News

Long?suffering readers know I like to poke around in the world of agricultural science particularly anything to do with carbon farming and climate change, so — without drawing on the untapped wisdom of my son Thomas — I’m going to argue, once again, that soil carbon farming in the WA Wheatbelt belongs firmly in the fantasy section of the library, not the science shelves.

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The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed the release of the Victorian Government's Victorian Freight Plan 2025-30, describing it as a positive step toward strengthening the freight network and delivering improved outcomes for Victorian agriculture.

The much maligned Public Transport Levy, which sees Toowoomba Region residents fork out money regardless of where they live in the region, has been defended by Mayor Geoff McDonald. Mayor McDonald said Council was aware that many residents, particularly in rural and regional townships, had provided feedback on the value of the levy…

Fans will see an exciting climax to this year's Historic Leyburn Sprints on 23-24 August when the weekend's fastest drivers battle head-to-head for the outright win in a new Top 10 Shootout format … Top 10 after the end of the Sprints field's scheduled seven individual runs will each have a final chance in a special eighth run to set fastest time and win the Col Furness Memorial perpetual trophy.

Barellan's men's side have finally repeated their women's side's grand final feats, winning the 2025 Proten Cup premiership against Ivanhoe 22-20 in Hillston on Saturday.

A delegation from the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) had an intensive series of meetings with Australian Government and Opposition representatives in Canberra last week, with a focus on improving awareness of the financial plight of rural, regional and remote Councils and the dire need to improve Federal Financial Assistance Grants to support sky-rocketing operating costs.

The Junee Prime Lamb sponsored REA Horse Trials at Narrandera over the weekend of 9-10 August at the Narrandera Pony Club grounds are set to mark 50 years of equestrian excellence with more than 250 entries, a new record for the event.

Serena Kirby. Sue Bussell became Denmark Surf Life Saving Club's oldest person to achieve a bronze medallion when she completed her course this year.

Serena Kirby. It was eyes down and tweezers poised at a recent seed sorting session. The Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee-organised activity was part of the committee's Cockies for Cockies program that's working to re-establish and protect habitats and food sources for three threatened black cockatoo species: Carnaby's, Baudin and red-tailed black cockatoos.

The Wilson Inlet sand bar was breached yesterday with the AHD of 1m exceeded last week when low-lying areas around the inlet began to flood. Despite the cold weather and rain, fishers were out in force at Prawn Rock Channel at the weekend as schools gathered in the changing water conditions and increased food availability.

A community-based project to re-establish a critically endangered plant in the Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park (BPMNP) is gaining momentum in the Upper Murray. Mountain Banksia (B. canei) became locally extinct in the park following the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.

The Towong Turf Club has been shortlisted for a Country Racing Victoria (CRV) award in recognition of the success of its annual cup meeting. Four club awards will be announced at a gala ceremony on Saturday August 23rd celebrating the best club and community club throughout the past season, as well as the events of the year at both club and community club level.

The Towong Shire Council is expecting a large turnout for the community rally in Corryong this Sunday calling for a new single-site regional hospital on a greenfield site in Albury Wodonga. Sunday's protest is the latest step in a protracted campaign that has snowballed since the NSW and Victorian governments announced a joint $558 million funding commitment to redevelop the existing Albury Base hospital.

I’d always heard the claims that Australia’s most significant water reform was built on falsehoods, political agenda and flawed science, but seeing for myself fundamentally changed me ... I joined a merry band of nine intrepid explorers who ventured to South Australia’s agricultural crown jewel to understand more of the Murray-Darling Myths.

The Deniliquin Bowls Pairs Classic is a well-known annual lawn bowls tournament attracting players from all over Australia ... Harker and McArthur won their section and reached the first round of the knockout finals, but they were beaten by the eventual winners, Brad Orr and Mitch Sidebottom.

Wakool Sheep Stud Induro White Suffolks has had a great showing at the 2025 Hamilton Sheepvention with wins across the board with their White Suffolks and also in Hamilton’s inaugural Ultra White showing. Induro stud owner Guy Treweek said it was a very successful event as they warm up for the year's bigger shows.

With interest in unique tourism experiences on the rise, agritourism is a growing opportunity for Australian growers to diversify income, maximise farm assets, and build stronger connections with their local communities.

This year’s Spanish mackerel stock assessment found the population was now likely to have doubled since the 2021 review. Based on this, the Department Primary Industries has proposed raising Spanish mackerel catch limits for both commercial and recreational fishing.

Ten finalists from across Queensland will compete for the state's premier rural leadership title during a comprehensive six-day programme in Brisbane from Wednesday, 6 August. The Queensland Rural Ambassador programme, running since 2003, has established itself as a cornerstone of rural leadership development, launching careers and strengthening agricultural communities across the state.

In a misty regional Queensland valley dotted with hot air balloons, Tamyka Bell had one of those moments that defines why she keeps returning to the Scenic Rim Ultra year after year. "It was a beautiful, cold, misty morning ... The thing that gets people to the finish line is loving what they're doing. If it's a beautiful course that inspires you, you will get to the finish line because you want to see the next bit."