Agriculture

International attention has turned to the Riverland's irrigation industry, with senior Indian government officials visiting the region to study how growers are adapting to changing markets through crop diversification and agricultural transformation.

Growers in the far eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia will benefit from two new Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investments exploring long coleoptile wheat, deep-seeded crops and deep phosphorus fertiliser placement.

The Sesame Central Program Framework provides a comprehensive roadmap for developing a sustainable and commercially viable sesame industry in Australia.

The Albanese and Rockliff Governments have officially committed to work together towards a bilateral agreement to support sustainable forestry in Tasmania into the future. From July 1 2027, the Albanese Government’s historic environmental law reforms will bring forestry operations covered by Regional Forest Agreements (RFA) under Federal environmental regulation.

National Farmers Federation President, Hamish McIntyre, responds to questions from Australian Rural & Regional News asked in the light of the pending decision on paraquat by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and recent media drawing a connection between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease.

Queensland producers will gain access to discounts on ground and aviation fuels, and lubricant services through a new partnership between AgForce and Lowes Petroleum aimed at helping reduce operating costs and improve on-farm efficiency.

Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers (QFVG) is seeking assurances that Queensland growers will not become collateral damage in proposed changes to Australia's disaster recovery funding arrangements.

“The recent rain has given cattle producers the confidence to hold onto stock, abruptly tightening availability and driving a major price lift...”

Carp for Crocs and landscape photographer Christian Fletcher joins us for the day to day on owning a Tesla in the country, and a colab between James and Christian Fletcher's band Chain Ave?

See you at the Dairy Farmers Malanda Show, 26-28 June 2026.

It seems that compost is a subject that is exercising the minds of many across the shire, and Maldon resident Oliver Messenger is one of them. He has invented a composting system that has been granted an Australian patent with an international patent in the works.

The rich terroir of Cowra, its produce, wine, culture and peacetime history, will be celebrated in a hugely expanded Winter Wanderlust festival running 10-18 July 2026. With over 20 events across nine days, the program is the most diverse and tasty the festival has seen, drawing together chefs, winemakers, farmers, artists and hoteliers for a heartwarming winter celebration.

In light of the pending decision on paraquat by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and recent media drawing a connection between paraquat and Parkinson's disease, Australian Rural & Regional News has sought responses from industry bodies.

TasFarmers has welcomed the State Government's announcement of a new fertiliser supply agreement, saying it provides much-needed certainty for farmers preparing for the coming season. The agreement, facilitated through Indonesia and fertiliser manufacturer Incitec Pivot, comes after months of concern about global fertiliser availability driven by conflict in the Middle East and disruption to international supply chains.

Key government and private sector organisations have come together to test how they respond to crisis scenarios, such as natural disasters, health and biosecurity incidents, supply chain shortages and disruptions to critical infrastructure.

NSW Farmers says today's Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review decision will place significant additional pressure on farm employers, with some horticulture operations facing the full 6 per cent increase to their wages bill.

A peer-reviewed study concludes that predation by an introduced species is the primary driver of swift parrot decline, and that conservation strategy needs to catch up with that reality. TTV ... says a new peer-reviewed study vindicates what the forestry sector has long argued: that native forest harvesting is not the primary cause of swift parrot decline…

Forest and Wood Communities Australia has welcomed the publication of a major peer-reviewed scientific review that concludes Australia's native forests can be sustainably managed for timber production while protecting biodiversity, carbon values, water resources and other environmental outcomes.

Nearly two years after the live export ban became law, farmers have been making decisions while the transition industry is still planning the transition. That simple fact tells you almost everything you need to know about the live sheep transition.

Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers (QFVG) is warning against complacency on Australia's food security following the release of the ABARES June 2026 Agricultural Commodities Report, which shows export growth is increasingly obscuring challenges facing domestic fruit and vegetable production. 

"It's quite negative out there," were the opening remarks of NSW Drought Co-ordinator, Ray Willis when he spoke at the landholder support day at Booroorban last week. "I'm hearing people who say they cannot do it again. They don't want to go through what they did in 2019."