Farming

Urea hit the equivalent of $2,800 a tonne in today’s dollars back in 1974. That’s not a typo—and it’s not ancient history either. To understand how that happens, you need to start with geography. Roughly a third of global fertiliser trade by sea—not production, trade—passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

"We've lost so much business. People haven't even been coming here for drinks really," said Vijay at Barham Metro fuel station ... Vijay, like many rural communities, is currently being squeezed by Australia's current fuel situation; one sensible people have warned about for decades ... It's not just fuel stations feeling the pinch ...

On 24 March 2026, Australia and the European Union agreed the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement. Prime Minister Albanese's optimistic announcement is at odds with the widespread criticism and disappointment evident in the responses from the Victorian Farmers' Federation, Canegrowers, the National Farmers' Federation, Queensland Farmers' Federation and the Australian Lot Feeder's Association

Australian rural confidence declined in the first quarter of 2026, with the nation’s farmers already concerned about cost pressures in the year ahead, even prior to the outbreak of the current Middle East conflict. The quarter one Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey found national rural confidence had slipped to a net reading of -9 per cent (down from six per cent in the previous survey) even before the outbreak of the war against Iran.

Anthony Boyle. The past week has confirmed what operators already know: the issue is not whether Australia can source fuel overall. The issue is getting fuel into regional areas, at a price freight businesses can survive. Australia is not facing a broad national fuel shortage.

The National Farmers’ Federation welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to commission a National Food Supply Chain Assessment as part of the National Food Security Strategy, but has reiterated its calls for an immediate plan of action for the sector.

Energy Estate and Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables have formalised a strategic affiliation to advance the BioNQ Project in North Queensland, positioning sugarcane as a critical solution to Australia’s fuel security challenge while delivering long-term regional economic benefits. ARR.News asked a few further questions of Simon Currie, Energy Estate's Chief Project Officer.

Experiments look to improve beekeepers’ ability to import desirable genetics, by understanding how deformed wing virus is transmitted from queen bees to eggs through drone semen. New insights into the transmission of a significant honey bee virus could pave the way for safer access to imported genetics that could help Australia’s honey bee and pollination industry adapt to varroa mite.

TasFarmers has warned the Federal Government must immediately quarantine fuel for agriculture or risk disrupting national food production as supply uncertainty deepens across Australia ... “We’ve been clear for weeks, no fuel will mean no food,” Mr Sauer said.

The Finocchiaro CLP Government has finalised the Northern Territory Buffel Grass Weed Management Plan 2026-36, which provides certainty for pastoralists and outlines a strategic path forward to manage its impact on the environment into the future ... “Buffel grass creates significant challenges relating to fire and environmental management and is also an important feed source for pastoralists and their cattle,” said Mr Burgoyne.

Recent reports of fuel supply concerns and diesel shortages for trucks highlight a serious vulnerability in Australia’s transport system … This situation is a reminder that relying almost entirely on diesel-powered road transport is risky ... Regional railway lines could play an important role in strengthening supply chains.

There was also something about prioritising regional areas. What there was not was anything resembling a system to track where fuel shortages are actually occurring, or to require distributors to send fuel where it is most needed.

The Nationals WA Leader Shane Love MLA has blasted the Cook Labor Government as impotent in the face of Western Australia’s escalating diesel crisis, accusing it of failing to use the powers available to ensure fuel reaches the industries and communities that keep the State running.

The birth and growth of one of the Riverina’s most successful stories – Whitton Malt House – comes down to one word: opportunistic ... “It was the classic country mindset: if it’s to be, it’s up to me,” Whitton Malt House General Manager, Kaitlin Leonard said when she addressed the recent AgriWomen Connect conference at Whitton.

The Roundtable of more than 50 industry and government leaders met ... to discuss the fuel issues affecting Australia from the conflict in the Middle East ... While the Federal Government is responsible for Australia’s fuel supply and has advised that national fuel stocks remain secure, the Roundtable agreed to immediate actions by the State Government to address local distribution issues and minimise price impacts for consumers.

Caitlin Menadue. Yorke Peninsula farmers, businesses and residents are grappling with the ongoing fuel crisis, as prices soar, independent retailers start to run dry and there’s no visible end in sight .... "Tractors, sprayers, seeders and trucks all rely on diesel to operate, and with seeding approaching it is essential that grain producers can access reliable fuel supplies."

Meat & Livestock Australia has announced the successful completion of an MLA Donor Company AgTech project that has demonstrated reliable and affordable two-way satellite connectivity for livestock and on-farm Internet of Things sensors across Australia. The project was led by eSAT Global, with Smart Paddock providing on-farm visualisation and Viasat delivering satellite connectivity.

CPA Australia warns today’s interest rate rise will deepen the cost-of-living crisis and make it tougher for many small businesses – particularly those heavily reliant on fuel. With fuel prices surging, inflation remaining stubborn across essential goods and services, and consumer confidence weak, households and businesses face a perfect storm of rising costs and weakened resilience.

This article is a rerun of a piece I first published in these pages back in November 2023 ... Readers may recall the strategic fuel debate that ran hot a few years ago when the BP refinery in Perth was about to close and Australia suddenly realised it only had a couple of weeks of fuel reserves.

Member for Barwon Roy Butler MP says the fuel supply pressure now being felt across regional New South Wales was foreseeable, avoidable, and made worse by a failure of planning at the federal and state level that he intends to keep pushing back against.

All of the Central Wheatbelt weekend lawn bowls results with Doug Kelly from Bowls WA, and long haul road train driver Zac Anthony drops by to give as update on the fuel situation...