Bumble bees in Tasmania are being geared up with micro radio transmitters and cameras to help scientists uncover their crucial role in crop pollination. China drops its huge imports of Australia’s table grapes It's 20 years since the Australian wool industry made a commitment to phase out mulesing, which it reneged on. RSPCA Australia is now calling for States to ban mulesing. WE also atake a look at the wool industry's response to renewed calls for a ban on mulesing. And a farmer expo called 'A Little Bit of Relief' shines a light on farmers' mental health. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Barham Micro Abattoir has been approved for processing of poultry. Crime Stoppers and Agriculture Victoria have joined forces to launch the 'Your Pet, Our Pest' Campaign. People with illegal exotic pets are asked to surrender the animals -- no questions asked. Farmers in Victoria's Wimmera are having to make some tough decisions due to the poor season and hail and frost events Finley High School in the southern Riverina showcasing its Agricultural Program at the Royal Melbourne Show.  Andrew Partidge has the weekly wool report.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 26th

A grain grower from the WA wheatbelt is trialling using drones to map mouse numbers in crops. Farmers are urged to seek legal advice when they're approached by commercial businesses, seeking grant of rights for land use on farms. The supermarkets Coles and Woolworths are being taken to court by the ACCC for allegedly misleading shoppers with claims of discounted products. The National Farmers Federation CEO has quit to take on the role as Australia’s next Energy Infrastructure Commissioner. A cost of living forum was held in Ararat in the state's south west.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 24th

Country Today - September 23rd

We take a look at the outlook for fertilizer prices, as Rabobank is predict's a volatile year ahead. Wool growers can now vote in WoolPoll24 to determine how much they pay in the wool levy.  The National Irrigators Council is warning State Governments to not sign the revised National Water Agreement. The Australian Women in Agriculture Annual Conference is heading to Albury next week. We have the weekly wool report and the EMI fell one cent to close at 1098 cents  per kgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 20th

Cattle Australia has launched its Land Management Commitment strategic policy, which includes definitions of deforestation. You’ll learn all about the product Efflu8, used to manage effluent ponds in dairy an intensive animal production Seasonal risk agronomist Dale Grey gives his assessment of whether La Nina will make it in time to bring good spring rain. Crop assessors are already out inspecting for frost damage in the Mallee. Libby Australia has just signed its first Free Trade Agreement with a nation in the Middle East.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 19th

More than three thousand kilograms of asparagus has been dumped from the major supermarkets, after damaging winds in Victoria and New South Wales left the crops slightly curved.  Australian Beef Leaders are seeking people between the ages of 21 to 35 looking for a career in beef ANZ has released its latest spring outlook and no surprises, all States except Victoria and South Australia are optimistic. Charinga merino stud is holding its annual open day tomorrow, Thursday 19 at Berrimal in central Victoria. The weekly Weekly Times report with Editor James Wagstaff about ongoing concerns about the closure of regional bank branchesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 18th

Rabobank has released its latest farmer confidence survey. a dry winter has left Victorian farmers less confident than farmers in other States.   An annual scholarship program which supports students from dairying regions in their further studies, has opened for applications  Wheat prices have gone up due tensions in the Black Sea Farmers are accusing some media of cherry picking information on deforestation The Henty Machinery Field Days are on again this week  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 17th

What started out as a very dry cropping season has flourished into a good crop for Riverina farmers A nationwide commitment to addressing housing and rental shortages in the bush is falling by the wayside. Farmers threatening to go to court to try to stop huge electricity towers being built on their land. Four months after hundreds of thousands of chickens in western Victoria had to be euthanized due to an avian influenza outbreak, restrictions are finally being eased.  And Rural Financial Counselling Services reminding farmers help is available    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 16th

For dairy farmers, milk equals money, the latest research shows under-performing calves could be identified from as early as five days old An Angus stud heifer has sold for $6500 with all proceeds going to the Angus Foundation The very lucrative export of live dairy heifers to has slowed to a trickle  We take a look at the beef cattle market which is rather volatile at the moment. The weekly wool report and a slight rise in the EMISee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 13th

There's a bright outlook for the Australian Almond Industry Wa investigate the crisis in regional childcare services.   Australia’s booming beef exports to China are about to be hit with a 12 per cent tariff A tomato virus which can reduce crop yields by up to 70-percent has been detected in Australia. It's that time of year again when magpies turn into dive bombers, swooping on unsuspected passers by. What can we do about it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 12th

In this episode: Australian Wool Innovation has recommended wool growers vote to increase the wool levy to 2 per cent.The Regional Investment Corporation  low-cost Farm Investment Loans.15 years ago Australia was in a gas boom , now there's talk of importing because we're running out. So what's really going on?Also today Australia’s agricultural exports have fallen, but there is a shining light.To the weekly Weekly Times report. Libby Price spoke to editor James Wagstaff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 11th

