Federal officials face hostile Senate estimates grilling over the funniest of fruit import plan
Bananas have long been the butt of many jokes, but the Shadow Minister for Northern Australia and Resources, Senator Susan McDonald will be deadly serious when scheduled to question senior trade and agriculture officials in Senate Estimates today over a push by the Philippines to export bananas to Australia. According to some growers, this will […]
Deforestation can cause an eightfold increase in flood events according to forest fires report
The chance of large-scale flooding in a specific catchment area can increase by as much as 700% if widespread deforestation has occurred. That is the finding of a new paper by academics who analysed decades of flooding data from regions in Australia that frequently suffer forest fires. The loss of forest canopy has long been […]
TropAg conference offers a Pacific region perspective on food security
The TropAg 2025 Conference will be held from 11 to 13 November 2025 at the Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane The Pacific region can offer valuable lessons to its neighbours on food security in a changing climate, according to TropAg plenary speaker Dr Seeseei Molimau-Samasoni. The Head of International Development for the Plant & […]
Cotton planting is underway with above average harvest expected
Cotton growers are tipped to plant down nearly 400,000 hectares with expectations of a bumper crop from the 2025-26 season Plantings across cotton growing regions in warmer climates have been positive, with some paddocks already showing sprouts out of the ground, while growers in southern regions are simply waiting for warmer weather before starting their […]
Weather it Together is a unified effort to embrace positive wellbeing
A campaign has been launched to encourage farmers to collectively take care of themselves and each other through tougher than expected seasons Weather it Together is a campaign led by farmers – for farmers, acting as a friendly reminder about practical steps members of farming communities can take to maximise their wellbeing, especially in a […]
More than one in four consumers believes it is okay to steal according to a shocking retail theft report
Not enough is being done to deter rogue shoppers from continuing their habit of dishonesty and violence. A report by Monash University retail studies experts has revealed more relaxed attitudes towards retail theft and other deviant retail behaviours, posing a growing challenge for retailers nationwide. The Consumer Deviance Spotlight report, released today and developed by Monash Business School’s […]
Extending the life of old solar panels so they can power into the future
Up until now, Australia’s rapid uptake of solar panels has created a looming waste problem, with most solar photovoltaic (PV) panels being directed to landfill at the end of their life. However, University of South Australia researchers have identified ways to overcome barriers to safely and profitably to extend the life of solar panels and […]
Converting farms to Bioenergy fuel could be a $10 billion cost saving
The first Bioenergy feedstock strategy to convert farms to a carbon fuel economy could unlock $10 billion is starting to take shape The Federal Government has opened submissions for its first National Bioenergy Feedstock Strategy, a landmark plan to harness the nation’s vast untapped resources – from crop residues and tallow to used cooking oil […]
John Deere initiates Harvest Profit program for tighter control
The Harvest Profit program is now available from John Deere and can be used as a powerful cost and profit tracking tool ready for this season Growers across Australia and New Zealand now have a unique tool in John Deere’s Harvest Profit, a convenient cost and profit tracking software platform that offers near-real-time profitability monitoring […]
Hopes of further base interest rate reduction this year fade as the reserve bank board holds the base rate at 3.60%
A unanimous decision by the Reserve Bank Board sees the base cash rate still sitting at 3.60%, the same as it was in August 2025 when the base rate was reduced from 3.85% by 0.25%, the third interest rate cut of 2025. The last time the base rate was 3.60% was in April 2023. In […]