Ag production figures fall as outcomes for some rest on a knife’s edge: ABARES
The gross value of Australia’s agricultural production is expected to fall by 2.8 per cent to $90.7 billion in 2025-26, driven by lower crop and livestock production volumes, according to the June quarter forecasts released by ABARES ...
NFF says wage growth must be matched by productivity gains
“As price takers, farm businesses have limited capacity to absorb higher labour costs without a corresponding uplift in productivity. Without this link, wage growth risks undermining the viability of many small and family-run farm operations”: Troy Williams, NFF.
Why regional living and learning is a smart choice: CSU
House prices are decreasing and employment opportunities are increasing – there has never been a better time to live and study in regional areas. More young people in the city in recent years have given up on their dreams of owning a home – but are they looking in the wrong market?
Fre$h approach to shopping
It only opened in Grafton Shoppingworld less than a fortnight ago, but Australian owned and operated food warehouse Fresh & Save is already proving to be extremely popular with Clarence Valley shoppers.
Clarence Head longboarders
Clarence Head Longboarders are hosting the annual Yamba Single Fin on the 7th, 8th and 9th of June ... Divisions range from Juniors through to Over 70s, Old Malibu and Timber longboards.
Sheep dog trials are baaa-ck in Barmera
Madison Eastmond. Kicking off at 8am this morning due to an unprecedented number of entries, the annual SA Sheep Dog Trials have returned to the Barmera Oval this week, with action continuing through to Sunday afternoon ... "A lot of our competitors tell us (Barmera) is the best trials they go to — with the town, the lake, and the extra entertainment we put on.": SA Sheepdog Trials organiser Bob Clark.
Fashions on the Field at Beef Week Cup Day
Before the Beef Week Cup race there was Fashions on the Field at Casino racetrack ... Nine women stood on the racetrack while two judges selected the placegetters.
Aperitivo vs Happy Hour: Who does it better?
Luke Terramadre. How does Italy’s elegant aperitivo culture compares to Australia’s casual pub drinks. When the clock strikes five, both Italians and Australians know it’s time to unwind, but how they do it couldn’t be more different.
Melbourne Cup is coming to Buloke
On Sunday and Monday, August 31 and September 1, Donald will host the 2025 Lexus Cup during its five-month tour, beginning in New York, U.S.A., early this month. On May 29, the Victoria Racing Club was thrilled to unveil 36 destinations for the Cup tour at a special Launch event held at Flemington Racecourse.
Kids call out public transport fail: “Where’s the tram?”
While the state unveiled a new Emergency Services Levy, it also tried to sweeten the blow with a headline-grabbing promise: free public transport for all Victorian children under 18, starting January 1. But for rural communities like Donald, that promise rings hollow. "We have no trains, the tram is decommissioned ..."
First national stocktake of Australia’s food system reveals hidden costs and big opportunities: CSIRO
CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has completed the first-ever national stocktake of our $800 billion food system, which feeds around 100 million people – including 27 million Australians – with food produced by 100,000 farmers ... the report urged a new approach to managing and reporting on our food system to make it more resilient to the challenges faced by farmers...
Editor of Signals meets editor of Signal
Jeffrey Mellefont, Australian National Maritime Museum. Like everybody's first visit to Lord Howe Island, ours in early May, 2025, completely charmed my wife, Anna and me ... here's another one I particularly want to add: the very finest little regional museum that I've visited in ages. The Lord Howe Island Museum just bowled us over ...
The last QantasLink flight to Lord Howe – Truly the end of an era!
Chris Murray. On Friday, 16th May, the last QantasLink flight rolled into Lord Howe at around 2.45pm piloted by senior QantasLink captains, Mark Nesbitt and Jarrod Seen. This flight marked the end of an era that began on the 1st of June, 1991, when VH-TQP – an aircraft owned by Eastern Australia Airlines - arrived at Lord Howe bearing passengers, freight and mail from Sydney.
Small bus makes big difference for remote NSW community
Every second Thursday at 7am, Rob Dyson fires up his bus in the opal mining town of White Cliffs and embarks on what has become a lifeline for the remote far west NSW community ... "I'm like the farm dog, you start up the ute and I jump on. He starts the bus and I'm on it. There are so many advantages," said local artist Cree Marshall, who has been using the service since it began three and a half years ago.
50 new local jobs
The reopening of Naracoorte’s Kincraig Hotel this December under new ownership is set to bring a much-needed boost to the local economy with the creation of 50 new jobs for the community. Development works on the multimillion-dollar, five-star accommodation are advancing, with the project’s completion anticipated to rejuvenate the local economy through its diverse offerings.
The old Oldsmobile
Hidden in sheds, under tarps and out of sight in Maldon, are some amazing things. This is a 1925 Oldsmobile Tourer, which obviously means it’s now 100 years old. Here’s a fun fact: it was Oldsmobile that pioneered the production line, not Henry Ford, although he certainly picked up the idea and ran with it with his Model T.
Regional view: State budget
The Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes MP handed down the State Budget on Tuesday 20 May and it is now available for public scrutiny — it is presented more like an illustrated, online brochure than a spreadsheet. It came after the government sent a flurry of announcement emails to the media (evidently scheduled one-per-minute over the Tuesday lunchtime period).
Charlton Club ticks off 125 years
In 1900 Australia was still a number of individual colonies, the Boer War was still taking place, and in China the Boxer Rebellion was drawing nations across the world into that conflict. In Charlton ten members of the community from different walks of life met in a small room behind a shop, and with the taking of minutes, banking and a constitution the Charlton Club was born on May 21st...
Dairy farmers disappointed with opening milk prices: VFF
The United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (UDV) has expressed disappointment in Fonterra’s opening milk price of $8.60/kgMS for the 2025–26 season, saying it falls short of what is needed to sustain Victorian dairy farmers through one of the toughest periods in recent memory.
Australia’s cotton capital struggles to buy underwear
Narrabri launches a cheeky new campaign calling for major retailers to close the regional retail gap ... Watch the saucy short video and read the ARR.News interview with Narrabri Shire Mayor, Darrell Tiemens and Narrabri Shire General Manager, Eloise Chaplain.
Australia Post works behind scenes on Narrandera Post Office location
Australia Post is working to establish ongoing arrangements for its Post Office in Narrandera and is grateful to locals for their patience and understanding.
Free caravan and weighing day at Narrandera
Caravanners in Narrandera will be offered road safety and caravanning advice at free caravan weighing days on Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June. Narrandera Shire Council and Transport for NSW will co-host the caravan weighing days with "Your Weigh - Mobile Vehicle Weighing" to educate caravanners about correctly calculating their caravan’s weight...
