Country Today

With carryover hay filling sheds across southern Australia, falling ex-farm prices and high freight costs leave growers with a tough decision: sell their stored hay now or hold out for dry weather ahead? We’ll head to Albury where livestock are thriving as we head into spring, after what has been one of the best seasons farmers can remember. Federal Shadow Minister for Small Business, and Skills and Training, Jacinta Price has travelled across South West Victoria, we’ll find out what she’s been hearing from farmers. Rural Aid has launched its 'Carry The Weight' appeal, and it's looking for financial support to help farmers who are doing it tough. Free Rabobank financial skills workshops are heading to Warrnambool and Hamilton next week to help farmers improve their financial literacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today is making its way around Victoria to speak with farmers about the latest rainfall. First we'll head to the north east of the State, where some farmers are saying there's been a bit too much rain, with parts of Wangaratta flooding.  Now let's head to the Wimmera. Horsham could do with a couple of weeks of dry conditions, as growers in the Wimmera are right in the heart of their busy operational period, with disease on the move particularly in cereals. Not everyone has been quite as lucky with the recent downpour, with farmers in the Western District saying they're still waiting for that runoff. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 90-day tariff suspension on ground beef imports, aimed at lowering retail prices while giving domestic herds room to rebuild. We'll find out what this means for Australian processors and cattle producers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supermarkets are trimming milk prices on major Bega brands, but the drop comes right as Bega pulled temporary support payments from farmers whose input costs remain sky-high. While we're taking a look at what's going on in the dairy industry, Rabobank's latest report looks at milk protein scarcity and how it's challenging the focus of traditional Australian dairy production, cheese. To the Western District, where a prominent Angus stud is urging breed societies to unite behind cross-breed genetic evaluation. On September 1, Mallee farmer Scott Gladman will begin a mammoth 1,650-kilometre swim down the Darling River, raising money and awareness for people living with MND and Parkinson’s. Chickpeas have evolved into a vital pulse crop for Australian agriculture, delivering strong financial returns while playing a critical role in supporting sustainable, no-till farming practices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy farmers are furious with the Federal Government over policy changes that have pushed skilled agricultural visa applications to the bottom of the priority list. You can rarely have it all working on the land. Just as growers finally had been dealt ideal seasonal conditions, with it brought the risk of disease in winter crops. This weekend the Victorian Malleefowl Recovery Group will be conducting a herbivore exclusion walk to help protect the local habitat of the endangered Malleefowl in North West Victoria. To the weekly wool report and the Australian wool market has returned from the annualthree-week mid-year recess to large falls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rural communities are bracing for severe agricultural labor shortages after the Federal Government froze working holiday visa applications from 24 countries. Canola prices are up $58 a tonne in the last two weeks, driven by global market shifts and rising crude oil strength. With El Niño driving a warmer, drier spring outlook, fire authorities are warning that lingering deep soil dryness and fast-curing vegetation could fuel a dangerous bushfire season across regional Victoria. Did Australia kill off the US sheep meat sector? Episode 3 analyst Matt Dalgelish says no, and that the data supports this.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victoria’s opposition leader Jess Wilson has announced the coalition will abandon the VNI-West Transmission Line, should it win government in the State Election this November. You’ll hear from Jess Wilson. Then we'll hear from Marnoo farmer Ben Duxson whose property is directly impacted by the proposed transmission line. He’s been protesting against it since day one. He says finally politicians are listening. As Victoria’s shearing industry gears up for the spring rush, contractors face the annual challenge of rebuilding a workforce that scatters over the quiet winter months.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wangaratta is preparing for a record-breaking yarding of nearly 6,000 head of cattle at its st  ore sale on Thursday this week. Increasingly, dairy farmers are choosing to put beef bulls over dairy cows to meet growing demand from fast-food giants seeking high-quality beef with a smaller environmental footprint. Low-stress stock handling, or 'stockmanship' as Victorian farmer Byron O'Keefe likes to call it, is becoming increasingly popular among livestock producers. The Gippsland Red Meat Conference is on August 25 and it will be held at the Sale Baptist Church. With the fire season fast approaching, it's not a matter of if, but when. Farmers are being urged to start preparing their properties now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bureau of Meteorology's CEO has commissioned an independent review of the organisation. But will it be enough to restore farmers' trust after a year of growing skepticism over forecast accuracy?  