Agriculture

An alliance between food industry associations across the food supply chain, from paddock to plate, has been formed to address key issues associated with ensuring reliable and affordable access to food for all Australians during this unprecedented time of supply chain disruption ... The Alliance includes: Independent Food Distributors Australia (IFDA), The National Farmers Federation (NFF), Australian Meat Industry Council, (AMIC), Master Grocers Australia (MGA) & Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS).

The fee reduction is a practical and fast way for the State government to assist the South Australian Rock Lobster fishery, who were impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic and the disruption to the Chinese market.

Citizen science has made an important contribution to an FRDC-funded project to predict the impact of climate change on three fish species of increasing recreational and commercial importance in Tasmania ... Data from the project was gathered from several sources, including fish frames (skeletons) donated by recreational fishers at 16 drop off points around Tasmania, which yielded 801 frames in the 24 months to July 2021. Frames were also donated by commercial fishers and fish processors.

Farmers around the State will be supported to adopt additional sustainable practices through a groundbreaking $206 million program delivered in the NSW Budget. Treasurer Matt Kean said this landmark investment will reward farmers who voluntarily reduce their carbon emissions and protect biodiversity ... ARR.News asked the Ministers a few questions.

A new, online one-stop information portal for Lumpy skin disease (LSD) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) preparedness is now available to livestock owners and other industry stakeholders ... “With both LSD and FMD confirmed in Indonesia, the key to Australia’s defence is vigilance, early reporting and ensuring every Livestock Supply Chain enterprise in northern Australia has an updated biosecurity plan in place”: Minister Furner.

The cost of a weekend brekkie favourite could be set to rise with the price of eggs on supermarket shelves jumping up, and farmers say they’re fed up with major retailers not passing on increases. Consumers have seen supermarket egg prices rise between 30 and 50 cents per dozen, but NSW Farmers Poultry Committee Chair Brett Langfield said egg producers had not seen the price rise at the farm gate.

Amendments to the Forest Products Act 2000 (WA) that will allow the Forest Products Commission (FPC) to trade in carbon assets has passed through the State Parliament. Until now, the FPC's functions were restricted to dealing with forest products, which are defined to mean trees, parts of trees and similar products. The statutory expansion of the FPC's functions under the new legislation, will now grant the FPC the right to own, trade and otherwise deal with carbon assets.

With the only beer, food and music festival in Australia coming up in Adelaide in July (see the 2021 revellers), it's a perfect time to learn about the craft beer industry in the Barossa ... David Henderson from Western Ridge Brewing and Tom Ryan from Barossa Valley Craft Malt shared some insights about this bright young local industry with Australian Rural & Regional News.

A trial using oyster spats from an Albany Hatchery is assessing if the water conditions of Wilson Inlet will support the growth of native flat oysters. Aquaculturist Zak Launay said conditions created with the 'exceptional opening' of Wilson Inlet last year had created a level of salinity suited to the growing of oysters.

Australian Eggs has announced the launch of EggTrace, a new tool designed to help egg farmers trace eggs back from point of purchase to the date and location that the eggs were laid ... By creating full visibility on the path an egg takes from lay to despatch, egg farmers now have the ability to more easily and efficiently identify any quality or health issues affecting eggs, ensuring a safer and more reliable egg supply chain.

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The cost of fuel, gas and electricity is on the rise, as well as weekly rent and mortgage payments, but it is the increased cost of essential food items which appears to be concerning locals the most. Everyone has to eat and the price of groceries continuing to increase is putting pressure on household budgets across the country.

Horticulturists and agriculturists who take water from aquifers in the Gingin groundwater area south of Gingin Brook and Moore River will have any reductions to their entitlements delayed, according to the Gnangara groundwater allocation plan.

The peak national organisation representing forest scientists and professionals has refuted claims that native forest harvesting in Tasmania has impacted negatively on the climate. Forestry Australia President Bob Gordon said on the contrary, the carbon sequestering power of growing trees meant sustainable forestry played a key role in reducing the state’s carbon emissions.

Promoting export opportunities across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) to regional Victoria producers and exporters. Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AACCI) is the proud partner of the Global Victoria Trade Alliance Program being delivered across five regional centres in Victoria.

The Tweed’s first flood-free industrial land swap project is one step closer to fruition with construction works planned to begin at South Murwillumbah in August. The innovative plan will see eligible business landowners swap their flood prone land with Council owned, flood free land at Industry Central, located in Lundberg Drive, South Murwillumbah.

Results of the quarter two Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, reveal optimism about high agricultural commodity prices and the prospect of a third consecutive bumper grains harvest has been reined in by the increasing cost of vital farm inputs such as fertiliser, fuel, freight and machinery and broader inflationary pressures in the Australian economy.

While global milk production is set to have decreased for at least four consecutive quarters from Q3 2021 to the current quarter Q2 2022 expectations of weakening demand are creating a scenario for moderate price declines in dairy commodities during the second half of 2022, Rabobank says in its latest global Dairy Quarterly report.

An invited presentation by Associate Professor Matthew Harrison from the University of Tasmania presents a summary of recent research in climate change adaptation and greenhouse gas emissions mitigation for the agriculture sector. Questions are welcome.

Minister for Environment James Griffin said Bush Heritage Australia and South Endeavour Trust have signed permanent conservation agreements for Naree Station and Yantabulla Station ... “The wetlands form part of the Paroo River catchment, which is the last free-flowing river of the Murray Darling Basin. It’s considered among the top 20 sites for waterbirds in Australia." ARR.News has some questions for the Minister.

The Mulloon Institute's annual Tony Coote AM Memorial Lecture was held at the NSW Parliament House in Sydney on 23 March 2022. The lecture was presented by the Hon Shane L Stone AC QC, the inaugural Coordinator-General of the National Recovery and Resilience Agency.

First-mover companies around the world are taking the next steps to meet their emissions reduction goals and beginning to release climate-neutral beef products on to shelves, Rabobank says in its latest global Beef Quarterly report.