Livestock producers and other groups meet with the government to explore ways to improve South Australia's outback roads, PIRSA set to to release millions of sterile fruit flies from a low-flying plane over suburban Adelaide, and more than $30million to be spent on short-term repairs of flood-damaged levees between Mannum and Wellington.

The Horticulture Coalition of SA welcomes an ACCC investigation into the relationship between wholesale, farmgate and retail supermarket prices, new biosecurity response trailers are being rolled out across the South Australia, and Australian research finds prescribed burning is increasing fire danger in native forest areas over the long term.

Riverland grape growers take to the streets calling for political intervention to support their struggling wine industry, Wool Producers Australia withdraws its support for the national electronic identification scheme for sheep and goats, both the volume and value of Australian wine exports again decline following a global trend in reducing alcohol consumption.

Grain Producers SA continues to lobby against any future changes to the way the Grassland Fire danger Index in measured, Riverland wine grape growers gather to share their frustrations and worries as this year's harvest begins, and workshops are being held across SA to help prepare wine exporters on what to expect if China trade reopens.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Wet and windy conditions have swept through the far west of NSW, a year since floodwaters peaked, communities along South Australia's River Murray are still rebuilding and this year's satirical Australian lamb ad was released over night... and it's all about the generational gap. 

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Torrential rain has left people isolated with dwindling food, water and fuel supplies in Far North Queensland, helium could soon be produced in South Australia and getting your mail in the outback. 

The Select Committee inquiring into Native Bird and Quail Hunting in South Australia recommends that hunting be allowed to continue, the first cell-based meat product to be reviewed in Australia has been declared safe to eat by the country's food standards body, and the Federal Government outlines plans to review the popular Working Holiday Maker Scheme, expand the Pacific Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme and create a new visa for highly-skilled workers.

Rabobank's latest Rural Confidence Survey has shown a late turnaround in farmer confidence in South Australia, Livestock SA has called for the resumption of live sheep exports out of Adelaide by sea, and artifical intelligence is now helping to defend forest plantations in the state's South East from bushfires.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

China has re-listed three Australian meat plants that were de-listed due to COVID trade sanctions, including Teys at Naracoorte, levy reform is being proposed by the state's peak industry body for grain to make the system more equitable, and wild weather has continued to wreak havoc across SA and Western NSW.

Some SA regions received more than 100mm of rain over the weekend, with the Yeldulknie Weir at Cleve overflowing for the first time in nearly 30 years, exporters have sent more than 400,000 tonnes of barley in the four months since China dropped its 80% tariff on the Australian grain, and agriculture groups have welcomed a $15million Federal Government investment in improving mobile coverage in the South East.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Australians are consuming more imported dairy than ever, according to Dairy Australia's latest industry report, livestock markets are continuing to enjoy a stunning turnaround as widespread rain fuels confidence, and the food industry wants to remove best-before dates as a way of reducing food waste in Australia.

Research suggests South Australian crops are becoming more resistant to some commonly used herbicides, the Federal Government passes its Nature Repair Bill after reaching a deal with the Greens, and a newly-formed Australian Cannabis cultivators group hopes to support domestic crop cultivation and improve quality for consumers.

Australia's ag production expected to fall by $16billion this financial year as dry conditions and poor livestock prices take their toll, Wool Producers Australia work to build on the amount of wool being sent to India's huge textile industry, and the Federal Nationals support an ACCC inquiry, rather than a Senate inquiry, into allegations of price gouging by major supermarkets.

New laws for South Australia aim to strengthen regulation of the veterinary profession and ensure premises are fit for purpose, a software tool developed in Adelaide could give farmers quicker access to new plant breeds, and garlic harvest is in full swing and the season has been more favourable than last year.

Beef prices have started to show some improvements this week across Australia, a cooperative representing around 500 Riverland grape growers has settled a contract dispute with Accolade Wines, and meet the locals who helped win Wudinna the title of South Australia's Ag Town of the Year

The Senate has passed the Federal Government's changes to extend the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, a grazing family in the far north hope a trial on their property could see more virtual fencing allowed in South Australia, and the Riverland cherry season has arrived this year much earlier than usual.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Heavy rain over parts of South Australia and NSW in recent days has damaged some crops and brought much-needed water to other farmers, South Australian researchers are working to turn inedible almond waste into a nutrient rich compost, and Australian native bee experts say there's no funding in Australia to support much-needed research.

The Federal Water Minister has struck a deal with the Greens to pass an extension of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, dredging will resume at the Murray River mouth only a year after flooding caused high natural flows, and a new report shows an ongoing trend of below average levels in bores in the state's South East.

Much needed rain has fallen in Far West NSW, a vote to change country of origin labelling for seafood, getting SA wine to India and has No LO wine improved as it gets noticed more? 

Many SA farmers are experiencing their earliest ever start to harvest with early yields often meeting or slightly exceeding expectations, South Australian lobsters are in good quality coming into Christmas, and consumers are likely to pay more than last year, and conditions are looking good for Australian cherry growers, after a rough year in 2022.

The leader of the National Farmers' Federation supports a push for more transparency in the food supply chain, at least 20% of Riverland growers intend to retire or leave the wine industry in the next few years, according to a new industry blueprint, and a trade delegation is in India trying to get South Australian produce sold on one of the country's largest e-commerce sites.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Meat processing giant JBS announces plans to have two shifts at its Australian sites next year, dried fruit producers to vote on a proposal to almost double the levy they pay to fund research into new plant varieties, and Australians urged to check and plan for dealing with asbestos products on farms, but also where it naturally occurs in certain rocks and soils.

