Sorry no gas
Imagine filling up the farm fuel tanks for harvest if the price hit, say, $3 or $4 a litre, or worse, you were rationed to half the fuel you brought last November/December as a result of a supply shock. It’s a real risk, something I wrote about three years ago when I suggested the solution was to increase the level of domestic reserve storage of refined diesel and petrol by encouraging farmers and miners to keep 12 months of storage on their properties.
Events in Ukraine: The first “Agricultural War” has begun
The population of planet Earth is increasing. But the area of the planet is not growing. Sooner or later, this will make famine a mortal threat to the population of many countries. Scientific and technological progress will not save everyone. After all, increasing the efficiency of agricultural labour can solve the problem only when the area of agricultural land is sufficient for this. Therefore, food wars will become part of the future of humanity. The first such war is already underway. This is the war in Ukraine!
Australian leather industry urges UN conference to acknowledge natural materials in the fight against climate change
The Australian Hide Skin and Leather Exporters Association (AHSLEA) along with 27 other international leather industry organisations, is calling on the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) to recognise the positive impact of natural materials such as leather on people, lives, and livelihoods and as a means of directly mitigating climate impact ... AHSLEA Executive Officer Dennis King said over the last four decades Australian leather processors have implemented a range of exciting sustainable initiatives to reduce leather’s carbon footprint including adopting cleaner tanning technologies and practices.
A stronger relationship with Kerala: Manison
The Northern Territory Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kerala State Government, India to develop further economic, social and cultural relationships between our two regions. This is the first MOU the Northern Territory Government has entered into with an Indian state, and formalises and reinforces the relationships between the two jurisdictions.
Wake up Australia – Renewable energy won’t save the planet if it costs the earth: Robert Onfray
Robert Onfray. I am not sure many people are fully aware of the massive engineering changes currently underway in our rural landscape. The changes are on a scale never attempted in this country before, and it is swallowing obscene amounts of money for minimal benefit and, indeed, no proof it will improve the climate ... Australian Rural & Regional News will open a page for discussion on this comprehensive and provocative article on the renewable energy transition.
Ukrainian grain: Nothing personal, it’s just business
The large volume of production and broken logistics have made Ukrainian grain an attractive target for politicians and businessmen ... ARR.News asks Ukrainian market specialists: how much will the cost of Ukrainian grain decrease if problems with exports persist?
Greenhouse credentials of Australia’s canola industry recognised by the European Commission: CSIRO
New analysis from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has led to the European Commission’s recognition of the Australian canola industry’s low-emissions credentials for the second time, enabling local canola growers continued access to lucrative international markets. Australia is a major supplier of canola to the European Union (EU) biodiesel market, with over 1.8 million tonnes exported annually to European countries.
Premier Cook addresses WA-Indonesia Energy Forum: Cook, Johnston
The Western Australia-Indonesia Energy Forum held in Jakarta is a timely opportunity for both regions to collaborate and support future energy transition. The forum also offers a chance for WA energy delegates and Indonesian stakeholders to discuss each market's capabilities in new and renewable energies and critical minerals.
The Buloke Times editorial: Beef industry progress on emissions
Last year, we reported on the US-inspired, non-binding "Methane Pledge", which Australia had joined at the urging of Minister Chris Bowen, who described it as "an aspirational global target for countries to reduce global emissions". New Zealand took it to the extreme of imposing what became known as a "fart tax" on farm animals that cause methane emissions.
Charlton RSL”ˆcommemorates Vietnam Veterans’ Day
Members of the Charlton RSL Sub-Branch marked Vietnam Veterans’ Day last Friday – August 18 – with a dinner and commemoration service to honour and recognize the contribution of those who served and fell in Australia’s longest military engagement (1962-1972/3) of the 20th Century.
Farm leader calls out Euro ‘madness’: NSW Farmers
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin says it’s time for Australia to stop bending to European demands that would cripple food and fibre production. The latest broadside on Australian agriculture came in the form of a motion to Labor’s federal conference – inspired by European laws – that would directly limit what farmers were able to do on their properties.