We’ll head to Southern NSW to speak with a sheep and cattle producer. He says recent rainfall and a mild winter has brought ideal lambing conditions and lush green feed. A  business strategy developed by Toyota known simply as Lean that focuses on maximizing customer value while minimizing waste has expanded into virtually every sector - including tech, services, healthcare, and finance. And in agriculture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it time farmers had just one lobby group representing them? Two state farming groups have left GPA to go to GrainGrowers ... and now, GrainGrowers has announced its members will vote on changing its constitution to create a new category of membership to enable State Farming Organisations to apply to become members of GrainGrowers, changes are afoot. Woolworth has has dumped its home brand milk and its dairy suppliers. You’ll hear how farmer Al Gabb had to give up the game due to mental health issues and how since created Rural Counselling Australia … and a WARNING we will be discussing suicide. And all the details of The Australian and New Zealand Council for fire and emergency services conference is on in Melbourne next week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Victoria’s opposition leader Jess Wilson on her plans for the regions if the coalition wins the state election in just 15 weeks time. Australia’s largest rice processor SunRice cuts jobs. And the blame is very much on high water prices resulting in rice growers turning to different crops. There’s renewed tensions in Australia’s grains industry representation with two state organisations dumping grain producers to join grain growers with momentum to have just one grain grower body. Victorian Farmers Federation Livestock Group President, Scott Young about the very welcome rain. And mounting community opposition to the proposed expansion of Victoria’s largest solar farm near Benalla in NE Victoria.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The increasingly herbicide resistant ryegrass can adjust its growth and reproduction to survive under drought stress by producing even more seeds. Bee keepers across the eastern states are putting the final pieces in place for this year’s almond pollination period which is heavily impacted by the spread of the varroa mite. The Weekly Times report with editor James Wagstaff. Not all farmers were celebrating the heavy downpour over the weekend, in fact for some, it caused more trouble than good. You’ll hear from a dairy farmer who discovered his cows stranded in flood. Deakin University has created a global map tracing the path of H5 bird flu from where it emerged in China in the 1990s and then took off in 2021.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a very wet weekend in Victoria with falls as high as 160 millimetres in the Alps, and good falls across most of the state, with minor to moderate flooding in the North East. We’ll do a bit if a whip around some parts of the state to see how farmers fared. In the Central Highlands, the rain was badly needed and just the ticket. So too the Western District which not too long ago was in drought. For some dairy farmers it’s the middle of calving, but as they say, there’s money in mud. To north of Bendigo where record rainfall and an early break has led to the best season in 25 years. Farmers can now access solar rebates for installation of larger solar systems.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crops are soaking up this weekend's rainfall, with totals of 10 to 40 mm across key agricultural areas. You’ll hear from the Youth Climate Champion for COP31, Sally Higgins. Her message to governments: mobilise young people and accelerate progress. Federal Parliament resumes for the Spring sitting. You’ll hear from Nationals MP for Gippsland, and shadow agriculture minister Darren Chester about the big issues facing agriculture at the moment. Australian Women in Agriculture Board Director, Emily Blackburn, about the need for more women in agricultural leadership roles. The Victorian Farmers Federation is urging it's members, other farmers and anyone living in regional Victoria, to have a say in the second annual State of The State - Victorian Farmers Priorities Survey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fuel prices have skyrocketed again. Today an energy analyst says, even if the war ended tomorrow, fuel prices, and in particular diesel, will remain high for the next few years. There are more signals that an El Nino is forming. Libby Price spoke to Ag Victoria seasonal risk agronomist Dale Grey. 12 farmers have been fined over refusing VicGrid access to properties linked to the controversial VNI West transmission line project. More selective cattle buyers will also pay premiums for the calmer cattle. You’ll hear about one couple’s journey down the low stress handling path.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After an eight-year investigation, Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog, IBAC, concluded extraordinary influence was wielded by United Firefighters Union secretary, Peter Marshall, over senior figures in the Andrews Labor Government when negotiating for reform of the CFA. Peter Marshall claims the investigation has no legal standing. You’ll hear from Nationals MP for Murray Plains Peter Walsh who was Leader of the Nationals in Victoria during the Daniels era and he thinks by his definition it was corruption. A tiny threatened fish has made a big splash in the Upper Barwon catchment, with Little Galaxias recorded in the West Barwon River for the first time.  