Country Today

Farmers in the Wimmera are devastated by the news that the Victorian Government has granted environmental approval for two mineral sands mines: one near Dooen just outside Horsham, and the other near Swan Hill.  With Christmas just around the corner, one staple on the budget is pork which is making something of a comeback. CHOICE has released the results its quarterly report on supermarket pr...

With forecasts of a hot summer ahead, beef producers are being advised to consider weaning calves early as it significantly reduces feed costs.  The rail freight company Pacific National is warning grain growers there have been some near misses with farmers trying to beat 3000 tonne trains as they approach level crossings. A highly controversial rare earths and minerals mining project has bee...

The Sheep industry is continuing to voice its anger and frustration at the government’s plan to phase out live sheep exports.  The latest wave of rain has brought difficult conditions for grain growers in the middle of harvest in Victoria's North East  Farmers can look forward to a more positive start to next year with a generally favourable rainfall outlook and improving...

Rice growers will have the first purpose built, state-of-the-art rice breeding facility funded by growers levies. National Centre for Farmer Health in Hamilton is offering free farmer health checks Yet another farm organisation has dumped its membership of the National Farmers Federation. This time it's the peak vegetable organisation, AusVeg Nuclear  power gets the big thumbs down from the CSIRO...

The Victorian Government offers grants to farmers to join the On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot. You’ll hear from South Gippsland beef producer Carolyn Wilde did some of her own research on how to reduce methane emissions and then successfully applied for a government grant of nearly $40k It's been a big year in the Australian beef industry, as we've produced the highest volume of beef in a quar...

After a frustrating wait for dairy farmers, Fonterra has announced a 15 cent step up in the price it pays suppliers. To red meat exports, and AUSTRALIA’S two last remaining beef processing plants banned from exporting to China have had the restrictions listed. With summer upon us, livestock are grateful for those cooler, shady spots.  the latest research into cattle in feedlots shows they don’t ju...

Farmers warned of new wage theft laws coming into effect on January 1 introducing much harsher criminal penalties for businesses that intentionally underpay workers. Australian sheep producers are a lot more feeling optimistic than they were this time last year.   Victoria’s Country Fire Authority has lost more of its funding in favor of the other emergency services, The largest exporter of wheat,...

The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists has released a report into the health of the Murray Darling River system and the key findings are that the basin river health is still in decline, despite the $13 billion spent by the Murray Darling Basin Plan The Kondinin Group's annual farmer survey reveals that less than 20 percent of farmers have a legally binding succession plan  Agricultural produc...

Labour shortages brought on by the pandemic are beginning to ease in the horticulture sector.  If you’re a wool grower, how good are you at filling in your national wool declaration? Perhaps you should be using the mobile app woolclip? We’ll take a look at beef cattle prices, and it’s certainly a tale of two very different markets, with northern cattle, particularly feeder steers in Queensland, ou...

It’s just the news prime lamb producers have been hoping for … heavy lambs have topped a record $300 a head To renewables, and a planning application for a solar battery storage plant in Victoria's north east has been lodged with no consultation with the locals  It’s now 14 months since Dairy Farmers Victoria opened for business. So, how is the organization faring? And would it ever join the fold...

The Nationals in Victoria have elected Member for South Gippsland, Danny O'Brien to the leadership unopposed after Peter Walsh announced he was stepping down.  Rural Aid has once again demonstrated its vital role in supporting the nation’s farmers and rural communities.  We head to Victoria's north west, where up to 50 mm of rain dampened the grain harvest this week As he said he would, Donald Tru...

Australia’s only remaining domestic wind turbine tower manufacturer is being mothballed after fighting a losing battle to compete with cheaper Chinese imports How many farmers have successfully negotiated a farm succession plan? That’s just what a new national survey is hoping to find out We’re going to take a look at historic wheat prices in fact going back 760 years to 1264. And the take home, g...

As the appetite for beef continues to grow in South-East Asian markets, Australia may be in a position to cement itself as one of the major global suppliers. To another in our seasonal updates, and while a dry season has seen early selling of livestock in many areas of Victoria, it's an entirely different situation in the Riverina. A large rain band stretching from the far North West of Victoria r...

