INSIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
The Rise and Rise of Alternative Milk Varieties
Domestic sales of alternative milk varieties, also known as ‘mylk’, have risen by 60% in the last ten years, equating to an increase of AUD $68 million in sales. Soy milk is the largest shareholder with 49.9% of the sector, followed by almond milk (43.9%),...
28 February, 2019
From Australia to Africa: Simon Costa Awarded for Services to African Agriculture
One of the country’s top agribusiness professionals has been awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of his efforts to help improve the lives of people in some of the poorest countries in the world. Simon Costa, head of the Costa Group...
26 February, 2019
I Love Moo: Dating-Style App Plays Cupid for Lonely Cows
A group of innovative software developers have recently launched a new tinder-style dating app to help farmers find the best breeding prospects for their cattle. Tudder, the brain child of UK farm technology start-up Hectare Agritech, allows farmers to scroll through the profiles of potential...
26 February, 2019
Rare Species of Macadamia Found near Rockhampton, Queensland
A rare species of macadamia trees has been found near Rockhampton in Queensland, thanks to a keen naturalist and some handy satellite imaging software. Thirty-seven jansenii trees were located by Keith Sarnadsky, a retired cane Farm Manager. Jansenii are the smallest native Australian macadamia species,...
26 February, 2019
The Borne Solution: Wearable Technology Set to Revolutionise the Way Cattle Farmers Monitor Animal Health
US-based Livestock Labs is set to shake up livestock management with the development of Embedivet, a remote monitoring system which tracks valuable information about the health status of cattle. The system includes an Embedivet chip which is implanted beneath the skin of each animal in...
25 January, 2019
Darling Saffron: Australia Aims for the High End of the Market
It’s the world’s most expensive spice, more valuable than gold and with a rich history dating back to Persia nearly 3,500 years ago. Saffron – the stigmas plucked from the crocus flower – has been used as a key spice in middle eastern and asian...
25 January, 2019
Economists Predict a Bumper Year for Australian Agriculture
Rural Bank has forecast a solid year for Australian agriculture including strengthening cattle prices, farm gate milk values and an increasing average prices for lamb and mutton. Despite the trying conditions of 2018, Rural Bank’s recently released Australian Agriculture Outlook indicated that strong global demand...
25 January, 2019
A Small-Scale Solution for a Big Problem: Small Farming Robots for Every Tom, Dick and Harry
Driverless tractors, bumper crops and an end to herbicide resistance. Despite the hype in recent years, the new agricultural revolution that technology promised is yet to be fully realised. While precision agriculture technologies have made significant inroads into sustainability gains, most still rely on a...
25 January, 2019
Australian Milk Production Could Hit 20 Year Low
A decline in the national dairy herd could lead to milk production being reduced to a 20 year low, according to a report released this month by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). ABARES’ recent Agricultural Commodities report has forecast...
20 December, 2018
Flexible Work Arrangements: How to Navigate Applications for Employee Flexibility
A recent ruling by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) could increase access to flexible work conditions for employees, requiring a new approach for all employers engaging workers under a modern award. From the beginning of December 2018, employers are required to make a sufficient attempt...
20 December, 2018
Thirsty: Chinese Demand for Australian Wine Continues to Rise
While still only in its infancy, Australia’s relationship with Chinese wine drinkers has proved to be a very successful venture. Only eight years ago, China represented just 10% of Australian wine exports, and strong recent growth and continuing demand has led forecasters to predict a...
20 December, 2018
Australian Farm Production Strong Despite Reduced Grain Yields
Widespread drought and patches of frost have resulted in a significant reduction to Australia’s grain harvest, with this year’s national wheat crop now expected to weigh in at 16.6 million tonnes, down by 11% and the smallest since 2008 (13.6 million tonnes). In New South...
20 December, 2018
Where the Bloody Hell Are You? Northern Territory Cattle Stations Sing Out for Staff
A shortage of skilled and unskilled labour has led to many Northern Territory Station owners calling 2018 the toughest year to find staff. Both family-owned stations and corporate pastoral companies are facing unprecedented staff shortages from entry level roles through to more skilled positions such...
28 November, 2018
Keeping It Casual: Navigating the Gauntlet of Casual Employment
While the use of casual labour is a common way of managing peak workloads in many agricultural industries, uncertainty around what constitutes ‘casual’ poses a significant risk to employers. In 2016, more than 2.5 million employees were engaged on a casual work basis, comprising almost...
28 November, 2018
Hands Off: Industry Invests Millions to Stop Consumers Squeezing Avocados
Every year, millions of innocent avocados are subjected to the worst kind of abuse. Sitting quietly on the supermarket shelf, they are prodded, squeezed and harassed by consumers looking for a ‘perfectly’ ripe avo. This man-handling causes untold physical damage to the beloved fruit, with...
28 November, 2018
Backpacker Visa Changes an Improvement for Regional Employers, but not a Complete Solution.
Changes to the Working Holiday Maker visa program will make employing seasonal staff easier for Australian employers but are not the complete solution the industry has been seeking, according to industry lobby groups. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the changes earlier this month but cautioned...
28 November, 2018
Dry Conditions Loom Over Australian Agriculture
The Big Dry continues to grip many parts of Australia in drought, despite some areas having received encouraging recent rains. October rains across northern New South Wales and southeast Queensland came mostly from thunderstorms, providing only patchy coverage. “To give one example, Dubbo, which has...
26 October, 2018
Agriculture Minister Slams Supermarkets for Milk Levy ‘Farce’
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has backflipped on his opinion of the 10c/litre milk levy imposed by Coles and Woolworths, claiming that the initiative had become an ‘empty media stunt’. Only last month, Minister Littleproud applauded Woolworths for instigating the levy on branded milk products, quoted...
