The National Australia Bank (NAB) in its latest Rural Commodities Outlook  wrap  issued on 22 December 2011 has reported that apart from the weakening global economy, there is also a very strong production response hitting world agricultural commodity markets. Australian rural production  is on track for  massive winter crops in 2012 because of good rains adding to downward pressure on prices.  At  the same time, sugar and cotton production growth in Australia have also been part of the general... ...Read more »

Scientists from two Australian universities in collaboration with an international academic have discovered ancient wild cereal genes that could potentially allow less water to be used in conventional crops. In a report published in the ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’ today, University of Queensland’s Professor Robert Henry said there were global implications for the discovery. Professor Henry said that wild rice plants in hotter and drier parts of Australia tend to be more... ...Read more »

Australia is facing a huge glut of potatoes. Prices for potatoes for the Australian domestic market will soon drop below  farm production costs. Greengrocers and supermarkets are acquiring potatoes at bargain prices. We are constantly reminded by the Australian Government and its consultant experts that the world is running out of food. They tell us that Australia needs to produce more food for the impending famine faced by the world. Yet, we already have the scenario of many countries currently... ...Read more »

Potato growers across Australia are threatening to plough surplus potatoes back into the ground or leave them to rot in what is reported to be one of the biggest potato gluts in Australian history. Australian potato grower and Chairman of the Australian Potato Industry Advisory Committee, David Nix, has seen double the tonnage of potatoes on his farm in Atherton, Queensland, compared to last year. Mr Nix told Australian Food News today, “This year has brought a wave of excess potatoes across... ...Read more »

One of Australia’s main apple-growing districts, Batlow in southern New South Wales, has been declared a natural disaster area after a hail storm inflicted severe damage on apple orchards last week, destroying an estimated 60 per cent of next year’s Batlow crop. Batlow is located at the base of the Riverina Highlands, 450kms south-west of Sydney. Apples are a major crop in the State of NSW, with most grown in Batlow. They are grown from spring blossom and harvested from late summer through to... ...Read more »

Summerfruit Australia, the peak industry body representing growers of stone fruits in Australia, has predicted a productive summer season for stonefruit growers this year. Chairman of Summerfruit Australia, Ian McAlister said conditions are as good as they could possibly be given the disruptions of last season. According to Mr McAlister, prospects for nectarines, peaches, plums and apricots this summer are positive with promising flowering and the moisture content in the soil at optimum levels. Last... ...Read more »

Floods and droughts in major grain producing countries this year have triggered a sharp increase in food prices, highlighting the vulnerability of the world’s food production systems and agricultural markets. Such developments are likely to reoccur more frequently and with greater intensity in the decades to come due to climate change. Yet while there are many examples of how the agricultural sector can both become more resilient to climate change and reduce its own sizeable carbon emissions,... ...Read more »

As the nation readies itself to hit the polling booths this weekend, the Queensland Farmers’ Federation has developed its final analysis of rural policies announced during the campaign. QFF CEO Dan Galligan said all political parties had made agricultural policy announcements over the last five weeks, but not one of them stood out as delivering the full suite of policies that would see agriculture grow profitably and sustainably. “On climate change, the Coalition has proposed a direct... ...Read more »

LAUNCHING its 2010 Federal Election Policy Platform today, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) slammed both sides of politics for perpetuating old mistakes and failing to seize initiatives to tackle emerging national issues – laying down the challenges and opportunities ahead. The NFF’s manifesto highlights policy failures and new opportunities that the next federal government must grapple with, encapsulated in four policy pillars: Population, Economy, Environment and Property. “The... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola has installed 35 new climate-friendly vending machines at the US Government’s Capitol buildings in Washington, D.C., home of the US House of Representatives. The new HFC-free (hydro-fluorocarbon free) cooling technology has around 1430 times less impact on global warming than a standard vending machine, and will reduce indirect greenhouse gas emissions by over five tons during the lifetime of the machine. The switch is part of the Green the Capitol program, finding new ways to reduce... ...Read more »