Investment in Australian Agriculture Swings in Favour of Domestic Buyers
Almost 2.2 million hectares of Australian grazing country has returned from foreign investors to Australian owners in the past nine months, signalling a change in the cycle of agricultural property investment. The sale of Consolidated Pastoral Company in October got the ball rolling in 2018, with UK firm Terra Firma selling most of the portfolio […]
Going Nuts: Favourable Times for Australian Macadamia Growers
Commanding an average price of $6000 / tonne at the farm gate, Macadamia nuts are one of the most valuable crops grown in Australia. That’s a primary motivator for the Anderson family at Bundaberg, who have planted 36,000 macadamia trees to date, with a target of 50,000 by 2019. Traditionally sugar cane growers, the Andersons […]
No Deal: China Suspends Agricultural Purchases from America
China has further distanced itself from America by suspending the purchase of US agricultural products earlier this month, as the trade war continues between the world’s two biggest economies. The Chinese government has advised state-owned enterprises to cease purchasing agricultural products from US suppliers and many private companies are seeking alternatives, amid concern about future […]
New Technology Promises Clean and Green Fruit and Vegetables, without the Use of Water
Grower-developed technology in the US is revolutionising the way that fresh fruit and vegetables are decontaminated, attracting global attention from fresh produce sectors. In 2015, a Listeria outbreak in North America created a sector-wide crisis for caramel apple growers, prompting the industry to consider how they could improve the decontamination process. One farmer, Paul Moyer […]
Increased Demand for Camel Milk no Hump in the Road
Higher in Vitamin C and protein, and lower in cholesterol and fat, but would you forgo cows’ milk for camels’ milk? According to data released this month, people around the world are making the change. In 2018, the global camel milk market was worth US$5.64 billion having grown 5.64% from 2011. It’s estimated that this […]
Respect Your Elders: Competition Amongst Rural Merchandise Brands Intensifies
In a bid to retain their share of the rural merchandise market, Elders Ltd have raised $137 million to buy a one hundred per cent stake in Australian Independent Rural Retailers network. The news comes soon after it was announced that Landmark’s parent company, Canadian-based Nutrien, was negotiating to buy the RuralCo brand, a sale […]
Sky High Prices: Australian Meat Selling for a Song
The price of meat is providing a silver lining for Australian growers on the back of an extended period of drought. Lamb, sheep and cattle have been sold for record prices across the country this winter, on the back of tight supply and strong demand, particularly from overseas. A pen of heavyweight lambs sold for […]