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Farming

Starter gun fires on Mossman cane crush: Canegrowers

The sight of cane harvesters firing up in paddocks across Queensland’s most northernly district has come as a huge relief to Mossman growers, with a one-year commercial deal between growers and MSF Sugar enabling the 2024 cane crush to finally get underway.  After months of sensitive negotiations with the State Government, trucks have begun hauling Mossman cane 100km down the Captain Cook Highway to MSF’s Mulgrave Mill at Gordonvale.   

Record interest in livestock and biosecurity initiative: VFF

The Victorian Farmers Federation’s (VFF) livestock biosecurity and welfare initiative, Stock Sense, is experiencing record high attendance at its Victorian events and workshops, reflecting a growing appetite amongst producers and the community for its resources. VFF Livestock President Scott Young said the initiative has never been more important since launching in its current format in 2021.

Strong growth in dairy, forestry, hobby farmland prices: ABARES

ABARES has expanded the Farmland Price Indicator to include a new series of experimental estimates by farmland type. Users can now access and download specific information for beef, dairy, cropping, forestry, orchard and even hobby farmland type via the ABARES Farmland Price Indicator dashboard.

Australian-made test designed to detect serious disease in livestock shows promising preliminary results

To help protect Australia's livestock industry from the threat of infectious diseases, a revolutionary diagnostic test designed to swiftly detect infections in livestock has been tested by the CSIRO. The test is being developed by ZiP Diagnostics, a pioneering biotech company, and it is designed to provide early detection for diseases such as foot and mouth and lumpy skin disease.

Climate Council suggests farmers unfairly treated

"Farmers are bearing the brunt of climate change through extreme weather while also facing the financial burden of implementing livestock feed changes to curb cow burps," Coal and Gas Campaigner at Queensland Conservation Council, Ben Pennings said. "In stark contrast, coal companies are allowed to guess their methane emissions and rake in unprecedented profits while neglecting easily implementable mitigation practices such as proper equipment maintenance and operational improvements," he said.

Bert Matthews elected to LLS board

Local landholder Bert Matthews has been elected to the Riverina Local Land Services board. Mr Matthews was the only candidate from the Hay region to stand in the recent election ... Following a significant rise in participation, 34 people across the state were elected to the 11 local boards ...

Growers to exit with only their dignity?

Jason Perrin. "What scraps do we grape growers get from you? Just $3.5m. I guess it’s obvious the future security and survival of the Riverland, the Riverina and areas of the Murray Valley are not as important as a new rugby team in Papua New Guinea."

Labor ignores WA farmers at Parliament House, passes Bill to phase out live sheep exports: Littleproud

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Labor has turned its back on the farming industry today, after ignoring a delegation of Western Australian farmers and obtaining the numbers needed in the Senate to phase out live sheep exports. Mr Littleproud said Labor had once again treated farmers with contempt, ignoring pleas from groups including Keep the Sheep ... who spent the day at Parliament House in a last-ditch attempt to persuade Senators to save live sheep exports.

Farmers gutted by live sheep ban passing parliament: NFF

In a devastating blow to farming communities, Parliament tonight passed legislation to end the live sheep trade, disregarding proper process, extensive evidence and pleas from farmers across Australia. NFF President David Jochinke said the decision had been met with widespread dismay from farmers who had invested into significant reforms for the trade, resulting in world-leading animal welfare outcomes.

Keep the Sheep + Live export inquiry: Littleproud, McKenzie

Well, thanks for coming today. It's important we've got Keep the Sheep Movement here. They have come from Western Australia. They're showing respect to this Parliament by coming in and trying to talk to Senators and give them the opportunity to learn of their lived experience of their livelihoods that are going to take to be taken away.

Rabobank partners with George the Farmer to celebrate National Book Week

Rabobank’s Rabo Community Fund has partnered with the ‘edu-tainment’ brand ‘George the Farmer’ for the third year to help educate children about where their food and fibre comes from in a fun and engaging way during this year’s National Book Week – August 17 to 23.

