Leading Sheep forum signals increasing Merino interest
Queensland sheep producers and woolgrowers have signalled their interest in boosting Merino numbers in the State with the annual Leading Sheep Forum and dinner at Longreach attracting strong attendance. Under the theme of Meeting the Markets with Merinos, the forum was held on 26 March at Qantas Founders Outback Museum, and attracted 50 attendees representing 17 individual primary production businesses.
World first Sheep Sustainability Framework launched
Sheep Producers Australia and WoolProducers Australia have today released the world first Australian Sheep Sustainability Framework (SSF). The SSF was initiated by Australia’s sheep industry leaders to demonstrate our sustainable practices, identify areas for improvement, and better communicate with customers and consumers. The framework lists 21 priorities across the four themes - Caring for our Sheep; Enhancing the Environment and Climate; Looking after our People, our Customers and the Community and Ensuring a Financially Resilient Industry.
Worth the wait to show his appreciation
Emma Pritchard. Proudly holding his beautifully framed certificate in his hands, Grafton man Ian McGaw remains humble and appreciative as he shares the story behind it. After dedicating more than 60 years of service to local shows, including the Grafton Show, Mr McGaw was recognised for his selfless contributions by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW who recently presented him with a certificate of appreciation for his ongoing support and service to the most famous show in Australia, the Royal Easter Show ... Describing the “friendships formed through volunteering” and being able to “share your knowledge with others” as highlights throughout his association with local shows and the Royal Easter Show, Mr McGaw said he felt very humble upon receiving his certificate during the Easter long weekend, and he is looking forward to adding “a few more years” to his impressive portfolio.
Global connectivity is better, even in a pandemic
Despite the global economic shocks like those produced by the COVID-19 pandemic, agricultural sectors and economies overall are better off when exposed to international trade, the latest ABARES research paper shows. The research report, Understanding effects of supply disruptions on globally and locally focused economies, examines the effects of exposure to the global market on supply chains, and the risks and shocks of this exposure.
Innovative Australian food and agri startups invited to apply for international Rabobank FoodBytes! 2021 pitch competition
Innovative Australian food and agri startups have the opportunity to showcase their businesses on the world stage by applying for a spot on this year’s international FoodBytes! Pitch program. FoodBytes! is global agribusiness bank Rabobank’s food and agriculture innovation platform – designed to drive collaboration between startups, corporate leaders, investors and farmers as part of a major international program to help address food system challenges.
Digital Innovation and Smart Agriculture (DISA) Festival 2021 – tickets now on sale!
The digital potential of regional economies, communities and industry will be the key focus of a trailblazing festival being held in Greater Hamilton. Tickets are now on sale for next month’s Digital Innovation and Smart Agriculture (DISA) 2021 Festival, with participants encouraged to take advantage of the earlybird 10% discount which ends May 11.
The Winemaker – Many obstacles face the new producer
Many wine enthusiasts have dreamed of producing their own wine. They dream of walking among the vines, of family weekends at the vineyard, of the pride of serving one’s own label wine to friends, of winning show medals and accolades from the press. Tell them they’re dreaming.
Primed for the biggest ag show in the region
Norco Primex director Bruce Wright is ready for the event to roll next month. With all necessary covid measures in place, he is confident this will be the best Primex yet ... Norco Primex calls itself “Australia’s sustainable farm and primary industries exhibition” and says it offers a complete paddock to plate experience where farmers & foodies meet.
Glimpsing vineyard microclimates at the micro-scale
A University of South Australia research team is developing a prototype it hopes will one day be able to measure a whole vineyard microclimate in 3-D and in real-time. Professor Anthony Finn and his team are pioneering a technology known as AAT (acoustic atmospheric tomography), which observes the temperature and wind flow in the atmosphere above a vineyard and combines it with observations of the vineyard obtained using miniaturised long wave infrared cameras. This creates an accurate temperature mosaic of the vineyard infrastructure (vines, posts, inter-row ground, etc).
Food waste’s sustainability solution for farmed fish
A more sustainable global fish economy could be created by using food scraps to make high-quality food for farmed fish, according to a team of researchers at The University of Western Australia.
NFF welcomes appointment of Climate Change Authority Chair
The National Farmers’ Federation welcomes the appointment of Mr Grant King as Chair of the Climate Change Authority, as well as new members Ms Susie Smith and Mr John McGee. "The NFF has a core focus on ensuring the design and implementation of emission reduction and climate change responses do not disadvantage farmers, and the independent advice of the Climate Change Authority will be an important contributor to this increasingly important debate," NFF CEO Tony Mahar said.
