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Manning family sell SA pastoral after 86 years

The Manning family has brought to a close 86 years of ownership of Mahanewo, selling the 119,000 hectare station in South Australia’s far north for close to $4.5 million. A farming family from the mid-north of the state bought the prime pastoral country on a walk-in, walk-out basis including 4,596 merino ewes, rams and plant, after two years of looking to diversify into grazing.

North Queensland station triples in value in less than five years

North Queensland grazing and farming property Inkerman Station has been sold for over $30 million, with the cattle price boom propelling its value to almost triple what it was less than five years ago.

MDBA starts small releases from Hume Dam as storage reaches 90 per cent

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority has started releasing a small volume of water from Hume Dam to maintain airspace for the inflows expected from rain forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology over the coming months.

Pumps started in Guttrum

Diesel irrigation pumps started pumping into the Guttrum Forest last week ... Australia’s most endangered bird, the Australasian bittern, is now part of the public relations push for watering the reed bed. There is only one official documented sighting of the bittern in the swamp from December 1960, and anecdotal reports up until the 70s ... “As farmers, the proof has to be in the pudding. If things don’t work, we go broke, what skin do they have in the game?”

“Let’s invest in our future, not in water profits” – SRI

“Last week it was revealed in media reports the chair of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists is a significant shareholder in Duxton Water. This is the organisation that gloats about the investment potential of water, with the price naturally increasing as more is taken from farmers. So, we have a situation where the Wentworth Group is calling for more water buybacks, while its chairman is investing successfully in a company that benefits from more buybacks. That is a massive conflict,” Darcy Hare, Deputy Chair of Southern Riverina Irrigators.

On the level

Farmor Manufacturing has laid to rest an iconic grader design ushering in new beginnings for the humble grader.   In clearing sales across the country the old version of the Farmor grader always has plenty of interest. I’ve been outbid a few times on the pioneering grader that smoothed many tracks and fence lines, as well as dragging soil in the paddock.  

IPCC report sobering reading, farmers continue to cut emissions

The National Farmers Federation says Australian farmers are the amongst the world’s most progressive in their approach to mitigating climate change and are poised to go even further.

Sunday Jazz at MAC to showcase internationally-renowned talent

The sweet sound of jazz will return to the Mildura Arts Centre stage on Sunday 22 August. Sunday Jazz  will feature singer-songwriter Natalija Havralenko and Penn Farmer on guitar, and will mark the second time in 12 months the pair has graced the MAC stage.

Native timber industry key to tackling climate change

Timber Towns Victoria argues that native timber production in public forests promotes carbon storage and must be taken seriously if Victoria is to tackle climate change.

Put the nuclear option on the table

Nationals Senators have announced they will move amendments to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act to remove Australia’s prohibition on nuclear energy.

Welcome to Gateway Merredin – WA newest regional festival, 24-26 September 2021

Born from a community's passion to showcase its unique history and hidden treasures, the inaugural Gateway Merredin festival will be one to remember this 24-26 September.

Hydrogen skills hunt kicks off

The hunt is on to find the hydrogen skills and businesses to join the renewable fuel supply chain that will create jobs in Toowoomba and the Western Downs.Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni today announced a partnership between publicly-owned power generator CS Energy and Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise to increase local participation in the hydrogen industry.

Beating a pathway to water security at Lake Wyangan

The Lake Wyangan Water Sustainability Project is among 40 water infrastructure projects nationwide which will share in $108 million in federal funding under the National Water Grid Connections funding pathway ... Senator Davey said Lake Wyangan is located ten minutes north-west of Griffith and is a popular location for tourists and locals to enjoy the best nature has to offer.

They’re ready to rock you this weekend and next

The show must go on. There are 42 cast members rehearsing for four performances of Bye Bye Birdie in Kyogle this month. Fingers crossed, there won’t be a covid case in Kyogle LGA. Or lockdown. Or anything else to stop the performance.

After Midnight, all is safe and well

Claire Rankin. After almost three weeks living in her car in Evans Head with her dog, a 74-year-old widow is now safe and well at home. Barbara Williams is grateful to all the people in Evans Head who came to her aid while she was living in her car. She felt forced to leave her Baptist Community Centre unit in Lismore when she was told she could not keep her four-year-old part-kelpie called Midnight.

Prima Stella takes home Casino’s gold cup

Prima Stella was the main star of Saturday’s Casino race meeting, taking out the prestigious $30,000 Hotel Cecil Casino Gold Cup. The eight-year-old gelding, trained by Rocky Simonetta from Kempsey, was ridden by Matthew McGuren.

Olympic Games ‘surreal but awesome’

Geoff Helisma. When it comes to succeeding at sport, desire is a powerful motivator – and it often makes itself apparent during a human’s formative years. Grafton-born Olympian Ryan Maskelyne – one of only two swimmers who represented Papua New Guinea at the Olympic Games – first made his Olympics dream public at the 2009 Yamba Convent Beach to Main Beach Ocean Swim. “He told us he intended swimming for PNG at the Olympics,” his uncle, Eddy Durkan, says. “He was 11 and is now 22.”

The sweet business of mushroom grow bags

In a partnership between Sunshine Sugar and biotechnology company Sustinent, mushroom grow bags using sugarcane biomass are currently being developed as a commercial product on-site at the Harwood sugar mill. CEO of Sunshine Sugar, Mr Chris Connors said; “With gourmet mushrooms in demand across the world for their flavour, versatility and health benefits, we see this project as a great fit for our diversification program. By teaming up with the experts at Sustinent, we will be producing a world-class product by the end of the year.”

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