Cara Jeffery

4 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Amelia Bernasconi |Lara Webster |Michael Condon |Cara Jeffery

A NSW parliamentary inquiry heard fears that sheep prices for Australia's eastern state producers could drop heavily as live export was being phased out. The report handed down this week made only one recommendation — monitoring industry trends. NSW Farmers says it will continue to push for more action to address the impacts. Farming groups have slammed the findings of a NSW government inquiry into the impact of the live sheep export ban on the state after it delivered just one recommendation.

Oct 25, 2024 | abc.net.au | Cara Jeffery |Amelia Bernasconi |Lara Webster

Grain and oilseed growers in northern NSW are looking to the skies and hoping the weather cooperates to produce a stand-out harvest this year. Agronomist Paul Nelson, based at Warialda between Moree and Glen Innes, said crops in the paddock were looking good and were the best he had seen in his 45 years in the industry. "The crop is just spectacular," he said. However, Mr Nelson said the threat of forecast rain was concerning.

Aug 30, 2024 | abc.net.au | Michael Condon |Cara Jeffery |Lara Webster

A US-based company will snap up a property portfolio spanning 225,000 hectares of iconic New South Wales farming land if a landmark $780m deal is given the green light. Australian Food and Agriculture (AFA) will offload its sheep, cattle, and cropping properties in the New South Wales districts of Deniliquin, Hay, and Coonamble, including iconic Australian Merino sheep stations Boonoke and Wanganella. The sale will also include over 55,000 megalitres of water entitlements.

Aug 2, 2024 | abc.net.au | Cara Jeffery

Visiting an apple orchard to pick your own fruit may sound like a fun family day out, but for grower Greg Mouat it means big business. The pick-your-own fruit farm and roadside sales are what help keep his family business afloat. "We probably sell about 20 per cent of what we grow, but that would account for around 50 per cent of our income," Mr Mouat said. The Mouats have about 20,000 apple trees and grow seven different varieties on their Batlow farm in the New South Wales Riverina Highlands.

Jul 19, 2024 | abc.net.au | Cara Jeffery |Eliza Spencer

An estimated 300,000 hives will be transported from NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria to pollinate almond orchards this year, sparking fears of a varroa mite increase across borders. The deadly parasite has quickly spread in NSW since control measures were relaxed, with one beekeeper saying the pest is already in other states. There are hopes for a "post-varroa" future, with research underway into alternative pollinators and self-pollinating almond varieties.