Country Today - July 7th

Country Today - July 7th

Coming up an update on how agricultural commodities are faring with Rabobank’s latest commodity outlook. Sheep farmers could soon be able to estimate their flock’s liveweight and fleece weight using a 3D sensor system being developed by the CSIRO.     The latest seasonal climate outlook is for a drier and warmer spring.   The Victorian Government has merged the various food authorities to create Safe Food Victoria.  We talk to the inaugural Chief Executive Officer Michael Gooey.   See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Country Today - July 6th

New federal environment laws are confusing to navigate, and will make it harder for farmers to manage their own land.   The Murray Darling Basin Authority has dumped 14 environment projects. So where will the extra 355 gls come from?   Water traders beware: market manipulation and insider trading in Murray-Darling Basin water markets is now illegal with potential fines in the millioins of dollars. Except of course for Governments ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh   While there's talk of a super Ël Nino, Gippsland dairy farmer Stuart Griffin says it's been a great season so far.     It's now less than five months until the Victorian State Election and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry says regional Victoria holds the key to the state’s future prosperity.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Country Today - July 3rd

There have been some pretty impressive rainfall recordings in the past few days. Most cropping zones had 10 to 25 mills and some double that. You’ll hear from farmers in the Wimmera and the Victorian/NSW border, which has also had great rain. You might have noticed the price of urea has fallen after the first shipment under the Federal Government’s policy to underwrite the inflated cost due to the war with Iran. The problem is it only applies to three big importers. Other fertilizer companies are taking big hits. A new resilience test for merino sheep is using hereditary markers to help producers identify which animals are better able to cope with stressors in their environment And not a great start to the new wool selling season with the market fell 39 cents to close the week at 1904 cents a kg.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Country Today - July 2nd

Victoria is introducing new rules for how renewable energy and large-scale battery projects access the grid The Ararat Export Meatworks has installed a bioenergy system to convert organic waste into energy and reduce carbon emissions.  Farmers are encouraged to consider the Victorian Trees on Farms Program (VToF), which provides grants to rural Now is the time for farmers to check their water storages and dam levels, to better plan for buying any livestock and knowing if there is the carrying capacity.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Country Today - July 1st

The largely unpublished works of a man considered one of the great pioneers in wool science in Australia have been shipped from England back to Victoria: A treasure trove of work that was foundational to the modern understanding of wool. This unseasonably warm, wet weather has led to outbreaks of blackleg fungal disease in canola crops. Council Watch argues that Victoria's 79 local councils are inefficient and lack transparency and is proposing fewer councillors and a merger of councils to just 25 in the State See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.