Rural
Bridget Fitzgerald
ABC Rural Reporter in Gippsland, Victoria
Fears Murray Goulburn cost cuts will hit factories
Posted
The Victorian National Party is concerned Murray Goulburn cost saving measures could see processing facilities downgraded or closed.
Topics: dairy-production, state-parliament, leongatha-3953
Tabro Meats fails to pay farmer suppliers
Posted
Farmers are out of pocket by tens of thousands of dollars as Chinese-owned abattoir Tabro Meats continues to delay payments.
Topics: food-processing, beef-cattle, dairy-production, wonthaggi-3995
Irrigators switch to solar to reduce power costs
Posted | Updated
Farmers across Australia make the switch to solar powered irrigation pumps to reduce power costs.
Topics: irrigation, solar-energy, thorpdale-3835, childers-4660
Garlic ice cream created for garlic festival
Posted
Gippsland ice cream makers working to create a garlic ice cream flavour for a local food festival.
Topics: food-processing, food-and-cooking, toora-3962
Call for dairy pricing reforms after Murray Goulburn chief faces Senate inquiry
Posted | Updated
Dairy groups want regulators to act swiftly to enable the industry to move on from the price crisis that continues to affect farmers.
Topics: dairy-production, agricultural-prices, agricultural-policy, shepparton-3630, melbourne-3000
Testing tea tree potential to rival Manuka success
Posted
A nursery owner works with researchers to test tea trees in the hope of matching Manuka honey's success in Australia.
Topics: agricultural-crops, beekeeping, lang-lang-3984
Competition watchdog to hear from dairy farmers as it investigates the industry
Posted
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to interview farmers as it begins its wide-ranging inquiry into the dairy industry.
Topics: dairy-production, agricultural-policy, agribusiness, agricultural-prices, traralgon-3844
Timber supply shortage sparks plantation push
Posted
A timber supply shortage at Heyfield sawmill Australian Sustainable Hardwood sparks a push to increase plantation timber.
Topics: forestry, timber, building-and-construction, heyfield-3858
Holstein heifer calf breaks Australian sale record
Posted | Updated
Victorian Holstein heifer calf sold for a quarter of a million dollars and makes Australian dairy history.
Topics: dairy-production, genetics, warragul-3820
Berry farmers undeterred by late season
Posted
Tourists picking their own fruit have eased the burden of the difficult season for growers.
Topics: fruit, rural-tourism, trafalgar-3824
Calls for Q Fever vaccine to be subsidised
Posted
The Federal Government should subsidise the cost of Q Fever vaccinations to improve management of the disease, Victoria's peak farm lobby group says.
Topics: livestock, diseases-and-disorders, yarram-3971
Victorian Opposition announces wild dog policy
Posted | Updated
Victorian Opposition slams State Government "failure" to control wild dogs and releases alternate pest policy.
Topics: pest-management, buchan-3885
Statewide health study to investigate meth drug use
Posted
The largest study of methamphetamine use undertaken in Victoria will focus on the path to drug dependence and access to health services.
Topics: drug-use, drugs-and-substance-abuse, moe-3825
Project encourages farmers to adopt native Australian crops
Posted | Updated
A renowned Aboriginal writer and historian will work with volunteers to process kangaroo grass into flour to prove the commercial value of native Australian crops.
Topics: aboriginal, agricultural-crops, gipsy-point-3891
Hazardous silo fume leak sparks safety warning
Posted
An agricultural chemicals expert says a bumper grains harvest could increase the risk of misuse of hazardous silo fumigants.
Topics: grain, crop-harvesting, trafalgar-6431
Abalone co-op prepares for Chinese New Year
Posted
A Victorian abalone processor prepares for Chinese New Year as divers finish the year for Christmas holidays.
Topics: fishing-aquaculture, mallacoota-3892
Women in wool impress with work ethic
Posted
"They are far superior to men because the woman can work and talk": female-led wool contracting crew impress Gippsland wool grower with work ethic.
Topics: women-in-agriculture, wool, bengworden-3875
Hungry bees could threaten crop pollination
Posted
Victorian beekeepers say a scarcity of nectar on native trees has led to starving bees, which could threaten almond crop pollination next season.
Topics: beekeeping, nowa-nowa-3887
Hampers deliver Christmas cheer to farmers in need
Posted
Christmas hampers filled with groceries and gifts delivered to dairy farmers struggling after a milk price crash.
Topics: volunteers, charities-and-community-organisations, dairy-production, mirboo-north-3871
Viplus Dairy China trade to reopen after costly four-week halt
Posted
South Gippsland infant formula manufacturer says a four-week suspension on trade with China cost his company millions.
Topics: dairy-production, trade, business-economics-and-finance, toora-3962
Government extends loan scheme to NDP suppliers
Posted | Updated
The Federal Government has extended the eligibility criteria for its dairy concessional loan scheme to National Dairy Products suppliers.
Topics: dairy-production, agribusiness, federal-government, sale-3850, warrnambool-3280
Stock agents wary as farmers prepare for EID tags
Posted
Victorian sheep producers prepare for mandatory electronic tagging, but livestock agents say they are being left in the dark.
Topics: sheep-production, bairnsdale-3875
Illegal farm workers detained in farm raid
Posted | Updated
Farming groups condemn illegal labour hire practices after raid uncovers foreign nationals working for Australia's largest asparagus producer.
Topics: farm-labour, agricultural-crops, police, koo-wee-rup-3981
Garlic growers seek to increase Australian supply
Posted
Australian garlic growers introduce late season varieties in a staggered harvest in an effort to supply the local market for longer.
Topics: herbs, mirboo-north-3871
Breast cancer messages on silage bales target rural women
Posted
'Save a life, grope ya wife' is one message designed to cut through the clutter to promote breast cancer awareness in rural Victoria.
Topics: breast-cancer, rural-women, yinnar-3869
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