Grain Gowers welcome the European Union's extended approval on the use of weed killer glyphosate for another 10 years, industry groups ask the government to consider leasing water out of the Murray-Darling system, instead of buybacks, and the South Australian Government has set a target to wipe out the state's feral deer population in 10 years.

A South Australian hay company has struck a deal worth $100 million to continue to supply oaten hay to China, a Truro farmer has welcomed news that a proposed bypass will no longer cut through his property, after the Federal Government's infrastructure review scrapped the project, and the first load of new season grain is making its way to China after leaving Port Lincoln this week. 

World-first technology is travelling South Australian roads to map out their condition and help determine where maintenance and repairs should be prioritised, an Australian farmer is fighting for compensation for what he describes as an underperforming canola variety, and demand has dropped for mesh fruit and vegetable bags sewn in SA's Riverland, amid cost cuts from a big citrus company.

New research shows global timber production is under significant threat from wild fires, with Australia one of the worst affected, more job cuts are expected as the CBH Resources' Rasp mine in Broken Hill is put up for sale, and new Australian research has shown that the likelihood of hail has changed substantially over the past 40 years

A trial being run in the South Australian dairy industry is allowing milk products to be traced along the entire process, earnings for agribusiness giant Elders have fallen more than a quarter on the previous year and scouting has inspired a South Australian woman to turn farm waste into a sustainable food business. 

Wudinna has been named South Australia's Ag Town of the Year for 2023, the depressed lamb market has meant uncertainty for jobs in the shearing shed and lower wool standards, and the ACCC says the rules around phone towers access could be limiting the expansion of regional mobile coverage.

The Federal Government withdraws its $113million funding contribution towards a project to build three plant-protein manufacturing facilities in South Australia, the early start to harvest for many across South Australia has contributed to an October record being broken for Viterra, and Australian scientists are developing a vaccine-like solution to combat a virus that can kill fruit trees.

The Australian Meat Industry Council says strike action from some workers will cause disruptions to processing that could take days to resolve, the Australian almond industry has seen a boom in exports to China over the past five years, and South Australia's capers are experiencing sky-rocketing demand from some of Australia's most high-end restaurants.

Australia's Agriculture Minister says it's farmers that stand to benefit the most from the improving relationship with China. Rural property prices are holding well in South Australia despite an overall softening across the country. Aquaculture industries hope to see expansion with a new zone policy finalised for the Lower Eyre Peninsula.

Feral pig numbers are booming across the country as eradication programs try to tackle the challenge, South Australian businesses are on display as part of the world's largest import expo in China this week, and Clare Valley growers and winemakers are supporting each other after recent frost damaged a significant number of vines.

The SADA Fresh brand reaches a 10 year milestone of supporting SA's dairy farmers and investing back into their industry, Roseworthy's Old Collegian Association celebrates its 125th anniversary, and a new South Australian developed tool will help fill data gaps about the world's native bees.

An award-winning South Australian developed program to help women learn to drive tractors plans to roll out nationally.

An inquiry into price gouging will look at the high price of fresh food in supermarkets, at a time when many farmers struggle to make a profit,  SA grain producers have the opportunity to take part in a project to measure carbon on their soil, and a delegation from Quebec is bringing some much-needed optimism to the South Australian wine industry, as exports to Canada slide.

A water broker says some SA irrigators would never sell their water as part of the government's buyback tender, while others may sell out of desperation, a new South Australian Varroa Industry Advisory Committee has been formed to prepare the state for any future outbreaks, and a series of late frosts have caused losses to lentils and other late crops in the state's South East.

Wine grape growers in the Clare Valley face losing up to 70% of their crop after a series of frost events, the State Government's been asked to look at changes to heavy vehicle licencing exemptions for interstate and international backpackers working in agriculture, and Australia's wine exports dropped 11% in the past year due to the cost of living and people cutting back on alcohol.

The National Farmers' Federation is still hopeful of a trade agreement between Australia and the European Union, the Greens say changes must be made to the Murray Darling Basin Plan before they will support proposed alterations before the Senate, and South Australia's Department of Primary Industries is hoping to establish a local sturgeon and caviar industry.

Specialist woolshed builders are booked up for months in advance as demand for new woolsheds skyrockets, a Barossa Valley winery takes the prize for top accommodation at the 2024 Best of Wine Tourism Awards in Switzerland, and planting of lighter reds and whites is on the rise in Australia's biggest wine producing state in response to the oversupply of some varietals.

A group of Lower Murray farmers has requested support from a local MP to fast track government funding for levee repairs, the State Government will contribute $5.5million towards an industry-backed project to eliminate mobile blackspots in the Limestone Coast, and South Australian shearer Nathan Meaney was crowned National Shearing Champion at the AWI National Sports Shear and Woolhandling event in Jamestown.

Around $135million will be invested in Australian research to develop higher yielding and more nutritious crops, the State Government has introduced a rebate scheme for wineries willing to trial a plant growth regulator as a way to address a glut of red wine, and a delegation from France's Comite' Champagne and the Wine Origins Alliance has made its first visit to Australia as part of a campaign to better protect the name of wine producing regions.

South Australia's wine makers and exporters have welcomed the news that China will begin a five-month review into its current tariffs on Australian wine, Australian deer farmers are trying to get bigger slice of the lucrative soft antler velvet trade into China, and Viterra's network of receival sites across South Australia have recorded high numbers are some districts get an earlier than usual start to harvest.

