NFF secures breakthrough on Right to Repair for farmers
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has secured a Federal Government commitment to extend Right to Repair reforms to agricultural machinery, hailing it a historic win for farmers and a direct result of years of advocacy from the farm sector.
Stronger export markets accommodate record Australian beef production: Rabobank
With ongoing increases in cattle slaughter and high carcass weights, Australia’s 2025 beef production is set to break new ground with record volumes, according to a new report by agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank. Beef exports though are also up for the year – and will potentially also reach record levels – well and truly accommodating the increased supply.
Sand mining kills trees
Big, healthy eucalypt trees in Roe Creek are falling victim to sand mining, according to two members of the public who have contacted the Alice Springs News. The mines are either side of the Temple Bar Gap, south of the Ilparpa Road.
Letter to the Editor: Mine Free Glenaladale responds to Gippsland Critical Minerals
Mine Free Glenaladale ... A spokesperson for Mine Free Glenaladale, Ms Robyn Grant, said she was surprised at Mr Harrington’s comments ... “He is simply parroting the same unscientific misinformation and spin that the community has been asked to swallow for the past 12 months, as the failed Kalbar project is rescoped."
Summer celebration with Australian macadamias
To welcome the season of festive fun, Australian Macadamias has unveiled a new hero recipe that’s made for sharing, the Cherry and macadamia celebration sponge. Light, luscious and layered with seasonal cherries, soft billows of whipped cream and a generous scattering of roasted macadamias, this cake really is a showstopper.
All you need is local
You’ve no doubt heard the phrase: ‘Shop Local’ but have you really thought about why it matters? As we head into the summer months and the festive time of year, there’s a lot of pressure to spend money on gifts, entertaining and looking our best; let’s be thoughtful about where and how we part with our hard-earned bucks. You don’t need to go very far to make a difference.
Albanese Government to pass historic environmental reforms: Albanese, Watt
The Albanese Government’s landmark environmental law reforms will pass the Parliament this week, heralding a new era for the environment and productivity in Australia. More than five years after Professor Graeme Samuel handed down his independent review into the nation’s 25-year-old environmental laws, the Government’s Environment Protection Reform Bill will be passed with the support of the Greens in the Senate.
A secure and sustainable future for the forestry industry: Collins, Watt, Ayres
The industry is of such strategic importance to the Australian community we today designate it a priority industry under our Future Made in Australia plans.
Global supply supports domestic structural timber availability: ABARES
Enough structural timber is expected to be available to build Australian homes until at least 2050, according to an ABARES Insights paper.
Norco marks two sweet years of ice cream production at Lismore factory
Delivers almost $50 million of economic activity to the Lismore region, more than the value of the government funding that supported the factory rebuild. Last Friday, Norco – Australia’s oldest and last operating dairy co-operative – celebrated two years since its iconic Lismore ice cream factory reopened its doors and resumed production following the 2022 floods which decimated the factory and left it out of action for eighteen months.
Bendigo takes out main award
Liz Lawrence. Narrandera Bendigo Bank branch took out the main award, Best Business any size, at the Narrandera Rotary Club and Narrandera Business Group Annual Business awards formal dinner last week.
Local show kicks more goals
After being in danger of folding several years ago, the Corryong Show underwent a revamp and a change of date which has revitalised the community event, culminating in it being named the Corryong Event of the Year at this year's Australia Day ceremony.
Farmers unite to protect a family legacy
In the David vs Goliath battle of farmers and industrial renewables, Colin Fenton didn't mince his words in a showdown with a Transmission Company Victoria attempting to gain access to the family's 102-year family farming legacy at Dingwell. "We've been through wars, floods and fire, by hell we're a bloody resilient group," stated Colin, who, in his 80s, stood firm with his wife Mary and a group of supporters, who had rushed to their side for one of two attempted property entries this week.
Farmers gearing up for fight: NSW Farmers Association
NSW Farmers Acting CEO Mike Guerin – who led a successful legal challenge against the federal government and mining giant Glencore in Queensland – said he was “getting the band back together” to fight Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project ... “The people who depend on the Great Artesian Basin for their water are living in fear that this project will go ahead and go wrong, like many of them do, creating tens of thousands of water refugees and forcing farmers to abandon half the continent because it’s been contaminated forever.
Liberals stand up to Labor’s ruthless attack on farmers: Patterson, Centofanti
The Liberal Opposition has listened to the concerns of regional landowners, farmers and stakeholders and have successfully moved significant amendments to Labor’s ill-conceived Statutes Amendment (Energy and Mining Reforms) Bill 2025. Labor had attempted to force the Bill through Parliament, which would have seen farmers indefinitely unable to access their own land.
Industry at catastrophe
Hugh Schuitemaker and Madison Eastmond. The region's peak wine industry representative group has issued an urgent open letter to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, warning that the state's largest producing area — the "backbone for thousands of family" livelihoods — is in the grip of a severe economic and social crisis ... Grape purchase prices remain at historic lows, with early indicators for the 2026 vintage, showing shiraz prices far below the cost of production – as low as $80 to $120 per tonne – which exceeds $350 per tonne.
Council vote in support of: timber industry employees
A Notice of Motion (NoM) put forward by Clarence Valley Councillor Allison Bryant last week which called for the local government body to formally oppose the Minns Government’s September 7 announcement to end native forest harvesting and establish the Great Koala National Park during the Monthly Ordinary Meeting of Clarence Valley Council (CVC) was carried 7-2.
Historic first tax treaty between Australia and Croatia signed: Leigh
The Albanese Government has signed a landmark tax treaty with Croatia – the first ever between our two nations – marking a major step forward in our growing bilateral relationship. Once in force, the agreement will make it easier for Australian and Croatian businesses to trade, invest and innovate together.
Creativity using cotton obtains federal grant: Littleproud
Lapunyah Art Gallery president Helen Dennis said ‘Reparative Threads’ will explore the cultural and material residue of cotton, while working with renowned artist Dr Karike Ashworth and communities across the Western Downs. Ms Dennis said it is a joint initiative between Dogwood Crossing at Miles, Lapunyah Art Gallery at Chinchilla, and Gallery 107 at Dalby, culminating in a multi-site community exhibition and the creation of a large-scale 3D wall.
“Every bite counts” – GLP-1 weight loss medicines and the future of food: Rabobank
The surge in usage of ‘GLP-1’-style weight loss medications is seeing a "ripple effect" begin to unfold, impacting eating patterns in a number of countries around the world, Rabobank says in recently-released research.
Rural Aid’s 2024/25 Impact Report reveals growing need and enduring commitment to rural Australia
Rural Aid has released its 2024/25 Impact Report, revealing a year where practical assistance, mental health and wellbeing and community-led recovery helped thousands of farming families withstand worsening pressures across rural Australia.
The latest on Op Shop and Ukraine appeal
...There are now 18 volunteers contributing to the work of running the Op Shop, each person has unique skills and creative talents to contribute ... Overseas donations have been sent to Indonesia, supporting a child who has been able to attend school and receive helpful items, and to Ukraine and Niger with boxes of jumpers, beanies, scarves, bandages.
