Business

Agriculture in NSW is contributing more to the economy than ever before despite this year’s devastating weather events, with the total value of the industry rising by more than $2 billion last year to a record $23.1 billion ... “Livestock industries also achieved a record value of $7.9 billion due to a recovery in sheep meat and wool production and higher lamb, beef and wool prices": Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders.

A two-part ABARES Insights series on Australian agriculture draws attention to how changes in the sector over past decades have led to its current success and what will shape its future performance. ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville said farmers have made the most of exceptional growing seasons and high global prices to achieve unprecedented industry production and export values over the last three years.

Flinders Shire Council in North Queensland has announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Frontier Impact Group to investigate a project to harvest and convert woody weeds into renewable fuel and other valuable byproducts. Flinders Shire CEO, Mr Hari Boppudi said he was thrilled that Flinders Shire Council had signed the MOU to conduct a feasibility study on such an innovative project because landholders across the region had struggled with millions of hectares of good grazing land infested with woody weeds, such as Chinee Apple, Prickly Acacia, and Leucaena.

Nic Duncan’s photography work is not the glamorous kind. Far from it. Nic travels to the back of beyond to capture her subjects within their natural habitat. There’s no fictitious backdrops, no wardrobe assistant and certainly no makeup artist. It’s all about reflecting a person’s natural state. Raw and real, regional and rural she seeks the opposite of city and suburban.

2022 has been a busy year for the staff and volunteers of the Victorian Goldfields Railway.  In addition to operating trains every Wednesday and Sunday throughout the year, 2022 has seen a very popular program of special trains operated, including Murder on the Orient Express Driver Experiences and the ever-popular Ales on Rails trains.

Stephen Cranby. What is Roo Fest? Both Donna [Publican] and Mandy Connell [Organiser] agree. Roo Fest is about bringing artists together from around this region of Victoria to provide a venue for musicians who haven’t necessarily been heard or been up this way before.  

Australia is set to pioneer a new era of sustainable sugar exports when the first-ever shipment of fully traceable, sustainably produced raw sugar is loaded for export at the Port of Townsville this week. In a world first, the sugar, produced from cane grown by Smartcane BMP accredited growers, will be traceable through the supply chain to the end user in South Korea.

There has been a positive trend of increasing Regional Express passenger numbers at Narrandera-Leeton Airport since the beginning of 2022. Narrandera Shire Council’s General Manager George Cowan advised that positive comments continue to be received from Regional Express that the Sydney – Narrandera/Leeton – Griffith route was one of their most profitable routes flown.

Kendall Jennings. It has been nearly a month since public transport was available from the Kerang Railway Station, halted by the floods. The Swan Hill line was reactivated on Saturday, November 12, running trains for the entire service after the line was inspected and passed last week.

The latest two additions to the Koondrook Barham Red Gum Statue Walk were publicly revealed on Sunday, November 13. The Roy Higgins and Sidney Reid statues brings the Red Gum Statue Walk to a total of 20 features capturing the twin towns’ history, ecology and pioneering spirit ... “This walk is a very unique feature of our towns and highlights the versatility and magnificence of sustainable red gum timber": Tom Chick, KDC chairman.

There’s more financial support for Northern Rivers residents who have to travel a long way for specialist medical treatment. The state government recently added $150 million to the Isolated Patients Travel Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) that is for regional patients.

Labor has confirmed it is scrapping funding for the Agriculture Shows Development Grants Program. In Estimates week, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said $14 million in funding for Ag shows was being “reprioritised”. Maranoa MP David Littleproud said Estimates had sadly proved Labor was taking even more money out of regional and rural Australia, with infrastructure funding for Ag shows now gone, including in the electorate of Maranoa.

They’re the creepy crawlies with a voracious appetite, so when it comes to food waste, black soldier fly larvae are nature’s number one composters. Now, these wriggly grubs are helping South Australia’s food bowl stay clean and green as part of a sustainable food initiative from Mobius Farms.

Norco Primex has bounced back after local natural disasters with a near-capacity event. More than 10,000 people attended the final day of Norco Primex 2022 on Saturday ... “We chose to go ahead late this year to ensure Norco Primex 2022 would deliver for North Coast communities": director Bruce Wright.

Rodney Stevens. Organisers of the Yamba Rod Run are already working to have their traditional Saturday Show and Shine held in the streets of the Yamba CBD after a misunderstanding with council saw this year’s event moved to Ford Park. Lew Falzon of Borderline Street Rodders said after a two-year Covid enforced hiatus, more than 400 vehicles, their owners and families were in town for the 29th Yamba Rod Run.

“This bill is a signal to the Government that this is an essential step to saving koalas from extinction and is as simple as an amendment to the Forestry Act. We could save money, protect jobs and stimulate the economy while also taking immediate action to slow the extinction crisis in NSW": NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson ... Sue Higginson responded to a question from ARR.News.

Australian agricultural commodity prices have posted a slight uptick in the last two months with NAB’s Rural Commodities Index* rising 1.1% in October following a 1% increase in September. Released on 15 November 2022, NAB’s November Rural Commodities Wrap reports much of the increase has been driven by higher wheat and cattle prices offsetting falls in cotton, fruit and vegetables.

The state government body tasked to handle the business operations of Bramwell Station say they are committed to keeping the roadhouse and tourist park open, but questions have been raised over the transparency of the dealings. In a statement to Cape York Weekly, the Department of Environment and Science said it was dealing with existing sublease holders to keep the tourist businesses up and running beyond November 30, when the keys are officially handed to the Queensland government.