Water

Fix fodder program, say irrigators

Participants in the Federal Government’s Water for Fodder program have argued for a more streamlined process if the project to supply subsidised irrigation water during drought is continued. Farmers were able to apply for a 50 Ml parcel of...

Geoff Adams
News

Face masks frighten four-legged friends

A COVID-19 change to routine could be contributing to the stress and anxiety of our pets. Face masks are a foreign concept to dogs, who are now seeing their owners in an entirely new way. Greencross Vets chief executive officer Magdoline Awad...

Jamie Salter
News

Community feedback sought for Katamatite silo design

After almost three years of planning, Katamatite Lions Club has received permission from GrainCorp and Moira Shire Council to begin painting the town’s silos. The Katamatite community have been asked to get their creative juices flowing and help...

Jamie Salter
Livestock

Victorian livestock can be processed interstate, minister says

Victorian farmers will be able to send their beef herds to Queensland and NSW for processing, according to Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud. The Victorian red meat sector is facing a 33 per cent reduction in processing capacity because...

Country News

Most popular

Cropping

Northern Victorian climate perfect for lucerne growing, Kyabram hay producer says

While NSW farmers dominated the national titles, as part of Feed Central’s 2019-20 National Hay Quality awards, they were denied a clean sweep by the Thompson family from Kyabram. Sam and Jake, along with their wives Danielle and Sarah, took out the...

Rodney Woods
News

Barmah Forest regulators opened to refresh wetlands

Regulators in the Barmah Forest were opened on Friday, allowing water to flow through wetlands and creeks in the Ramsar-listed site. It comes as the Murray River rises in response to recent and forecast rain and regulators in the adjoining Millew...

Country News
News

Native plants transform old pony paddock in Congupna

The Congupna Tallygaroopna Landcare Group has transformed an abandoned pony paddock into a haven of native flora. Landcare group member Carolyn Edwards has been a member since 1998 and regularly undertakes maintenance work at the park...

Jamie Salter
News

Applications open for Science and Innovation Awards grants program

Applications are now open for the Federal Government’s 2021 Science and Innovation Awards grants program, which are open to the sharpest young minds in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries. Federal Agriculture Minister David...

Rodney Woods
News

Community feedback sought for Katamatite silo design

After almost three years of planning, Katamatite Lions Club has received permission from GrainCorp and Moira Shire Council to begin painting the town’s silos. The Katamatite community have been asked to get their creative juices flowing and help...

Jamie Salter
Livestock

Victorian livestock can be processed interstate, minister says

Victorian farmers will be able to send their beef herds to Queensland and NSW for processing, according to Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud. The Victorian red meat sector is facing a 33 per cent reduction in processing capacity because...

Country News
Livestock

Wool market suffers dramatic drop after returning from mid-year break

After a three-week hiatus, wool prices dropped by the biggest amount in nearly 30 years when markets returned on August 7. The Eastern Market Indicator dropped 11.29 per cent from the last sale held in July, the biggest percentage drop from one sale...

Rodney Woods

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Opinion

Opinion

Too many friends, not enough wives

By Jacko, son of Col Curmudgeon Making new friends can be dangerous. Especially when you are on Farmer Wants a Wife and the object is to create five matches out of 40 contenders. As the Channel 7 series goes on, something mysterious is developing...

Country News
Opinion

Farmer wants a crew member

What do you do when the Farmer Wants a Wife, but the wife wants a television production crew member? Well, stay tuned because we’re about to find out, after Karlana decided she might prefer to spend some time with one of the television team...

Geoff Adams
Opinion

Lessons to be learnt, but will we learn them?

It has been heartening to see how border communities are working together to get sensible outcomes for the wider region as the impacts of government decisions on COVID-19 bear down. Local government, media and other community leaders are all coming...

Country News
Opinion

‘Wives’ rebel against herd approach

The sisterhood is taking charge in a neat twist on a show which has 20 women chasing the affections of five men, in Farmer Wants a Wife

Geoff Adams
Opinion

Too many friends, not enough wives

By Jacko, son of Col Curmudgeon Making new friends can be dangerous. Especially when you are on Farmer Wants a Wife and the object is to create five matches out of 40 contenders. As the Channel 7 series goes on, something mysterious is developing...

