Severe heat and the devastating fires in southern parts of Australia and flood waters in the north have had a significant impact on the supply of fresh food to supermarkets, Australia’s largest supermarket operator has advised. Woolworths General Manager of Fresh Produce, Mr Michael Batycki, said Woolworths supplies of some fruit and vegetables had been affected by the extreme weather conditions experienced by Australian farmers. “With floods in North Queensland along with bushfires... ...Read more »

Coles will sell produce which has suffered cosmetic blemishes as a result of the heat, but whose eating quality is not affected, Australia’s second largest supermarket operator has advised. Coles Fresh Produce General Manager, Peter Pokorny, said that the chain will offer the fruit and vegetables to their customers in an effort to assist growers counting their losses in response to the heatwave. “Our customers expect our stores to sell only the best quality fresh produce, and we have... ...Read more »

The damage bill for fruit and vegetable growers in Victoria is estimated in the tens of millions of dollars, after a heatwave crippled the state last week. President of the Victorian Farmers Federation’s Horticulture Group, Peter Cochrane, has advised that supply will be impacted in coming weeks. “A lot of the salad (phonetic) lines, and leafy vegetable lines have been affected quite badly, and a number of the berries,” he told ABC radio this morning. “A blueberry guy I was... ...Read more »

Continuing unfavourable conditions and a lack of water kept Australian agricultural production down during 2007-08, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. With laws of supply and demand dictating prices, it does not bode well for some food prices, though there were some favourable figures. Rice plantings dropped to the lowest levels since 1927 – from 20,000 hectares in 2006-07 to 3,000 hectares in 2007-08 – while production was down 86% to 23,000 tonnes.... ...Read more »

More than $20 million in research and development funding is on offer as the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) seeks ideas and innovations to help strengthen and diversify rural Australia. RIRDC has opened its call for applications for R&D funding for 2009-10 and is seeking research proposals that can best contribute to the Corporation’s goals of developing a more profitable, dynamic and sustainable rural sector. “RIRDC has a focus on diversification and... ...Read more »

Australia’s protracted drought has devastated much agricultural land, and water remains the key to survival for many farmers. So when the going got tough the lamb got tender in the Riverina district of N.S.W. and a value added meat production industry was developed by a gutsy farming family. Bultarra Saltbush Lamb is now winning the praise of chefs and diners alike in restaurants in Australia and overseas. In the 1980′s Robert Meares Snr commenced planting saltbush on his family property... ...Read more »

Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke has begun his WA tour and plans to discuss the future of GM food production in Australia with key members of the WA State Government. The decision to discuss GM foods with the WA Government comes following concerns raised by WA Premier Alan Carpenter last month. Mr Carpenter called for compulsory labelling of foods that contain Genetically Modified (GM) ingredients and an immediate halt to the approval of all GM foods in Australia until more is known about... ...Read more »

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has called on Melburnians to support tomorrow’s “Plug the Pipe” Rally claiming that any threat to irrigated agriculture would result in higher food prices at city checkouts. VFF President Simon Ramsay said that support from city people would be critical to the success of the rally, which is due to have a demonstration on the steps of parliament by about 12:30pm. Mr Ramsay was strong in his belief that the current high grocery prices... ...Read more »

Australian wine grape production is forecast to increase by 19 per cent to 1.67 million tonnes in 2007-08, as a result of improved growing conditions in key production areas, according to a new ABARE report – ‘Australian Wine Grape Production Projections to 2009-10′. “Forecast production in 2007-08 is higher than early-season estimates because of greater than expected resilience of vines suffering from drought stress, and water purchasing by growers in drought-affected... ...Read more »

Predictions of a record Australian wheat crop have been hit by drought in the grain belt of NSW. Despite this, record planting levels are set to become a reality with strong harvests dependant upon some wet weather in the coming months. The NSW Government have released their latest drought figures, which indicate 48.4% of the state is now in drought as opposed to 42.9% in March. The NSW DPI has now predicted planting of about 3.4 hectares of wheat with those figures reliant on “good... ...Read more »