$50m raise for Lockyer Valley start up
Lockyer Valley Fruit & Vegetable Processing Company Limited (‘Lockyer Valley Foods’), the circular economy fruit and vegetable processing facility, has launched a $50M Series A funding round to begin construction ... Founder and CEO Colin Dorber said the Lockyer Valley – known as ‘Australia’s salad bowl’ – is vital to Australia’s food security ... ARR.News interviewed Chair Murray Chatfield to find out more about the facility, the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
Hiccups for Coles over milk from cows that burp less
Bovaer is getting a lot of attention – and not the good kind. Bovaer is a feed additive for cattle – including some used to supply milk and beef sold at Coles supermarkets. Why? Because Bovaer reduces cattle methane emissions (in burps) significantly. Bovaer is made using silicon dioxide, propylene glycol and the organic compound 3-nitroxypropanol (known as 3-NOP).
Engagement up for Ingham’s following Farm to Fork with Manu as campaign wraps
Hundreds of thousands of people around Australia followed Farm to Fork with Manu – a digital mini-series campaign by Ingham’s - taking a peek behind the scenes in our country’s poultry farming and processing industry to see how our nation’s top-selling meat-protein, chicken, makes its way from the farm to your fork.
AI supercharges smart irrigation for farms: La Trobe University
A smart irrigation system powered by artificial intelligence will tell sugarcane farmers when and where to water their crops in an advance that could one day revolutionise agriculture – and help preserve the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
Lockhart woman to attempt world shearing record
Lockhart shearer Nicki Guttler will attempt the Women’s 8-Hour Merino Lamb Shearing World Record at Parkdale Merino Stud near Dubbo on December 21 2024. The current record of 395 lambs was set on November 17, 2024 near Yass.
Concepts move to development phase
Tangible progress has been made with the Local Development Strategy (LDS) ‘Innovation Upper Murray’, with several opportunities now at Stage 3 of the process - developing projects, with community members and experts, through Innovation Working Groups (IWG).
Global beef markets to navigate declining production and uncertainty in 2025: Rabobank
Herd contraction in the world’s four largest beef-producing nations – the US, Brazil, China and Europe – is expected to lead to the first reduction in global beef supply since the Covid-19 pandemic, altering trade flows in the year ahead, Rabobank says in a recently-released research report. In its latest (Q4) Global Beef Quarterly, titled Navigating declining global production, uncertainty in 2025 … Brazil and the US are likely to lead declines in beef production next year.
2024 Churchill Fellowship recipient: Kelly Lees
In this interview with ARR.News, Churchill Fellow Kelly Lees shares insights from her experience with the intitial attempt to eradicate Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite of honeybees, and a little of her passion and vision for their successful management in Australia by our beekeepers who, as described by Kelly, are hard working, resilient and resourceful.
Hay Shire Council welcomes $45M feedlot development
A $45 million development application which will create 147 direct jobs in the district was unanimously approved by Hay Shire Council at its monthly meeting last week. General Manager, David Webb said Council staff supported the application to intensify the cattle feedlot capacity at Ravensworth from 60,000 head to 100,000 standard cattle units (SCU), and recommended it be approved. There will be no change to existing infrastructure (pen space) at the Ravensworth feedlot which currently employs 35 to 40 people.
NSW biggest wool classing cohort graduates at Hay
The largest enrolment of wool classing professionals in the state sat its final exam last week at Hay’s TAFE campus. Taught by one of Australia’s leading classers, Hay’s Kayla Garner, 14 students from Hay, Ivanhoe, Booroorban, Broken Hill, Adelong and Trangie were vigorously assessed.
Stone fruit crops ‘wiped out’ by rain
Hugh Schuitemaker. Riverland stone fruit growers have seen "large amounts" of certain crops wiped out at a critical time, following last week’s heavy rainfall ... "We all appreciate a good rain, and we all need it of course – especially the farmers – but the reality is that it does do a lot of damage, in terms of stone fruit, depending on timing'; Summerfruit SA executive officer Tim Grieger.