Country News
Opinion

Farmer wants a crew member

What do you do when the Farmer Wants a Wife, but the wife wants a television production crew member? Well, stay tuned because we’re about to find out, after Karlana decided she might prefer to spend some time with one of the television team...

Geoff Adams
Opinion

Lessons to be learnt, but will we learn them?

It has been heartening to see how border communities are working together to get sensible outcomes for the wider region as the impacts of government decisions on COVID-19 bear down. Local government, media and other community leaders are all coming...

Country News
Opinion

Too many friends, not enough wives

By Jacko, son of Col Curmudgeon Making new friends can be dangerous. Especially when you are on Farmer Wants a Wife and the object is to create five matches out of 40 contenders. As the Channel 7 series goes on, something mysterious is developing...

Country News
Opinion

Farmer wants a crew member

What do you do when the Farmer Wants a Wife, but the wife wants a television production crew member? Well, stay tuned because we’re about to find out, after Karlana decided she might prefer to spend some time with one of the television team...

Geoff Adams
Opinion

Lessons to be learnt, but will we learn them?

It has been heartening to see how border communities are working together to get sensible outcomes for the wider region as the impacts of government decisions on COVID-19 bear down. Local government, media and other community leaders are all coming...

Country News
Opinion

‘Wives’ rebel against herd approach

The sisterhood is taking charge in a neat twist on a show which has 20 women chasing the affections of five men, in Farmer Wants a Wife

Geoff Adams

View All

Dairy

Dairy

In memory of Neville McDonald

Neville McDonald never got to fulfil his dream of celebrating the 50th anniversary of his Jersey property, Sunshine Farm

Country News
Dairy

Farmers benefit from soil moisture monitoring

More than 1000 local dairy farmers have experienced improved confidence to make irrigation scheduling decisions through a range of soil moisture monitoring programs. Murray Dairy demonstration programs were carried out at farms across the region and...

Jamie Salter
Dairy

A2 Milk Company appoints new CEO

The a2 Milk Company has appointed David Bortolussi to the role of managing director and chief executive officer. Mr Bortolussi is expected to start in the role early next year and will succeed Geoffrey Babidge, who has been the chief executive...

Jamie Salter
Dairy

New Murray Dairy board director appointed

Lockington dairy farmer Dustin Kemp has been appointed to the Murray Dairy board as a new director. Mr Kemp has extensive experience in the dairy industry and currently manages a 194 ha farm, milking 180 cows. He has run a mixed operation...

Jamie Salter
Dairy

Australian Dairy Conference moved to 2022

The Australian Dairy Conference has confirmed the next gathering of dairy farmers has been rescheduled to February 2022 in Hobart, Tasmania.

Jamie Salter
Dairy

Dairy Australia announces board nominees

Three Dairy Australia board nominees are standing for election at the 2020 annual general meeting, to be held in November. There are three vacancies for director positions as serving terms come to an end. Two of the vacant positions must be filled...

Jamie Salter

Bloggers

Your local news

The Boss's Dog

Canines called to calm COVID-19.

I am expecting any moment to be called into service as a COVID-sniffing dog. We dogs, it seems, are being asked to save the day after the humans messed things up. Quarantine didn’t work very well. Lockdown 3 didn’t work for long. The COVID Safe...

The General

The Boss's Dog

River notes.

Hanging roosters, stray wombats, wattles and sour grass. Life on the river is always throwing up something interesting, not least in the past week. The Silver Wattles have been working themselves up to it for a few weeks and burst into bloom, some...

The General

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Water

Water

Fix fodder program, say irrigators

Participants in the Federal Government’s Water for Fodder program have argued for a more streamlined process if the project to supply subsidised irrigation water during drought is continued. Farmers were able to apply for a 50 Ml parcel of...

Geoff Adams
Water

Tight water supply equals challenging year for irrigators

Tight water supply and high water allocation prices made 2019-20 a challenging year for southern Murray-Darling Basin irrigators. The latest Aither Water Markets Report, released on August 13, showed 2019-20 had the largest recorded water allocation...