South Australia's first biosecurity facility will be built with a $50million investment at the SA Produce Market in Pooraka, forestry firefighters have been refreshing their practical skills ahead of what's expected to be a very hot and dry bushfire season for South Australia, and Jamestown will host the best shearers and woolhandlers from Australia and New Zealand at the National Sports Shear Competition over the next two days.

A two year investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman into the treatment of ag workers has recovered significant underpayments and handed out fines to employers in South Australia, some processors are charging farmers a fee to send their sheepskins to landfill causing concerns about a premium product going to waste, and a new Royal Flying Doctor Service dedicated patient transfer facility has been opened at the Renmark Airport. 

Around 1400 dairy workers and milk tanker drivers are on strike today across Victoria, but SA farmers who supply the affected factories are at this stage still having their milk collected for processing, an Australian dairy analyst says a possible whiplash for the industry is a growing probability, and a type of seaweed that has infested waters off Tasmania and Western Victoria has now been found in South Australia for the first time.

The Australian winter crop volume has fallen by 24% since last year due to drier and warmer seasonal conditions, farmland prices are slowing down after years of strong growth and the number of properties hitting the market has slumped, and a 32km gap in the Wild Dog Fence along the SA/NSW border is alarming landholders as wild dogs and other pests are able to freely move through the section.

A national summit has heard that getting access to the right tech and high speed internet remain some of the biggest barriers to farmers benefiting from digital technologies, a new initiative to establish a national benchmark and better standards for FIFO worker camps has been launched, and trials are showing that strategic overturning of the topsoil could be the answer to the problem of non-wetting sands.

For someone who fell into the wine industry almost by accident, Jane Ferrari has been instrumental in selling the success story of South Australia's wines overseas.

Dry conditions, declining commodity prices and increasing interest rates are all pointing to a significant decline in broadacre farm incomes this financial year, funding has been extended to continue providing the Rural Financial Counselling Service in SA until mid-2026, and a sheep farmer from South Australia's Mallee has created a network called Shefarmer to support rural women in business.

South Australian grain producers are being asked to consider a proposed change to the method and rate of collection of two industry levies, a Riverland beekeeper is cleaning up after the sudden death of thousands of his bees, and several young South Australians are representing the state at the Agricultural Shows Australia national judging competitions in Launceston.

SA Police are calling for greater vigilance on farms over the harvest period, with reports of fuel thefts and shed break-ins, an analyst says forecast seasonal conditions have played a big role in the downturn in the share price of iconic rural services company Elders, and a new interactive heat map will help beekeepers around Australia keep an eye on the spread of varroa mite across the country.

Despite calls to plant more trees to meet Australia's timber needs, latest figures show the country's plantation estate is still in decline, as South Australia grapples with numerous fruit fly outbreaks, a Riverland stone fruit grower has investigated how QLD fruit fly entered SA in the first place, and weather reporters say September 2023 was Australia's driest on record, and "gobsmackingly hot" across the planet.

A high court barrister has called for an inquiry into farm lending in Australia and the failure of Australia's corporate regulator to investigate banking misconduct against farmers, the federal and state government agricultural ministers have agreed to proceed with further research to tackle carp numbers in Australian waterways, and automated drones and electric aircraft are just some of the ideas flagged in the Federal Government's Green Paper, looking at the future of Australia's aviation industry.

Warmer and dryer conditions throughout spring means the coming Fire Danger Season will start early in six of South Australia's Fire Ban Districts, South Australia's Water Minister says she's working on a scheme to minimise negative impacts to communities from any water buybacks out of the Murray Darling Basin, and a South Australian business has begun manufacturing recycled plastic fence droppers after requests from farmers unable to source traditional hardwood timber ones.

South Australian Sheep and goat producers can now apply for a rebate towards the cost of implementing mandatory EIDs, Timberlink has pressed its first CLT (cross laminated timber) panel after a mutli-million dollar investment in its South East radiata pine timber mill,  and a South Australian study wants to interview farmers about the mental health impacts of floods.

A South Australian trade delegation to China has refreshed hopes for a resumption of exports for the state's wine and rock lobster industries, much need rain has fallen across part of the far west of New South Wales overnight, and farmers in SA's key potato growing region have had a quick and positive start to the season, but fear windy conditions could make yields lower.

National fodder supply is already being squeezed as some SA hay growers start cutting weeks ahead of schedule, a volunteer-based network that responds to emergencies across Australia is calling for veterinarians to sign up ahead of another potentially severe bushfire season, and the time and costs involved in managing varroa mite could force half of Australia's amateur beekeepers to hang up their bee suits.

A leading livestock analyst believes cattle and lamb prices will bottom out in November, but still have a way to fall before then, the overall width limit for heavy vehicles in Australia has been increased by five centimetres, bringing big implications for improving safety and emissions, and the world's leading marine biotechnology scientists are gathering in Adelaide as Australia hosts the Asia-Pacific Marine Biotechnology Conference for the first time.

China will be increasing exports of hay from Australia after two years of limiting supply, Meat and Livestock Australia has changed the parameters of its National Livestock Reporting Service to capture rock bottom prices in market reports, and locals and truckies driving some of South Australia's key outback roads say funding cutbacks have left sections in an "appalling state", causing vehicle damage and potentially putting tourists at risk.

Lambs at a sale on the SA/Victorian border yesterday failed to meet a reserve price and were passed in, which agents say they haven't seen in years, a South Australian company turning native seaweed into a methane emissions-reducing cattle supplement is tapping into an international market for the first time, a bill before South Australia's state parliament aims to legislate standards and professional protections for the growing number of mobile veterinary clinics.

