Country Today

Today we'll take you to the United States, following the unexpected victories for the Democrats across the US midterm elections, and look at how Democrat gains in Congress could reshape agricultural policies. Western Australian canola growers are reporting crop failure in the genetically modified glyphosate resistant varieties and a seeking compensation. We’ll take a look at Rabobank's lates...

A grazing property in Western Victoria has just been announced as having the highest Carbon Credit Unit (CCU) earning soil carbon project in Victoria. You’ll hear from farmer Sarah Whinney about how they revolutionised their farm management. One of Australia’s most innovative meat processors, Gundagai Lamb, has just taken out the NSW Export Innovator of the Year award.  Loddon Mal...

On Country Today, we cross to Washington where a dairy worker has just died from the H5N1 strain of bird flu. It is of course the strain that has been killing mainly wild migratory birds in Australia since it was detected in June this year. So what can we learn from the US experience? Australian researchers have found that one of the worst fungal diseases of barley, fungicide resistant net blotch,...

A Deniliquin based business that used the most invasive species in the Murray Darling Basin, the European Carp to make organic liquid fertilizer, is closing after 20 years trying to help clear waterways. The company asked for government assistance and got a big fat no. The Darling Downs in Queensland are known to have some of the most fertile soils in the country. But grain growers have had a seas...

To the shocking consequences of wild dogs attacking sheep, North West Victorian sheep producers are hopeful Ag Victoria’s plan to trial using drones monitor exclusion fencing may be a partial solution to the problem. Dairy farmers have told federal Trade Minister Don Farrell to secure a fair outcome for the sector, or carve dairy out of the EU Free Trade Agreement completely. The weekly wool...

Victoria is less than a month away from state election, and the Liberal-National Coalition is currently leading in the polls. Today Leader of the Opposition Jess Wilson with her plans if she becomes Premier. A mineral sands mine planned for Victoria’s Wimmera has secured up to $180 million dollars in conditional financing from Australian Government agencies. You’ll hear from the compan...

It’s said if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. So why is it that Australia’s grass-fed beef industry, now valued by more than $20 billion, and producing 3 million tons a year, largely reliant on volunteers to represent the industry. That’s the question being put to the industry by Cattle Australia Chair and NSW beef producer Garry Edwards. Let's take a look at livestock...

Australian crop margins remain under pressure heading into 2027, although strong yields across southern and western Australia are providing some relief. With commodity prices slipping below the cost of production, growers are preparing to store grain on-farm this harvest rather than sell at a loss.  The National Farmers' Federation has a new Vice President, southern New South Wales farme...

A shortage of quality crossbred ewes has led to an eye watering $640 a head for a new national record. We’ll take a look at how low crop prices are also being impacted by record freight costs. A five year CSIRO project is looking at whether regenerative agriculture help grain producers contend with a more volatile climate. Australian Government Regional Investment Corporation customer confid...

A frenzy of activity in the Victorian Planning Minister’s office, with major projects getting unexpectedly sudden approval in the weeks left until caretaker mode on November 3, when government stops until the State election. The Victorian Farmers Federation is calling on Commonwealth Water Minister Murray Watt to rule out further water buybacks. We’ll take a look at the lack of progres...

After predictions of a super El Nino, Victorian farmers are reflecting on what many have declared to be one of the best seasons they can remember. The only downer is lower grain prices, particularly with barley. You’ll hear how many farmers will chose to store the grain on farm. A harvest wrap from the Mallee to the Wimmera and on to the Goulburn Valley. Victoria’s largest wind farm to...

It’s National Water week so what better time to contemplate where we’ve come with water reform in the last 30 years, with just 23% of Murray-Darling Basin water now being diverted. How dairy farmers are paid for their milk is frustratingly difficult to understand. So the Federal Government has asked farmers for their views on how pricing information could be more transparent We&rs...

We’ll take some time to talk about Dr Helen Haines, the Independent member for the Federal Seat of Indi, who as we all know, is in a critical condition after an attack outside her electorate office in Wangaratta. Today we focus on the work she has done through the Voices for Indi movement which really boosted the momentum in Independents winning Federal Seats. To the controversy over allegat...