26 October, 2018
Technology Shines at World’s First Fully Autonomous Farm
Meet Angus the farmer. Weighing in at 450kgs, he’s probably on the larger side of most farmers you know, but in actual fact Angus is one of the world’s first mobile robot farmers, working in an ultra high-tech warehouse in Silicon Valley. Iron Ox, the...
26 October, 2018
Swimming Upstream: Advances in Technology Make Salmon Farming More Sustainable
While the adoption of technology has been widely recognised in traditional livestock sectors, several newly developed applications are helping to improve the production and sustainability of the world’s large-scale salmon farms. In Norway, one company is testing the use of facial recognition software to identify...
26 October, 2018
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,...
27 September, 2018
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...
27 September, 2018
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...
27 September, 2018
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...
27 September, 2018
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...
31 August, 2018
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...
30 August, 2018
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...
30 August, 2018
African Swine Fever Threatens China’s Appetite for Pork
Australia’s reputation for producing safe meat products may help exporters get a foot in the door of China’s lucrative import market. Image by Fanifrank, from Wikimedia under a CC4.0 license. The world’s largest pig herd is under threat after it was reported that African Swine Fever...
29 August, 2018
Lease Fund Launches $100 Million Farmland Investment Scheme
Investment company Growth Farms has announced a $100 million venture to lease land to Australian farmers. As the cost of agricultural land increases, leasing farmland is becoming an increasingly popular option for farmers who want to expand holdings and capitalise on enterprise scale. Growth Farm’s...
31 July, 2018
Pressure Mounts for Plastic-Free Food Value Chain
More consumers are opting to purchase foods free of single-plastic packaging. Image by mcstudio79 from pixabay under a CC0 license. The world’s first plastic-free aisle has opened in a supermarket in the Netherlands. Retail chain Ekoplaza has included the plastic-free area amid the growing trend against...
31 July, 2018
NSW Government Pledges Extra $500 Million to Drought Affected Farmers
98% of New South Wales and more than 57% of Queensland are in a state of declared drought. Image by Jussarian available on Flikr on a CC2.0 license. The New South Wales Government has announced an additional $500 million in funding to help farmers facing drought,...
31 July, 2018
Fresh Opportunities for the Fruit and Veg Retail Sector
Consumer trends set to drive fresh produce growth includes an increasing need for convenient, healthy options. Image by igorovsyannkov, available at pixabay under a CC0 license. Australia’s fresh produce sector offers great potential for future sales growth, according to a report released by Neilsen this month. The...
31 July, 2018
Crystal Gazing: The Future of Australian Supply Chains and Logistics
Mail delivered by drone could soon be a reality, as the logistics industry catches up with advances in technology. Image: The Interspect by Bako Gaboravailable at Wikimedia under a Creative Commons 1.0 license. The Deakin Centre for Supply Chain and Logistics has recently completed a...
28 June, 2018
SA Riverland Attracts Sustainable Horticulture Development
Image: The development of a large scale horticulture enterprise at Monash offers a welcome boost to the southern Murray-Darling Basin economy. A bold new agricultural development will see almost $210 million invested in the Riverland region of South Australia over the next five years, targeting...
28 June, 2018
Grain Train: Australia’s Longest Locomotive Departs on Drought Mission
Image: A 1.8-kilometre long train left Mid North South Australia last week, on a mission to deliver grain to drought-affected farmers in New South Wales. Images from Farm Online Australia’s longest train has departed from South Australia on a mission to deliver much-needed grain to...
28 June, 2018
Paddock to Plane: Pangkarra Foods Take Flight
Image: Jim and Katherine Maitland, at their Clare farm – Anama Park. Image supplied. The development of a paddock to plate brand has been a steady success for one South Australian farming family, and the welcome addition of a supply agreement with Virgin Australia presents a...
28 June, 2018
On-Farm Abattoir Concept Wins MLA Innovation Award
Michelle Lally from Australian Micro Abattoirs accept the Producers Innovation Award from MLA Managing Director Richard Norton. Image supplied. A FARMER-DEVELOPED micro abattoir concept has been nationally recognised as an innovative system component for the meat market. South Australian Michele Lally accepted the MLA Producers...
31 May, 2018
SuperFarm: WA’s Largest Cropping Property Up for Grabs
Image: Western Australia’s largest holding of cropping country is on the market, and could be yours for a mere $80 million. Image from The West. WA FARMER AND machinery dealer John Nicoletti is selling his 200,000 hectare property – set to be the biggest transaction...
30 May, 2018
(Wide) Open For Business: New Investment Model Targets True Sustainability
Image: Head Grower Kerry Dell’Agostino, CEO Dr Ben Cole and Sales Manager Merilyn Elson in The Wedge smart shade house at Arthurton in Western Australia. Supplied. A WA-BASED PRIVATE equity business has recently launched an Initial Public Offering (IPO) with the aim of becoming the world’s...
30 May, 2018
Unbreakable: Managing Workplace Stress in Agriculture and Agribusiness
Described by the World Health Organisation as the global health epidemic of the 21st century, workplace stress is a critical issue requiring both proactive and reactive management strategies by employers. Image: The Unbreakable Farmer Warren Davies says proactively managing workplace stress is the best way...
30 May, 2018
Favourable Forecast: A Good Year Predicted for Australian Agriculture
A bumper year for wool and wine exports is being driven by continued growth by the Chinese market. Image by Stefano Lubiana under a CC2.0 license. Improving global markets and increasing wealth amongst Asian populations is set to continue positive growth in Australian Agriculture in 2018....
30 April, 2018
Mutton Dressed as Profit
New Profits from Old Sheep? Image from ‘Productive Sheep Husbandry’ from Internet Archive Book Images with no known copyright restrictions. Dry aged mutton could be the next big thing in food thanks to a trial between farmers and chefs at the William Angliss Institute. Led by...