Jamie Salter
Water

Communities request new MDBA chair to visit Murray and Murrumbidgee

Southern NSW irrigators are calling for the newly appointed Murray-Darling Basin Authority chair to visit the Murray and Murrumbidgee regions. Former Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston was announced as the new chair on August 8. Speak...

Jamie Salter
Water

NSW farmers missing water and confidence

The latest water allocation announcements have farmers questioning whether the NSW Government is serious about rebuilding the regional economy. On August 3, the NSW Government increased the general security water allocation for the NSW Murray by one...

Jamie Salter

View All

Horticulture

Horticulture

Unions call for end to Working Holiday Visa

Unions have called for an end to the Working Holiday Maker program, but growers say they rely on the extra labour for harvest. The Australian Workers’ Union, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association and the Transport...

Jamie Salter
Horticulture

Managing fruit quality for export summer fruit industry webinars

Four upcoming Agriculture Victoria webinars will offer an update on a new tool to predict stone fruit quality before it reaches its export destination. Agriculture Victoria research scientist John Lopresti said the Managing fruit quality for export...

Country News
Horticulture

Labour shortage issues could become worse after Federal Court decision on backpacker tax

The challenges keep on coming for the region’s horticulture growers after the Federal Court ruled the backpacker tax legal. The Australian Taxation Office won its appeal in the Federal Court on August 6, in a case that involved British backpacker...

Rodney Woods

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Viticulture

Viticulture

Regenerative farming key for Australian vineyard resilience

To combat a changing climate, a new report says Australia’s wine producers need to be more regenerative in their management practices. The report released by 2019 Nuffield Scholar Richard Leask explored how regenerative agriculture systems...

Jamie Salter
Viticulture

Smallest wine grape crop since 2007

The Australian wine industry has seen its smallest crop since 2007, with the Murray-Darling region performing better than others, according to Wine Australia’s National Vintage Report 2020

Jamie Salter
Viticulture

Climate predictions will help shape a future wine industry

Over the next 80 years across the Goulburn Valley, Strathbogie Ranges and Heathcote region, temperatures will rise by about three degrees, rainfall will decrease by about 20 mm and frost-risk days will drop by two days. These are the climate...

Jamie Salter

View All

Livestock

Livestock

Victorian livestock can be processed interstate, minister says

Victorian farmers will be able to send their beef herds to Queensland and NSW for processing, according to Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud. The Victorian red meat sector is facing a 33 per cent reduction in processing capacity because...

Country News
Livestock

Wool market suffers dramatic drop after returning from mid-year break

After a three-week hiatus, wool prices dropped by the biggest amount in nearly 30 years when markets returned on August 7. The Eastern Market Indicator dropped 11.29 per cent from the last sale held in July, the biggest percentage drop from one sale...

Rodney Woods
Livestock

Sheep killed in dog attack on Kyabram property

Three pregnant ewes have been killed on a Kyabram property in a series of dog attacks across five weeks. And it’s not the first time it has happened — a previous dog attack cost the farmer 17 ewes and lambs in one night. The property is...

Jamie Salter

View All

Cropping

Cropping

Northern Victorian climate perfect for lucerne growing, Kyabram hay producer says

While NSW farmers dominated the national titles, as part of Feed Central’s 2019-20 National Hay Quality awards, they were denied a clean sweep by the Thompson family from Kyabram. Sam and Jake, along with their wives Danielle and Sarah, took out the...

Rodney Woods
Cropping

Industry planning needed ahead of grain harvest

As Australia heads for one of its biggest grain crops, a major challenge will be ensuring the industry is ready to handle the volume. That’s according to the latest ANZ grains report, which looked at the challenges facing growers and companies in...

Jamie Salter
Cropping

New podcast to help growers cope with crop disease

This season, many cereal growers across the southern region are reporting uneven patches, bare areas, slow growth and stunted plants, yet nothing is obvious when examining plant leaves and stems. The answer to the crops’ lack of performance...

Rodney Woods