Drought Tolls on Farmers and Agribusiness
Australia’s drought continues to leave a toll on agriculture with irrigators the latest group to feel the effect. In a September report, valuers Herron Todd White warn that increasing water prices will affect growers of permanent crops and commodity prices. Water-intensive crops such as almonds, avocados, grapes and citrus fruits could face a price rise […]
New Project to Grow Aboriginal Horticulture Enterprises
A new project to connect indigenous enterprise owners with horticulture skills has been funded as part of a $4-million grant to create job opportunities in northern Australia. The project will connect two Aboriginal corporations with the knowledge, skills and capacity required to develop horticulture production businesses. Project participants will work within the realms of value […]
Strawberry Sales Bounce Back After Needle Contamination Scare
Consumer support for strawberry growers is helping the industry to bounce back after being thrown into crisis earlier this month. Since the story broke, more than 100 cases of strawberries containing needles have been reported, prompting widespread panic amongst consumers. Supermarket chains Coles and Aldi temporarily removed punnets from their shelves, and growers were forced […]
Supermarkets Pledge Milk Levy for Drought-Affected Farmers
Australian supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths have announced a 10cents/litre levy on milk to help drought-affected dairy farmers. Woolworths was the first retailer to commit to the initiative, adding a new, drought-levy brand alongside its existing range. Two and three-litre cartons will be branded to reflect the drought relief initiative, costing $2.20 and $3.30, respectively. […]
Internet of Things Bound for Country Victoria
The Victorian Government is undertaking a global search for agtech solutions for the State’s agriculture and food industries. As part of the Internet of Things trial, the government has been investigating the barriers to digital technologies in agriculture, including connectivity and the use of on-farm applications. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network connecting […]
China Trade Tariffs Spell Opportunity for Australian Almonds
Securing skilled and unskilled labour continues to hamper production for Australian almond growers. Image: Almonds by Daniel Schwen available under a CC3.0 license. China’s 25 per cent trade tariff on American almonds could provide a lucrative opportunity for Australian growers. American almonds make up 80% of the global market, while less than 1% of Australia’s crop makes […]
Cracked: Sequenced Wheat Genome Provides Road Map for Future Yield Gains
Newly available DNA information will make it easier for wheat breeders to isolate desirable traits. Image Wheat by David Monniaux licensed under a CC3.0 agreement. In a world-first, a ground-breaking, thirteen-year global research project has recently culminated, producing a full reference sequence for the wheat variety Chinese Spring. Developing a complete and accurate road map of […]