Agriculture

Winter is the time of year when many hug their fireplaces with a book and warm lap rug but it’s also when breeders of horses and ponies like to brave the cool breezes and join together at shows to compare their youngstock. There were all sizes, breeds and colours at the NSW All Breeds Foal, Youngstock, Winter Hack, Hunter and Newcomer Show at Hawkesbury, with Buckskins well to the fore in the Welsh rings.

The Albanese Labor Government ... announcing further details of the $139.7 million sheep industry transition assistance package to support the phase out of live sheep exports by sea. The release of this detailed assistance package follows a series of industry co-design workshops held in Western Australia earlier this year.

The work done on rehabilitating the Upper Murray waterways following the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires has been an inspiring story of devastation to regeneration.

Transforming a dairy paddock into a new Garden Nursery at Cohuna, Ruth and Russ Robins have embarked on an exciting new venture. Set on the 120-hectare dairy, the Robins Nest Nursery Garden will follow Ruth’s passion for plants and commitment to creating a welcoming space for locals to fill a gap left by the closure of other nurseries, such as Elm Tree, run by Christine Morris.

The Opposition has slammed the Albanese and Cook Labor Governments over their deeply flawed $139 million live sheep phase-out package - calling it a political stunt dressed up as support, with no meaningful industry consultation and not a single dollar in new funding.

South Australia’s flagship fisheries patrol vessel Southern Ranger will be operating in the Gulf of St Vincent tomorrow to conduct underwater observations of the harmful algal … State Government agencies are also taking weekly water samples at 17 sites across West Lakes, the Port River, the Patawalonga River and the end of four jetties at Largs Bay, Grange, Glenelg and Port Noarlunga.

A Clarence Valley amateur beekeeper says she is devastated after having to destroy her hive of more than 6000 bees on the weekend that was ravaged by a Varroa Mite infestation ad has warned others to be on the lookout.

The Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange is close to finalising the installation of electronic identification (eID) equipment and infrastructure for sheep. The Naracoorte Lucindale Council confirmed the progress, noting that it allocated nearly $1 million in this financial year for improvements to the sheep yards.

Emergency services have been kept on alert, responding to cotton truck fires in the region. On Thursday local crews attended a fire on the Cobb Highway, adjacent to Hay Airport, where a truck carrying cotton modules caught alight.

Hugh Schuitemaker. A senior Riverland politician is "deeply concerned" at the potential risks caused by a decision to allow bee colonies from varroa mite outbreak areas into South Australia. PIRSA has announced the movement of bee colonies from varroa-positive interstate jurisdictions into South Australia will now be permitted entry under specific movement conditions, in an attempt to support business continuity for the beekeeping industry and pollination-dependent partners.

Hugh Schuitemaker. The Riverland's Federal MP says recommendations from an industry report examining dealings between wineries and grape growers should be implemented "as quickly as possible" ... "I welcome the recommendations of the Emerson Review and note that they echo the calls I and others have been making for many months," Barker MP Tony Pasin said.

Forestry Corporation firefighters from Tumut and Deniliquin will deploy to Canada this week to reinforce local and international crews battling ongoing wildfires, where close to five million hectares have been burnt, approximately 150 wildfires remain active, and multiple communities have been evacuated.

Good news for small-scale growers is that there’s been a surge in the popularity of roadside produce stalls in recent years as more people seek-out fresh, seasonal produce that’s locally grown. This model of direct-to-customer selling lets consumers actually see where their food comes from, while also bypassing the middle man.

Australia's brightest emerging agricultural leaders are gearing up for the National Rural Ambassador Award finals in September where the future of rural leadership will take centre stage at the Royal Adelaide Show - and they'll be doing it in style thanks to R.M. Williams, the official national uniform sponsor. 

There’s been movement on the stalemate between WaterNSW and Kyogle Fishing Club with a formal interim licence to be issued next week. The gates to Bells Bay Campground are still locked despite initial reports they would be opened last Wednesday, July 9.

The Albanese Labor Government acknowledges the release of Dr Craig Emerson’s independent impact analysis of trade and competition dynamics in the grape and wine sector. The report, released today by Wine Australia, examines fair trading, competitive relationships, contracting practices and risk allocation between grape growers, winemakers and retailers.

Cheap volcanic rock that languishes in open cut mines and quarries could transform Australia’s farming sector as a natural fertiliser, boosting crop yields and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It turns out that crushed basalt – a common rock used to make roads, houses, schools and hospitals – may address two very critical issues of our time: climate change and acidic soils.

Local stock agent Steve Gaff says the price at the Alice Springs Show cattle sale was much the same as last year or a little better. The Donald Trump tariffs "had no effect at all," probably because the Australian market is affected in a different way – 10 per cent tariffs – compared to other countries.

Estimates is meant to be the opposition’s one decent swing at the government’s budget—the rare chance to force ministers to justify the billions in taxpayer cash they merrily shovel around like chook feed. Instead, it’s turned into the legislative equivalent of asking a sulky teenager to explain where last week’s allowance went ... when ministers start throwing up emotional smokescreens instead of facts, it’s usually a sign they’ve got something to hide.

In February of this year, Ben Krause from Donald participated in the Wimmera group final of the Junior Show Ambassador Award. Representing both the Donald Show and his community, Ben showcased his pride and enthusiasm, embodying the spirit of a young man deeply connected to his community.

The first real-time dashboard for tracking on-farm fatalities and injuries has launched, giving journalists, farm safety advocates, researchers and the farming community early insights into where and how agricultural incidents are occurring. Developed by AgHealth Australia as part of the Ag Safety Data Net project, the Rural Media Farm Injury Dashboard draws on live media reports…