Farmers have called for more support as sheep and lamb prices drop from record highs, to levels not seen for more than 15 years, Australia's first National Disaster Preparedness Summit has wrapped up in Canberra, as the country gears up for hot and dry conditions, and former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg is encouraging farmers to take a mental health break as an ambassador for the Farmer Mates mental health initiative.

South Australia's grain harvest is officially underway with the first deliveries to Viterra's receival sites, the peak bodies representing Australia's grain growers are objecting to a new biosecurity levy proposed by the Federal Government, new research is digging into the effects of extreme heat on bees, as heat stress on hives is likely to become a major factor in El Nino conditions.

A national crisis meeting on livestock prices has prioritised developing strategies to assist producers, the Federal and State Governments have finalised a grant agreement to develop South Australia's first large-scale hydrogen export terminal, and SA Water has converted human waste flushed down the toilet into 65,000 tonnes of biosolids for the state's farmers to use as a soil conditioner.

Cattle prices have dropped further this week, including the benchmark Eastern Young Cattle Indicator which is now below 400 cents a kilo for the first time since 2019, an Australian-based research project is using remote-sensing and AI to help reduce the cost of carbon soil testing for farmers, and a new global database set up by scientists has helped develop a clearer picture of the greatest threats caused by biological invasions to the environment, agriculture and human health.

Harvest has kicked off early in South Australia's mid-north, with lentils the first crop to be tackled, South Australia's beekeepers are coming to terms with what the move from eradication to management of varroa mite will mean for their industry, and marine ecologists and citizen scientists are working together to revive native oyster reefs around Coffin Bay.

Apiarists say South Australia must get prepared for inevitable outbreaks of varroa mite, as the national response moves from eradication to management, South Australian farmers are urged to prepare for hotter and more dry conditions after the Bureau of Meteorology formally declared an El Niño weather event, and grain growers are getting organised for harvest, but some in SA have already started.

The Almond Board of Australia has thrown its support behind a push to change the way varroa mite is managed, Meat and Livestock Australia has adjusted its market parametres to capture sheep selling for under $10 per head, and the lack of windmills left to repair has seen the South Australian branch of the Windmill Contractors Association recently close its doors.

Interactive farm research stations are rolling out to 50 schools across the country to help teach students  about the science of farming.

Grain Producers SA has written to both the state and federal governments seeking immediate clarification on funding to establish three plant-protein manufacturing facilities in SA, the State Government has announced $2.2million towards the fight again buffel grass, after a landmark international report highlighted its potential to completely takeover ecosystems, and a young South Australian woolbroker has become the first person chosen to compete at a national level in four competitions at the Merino Sheep Young Judges Championship.

Australia's milk pool continues to decline and imports are increasing according to the latest Dairy Outlook, the shearer shortage is easing as shearing schools across the country are reporting big numbers of students, and some sheep and lambs categories have fallen by 70% in the saleyards, but it could take months for consumers to see similar price drops at the supermarket.

The South Australian Government has announced new laws aimed at opening up vast tracts of freehold and pastoral land across the state for hydrogen and renewable energy projects, several technologies being explored to manufacture carbon-neutral Green Ammonia has proponents excited about its potential, including as a clean energy source, and commodity prices, seasonal uncertainty, and concerns around market access are playing into a drop in farmer confidence in South Australia.

China has taken top spot as the biggest trade partner for Australian wheat farmers for the second year in a row, Australia's grape and wine sector has released a new Emissions Reduction Roadmap to cut its carbon emissions by more than 40% by the end of this decade, and the timber industry wants the Federal Government to commit to using Australian wood for any builds as part of the new Housing Australia Future Fund.

Ways to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with nitrogen fertiliser use are being explored in research commissioned by Fertiliser Australia, Australian agriculture exports to China jumped more than 20% to a record high of $16.6 billion according to new data, and food fraud is costing the Australian economy $3 billion every year, while also putting Australia's reputation as a quality, trustworthy producer of food at risk.

Peak body Grain Growers is calling on the Federal Government to fund and support domestic fertiliser production, a new plan has been agreed upon to mitigate the costs of eradication of varroa mite in Australia, and a wine ambassadors program will be expanded after it helped generate more than $1.2million in sales of SA wines into key Asian-Pacific markets in the past year.

The safety of SA's aerial deer culling program has been independently reviewed after an incident where aerial shooting took place over private property while hunters were on the ground, South Australian winemakers are getting requests from Japanese buyers for cask wine and are hoping local consumers will also change their attitudes towards the "bag in a box", and the Riverina has overtaken the Riverland as Australia's second largest producer of almonds due to irrigator concerns around water security.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

A program allowing customers to re-fill bottles from a keg is tapping into nostalgic memories of when milk was delivered to your door in glass.

The Greens say at this stage they won't support the Federal Government's new plan to offer more time and money to enable more water to flow into the Murray Darling Basin, the South Australian Government has released a Wild Dog Management Strategy for the next 10 years, which will include a complete rebuild of the 1600-kilometre dog fence, and Lachlan Johnson from the Mundulla Show has been crowned this year's State Rural Ambassador.

Live from the Royal Adelaide Show we meet a woman who fits working dogs and other animals with wheelchairs, learn about the Rural Ambassador program, and celebrate a breeder who is the first South Australian life member of the Charolais Society of Australia.

