National Foods has announced the results of its six-month review of cheesemaking operations across Australia, revealing plans to consolidate Tasmanian operations at its Burnie site, close its Victorian locations and sell its South Australian sites. In Tasmania, the Kirin-Lion-Nathan owned dairy giant will invest $120 in its Burnie facility to produce all its specialty cheeses, transferring operations from its Heidi Farm site, and closing Kings Meadow over three years at a loss of 40 jobs. Only King... ...Read more »

The Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water Bryan Green today announced a reduction in next season’s total allowable catch for the commercial rock lobster fishery. “To ensure the industry remains viable in the future decisions need to be made now because of declining fish stocks,” Mr Green said. Mr Green said harvesting levels had shown decreasing numbers over several seasons.  “These measures are about providing a sustainable fishery for generations to come. The... ...Read more »

More school children will have access to nutritious breakfasts, thanks to $100,000 in Tasmanian State Government funding for breakfast programs next year. The State Government has provided $400,000 over four years for schools to run breakfast programs in partnership with local communities. The Minister for Education and Skills, Lin Thorp, said 22 schools are receiving funding to run breakfast programs in 2011. “Many schools already do a fantastic job running breakfast programs and this funding... ...Read more »

Woolworths and the Tasmanian Government yesterday launched a new ‘Tassie Grown’ initiative to identify Tasmanian-grown produce on local supermarket shelves. Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Bryan Green, said the move was a boost for Tasmanian farmers, and encouraged other retailers to follow suit. “Shoppers will be able to quickly identify locally grown food which is a great opportunity to show support for Tasmanian producers,” he said. “There is strong demand... ...Read more »

The Premier, David Bartlett, today paid tribute to a great innovative and sustainable Tasmanian company – Tassal.  Mr Bartlett opened the Atlantic Salmon producer’s new state-of-the-art hatchery at Ranelagh in southern Tasmania, this morning. “The Atlantic Salmon industry is a major success story for Tasmania,” Mr Bartlett said. “Tassal embodies two crucial values for Tasmania’s economic future – innovation and sustainability. “The company recently... ...Read more »

Tasmania will phase out sow stalls for pigs, with the first restrictions taking effect in 2014, said Minister for Primary Industries Bryan Green today. The move follows a recommendation last month by the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee for the change, including a full ban by July 2017. “It is clear, even in the 2003 edition of the national code, that the use of sow stalls had to be reduced,” said Green. “It is true, however, that this decision will impose a burden of enforced... ...Read more »

The planned Tasmanian Foodbank has received its license from the national body, bringing the charity one step closer to commencing operations in the state. The Foodbank Tasmanian office is set to open at the former Chickenfeed distribution centre at Cambridge, near Hobart, with the aim of providing up to 66,000 Tasmanians with food support donated by supermarket chains, retailers, manufacturers, producers and growers. The site itself is also a donation, with a 10-year lease on the centre given to... ...Read more »

The Deparment of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment (DPIPWE) will be attending Tasmania’s AGFEST agricultural field day, to give the government a chance to talk to Tasmania’s primary producers. “The Department’s experts will be on hand at AGFEST to provide useful information and timely advice on a range of issues currently facing those Tasmanians who make a living from the land,” said Primary Industries and Water Minister Bryan Green. “Our primary producers deal... ...Read more »

Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has announced a $116,000 grant to the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research to explore new market opportunities for Tasmanian fruit and vegetables in Southeast Asia. The grant, part of the Promoting Australian Produce initiative, will be a welcome boost for Tasmania growers, still reeling from McCain’s decision to move production to New Zealand late last year. Thirteen other projects will share $1.3 million worth of grants from... ...Read more »

Tasmanian cherries have appeared in fruit bowls in South Korea for the first time as Australian growers shipped the first-ever consignments to the Land of the Morning Calm in February.After conducting an assessment and inspecting the Tasmanian cherry orchards and packing houses, Korean government officials were convinced of the low pest risk of the product and decided that the fruit didn’t have to be fumigated before export. The import conditions are very similar to the conditions for cherries... ...Read more »