Oz farmers' election wishlist
Australian farmers advocate NFF says this year’s Federal Election will be a defining moment for Australian agriculture.
Asia may not be far from Queensland’s doorstep but the challenges of catering to the export market are great, says an Australian dairy leader.
Norco Dairy Co-op deputy chair Tony Wilson says the road to China had not been easy for the company.
“The tyranny of distance is still a challenge for Australia, but the size and scope and proximity to Asia cannot be ignored,” Wilson says.
In the past 12 months, Norco has managed to set up systems so that fresh milk is sent to China within seven days of production. It achieved faster regulatory and logistics access, and a direct selling trail online.
The co-op also developed a smartphone app that allows customers to trace information on when the milk was packaged, and it will tell where it was produced.
“Slowly but surely the potential in China is being realised,” Wilson says.
Norco’s sales in China had grown ten-fold in the past year “and there was more to come,” he said. The Norco brand is now available in many cities in China.
Bruce Warren, head of Japfa Comfeed, an agribusiness firm, told the conference the opportunities in Indonesia are immense and that Australian producers needed to be “bold”. “Unless we jump in boots and all now, we’re going to be left behind.”
Recent rain has offered respite for some from the ongoing drought.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.