30 April, 2018
Pressure Mounts: Global Activism Continues to Threaten Live Exports
The Australian live export industry is experiencing increasing pressure from animal activists and politicians since it was discovered that 2400 sheep died upon the ship Alwassi. Image by Shpernik088 from Wikimedia reproduced under an Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. The increasing voice of animal activists continues to mount pressure...
30 April, 2018
Step Up: Australian Agriculture Needs to Tackle Future Skills Needs Head-On
While Australian agriculture faces an exciting period of growth, an ageing workforce and skills shortages need to be addressed. Image licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Growing international demand for Australian food, changing food trends and an ageing agricultural workforce will have...
30 April, 2018
Nuts about Fruit: Asian demand to drive Australian horticulture growth
Image: Premium quality fruit has placed Australian on the front foot of growing demand by Asian consumers. Image from pxhere, published under CCO 1.0 agreement. A forecasted medium-term boom for the horticulture sector will be driven by growth in the nut and fruit sectors, according to the...
29 March, 2018
Breaking: New Zealand Government Orders 22,000 Cow Cull
Image: Mycoplasma bovis is a highly contagious disease affecting dairy cows worldwide. Rotary Milking Parlor by Gunnar Richter published under a BY-SA 3.0 attribution. New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has called for a cull of all cows on 28 properties on the South Island, in...
29 March, 2018
Good Luck Strikes: Eyre Peninsula Grain Port Project Announced
Image: An artist’s impression of the proposed Lucky Bay grain port. The tiny town of Lucky Bay on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula will house a brand new grain port valued at $115 million, thanks to the State’s first farmer and private equity partnership. Consortium T-Ports...
29 March, 2018
Queensland Scheme Seeks to Address Ag’s Labour Shortage
Image: Corn in my side – A lack of available labour is an issue for many sectors of agriculture. Image by USDA, available at Flickr through a CC-BY 2.0 agreement. A pilot program kicked off in Queensland earlier this month, with the aim of connecting job...
29 March, 2018
Cyber Security: Small Businesses Now Subject to Mandatory Reporting of Data Breaches
Image: Small businesses that don’t report cyber security attacks will face a maximum fine of $1.8 million under new laws. Image from Max Pixel, under a CCO Public Domain License. New laws introduced this month will require all small businesses to report data breaches to the...
28 February, 2018
Australia’s Green Bank Commits $100 Million to Clean Energy in Agriculture
Image: Investments in clean energy farming projects are hoped to improve financial and environmental outcomes. Image by Kellie Jane, under a creative commons license. A new $100 million fund is set to accelerate the rate of investment in Australian agriculture, with a focus on improving on-farm...
28 February, 2018
Goat for You: MLA pushes to increase Australian goat meat consumption
Image: Four boys riding goats, ca. 1918. State Library of Queensland. Value-added goat meat products could generate an additional $13 million for the industry, according to a recently released report. Value adding goat meat for domestic consumers was commissioned by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) with...
28 February, 2018
Alex Plants the Seed for On-Farm Safety
Image: Chris Thomas, a former pastoralist, inspired his daughter Alex to improve the safety of farming families. Image supplied. Adelaide-based Safety Consultant Alex Thomas has been awarded the 2018 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, earning a bursary of $10,000 to launch her ‘Plant a Seed for...
28 February, 2018
There’s an App for That: Geofencing Technology Offers a Biosecurity Boost for Grapegrowers
Image: Project Boundary Rider was developed to assess the use of spatial technologies in protecting the wine grape industry from pest and disease threats. Image supplied by Vinehealth Australia. Could the smartphone be used in the fight against on-farm biosecurity risks? A recent trial led...
31 January, 2018
Breakthrough in Disease Management Offers Hope to Global Citrus Industry
Image: North and South American citrus crops have been decimated by citrus greening disease. Image by pics_pd from Pixnio under a CC0 licence. Brazilian researchers are one step closer to having a viable solution for citrus greening disease, after a breakthrough identified a molecule responsible...
31 January, 2018
Upgraded dairy leads to happier farmer and happier cows
Image: Dairy Farmer Geoff Hutchinson with his newly installed automated dairy. Image from The Stock Journal. A newly installed parlour-style dairy has helped farmer Geoff Hutchinson to improve the profitability and productivity of his Fleurieu Peninsula dairy farm. For many dairy farmers across Australia, innovation...
31 January, 2018
Taking the Bull by the Horns: Agriculture Finally Faces Up to WH&S Obligations
Image: Working in agriculture poses the highest risk factor for Australian workers. Image: Rustic Farm by Marvin10 from pixabay, available through a CC0 license. A new focus on safety and risk by agricultural companies signals a change in attitude towards workplace health and safety. Australian agriculture has...
31 January, 2018
2017 Harvest a Mixed Bag for Australian Grain Growers
Image from MaxPixel under a CCO creative commons license. Poor early season conditions, unseasonably high temperatures and a lack of rain have led to a concerning season to growers in many grain regions around Australia. In September this year, the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and...
30 November, 2017
Abattoir in Hot Water over Animal Welfare
Image: Animal welfare activists captured the footage at the Star Poultry Supply abattoir in Melbourne. Photo by Skeeze from Pixabay, under a Creative Commons 2.0 License. The poultry industry is the latest to be accused of serious breaches in animal welfare standards after video footage...
30 November, 2017
First National Ag Day Not Without Controversy
Image: Australia’s first national Agriculture Day celebrated the contribution of the industry. Photo Farmers’ Market from Wikimedia, under a Creative Commons 2.0 License. Australia’s inaugural National Agriculture Day was hosted on Thursday 21st November, organised to highlight the significance the industry plays in the lives...
