Queensland Country Hour: Recent Episodes
ABC Radio
Mitchell stud merino grower Nigel Brumpton says he's facing ultra low prices and combined with continued dry weather, drought feeding at his place is becoming a necessary but completely unprofitable activity.
Overnight questions have yet again been raised about the integrity of Australia's multi-billion-dollar carbon credit schemes.
While some fear artificial intelligence could lead to human extinction, two Queensland agricultural scientists say it could hold the key to feeding 10 billion people by 2050.
Australia's northern cattle industry is preparing evidence after the Indonesian government suspended imports of live cattle from four export facilities, following the detection of the virus lumpy skin disease (LSD) in livestock shipped from Australia.
After a decade involved in advocacy, Tambo-based Louise Martin has become the new national federal president of the Isolated Children's Parent's Association taking over from fellow Queenslander and retiring President Alana Moller.
From mid-next year, public and private companies in Australia could be legally required to report climate-related financial information and the proposed mandate is part of the new global Sustainability Standards, Australia is expected to adopt.
Pesticides authority boss and chair resign, after inquiry triggered by APVMA worker who allegedly urinated on colleagues.
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt says the biggest barrier in negotiating a Tree Trade Agreement with the European Union isn't the contest over naming rights of products like prosecco and parmesan, but the lack of market access being offered by the EU.
The Queensland Government has announced a review into the state's drought declaration process, the first time in over forty years that it has been looked at including the 'secretive' Local Drought Committees which came under criticism last year.
Australia's first soil carbon credits have been granted under the new 2021 methodology, awarding two Queensland farming families a total of 151,312 Australian Carbon Credit Units for 18,000 hectares involved in the project.
The national body representing councils, the Australian Local Government Association has called for CTSCo's proposed carbon capture and storage project on the Western Downs to be stopped so more research can be done on its impacts to the Great Artesian Basin but CSTCo says the project would be extensively monitored so leaks don't occur.
Australian Banana Growers Council chair Leon Collins says the eighth outbreak of the fungal disease Panama Tropical Race 4, found in a Tully Valley banana plantation in May, is sad but not surprising.
The Rural Doctors Association of Queensland has welcomed the State Government's commitment of $42 million to boost maternity services in rural and remote communities, in next week's state budget but RDAQ President Dr Matt Masel says he's yet to see more details.
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 after the release of the annual Australian Beef Sustainability Framework update.
The Queensland government has lifted drought declarations in nine local government areas after an improvement in conditions but a complete recovery is still some way off.
Australia's oldest dairy cooperative Norco has announced a small increase in the price it will pay at the farmgate for milk from today with its members getting an extra one cent per litre.
Australian labour hire companies and agri-business owners should face ten years in jail if they deliberately underpay workers  - that's according to the policy think-tank the Grattan Institute.
An outback Queensland logging company says its ready to start hiring again now that China has lifted its timber import ban, Augathella logger Rick Green says the market for his small-scale selective harvest furniture timber ceased completely with the ban in 2020.
Australia's largest spanner crab company hopes to resume sending live crabs to China within weeks, as work continues to ease tensions with the nation's largest trading partner.
Nationals leader David Littleproud says the Federal Government's new biosecurity levy announced in this week's budget would be scrapped under a Coalition Government and money would instead be raised from importers through a container levy.
A south west Queensland grazier has welcomed a $18 million pledge in the Federal Government's budget to help clean up the Carbon Credit scheme, the funding is part of the Commonwealth's response to an Independent Review of Australian carbon credit units.
AUSVET's Dr Brendan Cowled says the chance of lumpy skin disease making its way to Australia 'appears to be unlikely', according to new modelling.
The Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King says the Commonwealth Government has released an extra 250 million dollars for rural, region and outer-urban roads.
Queensland Government sells former Longreach Pastoral College to three buyers for $12.4 million but the details of the deal are unknown.
Australia's chief vet remains confident of staying free from foot-and-mouth disease as Indonesia declares it endemic but Dr Mark Schipp says people should remain alert to the risks for years to come.
Principal Climate Analyst with Ag Econ Jon Welsh says the outlook for the northern part of the Murray Darling Basin may not be as dire as first thought and other current climatic drivers are worth looking at to determine when El Nino will commence.
Katter's Australian Party Queensland leader Robbie Katter has called for the Australian Defence Force to help clean up gulf communities after record flooding.
The leader of the National party David Littleproud has accused the Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt of blocking the pathway to a national standard for organics in Australia.
Neighbours have pitched in to help build a levee bank on far western Queensland cattle station Roxborough Downs after major flooding in the Georgina River inundated several homestead complexes and part of the township of Urandangi upstream.
Record flooding continues as the Mayor of the Burke Shire Ernie Camp says there's water now under the floorboards at Floraville Station from the Leichhardt River, he says he expects his wife and some other family members will be evacuated soon by helicopter.
More people are expected to be forced to move to higher ground, in remote parts of Queensland's Gulf, amid record rainfall and flood warnings remain current for a string of river systems with no let-up in the record-breaking rain.
North West Queensland cattle producer Lindsay Miller says they've had more rain fall at 'Undilla Station' north east of Camooweal , since December than in entire years during the drought and a Bureau of Meteorology weather warning remains in place for that area.
The 2023 Queensland AgriFutures Rural Woman of the year is Emma-Louise Gibbons, she produces high end dog food using insect protein, among other Australian commodities, in a female-only factory on the Sunshine Coast.
Union demands job security for workers at BHP's Daunia, Blackwater coal mines following sale announcement on Tuesday when the company announced its Daunia and Blackwater mines would hit the market within the next 18 months.
Less than 30 per cent of Queensland now drought-declared with rainfall a 'welcome relief' with Rockhampton, Central Highlands, Woorabinda, Barcoo and more than half of Barcaldine local government areas (LGA) having their drought status revoked next month.
Improved conditions today should help the Rural Fire Service contain a major bushfire burning north and northwest of Miles on the Western Downs.
Two miners who fell down a hole at the Dugald River mine in north-west Queensland have been identified as Dylan Langridge and Trevor Davis, the pair were in a light utility vehicle fell which fell about 25 metres into a cavernous hole on Wednesday morning.
