Retired dentist Peter Lynch has designed a $4 plastic basket that lets pickers pack mulberries directly into punnets. His Sunshine Coast hinterland farm, Kureelpa Mulberry Company, says the change has cut fruit damage by 80 per cent and reduced labour costs. The farm's four-week harvest depends on daily pickers, and the couple is concerned that cuts to working holiday visa numbers could make hiring difficult. Two French working holiday makers on the farm said a second year in Australia is uncertain.
The Wimmera Pulse Field Day will be held on Wednesday, October 28, from 9am to 1pm at Hemphills Road in Minyip. Hosted by Agriculture Victoria and the Grains Research and Development Corporation, the annual event is free to attend. Sessions will cover pulse agronomy, pulse breeding, nutrition management and nitrogen fixation research, with a focus on how the findings can guide on-farm decisions. The morning ends with a barbecue lunch and networking with agronomists, researchers and industry representatives. Registration is required so catering can be arranged.
Farmers in Tasmania's Northern Midlands are benefiting from an irrigation scheme that took almost 10 years to come online. Farmer Richard Burbury said the scheme arrived at a very timely moment, as this year has been exceptionally dry. The network of underground pipelines spans 150 kilometres and will deliver 25 billion litres of water each year. Tasmanian Irrigation says the scheme is expected to support about $54 million a year in economic activity across the region.
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The Healthy Landscapes Project is holding a practical workshop on Friday, October 30, from 10am to 12pm on Axedale-Goornong Road, Axedale. The interactive session will show how physically assessing soil can reveal its health and productivity. It is open to people new to soil assessment as well as those wanting to build their skills. Participants will gain practical knowledge to better understand the soils on their farms.
Forecast rain across northern New South Wales and Queensland could support pastures, soil moisture and summer crops, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences. Rainfall of 15 to 50 millimetres is forecast for northern NSW and Queensland over the eight days to October 15. Outlooks for November to January suggest above-average rainfall is more likely across parts of inland and southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, though El Niño is strengthening. Pasture growth was mixed over the three months to September.
A high-tech Farms of the Future learning bus has travelled more than 10,000 kilometres across NSW, taking agricultural technology to farmers. Almost 1,200 people have tried its virtual reality technology and demonstrations. More than 1,500 producers have completed its Agtech Fundamentals training. The bus is due to appear at the Australian National Field Days in Orange in October. Councils, schools and producer groups can register interest in hosting a visit.
Producers seeking accreditation or re-accreditation under the Livestock Production Assurance program must now upload or create an On-farm Biosecurity Management Plan for each property linked to their account. The plans show how farmers prevent pests, diseases, weeds and contaminants from entering, spreading within or leaving their property. Producers are advised to contact their industry peak body, which can often provide biosecurity planning information.
Tactical AGA's annual pasture open day in Victoria attracted around 60 farmers to two sites, Mount Duneed and Freshwater Creek. The event showcased 60 pasture systems, including newly sown, over-sown, and established varieties aged four to five years. Senior agronomist Wayne Firth emphasised the importance of supporting local farmers and finding suitable pasture solutions. The day raised $700 for local charity Foundation 61, with suppliers contributing to a raffle. Firth highlighted the value of community engagement in the agricultural sector.
A new Australian certification program is helping farmers protect the pollination services that support farm productivity. Pollinator Positive Farming gives farmers and land managers a practical framework to protect and support bees and other pollinators. Developed by the Wheen Bee Foundation, the program helps farmers assess how their properties support pollinators. It also helps them find practical ways to improve habitat, food sources and farm management practices.
The Victorian Farmers Federation has lodged a complaint with Resources Victoria over dust from the demonstration pit at Gippsland Critical Minerals' proposed Fingerboards mine. The group wants an investigation into whether the site met its work plan and licence conditions. It also wants stronger dust controls and the incident considered in the final environment effects statement. Farm group president Ryan Milgate says the dust could carry traces of rare earth minerals onto nearby horticultural crops. Mine Free Glenaladale, which opposes the project, says dust travelled beyond the buffer zone.