The Country Hour is live from the Royal Adelaide Show, featuring the latest on biosecurity and animal welfare in school ag diplays, the Beef Cattle & Led Steer competition, alpaca judging, the feature breeds Polwarth and Corriedale, and much more!

A pilot project on a farm in regional SA will look at providing better connectivity for farmers, including fitting wifi units to headers to create a fully-integrated system, South East rock lobster fishers are excited to get back onto the water for an earlier season start, but concerns continue about prices and the Chinese lobster ban, and the MP representing the Riverland's CCW wine grape growers wants to take a delegation to Canberra to speak with the federal government about their challenges, amid the wine glut crisis.

Riverland fruit growers welcome initiatives to improve access to sensitive markets like Western Australia and Adelaide, as the region continues to try to eradicate fruit fly, a veterinarian says agricultural shows have to manage the disease risks created by human-animal interaction in animal exhibits and petting zoos, and a South Australian former shearer has won an invention award for a new wireless control shearing hand piece he designed.

The CFS says the Grain Harvest Code of Practice will remain unchanged for the upcoming season, giving SA farmers certainty going forward, the State Government is opposing the Federal Government's Southern Ocean Wind Farm Zone from extending over the SA border, following concerns from the rock lobster fishing industry, and a major agricultural show conference in Adelaide this week is exploring the challenges for ag shows to remain relevant and engaging into the future.

Researchers are trying to understand how sustainable the growing seaweed industry is, Australian laboratories involved in cancer research are purchasing foetal bovine serum from overseas as the price skyrockets in Australia, and a wheelchair bound working dog bringing in a mob of sheep has become an international online sensation.

The SA opposition has voiced support for farmers who are opposing proposed changes to the cease harvest threshold, beekeepers will meet this week to decide whether to continue with varroa mite eradication efforts, and a mine on SA's Eyre Peninsula is turning its focus to producing a material used in high end porcelain products.

The SA Apiarists Association has again highlighted concerns about hives coming in from interstate following further varroa mite outbreaks in NSW, South Australian grain growers have welcomed changes to fertiliser supply contracts following an ACCC investigation, and major sheep and lamb conference SheepEx will return in 2024 after a six year hiatus and will be held in Adelaide.

Property owners are asked to start preparing now for the bushfire season, with significant fuel loads across South Australia expected to dry out in the coming weeks, the State Government will fund an online safety training program for dairy workers, as the industry looks to employ thousands more people in the coming years, and South Australia's citrus growers are calling for a review of environmental watering needs along the Murray River.

Farmers, irrigators and environmental groups digest changes that will be made to the $13billion Murray Darling Basin Plan, Water and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek says its appropriate to now introduce water buybacks to the Basin Plan, with "all options on the table", and South Australia's crop season is "on track" to produce an estimated 8.8million tonne in 2023-24.

Australian researchers are working on the world's first on-farm vaccine for scour worms, which cost the sheep industry big losses each year, a South Australian winery has secured an exclusive deal with the world's largest family-owned wine company to stock its wines on American supermarket shelves, and supermarket giant Coles says there has been a big increase in theft from stores as the company unveils an after-tax net profit of just over a billion dollars.

It's a mixed bag for Australian wool producers as recent wool markets have been in the negative, while a new report says the future is looking pretty good, researchers are trialing a way to trick predators such as foxes into eating food that will make them throw up to deter them from coming back, and foetal bovine serum is becoming harder to source, putting vital cancer research at risk

The fertiliser industry has proposed a scheme to subsidise the cost of pre-treated fertiliser for farmers and reduce emissions, South Australian wines took homes several awards in the 2023 Royal Sydney Wine Show, including the country's best grenache, and health experts are looking at ways to get Australians to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables in the wake of rising costs.

A national shortage of urea has been most acutely felt by growers in South Australia and the industry is looking to long-term solutions, the forestry industry wants the Federal Government to prioritise the use of local timber in addressing the nation's housing shortage, and scientists say artificial intelligence (AI) could hold the key to feeding 10 billion people by 2050.

Global dairy prices took a big hit overnight, but it's not all bad news for Australian dairy farmers, scientists are looking into how native stingless bees could be alternative pollinators for Australian crops, and Australia's mushroom industry says there's "no chance" of poisonous wild mushrooms entering the supply chain.

An existing shortage of equine vets is expected to worsen in regional South Australia, a new seaweed ecopark will be built at Louth Bay just outside of Port Lincoln, and government funding will further research and development of an irrigation scheduling system for multiple crops.

Grain Producers SA are opposing proposed changes to the grasslands fire danger index, saying they're "unworkable", wild dog attacks on sheep are being reported along the boundary of Ngarkat Conservation Park, and a project to rehabilitate the degraded seagrass meadows along Adelaide's coastline has reached a major milestone.

Sheep and lamb prices have fallen dramatically in 2023 and producers are being warned that there could be more pain to come, a medical retrieval expert wants Australia to establish a nation-wide rural responder network to fill the "trauma gap" in country areas, and a new podcast celebrates the life and legacy of John Stanley Davies and his ongoing impact on agriculture education at the University of Adelaide's Roseworthy campus.

China's decision to lift the suspension on barley trade from CBH and Emerald has been welcomed as great news for the whole industry, the Federal Government has formally abandoned plans to build a low-level nuclear waste dump near Kimba, and one of the oldest women's groups still running in South Australia has celebrated its 100th anniversary.