As Queensland's coal seam gas industry continues to expand across some of Australia's most fertile farmland, legal experts warn the legislation put in place to protect landholders is 'horribly inadequate.'
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek blocks Clive Palmer's Central Queensland coal mine, it's the first time in Australia's history a coal mine has been refused under national environmental laws.
The east coast heatwave is continuing into the weekend, with the main areas impacted between Proserpine and Brisbane, with some severe patches inland of the Sunshine Coast where at Moy Pocket in the hinterland, owner of Kenilworth Free Range farm Gordon McWilliam has been out buying busted old trampolines to provide his layers with extra shade.
A Canadian investment company has purchased the majority of the farming and processing operation of one of Australia's largest macadamia producers, Macadamias Australia a deal which the CEO of the Australian Macadamia Society, Clare Hamilton-Bate, says signals confidence in the industry.
Women play a vital role across all sectors of agriculture, but when it comes to their representation on the boards of peak industry groups, they are still in the minority and it's got nothing to do with the number of females entering the industry.
Rain is easing in the north, fertiliser prices are falling, and the outback innovation helping wool producers.
Teens taking on the mango shed, what to do if a cockroach crawls into your ear, and the end of the southern sugar harvest in sight.
Australia's trade minister says they're already in talks to expand the Australia-India Economic Co-operation and Trade Agreement, it comes into play from today eliminating tariffs on 85 per cent of Aussie exports like wine, sheep meat and horticulture.
The BOM's Andrew Wakins says rain should ease across parts of eastern Australia in the coming weeks, with the weather bureau predicting La Niña is showing signs of "declining in strength".
Mental health and climate change are going hand in hand across much of regional Australia at the moment and while droughts, fires, and floods are having devastating impacts in communities some areas are coming up with innovative solutions to help each other out.
A draft plan to control feral deer has just been released for comment, it sets up a nationally co-ordinated approach to ultimately slow and reduce the growth of feral deer populations in Australia.
A decades-long vision to drought-proof the arid lands of western Queensland has been abandoned by the state government, after an expert review declared the Bradfield Scheme completely unviable.
The federal government has today unveiled the details of its Federal Environmental Protection Agency to enforce the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation or EPBC Act.
Gold Coast hydroponics owner Belinda Frentz says profit margins continue to be eroded with increases of $150 000 per year on her power bill and an 8 per cent rise in the cost of cleaning products, all borne by her business while the price of vegetables generally remains low.
Wheat grower woes continue with Rabobank's Dennis Voznesenski explaining prices could slip further for Australian Prime Hard wheat off a seasonal high of around $500 per tonne because of weather affecting grain quality and delivery.
GrainCorp posts record 2022 profit but floods devastate the NSW crop and wet weather has meant downgrades to much of Queensland's grain.
Australia's red meat processing sector is short of as many as 10 000 workers but Chris Taylor the CEO of the Australian Meat Processor Corporation says he's confident robots will soon be able to fill the labour gap.
The rural and livestock trucking industry wants to future proof against a driver exodus, it is proposing a self-insurance scheme to help drivers survive tough times.
Vets across Australia are struggling, they endure long hours, poor pay and an emotionally distressing work environment especially in rural and regional areas where there just aren't enough vets to meet demand.
Chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Sunny Verghese says the full cost of food is only going to get higher and while policy makers need to take action, he's urging individuals to take responsibility too.
It has been six years since the irrigators on the Nogoa Mackenzie scheme have been able to consider a summer cropping program with any significant water allocation but after recent rain and inflows into Fairbairn Dam, Â medium water users can use up to 98 per cent of allocation.
A strong backlash is brewing from farmers and rural communities to the Federal Government's surprise plan to buy back water from irrigators in the Murray Darling Basin for the first time in almost a decade.
NSW farmers are calling for urgent financial support, with the damage bill from flooding to wheat crops alone expected to exceed $150 million in the Moree area.
There's been significant inflows into Fairbairn Dam near Emerald in Central Queensland with irrigators saying it could see a move from medium-priority water allocations to higher allocations after cotton planting.
An emergency alert has been issued for the Central Queensland locality of The Gemfields after hundreds of millimetres of rain fell in recent days, causing flash flooding.
Rainfall in Central Queensland is actually unwelcome during harvest as Orion grower Luke Bradley explains they had 40 millimetres which is terrible timing for many who are needing a decent season to get their grain in the bin.
While Toads were a failed attempt at biological control of the beetle.. its hoped a grub sniffing pooch will better assist in the battle against the pest.
A new report, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland, has found that the 22,000 new coal seam gas wells could cause irreversible damage and one of the report's authors, University of Queensland associate professor Peter Dart says the most damage is in subsidence.
Backpackers are returning to regional Queensland for work and play post-pandemic; among them, many are starting 88 days of farm work to secure second-year visas.
Gas production in Qld's Channel Country 'unviable' report finds, but not everyone agrees.
Queensland motorists warned roads still waiting for flood repairs could become more dangerous as harvests ramp up with about two-thirds of the state's roads closed or restricted, including almost 5,000 kilometres affected by more than one weather event.
Origin Energy's move to abandoning its fracking ambitions is being welcomed by far south western Queensland traditional owners, graziers and lobby groups but advocates say their fight to protect the sensitive river system is far from over.
Thallon farmer Liz Hill says southern inland Queensland grain growers have had to re-plant much of their winter crop and are now facing difficulties getting that harvest off in muddy paddocks.
Australia's milk production has unexpectedly plummeted this season and it's set to continue the downward trend according to rural lender Rabobank.
New Australian Droughtmaster bull record a day after new national Santa Gertrudis record.
The Queen visited dozens of rural towns, royal occasions no one local would ever forget.
Grazier Will Treloar from Boothulla Station, west of Charleville, had has welcomed the 31millimetres that fell overnight on top of nearly 29mm on Monday, which he says is perfect timing after the decks of cattle left the station last week.
After record highs of $11.99 a punnet in June strawberry prices are plummeting with Queensland Strawberry Growers Association President Adrian Schultz calling on consumers to help farmers weather significant losses caused by flooding and rain and spiralling production costs.
