Agriculture

Penola, in South Australia's Limestone Coast, has been named the 2024 Agricultural Town of the Year, in recognition of its dedication to agriculture, agricultural education and community. The announcement was made at the Regional Showcase Awards held at Beresford House in McLaren Vale.

A cross-section of the nation’s leading minds have converged in Ballarat, to discuss the goal of creating a healthy and resilient future for Australia’s forests and share knowledge and ideas to ensure forests can provide a wide range of benefits for generations to come. Approximately 300 scientists, researchers, forestry professionals and foresters will gather at Forestry Australia’s National Symposium…

Mark Thiele. SAL are both excited and proud of the achievement of one of our young livestock agents, Josh Pahl, in winning the SA leg of the National Young Livestock Auctioneers award. Josh was selected as the SA winner from 3 very good young auctioneers from SA and interestingly all 4 of the finalists come from the SE of the state.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has completed a timber testing trial investigating the best ways to implement technologies verifying claims of species and harvest origin of regulated timber and timber products ... Deputy Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Policy Matt Lowe said globally, it has been estimated that about 15-30 per cent of all wood traded is a product of illegal logging and illicit wood.

The Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA) presented David Brown with the ALFA Outstanding service to the Australia Lot Feeding Sector Award, at the BeefEx Conference held in Brisbane last week. Dr David Brown owns and operates the West Talgai Feedlot near Allora.

Hooray for the 160th Maldon and Baringhup Show on 20 October. It was a winner of a day under blue skies at the Maldon Racecourse and Recreation Reserve, where folks gathered to appreciate the achievements of growers, breeders, makers, doers and animals of our region. There was something for everyone to enjoy.

The proposed Cooba Solar Project will cover a massive 665 hectares of some of the best wine country in Victoria with 740,000 solar panels and 300 batteries the size of shipping containers. There are over 30 wineries along the Heathcote-Rochester Road that bring a constant stream of tourists to the area ... The area is prime agricultural land, with high-quality soil that is particularly suited to grape-growing ...

A compelling feature film that seeks to initiate and deepen conversations around mental health particularly within the agricultural community, was screened to nearly 100 people at the Corryong Youth Club Hall last Friday evening. Leila McDougall, scriptwriter, lead actress and co-producer of ‘Just a Farmer’ - based around the community of a farming family who lose husband and father to suicide - spoke afterwards...

Around 70 people attended the Gannawarra Shire Council’s (GSC) renewable energy day. The day commenced in the Kerang Memorial Hall … According to the figure produced by Gannawarra Shire Council, 80 farming businesses are involved in energy projects…

Grain handlers at  GrainCorp sites across NSW have voted to stop work as part of protected industrial action, said the Australian Workers’ Union which represents the workers. The 200+ workers will commence their action with a month of random 1 hour stoppages at grain handling sites throughout the state beginning next Tuesday the 29th.

Hugh Schuitemaker. A 5c on the dollar return for unsecured creditors of Salena Estate, in the wake of the winery’s sale, is "another devastating blow" for the Riverland wine industry according to senior local politicians. Salena Estate creditors last week approved a sale of the vineyards, winery properties and equipment to an entity associated with China’s Tianyu Wool.

Riverland-based MLC, and opposition spokesperson for regional South Australia, Nicola Centofanti, has provided the following speech she gave in Parliament regarding concerns for the listing of the Lower Murray as a threatened ecological community as part of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999…

What a remarkable day the 138th annual Nhill Show turned out to be ... Initially, the weather posed a concern for the organising committee ... By 10a.m., all trade sites, food vendors, and amusements in Sideshow Alley were fully prepared, while the shearing and equestrian events were already underway.

If the various State and Federal Ministers for Agriculture really want to make a statement that offers opportunities for Aboriginal people, then start with the existing 40 million hectares of the Indigenous-owned estate and unshackle them from the dead hand of government bureaucracy and red and green tape. But such a move would give the few Indigenous Australians who live on these properties real self-determination, the right to own their own land outright, access to capital and the right to get rich or go broke ...

Christine Webster. The organisation representing farmers in the Mallee is hoping the arrival of the first decent downpour of rain since January has broken a pattern of drought conditions ... Mallee Sustainable Farming communications and extension manager Tanja Morgan, who is based in Geranium in the Murray Mallee, said for growers who had sowed their crops a bit later in the season, last week’s rain may have been beneficial.

The ABARES National Wood Processing Survey 2021–22 shows that in 2021-22 there were a total of 252 mills operating. This is a fall of 47 mills since 2016-17, continuing a downward trend in the number of sawmills operating over the past 30 years.

Australia is looking towards harvesting a "marginally larger" winter crop this season, despite significant weather challenges experienced in a number of key grain-growing regions throughout the year, Rabobank says in its just-released 2024/25 Australian Winter Crop Forecast. The agribusiness banking specialist says the nation is on track to produce an estimated total winter crop of 47.1 million tonnes…

Jenny Pollard. ... Last Saturday’s Charlton Show was certainly blessed by the weather gods with perfect conditions for outdoor entertainment, especially after the previous day of heavy rain and wind. With big crowds in evidence, increased pavilion exhibits and some very positive feedback, by day’s end 2024 was shaping up to be a success story for the hard-working committee ... “As a youngster, Maddi’s commitment to the Show first started with her bringing along animals for the pet nursery ..."

Tasmanian farmers continue to take wildlife management seriously as new data released by Primary Industries and Water Minister Jane Howlett reveals that 1,373 Property Protection Permits were issued in the 2023-24 financial year. TasFarmers President Ian Sauer said farmers support the government's approach to addressing surging wildlife populations, including deer and wallabies…

There’s many elements that go into creating a good wine and it’s the winemaker’s job to blend them together to create the perfect drop.   WA’s Rosenthal Wines’ winemakers are themselves a special blend because they’re not just winemakers and business partners - they’re also best friends. Coby Ladwig and Luke Eckersley first met 25 years ago when they were at Uni.  

Coleraine P & A Society The Coleraine P&A Society is excited to announce that the 2024 Coleraine Show will be held on the 2nd of...