Media Release

The oyster production areas of Coffin Bay have been closed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) as a precautionary measure as part of an ongoing investigation into a recent rise in Vibrio parahaemolyticus cases.

The future is bright for agriculture after reports today the state’s farmgate value stands at a record $20.9 billion. Two fantastic growing seasons following a prolonged drought, bushfires and floods showed there was huge potential in the sector NSW Farmers President James Jackson said. “This is fantastic news for farmers who work so hard to grow our food and fibre.”

Australian governments are seeking stakeholder feedback on a consultation paper that seeks to increase liquidity and flexibility in the east coast gas market through enhancements to the Wallumbilla Gas Supply Hub and the pipeline capacity trading framework ... Stakeholder feedback on these options will inform development of a roadmap for Energy Ministers to consider in early 2022.

Mark Allison, Agribusiness Australia. Like many businesses, agribusiness is the same in many ways. There is risk and uncertainty, there is profit and loss and there are inputs and outputs ... There is a tendency within the agricultural markets space to focus on the income side of the profit equation. The price of beef received at the sale yard, or the price of grain delivered to port. Discussions of input pricing rarely occur in the agricultural press.

$5 million will be available between three leading Northern Australian universities for research into water security in Northern Australia. The money from the Federal Government, through the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA), is for Charles Darwin University (CDU), CQUniversity Australia (CQU) and James Cook University (JCU).

The South Australian Government welcomes the Japanese Government awarding funding to Marubeni Corporation for a project to export green hydrogen produced in South Australia to the Indo-Pacific region. Japan’s Ministry of the Environment has selected Marubeni Corporation’s hydrogen production project in South Australia as a pilot project, as part of a program looking to cooperate with developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Lismore City Council has put its Draft Lismore Resource Recovery and Residual Waste Strategy 2022 to 2032 on public exhibition, coinciding with National Recycling Week that aims to improve the community’s knowledge about recycling.

The City of Kwinana is set to light up its City square with its annual Christmas celebration on 26 November in the heart of Kwinana City Centre. The community is invited to celebrate the start of the Christmas season and come down to Chisham Square from 4pm to participate in the free activities on offer.

NSW Farmers has welcomed the timely proposal for Australia’s first national biosecurity strategy, announced by Agriculture Minister David Littleproud. During November the federal government is letting Australians have their say on biosecurity in the first phase of consultation on the national strategy. The initial consultation survey closes on 26 November 2021.

With above average rainfall predicted for all major cattle regions over the next three months and increased rainfall in northern Australia, pasture growth is expected to surge and strengthen the national herd rebuild into 2022, according to Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) latest Australian Cattle Industry Projections.

Last weekend saw the completion of the ladies Club drawn Pairs Championship and oh what a game it was to watch. The traditional 2 x2 x 2 x2 format of this competition allows players to play in the lead and third position or the 2nd and skips position which many think is the purest of all formats of Pairs play.

The Blair Athol Clermont Bowls Club recently held its annual carnival with more than 70 players coming from Mackay, Emerald, Townsville and Brisbane. The winners on the day was Emerald second was Mackay. All players showed good sportsmanship in the five games played.

The 2021 Outback Archies Art Prize has opened at the Outback Arts Gallery, Coonamble. Nearly 100 artworks are featured, coming from the far-flung rural areas of not only the Outback Arts region of Bourke, Brewarrina, Bogan, Cobar, Coonamble, Warren and Walgett Shires but also, Gilgandra, Narrabri, Moree, Gunnedah, Liverpool Plains, Gwydir, Tamworth, Broken Hill, Wentworth Shire, Central Darling Shire and the Western Unincorporated Area.

Qld Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said a Departmental plant pathologist has found that two pathogens cause powdery mildew in mungbean, potentially unlocking new solutions for the $100m Australian industry. “Scientist Lisa Kelly has ‘bean’ on the case to unlock the mystery of the fungal disease that’s been present in Australian mungbean crops for at least 60 years,” Mr Furner said.

The Mooloolaba Boardwalk and Parkland Project has been awarded for its excellence and environmental responsibility in design by the Australian Institute of Horticulture Inc (AIH). The 2021 Green Space Urban Award recognised this signature project’s commitment in preserving the iconic Norfolk Pines, which have become sentinels of the Mooloolaba foreshore.

The park has provided access to a range of wildlife for both the community of Whyalla and visitors over a number of years, helping educate students and enable children to get up-close and interact with some of their favourite animals. However, the economic downturn brought about by COVID-19 and, in particular, the associated restrictions on travel have had a significant impact on the ongoing viability of the business.

The National Farmers’ Federation has welcomed the appointment of eight members to the Advisory Group on water markets in the Murray-Darling Basin. “The NFF is pleased to see the Group has a well-balanced mix of stakeholder representatives, technical experts, and especially, water users. We also support the appointment of Mr Daryl Quinlivan as principal adviser on the Advisory Group,” NFF CEO Tony Mahar said.

"Farmers must have a secure and reliable supply of workers to make sure they can look after animals, get the crop off trees and out of the ground as we work towards Christmas. As we see borders opening up, so to, are the retail and tourism markets. We simply must do better in the workplace arena," NFF President Fiona Simson said.

Tasmania's peak farming body has produced a range of commitments it is seeking from the State Government relating to climate change. The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) has developed the commitments along with the formation of an Agricultural Sustainability Committee  to oversee its response to the challenges of climate change.

Greater Shepparton City Council has received several reports of turtles exploring local lakes and wetlands, with the rainy conditions triggering turtles to look for safe sites to lay their eggs.

A high-tech underwater drone is helping protect Territory fish and marine life from harmful aquatic pests. The cutting-edge remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) takes monitoring to the next level, reducing the need for divers and providing a mobile camera capable of scanning large areas in limited time.

This research release from the Australian Farm Institute, Stronger ag, Stronger regions highlights the interdependence of agriculture and regional economies. The paper considers how the agriculture sector can leverage stimulatory regional investment to ensure enduring economic stability and social benefits by establishing a virtuous cycle of beneficial impacts.