The Australian Veterinary Association President Dr Bronwyn Orr is calling on the Federal Government to scrap Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) debt for graduates who live and work in regional and rural areas.
Authorities are working to trace the source of a white spot detection after the highly contagious disease was found in New South Wales for the first time.
Independent analysis from Argus's Jess Clarke into northern feeder cattle sold in Southern Queensland this week shows a rise of around ten cents per kilogram linked to the increased supply of cattle at both the Roma and Dalby sales and Australia produces a whopping 7.6 million tonnes of food waste each year, but a growing push to turn this trash into treasure aims to reduce greenhouse gas.
The third Kingaroy BaconFest is back after a two-year hiatus and is expecting 25 000 visitors to the South Burnett town, which organisers say will be a record.
For the first time, a new 10 year biosecurity strategy sets out how Australian governments will work together.
Action from the 143rd Queensland Royal Show as the stud cattle and junior judging gets underway at Bowen Hills.
Special broadcast from the 143rd Queensland Royal Show, the Ekka, after a two year hiatus.
Indonesian officials say they are now hopeful to bring the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak under control by the end of the year.
World wheat market being influenced by much more than Ukranian shipments of wheat on move again.
Queensland's opposition agriculture spokesman Tony Perrett says he holds grave fears fire ants have spread during the most recent floods in the Lockyer Valley but the state agriculture minister Mark Furner disagrees saying there was a reduced risk of spread and cattle, sheep and lamb prices have been falling sharply and while the cold, wet weather in southern Australia, and some mixed quality livestock is factoring into this, AuctionsPlus analyst Tim McRae says unfortunately, fears around foot-and-mouth disease are also affecting prices.
With tough economic times ahead for Australia, Killarney-based Kerri-Ann Lamb, Director of Wickham Farms, says she has welcomed back four members of the next generation all with new skills and a sugar mill in the Far North Queensland town of Mossman has put out the call for cane farmers with truck licences to do a shift.
The Queensland Government has confirmed today it's selling the former Longreach Pastoral College
Footmats and segregation of livestock from the general public are new measures you can expect to see at next weeks Ekka as an abundance of caution is taken against the threat of Foot and Mouth disease.
The Federal Government has invoked new biosecurity powers at Australian airports in response to the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in Indonesia, every single traveller entering from Indonesia will be made to use foot mats or follow other bio-security directions and the heightened FMD disease risk in the Asia Pacific region is prompting some in Australia's 20 billion dollar beef sector to seriously consider safeguarding their genetics by freezing embryos and semen.
Viral fragments of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and African Swine Fever have been detected in imported meat, as Australia's government introduces new measures to wash shoes at international airports and Animal Health Australia CEO Kathleen Plowman says while this latest disease fragment finding worrying the discovery is proof the system is working and responsible reporting in the media is paramount.
A north west Qld vet says she's frustrated with the huge amount of horses in her city who aren't vaccinated against Hendra virus, despite a huge local bat population.
New biosecurity measures will soon be in place at Australia's International airports as Australia grapples with the threat of foot and mouth disease.
A beekeeper who picked up a blue ribbon at this year's Sydney Royal Easter Show will be forced to destroy the apiary the honey was collected from due to varroa mite.
It was so cold yesterday that temperature records have been broken for July all the way from Kowanyama to Dalby and vege growers say it means less produce in the supermarket.
Australian cane crush comes to muddy halt as rain continues along east coast and FMD now in Bali, with major concerns that tourists will carry it home.
Could biological defleecing upend the shearing industry and visa processing blow out no help to ag industry.
The authors of the Australian Beef Sustainability Report say the industry is making good progress on net zero but many are wondering if it is moving fast enough for major export markets?
Just when you were absorbing the fact that iceberg lettuce have sold for as much as $12 a head this year, how about paying $11.99 for a 250 gram punnet of strawberries after a bad season and disease is affecting Queensland's crop and exports for human heart valve replacements are the latest casualty of Australia's worker shortage, with a Queensland meat processor unable to fill all of its life saving orders for the beef by-product.
The Fair Work Commission has ruled the minimum wage should increase by 5.2 per cent, it equates to an extra $40 per week, affecting more than two million workers across the country and Tim Lane, who is the national client manager of agribusiness with Herron Todd White, said he doesn't expect the forecast economic downturn to cause any big dips in Australia's record agricultural property market.
The Australian Meat Industry Council says big bucks have been spent on alternative energy sources, and today it's paying off.
Most Queensland sugar mills are firing up their boilers this week, with a collective aim to crush a forecast 30 million tonnes by the end of the season.
Rabobank's senior animal proteins analyst, Angus Gidley-Baird, says while there are some climate-neutral beef products on the market it's not yet known if consumers will be willing to pay higher prices for net-zero beef especially as inflation rises and Thangool graziers Dan and Emma-Jane Burnham are using the Queensland Government's land restoration fund to begin carbon farming and by allowing previously cleared land to regenerate they say it's not only beneficial for their environment, but gives their bank account a boost as well.
The president of Equine Veterinarians Australia Dr Steve Dennis is urging horse owners to vaccinate their animals against the deadly Hendra virus explaining the geographical area at risk has been greatly expanded by a new variant of Hendra virus, uncovered by a new test last year and Queensland's Farmfest, one of Australia's largest farm and machinery field days, has broken a record for entries on a single day, with 25 000 people braving the freezing conditions but logistics issues and high steel prices are still challenging.
Grower says lettuce at $10 each and cauliflower a reflection of challenging growing season and wheat planting continues to be delayed.
More than half of landholders who are the victim of minor rural crime, don't report it and meet a trophy saddler!
Construction on one of the Southern Hemisphere's largest wind farms has begun and farmers in Central Queensland changing from cattle to cotton production.
Queensland Senator Murray Watt, the freshly sworn-in agriculture minister, will have plenty of challenges to overcome if the good times are to continue for the more than $80 billion agriculture sector and the plant disease known as Banana Freckle has been found in the Northern Territory again, three years after it was officially eradicated from Australia, it significantly reduces banana quality and yields, and is seen as a major threat to Australia's $500 million banana sector.
