Tas

TasFarmers is reassuring the public that Tasmanian potatoes remain safe to eat and of high quality, following the confirmed detection of potato mop-top virus (PMTV) in stored seed representing around 1,700 tonnes of product. While the discovery was unsettling, TasFarmers CEO Nathan Calman said the scale of the detection is now known to be relatively small, and that the response has been swift and targeted.

Bendigo Bank torches regional development with selective blacklist based on mining. Just like the fictional Tasmanian town of Mystery Bay, a star in its own right in the hit ABC TV series Bay of Fires, Queenstown, where much of the show was filmed, is being held back by mysterious forces. Locals have suspected for some time that the town was a “no-go” area for home lending but like many other disadvantages they face due to remoteness, it was believed geography was the likely cause.

Australian milk production is set to fall again in the current season, as ongoing feed shortages and a smaller milking herd in drought-affected areas continue to impact, Rabobank says in newly-released research. This comes as global milk supply surges, with production increasing across other key dairy-exporting regions across the world.

Sam Marwood, the Founder and Managing Director of Cultivate Farms, reports on the information session held at Malanda Dairy Centre in the Atherton Tablelands. ARR.News found out some more about the sharefarming concept from Sam ... "The ultimate aim is to empower aspiring farmers to own profitable farms, revitalise regional communities, and create sustainable, profitable agriculture across Australia."

Bendigo Bank closed its last remaining banking service in an Aboriginal community 27 days before celebrating the launch of its Aboriginal Reconciliation Action Plan. The Aurukun agency in far north Queensland was one of 27 to be closed in 2022-2023 under the eye of the bank’s now chief executive Richard Fennell when he was in charge of the consumer banking division.

Sentiment in Australia’s agricultural sector has softened over the winter months, as the nation’s farmers contend with higher input costs and mixed seasonal conditions, the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey has found. The survey, released today, found net farm sector confidence has eased to a neutral reading of zero (down from five per cent in the previous survey).

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released the latest statistics on livestock slaughtered and red meat production, which according to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has confirmed a historic period for the red meat sector. Financial year 2024-2025 has seen beef production reach an all-time high, lamb slaughter maintained near-record levels, and mutton throughput surging to its highest volume since 2007.

Tasmania's peak body for farmers says fears of a new biosecurity incursion have been realised after the Tasmanian Government announced the detection of the potato mop-top virus in the state's North West. The mop-top virus is a plant disease that affects the leaves, shoots, and tubers of potato plants...

AUSVEG is alerting growers and industry stakeholders to the detection of Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) in Northwest Tasmania. This marks the first time this virus has been found in Australia.

TasFarmers is calling on all political parties in the upcoming state election to support a $500,000 investment into funding an independent Agricultural Career Coach, designed to connect young Tasmanians with fulfilling careers in agriculture regardless of their background.

In a move which calls into question its positioning as the “better big bank”, Bendigo Bank has announced the closure of 10 branches - five in regional communities where they are the last remaining bank branch ... Only a full reversal of this move will protect the 32 full time equivalent roles and the essential service they undertake in their local communities ... including Queenstown in Tasmania, home to the West Coast Wilderness Railway.

The latest Sheep Producers Intentions Survey (SPIS), conducted by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), reveals a significant shift in producer sentiment and flock management strategies across the nation. This shift is being driven by volatile market conditions, extreme weather events, and regulatory changes, most notably the planned phase-out of live sheep exports.

Landowners along the Tasmanian North West Transmission Development have overwhelmingly rejected a last-minute strategic benefit payment offer made by the Tasmanian Government. TasFarmers CEO Nathan Calman said the offer delivered at the eleventh hour through TasNetworks broke pre-election commitments made to negotiate in good faith.

The winner of the Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Award will be announced at 2pm on Saturday 28 June 2025 by Central Goldfields Shire Mayor, Councillor Grace La Vella, who will also officially launch the exhibition ... Nineteen art quilts from around Australia have been selected as finalists for the award which will be on display at Central Goldfields Art Gallery until 12 October.

Tasmania’s peak farming body, TasFarmers, is today releasing its bold long-term vision for the state, calling on all political parties to commit to strategic policy that supports the growth and sustainability of agriculture ... "The policy platform outlines key reforms across multiple areas, including local government rates, invasive species management, freight, and workforce development.

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.

TasFarmers President Ian Sauer ... stressed that some major issues were not presented to voters during the campaign, including changes to superannuation, environmental law reforms, and forestry policy, therefore it is a fallacy to say there is a mandate from voters.

TasFarmers has issued a strong warning against the Federal Government’s proposal to tax unrealised capital gains on superannuation balances, calling it “legalised theft” that threatens intergenerational farming, investment confidence, and the retirement savings of everyday Australians.

As the 2025 Federal Election draws near, Tasmania’s peak body for primary producers is calling on all political parties to present a practical vision for the future of regional Tasmania, following the release of its Federal Election Scorecard.

Andrew Morgan. For more than two decades, SFM has worked at the intersection of forestry, agriculture and investment ... In recent years, we’ve witnessed a structural shift in what drives value in plantation development — and it’s been driven by something invisible, yet incredibly powerful: a real, regulated and recognised price on carbon.

Broadacre farmland prices across Australia have continued their plateau for a second straight year after decade of strong growth, which had seen broadacre farmland rates increase by more than 10 per cent per year on average.