Briefs
Agribusiness
RBA Governor shows true grit to keep rates on hold at a base rate of 4.35%
At this time in 2023 with the distraction of the general public watching the running of the 163rd Melbourne Cup the Reserve Bank of Australia Board (RBA) took a swipe
Used Car Safety Ratings for 2024 that you need to know to avoid buying a lemon
The updated Used Car Safety Ratings for 2024 provide a comprehensive guide to the safest used vehicles to buy, and those to avoid. Based on data from the Monash University
NHVR calls for feedback on draft Wine Industry Code of Practice
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has released the draft Wine Industry Code of Practice, to allow any stakeholder with an interest in the wine industry to review and comment
Bureau predictions for long-range Spring weather forecasts that could make or break some farmers
With the release of the Bureau of Meteorology Long-Range 2024 Spring forecast it is the start of nightmares for some farming districts with predictions they would prefer not to see.
3G telecom network closure delayed until at least late October 2024
Telstra and Optus have delayed the closure of their 3G networks until late October over concerns of service blackspots, especially in regional, remote and First Nations communities. RMIT telecommunications expert Associate Professor Mark
Cropping
Horticulture growers step up solutions to ease labour shortages
Labour shortages in the horticulture sector have eased slightly, according to a report from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences based
CANEGROWERS secures vital exemption over the holiday period amid harvest delays
CANEGROWERS has again secured a critical industry exemption from the Christmas transport curfew, ensuring the delayed sugarcane harvest can keep moving through the holiday period.
Syngenta Group reports H1 2024 sales and earnings are down compared to last year
Coming off record profits from the highest product input prices farmers have ever paid, Syngenta Group financial results for the first half and the second
National soil information system proving vital to agriculture’s future
Nurturing the food we eat and the plants we grow and for the animals native to our land soil is a fundamental pillar in the
Sugar industry says farewell to dedicated QSL leader
CANEGROWERS has wished long-time Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) chief executive Greg Beashel a wonderful retirement following today’s announcement that he would step down from the
Dairy
Your smartphone can detect when milk has gone off and save thousands of litres from being discarded
Researchers at UNSW Computer Science and Engineering have developed a smartphone sensor that can detect if milk is fresh or spoiled. Named VibMilk, the technology
Betta Milk factory closure a blow for dairy processing in North West Tasmania says AWU
The announcement by Bega that they will close the Betta Milk factory in Burnie is a blow for dairy processing in Northwest Tasmania, said the
Dairy Industry Code review extended to allow more people to respond
The public submission period for the review of the Dairy Industry Code has been extended until 29 August 2021. It is understood the two-week extension
Making farms a safer place across the life stages of a farmer
The recently concluded National Farm Safety Week took on the subject of safety issues from childhood to ageing farmers to show how farm safety was
Dairy Australia awarded a $310,000 grant to increase trade in South East Asian
Dairy Australia have been awarded a $310,000 grant from the Australian Government to reduce technical barriers to trade across six markets in South East Asia.
Field days & Events
Farmfest holds a rural auction fundraiser to support flood victims
Following widespread flooding in Southeast Queensland and Northern NSW, Lloyds Auctions has joined forces with ACM Rural Events to host an onsite auction at the
Fenner Conference on sustainable agriculture deferred until March 2022
The Fenner Conference on Environment, originally scheduled for 30 September and 1 October 2021 in Canberra, has been deferred until March 17 and 18 in
Fenner Conference on Environment aims to make agriculture sustainable
Discussions over ‘circular bioeconomies’ are challenging our commodity-based food production and trading systems that ignore the critical role of food in our health, says Dr
Registration is open for the first Future Drought Fund Science to Practice Forum
Sign up to be part of the first Future Drought Fund (FDF) Science to Practice Forum, to be held from 29 June 29 to July
Budget offers support to agricultural showmen and women
The Australian Government has committed $4.3 million in the 2021-22 Budget to ensure that agricultural showmen and women can continue to provide their services at agricultural shows across Australia.