The Farmers Day Out 2026 is a free community event in Benalla designed to give local farmers and rural families a well-deserved break.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The focus of the program today is the imposing threat of this H5 variant of bird flu. Put simply, it will kill all birds who are infected. But it does cross to mammals. In Europe and the US, its infecting dairy herds and there’s a lot to learn. You’ll hear from a former CFA volunteer of some 24 years, Barry O'Conner who has collated a summary of what has happened to CFA in the past decade. This year's feature breed at Sheepvention in Hamilton was the Corriedale.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s increasingly looking like the highly virulent strain of bird flu is here to stay. Today you’ll hear from Victoria’s chief vet, Graeme Cooke. Global wheat prices are rallying due to Middle East tensions and Black Sea shipping delays, yet domestic prices have barely moved. Slaughter cattle prices have been under pressure due to weaker international demand, with Australia having hit its tariff-free beef export quotas for both China and South Korea. To Sheepvention in Hamilton, where the winner of invention of the year was for a titanium shearing hand piece. Farms and food processors across Australia are screaming out for people to help them with information technology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s fertilizer industry is in tatters due to the Federal Government only underwriting three of the big companies due to record urea prices due to the war in the Middle East. It’s meant 70 per cent of the industry has to buy product at record high prices, but sell at the subsidised price, taking huge losses. Also today the keynote speaker at Sheepvention in Hamilton, journalist Chris Uhlmann tackling the prickly topic of what renewable projects are doing to regional communities. And of course, it wouldn’t be Sheepvention without sheep. You’ll hear from one of the supreme ram exhibits. We’ll take a look at how crops are looking in the Western District. Victoria now has 7 cases of the H5 bird flu infection.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The controversial Climate Active scheme which has allowed corporates to claim they were carbon neutral by purchasing carbon credits scrapped by the Federal Government. Country Today has been at the Australian Grains Industry Conference in Melbourne this week and one of the major topics has been the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and how it’s impacting global grain trade. Australian farmers cashing in on the middle class population boom in India. Chickpea exports alone soared to $1.3 billion dollars last year. Canola prices have been creeping up over recent weeks and are now at more than $800 a tonne.  How farmers measure soil carbon has been reviewed and there a four changes recommended by the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The inquiry into Victoria's 2026 summer fires has been tabled in Parliament. The Labor government concluded that “fire agencies and communities were overall well prepared.’’ But the Government's tried to conceal some of it, so what are they trying to hide, and what did the coalition have to say? To prime lamb production, and some farmers are selling their lambs earlier and still getting stellar prices. It's been 75 years of the prestigious Nuffield Scholarships for farmers and what better time to reflect on how it all began. We’re heading into the prime rabbit breeding season so we’ll take a look at the latest biological control research from the CSIRO.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first job of the new Victorian Premier Ben Carroll was to announce there will be a Royal Commission into corruption and criminality in Victoria’s construction sector. We will rake over the coals of the premiership of Jacinta Allen. You’ll hear how farmers are bitter about her government with VFF President Ryan Milgate. You'll also hear from regional Liberal MP Richard Riordan who has revealed the leadership challenge was quite a rabble. And a woman on a mission. To change the image of cross bred wool and turn it into fashion and accessories.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As you may have heard, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen has resigned, just four months out from the State election. So is this good or bad news for the State Opposition. You'll hear from Nationals Leader Danny O'Brien. We’ll also talk about the allegations of food fraud, labelling of products as Australian when they’re not.  And a farmer who has spent 30 years transforming his farm’s entire ecosystem. It’s all about biodiversity. While there is mounting opposition from farmers to renewable energy projects on prime agricultural land, there are farmers who have benefitted greatly from hosting power projects.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New South Wales farmers have asked for another delay of a further two years in the mandating of electronic ear tags in sheep. Australia has triggered its 2026 quota for beef exports into South Korea. Victorian Farmers Federation has warned the state government it faces a fierce fight if it scraps the fair-go rates cap. The NSW Farmers Association has elected a new President, Moree farmer Rebecca Reardon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To the Murray Darling Basin Plan, and regional councils claim Federal funding that was meant to be spent on communities hit by water buybacks, is instead going to the Victorian Government and is being wasted on administration and bureaucracy.  