American lawmakers are being petitioned to place major restrictions on Australian and New Zealand lamb imports, South Australian produced spirits such a gin and whiskey could soon be exported overseas following huge growth in the industry, and Australia's biggest mussel farming and processing business — based in SA — has been sold.

The Federal Agriculture Minister gives an update on the future of Aussie wine exports to China and the livestock sector's plans to become carbon neutral, a new report reveals the phenomenal cost of damage caused by Australia's feral deer population, and consumers are being asked to embrace locally-grown olives, with claims that cheap imports are hurting the Australian industry.

South Australian grain growers have welcomed the news that China is lifting tariffs on Australian barley, Forestry SA is looking for outside the box ideas on how to utilise tonnes of forestry waste created each year, and shearing shortages are expected to ease this spring as the industry looks to attract young people into shearing careers.

A global downturn in demand for sheep and lamb skins is hurting producers, who are being charged a disposal fee of several dollars per skin by meat processors, farmers are closely watching moves by Australia's largest fertiliser manufacturer to sell to a major Indonesian business, and several South Australian wineries have been recognised by the Halliday Wine Companion - including Winery of The Year for a Langhorne Creek winery.

The potential sale of Australia's biggest fertiliser manufacturer and distributor could be a test for the Federal Government, the mining industry has been told to do more to address reports of sexual assaults and harassment on mine sites, and Big Brother-like technology is being deployed to improve the welfare of chickens before they end up on dinner plates.

The Australian Government expects China to drop all tariffs on barley when the deadline expires on August 11, Australia's largest food relief charity calls for the Federal Government to look at tax incentives to encourage more donations of surplus or imperfect produce, and supply issues for olive oil could see the record price for the product rise further.

Public consultation is now open on a draft Biosecurity Bill for South Australia - covering areas such as plant health, livestock, fisheries and bio security management, South Australia has topped a ranking of how well states and territories are leading the way in protecting and restoring trees, and a drop in demand for red wine varieties has led to an oversupply that's hurting the industry.

The Indonesian government has suspended imports of live cattle from four Australian export facilities following the detection of the virus Lumpy Skin Disease in livestock shipped from Australia, technology helping farmers round up and control their stock remotely is now commercially available in Australia and already being used on dairy farms in Tasmania, and a new book celebrates and delves into the lives of six women from across Australia who run their own farming operations.

Small stone fruit growers in the Riverland have been dropping their sales to Adelaide, Australian wine export value has declined by 10 per cent in value to $1.87 billion and the spot price for wheat in Australia is sitting at around 422 dollars a tonne. 

Greater flexibility for SA rock lobster fishers to access international markets, the head of an SA irrigator group is concerned about the commitment of governments to deliver the Murray Darling Basin plan in full and Babydoll sheep are rising in popularity

Young farmers say the agriculture industry needs to be a part of Australia's transition to low-emission vehicles, Federal water minister Tanya Plibersek says the Murray-Darling Basin plan can not be delivered on time and the largest winery solar installation in Australia has now been turned on. 

US cattle prices prices have reached record highs, good snail breeding weather conditions has led to an increase in the pest and South Australian produce growers are calling for an increase to funding and authority for a fruit fly peak body. 

Space technology first developed by NASA is being used to literally sniff out pregnancy in cows, South Australia will now allow NSW bees back into the state but with very restricted rules and a reminder of safety for Farm Safety Week. 

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

SA Junior Heifer Show is the largest yuth eef event in Australia and has once again attracted young people from across Australia, truffles are currently in season and one farm in the South East has this week completed its first ever truffle hunt and the owner of Canada's largest beekeeping operation says the tens of millions of dollars the Australian government is spending to manage varroa mite is "worth every penny" compared to the pest becoming endemic.

Barngarla Traditional Owners  on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula have won a legal challenge, to stop the federal government building a nuclear waste facility near Kimba, Russia has withdrawn from a pact which allowed Ukraine to export grain and more records have been broken by Viterra as grain continues to be shipped out for export.

South Australian apiarists are keen to find out what the protocols  to allow bee hives from New South Wales into South Australia for pollination will be, a new study has been assessing if waste from winemaking could be a valuable source of useful ingredients for other drinks and research suggests that the food thrown out by the tourism operators at Neptune Island to attract sharks for diving  provides good nutrients for the Yellowtail Kingfish.

State farm lobby group leaders met in Adelaide this week to discuss the reforms to the sheep and goat traceability, Australia's agriculture ministers met today to discuss bringing forward the phase-out of caged eggs, and a Riverland citrus grower says he's hopeful a local campaign will help to reduce excess food waste in the fruit growing sector.

The Port Lincoln Tunarama committee has announced the event won't be held in 2024 and the committee itself is winding up.

The 60th Port Lincoln Tunarama festival held in early 2023 will be the last after the committee decided to wind up operations, Mount Gambier-based company BioGro has proposed to harvest a minimum of three thousand cubic meters of seagrass to use in its products and a new tool to help work out spray drift buffer zones is available to farmers Australia wide.

Australia's grape growers have produced their smallest vintage in more than 20 years under challenging conditions, the dairy industry has committed to halving food waste within the sector by 2030 and speculation is rising that Russia may not extend a deal that has allowed Ukraine to ship grain through the Black Sea.

Tearless onions hit the shelves to help people who cry over chopped onions, feminised barley plants could hold the key to large yield gains and if you think groceries are expensive now, just wait for the next round of electricity price hikes to hit the cost of growing food.

The price of an Australian Carbon Credit Unit has slumped by nearly 10 per cent this week, merino producers considering ceasing mulesing through breeding should strap in for a 15 to 20 year journey and SA wine tourism operators and producers will soon have the chance to show off their goods with some of the best on a global scale. 