NSW Government announces new Regional Jobs Precinct in the Namoi
At a Tamworth press conference on Wednesday 7 April 2021, The Hon Kevin Anderson, Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation and Member for Tamworth, announced that NSW’s Namoi region will be the state’s fourth Regional Jobs Precinct.
Regenerative farming – Land to Market’s Tony Hill in conversation
Regenerative, sustainable farmland is better for biodiversity and the planet, and done right it can also be more profitable. Land to Market Australia, a program led by Australian producers, is on a mission to promote sustainability and share the agricultural skills needed to regenerate farmland, all with an eye on market realities.
Largest ever global promotion of Australian wine to launch in April
Wine buyers around the world will be able to discover and connect with Australian wines on a first-of-its-kind virtual platform launching 27 April ... With already over 230 exhibitors registered and total of over 1900 wine products, Connect will be a go-to resource for Australian wine over the next 12 months. Trade will be able to conduct business with Australian wine brands in the Expo, as well as Explore and gain Education on Australia’s extraordinary and commercially robust wine scene.
NRLX sells $10m in a record week
In an inspiring turnaround since the devastating drought and bushfires, the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange has celebrated its biggest ever week with a combined revenue from three days of sales exceeding $10 million ... NRLX operations manager Brad Willis said the sale results proved the strength of the region’s market. “Many buyers commented it was the strongest sale they had ever seen, including several who came from as far afield as the Victorian border,” Mr Willis said. “Demand for high quality cattle remains exceptionally strong, and it’s fair to say the selection of cattle on sale last week was some of the best quality stock in the country." Mr Willis said people had said the Casino market was so strong and the prices were unbelievable. “Many of the local producers who sell their stock through the NRLX were hand feeding their herds at the peak of the drought in mid-2019. Then many were hit by the fires,” he said.
A united fight for fair, farmers and the future
Deep anger, fear and resentment has been exposed during the first public meeting at Newlyn to discuss the proposed Western Victorian Transmission Network ... The Western Victorian project is earmarked as the first of eight across Australia, including Victorian Government plans to ‘grid the state’. “Locals are very alert that the fight for their rights and livelihoods is being watched by communities across the nation. These residents are setting the precedent,” Mrs McArthur said.
SA agriculture generates strong $14.1 billion revenue
The new 2019-20 Primary Industries Scorecard is out now, outlining the resilient performance of South Australia's primary industries which generated revenue of $14.1 billion. It highlights the critical reliance on the primary industries and agribusiness sector to keep the South Australian economy moving, despite a number of challenges including drought, bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commonwealth, Queensland on front line for fighting fire ants
“Red imported fire ants are one of the world’s worst invasive species due to their devastating economic, environmental and social impacts, They are a danger to people and our way of life, destroy agricultural and domestic infrastructure, and are a serious environmental threat."
Are high Ag land prices sustainable?
Rabobank. Rabobank expects that 2020 would have been the sixth straight year for land price growth, which according to ABARES data, is an increase of 41% nationally over the six-year period. While price growth has been sharp, and strong, we expect prices are sustainable at these levels, with a downward correction very unlikely.
Milko makes cow-to-cup deliveries
The milko is back — the clinking of glass bottles, the layer of cream at the top of the milk — harks back to a time long gone. Dairy farmer Shane Hickey delivers fresh bottled milk straight from his Jersey cows to homes around Kyogle ... Shane said bypassing the supermarkets meant people could connect to a farmer who “farmed in a way that was ethical and sustainable”.
March 2021: seeds of doubt
Rabobank. The long price surge in Agri commodities markets subsided last month, as la Niña weather worries eased and South American crop advances pushed frenzied speculators to catch their breath. Wary consumers start to think of the most consequential US summer harvest in the last eight years. Then, as now, high US acreage and inputs will be no panacea; corn and soy must also yield well to keep corn and soy stocks from falling into scarcity.
Autumn rain lifts EYCI outlook in the short-term
NAB. Solid rainfall across many previously dry areas of Queensland over the last two weeks is expected to spark a short-term resurgence in young cattle prices, as many producers turn from sellers to buyers. In NAB’s March Beef in Focus Report, the bank’s forecast for the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) has been revised up slightly to 850c/kg for Q2 of 2021 on the back of recent rain.
