Tough times
“What a difference a year makes,” said Naracoorte Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross, reflecting on his first 12 months as a civic leader. Tough economic conditions are gouging deep into the lives of many – a direct contrast to that leading up to last year’s November 10 SA local government elections.
Tasmanian Farmers join national chorus to campaign against anti-farming policies: TFGA
Tasmanian Farmers have backed a national advocacy campaign in the fight against anti-farming policies that impact our farmers. Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers (TFGA) President Ian Sauer said the farmers across Australia have united in a call for federal politicians to say no to government policy which is putting billions in farm production at risk.
New President launches national campaign against anti-farming policies: NFF
An unprecedented campaign against anti-farming policies has been launched by new NFF President David Jochinke in his first day in the role. Speaking in Canberra at the National Farmers’ Federation National Conference, Mr Jochinke called on parliamentarians to stand up against policies which threaten to slash billions from farm production.
Calls for Labor to come clean on live sheep export ban: Littleproud
Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud is calling on Labor to release the findings of an Independent Panel Report into the ban of live sheep exports ... “Minister Watt didn’t have the courage to travel with the panel and look farmers in the eye himself to say he was stopping the trade – so the least he can do is release the report”: Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud.
A-EU FTA negotiations must deliver for red meat: MLA
Ahead of what may be a final push for the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA) negotiations, the Australian red meat industry is adamant that the Australian Government maintains its stated objective of securing significant increases in market access for red meat. Industry representatives will travel to Osaka next week to coincide with Trade Minister Farrell meeting with his EU counterpart, and encourage the Minister to continue the mission of ‘levelling the playing field’ for Australian beef and sheepmeat access to the EU.
Census snapshot shows changes in agricultural workforce: ABARES
Australia’s agricultural workforce is steadily growing and changing, with more women and young people joining the sector. The ABARES Insights Snapshot of Australia’s agricultural workforce shows the changing state of the agricultural workforce based on data from the 2021 Census of Population and Housing.
Australia’s robust red meat and livestock industry well positioned in the face of volatile climate cycle: MLA
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has published new analysis of the broader market conditions and economic contribution of the red meat industry in the latest State of the Industry Report 2023. The report produced by MLA provides an overview of Australia’s red meat and livestock industry from the prior calendar year.
Kaniva Show Quickshears
At 3 o’clock the annual speed shear at the Kaniva Show kicked off with 50 entries between intermediate and open ... Some very fast times, under 40 seconds to gain a place in the 6-person final for intermediate and under 30 for the open section with a few legendary shearers making their way to the truck to shear one young merino lamb.
Micro abattoir tour excites
The need for humane and accessible abattoir facilities has never been greater as producers are forced out of larger facilities and face ever-increasing costs of transporting their animals. Last week’s meeting and tour with the Murray Plains Meat Co-Operative (MPMC) was well attended with everyone being brought up to speed on how the project is progressing.
Top young alpaca judges to rank the herd at national finals
Australia's most promising young alpaca judges have been announced by Agricultural Shows Australia as eligible to compete in the national finals of the prestigious annual competition to be judged in October ... Grace Nesbitt, 18, from Illawong will be representing New South Wales in the alpaca young judges competition.
Farm incomes to fall due to drier conditions and lower prices: ABARES
After 2 record years, broadacre farm incomes are forecast to fall significantly in 2023–24 due to drier conditions and lower prices for agricultural commodities, especially livestock. ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville said that, at a national level, average farm cash income for broadacre farms is expected to decrease 41 per cent to $197,000 per farm in 2023–24, representing a fall in incomes back to levels seen 3 years ago.
A “mountain of supply” – counting numbers in Australia’s livestock market: Rabobank
Australia’s sheep, cattle and goat markets are being impacted by very high production numbers, compounded by already large volumes of meat in congested supply chains, according to agricultural analysts at Rabobank. For the sheep sector particularly, there is effectively a "mountain of supply at the moment" following two "extremely good seasons"...
Farmers losing confidence as government risks Middle Eastern gaffe: NFF
In a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, farming groups have expressed frustration and warned of irreversible harm to the agricultural sector and to Australia’s trade and diplomatic partnerships in the Middle East. Calling on the Prime Minister and Minister Watt to reverse its policy on the phase out of live sheep by sea, the groups said the ban was pointless, expensive and disruptive.
Cream of the crop dairy paraders rise to attention at national finals
Australia's most promising paraders of dairy cattle have been announced by Agricultural Shows Australia as eligible to compete in the national finals ... William Dudfield, 20, from Somerset will be representing Tasmania in the dairy cattle young paraders. “I’ve been showing since I was three years old and I’ve been a part of the paraders since I was nine."
Australia’s top young Merino judges vye for national title
Australia's most promising judges of Merino sheep have been announced by Agricultural Shows Australia as eligible to compete in the national finals of the prestigious annual competition to be judged next month. The competition brings together the best young judges and paraders aged from 15 to 25 in each state to compete at the national finals.
Janmac sires breed suckers to hit market sweet spot
A large selection of impressive rams by Janmac’s homegrown sires will feature in the stud’s annual spring sale this year, highlighting the depth of the stud’s genetics. And having recently returned from Sheepvention, one of the largest sheep expos in the country, Janmac Poll Dorset and White Suffolk Stud co-principal Grant Hausler said weight and quality wise their sheep were "right on track".
Australian agricultural exports reach new highs: Rural Bank
Rural Bank’s Australian Agricultural Exports Report 2022/23 has found that export values reached a record high in 2022/23, driven by the 2022 winter crop. Australia’s top 13 export markets recorded year-on-year growth with the top 12 all achieving record highs, led by China, with Japan and the US retaining their places as Australian agriculture’s second and third most valuable markets.
Gun shearer tops circuit
Lockhart shearer Nicki Guttler has had a very busy 12 months on the NSW Sports Shear Circuit. She has been competing in the senior level against the men in 12 shows, coming first seven times, second two times, third two times and failed to reach the final in one event. All in all she was the top competitor at the end of the circuit by 28 points.
Farmers from the West heading to Canberra with a personal plea: NFF
Farmers and representatives from across the West are packing their bags and heading to Canberra on September 5 to speak directly to politicians about the Government’s proposed phase out of live sheep exports … Australia’s live export industry is worth some $1.3 billion and generates around 10,000 jobs, many in remote areas.
Buloke Times editorial: Shearers 2
This is a follow-up to the previous piece about the shortage of shearers. The numbers of Australian-based shearers have diminished by 30 per cent in the last decade, partly due to the drought, the pull of the mining sector, and Covid 19 restricting arrivals. New Zealand shearers also had a pay rise in 2018. In May 2023, at the end of the earlier editorial, the hope was expressed that the shortage would be relieved by progress with the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (PALM). Provision had been made for a pilot round of a small number to be trained as shearers in southern NSW. That plan will not now go ahead.
Live sheep ban sets dangerous social licence precedent: GPA
Allan Marshall recently published an excellent article outlining the important role live sheep exports play in delivering multiple benefits, especially improved animal welfare and global food security ... So why does this closure of the live sheep trade concern Grain Producers Australia?
Optimising sheep health and maximising market specs at information day at Pepperton Farms
Gaining premiums from the processor, maximising genetic improvement and the latest in sheep handling technology will be on show for lamb producers at the Pepperton Farms information day on September 6. Hosted by the Trewick family, Pepperton Poll Dorsets and White Suffolks at Elmore from 10am to 3pm...
