Ag News

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Ag News

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

CEWH welcomes Murray–Darling Basin Authority’s constraints roadmap

THE relaxation of Murray-Darling Basin constraints is key to maintaining the sustainability of Riverland environmental health, according to a senior water management figure. The Murray–Darling Basin Authority recently released its Constraints...

Staff Contributors

Programs to provide insights to farming business management

RIVERLAND and Mallee primary producers seeking to increase their skills surrounding business management are encouraged to apply for two major farming programs. Applications for the 2025 intake of Rabobank’s Business Management Programs – the...

Staff Contributors

MLA’s Sheep Genetics program goes from strength to strength

SOUTH Australia’s sheep flock is continuing to experience genetic gain driven by ongoing improvements in the Sheep Genetics program, as revealed in a new report released by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). Genetic progress continued to...

Staff Contributors

Don’t forget the benefits of farm laneways

MALLEE primary producers have been reminded of the advantages maintaining a laneway network can have for farming operations. Farm laneways are a great way to improve farm efficiency and reduce labour requirements. Laneways can also provide a useful...

Staff Contributors

Info series highlights passion for responsible land stewardship

The passion of grain growers for the responsible stewardship of the land is a clear message farmers are sharing with Riverland and Mallee consumers in a new information series. The information series, promoted by GrainGrowers, highlights a modern...

Staff Contributors

Tech Council welcomes investment in farm connectivity

THE Tech Council of Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s investment in the On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP), which assists Riverland and Mallee primary producers to take advantage of digital agribusiness solutions. Tech Council CEO...

Staff Contributors

Chill research with Waikerie pistachios

TRIALS at a Waikerie pistachio orchard are helping to inform the industry’s future chill management practices. The polymer trial for 2024/25 season is being executed in Rob Haynes‘ orchard, in Waikerie, to capture the effects of polymer in...

Staff Contributors

Backyard chickens are here to stay

CHICKENS have been a mainstay in South Australian backyards for generations. New research from the University of Adelaide reveals that owners see their chooks as a blend between pet and livestock, plus a trustworthy source of produce. “Our...

Staff Contributors

GPSA launches Seed Register to help drought-affected growers

MALLEE grain growers struggling with seed supply following the drought challenges of 2024 will now have access to a seed register that aims to put them in contact with growers with available stock. Grain Producers SA (GPSA) has launched a new...

Staff Contributors

A new era of climate-smart farming trials in SA established

A NEW era of climate-smart farming has arrived for South Australia, in the form of long-term research trials being conducted at Loxton, Lameroo and Karoonda. These trials will help livestock, cropping and mixed farmers prepare for and respond to...

Staff Contributors

GPSA calls for impact assessments on APVMA reviews

GRAIN Producers South Australia (GPSA) has strongly urged the Federal Government to undertake a comprehensive economic and environmental impact assessment after the release of any future preliminary recommendations by the Australian Pesticides and...

Staff Contributors

Need for Feed travels to South Australia

A large convoy of trucks carrying emergency fodder from Victoria to Murray Bridge passed through Lameroo recently, stopping for a poignant moment in front of the main street’s silo artwork, featuring a depiction of a farmer warming his hands, or...

Export market reaches record high

SOUTH Australian exports to China reached an all-time high in the year to August 2024, up 46 per cent in the past 12 months to reach $4.27 billion, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Included in that figure is the $680 million...

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