Ann Roberts, 84, has put her 500-acre Sarabah Road property on the outskirts of Canungra up for sale. She has lived there since 1971 with her late husband, Bob, who died in 1998. Ann says she is not sure where she will move, though a move into Canungra is likely. The couple once ran a dairy, beef cattle and an Arabian horse stud, and their horses won major ribbons at large agricultural shows. Ann says the property has been her peaceful and happy home for decades.
More than 140 people have taken part in a South Australian program that teaches early and mid-career farmers practical drought-management skills. The Early to Mid-Career Farmer Program is run by the SA Drought Hub and includes nine regional groups. Each group is led by a local facilitator and offers workshops, field days, mentoring and peer learning tailored to its area. SA Drought Hub knowledge broker Tony Randall said the networks help farmers prepare before drought strikes. Adelaide Plains facilitator Michael Brougham said participants valued advice on production costs and new equipment.
A Mary Valley dairy family has found a new processor after its milk contract was ended at short notice. The Rozynski family, of Imbil, supplies about 11,000 litres of milk a day from its Brown Swiss herd. Kenilworth Dairies, 20 kilometres away, now bottles the milk under the One Farm label. The first deliveries have been made, and independent supermarkets across Queensland have placed orders. Jason Rozynski says customers want to know where their milk comes from.
Above-average rainfall has ended years of drought for farming families in South Australia's Riverland. Kiara Fisher, at Bugle Hut, says this year's bumper crop will help her family pay bills. Louise Smith, at Maggea, received 350 millimetres of rain so far this year, more than double last year's total, and hopes to turn a profit for the first time in about seven years. Grain Producers South Australia chief executive Brad Perry says the state's harvest could reach about 13 million tonnes, well above the average of 9 million tonnes.
A livestock railway reminder has been issued by an authority, according to the headline. The accompanying page text, however, carries only unrelated local news items, including a Nalangil farmer's win of the Supreme Charolais Exhibit title at the 2026 Royal Melbourne Show. Other listings cover a Farmers Federation forum on Polwarth, a weekly market dip, and new drought grants. No details of the railway reminder itself, such as its content, date, or the issuing body, are provided in the text supplied.
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Summer Kelly, a farmer from Nalangil, Victoria, has secured the Supreme Charolais Exhibit award at the 2026 Royal Melbourne Show. The victory marks a significant achievement for Kelly, who expressed her disbelief at the honour. The annual event showcases the best in agricultural exhibits, and Kelly's win highlights her dedication to Charolais cattle breeding. The triumph adds to her growing list of accolades in the agricultural sector.
Agriculture Victoria is asking landholders in the northern Mallee to step up surveillance now that locust eggs have started hatching. Incident Controller Alex Perera said farmers should inspect their own properties to understand their situation. The Victorian Government has also opened Round 14 of the Animal Welfare Fund Grants, a $1.7 million round to help organisations care for and rehome animals. Farmers are also reminded to report sick or dead wild birds and to leave sick or dead Shearwaters in place.
Victorian farmers are being urged to report locust activity and sick or dead shearwaters. Shearwaters are due to arrive in Victoria from the Northern Hemisphere. Authorities also say H5 bird flu has become established in wild birds in the state. Bushfire recovery grants of up to $75,000 and concessional loans of up to $250,000 are available to farmers affected by the January 2026 bushfires. Grant applications close at 4 pm on 21 October.
A Virginia Tech neuroscientist, Alex Di Feliceantonio, says diet can reshape how the brain functions. Researchers used brain scans on 60 participants comparing healthy meals with ultra-processed meals matched for sugar and fat. The processed meals produced a different metabolic response and stimulated a brain region tied to motivation and reward. They also caused larger, longer-lasting spikes in insulin and blood sugar. Gippsland Jersey farmer Sallie Jones, who sells fresh milk directly, says rising sugar intake is harming her son's behaviour and mood. CSIRO modelling predicts Australian diets could worsen by 2030.
