CATEGORY

Farming

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.

Renewables move a significant long-term challenge for Australian ag: GrainGrowers

A move from fossil fuels to renewables is a significant long-term challenge for Australian agriculture, balancing economic viability and practicality of emerging technologies in the push for a greener more secure energy future. A GrainGrowers report, Fuels, Inputs of the Future, examines possible fuels for farm machinery and equipment in the future...

TasFarmers issues urgent scam alert: Farmers duped in hay scams

The peak body for Tasmanian farmers is alerting agricultural producers to an alarming rise in scam activities targeting their community. TasFarmers has received reports revealing a troubling trend where farmers seeking to purchase hay are falling victim to substantial financial scams.

Goat year for goat production

If you think you are beginning to see more goats in paddocks on the Downs you might be onto something as across the whole nation goat production is breaking new records. Goats arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788 and spread with settlers throughout the country ... Australia has notched up a record year of goat production in 2023 as both domestic sales and exports reach new levels.

Words in Winter: A celebration of stories and ideas

The upcoming Words in Winter festival promises diverse sessions exploring crime, ideology, farming, self-publishing, history, and memory. Attendees will delve into the impacts of crime in small communities, the influences of political ideologies, the journey of saffron farming, the intricacies of self-publishing, Melbourne’s history and ancient memory techniques applied in the modern world.

Another Brick in the Wall: John Hassell

John Hassell. Western Australia’s farmers are facing ‘Walls of Legislation,’ which is exactly what our members and in fact every farmer across Australia are facing under this current federal government. Walls of Legislation… or as I prefer to call it, “Another Brick in the Wall, Stopping Farmers from Farming.”

Mentoring session provides valuable experience for Boys to the Bush

A mentoring session for Narrandera High School Boys to the Bush participants brought together a group of 10 enthusiastic participants. The session aimed to promote community spirit, resilience, engagement, confidence building and respect among the students and activities were designed to provide opportunities for meaningful interactions and personal growth.

Carbon deals catch delta feel

Last week, local farmers, investors and Western Murray Land Improvement Group (WMLIG) celebrated the next step in their Murray Inland Delta Landscape Impact Project. With the financial world falling over themselves to get a piece of the carbon trading arena, an ambitious project has been initiated to ensure that meaningful, tangible environmental benefits can be achieved while delivering financial benefits to landholders.

No package plus buybacks = wasteland

The spectre of water buybacks, plus the absence of a targeted support package for Riverland grape growers, risk turning local communities into "economic wastelands", a local MP has warned. Liberal Barker MP Tony Pasin has labelled a $3.5 million federal funding package as "too little, too late" and accused both Labor governments of ignoring the crisis confronting inland wine regions like the Riverland.

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