Farming

Once every three or so years at the federal level, peak bodies in agriculture line up to present their election wish lists to the major political parties, in the hope of getting them embedded in their campaign platforms ... it’s time to change the tune.

Jerrawa Show Society, Inc

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is calling on the Victorian Parliament to take immediate action and refer the deeply flawed Fire Services Levy Bill to a parliamentary inquiry, as it faces debate in the Upper House this week. VFF President Brett Hosking said the Bill must be referred to a parliamentary inquiry to ensure the community has a voice in the process.

Reform of global agricultural subsidies and tariffs at the World Trade Organization would support better environmental and food security outcomes, according to the latest ABARES Insights paper.

Australian farmers are set to benefit from groundbreaking technologies that will enable cost effective methane measurement in livestock. Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (ZNE-Ag CRC) ... launched the first project in its research portfolio.

Omika Upadhayay. India, the world’s most overlooked economic success story, is on the cusp of a transformation that could have profound implications for Western Australia’s sheep industry.

You’d be nuts not to get excited about the Highland cows at Peta Maloney’s property Nuts End at Hogarth Range ... Peta has the cattle as an addition to her main farm business of macadamias.

WA Firearms Act Reform 2024Firearms Act 2024 (WA)Firearms Regulations 2024 (WA) See also: Firearms Bill 2024

There are golden times ahead for the nation's cattle producers with a "new norm" of 630c/kg liveweight for feeder steers next year as the markets enter a seven-year period of stability. Market analyst Simon Quilty ... forecast 2026 average prices to reach 630c/kg liveweight for feeder steers...

Crowds flocked to Wakool for the Annual Sheep Races on Saturday night. Frocks, fleeces and fine attire all made their way onto the ground to watch the sold-out races. Track conditions were favourable, the firm but forgiving ground boded well for competitive racing action.

Broadacre farmland prices across Australia have continued their plateau for a second straight year after decade of strong growth, which had seen broadacre farmland rates increase by more than 10 per cent per year on average.

Hay Grains storage facility in east Hay has changed hands, after JEK Rural Investments purchased the depot. Deniliquin-based Paul and Jenny Fellows have owned the business for the past seven years and say they have enjoyed their time as part of the business community.

Jason Perrin. I refer to Andrew Weeks’ article in last week’s Murray Pioneer ... The article is negative, does a disservice to growers, and has glaring inaccuracies, and unless corrected, adds confusion to things we are lobbying for on behalf of growers.

The budget delivered ... is like a single, small scoop of vanilla ice cream for the bush – predictable and lacking the flavour to truly satisfy regional Australia, industry body GrainGrowers said ... it had missed the opportunity to deliver on a range of regional investment opportunities that would strengthen grain-growing regions and bridge the gap between urban centres and the bush.

...Federal Budget underscores just how critical the upcoming election will be to deliver the key investments needed to secure and grow Australian agriculture in an increasingly uncertain environment. National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke said this was a chance for the Federal Government to back Australian agriculture and give the economy a much-needed shot in the arm.

Dr Ali Bajwa. Gazanias, a popular groundcover plant, are increasingly invading cropping paddocks in South Australia and Victoria. Dr. Ali Bajwa of La Trobe University is studying their spread and control methods under the GRDC's National Grower Network.

Cattle ticks have been found on cattle at a property next to the Bonalbo Showground. It was during a routine inspection of the cattle that the ticks were discovered and the relevant authorities notified the managers of the showground. 

An experimental crop of industrial hemp proved too strong for Cyclone Alfred when it pounded paddocks at Gatton last week. Only one week ahead of harvest, the small plot of low-THC hemp withstood winds gusting up to 125 km/h and the floods accompanying the once-in-50-year weather event.

As the U.S. escalates tariffs on key trading partners like China, Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, these nations are retaliating strategically—targeting Trump’s biggest supporters and one of the most powerful lobbying forces in America: its farmers.

"If we can remove young pigs before they breed it will put real pressure on feral pig population." - John Medcalf, Lachlan Shire Mayor. A joint operation between NSW Farmers Tottenham branch and the Australia Pig Doggers and Hunters Association (APDHA) has conducted a very successful feral pig bounty trial in the Tottenham area. The trial resulted in the removal of 1,427 feral pigs...

Andrew Weeks. I write in response to the commentary about the recent Senate Committee hearing, and the impact that a mandatory code for winegrape purchases will have on the Riverland wine sector. It is not surprising there is a strong voice among growers calling for a mandatory code ... However, it is misleading to suggest that installing a mandatory code of conduct will be the answer to all problems, nor is it guaranteed to only have positive impacts.