A Big Country

Stories from around Australia by the ABC's rural reporters.

Meet the pint-sized publican granny; motorcycle riding priest shares passion for social justice with rural parish; farming camels for milk and meat; agriculture students get out of the laboratory to taste life on the land.

Turning red wheat and sugar beet into unique spirits, historic cemeteries offer protected habitat for rare orchids, learning from the best at bull-riding camp, country cafe building community.

For two days a year, coffee tree blossoms turn plantation white; golf in a stunning setting brings community together on a remote island; lavender grower marks 35 years of labour of love; how conservation dogs are helping with turtle conservation.

Introduced bumble bees are thriving in Tasmania, researchers are tracking them to find out why; kegs replace plastic bottles to get fresh milk from farm to cup; endangered shrub with a yellow flower showing signs of resurgence; finding the next varieties of a favourite Australian fruit.

Farmers become publicans to keep local watering hole open; demand for citrus blossoms from distillers; citizen science platypus count; teeing off for a round of backyard golf on red dirt course.

Team take out world record in shearing marathon; international chefs learning to love Aussie lamb; promoting flowers that are grown here, over those flown here; farmers transform land with tree-planting over four decades.

Birds and fish flock to farm, as wetland is restored; Indigenous rangers on the frontline of fight against invasive weed on remote Tasmanian island; farming region's community spirit staying strong in the face of shrinking population; couple pursuing passion for cumquats in 'anti-retirement.'

New record for old-time transport as horses harnessed to pull a heritage wagon; backyard gardeners being recruited to create a living seed bank of Tasmanian Alpine plants; life of a young ringer on the world's largest pastoral station; how challenging the conventions of dairy farming led a family business to cheese making success.

Pedalling hard to raise funds and awareness for dementia; cattle breeders raising Italian variety that can weigh as much as a car; field days celebrate centenary of Caterpillar tractors and scientist awarded peace prize for work in international agriculture.