News

Australia saves millions with trade deal

Australia’s dairy industry is set to be one of the biggest winners out of a new Indonesia-Australia trade deal. The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into effect on July 5, will build upon the...

Jamie Salter
News

Donkey births rare twins

They’re double delights, also double the trouble. But Kaiba and Clare are also defying the odds when it comes to the delivering of donkeys. Multiple births in the breed are rare according to Hawaiki Stud owner Debra Baker – but what is...

Jamie Salter
Water

$20 million for research into Murray-Darling Basin rivers

The Federal Government is looking for partners for a $20 million research program to increase knowledge about Murray-Darling Basin rivers. Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt said the program demonstrated the government’s commitment to...

Jamie Salter
News

Benalla woman takes out prestigious thoroughbred awards

Wendy Smith feels most comfortable getting the job done behind the scenes. But her hard work has not gone unnoticed and recently the yearling manager has found herself in the limelight. Gathered with son Joshua Schwandt and her Blue Gum Farm...

Jessica Ball

Most popular

Virus updates

Melbourne and Mitchell Shire to be locked down for six weeks

Melbourne has been ordered back into lockdown after the state recorded 191 new cases of coronavirus. Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday confirmed people in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, north of the city, will only be able to leave their...

Shepparton News
Water

Northern NSW irrigators storing more water than allowed, inquiry hears

Floodplain harvesting in northern NSW is under fire, after evidence given at a state parliamentary inquiry last Thursday found irrigators in the north are unmetered, unlicensed and hold on-farm storages in excess of 4000 Gl, well above the 210 Gl of floodplain harvesting allowed under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Rodney Woods
News

New National Rural Health Commissioner appointed

Rural health advocate, medical practitioner and researcher, Associate Professor Ruth Stewart, has been named Australia’s next National Rural Health Commissioner.

Rodney Woods
Horticulture

Businesses surprised by border closure

Barham avocado grower Katrina Myers has been surprised to hear the announcement of the NSW-Victoria border closure.

Geoff Adams
News

The way forward for Australia-China trade disputes

China has increased tariffs on Australian beef from less than five per cent to 12 per cent for six months, and is expected to increase tariffs on whole milk powder later this year.

Jamie Salter
News

Benalla woman takes out prestigious thoroughbred awards

Wendy Smith feels most comfortable getting the job done behind the scenes. But her hard work has not gone unnoticed and recently the yearling manager has found herself in the limelight. Gathered with son Joshua Schwandt and her Blue Gum Farm...

Jessica Ball
News

Louie is farming family’s new fur baby

Dairy farmer Anne Barbagallo from Mead, near Cohuna, recently added a new member to the family. Jack Russell Louie has become a substitute child after Anne’s daughters Stacey, 21, and Heidi, 18, left home for university in Melbourne and Geelong...

Jamie Salter

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Opinion

Opinion

Foil tops, feckless youth and fabulous memories

As a tacker I remember being awestruck at the sight of a bottle of milk with a foil cap. I had gone to the city to spend the holidays with the maternal (read non-farming) grandparents. To the little Curmudgeon, that was really cutting-edge...

Country News
Opinion

Murray-Darling Basin royal commission must happen

Robert Watson Numurkah I am responding to the assertion that Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum recently made, that the Liberal Party was holding back reform to water policy. May I remind you Damian, that in both state and federal parliaments...

Country News
Opinion

You pack of bludgers. Your country needs you...to work

Far be it from me to call a lot of those city folk bludgers. But here goes. A lot of city folk are bludgers. Now I am prepared to admit every one of us is at a disadvantage, but there is light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. And when Canberr...

Country News
Opinion

Want to whinge? Then let’s get the full facts

Want to give a farmer a bad name? Then put him on national TV — let’s say give him a fair slice of 60 minutes worth of prime time — and let him bleat about how the world is treating him. Fair dinkum, doesn’t anyone get it? The prevailing...

