Statement on EPBC: NFF
Hamish McIntyre. Farmers have been left bitterly disappointed by the deal between the Government and the Greens on environmental reform ... the NFF has supported genuine reform, but not this deal. Our key concern is the announcement of ‘closer controls’ of ‘high risk land clearing’. The specifics of this remain unclear, and we are urgently calling for clarity.
A secure and sustainable future for the forestry industry: Collins, Watt, Ayres
The industry is of such strategic importance to the Australian community we today designate it a priority industry under our Future Made in Australia plans.
Global supply supports domestic structural timber availability: ABARES
Enough structural timber is expected to be available to build Australian homes until at least 2050, according to an ABARES Insights paper.
Farms could be our secret climate weapon, QUT-led study finds: QUT
The world’s farms could become one of the most powerful tools in the fight against climate change according to a new international study led by QUT. Published in Plant Physiology, the paper lays out a framework to assess how plant agriculture and synthetic biology innovations can help mitigate climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon storage.
Norco marks two sweet years of ice cream production at Lismore factory
Delivers almost $50 million of economic activity to the Lismore region, more than the value of the government funding that supported the factory rebuild. Last Friday, Norco – Australia’s oldest and last operating dairy co-operative – celebrated two years since its iconic Lismore ice cream factory reopened its doors and resumed production following the 2022 floods which decimated the factory and left it out of action for eighteen months.
Making a big stink: Local dung beetles turn crap into gold for WA’s wheatbelt farmers
A concerned conversation on flies spoiling glasses of Chardonnay in WA’s world-renowned Margaret River wine region has unexpectedly inspired a ground-breaking soil health project hundreds of kilometres away - and the results are already reshaping how WA’s wheatbelt landholders/farmers manage their landscapes.
Farmers unite to protect a family legacy
In the David vs Goliath battle of farmers and industrial renewables, Colin Fenton didn't mince his words in a showdown with a Transmission Company Victoria attempting to gain access to the family's 102-year family farming legacy at Dingwell. "We've been through wars, floods and fire, by hell we're a bloody resilient group," stated Colin, who, in his 80s, stood firm with his wife Mary and a group of supporters, who had rushed to their side for one of two attempted property entries this week.
Fish for the future, not for votes
Western Australians love two things: arguing about politics and arguing about fishing — and not necessarily in that order ...
Strengthening South Australia’s defence against H5 bird flu: Scriven
South Australia’s capacity to rapidly respond to emergency animal disease (EAD) outbreaks such as H5 avian influenza (bird flu) has been boosted with the launch of a new mobile biosecurity laboratory. The state-of-the-art mobile lab enables rapid processing and turnaround of samples - a critical factor during EAD outbreaks, where early diagnosis can significantly reduce economic and social impacts, as well as the risk of the disease spreading.
Farmers gearing up for fight: NSW Farmers Association
NSW Farmers Acting CEO Mike Guerin – who led a successful legal challenge against the federal government and mining giant Glencore in Queensland – said he was “getting the band back together” to fight Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project ... “The people who depend on the Great Artesian Basin for their water are living in fear that this project will go ahead and go wrong, like many of them do, creating tens of thousands of water refugees and forcing farmers to abandon half the continent because it’s been contaminated forever.
Liberals stand up to Labor’s ruthless attack on farmers: Patterson, Centofanti
The Liberal Opposition has listened to the concerns of regional landowners, farmers and stakeholders and have successfully moved significant amendments to Labor’s ill-conceived Statutes Amendment (Energy and Mining Reforms) Bill 2025. Labor had attempted to force the Bill through Parliament, which would have seen farmers indefinitely unable to access their own land.
Industry at catastrophe
Hugh Schuitemaker and Madison Eastmond. The region's peak wine industry representative group has issued an urgent open letter to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, warning that the state's largest producing area — the "backbone for thousands of family" livelihoods — is in the grip of a severe economic and social crisis ... Grape purchase prices remain at historic lows, with early indicators for the 2026 vintage, showing shiraz prices far below the cost of production – as low as $80 to $120 per tonne – which exceeds $350 per tonne.
Wrong time for a (vine) rest?
The Riverland's State and Federal MPs say an initiative promoting the resting of vineyards will have little benefit for the economic health of local wine grape growers. The State Government last week announced a rebate – of $40/hectare – for Riverland wine grape growers to rest red wine vineyards, through the use of the chemical Ethephon, for the 2026 vintage.
Petition calls for halt to National Parks land buy-up
An online petition by mayor of Bourke Shire, Lachlan Ford is calling for the NSW Government to stop purchasing farming land for National Parks in the western region. "In the last 20 years, the Bourke region has lost nearly half a million acres of agricultural land to make way for a suite of National Parks, Nature Reserves and State Conservation Areas - now totalling approximately 860,000 acres managed by the NSW Government," Mr Ford's online statement reads.
Council vote in support of: timber industry employees
A Notice of Motion (NoM) put forward by Clarence Valley Councillor Allison Bryant last week which called for the local government body to formally oppose the Minns Government’s September 7 announcement to end native forest harvesting and establish the Great Koala National Park during the Monthly Ordinary Meeting of Clarence Valley Council (CVC) was carried 7-2.
Seaweed industry update with the Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry recently announced the delivery of an $8 million grant program to support industry to scale up production of Asparagopsis, the red seaweed known for its significant methane-reducing qualities when fed to livestock. ARR.News asked Professor Catriona Macleod, ASSA Chair, for an update on the state of industry in Australia.
115th Circular Head Show, 29 November 2025
Circular Head Agricultural Society Inc.
When and Where: 29th November, Stanley Recreation Ground
Building on last year’s crowd-pleasing sheaf toss, this year’s Circular Head Show will...
Creativity using cotton obtains federal grant: Littleproud
Lapunyah Art Gallery president Helen Dennis said ‘Reparative Threads’ will explore the cultural and material residue of cotton, while working with renowned artist Dr Karike Ashworth and communities across the Western Downs. Ms Dennis said it is a joint initiative between Dogwood Crossing at Miles, Lapunyah Art Gallery at Chinchilla, and Gallery 107 at Dalby, culminating in a multi-site community exhibition and the creation of a large-scale 3D wall.
Warning – Rushing environmental law reform could backfire: TasFarmers
Tasmanian farmers manage almost a million hectares of forest and are responsible for its fire safety, ecological integrity and long-term health. TasFarmers maintains that private native forests must be actively managed through fuel reduction, cool burns and evidence-based forestry practices that support their natural ecology and community safety.
Rural Aid’s 2024/25 Impact Report reveals growing need and enduring commitment to rural Australia
Rural Aid has released its 2024/25 Impact Report, revealing a year where practical assistance, mental health and wellbeing and community-led recovery helped thousands of farming families withstand worsening pressures across rural Australia.
Changes desperately needed so we can fish for the future
Michelle Daw. Gulf St Vincent should be used to trial new approaches to managing commercial and recreational fishing, says YP Country Times fishing columnist Greg James. In the wake of new fishing restrictions introduced in response to the algal bloom, Mr James said the crisis presented an opportunity to move beyond bag and boat limits, to help ensure sustainable fish stocks for the future.
New blueprint to scale resilient food infrastructure across Australia: Food Connect Foundation
A new report from the Food Connect Foundation reveals how community-owned food infrastructure can build resilience into Australia’s food system at a time of rising climate, health and supply chain pressures. Co-authors Rose and Pekin, alongside social impact expert Elise Parups, will discuss the report and potential impact in a national launch webinar at 11:30am AEST, Thursday 27 November.
