Agriculture

Improved water availability has allowed Western Australia's two remaining water deficiency declarations to be revoked in the Shire of Esperance.

Packhorse Pastoral Co has forked out $30 million to acquire large-scale Roma district property Stuarts Creek and cattle, in one of the Maranoa region’s largest single grazing asset transactions, as it embarks on a five-year mission to grow the cattle and carbon fund to $1.5 billion.

Shenhua Watermark Coal has moved to sell off its Liverpool Plains landholdings with expectations of $120 million after the New South Wales government paid the company to give up its mining licence. They comprise three aggregations, Breeza, Tambar Springs and Barraba, covering a combined 16,570 hectares in the north west’s Gunnedah region.

One of the only licensed freshwater aquaculture properties in North Queensland has entered the market and is expecting offers in excess of $4 million. The 80-hectare Ausgold Aquaculture property, that sits 45km outside of Townsville, is a supplier for major fish markets, restaurants and supermarkets across the countries east coast.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) has launched an equity raising, as the group bets on macadamias, cattle and water in central Queensland. Rural Funds Group is looking to raise $100 million, at an issue price of $2.47, through a fully underwritten 1-for-8.4 accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer.

Australia's northernmost pastoral property, Bramwell Station, has been put up for sale amid heightened demand for domestic travel and some of the best seasonal and market conditions seen in living memory. Located 240 kilometres south of the tip of Cape York, Bramwell Station spans 131,900 hectares and is the last stop before the tip of Cape York and at the start of the famous Old Telegraph Line four-wheel-drive track.

More nitrogen isn’t always better – especially in a drier year – when producing quality hay is the key to farm returns. That’s according to research funded by AgriFutures Export Fodder Program as part of the National Hay Agronomy (NHA) Project ... The NHA project is a four-year investment by the AgriFutures Export Fodder Program and aims to address current knowledge gaps in the Australian export fodder industry.

Wendy Kozicka believes the state government could buy Cape York’s most northern cattle station for conservation. The owner of Bramwell Station said it wouldn’t surprise her if the Queensland government made an offer to buy the property before it goes up for auction on August 11.

The National Farmers’ Federation welcomes the courageous moves by the United States Presidential Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy that will prohibit unfair practices perpetrated on chicken growers by American chicken meat processors, practices that are also rife in Australia’s poultry sector.

With James Blundell officially opening on Saturday at 12pm, you’ll be wowed with the monster trucks and thrilled with all the action of a two day campdraft. Plus, rock climbing, side show ally and plenty more.

A series of resources including an interactive online tool have been launched to help growers design their crops for most secure and effective pollination. Australian-first research has delivered breakthrough findings and tools to secure the future of pollination-dependent crops amid ongoing threats to both managed and native pollinators.

A survey of Leading Sheep’s network of Queensland sheep and wool businesses found industry collaboration and information sharing helps facilitate improved flock, drought, and business management changes for producers.

Shortly after its recent merger with Centuria Capital Group and the sale of the Vitalharvest Freehold Trust, Primewest has launched a new wholesale unlisted agricultural fund that will be seeded with a $53.9 million almond farm in the Riverina region, offered as part of the Western Rosella farming portfolio.

One of the sunshine state’s largest agribusiness properties, Croydon Station, spanning nearly 60,000 hectares, has been sold for a speculated figure of around $80 million in the sector’s latest blockbuster deal ... “We fielded around 40 enquiries from buyers, which resulted in 10 inspections and seven tenders, which is very significant in this price bracket,” Pat O’Driscoll said.

Australian agriculture is set to become a $100 billion industry by 2030, though positive conditions will need to be backed up by increased investments. According to NAB and Agrifutures Final Report on the capital needs of the industry, the $63.3 billion agribusiness sector is on track to meet the $100 billion target set by the National Farmers’ Federation.

Local commodities prices have continued to show gains despite some global measures softening, while the beef market can expect further record prices, according to Rabobank. The outlook will provide more confidence for farmers, after its recent quarterly survey showed 2021 is shaping up to be an “instrumental” year in the long-term prosperity of the Australian farming sector, with almost 90% of farmers expecting the strong business conditions to either continue or improve over the year ahead.

Chinese billionaire Xingfa Ma’s Tianma Bearing Group (TBG) has listed the modern feedlot and grazing property Emu Downs for lease, while it continues to shop around Balfour Downs and Wandanya stations in the Pilbara region.

Four Limestone Coast farmers have shared their experiences of precision agriculture as part of an online roadshow produced by the Society of Precision Agriculture Australia. “We know farmers love nothing better than to visit other farms,” she said. “They enjoy seeing what’s working and what isn’t, and hearing other farmers talk about the lessons they’ve learned.

Jesse Scott, Chief Innovation and Growth Officer for GrainCorp, speaks with Fiona Fox from Australian Rural & Regional News about his background, his role at GrainCorp, GrainCorp's core businesses and some of its newer projects, including with FutureFeed and the Asparagopsis (red seaweed) industry, alternative protein and smart agriculture.

“At a dog park in Sydney in 2018, my wife and I got to talking about food security; how the global population is forecast to grow to nearly 10 billion by 2050, yet we don’t have enough protein to feed everyone. I was looking at the ‘fur babies’, wondering how we could feed them more sustainably: could we feed them insect protein instead?” asked Shaun Eislers, founder of BuggyBix.

The 2021 show is a grassroots, community focused event. It is the result of the year-long efforts of the local 10 committee members and their families, the Support Officer, an army of over 50 volunteers, tenders and casual workers.