Farm leaders unite to drive spray drift best practice
Four of Australia’s top agricultural peak bodies have united to send an important message to all farmers about adhering to best practice during the summer spraying region. The National Farmers Federation, Cotton Australia, Grain Growers Limited, and the Ricegrowers Association of Australia have strong advice this summer spraying season aimed at protecting each other’s livelihoods.
Forestry Australia calls for science to justify native harvesting decision
Forestry Australia is calling on the Western Australian Government to release scientific evidence in justification of its decision to end native forest harvesting. Forestry Australia President Bob Gordon said the association was concerned the decision to end native harvesting was not based on science, demonstrated poor understanding of WA’s world-class forest management practices and would result in increased imports of wood products from countries with lower management standards.
Indispensable workmates
“I just do it to pay the dogs back for what they have given me in a lifetime,” said Ian O’Connell, legendary dog trainer as he sat atop the sheep yard fence at John Lolicato’s Tullakool property Whymoul ... this seven State Championships trialling champion and judge, farmer and former shearer demonstrates how to work with his four-legged companions with nothing but love and admiration.
NSW Cabinet reshuffle
NSW food producers and irrigation companies are looking forward to working collaboratively with a number of new Ministers, announced by the NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Monday 20 December 2021. Murray Irrigation Chair, Steve Fawns said, ‘there are numerous Ministers who have responsibility for issues that fall under the operations of Murray Irrigation, and it is important to develop positive working relationships with each one’.
Genetic discovery to improve breeding for disease resistance in wheat
Australian and European researchers have discovered a genetic element in a common wheat pathogen with potential to help streamline breeding for disease-resistant wheat varieties that are better suited to Australian conditions.
Plenty of produce available, say Farmers
NSW Farmers President James Jackson said there were good production levels of fresh food despite the challenging weather of the past few months and urged shoppers not to panic buy. “Our growers are sending plenty of produce down to the Sydney Markets, and we’re working on making sure farm businesses can continue to harvest these crops,” Mr Jackson said.
The end of an era: Weipa fishing icon leaves a long-lasting legacy
A giant of the Cape York fishing industry has pulled anchor on his long-standing career. Alan “Fish” Philliskirk was a pioneer of the fishing guide business in Cape York – along with a couple of others – and is one of the reasons why Weipa is now one of the most desirable fishing destinations in Australia, if not the world.
What to expect in the global aquaculture industry in 2022
Strong retail demand and the reopening of foodservice set the aquaculture industry up for another strong year in 2022, especially for salmon and shrimp. Sustainability-related investments are expected to ramp up this year, as major producers and retailers have set ambitious targets to reduce carbon footprints. Rabobank just published a report summarizing the main takeaways from the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) GOAL Conference, one of the seafood industry’s most anticipated events.
New Australian Lamb Campaign reunites Australia with the rest of the world
Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) highly anticipated Australian Lamb Summer Campaign is back in a new TV commercial that celebrates Australia reuniting with the rest of the world after years of isolation.
Landcare champions in our own backyard
The Strongs were early adopters in sustainable farming after the droughts of the early 80’s and 90’s, it was after this when the family started to notice a change in farming profitability ... By 1997 the Strongs had implemented the method of direct seeding ... In 2006 they started marketing ‘Arcadia Saltbush Lamb’ and built up a self-replacing Soft Rolling Skin (SRS) dual purpose merino flock with high fertility to match that of cross breeds.
First harvest of biomass crops
Around one thousand trees will be harvested at Yanco this week in the next phase of a critical biomass crops for bioenergy trial. NSW DPI Senior Research Scientist, Dr Fabiano Ximenes, said the harvest operation would provide important insights into expected productivity of the trees and their potential benefits in terms of carbon sequestration and soil nutrient impacts.
Pollack Wetlands Indigenous food & fibre day
As part of the UN’s Decade on Nutrition, Western Murray Land Improvement Group (WMLIG) with Forestry Corporation, hosted a field trip to the Pollack Wetlands, food and fibre displays and a barbecue for 40 community members. The visit to the Pollack Swamp Wetlands allowed the community to see first-hand the amazing transformation and rehabilitation of the area from recent watering events, whilst learning about its natural resources.
Hang on, what about inadequate fuel reduction burning and consequent build up of 3 D fuels? : John O’Donnell
John O'Donnell provides a number of points in response to CSIRO findings on fuel loads, prescribed burning, climate change and forest fire activity in Australia over the last three decades.
We’ve learnt nothing from Black Summer
Einstein supposedly said that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. Australia’s current approach to forest management is insane ... Now the Senate’s Finance and Public Administration Committee has published “Lessons to be learned in relation to the Australian bushfire season 2019-20”. It would be amusing if not for the ongoing dire consequences.
Cattle property helping girls’ growth
A pilot program for teenager girls that focused on developing confidence, self esteem and self development has been hailed as a success. Over the course of the year, 47 girls from Napranum visited Wolverton Station, usually in groups of eight, for three days of activities on the working cattle property.
Next step? Using bird pellets and automation to protect bees
Scientists are checking birds’ regurgitated ‘pellets’ for bee wings in the latest efforts to protect Australian bee populations from threats. The work – which takes place in the Northern Territory, Brisbane and Townsville – involves teams locating Rainbow Bee-eaters, who typically roost in large numbers at the same sites each night, between March and November each year.
Millicent Saleyards saved by community
Sheryl Lowe. Faced with powerful deputations from members of the community at the Special Council meeting on Tuesday 30th November 2021, Wattle Range Council moved a motion to keep the Millicent Saleyards open. The vote was unanimous. The Special Council meeting was scheduled to provide elected members with an update on the operations of the Millicent Saleyards. Included in the agenda was a prepared Millicent Saleyards Review authored by CEO Ben Gower, five deputations and numerous submissions from the public.
Coonawarra cabernet crowned country’s best
Gabrielle Duykers. A Coonwarra winery has won gold in a national wine competition, making history as the first winery outside the Margaret River region to claim the prize ... The prestigious competition saw the Yalumba 2019 'The Menzies' Cabernet Sauvignon take out both the top gold of the Coonawarra Wine Region and the overall trophy for Australia’s finest Cabernet.
New migrants join Naracoorte workforce
Gabrielle Duykers. Teys Naracoorte will welcome 15 new Pacific Island employees this month in an effort to support its cattle processing operations amid changing herd numbers. Teys general manager of corporate affairs John Langbridge said the plant was proud to be a strong employer in the community ... The new migrants will arrive in Naracoorte at a time of peak housing shortages across the region.
Queensland farmers combine world-class beef production & forest growth
The National Farmers Federation is celebrating the environmental credentials of Queensland beef producers ... The 2019 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report shows growth of forest area of about 160,000 hectares since 2008. Australia’s latest State of the Forests Report also confirms steady forest growth during the previous five-year period.
Progress needed on floodplain harvesting
A Parliamentary Committee has detailed a number of ways to reform floodplain harvesting in NSW. NSW Farmers President James Jackson said even small steps towards evidence-based regulation of floodplain harvesting were better than the uncertainty surrounding the issue at present.
Agricultural sector buoyed by strong tailwinds
According to the Q4 Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, Australian farmers are still optimistic, if slightly moderated from the previous almost record breaking rates in the previous period ... With many crops damaged or destroyed in these regions, grain yields and resulting incomes across the grain sector are likely to be heavily reduced from what was expected to be one of the most significant winter harvests ever recorded.
