Country Today Podcast

Today on the podcast

Today you’ll hear from Peter Tuohey, former VFF president who has been appointed as an adviser to the Andrews Government on drought and rural affairs

The Victorian Rabbit Action Network has just celebrated an award from the United Nations. 

Australian Wool Innovation’s all-important Annual General Meeting is just weeks away. Levy paying wool growers will vote for three board director position. Today you’ll meet the new contender, Jerilderie vet, Michelle Humphries.

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

The final dairy industry code of conduct has been released with the last chance for dairy farmers to demand more changes..

You’ll hear from Federal Ag Minister Bridget McKenzie.

How are you going with the national broadband network; the NBN that was going to be the holy grail of improving regional telecommunications. The Federal Minister for Communications and Arts, Paul Fletcher, is doing a bit of an NBN tour to hear all your concerns.

And the award-winning fruit fly program.  If you’ve got the pesky little fruit flies, there is hope.

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

Australia’s largest olive grower, Rob McGavin of Boundary Bend has met the Federal Government to plea for urgent reform of water policy.

And the national grain harvest is underway, so we’ll take a look at likely yields and grain prices with grain analyst Ron Storey

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

Ag Victoria has just released its latest three-month climate outlook. Seasonal risk agronomist Dale Grey has never seen such a strong prediction of a  drier than average season.

SunRice is blaming not just the drought, but water reforms for a negligible rice harvest in the Riverina and its decision to cut 32 jobs from its Deniliquin and Leeton plants.

And the wool market wasn’t great either with falls across the board.

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

Just when the wool market was making a recovery and there was talk of the price stabilising, the market has taken a few hits this week. China is our major buyer, Has revealed that China’s wool stockpile has doubled in the past 18 months. So how influential is this on the instability of the wool market

The Independent Federal Member for Indi in the North East of Victoria, Helen Haines is calling on a change in how the government deals with drought.

The award-winning Holstein bull Medallion remembered for his unapparelled influence in dairy breeding. 

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

Farmers in East Gippsland have been feeling like the forgotten farmers. They've been in severe drought for the past three years, yet Premier Daniel Andrews has never come to see for himself. Well, he has this morning and has announced more than $30 million in targetted support, including a $15 million Farmers Drought Fund. Details coming up

Also one of the finalists in the Australian Farm Machinery Awards at the Elmore Field days, the Berrima hay rake

And the Charinga/Bananvie merino ram sales topping the list of sales so far this year with a ram selling for a cool $35 000.

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

Australian Wool Innovation Chair Collette Garnsey who confirms the organisation has not taken steps to limit board tenure to 10 years, so Wal Merriman is re-standing having sat on the board for no less than 15 years

Also today, Fonterra new Zealand post massive losses. So what does it mean for the dairy processor here in Australia

And how prepared is out pork industry for an outbreak of the deadly African Swine fever

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

The Prime Minister has announced a further one hundred million dollars in drought relief.

It included allocations of a million dollars to 13 councils around Australia, including the Moyne Shire in southwest Victoria.

The problem is the shire is having a great season and would rather another shire in need took the money.  

Also today, Elmore Field Days fondly farewells the ag art wear with a very special parade

And the Murray Darling Basin Authority completes its audit of the lower Murrumbidgee River, with still a long way to go in metering compliance in NSW. 

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

The Victorian Government is considering publishing all the names of who owns what irrigation water. But the Nationals think it could backfire and help large corporates buy even more water. You’ll hear from deputy leader of the Nationals and Shadow Water Minister Steph Ryan.

One group who's all for a water register is Speak Up and it's trying to get 10 000 signatures on a petition to force a debate in the NSW parliament about a Royal Commission into the Basin Plan.

With it being a public holiday in Victoria tomorrow, we’ll give you a wool report today, and so far so good, with prices up above the 1600 cents a kilo mark.

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

Australia’s Trade Minister Simon Birmingham in Victoria briefing farmers on the negotiations with the EU for a free trade agreement, with the devil in the detail.

Murray Irrigation claims the soil and rocks dumped into an irrigation channel, will cost thousands to repair.

Unlike the northern cropping zones of Australia, Victoria’s crops are, in the main, looking pretty good, though also looking for a good drink before harvest.

Plus the latest National Rural News.