And Donald Trump has done it again announcing tariffs on imports. Our beef is exempt but lamb and wine will cop it. The wool market has taken a tumble falling nearly 30 cents a kg. The Victorian Coalition leaders, Liberal Jess Wilson and Nationals Danny O’Brien have been on the road for a month touring the entire State. You’ll hear from Jess Wilson. Australian meat processors are placing a price cap on lambs over 34 kilograms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In worrying news for dairy farmers, the countries largest processor Lactalis has announced it’s closing its Gippsland dairy factory at Longwarry. Is there going to be further rationalisation as milk supply continues to fall. With the war with Iran dragging on and military tensions rising, so too are critical agricultural input costs such as fuel and fertilizer. Particularly hard hit are the intensive horticulture industries. There’s been some significant movement in global grain prices, largely due to Russian and Ukrainian attacks in the Black Sea. Australian dairy exporters will have to align with new European antibiotic recording rules. And you hear about the farm consultancy Brivon, standing for Brave vision.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We'll take a look at both sheep and cattle markets this year. We've seen significant feeder cattle price volatility for the first six months of the year. Confidence is returning to Australia’s sheep industry as stronger market prices drive optimism and farmers are rebuilding their flocks. Also the wildlife ecologist who’s dedicated his career to studying dingoes. Dr Ben Allen has just released a report called Myths, Furphies and Red Herrings Associated With Dingo Ecology and Management. And it’s not great news for farmers. You’ll hear from the farmer who has developed WormRisk, a mapping tool that predicts and prevents parasite outbreaks before they reach sheep flocks. Cotton production in the Riverina has expanded dramatically over the last two decades, but there may be challenges ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Highly acclaimed political journalist Chris Uhlmann who is very forthright in his criticism of renewable energy and the net zero carbon emissions target. Every six days, a farm accident claims an Australian life. On this national farm safety week we hear from Farmsafe’s Stevi Howdle. Measuring methane emissions from sheep isn’t easy. It’s usually measured by a breathalyser. The CSIRO is looking at if it would be easier to test the wool. A CFA captain says there's "no way in hell" he'd send crews in to battle a blaze on a property that hosts the controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you relying on your rain gauge to make critical farm management decisions, you could be making costly mistakes. Today we’ll tease out how deep soil moisture probe networks on farm can reveal the secrets of your soils. The American Sheep Industry Association has persuaded the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate imports of lamb meat. So how likely is Australian lamb to be hit with Trump tariffs? With the value of sheep at record levels, there's an increase in sheep theft, and the thieves know what they’re doing. To ongoing research into treating flystrike in sheep. Australian Wool Innovation funded research shows Tea-tree oil has promise in creating new biopesticide for the sheep.  Where would we be without our firefighters and emergency workers? The Australian and New Zealand Council for Fire Emergency Services or AFAC is back in Melbourne next month with 18-21 August at the Melbourne convention and exhibition centre.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a sign of the times for Australia’s wine grape producers the latest vintage is the lowest in more than 25 years. And there still needs to be more rationalisation. To the shocking state of many of our regional roads. Livestock transporter Russell Borchard has never seen it this bad in his 30 years of trucking. For the first time since 2009, grass fed cattle producers are voting on what their industry levy should be. The weekly wool report and the market fell slightly to close at 1903 cents a kg. Libby Price spoke to Andrew Partridge from AWEX. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Telstra’s nationwide outage last week has renewed calls for domestic roaming to be mandated. With no peace deal with the war with Iran, there are renewed calls for the Federal Government to create a long term fuel strategy for diesel. Farmers have long known of the benefits of dung beetles improving soils health and pasture productivity. Now Australian research has found the beetles can cut methane emissions from cattle manure by 85 percent. A two part special on feed lotting. First the trend for grain growers to cash in on high lamb prices. And then to beef feed lotting. Queensland and New South Wales are considered the feed lotting kings, but Victoria now has more than 65,000 in feedlots.