$86 million on offer to grow Australia’s plantation estate in Cowper: Conaghan
“This is the largest direct investment of any Australian Government in plantation establishment for more than 30 years. We want to partner with NSW to grow this renewable, sustainable industry so that it can continue to create jobs in Cowper and deliver quality, Australian-made products to markets": Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan
Have your say on domestic organics regulation
Public consultation is now open on Australia’s domestic organic regulatory framework, including how to support industry growth and build consumer confidence ... “This is a growing part of the agriculture sector and we are keen to seek a wide range of views": DAWE
New research to increase profitability of ironstone gravel soils
New research into ironstone gravel soils in the western and southern regions of Australia is working to unlock potential and increase the yields of crops planted on this challenging soil type.
TEYS – the canary in the coalmine
Sheryl Lowe. "What followed ‘saddened” me, Member for MacKillop Nick McBride MP said on 5THE FM radio. “I realise there is a lot of fear around covid but Teys employees were refused service at businesses in Naracoorte and there was even a threat of the Woolworths Fuel outlet closing so staff wouldn’t have to serve them. The media continued to connect the outbreak to Teys but, Teys was the ‘canary in the coal mine,’ if you like. They detected covid in Naracoorte but were not responsible for bringing it to Naracoorte. It was already there.”
Foster & District Agricultural Show, 26 February 2022
Sammy Spark. The Foster & District Agricultural Show is back at the beautiful Foster Showground for 2022. Saturday 26 February 2022 will bring our community back together again to celebrate the region’s hard work during tough times and showcase agriculture in our region.
Pigs, pumpkins and ponies – 152nd Milton Show – 4-5 March 2022
There is excitement in the air, with preparations for the show well underway. Show President, Ken Leslie, reports that, despite having to cancel last year's show due to the COVID pandemic, the enquiries and entries for this year's show are coming in and people are keen to get involved.
Threatened species strategy action plan – Questions for Minister Ley and the Department’s response
Australian Rural & Regional News sought clarification from Minister Ley on a number of points, including consultation with and the role of farmers and landowners generally, and received a response, required to be attributed to a spokesperson (unnamed) from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Return-to-office suit sale recovery set to support wool sector in 2022 – Rabobank
Demand and prices for fine and mid-micron wool are forecast to pick up as workers return to offices around the world, according to a report by agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank ... Rabobank agricultural analyst Dennis Voznesenski said while consumer confidence is waning in the world’s two largest markets for wool, the US and China, there are positive factors that will push prices higher.
Murdoch son-in-law buys cattle station with carbon potential
Rupert Murdoch’s son-in-law and former News Corp executive Alasdair MacLeod has emerged as the buyer Paradise Creek Station in Inverell, intending to take advantage of its carbon sequestration potential ... MacLeod’s Wilmot Cattle Company breeds beef cattle while also sequestering carbon in the soil at its properties. It sold $500,000 in soil carbon credits to Microsoft last year.
Big Paddock Farm
Delicious lamb straight from the source is what Big Paddock Farm is all about. Fifth generation farmer, Tom McConnell, and partner, Leona Chan, are bridging the gap between the dinner table and the paddock.
Hemp trials: fibre & seed, man
For a second, I thought I had stumbled into the mellow haze of Woodstock, but this pungent aroma had no buzz or medicinal properties. It was all about fibre and the seed. Western Murray Land Improvement Group’s 7-hectare flood irrigation trial had over 70 attendees from as far away as Queensland. Five varieties were included in the trial to see what grows best in our region.
Aussie potatoes mashing previous records
New data released by Hort Innovation shows Australians are producing and consuming more potatoes than ever. Developed by Freshlogic, the annual Horticulture Statistics Handbook launches today and includes the latest available data on 75 different categories across fruit, vegetable, nut, nursery and cut flowers. And this year, potatoes were top performers in volume growth.
Scaling a silo or going up a hill to get signal. Time to end the connectivity drought in country NSW
The inequalities faced by regional Australians with mobile signal and internet connection need to be fixed. The National Farmers Federation telecommunications committee member and farmer Peter Thompson said far from being a luxury, mobile phone coverage and internet connectivity were essentials in the bush, much like power and water.
Evasive action required to limit stable fly
There have been increased reports of stable flies in the Shire of Gingin and other areas due to unseasonably wet conditions over winter and spring that enabled larval developmental sites to stay active for longer. Stable fly is primarily a pest of livestock, especially cattle and horses but it also affects humans, dogs and other animal pets.
Farm Forestry Assist program supporting growth of local softwood plantation timber industry: Kelly
WA Forestry Minister Dave Kelly has launched the Farm Forestry Assist program for 2022, supporting farmers and other landowners wishing to plant pine trees on their land. Established in 2018, successful applicants receive free high-quality radiata pine seedlings from the Forest Products Commission's West Manjimup Nursery to establish 20 to 50 hectare pine plantations on their properties.
Threatened species strategy action plan – Questions for Minister Ley
Australian Rural & Regional News seeks clarification from Minister Ley regarding the Threatened Species Strategy Action Plan 2021-2026 and Threatened Species Strategy 2021-2031 on a number of points including consultation with, and the role of farmers and landowners generally.
Farmers team up with cops to combat oyster theft
The state’s peak agricultural body has partnered with the NSW Police Force to tackle a major problem for oyster growers. Black market oysters – stolen from farmers and sold without food safety controls – are the target of the NSW Police Force, Rural Crime Prevention Team.
China bans Teys
Gabrielle Duykers. Teys Naracoorte is the latest abattoir to be banned from exporting its beef to China, joining nine others across Australia. The suspension came into place on January 29, according to an official notice from China’s General Administration of Customs. A specific reason for the decision or how the meat processing plant failed to meet trade access requirements was excluded from the notice.
Cath does Coonawarra proud
Gabrielle Duykers. In the latest addition to her many accolades, Cath Kidman of Wynns Coonawarra Estate has been crowned Viticulturist of the Year at the recent 2021 Women in Wine and Spirits Awards. Ms Kidman was one of 50 finalists to win one of the 18 award categories, with recipients spanning across 12 countries and regions around the globe.
Bittersweet win for koalas: Friends of the Koala
Friends of the Koala welcomes the federal government’s decision to up list koalas in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory from ‘vulnerable’ to ‘endangered’.
NFF applauds new Bill to reward farmers for work in promoting biodiversity
Under the framework, biodiversity, unlike traditional farm commodities which are delivered to a buyer, will need to be maintained and/or established within the farm boundaries, much like carbon sequestration in vegetation and soil. There will be an ongoing relationship between the supplier (farmer) and purchaser to manage and report the status.
