Media Release

Australia’s farmers are heading towards a record-high winter crop planting this year, Rabobank says in its newly-released 2025/26 Australian Winter Crop Outlook. The annual outlook, by the agribusiness banking specialist’s RaboResearch division, says the nation’s grain growers are expected to plant an estimated 24.5 million hectares of winter crop this year, up 0.8 per cent on last season.

We are thrilled to launch National Volunteer Week, Australia’s largest celebration of volunteering, highlighting the power of volunteering to bring people together with the theme Connecting Communities.

Wagga Wagga residents will have their first chance to see designs for the three new bridges to be built in the town with Inland Rail releasing new visualisations for public viewing. The new visualisations show how the Edmondson Street road bridge, Wagga Wagga Station footbridge – also known as Mothers Bridge – and Cassidy Parade footbridge will look once completed.

Farmers in North East Victoria have once again been left behind, with the Allan Labor Government’s latest drought funding announcement excluding our region entirely. The $15.9 million package announced today offers only token support, capped at $5000 per grant, and with strict conditions that prevent farmers from using it for the most basic and urgent needs like purchasing feed and water.

The On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grant program has already supported more than 1,500 farmers in south west Victoria and will be extended to farmers in the new and existing Local Government Areas and French Island. The package will continue for the existing 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across south west Victoria and expand it to all West Wimmera...

Glenmore Bulls AFL Club will celebrate the culture and contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People as they host the annual Sir Doug Nicholls Round at Stenlake Park this weekend. 2025 will mark the sixth year the club has held the event, the biggest Indigenous AFL round held in regional Queensland.

Despite strong opposition from the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), the Country Fire Authority (CFA), and farmers from all corners of Victoria, the Allan Labor Government’s proposed Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund has today passed a vote in Parliament. The VFF is deeply disappointed by this outcome and remains gravely concerned about the impact this levy will have on farmers...

“This is a heartbreaking announcement for 300 workers, their families, and the wider community. It’s also a clear signal that our food manufacturing industry on which our region relies, is under increasing strain — from rising input costs to workforce challenges and from uncertainty driven by the Murray-Darling Basin Plan”: Chair of the Murray River Group of Councils, Cr. Dan Straub.

Energy developers must fairly engage with the community and properly address the impacts of renewable projects on regions, NSW Farmers has told a state inquiry. On Tuesday the state’s peak farm body appeared at a NSW Government inquiry into renewable energy zones, saying its calls to improve community engagement around the renewable transition were still yet to be answered.

When was the last time you picked a strawberry fresh from the paddock, joined the farmers at the dairy for morning milking, or soaked in a hot tub on the clay pans of Outback Queensland? Farmers all over the state are opening their farm gates to visitors to share the character and heart of our farming communities. This Friday, 16 May is World Agritourism Day.

A dedicated Cairns mother and son duo are set to represent Australia at the 2025 ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships in Jesolo, Italy, this October, following years of shared discipline, training, and personal growth on the local dojang floor.

Bendigo Bank Agribusiness’ Monthly Commodity Update, released today, reports even higher beef export volumes in early May, and heralds the possible breaking of the previous monthly export record for cattle, set in October 2024.

As National Palliative Care Week (19–25 May 2024) approaches, a new study from the University of South Australia is shining a light on the experiences of rural South Australians who are navigating end-of-life care, in the hope of improving access to palliative care services and supports in rural and country areas.

Balranald grapples with persistent vandalism as latest incident hits senior citizen amenities. The Balranald Shire is once again dealing with the costly aftermath of vandalism, with the latest incident occurring on Saturday, May 10, targeting the Balranald Senior Citizen amenities.

A non-toxic, environmentally friendly method of controlling weeds and pests in horticultural crops that has already proved successful in the United States and Europe will now be tested in Australia through a $4.74 million project led by La Trobe University. 

Rural and remote patients face greater health challenges and often have less access to health services compared to those in the city ... The Remote and Isolated Pharmacist Association Australia (RIPAA) is a new organisation that has established to represent pharmacists practising outside major metropolitan and regional centres. RIPAA’s mission is to ensure that people living in these rural and remote communities have equitable access to quality pharmacy care as an essential part of primary healthcare.

Excitement is in the air as the highly anticipated Bald Archy Art Prize returns to Brewarrina next month, offering residents and visitors alike the opportunity to engage with some of the most humorous, satirical and sometimes controversial, portraits in the art world.

Australian farmland prices are expected to return to modest growth in the year ahead, Rabobank says in its newly-released 2025 Australian Farmland Price Outlook. The annual report, by the agribusiness banking specialist’s RaboResearch division, says a positive outlook for key agricultural drivers is expected to see agricultural land prices rebound in the year ahead...

The Australian beef industry can play a positive role in the climate solution provided policy settings recognise the science of the biogenic carbon cycle, according to a leading international air quality specialist. Professor Frank Mitloehner, of UC Davis in the US, told [Cattle Australia forum] ... that while livestock do have an impact on our climate, the contribution of animal agriculture is often exaggerated at the expense of farmers and viable solutions.

At a special ceremony held this morning, Port Pirie Regional Council in partnership with the Port Pirie Domestic Violence Action Group unveiled the very first Red Bench in South Australia at the Women’s Keepsake Garden, located in front of the Port Pirie Regional Library.

The Crisafulli Government has unveiled the results of a covert crackdown on youth crime in Townsville, with the State Flying Squad arresting 17 juveniles on more than 100 charges. The State Flying Squad targeted the worst juvenile and adult offenders during the week-long crime blitz between 29 April and 6 May.   

Ten renewable energy projects have been given the green light to connect to the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), through agreements that will deliver enough power to supply more than half of NSW homes. The NSW Government has awarded groundbreaking ‘access rights’ to renewable energy companies ...