ABC Rural Archive: Recent Stories
Friday, January 9, 2009.
Thoroughbred sales booming despite tough times
Early indications show the global financial crisis has had little impact on thoroughbred sales at the Magic Millions auction in Queensland this week. (09/01/2009)
Dairy farmers get smart about buying feed
The drought and failing milk price for dairy farmers in northern Victoria has changed the way they are buying feed. (09/01/2009)
Dairy doldrums for US producer
American dairy farmers are spiralling into debt and depression. (09/01/2009)
Bitter melon pill to improve health
Bitter melons are being used to combat diabetes in poor countries. (09/01/2009)
River water prices rising
The battle for irrigation water is heating up in the Murray region with prices lifting for the first time since November. (09/01/2009)
Global crisis eats into abalone profits
Demand for abalone has dropped significantly and it's being blamed on the global financial crisis. (09/01/2009)
Australia to continue using toxic insecticide
The toxic insecticide endosulfan, will continue to be used in Australia, despite New Zealand becoming the latest country to ban it. (09/01/2009)
Switching from cane to horticulture
Canegrowers looking at becoming vegetable producers might be interested in some North Queensland trials. (09/01/2009)
WA bananas growers celebrate good prices
Western Australian banana growers are finally reaping the benefit from a decade long marketing campaign. (09/01/2009)
Cattle trapped and dying in floods
Large numbers of cattle are being put down in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory as floodwaters trap them in areas with no feed. (09/01/2009)
Unit pricing plan for supermarkets wont hurt producers
The Government says its unit pricing policy won't increase the cost of production for farmers. (09/01/2009)
Mine jobs keep drying up across the country
The fall out from the global financial situation continues to be felt by mine workers across Australia. (09/01/2009)
Thursday, January 8, 2009.
Cockatoos put a spanner in environmental works
Environmental works are being damaged by large populations of cockatoos in Victoria. (08/01/2009)
Drought assessments underway across Australia
The government agency that assesses whether farmers can get financial drought support is travelling around Australia before deciding which areas will continue to get funding. (08/01/2009)
Nursery industry urged to breed sterile plants
The Australian nursery industry is being urged to follow North America and breed sterile lines of garden plants that can't spread by seed as weeds. (08/01/2009)
Dairy company struggling to maintain farmer milk price
Despite having to delay weekly payments to suppliers, milk company United Dairy Power is holding off making any changes to their milk price. (08/01/2009)
Canegrowers seize on coral report
The Canegrowers Organisation is using a recent study to support it's argument that farming isn't to blame for a decline in the growth of coral in the Great Barrier Reef. (08/01/2009)
Hot stuff
Temperatures rocketed off the gauge yesterday at the tiny West Australian town of Pindar, around 600 kilometres north east of Perth. (08/01/2009)
Caution urged on further marine parks
The New South Wales Opposition says the State Government must observe a moratorium on the creation of all new marine parks along its coast. (08/01/2009)
It's tough to get rid of weeds
The invasive coastal weed sea spurge is under control in Tasmania's west coast World Heritage areas. (08/01/2009)
No buyers for wine grapes
Wine grape growers in Western Australia are struggling to find buyers for this season's grapes. (08/01/2009)
Fight to keep agricultural research stations continues
The fight to save a number of agricultural research stations in New South Wales, marked for closure by the state government, is continuing. (08/01/2009)
Developing nations may harbour new diseases
Semi tropical countries surrounding northern Australia are the most likely to spawn new human and animal diseases, according to a new study. (08/01/2009)
AWB appeals executive evidence
AWB has launched an appeal in the Federal Court against the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. (08/01/2009)
Decision on sea water in lower lakes postponed
Salt water won't be flowing into the lower lakes in South Australia any time soon. (08/01/2009)
Fertiliser price plunge dented by strong Aussie dollar
A report from rural lender Rabobank, says international fertiliser prices have fallen up to three quarters since the highs of 2008. (08/01/2009)
Roadhouse business in trouble due to floods
Flooded roads cutting access between Queensland and the Northern Territory is threatening the future of businesses in the region. (08/01/2009)
New year, new prices, same old see saw for commodities
A new year price spike in base metal prices has come to an end overnight with copper, zinc, lead and nickel all dropping between one and seven per cent. (08/01/2009)
Ernest Henry mine back on track in Queensland
Xstrata Plc, the world's fourth-largest copper miner, has resumed open pit mining operations at its Ernest Henry copper and gold project in Queensland Australia after rain disruptions. (08/01/2009)
Drought proofing pipe plans gain momentum
The proposed plan to pipe water from Burrendong and Wyangala dams to areas of central western NSW, in an attempt to make it 'drought proof' is gaining momentum. (08/01/2009)
Wednesday, January 7, 2009.
