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1 month ago | 
abc.net.au | Tim Lee |Courtney Wilson |Pip Courtney |Halina Baczkowski |Kath Sullivan |Kerry Staight | +1 more
The livelihood of the world's 150 million rice farmers comes with a cruel paradox. Many are among the poorest in the world, living in regions hardest hit by climate change, yet they depend on a crop which is worsening its effects. Rice, a staple crop feeding 4 billion people daily, contributes to 10 per cent of global human-made methane emissions.
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1 month ago | 
abc.net.au | Tim Lee |Courtney Wilson |Pip Courtney |Halina Baczkowski |Kath Sullivan |Kerry Staight | +1 more
As dusk breaks on Kangaroo Island, Paul Jennings unleashes the latest weapon in the war against feral cats. It is a battle as old as time, but this time, the dogs have technology on their side. Bluetick coonhounds, which are bred in the United States for their tracking skills, are being trained to help eliminate the invasive predators. "The bloodlines have been developed there for trailing game," Mr Jennings said. "So, things like raccoons, bobcats, mountain lions and bears.
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Nov 21, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Kath Sullivan
While growers in southern states have been hindered by frost and dry conditions, farmers in northern New South Wales are producing a bumper crop. Agronomist Tony Lockrey describes it as one of the best he has seen. The federal government's forecasters expect around 50 million tonnes of grain has been grown this year.
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Nov 18, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Kathleen O'Connor |Kath Sullivan |Penny Travers
A NSW shearer has set a woman's world record by shearing more than 395 merino lambs in just eight hours. That's one lamb shorn roughly every 72 seconds. Nikki Lyons achieved the feat surrounded by dozens of supporters in the small town of Bowning, near Yass.
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Oct 23, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Kath Sullivan
An Australian union is calling on the Albanese government to stop taxing the superannuation of Pacific and Timor-Leste workers that come to Australia to pick fruit and work in nursing homes. There are more than 30,000 workers currently employed on the Pacific Australia Labor Mobility (PALM) scheme, working in farming, meat processing and the care sector across the country.
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Oct 17, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Kath Sullivan
Australia's wool industry is in a slump. Global demand is flat and so are the returns to farmers. Australia is now expected to produce one of it's smallest clips in 100 years. Woolgrowers are now being asked how much money they want to spend marketing their produce. Featured: Dave Garrahy, ShearerJock Laurie, Australian Wool InnovationKatrina Blomfield, FarmerDavid Lipson: Australia's wool industry is in a slump.
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Oct 15, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Kath Sullivan
An ag boss who benefited from tens of thousands of dollars to attend an overseas business course has been given almost half a million dollars from the taxpayer and farmer-funded Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) to leave his job. The body responsible for Australia's wool research and marketing has disclosed it made a $479,531 termination payment to former chief executive Stuart McCullough. Mr McCullough was employed at AWI for almost 23 years, including 11 as CEO.
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Aug 28, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Kath Sullivan
Supermarket Woolworths has committed to purchase "deforestation-free" beef from the end of next year. Announcing its financial results today, the retailer updated its sustainability target, shifting from an existing net-zero deforestation goal, to become "deforestation-free" by the December 2025. The policy will be applied to fresh beef, paper, pulp and timber, palm oil, cocoa and soy sold across its stores.
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Jul 11, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Kath Sullivan
When you think of ways to help the environment, housing a herd of dairy cows in a shed or planting a water-intensive crop like almonds are unlikely to be at the top of the list. But these are two examples of how one of Australia's most expensive environmental policies is changing the way water and land are used in this country. The Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) was introduced to help conserve one of the country's greatest natural resources, its largest river network.
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Jul 4, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Kath Sullivan
The Australian government is opening its chequebook, preparing to spend potentially hundreds of millions of dollars on a plan to stop farmers using water out of the country's largest river network, in an attempt to help the environment. Federal Water and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announced the government will go to tender in the week beginning July 15, seeking rights to up to 70 gigalitres of water from farmers willing to sell their water entitlement back to the Commonwealth.
