Country Today Podcast

Today on the podcast with Libby Price.

The water debate is really heating up. A group of councils along the Murray are demanding irrigators in the southern basin urgently get some water. The Murray River Group as it’s called has consistently supported the Basin Plan.  They’re now saying but it must be implemented in a fairer and more balanced way.

Quite independently a group of about 12 different horticulture industries have got together and written to the Federal Water Minister David Littleproud, demanding something be done to stop water barons allegedly hoarding billions of litres of water.

And we’ll take you to an agribusiness summit in Wangaratta to talk about the latest in ag technology, and a new food marketing concept called the long table.  

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast with Libby Price you’ll hear from one of the farmers at yesterday’s Fix the Basin Plan rally at Tocumwal. Russell Creighton was in the dairy industry for 50 years but has given up. He’s also given up on his political representatives.

Speaking of dairy, Victorian dairy farmer Ian Zandstra has been appointed at the NSW dairy industry advocate, you’ll hear from him about the need to listen to farmers.

And the weekly wool report, and fingers crossed, it might have stabilised after recent dramatic falls.

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast we turn our attention to the United States.

First Former US Secretary of State John Kerry in Melbourne yesterday warned that feeding a growing global population will be the greatest challenge of climate change.

And then joining us from Washington is president of the National Farmers Union, Roger Johnson

Farmers in the United States fear a conclusion to the trade war with China is a lot further off than President Donald Trump is claiming.

US agricultural exports to China have plummeted from nearly $20 billion worth a year, to less than $6 billion.

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

Do you ever get annoyed at the amount of plastic packaging of fresh food?Well according to research for the Fresh Food Alliance it’s better for the environment to package the food because it leads to less waste.

Also today,  how an olive grower went from running at a loss to growing and manufacturing not just olive oil but skin care products and now has a thriving business employing 35 people

And table grape exports top the half a billion dollar mark

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

 the Victorian Farmers Federation supports state government draft laws to make it illegal to mules without pain relief.

Leader of the Nationals in Victoria, Peter Walsh says the federal government is willing to talk to the Andrews government about more funding for the controversial Murray rail project

Scientists are warning there may be major fish kills in the coming summer due to the ongoing drought.

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

Let’s start with the good news. A stud merino breeder has shifted his focus to better meat producing sheep and high fertility. AND he’s now getting weaning percentages of 160 percent.. more lambs equals more money

Then the not so good news. Milk processor Bega has announced a net profit fall of 59 per cent, though the company is confident of a strong recovery

And the really bad news ... the worst fall in the wool market since the floor price collapse

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

The National Farmer Federations urges the federal government to pull its proverbial finger out and sign some free trade agreements in south-east Asia before other countries move in on our markets.

The latest seasonal climate outlook ... another warmer and drier spring ahead.

And putting the cost of African swine fever to China intro perspective.

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

You’ll hear from a farmer who very nearly died from a chronic q fever infection, which is spread by animals, mainly sheep and cattle, but even now kangaroos.

Also today China has just increased the tariff on boneless beef imports from Australian from six to 12 per cent. 

New figures show the cost of irrigation water in the southern Murray-Darling Basin has climbed by almost 140 per cent in the space of a year. 

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast we visit Western NSW where the drought is a bad as any can remember…

A new book which explores the evolution of Australian farming systems over the past 30 years. What’s better, it’s a free e-book, Australian Agriculture in 2020: From Conservation to Automation, is being released today

Plus the latest National Rural News.

Today on the podcast

Can global leaders at the G7 summit, including our prime minister, persuade Donald Trump to end the trade war with China which is sending economies into recession? You’ll hear from Professor Mark Crosby director of the Bachelor of International Business at Monash University. 

And what would you call a huge gathering of agronomists? A flock, a herd, perhaps a crop of agronomists. Well there are more 300 agronomists Australian Agronomy conference on this week. Details coming up..

Plus the latest National Rural News.