South Australia’s harvest breaks records with $4.4 billion farm gate value: Scriven
South Australia’s 2022-23 harvest is set to break previous records of production levels and farm gate value, according to estimates in the latest South Australian Crop and Pasture Report. The record high production estimate of 12.1 million tonnes, combined with high global grain prices means the farm gate value is estimated to come in at $4.4 billion, breaking last year’s previous record high value of $3.3 billion.
The Victorian election and the Riverina State
David Landini, Riverina State Group. The Victorian election, with the re-election of the Daniel Andrews’ Labor government, and the election of seven Greens Members of Parliament, ensures that the suppression of natural resource-based industries such as irrigated agriculture and timber harvesting will not only continue, but actually accelerate and expand. That these Members of Parliament are all urban-based, while the industries being suppressed are all in the country, demonstrates the cultural and economic division existing between the urban and country populations.
Choke hold
Even with more than 100,000 megalitres a day crossing the South Australian border, SA Water closed the barrages due to seawater flowing into the freshwater estuary. SA Water satellite imagery also shows the current flooding is still not moving down the Coorong. The real risk of constraints relaxation may be felt closer to home. The modification of the Barmah Choke has been seen as the crown jewel for accessing held environmental water. The choke protects Echuca-Moama and Koondrook-Barham from large Murray floods from Hume Dam, currently on display with the flows heading north down the Edward-Wakool system ... Community concerns over constraints relaxation flooding farmers and potentially impacting townships has been labelled as scaremongering by MDBA Chief Executive Andrew McConville.
Summerland Giant Pumpkin and Watermelon Festival, Kyogle, 21 January 2023
Not long to go now until the fantastic, fun-filled Summerland Giant Pumpkin and Watermelon Festival. Spread the word to family and friends over Christmas. It’s going to be an action-packed day to enjoy for the whole family. Displays of giant pumpkins, watermelons and various other gigantic vegetables.
Four lambs! Tale of Queenie the supermum launches new author
Sheep farmer Suzanne Lewis has just published her first children’s book and had no further to look for something to write about than her own front paddock. “Queenie the Quad Lady” is the story of a remarkable ewe that captured Suzanne’s heart after giving birth to four lambs and successfully raising them all despite all the trials and tribulations a sheep can face.
Labor are taxing our flood grants
Shadow Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Kevin Hogan said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed grants given to businesses and farmers will be taxed ... “In his answer he said they will be taxed. This is huge blow to our small businesses and farmers”: Shadow Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Kevin Hogan
Maintaining wetlands monitoring: Cape York NRM
The Mary Valley wetlands will undergo a new round of monitoring as an ongoing record of how the area is faring following works carried out on Country ... This month, Cape York project officer Ben Ansell visited one of the wetland sites with Traditional Owner Ashley Lyall to determine the percentage of feral cattle footprints, pig damage and live vegetation cover in the area.
Concerns remain despite IR Bill concessions: NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation has acknowledged the concessions granted which will see the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill pass the Parliament this week, but warns that the consequences for the food supply chain remain largely unknown. NFF President Fiona Simson said it was disappointing to see a government so disinterested in the genuinely held concerns of employers.
The Zylstra theory: a final comment: Roger Underwood
Having read the latest comment by Philip Zylstra in the ARR.News journal I was tempted to dismiss it as negligible, and move on. Then I realised that he had denigrated my colleagues, dismissing them as an emotional "lobby group”, and I realised that he must not be allowed to have the last word. To the extent that we are pushing for Australian governments to adopt a bushfire policy and management practices that minimise bushfire damage to the Australian people, to community assets and the environment, then yes, we are lobbyists. But we do so unemotionally, from the basis of science and experience.
Blowing in the wind in your window
If you love the view from the top of your farm looking out over the surrounding countryside, then let’s hope you are not near the coast or major power lines or in a windy part of Western Australia because the state and federal governments and the men and women with white shoes are quietly pouring over maps looking for sites that will become tomorrow’s wind farms.
Flood situation update: Campaspe Shire Council
Many of our local traders are open for business as usual and we encourage you to shop local ... Kerbside household flood waste collections have been running in Rochester for around five weeks.
