Redesigning broadacre farming
The University of Melbourne’s Dookie Campus will host a field day about redesigning broadacre farming systems on Tuesday, October 3.
Speakers will include representatives from the University of Melbourne, Birchip Cropping Group, Riverine Plains and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
The field day is free to attend and will run from 10am to 1.15pm, and includes a Q&A session and lunch.
Register to attend at: raz.mohdazmanhalimi@unimelb.edu.au
No surprises but no new money
NSW’s peak farm body has thanked the NSW Government for keeping its promises in the state budget, but remains concerned about feral pigs and El Niño.
NSW Farmers said the first Labor budget in more than a decade included funding for key election promises such as an Independent Agriculture Commissioner, an Independent Biosecurity Commission and a Good Neighbours Program to address pest and weed problems on public lands.
A feral pig control program announced at the NSW Farmers Annual Conference in July was also included in the budget, but so too were cuts to dam projects.
NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin acknowledged there were additional commitments, including for the Regional Trust Fund, that were welcomed, but there were missed opportunities for the agricultural sector.
“Regional and shire councils need certainty of ongoing funding if there is to be an overall improvement in the state of our regional, rural and remote roads,” he said.
“Agriculture has the potential to be an economic dynamo for the state economy and the sector has a critical role in the cohesion of strong and resilient regional and rural communities.”
Three new directors for G-MW
Three new directors have been appointed to the board of Goulburn-Murray Water.
The new directors are Tallygaroopna dairy farmer Natalie Akers, Greater Bendigo resident Andrew Cooney and Rochester resident Larna Tarrant.
They join current board members Diane James (chair), Patrick McNamara, David McKenzie, and returning board members Jonathan Koop and Kris Peach.
Ms James welcomed the new members and thanked outgoing directors — Margot Henty, Marg O’Rourke, Dennis Quinn and Alana Johnson.
Contract awarded to trap fruit fly
Greater Shepparton City Council has awarded the contract for Queensland fruit fly trapping and monitoring, worth more than $230,000, to a local company.
IK Caldwell AGnVET was the successful tenderer, with the contract giving it responsibility for the trapping and monitoring of Queensland fruit fly across Greater Shepparton.
Regional fruit fly coordinator Ross Abberfield said the contract awarded by council would help ensure the success of the Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Area Wide Management Program could continue.
“Queensland fruit fly trapping and monitoring is extremely important in ensuring we know what we are up against,” Mr Abberfield said.
“This information received helps us tailor the program to ensure we are achieving positive results right across Greater Shepparton and the Goulburn Murray Valley.”
ALDI smashes it with avocados
Grocery chain ALDI has become the first major Australian supermarket to exclusively stock local avocados in all of its 586 stores.
Avocados Australia boss John Tyas welcomed the decision and hoped other supermarket chains would follow suit.
“Our production base has really been growing and we’ve gotten to a point where we don’t need imported avocados now; Australian growers can supply everything that’s needed here domestically,” Mr Tyas said.
He couldn’t say whether the move would result in cheaper prices.
“Supply and demand will determine what prices do and it’s a pretty competitive landscape, particularly with the massive volumes of products that are expected to be harvested over the coming months.”
Mr Tyas said Australian producers supplied all avocados during autumn and winter with New Zealand supplementing supply for the rest of the year.
But with a huge bump in production in Western Australia during the past decade there was no longer a need for imported avocados.
Mobile lab is ready to respond
A former COVID-19 rapid testing lab is getting a new lease on life — as an emergency animal diagnostics and plant disease van.
Victorian Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney said the new mobile diagnostic van would strengthen Victoria’s capacity to respond to an outbreak of emergency animal diseases.
Bought from the Doherty Institute, the fit out of the repurposed van includes state-of-the-art biosecurity technology, so that scientists can undertake their important work while being easily deployed at any location across Victoria.
The vehicle offers enough space to process and investigate samples for testing, data entry and waste collection, while also having a hand washing station for hygiene.
The mobile diagnostic van will allow scientists to respond to potential outbreaks immediately and remove the need to transport thousands of samples for testing, further alleviating the pressure on existing laboratories.
Poor supply chain holds up grains
The ability of the Australian grains industry to compete internationally is being seriously hampered by supply chain inefficiencies, with recent record harvests highlighting a need for more capacity in the current network, a GrainGrowers-commissioned report has found.
The ‘Connecting the Dots: Improving Australian Grain Supply Chain Efficiency’ report was compiled by independent global strategy consultancy LEK.
GrainGrowers chair Rhys Turton said six key areas — road funding, bridge infrastructure, road regulation, rail, supply chain data and port connectivity — were found to adversely impact freight efficiency, reduce growers’ profitability and affect international competitiveness.
“To remain competitive, increased supply chain efficiency is required to reduce costs for growers,” Mr Turton said.
“Australia needs a freight network that can export Australia’s grain as quickly and efficiently as possible to capture high international prices during times of reduced global supply.”
GrainGrowers is now developing a comprehensive strategy to drive improvements and efficiency and help ensure competitiveness and profitability for Australian growers.