Country News
Opinion

Foil tops, feckless youth and fabulous memories

As a tacker I remember being awestruck at the sight of a bottle of milk with a foil cap. I had gone to the city to spend the holidays with the maternal (read non-farming) grandparents. To the little Curmudgeon, that was really cutting-edge...

Country News
Opinion

Murray-Darling Basin royal commission must happen

Robert Watson Numurkah I am responding to the assertion that Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum recently made, that the Liberal Party was holding back reform to water policy. May I remind you Damian, that in both state and federal parliaments...

Country News
Opinion

You pack of bludgers. Your country needs you...to work

Far be it from me to call a lot of those city folk bludgers. But here goes. A lot of city folk are bludgers. Now I am prepared to admit every one of us is at a disadvantage, but there is light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. And when Canberr...

Country News
Opinion

Foil tops, feckless youth and fabulous memories

As a tacker I remember being awestruck at the sight of a bottle of milk with a foil cap. I had gone to the city to spend the holidays with the maternal (read non-farming) grandparents. To the little Curmudgeon, that was really cutting-edge...

Country News
Opinion

Murray-Darling Basin royal commission must happen

Robert Watson Numurkah I am responding to the assertion that Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum recently made, that the Liberal Party was holding back reform to water policy. May I remind you Damian, that in both state and federal parliaments...

Country News
Opinion

You pack of bludgers. Your country needs you...to work

Far be it from me to call a lot of those city folk bludgers. But here goes. A lot of city folk are bludgers. Now I am prepared to admit every one of us is at a disadvantage, but there is light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. And when Canberr...

Country News
Opinion

Want to whinge? Then let’s get the full facts

Want to give a farmer a bad name? Then put him on national TV — let’s say give him a fair slice of 60 minutes worth of prime time — and let him bleat about how the world is treating him. Fair dinkum, doesn’t anyone get it? The prevailing...

Country News

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Dairy

Dairy

Freedom Foods extends trading halt

Freedom Foods will not trade on the ASX until November 2 after the company extended its trading freeze. The company’s board said it believed investors required “comprehensive and up-to-date” information as to the impact of the historical issues...

Country News
Dairy

Coles staff shortage leads to milk shortage

A shortage of staff at a key Coles Supermarkets distribution centre is holding up delivery of fresh milk to stores around Victoria. One Shepparton Coles supermarket was emptied of any fresh dairy milk on Saturday. As well as random shortages, the...

Geoff Adams
Dairy

Fonterra want FASL loans repaid as part of class action proceedings

The lawyers behind the class action against Fonterra for its price claw-back in 2016 are still on the lookout for registrations as Fonterra looks to get loans repaid as part of the court’s decision. It comes as Fonterra has issued legal action...

Rodney Woods
Dairy

Murray Goulburn shell company goes into liquidation

The remaining assets of former dairy co-operative, Murray Goulburn, have been placed into voluntary liquidation. Most of the assets of the once dominating dairy processor were sold to Saputo in 2018, but a shell company remained to finance...

Geoff Adams
Dairy

Spacing is critical to successful calf rearing, manual says

When it’s time to set up housing as part of your calf rearing practice, spacing of the calves is essential. That’s according to Dairy Australia’s Rearing Healthy Calves second edition manual, which says each newborn calf should have a space of at...

Rodney Woods
Dairy

Dairy Australia a partner in smarter irrigation project

Dairy Australia is partnering with the cotton, sugar, grain and rice industries in a project to deliver new efficient water use technologies to Australian farmers. More than half of dairy farmers nationally use irrigation, and farms in some regions...

Jamie Salter

Bloggers

Your local news

The Boss's Dog

Cray season brings them out!

This time of year, right through the winter, there’s people poking around the river after Murray Crays. This year there seem to be more than usual. It’s because of the Lockdown, the Boss reckons – any excuse to get out of the house is good...