Kaniva A&P Society – Wheat Crop Competition 2024
Escorting and helping our judge, Hamish Mines, around the 23 crops entered in this year’s competition was a pleasant surprise and a testament to modern farming practices and the skills of our farmers. Despite the tough season, expected yields and grain quality will still be good in the crops inspected and in others we drove by on our 200km tour of the Kaniva district.
Wunkar’s landmark silo is now gone
The demolition process of the Wunkar silo is almost complete. Wunkar local, Terry Smith, captured the removal of the three-cell, 6000-tonne silo that was carried out last week, with the concrete structure that stood for 64 years now rubble.
Lord Howe Island businesses winning awards
Love Lord Howe. Recently won Gold at the NSW Tourism Awards. Benny’s Fish Truck. Recently awarded second-best fish and chips on offer nation wide. Thornleigh Farm Marmalade. Recently won Gold at the Australian Marmalade Awards.
AI, leadership, and the guest experience: must-see sessions at the Agriculture Shows Australia 2025 Conference
Renowned industry professionals Heather Ellis, Linda Tillman, and Shaun Leisegang will share their expertise and insight on day one of the national gathering of Australia's 582 agricultural shows. In ‘AI for the Show Movement: Simplifying Operations for Better Focus’, Shaun Leisegang, General Manager at award-winning technology services provider, Tecala, will show attendees how artificial intelligence can streamline key tasks in the show movement.
Beating the heat – Hive Haven V10’s breakthrough in sustainable native beekeeping: AgriFutures Australia
Australian native stingless bees are vital for pollinating many of the country’s unique native plants, but these bees may be facing challenges due to rising temperatures. Recognising the important role these bees play in the ecosystem, an AgriFutures Australia Business Innovation Grant supported Ann Ross and her team at Hive Haven to develop an innovative solution: the Hive Haven V10.
Dangerous numbers on koalas
Vic Jurskis. No matter what the cost of the Great Koala National Park it’s a scam and NSW’s Environment Minister has real numbers which prove it. Unfortunately, the numbers will no longer be politically dangerous once the Park has been legislated and the renewable timber industry has been destroyed to appease the Greens.
New report estimates Indigenous agriculture”¯generates $1.4 billion”¯: NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has welcomed a new report detailing the economic potential of Indigenous agricultural products. The study also examined the value of a credential system that would enable Indigenous-made agricultural products to be labelled and differentiated in market.
Global dairy market – Further milk supply growth and farmer margin gains expected in 2025: Rabobank
A new RaboResearch report expects milk supply growth from the biggest exporting regions in the second half of 2024. Growth is expected to continue into 2025, with gains anticipated in all major regions for the first time since 2020.
One of USA’s best state fairs to share insights with Australian agshows in 2025
Lessons and learnings from one of America’s largest fairs will be on show in Australia in February. Ray Allison, Chief Development and Strategy Officer from the Indiana State Fair, and Second Vice Chair of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE), has been announced as the first of two keynote speakers at the Agricultural Shows Australia 2025 Conference.
Calling a spade a spade, it’s like calling a spud a spud
Peter Hobbs. ... three major issues ... The first is the invasion of arable land which will reduce the capacity to grow the primary products for food production; the second being the thoughtlessness in procuring land that has been with families for generations; and the third and perhaps the most devious is the government’s divide and conquer tactics resulting in friendship and harmonious neighbourhood destruction.
Community unites against rare earth mining threat
A coalition of regional agricultural and business leaders has launched a new advocacy group focussed on protecting the Limestone Coast’s high value agricultural resource, finite water assets and cultural heritage from the imminent threat of mining activities. The Limestone Coast Sustainable Futures Association has launched an awareness campaign to inform the community about the invasive nature of rare earth strip mining which it believes will threaten the economic viability of the food and fibre sector and jeopardise biodiverse value including underground water resources.