NSW koalas and industrial logging of the public forest estate: Sue Higginson
Sue Higginson responds to ARR.News questioning of the premise for the Green's introduced Forestry Amendment (Koala Habitats) Bill 2022 ... "All levels of Government agree that our Koalas have declined significantly in recent decades and that they are facing extinction in coming decades if threats to their survival are not stopped ... The legitimacy of the Law article is broadly contested": Sue Higginson, NSW Greens MP.
AI advancing for abalone: FRDC
Technology that will save time and money, provide more accurate data more often, and reduce stress on farmed abalone, is continuing to prove its worth in trials. A multi-disciplinary team at James Cook University (JCU) is testing tools and methodology to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the critical task of counting and measuring abalone in grow-out tanks in aquaculture farms, under an FRDC-funded project.
Murray Darling Basin Authority is out of touch: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation has expressed outrage towards the comments made by Murray Darling Basin Authority Chief Executive Andrew McConville in his Rural Press Club address, 10 years after the Basin Plan gave the green light to take water from farming communities. VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy said Mr McConville’s commentary ignored the ongoing impact of the Murray Darling Basin Plan on farming communities and sounded like it was designed to appease the Federal Labor government ... “We expect the MDBA CEO to be professional and impartial, not a political sycophant. It seems he needs to re-read the Basin Plan as he forgot to mention in his speech that the 450GL is only possible if there are no negative social and economic impacts”.
Major Event Review of the 2019–20 Victorian bushfires shows need for major forest management overhaul: Forestry Australia
A comprehensive report into the 2019-20 Victorian bushfires highlights the need for a major overhaul of current forest management strategies ... “This report confirms that to avoid future repeats of 2019-20 and protect human life and biodiversity, forest and fire management must be viewed and managed at a landscape scale, with active management over long timeframes, using expert knowledge of forests and their processes”: Forestry Australia Vice President Jim Wilson.
SA beef a winner at 2022 World Steak Challenge
Teys. South Australian produced beef, 36 ° South, has been named top in its class at the recent 2022 World Steak Challenge in Dublin, Ireland. Teys Australia entered two of its premium brands – 36 ° South and Teys Certified Angus – in the prestigious meat competition that showcases product quality, breed credentials and processing standards on an international stage.
Interview with founder of farm to plate marketplace, Half A Cow Online, James Gilbert
Find out about the inspiration, operation and plans for the online marketplace that helps farmers sell their meat directly to customers and customers find the meat they want from its founder, James Gilbert.
Ukraine endorsement for Aussie grain initiative: Grain Producers Australia
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, has endorsed the efforts of Australian grain producers to help Ukraine farmers and rural communities with their recovery from the war. Mr Myroshnychenko met with members of Grain Producers Australia’s farmer sub-committee recently to discuss the #GRAIN4UKRAINE initiative and thank them for supporting his people.
Blackwood attacks Andrews Government after timber ruling
Native timber harvesting in Victoria has stopped after a ruling on 4 November in the Supreme Court, prompting a savage attack on the Andrews Government’s culpability by the Liberals Gary Blackwood ... “This is a disgraceful indictment on the Andrews Government, who have been lobbied for months to adjust the Code of Forest Practice so that it reflected exactly what has been in place to protect the Greater Glider for many years”: Gary Blackwood, retiring Member for Narracan and Opposition forestry spokesman.
Food industry warns government of long-term food supply chain disruptions: National Food Supply Chain Alliance
The National Food Supply Chain Alliance, made up of nine influential national food industry associations, says long term supply chain issues, including ongoing natural disasters and labour shortages, are set to increase food prices for the foreseeable future ... The Alliance has, over the past two days, met with government and the opposition to explain the risks to the economy and Australians’ wellbeing should a National Plan not be developed and implemented as a matter of urgency.
Labor’s reasons for Ag Shows funding cuts
Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has been asked for an explanation as to why the grants have been discontinued and if there is potential for any other funding for the various agricultural societies which run local shows ... "While there were many competing priorities for funding in the October Agriculture Budget, the Albanese Government's overriding priority was to strengthen Australia's biosecurity defences ...": Senator Watt.
Bees at home in Allora
Some proactive person has given our local bees a helping hand by constructing a nest in a tree outside the Blue Cow in Herbert Street. A group of tourists was amazed by the unique structure saying how good is this, as they watched the bees buzzing around their modern nesting site.