30 November, 2017
Almonds in One Basket: Griffith Grower Consolidates Crops
Image: Almond trees in blossom. Photo from pixabay under a CCO Creative Commons license. Griffith growers the Dinicolas family have recently converted their mixed farming business to focus purely on almonds, without any regrets. Originally following in his father’s footsteps, second-generation farmer Denis Dinicolas started his...
30 November, 2017
Breaking: Chinese ban on Aussie beef lifted
Image: The export of beef products to China will soon resume after a three-month ban was lifted. Photo by Pete Johnson from Pexels, licensed under a CCO agreement. The Chinese Government has ended a three-month ban on the import of Australian beef products, following negotiations led...
31 October, 2017
Meat and Three Veg: Fresh produce industry needs to get with the program to retain profitability
Image: Lettuce Feed You – Horticulture enterprises need to innovate in order to stay ahead of the curve. Photo by Michael, available at Pexel by a CCO agreement. Australian vegetable growers need to up their game in order to remain profitable and competitive, according to...
31 October, 2017
Beefy Betty Sells for a Song
Image: Millah Murrah Prue M4, pictured with (L-R) vendor Ross Thompson (Millah Murrah), purchaser Rodger Pryce (Brooklana Angus), Andrew Bickford (Elders Bathurst) and auctioneer Paul Dooley. Image supplied. Social media feeds have been buzzing over the last week with the news that a heifer named...
31 October, 2017
The perils of crop insurance: NSW government considers strategies to improve the uptake of multi-peril policies.
Image: While traditional hail and fire policies have been well adopted, multi-peril crop insurance policies are still overwhelmingly unsubscribed by Australian growers. Photo by Cecile Despierres, available from Pexel under a CCO license. A recent review by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal in New...
31 October, 2017
Bums on (Rural) Seats: Declining populations in Australian country towns
Image: Where have all the young women gone? Yap Yap (dog) pulled in a cart by Achong – Trundle, NSW, by an unknown photographer, from the State Library of New South Wales with no known copyright restrictions. While Australia’s population is estimated to increase from...
25 September, 2017
Juiced: Hurricane Irma devastates Florida’s Citrus Industry
Hurricane Irma has significantly damaged Florida’s Orange crop, which should lead to an increase the price of Oranges globally. Image: Vintage Postcard – Oranges In Florida, licensed under a CC BY-ND 2.0 license. Orange juice futures soared amid the devastation left by Hurricane Irma, with the...
25 September, 2017
Tattoo You: The Future of Labelling for the Fresh Produce Industry
Image: Could tattooed labels on fruit and veg be a sustainable answer for the fresh produce industry? Image reproduced with permission from Laser Foods. Tattooing labels on fruit and vegetable items could become a norm as the fresh produce industry seeks an alternative to traditional...
25 September, 2017
Back from the Brink: Is the Tassie Tiger alive and kicking?
Image: Sightings and rumours that the Thylacine is still alive have fueled several volunteer groups to actively look for signs of the marsupial. Wombat and Thylacine Lithograph, by an unknown author from the Instructive Picture Book (1877) available through a public domain license. Recently released footage of...
19 September, 2017
Beef for Burgers and Chicken for Chow Mein: Foreign Investment in Australian Agriculture is on the Rise
Image: Interest in Australian farm land is increasing, with buyers from Europe, America and Asia keen to secure both land and established agricultural enterprises. Aerial Photo of an Australian Summer Landscape by Thennike from Wikimedia licensed under a Creative Common CC BY-SA 4.0 More than 10% of Australian...
30 August, 2017
Capturing Carbon: The Quest for Sequestration
Image: Researchers from Eurofins Agroscience Australia (far right and far left) shoe Soil C Quest’s Mick Wettenhall and Guy Webb (centre) how research into inoculums is progressing. Image supplied. A bold new project aims to put the future of food security and climate change firmly in...
30 August, 2017
The Fight against Flystrike: Proactive Pain Relief Now Available for Sheep
Image: Crutching sheep involves removing some of the skin from the backend of sheep to reduce the chance of flystrike. Crutching1 by cGoodwin is licensed under Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0. Injectable pain relief is now available for use sheep, but it is too late for the...
30 August, 2017
Save our River: The Case of The Disappearing Water
Image: The sustainability of the Barwon River is of significant concern given the level of over extraction being carried out by irrigators. Collarenebri by cGoodwin is licensed under Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0. ABC’s Four Corners programme that aired last month raised serious question around the allocation,...
30 August, 2017
Turn me on: The value of agtech in a digital age
Image: Agtechnologies including CropX and mOasis present opportunities for irrigators to grow more produce with less water. Turkey Centre Pivot Irrigation System from Alibaba, labelled for reuse. The impact of climate change combined with an increasing global population and a reduction in arable lands is pressuring...
25 July, 2017
Hey big Spender: The rise of agricultural land prices in Australia and beyond
Image: Jackson Land and Cattle was listed for US$175million in 2011. Photo courtesy of Business Insider. The Shire of Cardinia in Victoria is home to the most expensive farmland in Australia, according to a report released earlier this year. The Australian Farmland Values 2016 report shows that...
25 July, 2017
Possum Parmigiana and Chips: Could Australian native animals be a source of food?
Image: While Kangaroo is often seen on Australian restaurant menus, could other native creatures soon be part of our diet? Braised kangaroo, Swan Valley by Phillip Capper from Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic Could looking at the past offer us a glimpse...
25 July, 2017
Profitable Pongamia: High value biofuel from an Australian native
Image: Pongamia Pinnata Seeds from Wikipedia under a Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0 An American company has adopted an Australian tree with the hope of growing high value crops whilst restoring depleted agricultural lands. The low-maintenance Pongamia tree produces oilseeds that can be processed for biofuel as...
