Farming

South Australian farmers received $4.7 million in tag discounts and rebates during the first year of mandatory electronic identification (eID) for sheep and farmed goats. The state’s farmers continue to implement a national roll-out of individual eID tags for sheep and goats to strengthen our world-leading livestock traceability systems and support rapid responses to biosecurity threats.

If you ever wondered why so few of our political class appear genuinely effective, the answer can largely be explained by three principles that govern human organisations everywhere: the Pareto Principle (1890s), Price’s Law (1960) and the Peter Principle (1969).

Grain Producers Australia (GPA) has secured a national emergency permit allowing grain growers to access stronger mouse bait as significant mouse numbers plague several states. Australian grain growers have been desperately calling for permits to access stronger mouse bait to tackle the growing problem, with the standard available bait proving inadequate. 

In April 2026, Peter Garrett AM took over as chair of Landcare Australia from Doug Humann AM, marking another significant chapter in a notable career. Australian Rural & Regional News was interested to learn how Peter sees the potential of this enduring community environmental organisation and his role in it.

On the show today, Jessica Lingard talks you through how she puts your farming weather together, plus Fiona L Fox answers that burning question, what is a Dingo?

Queensland’s 2026 sugarcane crush will officially get underway this week, with harvesters rumbling into life across the state’s far north. Tableland crews will fire the starter gun on the 7 month harvest, with the first rakes of cane due to go through the rollers at MSF’s Arriga mill on 18 May. 

Grain growers are urged to check their paddocks for signs of mice, with reports of activity in SA, WA and parts of northern NSW. CSIRO rodent expert Steve Henry, who is one of the lead researchers on GRDC-supported investment into mouse management, is reminding growers that conditions are ripe for mouse breeding at this time of year.

Hughenden Show Society

Rhiannon Govier. Every property owner has a story. That is just one of the reasons why Lyn and Stan Rasmussen became coordinators for Blaze Aid. During the four months of coordinating the Blaze Aid camp in Maldon to support those impacted by the Harcourt fires, the camp has spent $11,000 in groceries and $6,000 in fuel...

The Brisbane major parties need to get over their egos and remember they govern for Queensland, not for political point scoring, Leader of the KAP and state Member for Traeger Robbie Katter has said. Mr Katter praised the KAP’s Member for Hill, Shane Knuth, for tabling a biofuels mandate bill that would force big oil companies to use more ethanol and biodiesel, kick starting a revitalisation of the biofuels industry in Queensland.

The Seedbed Conditioner creates the perfect seedbed and root zone for crops at a fraction of the current power (HP/KW) requirement and cost of seeding. Over 15 years of paddock-scale research this machine always produced large yield increase, which averaged 25 per cent with a range of 10–40 per cent.

BCG was pleased to welcome Victorian Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Michaela Settle to Birchip last month. Minister Settle was eager to visit BCG, the leading agricultural research organisation in north-west Victoria, to learn more about the work we are doing to support farmers across the region.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food and Member for Central Wheatbelt Lachlan Hunter has slammed Labor for siding with the Greens and the Animal Justice Party in support of a radical anti-farming agenda that would cripple wild dog control across regional WA ... The motion, moved by Hon Amanda Dorn MLC of the Animal Justice Party, called on the Government to remove dingoes as declared pests and end critical control measures including 1080 baiting and trapping.

The May Budget delivered by Treasurer Jim Chalmers has elicited criticism, and some praise, from many quarters, as illustrated by the following statements from the National Party, Beyond Zero Emissions, National Farmers' Federation and the NFF Horticulture Council, National Seniors Australia, Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals, TasFarmers, Grain Producers Australia and NSW Farmers.

The 11 influential importers and buyers from China and Hong Kong last week visited South Australia to experience the state’s world-class wines first-hand and to agree to new export deals. The four-day program, hosted by renowned wine experts Tony Love and Kate Spain, saw the diverse group of wine buyers take part in an immersive experience of South Australia’s world-class wine...

Bendigo Bank Agribusiness’ latest Monthly Commodity Update reports tightening supply and a shift away from synthetic ‘fast fashion’ is driving a surge in the Australian wool market while avocado supply is bracing for a dive.

Last week I wrote that Budget Number Ten would tell us everything we needed to know ... it’s worse than expected. For all the Government’s talk about farm resilience, diversification and food security, when it came time to fund the department that actually underpins those things, the treasure chest was empty.

On today's episode the FBI has released some intel on UFO's plus we talk about the mouse situation in the CWB with Rob Proud from IGHC, along with all of your regional news and your weekly farming weather.

Affordable family fun returns at the Dayboro Show, 4 and 5 July 2026.

Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day, 24 May 2026.

NSW Farmers is calling on the NSW Government to pause plans to fast-track renewable energy projects in regional NSW, warning that rushing approvals will deepen community distress, entrench an unfair power imbalance between large developers and landholders, and generate more objections and conflict.