A Brisbane Valley stud cattle breeder Don McConnel says they've had the wettest May since their records began in the 1890's at Mt Brisbane near Esk, tallying 280 millimetres for the month and Granite Belt grower, Jessica Andreatta says they're still hasn't been a frost this year allowing them to still pick tomatoes, something that's very unusual for this time of year.
Member for Traeger says buy back of rail assets by state government proof privatising critical infrastructure doesn't work.
Former member for Maranoa, Bruce Scott, says David Littleproud will address election shortfalls as Nationals leader and cold blast greets Ballera gasfields with 3 degree apparent temperatures and 70 kilometre winds.
Chief Operations Officer of Tully Sugar Mill, John Edwards says it's a great feeling to be the first mill to kick off the 2022 crushing season, its earliest since the 1960's.
A larger dredge should be brought from Brisbane on Monday, to clear a treacherous sandbar that's been endangering lives and damaging vessels at the entrance to Mooloolaba harbour and after an investigation by the ACCC into the use of unfair contract terms in the chicken meat industry some of Australia's processors have agreed to make some changes.
Ag leaders hope PM Anthony Albanese an opportunity for a reset with our biggest trading partner, China and cotton growers despair over wet paddocks.
The world's food supply is running short and one analyst believes governments will fall before it gets better and Queensland trucking company says expansion to move big ag crops is limited by lack of drivers.
For the first time ever, the Greens will have representative in regional Queensland and come along to a bush event that's been going and growing since the 1950's!
You'll hear from an Australian-based business who has two feedlots in Indonesia on Foot and Mouth precautions and meet a Lockyer Valley vegetable grower who says he's had up to a million dollars in losses after last weeks floods.
The Greens agriculture spokesperson Tasmanian Senator Peter Whish-Wilson says his party is happy with the agriculture visa, against some farming of livestock and wants a floor price set in the carbon market and Australia's largest cattle producer, the Australian Agricultural Company, has doubled its operating profits to nearly $50 million dollars after huge jumps in the value of its cattle herd and its vast property portfolio.
Queensland's Chief Biosecurity Officer says he's having conversations with local government, police, freight companies and many more, to train up staff in preparation of several devastating animal health diseases on Australia's front door and Queensland commercial fisherman say someone will be badly injured or die, unless urgent action is taken to dredge a huge sandbank that's restricting access to Mooloolaba, one of the busiest ports on Australia's east coast.
The University of Queensland says its new bio clay technology uses double-stranded RNA to protect plants from whitefly, one of the global agriculture's worst pests, it's the same breakthrough technology behind the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and food prices are currently the highest in over a decade, no surprises, due to wet weather and ten years ago happens to be the last time Queensland also enjoyed a La Nina.
Major supermarkets are scrambling for fresh food to resupply shelves after last week disruption of stock due to flooding and Labor says it will employ more biosecurity sniffer dogs, but didn't reveal at what cost.
One of Australia's biggest broccoli and onion growers Troy Qualichefski says another disastrous rain event in the south east of Queensland will see floods wipe out a huge vegetable growing region for the second time this year and the Lockyer Valley Regional Council says flash flooding will continue across the region for the next couple of days with Grantham farmer Derek Shultz saying it's simply a devastating blow after only just finishing replanting.
Charters Towers has broken a 24-year rainfall record, recording 122.8 millimetres in 24 hours and the previous record of 67 mm was set in 1998 and drought declarations dropped for more than half of Queensland following long wet season with the Balonne, Murweh, Western Downs, Maranoa, Quilpie, North Burnett, and part of the Flinders shire having had their drought status revoked.
After a failed wet season, some very late relief for the north-west has arrived in the form of good, steady and importantly soaking rain and the Queensland Department of Environment and Science says its postponed a feral cattle control program on a Cape York National Park to give landowners more notice of planned activities.
Pork farmer says incursion of Japanese Encephalitis Virus and the threat of African Swine Fever means the industry is prepared for potential Foot and Mouth Disease and will CW rivers run for second time in weeks?
Shadow agriculture spokesperson Julie Collins has confirmed the ALP's policy is to shut down Australia's $92 million live sheep export industry but unlike at the last election won't give a time frame and in a statement the LNP's agriculture minister David Littleproud said 'Australians have been given a glimpse of how they'll be treated by an Alabanese Government' adding 'Labor's plan would cut 3000 jobs'.
The Australian Alliance for Animals says the Labor Party has confirmed it will phase out the live sheep export industry, if it wins power at the federal election and a spokesperson for the ALP confirmed an elected Albanese Government will phase out live sheep exports in consultation with the industry and the West Australian Government but said it will not change the live export of cattle.
Not since 2008, have land prices in all regions across our state increased year on year, but they did last year.
Biggest flooding since 2012 reaches Cooper Creek and meet a ballerina who's fallen in love with being a jillaroo at Julia Creek.
This week the Australian record was broken for the most expensive single beef animal ever sold after a Wagyu heifer bred by Sunnyside Wagyu was sold for $400 000 to Yulong Invest and the owner of the world's largest privately held wagyu herd Peter Hughes said he's planning to increase his numbers of polled animals as quickly as he can after huge station purchases earlier this year in the Northern Territory.
Minimum pay requirements for farm workers of no less than $25.41 per hour take effect today and AWU national secretary Daniel Walton said some growers were using piece rates to pay workers as little as $3 an hour.
A Central Queensland food manufacturer says beef nuggets could soon be a reality in your local hotbox and how are China shipping delays impacting Qld exporters?
Season breaking rain in dry Western Queensland. JBS Global financial conduct under scrutiny. New Speckle Park heifer record.
Southern Queensland wheat farmer Philip Coggan from Westmar said he's quite positive about the start of this year's wheat planting with excellent prices and good soil moisture it could be an excellent year and Graincorp's regional manager in Queensland Brad Foster said it has been a big job readying the company's grain receival sites to handle the huge influx expected.
Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner says drought declarations have been revoked for eleven local government areas across southern Queensland, where there's been flooding rain in recent months in regions including Bundaberg, the Southern Downs and the Darling Downs and pork producers are continuing to grapple with the impact of Japanese Encephalitis, which is still spreading in Queensland, amid prices that don't seem to be keeping pace with other proteins.
