Snap into innovation: Australia’s crocodile industry unveils RD&E plan: AgriFutures Australia
... a significant milestone for the developing Australian crocodile industry ... the launch of the Australian Crocodile Industry RD&E Plan 2024-2029 ... The recently finalised plan is designed to assist Australia’s 21 operators in capitalising on the industry’s recent growth and expansion across the country.
Storm rips through Charlton
Jenny Pollard. While last Tuesday’s wild weather wrought havoc across much of Victoria, Charlton and neighbouring towns also felt the brunt of nature’s fury when a band of storms swept across the region.
Govt deer cull: “Lives at risk”
Roaring helicopters armed with military grade thermal imaging and semi-automatic shotguns aim to destroy any deer in their path ... Sometimes people on the ground fear for their lives and the welfare of their livestock ... "Someone is going to get shot," several feared.
New ranger hub marks 20 years of progress for Muru-warinyi Ankkul Rangers
The Central Land Council celebrated the opening of the much-awaited Tennant Creek Ranger Hub at 37 Brown Street, Tennant Creek on Wednesday. The new ranger hub was unveiled by CLC Chair Matthew Palmer, Executive Member Sandra Morrison, and the Traditional Owner Ranger Advisory Committee of the Muru-war- inyi Ankkul Rangers, with a celebratory barbeque and cake.
GRDC invests $1.9m in research for climate-resilient crops
The GRDC has partnered with the Australian National University (ANU) and industry partners to invest in research to accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops … investment will focus on the development of heat tolerant wheat genetics, as well as determining what makes a wheat crop able to survive, grow and produce yields under high-temperature conditions.
Creating certainty around water usage: Worden
The Surface Water Intake – Wet Season Flows Policy ... sets clear guidance to industry about access to wet season flows, and a pathway for responsible and sustainable economic development. The policy is highly precautionary, reducing the volume of water otherwise available under existing policy from 20 per cent to less than 5 per cent of wet season flows in Top End rivers.
Water buyback framework fails
There is not much Wakool mixed farmer John Lolicato doesn’t know about water ... The recent release of the Restoring our Rivers draft framework has once again left him shaking his head ... John said this buyback is disastrous for the region environmentally, economically and socially.
Grateful goanna
This 1.5-metre goanna found itself in trouble earlier this month when it became stranded at the base of Torrumbarry Weir. Goulburn-Murray Water Senior Storage Officer, Luke Simpson, found the tired and distressed looking goanna hanging on to the bottom of the weir gate...
Lessons from Tumut and Tumbarumba salvage success shared with timber industry: FCNSW
Effective collaboration across the timber industry and learning the lessons from past fire salvage efforts have been highlighted as key factors underpinning the success of the record salvage program in the Tumut and Tumbarumba regions following the Black Summer fires in a report commissioned by Forestry Corporation of NSW.
Weir update
Mark Coulton, speaking to ABC Broken Hill on Monday, said he understood that due to Covid, a flood, etc there had been some unavoidable delays to the new Wilcannia Weir. However he is now at a loss as to why, at 5 minutes to midnight, the NSW government has changed the design of the weir.
Murray–Darling Basin Authority communique, February 2024
The Authority met with the Hon Tanya Plibersek Minister for the Environment and Water, to discuss Basin issues. The Authority noted the Minister’s announcement of 30 January 2024 launching new programs to deliver the Basin Plan in full. Members were further briefed by representatives of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Farmers urged to monitor damp haystacks for fire risks
CFA is urging farmers to ramp up their hay maintenance for the remainder of the season, following a surge in haystack fires, with CFA responding to more than 50 since November. Igniting predominantly in the western parts of the state across the Wimmera and Loddon Mallee, CFA has responded to 29 in the North West region and 12 in the West region.
Outside hay lost after rain event
About a third of the hay produced in southern Australia this season won’t be able to be sold through Feed Central’s consignment system after being left uncovered and damaged by rain. While it can still be traded from farms and the damage comes as demand for hay has fallen, Feed Central fears ongoing failure to properly store hay could have long-term impacts on the feed industry.
Stop the sale, stop the spread of invasive weeds
All Victorians can help protect our food growing communities, our biodiversity, gardens, lakes and places of cultural significance by helping to stop the sale of two of the world’s most invasive aquatic weeds ... the ongoing illegal trade of water hyacinth and salvinia is putting the state at risk.
A big shout out to the Wheel Cactus Lone Warriors!
At this time of the year, in areas around Maldon, you can certainly notice the Wheel Cactus asserting its presence; small ones popping up and mature plants displaying their distinct yellow blooms and dark red fruit atop their cladodes or ‘wheels’. It’s a stark reminder that Wheel Cactus remains an ongoing challenge in the area...
Farmer’s transmission fight taken to NSW parliament: Anderson
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson has used his time in Parliament this week to renew his push for high voltage transmission lines to be moved off private land holdings ... “Farmers in the Tamworth electorate are strongly opposed to the construction of 200ft high transmission towers on their land, and it’s causing significant angst for families in the Dungowan and Limbri areas,” Mr Anderson said.
Strategy champions new opportunities
Launched in February 2023, ‘Innovation Upper Murray’ is an exciting new project for the region, that locals can join now ... it aims to help the Upper Murray community and businesses identify opportunities for innovation, economic diversification and undertake long-term planning. The involvement of government and research bodies in the process, to support the successful adoption of initiatives, makes it a (place-based) method called Smart Specialisation Strategy (or ‘S3’).
Fact finding trip proves South Australia’s lower lakes are “fake lakes”
NSW farmers and politicians have been lied to about the state of South Australia’s Lower Lakes, with Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton, calling on NSW Premier Chris Minns to visit the area immediately. "We have all been conned and it must stop," Ms Dalton said.
Farmers fight as farms on the line
After 100 years of growing Australian food and fibre, and enhancing their farm’s environmental assets, the Ettershanks now face their biggest challenge, power lines. Under the recent release of Transgrid’s proposed route for the VNI West Interconnector, Simon and Carly Ettershank’s 2,000-hectare property now has twenty 75-80-metre-tall towers across their home.
The ute is going, going …
Did anyone notice the announcement dropped just before Christmas of the new emissions rules that will impact sales of most of the popular utes SUVs and 4WDs farmers and tradies rely on? ... For those who know their cars, the days are numbered for the number series 75s, 80s, 300s, 150s, 300s, not to mention the Raptors, Rams or even the bog standard Hilux, Triton and Nivara.
Liberals wage war on South Australian farmers: Close, Scriven
"The memories of the opposition appear to be shorter than the brief time they were in Government. The feral deer culling program was approved by then Environment Minister, David Speirs. If the South Australian Liberals have abandoned their support for a deer culling program, then they need to come clean with farmers as this is a significant policy shift": Susan Close.
Yamba NSW shark hotspot
Yamba has earned the unenviable reputation as the state’s hotspot for sharks after the NSW Department of Primary Industries shark tagging program recorded 17,501 detections of Great White, Tiger, and Bull Sharks off local beaches last year.