There's a national shortage of hay and farmers are being encouraged to consider cutting crops for fodder this season. Agriculture Victoria is encouraging farmers to seek help as they navigate current difficult conditions.   The so-called Green Drought in Victoria’s south west is leaving dairy farmers at breaking point.  The 3G mobile network shut down is not just going to impact mobile phone services, It's also medical devices and farming equipment. The weekly wool report and the EMI rose 4 cents due to a lower Australian Dollar See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 6th

Farmers are frustrated with the limits on culling kangaroos. Birchip Cropiing Group’s Main Field Day is next Wednesday the 11th of September at Kinnabulla. nitrogen Management strategies and hyper yielding cereals are just some of the topics being discussed at the event. China has announced an anti‑dumping probe on Canadian canola.. The dry winter in Victoria's Northeast is forcing beef producers to wean calves early. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 5th

ABARES estimates agricultural production with rise four per cent on gross value this financial year. Sheep producers in Victoria's south west can expect lower lambing percentages due to the record dry winter. LambPro's Tom Bull has broken away from traditional farming practices with self-replacing systems and talks about how to remain labour efficient on the farm. And farmers fear the Victorian Government is one step closer to abandoning wild dog controlSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 4th

Spring has sprung and so too have lamb prices, with the spring sucker lambs selling for more than $300 Waste not, want not: Australians generate more than 7 million tonnes of food waste each year. There's yet another case of a renewable energy project that appears to be going ahead with little or no consultation. The Northern Grampians Shire will soon be home to a three hundred and fifty megawatt battery Wool Producers is the latest farmer body to join the Keep the Sheep campaign and National Farmers Federation rally being held next in Canberra. With the onset of spring, Wildlife Victoria is expecting to be inundated with orphaned native animals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 3

China is sending messages that it might not be so keen on some of our feed grain. More than half Australia’s sheep flock is suspected to have lung damage due to sheep pneumonia. Farmers are increasingly concerned the Victorian Government is going to dump its wild dog control program. The recently formed Keep the Sheep campaign is raising money to target federal seats to get rid of the Albanese Government. And we have Rabobank's Global Dairy Quarterly Report. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - September 2

There's huge potential for exports of feed grain to South East Asia.   West Vic Dairy is offering advice to farmers on Succession Planning, Employment or Farm Safety, Great news for beef: a study of greenhouse gas emissions from grass fed cattle in the United States shows emissions were lower than on ungrazed land The Australian Agri-Renewables Innovation Challenge is set to accelerate new technologies and services. The Wool market has closed at a four year low at 1087, down 26 cents. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - August 30th

Grain growers need to be on the lookout for stripe rust in wheat crops which has been the biggest cause of yield loss in previous years.  On Country Today, we’ve discussed several times the onerous deforestation regulations of the EU, Food Agility chief scientist, Professor David Lamb is confident the AgTrace Australia project could solve the problem. Could outdated employment practices be the reason for farm labour shortages? And we have more information The Birchip Cropping Group Main Field day on next monthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - August 29th

In this episode: Wheat prices have fallen dramatically.Year 11 Scotch College student Max Phelps who has an Australian Indigenous Education Foundation scholarship.La Trobe Valley residents exposed to air pollution when the 2014 Hazelwood coal mine fire show signs of accelerated lung aging.NSW is going to get an Independent Agriculture Commissioner who will assist farmers with the problems of renewable energy rollouts.The National Farmers Federation's latest survey of more than 1000 farmers shows widespread dissatisfaction with government.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - August 28th

In this episode of Country Today: Country Today was at the Herald Sun Weekly Times Bush Summit in Bendigo.The major topic was renewable energy: Keynote speaker Victorian PremierJacinta Allan copped some heckling from the crowd.Marnoo farmer Ben Duxson has the planned VNI West transmission lines running through his property.You’ll also hear from CEO of Hancock Agriculture and S Kidman and Co, Adam Giles. about the groundswell of dissatisfaction with Governments not listening to regional Australians.The other major topic was regional road funding.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - August 27th

In this episode: Can livestock slaughter be more humane? More than sixty per cent of consumers don't want to know the details of slaughter ... but they do want to know it's been done as humanely as possible.Charity Rural Aid is taking entries for its annual photography competition with 12 photos to feature in its calendar. We're going to focus on methane emissions from sheep and cattle. First Cattle Australia questioning how emissions are calculatedand then ... Integrity Ag has spent the past three years breaking it down and creating a plan for the sheep industry to reach its targets..Get an update on the first detection of Varroa Mite in Victoria.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - August 26th