A shearing contractor says the Queensland Merino industry is on tenterhooks waiting for teams to move up from the southern wool growing states, the season is running about three weeks late and is forcing them to shear in the cooler months.
The Secretary of the Shearing Contractors Association of Australia Jason Letchford says they wants to tap into the Pacific workers program to solve the labour shortage problem, which he says is now at a crisis point.
The University of Southern Queensland has launched the new School of Agriculture and Environmental Science where it's offering a Bachelor of Agricultural Technology and Management plus a Bachelor of Environmental Science and a new major in Wildlife Management.
Rural roads a mess after SQ floods and 52 grape varieties squeezed into one bottle, all from one farm.
Queensland Beekeepers and farmers say they're relieved a state government committee has recommended their access to state forests that have been converted to national parks continue until 2044 and Queensland is leading the way on carbon farming, according to a new scorecard released by the Carbon Market Institute after the industry group analysed the performance of each of the states an territories against 12 criteria, looking at policy, finance, new markets and community benefits.
Labor remains tight lipped on its plans for Australia's $81 billion agriculture sector, despite the election due to be called within days; calls to change the definition of a farmer for the purpose of disaster support eligibility; and, meet the 89 year old at home droving cattle through central Queensland.
Harvest optimism in the northern cotton industry, despite challenges the of high input costs, spray drift and flooding; agricultural show societies welcome the easing of the Queensland government's vaccine mandates; and, one of Queensland's most historic merino studs set to change hands after a 125 year history.
The race to develop a vaccine and protect Australia's cattle herd form lumpy skin disease; the battle for Australian flower farmers to compete with the cheap overseas imports that make up around half of the retail market; and, some sweet news as northern bee keepers experience a bumper honey season.
Who'll win and and who might miss out in Australia's new free trade agreement with India; does DNA testing settle the debate over dingo v wild dog in western Queensland? and, the new program encouraging children to consider careers in agriculture.
Beef analyst Simon Quilty says Australian cattle producers may have been out manoeuvred by their United States competitors in the lucrative Japanese market after an announcement made overnight for the trans-pacific partnership trade deal and UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation in Indonesia's Dr Luuk Schoonman explains the Indonesian government has launched a major effort to contain an outbreak of lumpy skin disease and has started vaccinating thousands of cattle in an attempt to slow its spread.
Indonesia-based veterinarian Ross Ainsworth says Lumpy Skin Disease, which affects cattle and buffalo, would be "catastrophic" if it reached Australia and Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud says an incursion of the disease would shut live export markets overnight and internationally respected authority on carbon credits and emissions reduction policy Andrew Macintosh blows whistle on Australia's greenhouse gas reduction schemes.
Hear what Queensland growers are doing to address fertiliser prices reaching record highs and why flies should be a farmers friend, as well as terrible company.
Hear why fresh and frozen vegetable costs are set to continue to rise while beef prices will settle and Black lip oysters as big as your foot set for expansion at Bowen.
Queenland's biggest pork producer says JEV is responsible for abnormal semen morphology in its boar stud and do you know your obligations when you see a horse and rider on the road.
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Katter's Australian Party (KAP) Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter is urging the Queensland Government to implement a ten per cent ethanol mandate which he says will increase fuel security and ultimately provide more competition for primary producer's sugarcane and sorghum and Central Queensland agronomist Josh Connolly says he has seen huge improvements on Banana Station where they've managed pasture dieback by using slashing and crash grazing which has improved carrying capacity and weight gain.
An outbreak of Japanese encephalitis has prompted calls for a national surveillance system to improve the detection and management of mosquito-borne diseases by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute senior mosquito scientist Greg Devine and the Federal Government has announced today it's locked in $483 million to build the Urannah Dam, a project that's been on the drawing board for decades. and while it has been welcomed by farmers, local grower alliance president Carl Walker says the price has to be right.
Live from Protein 2022 held on Queensland's Western Downs in Dalby showcasing innovations and industry forecasts for intensive livestock industries, where Food Leaders Australia general manager Bruce McConnel and his twin brother Ian McConnel who is the president of the Global Roundtable of Sustainable Beef agree the livestock industry needs to create transparency and traceability for consumers but it also needs a trusted partner in the animal welfare space.
Cattle Australia' promises to provide clear leadership and direction with contemporary policy and Mitchell grass reseeding trials show intervention saves years of time.
The Port of Brisbane today has announced that its again progressing quickly towards normal business after days of containers building up and with anecdotal comments that food may be spoiled if the facility doesn't return to normal ship loading and the Lockyer Valley has seen more than fifty per cent of growers reporting a major or catastrophic impact as a result of flooding, including grower Troy Qualischefski who says floodwater has caused at least half a million dollars in damage.
A severe storm has taken three roofs off buildings, flipped a quad bike and stripped many hectares of cotton due to be picked near Springsure with farmer Ben Sullivan saying he has never before seen such a ferocious storm and the Premier has taken a first-hand look at some of the flood damage in the Lockyer Valley, west of Brisbane and she says the cost of insurance claims from the flood disaster in the south-east have topped more than one billion dollars.
Fuel prices set to be volatile for some time yet according to IOR and a break in the hot and dry states north could be on its way.
After a week-long shutdown, the country's largest meat co-operative, The Casino Food Co-op, is back online processing beef and pigs at its plants in Casino and Booyong in northern New South Wales and in sharp contrast parts of Central Queensland have had very little rainfall over the summer, Clermont recorded less than 10 per cent of its normal summer rain and farmers there says crops are struggling.
The Queensland and Federal Government have announced financial support for flood impacted primary producers, small business and not for profit, in one of the quickest activations by government, but for some in the North Burnett, it will be the third disaster assistance package in as many months.
The hot weather in central, western and northern Queensland has not only constituted a severe heat wave but the Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed Rockhampton has equalled it's record warmest minimum temperature not just for this month but for the whole year after only going down to 27.5 degrees overnight and Central and Western Downs sorghum growers say huge rain on their crops, many ready for harvest, will mean downgrades to quality after many have ending up sprouting, it also means the get a lesser price for their grain.