25 July, 2017
A Diagnostic Eye in the Sky for Australian Farmers
Image: Merging the surveying capabilities of UAVs with diagnostic tools could provide farmers with a head start in treating poor performing crops. ‘Drone’ by David McBee is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Over the last few years, agriculture has seen a dramatic rise in the use...
30 June, 2017
Satellite Technology Making Station Life Safer
Image: Advances in GPS and satellite technologies promises a safer future for the most remote workers in Australia. ‘A stockman musters cattle on CSIROs Belmont Research Station in central Queensland’ by CSIRO is licensed under CC BY 3.0 The next generation in Personal Locator...
30 June, 2017
No beef for you: India bans the slaughter of cattle
Image: The Indian government has cited animal welfare reasons for banning the slaughter of cattle and buffalo, a claim rebutted by many critics. “Sacred Cow” by Guy-Claude Portmann is licensed under CC BY 2.0 One of the world’s largest exporters of beef has banned the...
30 June, 2017
Dry start to the season compounds mice woes for grain growers
After a record 2016 grain harvest, increasing numbers of mice are posing a major threat to this year’s crops. An abundance of grain on the ground, good paddock cover and wet summer conditions have provided the ideal conditions for mice, with numbers exploding through many...
30 June, 2017
New Technology set to Overhaul the Agriculture Industry?
Over the years, we have seen technology change numerous industries by making jobs easier and more efficient. According to a start-up named ‘FluroSat’, farmers could be in for an exciting future, as they believe to have a solution that will improve crop yields. Not only...
18 May, 2017
2017 – Cattle Projections in Australia
Leading into 2017, we have high carcass weights as well as low female cattle slaughter. In the year ahead, we are expecting much of the same but what else is going to happen in 2017? Today, we will be taking a look through the cattle...
18 May, 2017
Guide to Australian Grain Production
According to recent reports, around 22 million hectares of grain crops are planted each and every year in Australia. With the improvement in technology in recent years, grain production has become more reliable and efficient but the split environment still remains the same; the weather...
18 May, 2017
457 Australian Work Visa Program is Axed
Over the years, the 457-visa program has not been short of its problems and now the Turnbull government is taking action by replacing it with a Temporary Skill Shortage Visa program. In the new program, there are two different offerings with short-term and medium-term lasting...
10 May, 2017
National Electricity Market In Need of an Overhaul?
In order to commit to long-term affordable, low emission, and reliable energy, the National Farmers’ Association (NFF) has said that a transformation is required within Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM). According to the President of the NFF, the farming industry has required reliable, secure, and...
18 April, 2017
Livestock Shortage in Australia – Foreign Investment the Solution?
Ever since the problem of a shortage in livestock surfaced, many have proposed solutions but now one general manager believes foreign investment to be key. Greg Cross, at Fletcher’s International Exports, said that livestock was above 36 million when the company opened a processing facility...
18 April, 2017
Farming Price Review for 2017
At the start of every year, farmers face unpredictable markets but we start to learn a general trend as we head into the second quarter. In 2017, this has been no different and today we have reports for the price of both lamb and milk....
18 April, 2017
Finest Ice Cream in Australia Courtesy of the Crooke Family
If you were to ask a group of people for their favourite ice cream, you would get multiple answers and this is the beauty of the product. However, ask what ice cream gives the best value and a growing amount of people would say Gundowring...
18 April, 2017
How To Make Your Farming Dream A Reality
If you’re anything like thousands of people across Australia you probably have squashed farm ownership dreams. Look at the photos we have here of Tim and Tegan Hicks and their family, it’s so beautiful it makes you sick. But right now if things stay the...
28 February, 2017
Two Innovative Steps Forward for the Australian Farming Industry
It has been generally positive for the Australian farming industry so far this year, and we have seen this with the new export opportunities that have arisen. This is set to continue as new varieties of rice and grapes have been researched and produced. Should...
24 February, 2017
Many Farmers to Experience Export Boost
As we start to get comfortably into 2017, it has been mostly good news for Australian farmers after new export markets have been opened up for fruit. First, it was blueberry and raspberry growers who were ecstatic at the completion of a brand new quarantine...
23 February, 2017
Harvest Numbers & Export Prices Bring Positivity
Bumper Almond Harvest Trumping the 2015 almond harvest record of 80,000 tonnes, the yield for 2017 is expected to reach 85,000 tonnes, the largest on record. This increase correlates with nationwide almond industry expansion plans to grow Australia’s almond yield to 130,000 tonnes by 2025....
23 February, 2017
“Marge, The Grains Are ‘ere”
The ABARES December crop report was released early this month to summarise and assess state crop yields, projections and seasonal conditions. Throughout most cropping areas in Australia the seasonal conditions this year during late winter and spring favoured high yields. Rainfall: Above average rainfall was...
16 December, 2016
Tasmania Continues to Build Trading Partnerships with China
Amongst other things, Tasmania has a particular problem with gorse plants becoming a noxious weed and they can normally be seen wherever you turn along the Midland Highway. Over the years, this evergreen has caused many problems for farmers and has spread ever since it...
14 December, 2016Research and Development Boost for Agriculture
In modern history, the trends within agriculture research and development (AgR&D) are changing. For over fifty years, the patterns of R&D have been followed and noted across the world so that trends can be spotted and future predictions can be made. Therefore, we can now...
14 December, 2016
Lack of Women On Agribusiness Company Boards?
In recent years, we have seen many industries advance when it comes to naming women on boards and it looks as though progress will continue to be seen in future months and years. However, the biggest agricultural businesses across Australia are still behind with less...
