Telcos talk up 3G shut down amid ‘dire’ safety fears
Rural Australians have reported poor mobile service and new black spots after the 3G network closure, but the telcos say their coverage is steady or better.
farms
Labour of love in the Dayboro Valley
It’s mid-morning and Farm Animal Rescue volunteer Nicolette Moore is coming to the end of her shift. She’s been hard at work since 5.30 am, feeding, cleaning, grooming and carrying out basic health checks on the free-roaming pigs, sheep, cattle, goats and chooks who call this tranquil sanctuary in the beautiful Dayboro Valley home.
Aussie farmers and businesses look for trade certainty
World leaders are working to shore up economic ties and push for open global trade against the prospect of a disruptive Trump presidency due to flagged tariffs.
Qld regions remain in the dark about nuclear power plan
A federal inquiry has heard strong support for a nuclear industry in regional Queensland even though local councillors say they were not consulted.
Deadly bird flu could lead to mass extinctions
Australia is preparing for a deadly strain of the bird flu which could lead to the extinction of unique species, as authorities brace for its arrival.
Farmland sales plumb 29-year low as price demands boom
Farmers' asking prices for their land are spooking potential buyers as the number of deals plummets almost 20 per cent in 12 months.
Devastating bird flu strain ‘on Australia’s doorstep’
Conservation groups are calling for more funding to prepare for the arrival of a deadly bird flu strain believed to have killed billions of animals worldwide.
Premier shuts down farmer push to end daylight saving
The NSW premier has ruled out winding back daylight saving, saying the practice encourages healthy lifestyles and helps get children off devices.
Premier rejects farmer push to shorten daylight saving
The NSW premier has ruled out winding back daylight saving, saying the practice encourages healthy lifestyles and helps get children off devices.
Fears people will crack as Coles imposes egg limits
A growing bird flu outbreak is yet to hit farmed chicken meat but shoppers have been urged to avoid panic-buying after a supermarket introduced egg sale limits.
Thousands of hens to be culled as flu hits fifth farm
A Victorian egg producer will destroy tens of thousands of hens after avian influenza was detected at a second farm, bringing the number impacted to five.
Climate assessment details grim risks for Australia
Australia's first climate risk assessment is grim reading and outlines the threats people could face if the nation fails to prepare well for what's ahead.
Screening research boosts disease resistance for crops
A gene-screening platform that can identify diseases within crops is set to boost agricultural productivity and security, the CSIRO says.
PM pledges supermarket probe will check out all options
A former federal minister will lead a review into the supermarket sector as claims intensify of price gouging by big chains during a cost-of-living crisis.
More young women are choosing a career in agriculture
More young women and people from multicultural backgrounds are choosing agriculture as a career, an analysis of census data over the past 15 years shows.
Fears Coles milk buyout could sour market for farmers
There are concerns that a Coles plan to buy two milk processing plants will give the supermarket giant greater power and bargaining influence on the market.
Aussie farmers sow seeds for stroll down sesame street
Sesame seed planting trials are taking place at several sites across Australia as industry figures look to boost production of the popular crop.
Nationals call for a pause in power lines project
The Nationals and Victorian farmers have called for a pause in the construction of transmission lines through farms, citing a lack of consultation.
Price hike for Aussie farmland with Tasmania a standout
Agricultural land has risen for a ninth year, with Tasmania experiencing the strongest growth in the past 12 months while Queensland had the most land sold.
Farmers fight on after floods
Farmers in flood-affected regions are rebuilding infrastructure, despite weak harvests, lost pastures and rapidly deteriorating roads.
Coles peels back frozen potato chip sales
Coles has imposed a purchase limit on frozen potato chips due to a national supply shortage.
That sinking feeling: Queensland farms need protection against gas subsidence
Queensland needs a new watchdog to assess and make determinations about the impacts of gas production subsidence on farms, a new report says.
Elderly Qld farmer trapped in mud
An elderly Queensland farmer has survived being trapped in mud for two days after falling from his tractor.
Farm safety focus as study reveals deaths
A study of unintentional farm deaths across Australia shows older men are more likely to have fatal accidents, with vehicles and machines the biggest risks.
Permit system to curb bee mite’s impact
Victoria's almond pollination season will go ahead as permits open to South Australian and Queensland beekeepers.
Farmers fear resurgent mouse plague
Farmers are being urged to check paddocks for signs of mice amid reports of increased numbers of the rodents in the wake of extensive damage last year.
Australia’s rocketing rural land prices
A report from the Rural Bank shows rural land values have hit their highest level of growth in 27 years, with parts of Tasmania seeing the biggest hikes.
Gas producer Arrow Energy fined $1m in Qld
Queensland's Department of Resources has fined coal seam gas producer Arrow Energy $1 million following concerns raised by landholders in the state's south.
No help for some flood-affected farmers
Flood-affected farmers in northern NSW say they're yet to receive any financial help a month after the disaster, because of their off-farm earnings.
Qld housing crisis hits regional employers
Regional employers are struggling to fill vacancies because there is nowhere for new employees to live, Queensland's chambers of commerce say.
Animal activists face new trespass fines
A new bill aims to deter animal activists from trespassing on Victorian farms, with individuals who fail to comply facing on the spot fines.