The Lockyer Valley Regional Council has activated the Grantham emergency siren with residents being told to evacuate again as flood levels are expected to rapidly rise and close exit routes today and a Western Downs stud cattle breeder Kirrily Johnson-Iseppi says a huge thunderstorm has downed trees, killed birdlife and overturned a four tonne cattle feeder at her place but luckily her stud cattle and horses were all unharmed.
Australia's biggest pork producer, Sunpork, says two of its pig farms in Southern Qld and Central NSW are under movement restrictions due to the detection of a virus deadly to humans and Tableland Veterinary Service vet Mick Ruppin says keeping your animals dry and fed can be a major challenge during severe weather.
2 metres of water flood University of Queensland greenhouses and milking cows through a metre of rain has made for a hell of a week for Sunshine Coast hinterland farmers.
Emergency authorities say there's a rapidly evolving flood situation in south-east Queensland with heavy rain overnight and today with alerts issued for the Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley, North Burnett, Noosa and Gympie council areas an on the Sunshine Coast, Cooran recorded 316 millimetres and 133 of that in just two hours nearby at Moy Pocket pasture raised chicken farmer Gordon William says he had 301 millimetres overnight and he has had to rescue some of his animals.
Huge rain has hit a redclaw crayfish farm south east of Gympie where Andrew Gosbell says he is counting his blessings that they escaped damage to a second home and flood fencing repairs at Mount Wolvi after receiving 425 millimetres of rain, 140 millimetres of that falling in just one hour and Western Downs stud cattle producer Tom Nixon says after 106 millimetres of rain in the last 48 hours it's put his rolling rainfall tally at the best yearly accumulation in over a hundred years on Devoncourt near Drillham.
South-east Queensland has received a "scary" amount of rain with more to come and platinum coloured barra is a thing!
Experts are saying your next wheat crop could be the most expensive ever to grow and what can replace Spanish Mackerel at your fish and chip shop?
Funding to seal entire length of Plenty Highway and maize crops recover 'remarkably' well from FAW.
Kilcoy Global Foods Australia president Jiah Falcke has announced a $50 million plan to build a food manufacturing plant on the Sunshine Coast by the end of the year, creating 300 new jobs in the Aura industrial estate and AUSMEAT has launched the well known red meat industry technical manual, the Handbook of Australian Meat, as a digital app making the internationally recognised guide more user-friendly.
Queensland Fisheries says no decision has been made on the future of the Spanish mackerel fishery and fishers will be consulted, the Department's deputy director-general Graeme Bolton says a communiqué has been released outlining options for a draft harvest strategy, at the latest and research and development entity Hort Innovation has released statistics showing the value of Australian oranges have reached a new high of $437.6 million with mandarins and lemons increasing in value too.
Queensland fishers are demanding answers about how a once viable, healthy fishery has been deemed on the brink of collapse and rodeo bulls for sale at Gracemere.
Water prices tell story of Wide Bay journey out of drought and how the fashion industry could help barra fishers use more of their catch.
The Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says the Commonwealth will provide up to $600 million towards the cost of the Paradise Dam rebuild after a similar commitment from the Queensland Premier earlier in the week and local growers have welcomed the funding commitment from the Federal Government to rebuild Paradise Dam from all levels of Government but farmer Andrew Lewis says the Class Action he's part of will continue.
Queensland LNP water spokesperson Deb Frecklington says the cost of the rebuilding Paradise Dam could mean other major water projects could lose out, hampering water security for high value agriculture and Australia's largest meat processor JBS says while high cattle prices are one challenge, chief operating officer Anthony Pratt says the only thing harder has been sourcing willing workers for the company's abattoirs.
Federal Government reserves commitment to helping fix Paradise Dam and Big Country Brahmna sale shines light on decent returns for herd bulls.
The Queensland Government says the rebuilding of Paradise dam in the Wide Bay will cost taxpayers $1.2 billion and bugs are likely to be on the menu as early as this year.
A record performance horse sale is being described as a 'new age' for the performance horse industry with $17 million in horse flesh exchanged in Tamworth last week.
Isolated families of boarding students seek answers over the Queensland government's planned return to school next week; meat processing giant Teys' Naracoorte plant temporarily suspended from exporting to China; and, can working dogs be happy in suburban backyards?
Freight trucks bound for Darwin diverting through Queensland have faced another hold up with the Landsborough Highway cut by local flooding between Longreach and Winton, they have had to detour after floods closed the Stuart Highway and after hitting a record earlier this week, the price of cattle has dropped six per cent on Meat and Livestock Australia's Eastern Young Cattle Indicator and according to analyst Simon Quilty he believes it'll be cows and heavy grassfed that will see the biggest discounts.
Production has begun at Australia's first ever organic granulated cattle manure factory and the Queensland company Grassdale Fertiliser says demand is already outstripping supply and Australia Day delivered a deluge of epic proportions for north Queenslanders late yesterday, with rain totals of 200 millimetres falling in a matter of hours including at Tayla Fletcher's place near the Townsville suburb of Jensen where she was up half the night worried about her horses.
More widespread rain across parts of western Queensland especially in the Flinders Shire where deputy mayor Clancy Middleton says they're seeing totals up to 124 millimetres in the Hughenden area and Australia's newly-named Local Hero, Shanna Whan, founder of grassroots charity 'Sober in the Country' explains how her group has helped countless people in the bush reassess their relationship with alcohol.
Channel Country graziers record equal rain this week than entire last year and farming without a farm is actually happening right now.
The Australian Government has announced it'll invest 68-point-four million dollars in agricultural traceability and chicken farmer succumbs to pandemic disruptions and sells off chickens.
Far north Queensland flower producer Rob Piccolo says he's had it confirmed his business is the latest victim of the invasive Fall Army Worm, it has been confirmed in his tropical flower orchard near Innisfail and welcome and wonderful rain has reached far western Queensland with some solid totals falling into last night including 53 millimetres in Boulia and 42 mm at the shire mayor Rick Britton's place Goodwood Station.
Thunderstorms overnight in the central west, channel country and Maranoa and Warrego districts produced heavy rainfall including 96 millimetres at Rob Newsham's property 'Bundoona' north west of Eulo and good rain last year and follow up has meant the potential for some bumper crops around the Darling Downs region with Warra grower Stuart Schostakowski saying his sorghum is some of the best he's seen.