In today's episode, farmers are encouraged to keep an eye out for Fall Armyworm, as the very hungry caterpillar munches its way through veggie crops in East Gippsland. Scientists are collecting a library of hail stones so they can better understand and predict damaging storms.  There has been mounting opposition to the recommendation of merging regional health services in Victoria. You’ll hear from leader of the National’s, Peter Walsh, about the ‘hands off our hospitals’ petition. Australia's biosecurity capabilities have been substantially bolstered with the launch of the new 30 million dollar Charles Sturt University Biosecurity Hub at Wagga Wagga. The weekly wool report and the auctions returned after a three week recess.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - August 23rd

In today's Podcast, Divisions within the Victorian Farmers Federation have worsened. United Dairy Farmers of Victoria President Bernie Free has been banned from VFF Melbourne headquarter. You’ll hear from Bernie about where this leaves UDV members. Farmers fear the Victorian Government is going to ban wild dog control on public land] 2While it may not have been a complete shock, Bee Keepers across Victoria are digesting the news that Varroa Mite has been detected in Victoria for the first time  A Victorian is runner up in this years  AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - August 22nd

Lamb prices have been disappointing this year, but finally, it looks like things are turning around. You’ll hear how farmers in Tasmania are faring in what has been the driest year on record A mid-year report on the progress of the Murray Darling Basin Plan has just been released by the Basin Authority. You’ll hear from MDBA Chief Executive Andrew McConville The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman reported more than 50 thousand complaints in the last financial year for regional telco customers .. that’s nearly 1k a week. The Weekly Times report. Editors James Wagstaff talking about the improvement in beef cattle prices and the Herald Sun Bush Summits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - August 21st

There's been some handy rain over the weekend. It's a real boost for grain growers in Victoria's southern cropping zones, but for livestock farmers, pastures are still suffering and animals are being grain fed. Meanwhile Southwest Victorian farmers face an incredibly tough season. Australian Dairy Farmers President, Ben Bennett proposes one-off emergency drought payments. Further north, Good news for irrigators in the southern Murray Darling Basin … There are high water storages in the basin despite a dry winter.  We take a look at Australia's wool production with the forecast to fall by just over three per cent in this year. We also find out about "The Small Blocks Big Dreams Healthy Hectares Guide" for  small-scale producers, bush block owners See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - August 20th

Lamb meat is becoming tougher to eat, as farmers seek to produce a leaner product. You'll hear from meat scientist Dr Peter McGilchrist.  The wool market is going through tough times at the moment and that’s being reflected in current merino ram sales. The plantation timber industry can’t keep up with the demand for timber for housing, so more and more land in Victoria is being planted to pine trees.  The Victorian Government has draft Animal Care and Protection Legislation that could effectively outlaw recreational fishing competitions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - August 19th

We’ll introduce you to Margaret who has become a TikTok sensation with 30 million views of her promoting Bulla dairy foods cottage cheese of all things. Chemical manufacturer and plant breeder BASF has just released two new varieties of InVigor canola. It was inevitable: varroa mite has been detected in bee hives in Victoria, Federal Parliament pressured to tackle a national grain freight strategy, with transport a huge cost to farmers, And we’ll cross to Brazil to find out why there is a global shortage of coffee beans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - August 16th

 If you're a young person looking for a career in agriculture, the 2025 Ground breaker program might be the perfect start. The 32nd Variety Club Bash, the Red Dirt to Reef is raising funds for Victorian children living with disabilities, illnesses, or experiencing disadvantage. We find out about this years bash and the Variety Bikes for Kids program Queensland is the first government to challenge the bargaining power of the major supermarkets, announcing it will appoint a Food Farmer Commissioner.  If you're growing pulses this season, you should be keeping a close eye on a disease called Ascochyta Blight. With access to healthcare in regional areas is worsening, The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says one in 18 rural hospitalisations were classified as potentially preventable .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - August 15th

The wool Market is experiencing a lot of uncertainty with recent recession fears and the possibility of another Trump Presidency, and whilst the wool market is in the doldrums, we’ll find out why sheep farmers are happier than the average Australian.   Professor Paul Wood is a biotechnologist at Monash University and an advisor to the Global Methane Hub which is coordinating vaccine research to reduce methane emissions in ruminants. We’ll find out where the research it at. Cotton Australia’s annual sustainability report highlights an overall increase in productivity, but it also shows there’s still work to be done. These stories in this episode of Country Today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today - August 14th

With the cost of diesel continuing to increase we’ll find out what impact that's had on farm profitability. Emily Minney speaks with National Extension Manager Emily King about the “Making More from Sheep." In the race to find ways to reduce methane emissions from livestock, a dry feed supplement called Mylo is showing promise.  Regenerative wool is becoming increasingly popular in the fashion industry, but regulations are yet to be put in place to ensure accountability. And with 45 header fires in the Mallee region alone, with several others in the Wimmera, The CFA has released a report available to farmers showing all the causes of header fires and a pre-season harvest checklist. These stories in this episode of Country Today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Country Today - September 23rd

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