Country Today went to a Best Wool Best Lamb seminar at Lima in North East Victoria. You’ll hear from manager of Lima Park Pastoral Company Andrew Maffesoni who's mad the most out of a poor season.  We’ll take a look at prospects for wool NutrienAg North East Wool area manager, Jarrod DeMarco Scientists and nutritionists from around the world have formed a movement to lobby against the anti-red mea...

While the lamb market has been volatile for the past year, Global Agritrends analyst Simon Quilty thinks the market will rise next year and continue to do so for two to three years. with the drought continuing in Victoria’s south west, expressions of interest have opened for a program offering one on one consultations with a farm advisor. Leading Victorian fruit grower Peter Hall who was called to...

Now to the next in our series on seasonal conditions, and the big dry continues in Victoria's South west. The Heytesbury Settlement is well known for being some of the best dairy farming land in the Victoria ... but farmers this year are still battling drought The live sheep trade claimsa nationwide survey suggests Australians are increasingly in favour of keeping the live sheep trade The DemoDAIR...

Will we see a return of the trade wars? China is our biggest export market, followed by the US … what position will that put Australian farmers in, when Trump is back in the picture? And you’ll find out about a Breakfast and farm water discussion which is on tomorrow at western Victoria How do you prefer your lamb? Roasted, or grilled? The University of New England has put the different cooking te...

Wool growers have voted and the poll results announced at Friday’s Australian Wool Innovation AGM - show that farmers want to keep their levy spend at 1.5 per cent of their gross income. The CFA is urging farmers to take proactive steps to reduce the risk of header fires, now more than ever as we come into harvest and the days are warming up We’ve been talking a great deal about what will happen w...

Sheep farmers need to take more care when they’re lamb marking, with poor tail docking and mulesing failing to meet the Sheep Welfare and Standards Guidelines.  Wild dog attacks continue to impact farmers in the north west of Victoria, and due to the removal of the unprotection order, there’s very little they can do about it.  How can we incentivise dairy farmers to reduce their greenhouse gas emi...

You'll hear about the CSIRO report to the latest from the cop29 conference, Global Carbon Budget which shows carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from fossil fuels have reached a record high this year and agricultural lending has increased Farmers are taking on debt so they can invest back into their businesses, particularly on buying more land.  And a better way to label wool: the Australian Wool Susta...

The United Dairyfarmers of Victoria is demanding the national dairy body, Dairy Australia, remove dairy processors from the organization.  To our series on seasonal updates, and today we head to Western Victoria which has had one of the driest winters on record. We’ll then head to the Riverina where harvest is in full swing but pastures are drying out very quickly. Australia’s cattle industry is a...

Sheep producers in western Victoria and south east South Australia are being forced to cull older ewes due to the poor season The grain harvest is now in full swing in the  Southern Riverina and starting in Victoria’s North East.  To yet another line of research into flystrike protection in sheep, and the latest project is looking at nanotechnology to develop a tea tree oil biopesticide.  Australi...

To solar farms, and a rather different take. A study of sheep grazing under solar panels on a large scale solar farm shows an improvement in wool quality and weight gain. What are the risks and benefits that lie ahead for Australian agriculture as Donald Trump returns to presidency? You’ll hear from Rabobank’s Stefan Vogel. On Country Today, our team of reporters are this week filing updates on th...

Australian beef exports have reached the highest levels on record, The annual survey of Victoria’s game duck population is about to start. What is a Donald Trump presidency likely to mean for Australian agriculture, in particular, the beef and cropping sectors. You’ll hear about the plantation timber industry contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions And the weekly wool report  See omnystu...

The forecast is for a wetter and warmer three months. Libby Price spoke to Ag Victoria's Seasonal Risk Agronomist, Dale Grey. As we enter the new bushfire season, smoke detecting Artificial Intelligence software is being trialled to help detect bushfires earlier We’ll cross to the United States, and no, not to talk about the election.. early days on that for agriculture.. you’ll hear all about foo...