An ESG system that's developed by farmers for farmers is one of the big take aways from the Australian Farm Institute's discussion this week in Adelaide, after a record 2022-23 harvest, T-Ports Wallaroo is on track to ship its first load of grain this month and Australia's wine industry could be in for a period of consolidation - with poor returns forcing large wine companies to sell off or make changes to their business.

A perfect storm of conditions including better than expected rainfall and a falling urea price has led to a urea shortage, Australia's largest wine company Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (TWE) will close and sell its Karadoc winery, near Red Cliffs in north-west Victoria and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek could look at delaying the June 2024 deadline for the Murray Darling Basin water recovery targets.

There was a record number of Merino studs on display yesterday at the EP Stud Merino Breeders association expo in Wudinna, there aren't many green shoots in lamb and mutton markets at the moment, with depressed pricing and abattoir booked out into August and a Riverland pecan farmer says he's set to increase his output for next years harvest through the growth of a processing facility.

Wool brokers say low value wool is being dumped into landfill because its not worth the cost of storage, former senator Rex Patrick has lodged an F-O-I for emails about the Eyre Peninsula desalination site choice and the prawn season has wrapped up for Spencer Gulf fishers and while the catch was up, prices are down.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

A national rural crime survey will soon take place to understand how widespread the issue of rural crime is, ABARES has launched a new farmland price index, which shows Australia's broadacre farm values have risen 18 per cent in the last 12 months to average $4,689 per hectare and a fruit and vegetable wholesaler says he's seeing huge price drops for certain items, as the cost of living pressures continue to curb spending.

A grey, winter day has greeted the crowd at the Millicent saleyards, where the last sale has been held this morning, the State Government will introduce the new Veterinary Services Bill to Parliament this week to modernise the structure of the vet board and a year since the detection of varroa mite in sentinel hives at the Port of Newcastle, the fight to eradicate the world's most devastating honey bee pest is far from over.

Northern pastoralists have welcomed widespread, unseasonal rain, the short-lived, armed rebellion by the Wagner mercenary group in Russia over the weekend caused a slight ripple in international grain markets and the State Government  was put $25,000 towards the Sophie's Legacy campaign to raise awareness about mental health in the vet profession.

Former Labor leader and Primary Industries minister Simon Crean is being remembered as a man of great integrity who made Australia "a better and fairer country", cultured meat could be on sale in Australia as early as next year and the second round of grants for Farm Firefighting Units (FFUs) has launched today.

Mitolo Family Farms has launched recyclable paper bag for its premium potatoes, the glyphosate price has fallen close to its pre-COVID level of less than $4 a litre and the two-year project to help Adelaide Hills landholders recover from the Cudlee Creek bushfire in 2019 has wound up.

Food and Beverage Industry Summit is looking at all things from accelerating product development to addressing issues like plastic trends and packaging targets, Citrus SA is making moves to make their information more accessible with a Punjabi version of their newsletter and a farmer from Coonamble has won the Farmer of the Year for Excellence in Innovation, for using a soil moisture measurement system and drone-based weed mapping to minimise crop failure.

Farmers are reporting unprecedented numbers of slugs in canola and wheat crops across South Australia, Asian markets are filled with beef and there's also 70,000 tonnes just sitting idle at Chinese ports and Jan Cousins might be one of the only macadamia grower in the Riverland, but rather than monopolise the market she's happy selling her nuts without turning a profit.

The SA State budget has been described as a 'missed opportunity' for agriculture, particularly for roads and research and development but the biosecurity spend has been welcomed, hundreds of grape growers supply wine grapes through the cooperative CCW say they are still hanging out for full payment for their crop and a machinery collector is fighting to stop the export of a vintage tractor he says should never have received federal approval for export.

Federal Trade Minister Don Farrell expects China could lift its tariff on Australian barley within weeks, there's been an increasing amount of fertiliser coming into Australia that's been incorrectly labelled and Australia's wine researchers have got together for the first time to share the work being done to mitigate climate change at the CO23 climate mitigation conference

Global grain giant Bunge will merge with Glencore-backed Viterra in a $34 billion deal settled last night, Millicent saleyards to close by the end of the month and thirteen international wine importers from Japan and South Korea will take part in a speed tasting event this week.

The top-priced dog at the 27th Australian Premier Working Dog Auction at Casterton Kelpie muster made $25,000, vegetable waste company Nutri-V has come up with an innovative solution to increasing the appeal of vegetables that also tackles farm food waste and grain growers have again battled with parts availability this sowing season.

The beef industry says it is on track to reach its target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions across production and processing by 2030, despite having a long way to go, employers and employees are divided on the changes the Federal Government will make to the PALM scheme and a $6.1 million benchmarking program has been launched to help vegetable farmers improve their businesses and in turn the nation's food supply

The State Government will put $9.3 million towards the rollout of mandatory electronic ID tags in South Australia, Australian Wool Innovation is largely meeting government requirements in managing research and marketing programs for woolgrowers according to an audit by the Australian National Audit Office and a shortage of eggs on supermarket shelves is being put down to increased demand.

Highlights from Hort Connections including a forecast fruit and vegetable prices should remain stable for the rest of the year, could prescribing fruit and vegetables become part of health care and the fast development of resistance in a diamondback moth population has the horticulture industry worried.

