New England Rural Report
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Latest Report
Floods
The clean up around Tamworth is expected to take months. This morning we meet Wallamore Road dairy farmer Todd Wilson and egg producer Bede Burke and see how they're dealing with the big wet.
Flood help
If you're a North West farmer who needs help after the floods help is out there.
Loans of up to $130 000 are available at a concessional interest rate for those in urgent need. The money can be used for carry on requirements and the replacement of livestock and plant.
If you want to find out more you can enquire at any bank or call the Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593.
Road and rail freight subsidies of up to 50 per cent on the carriage of livestock and fodder are also available. You can call the nearest DPI office for information on 1800 814 647.
And if you need any other help Gunnedah based drought support worker Jenny Croft is there to help too, her number is 0429 446 417.
Grains
Meanwhile Kevin Schwager from Priag Marketing in Narrabri says producers need to give serious thought to their marketing options now.
New England Features
A long fight for the long paddock
New South Wales' travelling stock routes and reserves (TSRs), provide land that drovers and apiarists rely on for their living and that many of us use for a dip in the river or a picnic in the scrub.
Anger grows over Alstonville closure
Rallies, posters and committees are being set up to stop the closure of the DPI's Centre for Tropical Horticulture on the NSW North Coast.
Home owner advice on managing locusts
NSW DPI provides valuable information to urban dwellers as locusts swam start to move into urban areas of Southern NSW.
Dorrigo turns out for annual ag fair
If horses, cattle and woodchopping weren't enough then the vintage tractors, whipboxing and bush dog trials certainly helped make this local show a success over the weekend.
Macdonald defends DPI cuts
The NSW Primary Industries Minister has defended cuts to his department in the state's minibudget, saying they will save millions of dollars.
Forbes fights for its golf course
The town of Forbes, in the central west of New South Wales, looked set to lose its golf course this summer, but locals have come to its rescue.
Overweight dads lead family fitness campaign
Who talks the most about eating healthy food in your home? A program underway in Newcastle encourages dads to lead the way.
Stellar cast of campdrafters at Gladstone
Throw in a bit of dirt with the saddles and spurs, add some good cattle worked by the best riders and horses around and you've got yourself a mighty fine weekend of campdraft action.
Worm farm near Broken Hill reducing waste and fighting aphids
You may have seen a worm compost in someone's garden before, working to break down their garden scraps into rich, healthy mulch.
Well, imagine a worm farm doing that for a whole town's green waste, and you'd see something like Australian Vermiculture in Broken Hill.
Men shed weight in the Hunter
An on-line program to help men lose weight in the Hunter region of New South Wales is so successful men are lining up to join.
