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
Water

IVT limits put in place to protect Goulburn River

Inter-valley trade deliveries will be limited to 40 Gl a month or less over summer and autumn under new water trading rules to come into place next year. Victorian Water Minister Lisa Neville announced the changes on Thursday, with the...

Alana Christensen
Water

Former Defence Force chief appointed new MDBA chair

Former Defence Force chief Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston is the new chair of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Sir Houston has served the nation in several leadership roles, and his well-honed strategic skills will help focus efforts towards...

Rodney Woods
Water

Water will help farmers kick start economy post COVID-19, Deniliquin farmer says

As the impact of COVID-19 tightens its hold on Australia’s economy and the Federal Government calls for local business to try and step-up to kick start our stalled economy, Deniliquin irrigator Sharni Hood stands ready. But all she needs, to do her...

Rodney Woods
Water

2020-21 water year looks positive, according to MDBA operating report

The outlook for 2020-21 is looking more positive compared to last year, according to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Annual Operating Outlook. Each year the MDBA releases an Annual Operating Outlook that explains how the MDBA may operate the...

Rodney Woods
Water

Huge water reports draw frustration from local irrigators

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s report into the Murray-Darling Basin’s water markets is the latest in an increasingly long list of substantial reports, with many questioning the efficacy of the substantial, and frequent...

Country News
Water

Environmental water plan released for the southern basin

Northern Victorian rivers will have improved vegetation and riverbanks, with increased habitat and food to support fish migration and breeding. This is the aim of the Water Management Plan from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office for...

Jamie Salter
Water

Floodplain harvesting to be measured in NSW from next year

The long-awaited Floodplain Harvesting Measurement Policy is a big step forward to ensure all water take is accurately metered and managed, according to the NSW Irrigators’ Council. The policy applies to landholders in the northern...

Rodney Woods
Water

Doubt cast over future of Water for Fodder program

The future of the Federal Government’s Water for Fodder program is in doubt, with no date set for when the remaining water will be released. The 100 Gl Water for Fodder program was set up by the Federal Government in November to allow farmers...

Country News
Water

Seasonal determinations increase for Murray and Bullarook

High-reliability water shares for the Murray and Bullarook systems have increased, according to Goulburn-Murray Water’s latest 2020-21 seasonal determinations.

Jamie Salter
Water

ACCC water report validates concerns

The competition watchdog’s interim report into the Murray-Darling Basin water market has been welcomed by irrigators, but they say it must be backed up with action.

Jamie Salter
Water

ACCC report should leave irrigators feeling heard, says Sheed, McKenzie

The full report is available on the ACCC website

Country News
Water

Silver banksia population near Lake Nillahcootie protected by Goulburn Broken CMA project

One of the last remaining wild populations of silver banksia in north-east Victoria is being protected, thanks to the Taungurung Land and Waters Council and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority. The isolated stand of 25 trees on Sandy...

Rodney Woods
Water

Too many basin plan reports but no action, according to irrigators

Murray-Darling Basin water markets are flawed and increasingly affected by poor governance and a lack of transparency, an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission interim report has found. The 544-page report, which was released on Thursday...

Rodney Woods
Water

Improved water supply set to reduce prices in 2020-21

Water prices are forecast to fall in 2020-21 under all but one weather scenario in response to considerable improvements in the volume of water supply — but price gaps could occur due to inter-valley trade limits.

Rodney Woods

Trending stories

News

Echuca-Moama border leaders unite to get restrictions changed

CAMPASPE Shire and Murray River Council mayors and chief executives have joined forces in an unprecedented show of strength to convince the NSW Government to ease its latest tough border restrictions. Since the new public health orders came into...

Ivy Jensen
News

SPC still in organic milk deal

The owners of fruit processing business SPC are continuing to develop a debt for equity swap in an organic dairy business, despite supply problems created by the collapse of an organic milk supplier.

Geoff Adams
News

Face masks mandatory for farmers

From midnight on Sunday, regional Victorians are now required to wear face masks — including farmers. Farmers whose family home is also their workplace are only required to wear a mask if they have staff coming and going from the...

Jamie Salter
Dairy

Young Leitchville farmer wins dairy scholarship

Leitchville’s Mitchell Lumsden is the latest Lallemand Animal Nutrition and Australian Fodder Industry Association GenAg scholarship winner. “We are not dairy farmers anymore; we are crop growers who milk cows,” he said. The 22-year-old...

Jamie Salter