14 December, 2016
Australian Almond Boom Continues
Just recently, we saw Australian almond producers make claims that were rather surprising for the industry and many who take a keen interest in almond production. After going through a period of stability and very little growth, producers of almonds based in Australia are have...
30 November, 2016
Call for Agricultural Investment Now Answered?
Over the years, we have seen various different methods of raising funds within a business. More recently, there has been a substantial rise in businesses being funded by crowd-funding websites and this could be an answer to farming troubles if the Federal Government were to...
30 November, 2016
Industry Performance Increases with New Farm Index
For many years, the measurement for investment returns on farms was not indexed to a national standard but we saw big changes at the beginning of November as with the introduction of the Australian Farm Index. Launched at the Australian Farm Institute Roundtable Conference, investors...
30 November, 2016
Not everyone loves wheat – so why not remove the bad bits
Harvey Millar, University of Western Australia Wheat is everywhere. It’s in bread, pasta, pastries, biscuits, pizza, batter, cereals, soups, sauces, instant drinks, salad dressing, processed meats and sweets, to name but a few. The western diet is so infatuated with wheat that most of us...
30 November, 2016
Murray River flows predicted to reach their highest levels since 1993
With one of the wettest winters on record for much of Australia, there is continual discussion around the increasing Murray River flows. With one common question asked being, what height are the flows actually going to reach and what effect will this have on rural...
30 November, 2016Booming Cropping Season
With increased rainfall and favourable seasonal conditions throughout most of Australia, we keep hearing about a likely booming cropping season. However, many paddocks are waterlogged, some disease ridden and temperatures have been up and down – so what is harvest really going to look like?...
31 October, 2016
With the familiar Cavendish banana in danger, can science help it survive?
Ioannis Stergiopoulos, University of California, Davis; André Drenth, The University of Queensland, and Gert Kema, Wageningen University The banana is the world’s most popular fruit crop, with over 100 million metric tons produced annually in over 130 tropical and subtropical countries. Edible bananas are the...
31 October, 2016
Younger farmers more open to sharing the family farm with outside investors
Julie Cotter, University of Southern Queensland Younger farmers on family farms are more willing to accept outside investment and even ownership, whereas older producers are wary of this type of equity and would rather pursue niche markets, a new study has found. The study features...
31 October, 2016
Protein Levels Paving the Way for the Future
In recent years, we have seen incredible changes to the world of agriculture and growers of wheat crops are now seeing a new reward in the shape of protein levels. In many regions, growers are considering a late application of nitrogen not to boost the...
31 October, 2016
Feed cows dried seaweed to reduce greenhouse gases
Research from north Queensland could massively reduce the negative damage the agricultural industry causes to the global environment. Rocky De Nys, the professor of aquaculture at James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville, is part of the CSIRO study analysing the effect that seaweed has on...
31 October, 2016
S. Kidman and Co cattle empire receives all Australian bid
This week a $386 million dollar offer for the S. Kidman and Co cattle empire has been lodged. The offer is not only higher than Gina Rinehart’s joint bid with a Chinese partner, it is also the first all Australian offer. Why is this sale...
28 October, 2016
Forecast milk payouts on the rise
Relief for farmers as Fonterra Cooperative Group increases their forecast milk payout. For the second time in four weeks, forecast milk payout values have risen. Increasing 50 NZ cents to NZ $5.25/kg of milk solids – could the milk payout end the 3-year global price...
29 September, 2016
Food for thought: feeding our growing population with flies
Bryan Lessard, CSIRO Scientists have predicted that by 2050 there will be 9.6 billion humans living on Earth. With the rise of the middle class, we are expected to increase our consumption of animal products by up to 70% using the same limited resources that...
29 September, 2016
Drones at the forefront of agriculture technology
Advances in Australian agriculture technology continue with new uses for remote drones. A Pacific Seeds farm in the Kimberley’s Ord Valley has been using a remote-controlled drone to protect its seed crops from the seasonal onslaught of birds. In the area birds such as corellas and black cockatoos...
29 September, 2016
How trees communicate via a Wood Wide Web
Stuart Thompson, University of Westminster A new book, The Hidden Life of Trees, claims that trees talk to one another. But is this really the case? The simple answer is that plants certainly exchange information with one another and other organisms such as insects. Think...
29 September, 2016
Vertical Farming: Growing Plants Without Sun & Soil
How do you mass-produce leafy greens without sunlight, soil and lots of water? The answer: vertical farming. Indoor-farming innovators, AeroFarms, have mastered the best way to grow plants with minimal inputs. They mass-produce leafy greens in buildings throughout America by using fully controlled indoor environments....
29 September, 2016
Training, the secret to good agribusiness workers
Farm employees are encouraged to broaden their skillsets and learn more about the business of farming. A well-educated workforce can contribute to the smooth running of a farm, as more employees become aware of the reasons behind business decisions made in agriculture. With this knowledge,...
31 August, 2016
New modelling on bushfires shows how they really burn through an area
Philip Zylstra, University of Wollongong Bushfires in Australia can have a devastating impact on an environment and destroy homes and lives, so any effort to prevent them is a welcome move. But the way that we have traditionally understood bushfires and forest flammability in Australia...
31 August, 2016Drones at the forefront of agriculture technology
Advances in Australian agriculture technology continue with new uses for remote drones. A Pacific Seeds farm in the Kimberley’s Ord Valley has been using a remote-controlled drone to protect its seed crops from the seasonal onslaught of birds. In the area birds such as corellas and black cockatoos...
31 August, 2016
Snail mail threatens Aussie exporters
Snails are reportedly doing their best to ruin Australia’s reputation in the export market. Chinese consumers of Australian barley are fed up with the quality of imports, which they say have been overrun by snails. Certain barley exporters are already being banned from trading with...
