticulture industry is set to benefit from a major innovation in weed management, announced ... at the Gatton AgTech Showcase. The Next generation weed management project - a three-part project being delivered by Applied Horticultural Research, Nufarm, and La Trobe University, and funded by Hort Innovation - aims to transform how growers tackle weed challenges...

Whether the risks posed by imports from Australia's trading partners are being sufficiently assessed and addressed, whether we really need to or should import certain products at all, and whether Australia is becoming complacent, resigned, or courting disaster for political Brownie points - such questions are being asked more often. ... This last week, Australia's biosecurity around beef and banana imports was called into question by David Littleproud, Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Agriculture Minister. ARR.News sought a response from Julie Collins, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ...

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering new opportunities for Australia’s blueberry producers with a new agreement securing market access to export the fruit to Vietnam, with trade expected to be worth approximately $22 million over 5 years. The agreement, which came into effect this week, is another major win for Australian producers and will also create access to Vietnamese pomelos for Australian consumers.

...New Agtrends figures show Queensland primary industries is forecast to achieve a record GVP worth $26.79 billion for 2024-2025, a rise of 18 per cent for the sector since 2023-2024. The significant increase has been delivered through strong performance across key commodities...

JAZZ™ apples are the first of their kind to undergo a groundbreaking compostable sticker trial, reaffirming a commitment to reducing environmental impact and paving the way for an eco-friendly future. ARR.News found out more from Montague Farms and J-Tech.

TasFarmers has slammed Woolworths’ recent decision to import frozen potatoes from India, warning it undermines Australian farmers and risks consumer trust. TasFarmers President Ian Sauer said the move leaves local growers furious after years of heavy investment in equipment, irrigation and infrastructure.

NSW Farmers has slammed a review into banana imports that could devastate the industry and put the nation’s biosecurity at risk. This week the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry announced a review of quarantine arrangements for bananas imported from the Philippines into Australia.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the latest 2025 AUSVEG Industry Sentiment Report shows Australia’s food security is at risk, as two in five growers consider leaving the industry. Mr Littleproud said the decision to walk away is being affected by Labor’s anti-agriculture policies, including red tape impacting productivity and profitability...

New research released ... by AUSVEG has for the first time quantified the cost and scope of the $213 million annual compliance, regulatory and red tape burden hampering the productivity and profitability of Australian vegetable growers, and threating the long-term viability of Australia’s vegetable industry.

Spring is here and it’s time to start planting your vegetable garden. It’s also the perfect time to take inspiration from other gardeners who are passionate about what they grow and how they grow it. Many of us can only dream of being self-sufficient in regards to fruit and vegetables but for avid gardener, Artha Holmes, this dream is a daily reality.

According to Avocados Australia’s latest “Facts at a Glance Report”, Australian avocado growers produced 131,385 tonnes of avocados for FY2024/25, valued at AUD$794 million* (Gross value of production (GVP)). Volume was slightly lower, but GVP was 22.34 per cent higher when compared to the previous period.