Media Release

More than 200 tonnes of donated hay will be delivered to farmers on the Fleurieu Peninsula this long weekend ... Charitable organisation Need for Feed is working with local Lions Clubs in Goolwa, Victor Harbor and Port Elliot to deliver about 10 truckloads of hay to 16 registered primary producers across the Fleurieu on Monday 9 June.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO), with support from Victoria Police, has seized and destroyed over 20 tonnes of illicit tobacco from a property North-East of Shepparton, Victoria. On Thursday 5 June a search warrant revealed a mature tobacco crop spanning nearly 6 acres, the equivalent of approximately 456 tennis courts.

TasFarmers is calling out the state's political leaders for failing to prioritise stability and good governance through the parliamentary process, following the Rockliff Government’s loss of a no-confidence vote on the floor of the House of Assembly.

Northern Grampians Shire councillors will call on the State Government to find an alternative to its VNI West transmission line project amid fears for the nation’s food security along with community mental health and wellbeing. Victoria to NSW Interconnector West – known as VNI West – is a proposed new 500kV double circuit transmission line connecting high-voltage electricity grids in New South Wales and Victoria.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said he feared the Albanese Government was prepared to trade away Australia’s biosecurity advantage to appease the Trump Administration, after reports the Government had put beef imports on the negotiating table. Mr Littleproud said Australia’s strong biosecurity must remain a priority, instead of being used as a bargaining tool by Labor.

A breakthrough in how we identify pests entering Australia has now been successfully tried and tested in Sydney. ‘MALDI-TOF’ and ‘MinION’ are new diagnostic systems being adopted in our border biosecurity operations that use protein and DNA profiles to rapidly identify species through automated data matching.

A bold initiative by Sunshine Coast Council to attract more luxury hotels to the region has made a successful start with the approval of an exciting hotel project - complete with rooftop bar - in the heart of Caloundra. The project is intended to comprise of shops and cafes at Ground Level, restaurant and hotel amenities on Level 1, 160 suites over Levels 2-10 and a rooftop restaurant and bar with outdoor dining and function rooms on Level 11.

Shadow Minister for Local Government, Kirrilee Warr MLA, has labelled the implementation of the Cook Labor Government’s Stop Puppy Farming laws a "dog’s breakfast" after the Government abandoned a $9.8 million contract just days after the new laws had taken effect.

The gross value of Australia’s agricultural production is expected to fall by 2.8 per cent to $90.7 billion in 2025-26, driven by lower crop and livestock production volumes, according to the June quarter forecasts released by ABARES ...

“As price takers, farm businesses have limited capacity to absorb higher labour costs without a corresponding uplift in productivity. Without this link, wage growth risks undermining the viability of many small and family-run farm operations”: Troy Williams, NFF.

House prices are decreasing and employment opportunities are increasing – there has never been a better time to live and study in regional areas. More young people in the city in recent years have given up on their dreams of owning a home – but are they looking in the wrong market?

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has completed the first-ever national stocktake of our $800 billion food system, which feeds around 100 million people – including 27 million Australians – with food produced by 100,000 farmers ... the report urged a new approach to managing and reporting on our food system to make it more resilient to the challenges faced by farmers...

The Australian thoroughbred breeding industry, the second largest in the world, delivered a solid economic performance in 2022 – 23, contributing $1.68 billion to the national economy and supporting 9,268 full-time equivalent jobs ...

A new avian influenza collaboration between CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and Indonesia has gained international recognition in Paris overnight, with endorsement from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) ... The three-year initiative, called BICOLLAB, was formally endorsed at the World Assembly of Delegates during WOAH’s General Session...

Western Sydney University researchers have discovered that drought affected wheat plants are able to call on eco-friendly soil bacteria to survive, helping keep crops healthy, boost yields, and provide pathways to develop extreme weather resistant crops.

The United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (UDV) has expressed disappointment in Fonterra’s opening milk price of $8.60/kgMS for the 2025–26 season, saying it falls short of what is needed to sustain Victorian dairy farmers through one of the toughest periods in recent memory.

Narrabri launches a cheeky new campaign calling for major retailers to close the regional retail gap ... Watch the saucy short video and read the ARR.News interview with Narrabri Shire Mayor, Darrell Tiemens and Narrabri Shire General Manager, Eloise Chaplain.

A comprehensive assessment of environmental outcomes in South Australia under the Murray Darling Basin Plan shows environmental water is having a positive impact on ecosystems, biodiversity and habitat quality. Among the findings was that increased freshwater flows through the barrages has increased the resilience of fish species including black bream, greenback flounder and small-mouthed hardyhead.

Following a thorough assessment led by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, the proposed Moonlight Range Wind Farm 40 kilometres north west of Rockhampton, will not proceed. The project included plans for up to 88 wind turbines, a battery energy storage system, and related infrastructure covering 1,269 hectares in total, including 434 hectares of vegetation that would need to be cleared. 

The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, will be at the Euroa Cattle Sale next Wednesday alongside mental health professionals to offer free and confidential support to any farmers doing it tough. Ms Cleeland said anybody is welcome to attend, regardless of whether they are participating in the sale or not – even if they just wanted to stop by for a cup of tea and a chat with friendly faces.

The state’s peak farm body is encouraging flood affected farmers to access the support services available to assist as recovery efforts begin across the Hunter and Mid North Coast. NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said emergency fodder, veterinary support and a range of other services could be accessed from state government authorities by farmers dealing with the effects of the major flood event.

Queensland's central financing authority, Queensland Treasury Corporation has issued a new EUR 1.25 billion (~AUD 2.15 billion) benchmark bond, receiving significant demand with orders more than seven times the issuance amount ... Treasurer David Janetzki said with global uncertainty at an all-time high, the Crisafulli Government had re-established Queensland as a low-risk investment option.