31 August, 2016
Growth spurt for Australian grapes in the Asian market
Australian table-grape growers have a new best friend: Japan. The export market for Australian-grown grapes has surged over the last 12 months, according to a report released by the Australian Table Grape Association (ATGA). Although China dominated the market by import volume (China/Hong Kong combined...
31 August, 2016Electronic tagging for sheep industry a necessary measure
The Victorian sheep and goat industry will be forced to incorporate electronic tagging from 2017 onwards. The new system will allow animals to be tracked, and, in the case a disease outbreak, ensure potentially infected animals can be accounted for. Sheep are currently identified through...
30 August, 2016How do we solve a problem like food supply?
As the global population rises, so does the demand on the food supply. What challenges lie ahead for agribusiness and the world? “The assumption that everyone will have something to eat is increasingly built into the rhythm of life,” writes The Economist. Food security ought to...
30 June, 2016
How can you help Australian dairy farmers?
Australian dairy farmers need your help – here are some tips to get the most out of your purchasing power. The Australian dairy farmers’ price crisis Just before the end of the last financial year, Australia’s largest dairy producer, Murray Goulburn, announced they would be cutting...
30 June, 2016
Space food viable and vegan, experiment shows
Space food – vegetables grown on Mars – is in the realm of possibility, an experiment by Dutch scientists has proven. Radishes, peas, rye and tomatoes are capable of thriving in the Red Planet’s soil without soaking up heavy metals that would be harmful to humans. Other...
30 June, 2016
Video: Automated Robotic Lamb Processing
This completely automated robotic lamb processing plant in Bordertown, South Australia, is an incredible innovation. Created by Scott Automation & Robotics in conjunction with JBS and Meat & Livestock Australia, the processing plant is a marvel. It aims to revolutionise butchery operations. The machine uses...
30 June, 2016
Wasted coffee grounds create mushroom boom
Coffee grounds are being saved from landfill and turned into a breeding ground for mushrooms. Earlier this year, Ryan Creed and Julian Mitchell, both fly-in, fly-out mine workers, launched a crowdfunding campaign to tackle coffee waste creatively. Since February, the pair has successfully diverted three tonnes of...
30 June, 2016
Cattle trade ban: five years later
Following the cattle trade ban five years ago, the live export industry is reporting animal welfare improvements across the Asian region. But there is still work to be done. In 2011, the Australian Federal Minister for Agriculture, Joe Ludwig, imposed a trade freeze on live...
31 May, 2016
Great Barrier Beer aims to help reef
The Good Beer Co’s Great Barrier Beer invites Australians to bond over a brew to save our reef. At least 50 per cent of profits from sales of Great Barrier Beer will go directly to the Australian Marine Conservation Society. While dedicating a portion of...
31 May, 2016University enrolments: out of town means out of luck
After World War II, Winston Churchill lamented that the whole map of Europe had changed with the exception of Northern Ireland which remained in conflict. In Australia, the higher education map has changed yet the regions remain marginal. Since 2008, university enrolments have risen 30...
31 May, 2016Cows as collateral: Young Victorian dairy farmers may soon be able to ‘borrow a cow’ to get into industry
Young Victorian farmers may soon be able to borrow a cow from a more established dairy farmer in an effort to assist them to get into the industry. United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (UDV) said it was planning to set up a ‘cow loan’ scheme which...
29 April, 2016Australia urged to tap into international pulses market
There is huge market potential for Australian growers when it comes to supplying pulses to developing countries, according to an industry expert. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization this week held the 2016 International Conference on Pulses for Health, Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture in...
29 April, 2016Global Food Forum: foreign investment critical for agriculture
The federal government has issued a reminder that foreign investment is critical to the development of Australian agriculture, particularly in the nation’s north. Speaking at the Global Food Forum hosted by The Australian in Melbourne today, the Federal Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia,...
29 April, 2016Why we should be concerned about anti-ag propaganda shown in schools
Last week, I received an email from a reader who shared with me that his 12-year old granddaughter was recently shown a CNN Student News video in her sixth grade classroom about ingredients in livestock feed. Watch the full clip here. While much of the information...
29 April, 2016How to improve research training in Australia – give industry placements to PhD students
The skilled graduate must become the most important outcome of research training in Australia – as it is in many other parts of the world – urges a new report by the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA). The findings from the ACOLA review of...
27 April, 2016Who’s really the best investment bet in ag?
AGRICULTURE delivers great long-term returns compared to many other investment alternatives – but first you have to see past the snake oil salesmen, dodgy farm profit calculations and false assumptions about global food shortages. Nor should investors assume big-budget corporate farms are more capable of...
24 March, 2016Agriculture degree programs on the rise at universities
The number of farmers in Australia might have fallen dramatically over the past two decades but agricultural degrees are back in vogue. As Australian agriculture enters a new growth phase, universities have seen a revival in interest in agricultural studies from students without farming backgrounds...
24 March, 2016How to re-ignite the spark in a disengaged employee
There probably isn’t a manager alive today who isn’t dealing with disengaged employees of some kind or another. Whether it happens slowly or all at once, watching a person fall out of love with their work can be hard. We talk a lot about engagement...
24 March, 2016Sheep and cattle could be enclosed by virtual fences
Having the power to move and monitor animals from a smartphone might soon be a reality for farmers. Virtual fences are a potential game-changing technology for farmers, giving them the ability to move and contain cattle digitally without the use of a physical fence. The...
24 March, 2016Bumper grape harvest for Queensland’s Granite Belt has winemakers salivating
Grape growers and winemakers on Queensland’s Granite Belt say this year’s harvest will be the best in decades. It is a dramatic turnaround on last year’s pickings when many crops were decimated by severe storms. “Our fingers have just come uncrossed now,” Sam Costanzo of...