The General

The Boss's Dog

No Joy in the Naked City

The Boss shot me off to the kennels last week while he spent a few days in Melbourne - and I’m pleased I wasn’t with him. He and the Missus stayed in the middle of the city. He said it was closed. Walking around the Central Business District...

The General

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Water

Water

$20 million for research into Murray-Darling Basin rivers

The Federal Government is looking for partners for a $20 million research program to increase knowledge about Murray-Darling Basin rivers. Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt said the program demonstrated the government’s commitment to...

Jamie Salter
Water

Goulburn-Murray Water halfway through Winter Works program

Goulburn-Murray Water is halfway through its $2.5 million Winter Works program, with maintenance and refurbishment work undertaken by local businesses and regional contractors. The works are taking place across the irrigation delivery network...

Jamie Salter
Water

Eureka flags protest water management

The Eureka flag is once again a symbol of rebellion, flying at farming properties from Echuca to Wentworth. The flag represents a united protest against the continuation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. It originates from the rebellion of...

Jamie Salter
Water

Northern NSW irrigators storing more water than allowed, inquiry hears

Floodplain harvesting in northern NSW is under fire, after evidence given at a state parliamentary inquiry last Thursday found irrigators in the north are unmetered, unlicensed and hold on-farm storages in excess of 4000 Gl, well above the 210 Gl of floodplain harvesting allowed under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Rodney Woods

View All

Horticulture

Horticulture

Businesses surprised by border closure

Barham avocado grower Katrina Myers has been surprised to hear the announcement of the NSW-Victoria border closure.

Geoff Adams
Horticulture

Harvest Trail Services will secure seasonal workers

A multi-million program hopes to encourage more Australian job seekers to take up seasonal harvest jobs in major horticulture regions across Australia, including the Goulburn Valley. The $24.1 million Harvest Trail Services program will cover...

Jamie Salter
Horticulture

Fruit fly action plan funding extended for Goulburn Murray Valley group

Moira Shire Council has received $522 800 to continue delivering the Goulburn Murray valley’s fruit fly regional action plan. The funding is part of the Victorian Government’s one-year extension of the Managing Fruit Fly in Victoria Action...

Rodney Woods

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Viticulture

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
Viticulture

Toasting the wine industry’s 30-year plan

The Federal Government is toasting the launch of the Australian wine industry’s Vision 2050, to guide the sector’s focus and growth over the next three decades. Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud joined Australian Grape and...

Jamie Salter

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Livestock

Livestock

Domestic livestock prices historically high

Confidence in livestock producers looking to rebuild depleted herd and flock numbers has risen due to an improvement in domestic conditions, according to Meat & Livestock Australia. Global markets are uncertain as the economy has shrunk for the...

Country News
Livestock

Cattle prices high now but face risks amid pandemic

Strong restocker demand has seen the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator reach a record high of 772¢/kg in mid-June, driven by a national cattle herd at 25-year lows and producers looking to rebuild in response to improved seasonal conditions. While...

Jamie Salter
Livestock

African swine fever is bigger threat to world protein market than COVID-19

Australian protein exports remain strong due to high demand from China, according to Rabobank’s latest African Swine Fever Update

Jamie Salter

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Cropping

Cropping

Report links grains production to regional jobs

A new report has revealed a strong correlation between Australian grains production and jobs in regional areas — about one job for every 1000 tonnes of grain produced. The research was conducted by the Regional Australia Institute with Grains...

Jamie Salter
Cropping

Cropping season growing success

A good start to the autumn cropping season has led to a positive outlook from farmers, who are now hoping for average rainfall throughout winter. Shepparton Advanced Ag senior agronomist Tony Kelly said after heavy rainfall in April, farmers would...

Jamie Salter
Cropping

Winter crop production expected to jump by 53 per cent

Winter crop production is forecast to skyrocket by 53 per cent in 2020-21 off the back of a favourable start and a 23 per cent jump in the area planted. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences Australian Crop Report...

Country News