The general sentiment in the beef industry is that we are in good times. But many producers probably aren’t making the profits they should be. More wealth is being created from land appreciation than from beef production. We’ll be joined by National Farmers Federation President, Hamish McIntyre, who wants the free trade agreement with the EU to be scrapped. The H5 bird flu is putting v...

Victoria's Auditor General has released a report revealing the state's fire services hold barely a quarter of the $1.5 billion dollars needed to replace a critically ageing firefighting fleet. With the winter cropping harvest just around the corner, farmers across the border and North East are keeping a close eye on their crops following the recent rainfall. Is anyone else getting the feeling the...

It's said you only know when a market has peaked when it starts to fall. So when will the bubble burst for Australia's beef export boom? Global Agritrends' Simon Quilty thinks the market will remain strong for two to three years yet. Yet another mineral sands project in Victoria is renewing tensions with farmers, this one the Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project in one of Victoria’s most produ...

In one of the most significant allegations of a breach in competition laws, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has filed civil proceedings in Victoria's Federal Court against Australia's largest egg suppliers. It alleges illegal coordination of egg production and supply for more than five years. Also today Australia's set to produce Australia’s largest canola harvest on recor...

One Nation has made an election promise to resume native timber logging in Victoria. But the Victorian Forest Products Association is dubious there would be investment in a return to native logging. The United Dairyfarmers of Victoria will soon be led by a familiar face, as South Gippsland farmer Paul Mumford steps back into the presidency unopposed. Compared with other developed nations, farmers...

Regional Victorians have taken to the steps of Parliament House yet again, travelling to Melbourne to demand action ahead of the upcoming state election. The demonstration brought a range of critical regional issues to the fore, from energy projects cutting through prime farmland and neglected roads, to underfunded CFA volunteers. Pork farmers incensed that Mexican fast food chain Guzman y Gomez i...

The hosts of Chatsworth House field day, Sarah and Tom Whinney have only been on the property for 6 years and have taken the grazing property down the regenerative farming path with some very impressive results. The dinner speaker was the inspirational former soil scientist, Antarctic adventurer and author, Tim Jarvis. He spoke to Libby Price about how he views leadership. Organic fruit grower Jad...

There's nothing like good rain after a dry period to make farmers very happy. So today we’ll check in with some of those happy farmers. First to Gippsland which has had a very difficult, dry winter. We'll head to Willaura in western Victoria where farmers say it couldn't have arrived at a better time. Then to the Wimmera, where the deluge in recent days has been just the ticket for grain gro...

Let’s take a look at the rain and if was a godsend or a curse. Dr Kathryn Burke is a farmer near Echuca, and she’s an ag consultant so talks to farmers across the State. Now then to the Mallee where it’s been one of the best seasons for years. So too at Baddaginnie in north east Victoria where livestock dominates. To a fascinating success story of dairy farmers who have revo...

Only two weeks ago, the Victorian Premier Ben Carroll said he would pause and review the Western Renewables Link, then this week his government pushed through planning amendments to fast track the controversial project. Katherine Myers is a farmer at Tourello north of Ballarat. The Western Renewables Link would run through her property. We've seen plenty of rainfall across much of the state overni...

What on earth is the Victorian Government up to? One minute Premier Ben Carroll says the controversial Western Renewables link is under review, the next minute the Government has rushes through planning amendments to proceed with the project You’ll hear what Nationals leader Danny O’Brien makes of it. Labor shortages in agriculture are only getting worse over the years, particularly wi...

With a lot of grain growers hoping for a bumper harvest, today we’re reminded how things can suddenly end in disaster. Just like it was in 2022 for Fleur Ferris and her family who farm near Moama on the Murray River. Then came the catastrophic floods of the Murray and Campaspe Rivers simultaneously. Fleur Ferris on her reflections on the floods. The Australian table grape industry is one of...