Farming

The Australian Beef industry and cattle herd are well positioned to capitalise on changing global supply dynamics in 2023. This year will be a year of transition and maturity for Australia’s cattle herd, with any increases in numbers now beyond rebuild status, with all key production metrics forecast to improve this year, according to the latest Cattle Industry projections update from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

An innovative project will be launched next week to identify economic opportunities for development in the Upper Murray. Led by Dr Juliette Milbank, ‘The Future of the Upper Murray’ will cover an area on both sides of the Murray River ... It seeks to develop strategic and innovative long-term projects that take advantage of local regional strengths.

Barellan annual First Cross Ewe sale was held last Friday with agents Mark Flagg Livestock & Property Pty Ltd of Barellan announcing the results. Best extra heavyweight ewe lambs sold to firm rates on recent sales with most lines $20 - $30 cheaper than a recent noted first cross ewe sale.

Member for Maranoa and Nationals leader David Littleproud is backing calls for Labor to rule out scrapping the Fuel Tax Credit (FTC) scheme. Mr Littleproud said dumping the FTC scheme was another cost of living threat under Labor and would hurt families and businesses.

Come and enjoy a family fun day at the 133rd Wynyard Show, the district’s authentic country Show. Marvel at the magnificent livestock, horses, poultry and cage birds on display. See popular woodchopping events and watch carriage driving on the main oval.  

Come along for a family friendly fun day out with Show attractions which include Eastend Bus Service Rodeo, Beaut All Vehicle Show including the Turtle Woods B&S Display, Sheep Dog Trials, Wood Chop, Championship Dog Show ...

“This program will provide an injection of funds to improve priority drainage channels, reducing the immediate risks to agricultural assets and surrounding communities in future flood events. The funding will focus on the cleaning and treatment of sediment in drains to assist in the movement of water through these river systems": Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says proposed changes to the Fuel Tax Credits Scheme as flagged by the Grattan Institute would further increase the already sky-high cost of living pressures on consumers and further financially strain farmers ... “It’s essentially a tax on food at the worst possible time and an unnecessary cost farmers can’t burden”: VFF President Emma Germano.

Food and Fibre Great South Coast and our valued partners have collaborated to bring together specialists to the region for a night of discussion ... It’s vital we have the best information informing our decisions.

Australian grain leaders are calling on other growers and farm businesses to show generosity and donate a tonne of grain or more, to help support Ukraine farmers and rural communities. The #AUSSIEGRAIN4UKRAINE initiative was established last year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to give Australian grain producers a way of supporting their farming colleagues and communities facing the continuing challenges and horrors of war.

If you think you’ve had a rough couple of years, spare a thought for beekeeper and honey producer Lindsay Callaway of Warral Maldon. Hard on the heels of the Covid lockdowns came the discovery in NSW of the varroa mite in June last year.  

The unusually cold summer weather continued as community members and visitors gathered in Riverside Park Barham to eat together and celebrate the broader community ... "There's no doubt, I often thought the biggest influence in local communities is the volunteers": guest speaker Keith Cummins from Cohuna ... Keith believes one of the biggest dangers we face is the inability to have discussions and listen to other people’s ideas.

Sammy Spark. Fancy a trip down to beautiful South Gippsland? The Foster Show is located in Foster, the gateway to Wilsons Prom. The Foster & District Agricultural Show has been showcasing the region’s agriculture and has been bringing the community together for 115 years.

Rochester Agricultural & Pastoral Association, Inc.

Australian exporters will see faster export documentation and easier access into Singapore’s markets, as certification between Australia and Singapore moves towards paperless trading ... “Using electronic export certification (eCert) means the relevant information is sent directly to overseas government agencies almost instantly, allowing for quicker clearance times so producers can get their goods to market faster”: A/g Deputy Secretary Nicola Hinder.

Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, has joined forces with the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association (KPCA) to create a fundraising drive for flood-affected graziers in Western Australia’s Kimberley region ... Ex-tropical cyclone Ellie brought unfathomable volumes of rain to Fitzroy River catchments – up to 800 millimetres in a week for some locations - resulting in a flood that exceeded previous water levels by more than two metres. Properties such as Yeeda Station, just outside of Derby, were battling up to 40 kilometres of flood frontage.

Beekeepers can now apply for a permit to move European honey bees and other related materials into Queensland from the NSW General Emergency Zone (GEZ) after this zone was declared free of varroa mites ... “All states and territories across Australia have reached unanimous agreement that varroa mite is not present in the GEZ”: Qld Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities, Mark Furner.

A committee charged with assessing the benefits, risks and costs of implementing eID tags for sheep and goats in SA has survived a tied 10-10 vote of no confidence. A call for its removal came after a two-hour debate where farmers spoke for and against mandatory eID tags in sheep and goats.

If a truck load of vendor-bred sheep go direct from a farm to an abattoir, should producers pay for the time, effort and cost of each animal having a $2.50 electronic identification (eID) ear tag ... Current figures suggest around $30 million will be ripped out of rural communities and their service towns by the scheme.

Why do we have so many new car dealerships, machinery dealerships and electronic shops when the buyers are embracing the world of virtual e-commerce platforms for purchasing everything from clothing to cars? ... We need a revolution in how we buy and sell our farm machinery as the hidden costs of an old outdated system are being loaded onto the prices making expensive equipment even more expensive.