Police arrest and charge two North West Queensland men with fraud offences after allegedly accessing more than $360 000 through disaster assistance funding and rain certainty for parts of the dry west.
$50,000 grants for for primary producers, small businesses and non-profit organisations affected by the recent floods in the Wide Bay-Burnett region and spectacular sunrise after volcanic ash moves over Queensland.
While distribution centre and trucking logistics are being ironed out, A Tully banana farmer says he's now got a major staff shortage due to illness as Omicron spreads out from Cairns and into his farm.
Despite being first announced in June 2021 and coming into effect on October 1, no workers have arrived under the Federal Government's agriculture visa yet, because no countries have signed up to it and we take a trip to the Terra Tribe Farm located near Howard on the Fraser Coast, where they are educating kids on permaculture, nature and the importance of sustainable practices.
The Tropical Low moving over Queensland has dumped hundreds of millimetres of rain on parts of Western Cape York including at Watson River Station south east of Weipa where Luke Quartermaine says they've had some huge downpours but nothing out of the ordinary for the wet season and moderate flooding is still continuing at Mungindi and with the Barwon River is slowly receding the town is no longer isolated but local agronomist Jo Weir says some paddocks are still underwater and a number of levee banks haven't held.
Tropical low delivers more than 400 millimetres of rain to Rutland Plains station, wind, high tide and thunderstorms predicted for NQ.
Paradise dam to be rebuilt to original height and capacity and meet Beryl the Brahman, now in print.
The Isis Central Mill has completed its crush after a very prolonged harvest season but Mackay Sugar has committed to work on Christmas day to get the job done.
Ongoing price pain and difficulty competing for market share continue to plague Queensland potato growers and hear from a Dirranbandi farmer who's property is all but under water.
The lychee harvest is underway in central Queensland and a large crop is emerging out of the region on the back of a good season and more pasture dieback found in Southern Queensland.
Flystrike warning and central Queensland vet clocks over 50 years of service to animal industry.
Australia and the United Kingdom have signed a free trade agreement, it's the first FTA deal struck by the UK since it left the European Union, Aussie beef and sugar industries say they'll benefit from the tariff-free access to the British market and the Queensland Government has quietly paved the way for fracking in the environmentally sensitive Channel Country, despite repeated promises to protect the area and an unfulfilled commitment to consult with traditional owners.
India has signalled it will appeal a decision by the World Trade Organization that ruled its sugar subsidies were in breach of global trade rules and while Australia's trade minister Dan Tehan says the result is a win, its not yet the end of the issue and the world's largest meat buyer China has lifted it's ban on beef from the world's biggest beef exporter Brazil after 103 days of no trade.
The Australian Sugar Millers Council has welcomed today's announcement that its legal battle against Indian sugar subsidies has been successful and MSA grading for lamb on its way.
Significant rainfall overnight on the Queensland and New South Wales border will extend the length of the current flood, with some areas upstream of the peak seeing renewed rises and Atherton Tableland cattle producers James and Deena Nasser have set out to buck the perception only grainfed beef can deliver consistent eating quality by supplying their family's own pub with their grassfed beef.
Roads the victim of southern Queensland flooding with significant damage to the Condamine Highway and Boondooma dam full, but how reliable is it?
Flooding along the Macintyre River peaks near Toobeah and meet two farmers who, against the exodus, are joining the dairy industry.
Flooding on the Dumaresq River, around 40 kilometres south east of Goondiwindi has peaked below the level of the record a decade ago which bodes well for the town but has destroyed crops, fences and there has been some livestock lost and Wide Bay Burnett watermelon growers have had a chance to assess their crops after the continued rain with some farmers reporting losses of up to 85 per cent.
Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner has announced sweeping changes allowing drought grants to be opened up to more producers than ever before and they can be accessed before a drought is actually declared and Yelarbon farmer Anthony Doljanin says the flood peak in the Macintyre Brook has surpassed the 1976 level but hasn't broken the huge flood of 1956, he says his house was spared but hundreds of hectares are underwater.
Huge overnight rain has seen properties along the Macintyre Brook, Logan, Dawson and Condamine river inundated and crops lost. Today we speak to property owners along those systems as well as a hydrologist.
Big rain spreads west with more rain potential across already wet southern and central Queensland.
Huge rain totals with Mackay recording more than 150 mms in 27 hours and Sunwater announces more water allocations after dam inflows.
The Wide Bay city of Bundaberg is set to record its wettest November since 1934 with the town's official gauge recording 114 millimetres overnight in sharp contrast to the drought it has endured for years and AgForce President Georgie Somerset has added a new role to her portfolio after being announced as the newest member of the National Farmers Federation board.
Heavy rain around Mackay this week will hold up the local crush even longer than forecast, it was projected to finish in a month but chairman of Canegrowers Mackay, Kevin Borg, says it'll be much longer and supermarket giant Woolworths has lifted the price of its homebrand milk, a move welcomed by dairy farmers and hopes other major supermarkets will follow.
The state government has announced a new processing plant for vanadium will be built in Townsville and rain brings cane harvest to a stop.
State fisheries department still yet to reveal the results of a peer review into popular Spanish Mackrel stock levels and meet Gympie's rock farmers.
National Agriculture Day celebrates what the sector describes as the fabulous and fulfilling career opportunities on offer and at the Central Queensland University, primary school students are being taken on an 'AgVenture' to learn more and the Australian Agricultural Company, the country's oldest and largest, has announced a major commitment to boost its green credentials with a plan to feed methane-reducing seaweed to Wagyu cattle in long fed production systems.
The price of cattle in eastern Australia has hit yet another record, with Meat and Livestock Australia's average pricing benchmark, the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator hitting 1102 cents per kilogram carcase weight and Australia's largest cattle company ASX-listed Australian Agricultural Company has posted a statutory net-profit-after-tax of $83.2 million, which is well up on the same period last year, when it posted a $1.7 million loss.
Irrigators downstream of Paradise dam watch flood water go wanting and hear why alpaca wool is again back in black.
E-gates are back for Goondiwindi Regional Council and a beverage precinct launched for start up businesses in Sunshine Coast.
