Australian beef graziers yesterday held a crisis summit in Richmond in North-west Queensland to address ongoing low cattle prices. The low prices have been attributed to a “flooded market” because of poor seasonal conditions, a strong Australian dollar and the cumulative effect of the 2011 suspension of live cattle exports to Indonesia. According to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), cattle prices in Queensland in the week ending 2 May 2013 averaged 305 cents per kg cwt, while the Eastern Young... ...Read more »

Experts say there is nothing to worry about, after reports emerged yesterday of an outbreak of anthrax near Moree in northern New South Wales. The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has launched an investigation into the deaths of 37 cattle. The properties involved have been quarantined and the NSW DPI said the outbreak has been contained. Anthrax is an infectious disease, caused by a type of bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. Both animals and humans are susceptible to the disease. Infection... ...Read more »

Australian supermarket giant Coles has revealed it is the major customer of Australia’s newest mushroom farm taking almost 100 per cent of its production – around 50 tonnes per week at full production will be acquired by Coles from the $10 million Parwan Valley Mushrooms production facility near Bacchus Marsh in Victoria. Australian Food News previously reported the official opening of the facility in mid June 2012. The move by Coles could signal a more direct vertical shift into agribusiness... ...Read more »

Meat and Livestock Australia has launched a campaign designed to showcase the red meat industry’s environmental credentials. ‘Target 100’ is based on 100 environmentally related initiatives the industry is undertaking to ensure its cattle, sheep and goat production systems are sustainable. The aim of the campaign is for the Australian red meat supply chain to be entirely sustainable by 2020. The 100 initiatives include research, development and extension programs, sharing of ideas, and use... ...Read more »

A world-renowned Israeli environmental scientist and hydrologist, Dr Daniel Hillel, whose work has been behind some of the leading Israeli irrigation technologies that are used throughout Australia, has been awarded the 2012 World Food Prize. The World Food Prize, an international award created in 1986 by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Norman Borlaug and General Foods, recognises the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of... ...Read more »

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) of Australia has today called for greater investment in agricultural education after a study by the Primary Industries Education Foundation (PIEF), the peak body for primary industries education in Australian schools, found that student and teacher knowledge ofAustralia’s food and fibre sector is “alarmingly low”. NFF President, Jock Laurie, said the study, which found that 75 per cent of students believe cotton is an animal product and 65 per cent do... ...Read more »

Woolworths Australia has announced it has formed an alliance with the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) to develop a Blueprint for the future of Australian agriculture and farming. The move comes as Woolworths seeks to protect itself from a strong resurgence by its competitor, Coles, pushing a farm-fresh marketing campaign that has been Woolworths main marketing moniker for over two decades. Director of Woolworth supermarkets, Tjeerd Jegen, said that maintaining a strong relationship with Australian... ...Read more »

Australian scientists say they have identified new genetic markers that will allow Australian producers to increase the lean meat yield and productivity of their sheep. The research, undertaken by the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC) in conjunction with Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), will provide sheep breeders with the ability to use DNA testing early in an animal’s life to identify a wide range of traits, including meat quality. The Sheep CRC research,... ...Read more »

The Australian Government has today announced the first round of its A$99 million ‘Action on the Ground’ program to support farmers as they adjust to Australia’s new carbon tax regime. Action on the Ground is funding farmers over the next six years to trial and demonstrate on-farm practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as methane and nitrous oxide or increase soil carbon. The program is a part of the Carbon Farming Futures Fund under the government’s A$1.7 billion Land Sector... ...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 »