Dayboro Show, 6-7 July 2024

Dayboro – The Town of Yesteryear is set to come alive when town meets country at the best little country show.   The annual Dayboro Show is celebrating 67 years with the 2024 event being held on July 6th and 7th.

By the book – New database collates Australian Ag sustainability regulations: DAFF

A new online database has been launched to assist Australian agricultural stakeholders, including farmers and agribusiness operators, in identifying sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) regulations relevant to their business. The Sustainability-related Regulations Database (SR-Database) collates and explains current Australian laws relating to agricultural sustainability.

Latest data on crop loss and waste reflects Australian resilience and innovation: ABARES

Australian food producers are finding innovative new ways to limit losses and create alternative uses for waste, as evidenced in a new report titled Crop loss/waste on Australian horticulture farms, 2022–23 ... The report was commissioned by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, to fill specific data gaps on food loss and waste in primary production in the horticulture industry.

Genetics and AI approaches to power-up pulses: GRDC

Chickpea, lentil and faba bean growers across Australia can expect significantly more productive crops within the next decade thanks to a new collaborative, international research project to improve crop yields ... Project leader Professor Rajeev Varshney FRS ... said chickpea, lentil and faba bean production is currently hamstrung due to limited genetic diversity, resulting in meagre yield improvement of less than 0.5 per cent each year.

Concern at Climate Change Authority announcement: NSW Farmers

NSW Farmers is urging the new head of the Climate Change Authority not to forget the critical importance of agriculture in feeding the future. This week Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that Matt Kean, former NSW treasurer and energy minister, would now head the Climate Change Authority. NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the announcement was concerning to those in rural communities who were still dealing with the consequences of Mr Kean’s decisions as minister.

Hay Inc Rural Education 2024 cohort graduates

Hay Inc has delivered the Hay Inc Rural Education Program for 10 years, and now have 145 young adults that make up the Hay Inc Alumni. After completing their final training week,  graduation was held after competing in the Junior Sheep Judging at the 2024 Hay Sheep Show.  

Clare Scriven clueless on downgraded safety changes to SA’s biosecurity measures: Centofanti

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven has been slammed for failing to stay across key changes to South Australian biosecurity measures which have resulted in a downgrade of safety initiatives ... “Clare Scriven’s federal colleagues are making decisions that have the potential to impact biosecurity and farmers here in South Australia and the Minister, who is supposed to protect primary industries in our state, is not paying any attention”: Dr Nicola Centofanti.

Demand for agritourism growing five per cent each year

Rachel Hagan. The value of agritourism in Australia is expected to reach about $18 billion by 2023, and Yorke Peninsula residents have shown they are ready to learn all the tricks of the trade ... "People are doing it a lot in Europe, spending time on a European farm eating French food, on a French farm, and people are loving that very authentic cultural experience all over the world": Susan Lee.

Australian avocado production continues to smash records – Rabobank

Australia’s avocado industry is grappling with another year of increased production and low prices, according to a new report by agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank. However, the world’s growing appetite for the popular nutrient-packed green fruit is offering growers some relief, with increasing export demand for Australia’s produce, the report says.

Rural Commodities Index lifts again as wheat prices rally: NAB

The NAB Rural Commodities Index* has continued its upwards momentum, increasing 1.4 per cent month-on-month in May, driven by rising prices for wheat, barley, canola and lamb. The Index is now around levels last seen in February 2023, according to NAB’s June Rural Commodities Wrap released today.

Strengthening the Food and Grocery Code to get a fair go for families and farmers: Chalmers, Watt, Leigh

The Albanese Government will strengthen the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, accepting all recommendations of a recent independent review into the Code as part of a wide‑ranging cost‑of‑living crackdown on anti‑competitive behaviour in the food and grocery sector ... The Review found that the current voluntary Code is failing to address the imbalance of bargaining power between supermarkets and their suppliers, including farmers.

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