Wild westerly winds gets grain harvesters back in the paddock but with quality downgrades after rain.
Will growers turn to pulses like Faba Beans if input costs continue to spiral?
Scientists try to bring back from extinction a bizarre frog that swallows its own eggs, incubating them in its stomach before spitting out baby frogs.
Grazier and cattle breeder Nikki Mahony says they've had their biggest rainfall in a century at Gyranda Santa Gertrudis Stud at Cracow in Central Queensland, after recording 125 millimetres in 24 hours and farmland around the South Burnett town of Kingaroy is a hub for the production of a native plant called Duboisia, it drives a major pharmaceutical drug industry and now there are allegations of a drug cartel.
This week's late Spring rain is bittersweet, for some landholders it's the best November rain in over a decade, helping grass growth and broadacre but for fruit growers near Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt, the wettest November on record will wreck some of their ripe fruit and Woolgrowers reject Australian Wool Innovation's pitch for more money and vote for the status quo to keep their levy at 1.5 per cent in WoolPoll 2021.
Considerable rain totals for Macintyre catchment this week and why non-alcohol sales going through the roof.
Gympie meatworks has lodged plans to build emergency accommodation and the invasive mango shoot looper is here to stay.
New border restrictions have come into effect in Queensland overnight amid a COVID outbreak in the New South Wales' town of Moree but the Balonne Shire has moved to help the harvest by announcing it'll open the Hebel-Goodooga road for people with the proper boarder passes and Russia has become the latest country to limit the amount of fertiliser it will export to the world after President Vladimir Putin has placed a quota on all exports for the next six months in an attempt to lower already high prices in the country.
In what the Australian Worker's Union describes as one of the most significant industrial decisions of modern times, the Fair Work Commission rules workers picking fruit on a piece rate must be guaranteed a minimum wage and the Isolated Children's Parents' Association will lobby the Federal and Queensland Governments to create a special exemption for rural and remote students to cross state borders to attend boarding school, in the event of COVID-related border closures.
Queensland's most far northern sugar mill has become the first to crush out this season and good rain in Winton district.
The federal government questions the Qld government on biosecurity spending.
An isolated storm dropped 103mm of rain on a Muttaburra property yesterday afternoon.
What's a better investment at the moment - cow or house?
The Queensland Country Hour presents a special broadcast from the Warwick Rodeo & Campdraft.
Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has revealed some of the demands his party made in return for their support for a net zero by 2050 target, he says his party ensured agriculture was carved out of emissions reduction targets and that they had secured more funding for the regions and a Queensland dairy business says it is the first milk processor in Australia to help the planet by going carbon positive and keep environmentally-conscious consumers drinking its product.
Heavy steer prices have jumped at today's Dalby cattle sale and Bowen mangoes tipped to be in short supply due to lack of flowering.
While the federal government releases its carbon neutrality 2050 plan the agriculture sector says its already well down the road of reducing emissions.
Export demand for wheat is holding up, helping keep the state's best wheat harvest since 2016 on track but input costs like fuel also rising.
Five projects will receive $330 million in funding as the Federal Government steps up its race to get the water it needs under its commitments to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and one of Australia's largest strawberry runner growers, Sweets Strawberry Runners, has suffered a massive crop loss, effectively wiping out the entire production.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has confirmed negotiations are underway with Indonesia to allow foreign workers into Australia under the ag visa and a Central Queensland egg producer Anthony Sylvester is turning a farm waste product into a highly sought-after gourmet good in his bid to improve environmental sustainability.
A Brisbane meatworks has become the ninth cattle processing plant to be suspended from exporting beef to China and hear what its like to experience giant, record breaking hail.
On today's program: the Nationals fail to come to an agreement on a net zero plan by 2050; an exotic pest not previously detected in Australia has been found in mango orchards in Far North Queensland; and, the Australian Sugar Milling Council welcomes a new CEO as the sector enjoys stronger prices after a tough few years.
Prospect of international flights has fruit and vege export industry chomping at the bit and people with a disability learn to farm.
Patchy rain a great start to beginning of wet season and the Federal Government has today announced it will extend its Supporting Agricultural Shows and Field Day Program by $21 million.
The National Farmers Federation wants the federal government to compensate landholders who helped it reach its Kyoto climate commitments before signing on to any net zero targets.
Will 7 day roster at Mount Isa mine be death of community feel and pigs feast on cane in the tropical north.
Money will be allocated for new research into prawn diseases at JCU in Townsville and Fisheries changes have commercial operators fed up.
Queensland farm values have risen 15 per cent with higher returns still to come and meet two Olympians who call a SQ farm home.
No records, but solid returns for Brahman Week bull sale and hear why growing berries in the tropical north just keeps getting harder.
Hear why scallops will soon disappear off your restaurant menu and hail has denied Western Downs grower of harvest.
Power restrictions put a halt to wool processing in China, Cotton Australia launches its own job board, and another week, another cattle price record tumbles.
Queensland dairy farmers react to the industry levy voting options, dramatic shift in vegetation management has orchard owners at odds with state run power companies, and commercial fisher condemn a call for a gulf green zone.
Calls for commercial fishing in the gulf to stop, why landholders in central Queensland are angry at a nearby gas project, and dairy poll recommendations are out - and there's no option to reduce the levy.
A new sheep and goat strategy for Queensland, why bigger is better for sorghum, and why fertiliser prices won't be going down any time soon.
Calls for agriculture to be included in any net-zero carbon emissions targets, why you should get spooky with pineapples this Halloween, and going beyond the record breaking bull prices.
It's organics awareness month, so do the numbers still stack up when there are record prices getting around? The first shipment of Brazillian live cattle has unloaded in Vietnam, and how one shearer is working to take the heavy lifting out of the job.
How a council in western Queensland will decide the fate of a Clive Palmer funded power station, big shifts in the dairy industry today as Queensland walks away from a committee determining the future of its levy, and the CSIRO wants your help to solve on-farm problems.
Queensland graziers are the first to sell carbon credits under the state government's Land Restoration Fund, there's been a flurry of activity on the Operation Grain Harvest Assist Facebook pages, and why some newsagents in the west won't be getting the paper anymore.