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Peter Magarey: Pioneering plant pathologist shaping our ag future

RECENT struggles within the farming industry have revived a long-standing conversation about plant diseases and pathologies affecting crops amid record heatwaves and shifting climate patterns. With local growers facing an increase in plant diseases...

Sebastian Calderon

Water repellent soil research underway

SOUTH Australian and Victorian Mallee grain growers will be able to better manage and mitigate soil water repellence, and its impact on crops, thanks to a new research project exploring management options. Soil water repellence causes the temporary...

Making every input count for the 2025 season

AS the 2025 season kicks off, growers across the Mallee are weighing every input decision carefully. Following a dry 2024, there’s real pressure to cut costs – without cutting corners. A recent Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF) Farm Talk podcast...

Harvest results reveal the most-efficient ripping setup

WHEN spending big on soil amelioration, every pass of the ripper counts. That’s why the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s National Grower Network project, Optimising Soil Amelioration in Typical Mallee Soils, set out to answer a big...

The buck stops here with livestock health

MALLEE farmers in charge of livestock have a responsibility for ensuring the health and welfare needs of their livestock and animals are met. Agriculture Victoria program manager of livestock and welfare compliance Veronica Campbell said this...

Coco & Honey the pick of the bunch

THE boutique flower farm and studio Coco & Honey has almost finished its fourth harvest this autumn, with the local floral delight providing the Riverland a unique and blooming primary industry. Tended to and owned by Monash couple Natalie and...

Madison Eastmond

Industry expert update: Tim Jackson

What stage of the almond season are we at? For many almond growers harvest wrapped up before Easter. Almond crops are making their way to processing facilities with some still being stockpiled on farm. Over the next few months trees will begin to...

Program to unlock grower solutions for biggest horticulture challenges

RIVERLAND horticultural producers have been encouraged to participate in a new initiative aimed at generating innovative progress in the sector. Mentoring to transform ideas into real solutions is one of the key offerings of a new program recently...

Cropping land to be lost under rezoning proposal?

THE State Government and Opposition are supporting the rezoning of productive cropping land in Roseworthy, Two Wells and Murray Bridge that could supply an equivalent of 57 million loaves of bread, or 31 loaves for every South Australian annually...

Horticulture

Winter gardening in the Riverland: The best fruits and veggies to grow

Best winter vegetables to grow Broccoli Broccoli thrives in the Riverland’s cool winters. It prefers well-drained soil and regular watering to develop full, tender heads. Sow seeds in late autumn or early winter for a steady harvest through the...

Coco & Honey the pick of the bunch

THE boutique flower farm and studio Coco & Honey has almost finished its fourth harvest this autumn, with the local floral delight providing the Riverland a unique and blooming primary industry. Tended to and owned by Monash couple Natalie and...

Madison Eastmond

Program to unlock grower solutions for biggest horticulture challenges

RIVERLAND horticultural producers have been encouraged to participate in a new initiative aimed at generating innovative progress in the sector. Mentoring to transform ideas into real solutions is one of the key offerings of a new program recently...

Harvesting produce is a travel delight

GERMAN backpacker Nina Brueckner has been enjoying experiencing Murray River life in the Riverland by taking part in a volunteer workers’ exchange program. As part of the Workaway program she spent a week during January at Bruce and Susan...

Christine Webster

Weather & Water

Mental health roundtable discusses drought gaps

GRAIN Producers SA (GPSA) has taken a leadership role in addressing mental health challenges arising from the drought across regional South Australian areas, initiating and co-ordinating a state-wide Mental Health Roundtable. The roundtable, held in...

Weather & Water

Nothing but dry…

A SENIOR Riverland agricultural industry figure is among countless South Australian farmers hoping for some decent rainfall to arrive. Farmers across South Australia have been struggling with drought conditions since the beginning of 2025, with...

Hugh Schuitemaker

Weather & Water

Rainfall & Storage Level Report - Winter Update

Rain levels Renmark 1 February to 25 April 2025: 8.6mm Rainfall to 25 April 2025: 16.6mm Rainfall to 25 April 2024: 48.4mm Loxton 1 February to 25 April 2025: 8.6mm Rainfall to 25 April 2025: 15.9mm Rainfall to 25 April 2024: 44.2mm Waikerie 1...

Weather & Water

Record environmental flows for SA show Murray-Darling Basin Plan back on track

THE environment, irrigators and other River Murray water users are benefiting from record environmental water releases being delivered under the reinvigorated Murray-Darling Basin Plan. More than 1650GL of water for the environment was provided to...

Cropping

Water repellent soil research underway

SOUTH Australian and Victorian Mallee grain growers will be able to better manage and mitigate soil water repellence, and its impact on crops, thanks to a new research project exploring management options. Soil water repellence causes the temporary...

Making every input count for the 2025 season

AS the 2025 season kicks off, growers across the Mallee are weighing every input decision carefully. Following a dry 2024, there’s real pressure to cut costs – without cutting corners. A recent Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF) Farm Talk podcast...

Cropping land to be lost under rezoning proposal?

THE State Government and Opposition are supporting the rezoning of productive cropping land in Roseworthy, Two Wells and Murray Bridge that could supply an equivalent of 57 million loaves of bread, or 31 loaves for every South Australian annually...

Snail and slug baiting methods put to the test

A RESEARCH project is underway to aid South Australian grain growers to manage snail and slug damage in crops by optimising bait-spreading operations. Snails and slugs cause substantial crop damage and impose costs on the Australian grains industry...

Weather & Water

Brackish groundwater can be used to irrigate crops in the Riverland

A NEW chapter in groundwater treatment and resource allocation started a couple of months ago, aiming to improve the potential use and benefits of groundwater. A small reverse-osmosis (RO) plant was installed on September, in a small plot of land at...

Sebastian Calderon

Wine

Blend of science with heritage grapevines to future-proof Australian wines

NEW mildew-resistant and drought-resilient grapevines have been planted in South Australia, to help safeguard the future of Australia’s wine industry – including the Riverland’s and Barossa Valley’s – against a changing climate, and...

Pouring into a new era at Freestone Estate

BEGINNING the year in a significant way, a new wine label entered the Riverland region in February, and have already had great success. Located in Waikerie, and proving popular among locals following releases at the launch night, the Riverland Food...

Weathering the wine crisis: A Riverland perspective with Jeff McDonald

AUSTRALIA’S grape growers have been facing serious financial headwinds the last couple of years, but currently there are paths forward for those willing to adapt. Jeff McDonald, of Riverland Lending Services, believes that innovation, financial...

Sebastian Calderon

Australian wine exports exceed $2.5bn in 2024

THE South Australian wine industry is benefitting from a return in exports to China, however volumes of wine sent to other key destinations have dropped. In the 12 months ending December 2024, Australian wine exports increased by 34 per cent in...

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