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A German insurance company has bought more than 30 dairy farms in south west Victoria and is converting them to blue gum plantations. And locals aren’t impressed. Adelaide University’s ifarmwell team has launched a new video series, "Weather it together," to help Australian farming communities talk more openly about mental health. The Spirit of the Bush foundation is aiming to help prevent families from leaving rural and remote areas - for the sake of their kids' education. It’s now six months since bushfires tore through north east Victoria, starting at Longwood And whilst boundary fences have largely been rebuilt, the impacted communities are suffering from a lack of tourist dollars. The Covid pandemic made many of us re-think our life priorities. You’ll hear of a Melbourne couple who moved to south west Victoria and now have a thriving paddock to plate organic beef business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The agricultural chemical industry up in arms that the Australian Pesticides and Medicine Authority is going to a cost recovery model and says it will be farmers who pay for the 200 per cent cost increase. To the much maligned renewable energy transmission line, VNI west, which will traverse nine councils in Victoria's Wimmera/Mallee, and the councils are demanding another meeting with the Victorian Government with the simple question, what’s in it for us? The wool and sheep industry remains divided over The Future Flock, the first industry-wide approach towards a more resilient future. The Colac saleyards has had a $270,000 facelift. And there's a far more positive outlook in South West Victoria with moisture back in the soil and good livestock prices. And we’ll head to the Mallee which is having a dream cropping season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a sign of the difficult times for the rice industry, Australia’s major rice processor, SunRice is cutting back jobs in the Riverina due to high water prices and low allocations meaning less rice was sown and there just isn’t the rice to process. The Victorian Farmers Federation has taken up a challenge to highlight the condition of the state's regional road network. It's launched a two-week reporting blitz, calling on regional and rural road users to report potholes and road hazards. And lo and behold, The State Opposition has pledged to eliminate one million potholes and re-establish a proper, planned system of preventative road maintenance with a  commitment of $5 billion for road funding if they win the election in November. Our first interview on Country Today with Liberal Leader Jess Wilson. And an inspirational young farmer who’s come up with an interesting succession plan for a large family business. Once a family member is 60, they cut their working week by a day a week until they finally retire at 65.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Today has been at LambEx in Adelaide. Young farmer, Katherine Bain, went back to the family farm and one of the first things she did was buy the neighbouring property. We'll will discuss if sheep producers will be tempted back to merinos to profit from two income streams now that wool prices are back on the rise. Also today, updates on the cropping season following substantial rain and more on its way. In the Riverina, the wet winter is seeing outbreaks of plant diseases such as blackleg in canola. Then we’ll head to the Wimmera where Farmers have received upwards of 250 millimeters year to date with waterlogged paddocks setting back crops. The weekly wool report and the EMI rose this week to close at 1909 cents kg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In what is claimed to be the largest ever sheep conference in the world. Lambex in Adelaide this week. And half the delegates are sheep, lamb and wool producers. It’s all about challenging mindsets and looking to the future of these industries that are currently enjoying the good times. Today increasing merino breeding profits by attention to data details with Mumblebone stud sixth generation owner/manager Chad Taylor. Also sheep and beef entering an unprecedented golden era with all major exporters going through herd and flock rebuilds to expect record prices to continue to tumble. We’ll head to China to hear about the revolution in wool processing with robotics and AI. And a prominent woolgrower who wants Cricket Australia to choose home grown and produced wool garments for its players.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new take on crop insurance. An Australian seed wholesaler is offering a payout to grain growers using their cereal and canola seed if they don’t get enough rain during crop establishment.  Victoria currently has approximately 30 major data centre projects in the pipeline across the development, construction, and commissioning phases. Driven by the need for abundant land and power, massive investments are planned for regional hubs. So what can we expect with this digital infrastructure boom? It’s been a tough year for rice growers with high water prices, low allocations and market deregulation. Nominations for the 2026 Landcare Awards closing at the end of July.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 for privacy information.

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 for privacy information.

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 for privacy information.

Victoria is introducing new rules for how renewable energy and large-scale battery projects access the grid A Victorian Abattoir 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 for privacy information.