James Smith won Green Adelaide's Pelzer prize for his work with urban wildlife at the SA Environment Awards, Twentythird Street Distillery based in Renmark has been named Australian Distillery of the Year and PIRSA crop forecast estimates almost four million hectares have been sown in SA with a yield prediction at this stage of 8.8 million tonnes.

South-west Victorian farmers David and Susan Rowbottom produced a world-record 9.4 micron fleece, to claim one of the top prizes at the Zegna wool awards, shares in agribusiness company Elders have jumped today  after the group convinced chief executive Mark Allison to cancel his planned retirement in November and Kevin Crook's collection of antique shearing hand pieces in the world attracts people from within and outside the wool industry.

Australian honey producers have won what they hope is a final battle in a long-running trans-Tasman war over who can use the word, manuka, milk prices for the next financial year have been confirmed and dairy farmers will be getting paid less for their product and the latest winter outlook shows an 80 per cent chance of below average rainfall over the next three months.

Dairy processors to release their opening milk prices on World Milk Day, dairy farmer feeds chocolate and lollies to his cows and pink is the new orange when it comes to citrus as new varieties come on the market.

It might not produce chocolate milk, but dairy cows in South East South Australia are happy to take the choclate and lollies that would otherwise go to waste.

About 350 dairy farmers who settled a class action with Fonterra over the 2016 dairy crisis have learned they will get about 10 per cent of what they claimed they lost in milk payments, an old Viterra silo site on the Eyre Peninsula will soon be collecting plastics rather than grain and a wet season has made for tricky conditions this season, lowering quince yields for some growers in the South East.

The chief executive of Australian Pork Limited explains the fallout from the ABC investigation into pig stunning using carbon dioxide, weed killers for use by farmers could soon be made from failed antibiotics and a new method of working out how old a fish is, might hold the key to ending over-fishing.

A wool exporter says the significant drop in last week's wool price is due to a lack of demand from Australia's key market, China, drones could be deployed to help  the South East tree plantations and the grieving parents of a young veterinarian who died by suicide have launched a national campaign urging people to be kind to vet staff

The grieving parents of a young veterinarian who died by suicide have launched a national campaign urging people to be kind to vet staff.

Strong start to the Riverland's citrus season, a Coonawarra wine has won big at this year's International Wine Challenge and pig welfare will come under scrutiny from a Victorian parliamentary committee after a motion to examine the industry has been approved.

Grain Producers SA has shared concerns of South Australian grain growers about mobile phone connectivity to a Federal parliamentary committee, snapper fingerlings have been released into the big wide world to help increase the population in the Spencer Gulf and woodland bird species in the Mount Lofty Ranges have been in decline for 20 years but a $820,000 grant from the State Government aims to tackle the issue.

The Fleurieu Community Co-operative - an revamp of the Strathalbyn abattoir - is back on track with $1.1 million funding secured from the State Government, mice reports  arepatchy across the state as winter crop seeding continues and dewatering of the flooded areas of the Murraylands continues as 40 gigalitres of water needs to be removed from the region.

The world's first genetically-modified banana has been submitted for assessment by Australian researchers, a small wool shop has been built on a historic SA property where customers can see the sheep the woollen products have came from and the United States has reported an aytipcal case of BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

The Federal Government's plan to charge primary producers a new levy to help contribute to biosecurity in Australia, Ali Paulett has been awarded the 2023 SA AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award for her creation of Bush DeVine Indigenous Australian Native sensory bush garden and the Federal Department of Agriculture has released its findings into reports that cattle were allegedly mistreated in seven Indonesian abattoirs in 2021.

Ali Paulett plans to expand her garden to be a learning space for school children, as well as a welcoming and usable space for the local First Nations community.

Australia's transport ministers have agreed to raise the heavy vehicle charge six per cent each year for three years, a dairy market analyst says he's expecting a fall of around 10 per cent in next year's dairy prices and indigenous ranger groups are calling for an increase in operational funds, as part of today's federal budget.

The Australian Wool Industry is edging closer to a vaccine for fly strike, the freight industry supports an increase in container charges in tomorrow's budget, to help fund biosecurity and new research into the flushing of the Coorong system with floodwaters shows an amazing increase in both plants and animals.

The Federal Government has released an extra $250 million for rural, region and outer-urban roads, concerns have been raised that Australia does not have a national import control scheme to prevent the importation of seafood from fisheries involving illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices and as soon as this year diesel locomotives will start to be displaced with battery electric alternatives.

Unusually high numbers of crickets are causing havoc in pasture crops across the lower South East, a food scientist talking to a room full of Wagyu cattle producers has argued that the breed is actually full of dense protein and healthy fats and amid one of the most difficult vintages in decades many growers are having to dump their grapes, especially in the Riverland.

The South Australian Sheep Expo Highest Overall Achiever in the Senior Age Group was Caitlin Flanagan-Organ from Bordertown, farmers and importers could be told to pick up the tab for funding Australia's biosecurity system and a Riverland flower farmer says one of her major varieties won't be available locally this Mother's day.

Fertiliser prices continue to slide from their record highs seen last year, the Home Affairs minister has announced the government will favour skills assessments over labour market needs following a review of the migration system and the latest Consumer Price Index data shows dairy products recorded some of the strongest price inflation over the March quarter.

The sixth SA Sheep Expo has attracted its largest cohort ever, drawing 142 participants from several states,  Australia is now exporting wine to 118 countries up from 112 a year ago but that has not offset the declining value in traditional markets and the national egg shortage continues, and many producers are struggling to keep up with high production costs and the gradual move to a free range market