ABC Rural Archive: Recent Stories
Monday, August 18, 2008.
No water for northern Victorian irrigators
For the first time, the northern Victorian irrigation season has started with zero allocation. (18/08/2008)
Holmes a Court forecasts boom times for farmers
Agribusiness investor Peter Holmes a Court is predicting Australian farmers will become very wealthy out of the current commodities boom. (18/08/2008)
Stockholm awash with water experts
More than 2000 experts have gathered in the Swedish capital Stockholm to discuss how to ensure that the world has adequate supplies of water in the future. (18/08/2008)
Directors try to stop Mildura irrigation trust being shut down
About 300 people have rallied in Mildura, demanding the Victorian Government reverse its decision to shut down the region's independent water authority, the First Mildura Irrigation Trust. (18/08/2008)
World Bank says guest workers won't overstay visas
A senior World Bank economist says overstaying won't be a problem if Australia's seasonal guest worker scheme is designed properly. (18/08/2008)
Aussie oranges have appeal in Hollywood
Twelve citrus producers from the Riverland, Riverina and Mildura districts have gone to America to put on a show for local shoppers. (18/08/2008)
Horticulture guest worker scheme could start by November
Four Pacific countries will be asked to send people to help with Australia's fruit and vegetable harvests, under a trial guest worker scheme. (18/08/2008)
Chinese company to explore for coal in northern NSW
The New South Wales Government has awarded the giant Chinese company Shenhua Energy a tender to explore for coal near Gunnedah in the state's north. (18/08/2008)
Friday, August 15, 2008.
Taking stock of spices
They bring fabulous flavours and rich aromas to the kitchen, but where do our herbs and spices come from? (15/08/2008)
Irrigators criticise Rudd water buyback move
Irrigators say the Federal Government has ignored the impact its plan to speed up buying back their water will have on rural communities. (15/08/2008)
Murray Goulburn stays in the hunt for Dairy Farmers
Murray Goulburn says it continues to be 'involved in the process' of bidding for Dairy Farmers, despite its joint bidder, Parmalat, pulling out. (15/08/2008)
Innovators win cotton industry awards
High achievers in Australia's cotton industry have been recognised in a national awards ceremony on the Gold Coast. (15/08/2008)
Slight increase in SA water allocations
In the wake of the Federal government's water announcement yesterday, the South Australian Government has announced that irrigators will be receiving a splash of extra water. (15/08/2008)
Grim research on rural suicide
Suicide researchers say farm workers are more likely to take their own lives than any other occupation. (15/08/2008)
Cotton industry calls for more studies on drought effects
The head of Australia's peak cotton industry group has called on the Federal Government to conduct further social impact studies, to better understand how its plan will affect rural irrigation areas. (15/08/2008)
Jobs go as Albury mill closes
An historic flour mill in Albury is closing down and 25 workers will lose their jobs. (15/08/2008)
Claims of illegal dams on the Paroo River
The Queensland Government has denied any flouting of the moratorium on new irrigation developments on the unregulated Paroo River, which flows across the border into NSW. (15/08/2008)
Tassie farmers criticise government drought response
Gaps in Tasmania's drought response have been exposed at a Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association drought forum in Launceston. (15/08/2008)
AWI chairman seeks re-election
The chairman of Australian Wool Innovation, Brian van Rooyen, is among five existing board members standing for re-election at the Annual General Meeting in November. (15/08/2008)
Victoria's only farmer-elected water trust abolished after 112 years of operation
Victoria's only grower-directed water board has been abolished due to poor financial investments. (15/08/2008)
Thursday, August 14, 2008.
Rann wants faster water buyback
The South Australian Premier, Mike Rann, says the Federal Government's buyback of water from Murray Darling Basin farmers for the environment should be speeded up. (14/08/2008)
More tales of woe at Queensland drought forums
Emotional forums, looking at the social impact of the drought, are currently making their way through western Queensland. (14/08/2008)
Poor prospects for Tassie scallop season
Commercial scallop fishing is starting today in Tasmania, but prospects for a good catch this season are low. (14/08/2008)
Dairy workers dry up
The worker shortage has never been worse, according to dairy farmers in the south-west of Victoria. (14/08/2008)
SA calls for more water buybacks, as Cabinet is briefed on Murray Darling crisis
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, says his Government has taken every possible measure to fix the crisis in the lower lakes of the Murray Darling. (14/08/2008)
Prince Charles called "Luddite" for opposing GM crops
Several British Labour politicians says the Prince of Wales is "totally wrong" in his claims that genetically-modified crops could cause an environmental disaster and force millions of small farmers off the land. (14/08/2008)
Hopes for producing first local gas in Tasmania
A Brisbane company is hoping to become the first to produce gas in Tasmania. (14/08/2008)
Expert forecasts dramatic revival of cotton market
A leading international cotton consultant says the market for the embattled industry will vastly improve in the future. (14/08/2008)
Cotton farmer raises funds for diabetes research
A Queensland cotton farmer has raised more than $20,000 for research into type one diabetes, after the crop he donated yielded very well. (14/08/2008)
Futuris profit slumps, despite solid show from Elders
Futuris Corporation has reported a 65 per cent slump in full year profits after tax, to $36.5 million. (14/08/2008)
Old tungsten mine producing once again
The first concentrates of tungsten and molybdenum have been produced from the historic Wolfram Camp mine, west of Dimbulah on Queensland's Atherton Tablelands. (14/08/2008)
Another sugar mill merger on the cards
The Maryborough Sugar Factory has taken another step in its vision to expand its sugar cane operations in far north Queensland. (14/08/2008)
Chevron invests more in Gorgon gas field
Oil and gas producer Chevron has announced another $1 billion will be invested in the development of the Gorgon gas field, increasing the likelihood the massive project will go ahead. (14/08/2008)