Another retailer dumps Australian wool
Another international retailer has banned Australian wool, in another protest against mulesing. (07/01/2009)
Sending off sour grapes
Table grape growers in Victoria are sending produce to market before it's ripe in an effort to get higher prices. (07/01/2009)
Small business braces for dairy downturn
Small business operators in dairying communities are preparing to bare the brunt of dropping milk prices. (07/01/2009)
Parrots killed while eating grain on the road
A flock of rare parrots has been killed on the road in southern NSW as they feasted on grain that had been spilt. (07/01/2009)
New look management team for Queensland sugar
Queensland Sugar Limited has announced it's new board. (07/01/2009)
Thousands of jobs to go at Alcoa
Aluminium giant Alcoa is the latest multinational mining company to slash jobs in the face of the credit crisis. (07/01/2009)
Rural business hopes for economic lifeline
A study by Monash University's Centre for Retail Studies shows rural Australians have a gloomy view of the country's economic future. (07/01/2009)
Massive detours for trucking companies amid northern floods
Trucking companies servicing the Queensland to Northern Territory route are starting to take a three and a half thousand kilometre detour via South Australia because of road closures caused by flooding. (07/01/2009)
Southern Queensland graziers hope to get their share of rain
Graziers in south west Queensland are hoping the drought in the region will be broken within the next two weeks - even though they haven't received a drop of rain. (07/01/2009)
Gas project is go for Western Australia
An $800 million dollar gas project in Western Australia will now go ahead, one month after it was mothballed. (07/01/2009)
ALCOA to slash 13 000 jobs worldwide
Aluminium giant Alcoa is the latest multinational mining company to slash jobs in the face of the credit crisis. (07/01/2009)
Tuesday, January 6, 2009.
Fall in wool testing blamed on drought
There's been a 7.6 per cent fall in the amount of wool tested in 2008, compared to 2007. (06/01/2009)
Cows lost in Northern Territory pastoral flooding
Heavy rain and flooding in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory has created chaos for many pastoralists, some of whom had 400 millimetres dumped over two days. (06/01/2009)
High interstate demand for weaner cattle in Victoria
New South Wales and Queensland graziers are buying up big at Victorian weaner cattle sales. (06/01/2009)
More management could boost native timber industry
Better management could revive the private native timber industry in south-east Queensland. (06/01/2009)
Cattle sales big and getting bigger
Australia's largest cattle auction centre sold a record number of animals in 2008, and says it hopes to increase the numbers this year. (06/01/2009)
La Nina in Australia say US weather forecasts
United States weather forecasters say a La Nina climate event is here, and will bring more rain to northern Australia. (06/01/2009)
Northern Tassie fishermen pleased at further Gunns mill requirements
Northern Tasmanian fishermen are pleased the Federal Environment Minister has not yet approved the Gunns pulp mill in the Tamar Valley. (06/01/2009)
Charges laid against shark kill fishermen
The Western Australian Fisheries Minister says charges have been laid against two Australian fishermen responsible for killing hundreds of sharks. (06/01/2009)
Grapes of rot in Riverland vintage
It's predicted many grapes will be left to rot this vintage in South Australia's Riverland. (06/01/2009)
Millions pledged to revive country halls
Town halls in rural New South Wales will receive a makeover thanks to a two and a half million dollar Country Halls Renewal Package announced by the state government today. (06/01/2009)
One mine job loss equals six other regional workers
A regional economist is warning rural Australia to prepare for a broader slowdown as mine workers continue to lose jobs. (06/01/2009)
Millions pledged to revive country halls
Town halls in rural New South Wales will receive a makeover thanks to a two and a half million dollar Country Halls Renewal Package announced by the state government today. (06/01/2009)
Monday, January 5, 2009.
Hoping for high prices in dairy in 2009
The Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation say it's remaining optimistic about 2009, despite a slump in world milk prices. (05/01/2009)
Sweet capsicum sensation on the apple isle
The world's sweetest capsicum is coming to a salad near you. (05/01/2009)
Tasmanian dairy farmers hope to avoid price cut
Tasmanian dairy farmers are hoping Fonterra's plans to source more milk from the state will stop the company from slashing milk prices. (05/01/2009)
Jumping for joy
Australian Horse Jumping Champion Chris Chugg from Windsor in New South Wales has taken out the 2009 Bega Showjumping Cup, placing first, second and fourth. (05/01/2009)
WA miners hopeful of quicker approvals
The Western Australian mining sector is beginning the New Year under new management. (05/01/2009)
International interest for Packer farms
Australia's second largest cattle company is expected to be sold this month. (05/01/2009)
Mining companies getting fewer but stronger
The number of Australian mining companies may shrink by a third this year, but that's not necessarily bad news according to major accounting firm Deloitte. (05/01/2009)
Grain prices to continue rally
Recent price rises in the United States grain market should continue throughout 2009. (05/01/2009)
Wet season brings smiles in nation's north
Graziers in the Gulf of Queensland and along the eastern edge of the Northern Territory border are experiencing their best wet season in years. (05/01/2009)