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 StateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this edition, we’ll answer a lot of questions and misconceptions about the new regulations regarding the use of the herbicide paraquat. Farmers should be preparing now for what could be a tough and earlier fire season.  The Australian Veterinary Association says it doesn’t have enough vets in regional areas to deal with the potential outbreak of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza Landcare is running a Resilient Farming Course in August across south west Victoria.   An ambitious project that has searched the world for global innovators to help solve key challenges faced by Victorian Dairy Farmers   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lamb and mutton prices are at record highs, with sheep selling last week at Wagga Wagga for 1000 cents a kg. You'll hear from Elders Wagga Agent, Rob Inglis.   It’s estimated the feral deer population in Victoria is around a million and growing. Yet in Victoria, they are a protected species under the Wildlife Act of 1975.    And what should be a farmer's best friend, the humble dung beetle, which eats manure and boosts our soil health.   We’ll take a look at the global wheat market with Colin Peace of JumbukAG  The Victorian Farmers Federation wants protection for farmland from the 30 data centres proposed in Victoria.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sheep producers have long been dealing with worms that are increasingly resistant to drenches. It’s now a big problem in cattle.   Beef cattle prices have returned to the record highs of 5 years ago. That’s despite our beef exports to China hitting the trigger point so that tariffs of 55 per cent now apply. So what’s driving demand. You'll hear from Simon Quilty of Global AgriTrends  It was the last wool sale for this financial year, and despite falls this week, the market is still up 61 per cent in value compared to this time last year --See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has released the “What We Heard” report, which will influence what Governments do next with the basin plan. The take-home message from the report was people want the basin plan to work better. You’ll hear from  CEO of National Irrigators Council, Zara Lowien. Cuts to water allocations in the Murray Irrigation system has meant some farmers haven’t been able to grow rice crops Recent rain has seen paddocks turn green, but it doesn’t mean the pastures are providing livestock with the nutrition they need.  This winter, demand for food relief remains high. You’ll hear from CEO of Albury Wodonga FoodShare, Katrina Pawley.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How prepared is Australia for the highly virulent strain of bird flu, H5N1 that’s been confirmed in WA? You’ll hear from Victoria’s Chief Vet Graeme Cooke. A Victorian egg producer has been fined nearly $40k for selling eggs falsely claiming to be free range.    It’s less than 12 months since the Victorian Government approved the use of virtual fencing in farming and beef and cattle producers are embracing the technology as a great labour saver.    Farmers are raising concerns about the federal government's decision to move to full cost recovery on agricultural exports.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ll talk about the discovery of the highly infectious H5N1 avian flu in WA with egg producer Brian Ahmed who says it’s when, not if, we get infections in our poultry flocks. Wouldn’t it be great to get a bird's-eye view of how your crops are faring. Well, you can, though satellite imaging and Victoria’s crops are going gangbusters.. Farmers reliant on bees for spring pollination are being urged to act now to secure contracts with apiarists or chance missing out due to the spread of varroa mite.   The annual Best Wool/Best Lamb and Better Beef conferences are on in Ballarat, One of the Keynote speakers is John Francis who says most farmers need to rethink their mindset.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers for Climate Action has commissioned a report looking at the best alternatives for fossil fuels for farmers and has concluded electrification of farm equipment is the most cost-effective solution   The Federal Treasurer bows to pressure and expands capital gains tax concessions so they’re much better for farmers than they were before the budget announcement.   On the downside, the Albanese Government has also just made its largest purchase of irrigation water for the environment: $431 million for 83 gigalitres from Aware Super fund.   The weekly wool report and the EMI rose again to close at 1989 cents a kg.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the weather phenomenon farmers fear most … El Nino, officially declared this week by the Bureau of Meteorology.  Winter can be a challenging time for sheep producers, with worms and scours posing a significant risk to weaners and lambing ewes Renewable energy developers have been banned from forcing farmers to sign non-disclosure agreement  The successful story of Warialda belted Galloway beef. A huge winner at farmers markets for more than 20 years.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The building of 70 km exclusion fence bordering the Big Desert National Park in north west Victoria hasn't succeeded in keeping the wild dogs at bay.    With a disappointing opening milk price for farmers, there is some hope for increased demand as global milk production slows.     There's a changing world for agricultural employment due largely to the technology revolution. Yet there is a chronic shortage of agriculture graduates. You’ll hear from ag education stalwart Professor John Pratley.   The use of seaweed additives in cattle feed to reduce methane emissions has been proven to work in feedlot situations. Much tougher is to prove its worth in extensive grazing systems. Global beef production is tipped to fall more than 2% this year, and that's good news for the Australian industry   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.