Irrigation
Tasmanian Irrigation launches of water sales for a redesigned 13,500-megalitre Tamar Irrigation Scheme
Water sales launched for the redesigned Tamar Irrigation Scheme Farmers in the Tamar Valley has encouraged farmers to seriously consider the value that irrigation can
Getting the Murray–Darling Basin Plan back on track according to the Productivity Commission
Improved accountability would boost progress on the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, according to the Productivity Commission. The interim report of the 2023 Murray–Darling Basin Plan implementation
ACCC set to restore trust and confidence in Murray-Darling Basin water markets
The ACCC says it welcomes the Australian Government’s plan to legislate new functions for the ACCC as the water market conduct regulator in the Murray-Darling
Farmers welcome certainty on the future of paradise dam
The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) has welcomed an announcement by the state government that it will reinstate Paradise Dam to its original height and capacity
Irrigators turned to water allocation markets to cope with 2019-20 drought
Irrigators in the Murray–Darling Basin faced a challenging year in 2019-20 due to water scarcity and low allocations following persistent drought up until late 2019,
Livestock
Next-generation plant and animal breeding boosted by $13M training fund
Efforts to address rising global food demand were under the spotlight at the launch of the ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding at The University
Legislation to phase out live sheep exports passes through Parliament
The Australian Senate has today passed legislation enshrining the phase-out of live sheep exports into law This is how it went down for up to
Farmers walk out on Agriculture Minister’s Federal budget breakfast speech that angered NFF and other farm industry representatives
The most invisible Federal agricultural minister to date, Murray Watt, has a spotlight firmly on his future intentions following a post-budget breakfast that hosted the
Animal disease detective training package will help prevent spread of infectious disease
The University of Sydney-led Asia Pacific Consortium of Veterinary Epidemiology (APCOVE) launched its world-class field training package on the sidelines of the World Health Summit in Berlin today. The
Invasive Species Council agrees with proposed change to allow aerial control of feral horses
The Invasive Species Council says it welcomes the announcement the NSW government is consulting on changes to the Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management
Machinery
Moody’s Analytics reveal another drop in Used Vehicle Price Index for September 2023
Not surprisingly, sales of used vehicles in September 2023 presented as another decline in the price of used vehicles across the country. This trend is
Climate data for farmers to prepare for future droughts is now live
Two digital tools are expected to deliver farmers the best available climate data to help prepare for future drought and climate change. The Drought Resilience
Industry allowed to collaborate on AdBlue supply arrangements as shortages loom
The ACCC has granted an urgent interim authorisation permitting manufacturers and other industry stakeholders to collaborate on arrangements for the supply of the diesel exhaust
The only registered mixed battery recycling company expands to second site in Victoria
Lithium Australia’s battery recycling division has expanded its Victorian operations to include a second, much larger site in Laverton, following Wyndham City Council issuing a
Telehandler Safety Book helps guide operators towards farm safety awareness
A new safety resource is now available for farmers utilising telehandlers on their properties to increase awareness of their machinery’s operation and prevent accidents while
Construction of new electric car plant in China keeps them ahead of the game
Volkswagen Group China has begun construction of an all-new MEB plant at Volkswagen Anhui and will be the third of the Group’s pure-electric vehicle manufacturing
Opinion
National study suggests new vaccine is needed to prevent childhood pneumonia
Vaccine-resistant pneumonia has increased since a vaccine targeting 13 serotypes of the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria was introduced into the Australian routine childhood immunisation program. The
Marine experts welcome global resolution to save whales from plastic peril
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has welcomed news that a resolution calling for greater collaboration to save whales from plastic pollution was adopted by
Food prices to climb under cost of living crisis according to The Nationals
The Nationals leader David Littleproud says not all of Australia’s high food prices are caused by natural disasters – they’re also man-made by Labor scrapping the
Plan for zero extinctions requires end to human population growth says Sustainable Population Australia
If the federal government is serious about its goal to prevent any new extinctions of Australian wildlife, it must understand that preservation of habitat is
Zero extinction target of threatened species critically important says Invasive Species Council
“Today’s announcement that Australia is adopting a zero extinction target as part of its Threatened Species Action Plan is very welcome news,” said Invasive Species
SPA points to latest immigration figures that reveal we are heading back to population growth
According to Sustainable Population Australia (SPA), the figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday reveal the country is heading back to
