South Australian Country Hour

The H5 strain of bird flu detected in an Australian seabird for the first time, at Robe in SA's south east, Australia's chemical regulator criticised for delays in processing and approving new products for farmers, and the levy cattle producers pay when they sell their animals under review for the first time in two decades.

Farmers reiterate calls for a Universal Service Obligation following this week's nationwide Telstra outage, Wool Producers Australia says its decision not to participate in the Future Flock Strategy have been validated, and testing finds mainland Australia's seed potatoes are free of Potato Mop-Top virus.

The Country Hour broadcasts live from LambEx at the Adelaide Convention Centre, consultation underway on the Future Flock initiative, and growing demand for Australian lamb form American consumers.

Restrictions on King George Whiting eased for recreational fishers in all SA waters, changing appetites believed to be behind a decline in plant-based food options, and the Royal Adelaide Show introduces new merino classes in an Australian-first.

State farming organisations express concern about the Future Flock process, trials underway in SA into how to grow lucerne without paraquat, and calls for better regulation around data centre projects in regional Australia.

A suspected case of H5 avian influenza detected in a wild bird for the first time now in NSW, farmers across parts of South Australia buoyed by a very wet start to July, and the Goat Industry Council of Australia proposes a levy increase for producers.

The ACCC fines a major dairy producer over allegations it misled consumers on fresh milk labels, calls for more resources to tackle the management of buffel grass in SA, and researchers investigating using spider venom to attack the parasitic 'Varroa destructor' mite.

Changes arrive to wages, superannuation, food labelling, and fuel charges with the start of a new financial year, bee industry representatives meet at an emergency roundtable to discuss managing varroa mite, and SA's duck season closes on schedule amid advice to monitor birds for potential signs of bird flu.

Urea fertiliser prices start dropping closer to pre-Middle East conflict levels, work continues to repair hundreds of roads damaged by heavy rains earlier in the year, Australia's pork industry calls for country of original labelling for its products.

SA egg producers take measures to keep their flocks safe from the growing risk of bird flu, an emergency roundtable called to find the next actions on managing varroa mite, and Australian consumers driving a surge in demand for olive oil.

Egg farmers urge consumers to continue buy and eat South Australian eggs and chicken products, farmers look at what other options they have for weed control as the fight to ban paraquat continues, and a five-year dung beetle exchange between SA and north-west Tasmania a success.

Confirmation that the deadly H5 strain of bird flu has been detected on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula, farming groups raise concerns over the potential implications for agriculture from AI data centres, and Murray-Darling Basin communities across four states have their say on the future of the Basin Plan.

Australia's veterinarians say the H5 bird flu detection highlights a need for urgent investment in the profession, the State Government announces $500,000 for the South Australian industrial hemp industry, agronomists look to help growers manage crops with a reduced rate of diquat and paraquat.

Australia's chemical regulator allows farmers to continue to use paraquat under tighter restrictions, farmers worry restricted use of the herbicide will lead to great resistance and lower quality crops, and wildlife groups call for $200million to be dedicated to protecting Australia's fauna from H5 bird flu virus.

SA responds as Australia's first ever detection of the H5 strain of bird flu is confirmed in WA, Australian farmers await an imminent decision on the future use of paraquat, and a nationwide project underway to try and reduce methane emissions from sheep.

Concerns for farmland and water as AI data centres proposed for rural SA, Farina Station is the state's far north sells at auction for $2.75million amid strong interest, and Australian research continues to find new non-chemical methods to control varroa mite.

Fuel and fertiliser concerns push SA farmer confidence into negative territory despite a better season rainfall-wise, research into an alternative to shearing to remove sheep fleece enters a new phase, and beekeepers gather at the SA Apiarists Association Conference to hear challenges & opportunities in varroa treatment.

The Bureau of Meteorology officially declares El Niño active, SA pastoralists find innovative ways to locate missing stock amid record-breaking rain, and calls to eat more rabbits as numbers boom across south-east Australia.

Three more government-backed urea shipments expected to arrive for Australian farmers in the coming weeks, a fertiliser importer says the government's intervention has distorted the market and hurt competition, and PIRSA confirms the detection of treatment resistant varroa mite in the Riverland.

South Australian River Murray irrigators receive an opening water allocation of 83% for the coming year, the Federal Government commits up to $1million to help fight an outbreak of lumpy skin disease in Bali, and Victoria's government to subsidise a dingo exclusion fence bordering Big Desert Wilderness Park on the SA border.

Two major players in the Australian wool market set to merge, concerns over regional Australia's growing reliance on satellite internet service Starlink, and a family-owned SA winery wins a National Wine Show award for the 3rd time.

Sixth-generation farmer Rick Gladigau has shut the gate on the family dairy at Breezy Heights, ending a generational link to dairy that stretched back to 1859, and dairy farmers struggling to lock in contacts following confusion around milk price announcements. Kangaroo Island has successfully eradicated feral pigs, can other regions follow its lead?

A new sale record set at the Naracoorte saleyards, New Zealand researchers develop a new biopesticide to make varroa mite infertile, and changes flagged for Australia's health star rating.

Reporting shows double strength baits helping SA farmers reduce mice numbers, a proposal to more than double the levy goat producers pay to sell and export goats, and meet a 97-year-old grazier, who still gets up for work each day on his sheep and cattle property. 

Australia on track to produce the nation's biggest ever crop of lentils, a new report finds Australian ag "desperately under prepared" for a shortage of honey bee pollination, and South Australians recognised for their contribution to the ag sector in King's Birthday honours.