White spot outbreak forces partial prawn lockdown
A deadly disease that hammered the Asian prawn industry has hit Australian producers, sending prawns from NSW's Clarence Estuary into a biosecurity lockdown.
agriculture
Fuming farmers query live sheep export ban compensation
An independent panel will review how and when live sheep exports should be phased out, as questions linger over compensation for farmers.
Australia risks losing race for carbon competitiveness
Some want emissions safeguards expanded to cover more industrial plants as a step towards an economy-wide carbon limit and price, but others warn of job losses.
War on urchins aims to save kelp forests
Plagues of sea urchins will be harvested and turned into fertiliser under a plan to regenerate kelp forests and boost farming and fisheries at the same time.
Scientists develop new vaccine for encephalitis in pigs
Scientists have developed a new Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine for pigs to help stop the spread of this mosquito-borne disease.
Legal fight to save tropical savanna in Top End
An environmental conservation body is taken legal action against the Northern Territory government over its plans to clear tropical savanna to plant cotton.
Farmers, truckies, councils want $5.5b rural road fix
A new alliance of farmers, livestock carriers and local councils are calling on the federal government to provide $5.5 billion in emergency funding for roads.
Pick-your-own adventure as sunflower season blooms
While commercial sunflower crops are grown for oils and stock feed, some farmers are finding fun in the field as Australia's eastern states burst into bloom.
Disease-resistant peanuts come to life in Qld field
Peanuts are susceptible to a range of diseases usually controlled with chemicals, but the systematic breeding of resistant varieties could change that.
Researchers identify business opportunity in bush food
Queensland researchers have examined a group of plants used by First Nations Australians as food and found it could be a nutritious alternative to salt.
Shoppers urged to swoop on glut of premature pineapples
Pineapple farmers are struggling to keep up with a prematurely ripened crop and fear millions of tonnes of Australian fruit will be left to rot in fields.
Adopted Aussie mixes agriculture, politics
An animal nutritionist and treasurer of the Nationals has been recognised for her services to agriculture and politics in the 2023 Australia Day Honours List.
The teddies that put Tambo on the map
Three decades have passed since the first Tambo Teddy was made in outback Queensland in an effort to prop up the wool market and create new rural industries.
Farmers fight on after floods
Farmers in flood-affected regions are rebuilding infrastructure, despite weak harvests, lost pastures and rapidly deteriorating roads.
Much of NSW declared free of varroa mite
States and territories have agreed to reopen their borders to bees and hives from most of NSW, but remain concerned over patches of invasive varroa mite.
agriculture
coal
environmental politics
global warming
mining
politics (general)
regulatory policy and organisation
water
water supply
Review may send Acland mine back to court
Queensland's water department is reviewing a decision to grant a licence to the controversial expansion of New Hope's Acland coal mine.
More rats up north, fewer mice in south
Rats are causing serious problems for cane growers in a far north Queensland town while flooding may help NSW farmers deal with a destructive mouse plague.
Big emitters get help to manage emissions
New compensation will go to big emitters under a revamped scheme designed to support heavy industry to cut pollution more quickly while remaining profitable.
Carbon scheme changes to boost confidence
The federal government has pledged to make changes to improve public confidence in Australia's carbon credit scheme.
Aussie science tackling rusty plant threat
Queensland scientists have developed an environmentally friendly RNA-based spray to help combat myrtle rust, which has wiped out many Australian plants.
Hopes city kids will set sights on farming
With thousands of jobs available in agriculture but not enough university students to snap them up, researchers and educators are trying to find solutions.
Probe identifies spinach contaminant
A weed believed to be responsible for causing almost 200 Australians to become sick has been identified as thornapple.
Bird carcass found in Qld plane’s cockpit
A large bird carcass was found in the cockpit of a crop duster involved in a fatal plane crash at a property near Chinchilla, west of Brisbane.
The chips are down for pubs this summer
The cost of a humble pub meal could be on the way up due to a nationwide potato shortage caused by poor weather and supply chain issues.
Local grains feed the world from new plant
Aussie grains could feed the world in new products as consumers and food companies look for safe, affordable and low-emission alternatives to animal proteins.
Big wet fails to dampen farm production
Australian agriculture remains on track for an outstanding 12 months despite flooding across the east coast taking its toll, according to official forecasts.
agriculture
coal
economy, business and finance
energy
energy and resource
mining
natural gas
oil and gas - upstream activities
politics
renewable energy
Call to cap diesel rebate, sting oil firms
Experts warn subsidies for coal- and gas-fired plants could derail cleaner, cheaper power as energy ministers prepare for crucial talks in Brisbane on Thursday.
Floodwaters cut off more than 82,000 roads
Government figures show 82,634 roads have been impacted by flood-related closures since October, following significant rain events across several states.
More money to keep animal diseases out
Additional funding has been allocated to keep livestock diseases out of Australia, with an extra $2 million to help Indonesia's biosecurity system.
The long-lasting tail of flood devastation
While flood waters come and go across rural Australia, they expose lingering financial, emotional and physical scars.
Farmers vent methane pledge concerns
Livestock producers warn a commitment to slash methane emissions by 30 per cent is creating unease amongst some in the farming sector.