24 March, 2016Funding grants for women in agriculture
Women & Leadership Australia is administering a national initiative to support the development of female leaders across the agriculture sector. From February 10, 2016 the initiative will provide women in the agriculture sector with grants for leadership development. More specifically, grant applications are open to...
29 February, 2016Redefining business success in a changing world
CEOs know the landscape has changed dramatically and continues to do so. That’s simply part and parcel of doing business today. They understand they have to be aware of, and effectively manage, a much broader group of stakeholders than their predecessors ever had to contend...
29 February, 2016The high tech study using satellites to map Australia’s mango, macadamia and avocado crops
In a small lecture theatre at the CQUniversity campus in Bundaberg, Dr James Underwood is giving a presentation about his work capturing images of mango, macadamia and avocado trees. The researcher from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics mounted a robot called Shrimp with a...
29 February, 2016Cool solution to heat stressed vines
EVAPORATIVE cooling systems are being used in South Australian vineyards as part of a project to protect grapes during heat waves ahead of harvest. The project is using under-canopy sprinklers in the Riverland and Coonawarra wine regions to cool vineyards at night during heat waves...
29 February, 2016Australia commits to a future of smart agriculture
Australia’s Coalition Government has announced its plans to expand the CSIRO’s decision support system for agricultural transit and infrastructure investments. The TRAnsport Network Strategic Investment Tool (TRANSIT) aims to inform transport infrastructure investment decisions across the agriculture sector. Australia’s Agriculture supply chains consist of distances...
29 February, 2016NSW Farmers offer tertiary scholarships
NSW Farmers has committed $20,000 to tertiary scholarships for students committed to agriculture and rural communities. Eligible students have until February 29 to apply for one of five scholarships valued at $4000 each. NSW Farmers scholarships chair and Walcha farmer Sonia O’Keefe said the association’s...
12 February, 2016Five ways to raise HR standards
The business landscape looks vastly different now than it did 20, 10, even five years ago, and organisations have to do more and be more to stay afloat in an agile and rapidly changing environment. Boards and CEOs have to look beyond the horizon and...
06 February, 2016Graduates and job search evolution: adapt or perish
We all know that the internet and Social Media has changed the face of Recruitment. It allows fast and worldwide distribution of job ads, as well as drastically increasing the speed of the connection between recruiters and high potential fit talents. However, studies and testimonies...
04 February, 2016Agriculture: the pathway out of poverty
Have you ever thought about the role that Australia’s livestock industry plays in alleviating poverty in developing nations? Australians generally don’t think about where the origin of our food because for us, food is a ‘want’ rather than a ‘need’. We don’t know what it...
28 January, 2016Weather bureau: 2015 fifth-warmest year on record
This month’s release of the Bureau of Meteorology’s Annual Climate Statement confirms the dominant influence of El Niño on Australia’s climate during 2015, with warmer than average temperatures recorded across the country. Rainfall was well below average in southwest Western Australia, southeast South Australia, western...
28 January, 2016Ag traineeships increasing
WHILE opportunities in trade apprenticeships have slowed in the mining sector, agricultural opportunities are increasing, said Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, agrifood labour and skills consultant Jackie Jarvis. “As vocational students have finished school there is a huge pressure for them to get into...
28 January, 2016Australia Day lamb ad attracts dozens of complaints
It has clocked up over 1.46 million views on YouTube since it was uploaded earlier this month and has gone viral on social media, but not everyone is happy with the latest lamb ad from Meat and Livestock Australia. The ad features SBS newsreader and social...
28 January, 2016How company culture shapes employee motivation
In a recent strategy meeting we attended with the leaders of a Fortune-500 company, the word “culture” came up 27 times in 90 minutes. Business leaders believe a strong organizational culture is critical to success, yet culture tends to feel like some magic force that...
28 January, 2016What are the hot jobs for 2016?
Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor … What are the most in-demand jobs for 2016? None of those for a start. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveals that admin and support services roles have been growing continuously since November 2014, with 36,000 new jobs...
28 January, 2016
Fear of taking annual leave affects 2/3 of Australians
It’s a joke, right? Who wouldn’t want to take a break? A surprising number of people, it turns out. FOTAL – Fear Of Taking Annual Leave – is a thing. A new survey of 1250 Australians found that two-thirds suffered from FOTAL and didn’t use...
22 December, 2015
Crowd-funding bid to keep Kidman land Australian-owned
A $410 million crowdfunding campaign is being pitched to self-managed super fund investors in a bid to keep S Kidman and Co, the country’s largest landholder, majority Australian owned. Self-described “fractional property investing platform” DomaCom has structured the proposed deal based on a valuation of $400 million to $410 million....
22 December, 2015
Preparing for a fun office Christmas party
Everyone looks forward to their workplace Christmas party. It’s a great chance to reflect on the year that was, to show appreciation for colleagues and to unwind. For some people, it’s the only opportunity they have to mingle with and impress people higher up the...
22 December, 2015
FTA boosts Aussie appeal to Chinese
AS farm sector businesses look to ramp up sales overseas, the feedback from China suggests the new free trade agreement (FTA) has significantly boosted Chinese attitudes to Australian business opportunities. About 97 per cent of Chinese company officials interviewed in a blind study by the...
22 December, 2015
Growing demand for food good news for SA
Cyclical drivers are currently favouring South Australia’s food sector, and this BankSA Trends report shows the longer term outlook is also positive. With continued population growth, there will be growing demand for food from the domestic market, and demand for more health and premium foods...
22 December, 2015
Agriculture on the innovation agenda
THE Turnbull government’s $1.1 billion new national innovation and science agenda has included an agriculture and regional focus. The ambitious new program was released last week by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Christopher Pyne, at CSIRO in Canberra. Deputy Prime Minister...
22 December, 2015
