Fishing restrictions at Port Pirie extended
Precautionary fishing restrictions in waters immediately adjacent to Port Pirie have been extended for a further 12 months ... Put in place in September 2020 after the release of a scientific study into heavy metals in sediment in the area, the restrictions have been extended for another year while SA Health complete an in-depth analysis of sample results and consider the public health implications.
Agriculture looks to record-busting year
The agricultural sector is looking at another record-breaking year, with the gross value of production (GVP) forecast to reach $73 billion in 2021-22. ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville said if the forecast in the Agricultural Commodities: September Quarter report proves to be accurate, then it will be the first time the agriculture sector has been valued at over $70 billion."
Saving our forests and controlling our climate
I’m all for saving forests. Unlike the climate change enthusiasts, I learnt how to do it by working as a forester. Forty years ago, after I’d started working in the bush, Neville Wran commenced what has become a tradition amongst Labor Premiers by saving NSW’s rainforests. They were actually quite safe then. Some were selectively logged and regenerated, some were preserved in Flora Reserves. All were protected from wildfire by the clean, open, grassy eucalypt forests around them – maintained by mild burning ... Now Mark McGowan has saved the forests of the Southwest ...
MiniJumbuk’s local investment
Gabrielle Duykers. Wool processing factory MiniJumbuk is planning a $500,000 expansion for its Naracoorte retail shop in an effort to attract more tourists ... Marketing manager Darren Turner said the business wanted to create an “engaging” experience for visitors. “You’ll be able to walk out into a safe environment and see manufacturing happening. We want to be able to show how things are still made here in Australia.”
$150 million missions to boost Australian agriculture and food sectors
Three major new missions from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, will grow Australia’s agriculture and food sectors targeting $20 billion by 2030. The $150 million investment from CSIRO, government and industry will tackle drought, the food export market and growing the protein market.
Fertile agribusiness set to outperform in 2021
On top of a typically fertile spring rural property market, all signs are pointing to an unprecedented season for the agribusiness sector, exemplified in the recent sale of a 11,254 hectare Queensland farm after 157-years in one family. According to CBRE’s latest market review of the sector, the spring of 2021 is set to outperform its predecessors with both market and environmental conditions shining in favour of farmers.
Macquarie Crop Partners high yield for Lawson Grains
Macquarie has sold its 105,000 hectare Lawson Grains portfolio for more than half a billion dollars to Sydney-based New Forests and Canada’s Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo). The portfolio comprises more than 70 assets – or 10 aggregations – across Western Australia and New South Wales that Macquarie Agriculture had collected since the fund’s launch in 2012.
Yamminga aggregation sells to family
The 670-hectare mixed farm Yamminga Aggregation has been sold for between $9.5 million to $10 million to a family operating a farming, livestock breeding and finishing business in the NSW south west slopes region.
Mallee farmland smashes record
Adjoining blocks in Victoria’s Mallee district have sold to a first-time farmland owner at a virtual auction at what are believed to be record rates for dryland cereal farmland in the region. The 576-hectare Ouyen aggregation was split into two parcels, which sold back-to-back under the virtual hammer at 61% above the vendor’s reserve.
Bushfires and logging debate: Senator Jonno Duniam, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries
Blaming bushfires on forestry is just another attempt from those ideologically opposed to forestry to shut down an industry they fundamentally disagree with. There is a constant pattern of behaviour from the those who disagree with the forestry industry of using misinformation and cherry picking from report and science to support their claim. As we currently stand there is no unequivocal or generally accepted evidence that forestry operations increase fire risk.
WA call another example of thought-bubble policy on native forestry: IFA/ AFG
“The IFA/AFG is concerned that professional forest scientists, researchers and managers do not appear to have been consulted to inform this decision, and also questions whether the views and aspirations of Traditional Owners have been considered,” IFA/ AFG VP Dr Freeman said. “This thought-bubble policy is out of step with the rest of the world, which views well-regulated, sustainable native forest management and biodiverse plantings as the preferred source of timber, because of their positive contribution to climate change mitigation, biodiversity and forest resilience."
All states must follow Western Australia’s lead and end native forest logging: Greens
Australian Greens forests spokesperson, Senator Janet Rice, has welcomed the announcement that Western Australia will end all native forest logging by 2024, and called on the Commonwealth and other state governments to follow suit and end the destruction of Australia’s forests.
Shock WA native timber decision shows total ignorance of global policy: FWCA
The shock announcement by the WA Labor Government to end native timber harvesting in the state in just two years shows complete lack of understanding of forestry. Forest & Wood Communities Australia said it was unfathomable how any government can ignore IPCC advice that forest management was an important tool to reduce and sequester carbon ... “Climate Action Minister Amber Jade Sanderson even categorised sustainable forest management, which sees a tiny fraction of WA’s native forest is harvested and regenerated under the most stringent restrictions of anywhere in the world, as deforestation!": FWCA MD Justin Law
Media statement: McGowan Government’s historic move to protect native forests
The McGowan Labor Government announces that it has made the historic decision to protect the State's native forests from 2024, and will invest a record $350 million to expand Western Australia's softwood timber plantations to create and support sustainable WA jobs. The decision to end logging of native forests in the upcoming Forest Management Plan 2024-33 will preserve at least an additional 400,000 hectares of karri, jarrah and wandoo forests.
Record canola spurs another wonder winter crop
Australian winter crops are set for another bumper year with favourable conditions and a record amount of land sown to winter crops. ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville said the Australian Crop Report forecast another harvest well above the historical average.
Seasonal worker agreement extended with Victoria
The Tasmanian Liberal Government has agreed to continue its landmark quarantine arrangement with Victoria which sees Tasmania quarantine seasonal workers from the Pacific Islands, in return for the Victorian Government assuming responsibility for Tasmania’s commitment to assisting Australians returning from overseas.
New research hub to transform Australian agriculture with next-gen smart fertilisers
A new multidisciplinary Australian Research Council Research Hub for Smart Fertilisers at the University of Melbourne will develop a new class of fertilisers and inhibitors for Australian farmers.
Have your say on livestock biosecurity in the NT
Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility and Territorians are being encouraged to join the conversation with the community consultation now open on the Northern Territory’s livestock biosecurity laws.
Rabobank September agribusiness update: Can ag prices continue going above and beyond?
Strong increases in nearly all commodity prices saw the Rabobank Rural Commodity Price Index lift by 3.26 per cent in August to its highest level on record. This includes going beyond the Covid-induced commodity price surge of March 2020.
Webinar – Food & Agribusiness opportunities in Dubai; your global launchpad
The Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Business Council Dubai are delighted to jointly host with Dubai FDI the webinar focused on one of the key industry sectors - Food & Agribusiness.
Forestry starts with a seed – 5 million trees start their journey in Grafton
Over five million pine and eucalyptus seeds are being sown this year at Forestry Corporation of NSW’s Grafton nursery. The program is providing a boost to local employment and continuing to rebuild NSW State forest plantations previously harvested or lost in the Black Summer bushfires.
“Enormous potential” for agriculture in NSW
The opportunities and the potential of the NSW Agriculture sector to grow to $30 billion by 2030 came through loud and clear at the NSW Farmers online Annual Conference. “The prospects for increasing local food and fibre production are abundant, with 94 percent of the state out of or recovering from drought and strong commodity prices,” said NSW Farmers President James Jackson.