War in Ukraine: Do we make a difference?
Alison McEwen. Victor Boltak writes from Ukraine: "… And your help (Ukraine Appeal) is valued very highly here. "Recently I donated $275 USD for medicine which was taken yesterday to a so called ‘stabilization point’ – this is the first medical help point close to the battlefield where the wounded are delivered from the front lines and where military doctors try to give the first aid and stabilize the condition of the wounded so they could be further moved to the field hospital.
Taking Downs beef to the States
Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) has secured a grant which will enable it to bolster the Darling Downs’ and Queensland’s market share of grain-fed beef in the United States. In collaboration with Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), TSBE is hoping to capture the immense potential for the growth of regional beef producers and the expansion of Queensland’s footprint in U.S. markets.
Biosecurity and land use the focus for Agriculture Ministers in Wellington: Moriarty
Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty met with the New Zealand Minister for Agriculture Damien O’Connor last week to discuss issues of mutual significance during her trip to Wellington NZ for the Food Ministers Meeting. Ms Moriarty said biosecurity was top of the agenda given that both NSW and New Zealand are exposed to the increasing threat of outbreaks from exotic incursions that are rising in volume, complexity, and severity.
Buloke Times editorial: Prospects of an Australia-Europe FTA
A previous editorial concluded with a possible view from the European side of a trade agreement ("FTA" - free trade agreement) with Australia. This time, from the Australian side, we look at the principal agricultural products which our negotiators feel will give us some advantage in an agreement with the European Union (EU).
Detection of Lumpy Skin Disease in Australia exported cattle to Indonesia: Animal Health Australia
Given the presence of the disease in Indonesia, positive results in Australian cattle post arrival are not unexpected ... Importantly, trade is and can continue to Indonesia from 28 Australian export establishments, however, there are 4 export establishments in Northern Australia who are working with the government to further ensure they are disease free.
Learning about virtual fencing
South-west Victorian dairy farmers have learnt about the potential benefits of virtual fencing to manage herd grazing and movement, during a New Zealand study tour. Farm consultants Angus Drummond and Fiona Smith organised and led the tour of the SW Farm Business Discussion Group (SW FBDG) to Christchurch, New Zealand.
Buloke Times editorial: Implications of banning live sheep exports
As reported, the federal Agriculture Minister had the awkward task of confirming that the government intended to phase out sheep exports, but would do so in an orderly way “after consulting the industry”, although no action would be taken during the current term of government. The government has appointed a panel, which is part of the “phasing out”. The result so far of its “consulting the industry” is that the industry, backed up by the 3,000 people and their families dependent on the export, is against the ban.
Australia leads new collaborating centre in fight against health risks in wildlife: DAFF
In a significant step up in regional One Health and disease prevention capabilities, Wildlife Health Australia has achieved official designation from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as a Collaborating Centre for Wildlife Health Risk Management. This new international wildlife collaborating centre based in Australia will ensure wildlife health is integrated into One Health decision-making across the Indo-Pacific region to benefit public health, biosecurity, animal health, food security and biodiversity.
In Ukraine, archaic agriculture wins over industrial
Ukraine could become the first country in the world where the evolution of agriculture will be replaced by devolution. The war makes farms and large agricultural holdings inefficient. These enterprises use large capital, hired labor, complex machinery, large plots of land and work for export. But war cannot destroy the private farms of the rural people.
Fire and feathers: Clydesdale crosses the perfect sport horse
The Clydesdale horse is so often referred to in Australia as the “horse that built a nation” and it’s true. Australians have a great affection for the great horses of Scotland and the breed has graced the paddocks and show rings of Australia for more than 100 years ... They have crossed very well with other breeds and are very much the quiet achievers in the sport world.
Not easy under Albanese for Australian farmers
The Nationals leader and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said the first 12 months of an Albanese Labor government had been tough for Australian agriculture, with the full effect to be felt in the coming few years ... Mr Littleproud said farmers and processors were making investment decisions not to plant and not to invest, because the government could not provide them confidence of a stable workforce, which was driving down supply and consumer prices up.
