CATEGORY

Farming

AWU calls out ‘cowboys’ in push for safer farms

The NSW Assistant Branch Secretary for the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) Ron Cowdrey has slammed farm owners and managers that he describes as ‘cowboy operators.’ “If cowboy operators want to come here and roll out modern slavery like practices, or bully and underpay staff, or flout our customs laws and import pests and endanger our entire industry, then they can think again,” he said.

Local breeders in the winners circle at 2024 Hay Merino Sheep Show

Local merino breeders from Hay NSW were among the winners at the 2024 Hay Merino Sheep Show ... Poll Boonoke took out the champion medium wool March shorn ram, champion strong wool March shorn ram and the prestigious Elders champion March Shorn ram ... SA Stud Mulloorie took home the supreme champion prize, with their magnificent Merino ewe, ahead of Alfoxton’s champion ram.

All hands on deck as Mossman harvest gets green light: Canegrowers

The race is on to get Mossman’s cane crush underway, following confirmation the State Government would chip in up to $6 million towards the cost of transporting the cane 100kms south to MSF’s Mulgrave Mill ... the local Douglas Shire Council, Douglas Chamber of Commerce, MSF Sugar and the Queensland Government, Premier Steven Miles announced the government would cover nearly half of the  transport costs.

Statement on Australia’s national energy plan: NFF

Australian farmers and regional communities are warning policymakers the debate around Australia’s energy mix must come back to the people and land it impacts. The NFF’s position remains that Australia’s national energy policies must deliver affordable, reliable and increasingly lower emissions energy for all Australians. These policies should be technology-neutral and driven by markets.

National Farmers’ Federation champions Australian trade and sustainability in Europe

The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) President David Jochinke and CEO Tony Mahar, along with the Special Representative for Australian Agriculture (SRAA) Su McCluskey, are championing the vital message of Australia’s trade and sustainability credentials in Europe. The delegation has been showcasing the Australian Agriculture Sustainability Framework (AASF), an industry-led initiative that highlights Australia's dedication to sustainable agriculture.  

Malanda Show, 5-7 July 2024

The hype, excitement and planning is well underway for the 2024 Malanda Show! The three-day show will this year take place on the 5th, 6th and 7th of July which is the LAST weekend of the school holidays – perfect timing for families from afar to plan a trip to the Atherton Tablelands.

Burdekin Show, 26 June 2024

Burdekin Show

Mudgeeraba Show, 29-30 June 2024

There is so much for the entire family to see and do as this historic and iconic Gold Coast event with a full two-day Showjumping and Equestrian program, a two-day woodchop program, pony rides, baby animal farm, rides, showbags, show food, arts and crafts, Lego and wood turning.

Millions in biosecurity budget to tackle fire ants, white spot, feral pigs and weeds

Biosecurity threats are big news from fire ants in Wardell to white spot in prawns in the Clarence Valley. The State Government announced its budget of $945.7million for biosecurity measures.

Albanese’s Basin Plan sugar hit fails to deliver: VFF

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says the Albanese Labor Government’s plan to take water from food production in the Murray Darling Basin Plan in exchange for a $300 million sugar hit is yet another slap in the face for regional communities. VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy said the funding package announced by Water Minister Tanya Plibersek will go nowhere close to what will be required to support communities targeted for water buybacks.

Ewe see what’s going on here?

“Life is 10 per cent what happens to us and 90 per cent how we react to it” started Dr Mark Ferguson, CEO of NeXtgen Agri Ltd as he addressed a packed house at the Wakool sheep management night. “Everything we can’t control is often the stuff we are whinging about; the stuff we can control is often the stuff we’re not talking about.

Plibersek’s propaganda exposed in $12 million ad campaign

The Albanese Government's legislation change to allow additional water buybacks shocked farming communities that rely on this precious resource ... To add insult to injury, the recent $12 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign used fake computer-generated images of death and destruction in the basin, along with emotive language that only fuels misunderstanding through the misinformation campaign.

Mixed autumn weather across Australia sees national farmer confidence slide from early-year highs: Rabobank

Mixed seasonal conditions across the country – coupled with economic pressures – have seen the nation’s farm sector confidence take a U-turn in the latest quarter, declining after a resurgence in optimism at the start of the year. he quarter two Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey ... found sentiment among the country’s agricultural producers had dipped into ‘negative territory’ – with fewer farmers expecting a better year ahead than those holding a negative outlook.

Live sheep exports – House of Representatives Standing Committee public hearing: NFF

Today the House of Representatives, Standing Committee is holding the first of two public hearings on the legislation to end live sheep exports by sea ... From the moment this policy was inadvertently announced via an animal activist organisation just two weeks from the Federal Election, the process has been a farce, and the hard-working people of our industry have been treated with absolute contempt.  

Australia and Japan to strengthen horticulture ties: Hort Innovation

Efforts are underway to continue to grow the important trade relationship between Australia and Japan, with exports from Australia to Japan valued at $154 million annually, through a series of inbound and outbound trade activities ... the program will enable Australian and Japanese horticulture industry representatives to build relationships, expand networks, exchange knowledge, and explore commercial and research opportunities.

Farmers rally against Labor’s secretive Borumba Pumped Hydro project: Littleproud, O’Brien

Farmers and families have rallied against Labor’s secretive plans for the Borumba Pumped Hydro project, with fears it will destroy prime agricultural land, pristine rainforest and animal habitat in the Kilkivan area. The concerned locals met with Federal Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud and Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien, warning Labor’s hydro project could have devastating consequences.

Keep The Sheep: WAFarmers

WAFarmers sets out 13 killer arguments to keep the live sheep trade.

Tiny crop-health sensors could help cut the cost of groceries: RMIT University

A compact, lightweight sensor system with infrared imaging capabilities developed by an international team of engineers could be easily fitted to a drone for remote crop monitoring. This flat-optics technology has the potential to replace traditional optical lens applications for environmental sensing in a range of industries.

Rice vesting to end

Australia’s last commodity single desk, rice vesting is set to end on July 1, 2025 after a recent announcement by the NSW Government. The rice vesting arrangements were established in response to grower preferences around the marketing of their rice in the 1920s, and have contributed to the development of a vertically-integrated industry with significant grower influence ... The Government claims that under the future arrangements, growers will be afforded greater choice and flexibility to pursue a range of markets, including export markets, and that it will also benefit the long-term sustainability of the industry in the face of lower water availability and a more variable climate.

Labor announces disingenuous live sheep phase out committee: Littleproud

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Labor’s inquiry into the phase out of the live sheep export trade is once again disingenuous. Mr Littleproud said Labor has allowed just one week for submissions and has requested the committee report back in just over two weeks from now, by June 21, despite two public hearings in both Western Australia and Canberra.

Demand for fodder still high, despite rain: Rural Aid

Rain across four states has failed to dampen demand for fodder to feed drought affected livestock. Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, said the sigh of relief from farmers who received rain in the past week was almost audible such was the desperation of some; none more so than producers in south-western West Australia where the region had experienced its driest conditions on record.

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