“IMPROVING access to overseas markets can be a slow and tortuous process, but Australian cattle producers are finally seeing rewards for their patience,” National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) President David Crombie declared on the announcement by the European Union (EU) that Austr... more

The deadline for applications for the 2010 Greenham Dairy Scholarship is approaching fast. This annual award provides a motivating opportunity for students across a broad age range to apply for $10,000 to help them undertake formal study or a recognised training program within the dairy industry ... more

TODAY marks the launch of the ‘International Year of Biodiversity’. Biodiversity is of critical interest to farmers – since biodiversity and agriculture are interdependent and both are pivotal in addressing looming climate change and food security pressures. The National Farmer... more

16 December 2009 The Department of Agriculture and Food is conducting a targeted survey in the South West on the lookout for Red Imported Fire Ants. The exotic pest has not been found in Western Australia, but an infestation in Queensland has prompted nationwide surveillance. The department&rs... more

10 December 2009 The Department of Agriculture and Food has commended the Western Australian public for helping guard the State’s environment and primary industries against exotic pests. The department’s Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS) spokesman Marc Widmer said Western... more

A unique grains harvest is underway to explore the potential of growing quality barley and wheat specifically for pig feed. The research brings together the Department of Agriculture and Food, Murdoch University and InterGrain, as part of a diverse project funded by the Pork Cooperative Research... more

Thursday, 10 December 2009 New laws introduced this month will provide greater certainty relating to animal welfare, biosecurity and traceability standards for Victoria’s livestock industry. Introducing the Livestock Management Act into Parliament this week, Agriculture Minister Joe Helpe... more

16 Dec 2009 Continued dry conditions throughout spring and late frosts in the NSW grain belt have impacted on winter crop yields and summer crop sowings. Industry & Investment NSW winter cereals specialist, Frank McRae, said 95% of the winter crop harvest was complete, following an early s... more

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Farmers affected by a bushfire west of Bundarra from 12 December can apply for Natural Disaster Assistance, NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Steve Whan, said today. Mr Whan said bushfire affected more than 15,700 hectares in the NSW northern tablelands between Bundarra, Barraba and Bingara. ... more

14 Dec 2009 Scientists from Industry & Investment NSW are a step closer to reducing the impact of weeds in Australian crops, with a further $230,000 being spent researching a weed seed management tool. The five year $1million project is a joint effort between scientists at I&I NSW Wagg... more

Premier Kristina Keneally has announced an extension of a number of assistance measures for drought-affected farmers as she undertakes a two day tour of rural NSW. Ms Keneally made the announcement while visiting Bundarra near Armidale. The $8 million extension of several key initiatives refle... more

Premier Kristina Keneally will tour drought-affected NSW today and tomorrow as new figures show more than 80 per cent of NSW is now officially in drought, with seven more regions moving into drought. In total, more than 95 per cent of NSW is either in drought or considered marginally in droug... more

As the world awaits the outcome of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, the Australian beef industry is researching new ways to reduce methane emissions in cattle by 50 per cent by 2030. Speaking at a Beef CRC producer and stakeholder forum in Brisbane recently, Beef CRC CEO, Dr Heather Bur... more

Tasmanian farmers were warned today that their window of opportunity to develop additional agricultural land is quickly closing. Under a 2006 supplementary agreement to the Regional Forest Agreement between the Australian and Tasmanian Governments, broadscale land conversion has to end by 2015 b... more

A three year national project to assess potential benefits of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in broadacre farming is due to start next January. Industry & Investment (I&I) NSW research entomologist at Wagga Wagga, Joanne Holloway, said the search has begun for a NSW site to set up comp... more

Trangie Agricultural Research Centre (TARC) is on track to host the 2010 NSW Conservation Agriculture Field Day on Thursday, February 18. Industry & Investment (I&I) NSW TARC manager, Anne Mabey, said the Department was a partner with the Conservation Agriculture and No-till Farming Asso... more

FLUCTUATIONS recorded by the Westpac-NFF Commodity Index have highlighted why managing risk is an increasingly important part of farm business. In the last six months the index has shown global prices for wheat, barley and canola have decreased by 31.9%, 8.3% and 13.8% respectively. If left unadd... more

THE National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is calling on the Rudd Government to respond favourably to the Coalition’s proposed agriculture amendments, saying they make economic and environmental sense for the country, not just farmers. “Let’s be clear, the objective is to red... more

The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association today announced a new task force that will examine marketing issues for Tasmanian agricultural products, including areas of anti-competitive practices. TFGA chief executive Chris Oldfield said the task force, to be chaired by farmer/activist David B... more