On today's program: the State Budget is supposed to be a 'jobs bonanza' but independent crossbenchers are not convinced; Cairns horse trainer Trevor Rowe welcomes country racing boost; Peter Milne urges more investment in biosecurity; Bundaberg irrigator Dale Hollis seeks 30 per cent cut in power costs; banana farmer Lyn Palmer bounces back from cyclone Debbie but wants changes to disaster recovery assistance; fishers look for more training initiatives and mining sector wants infrastructure support; and a long overdue move to reform Queensland’s fisheries has hit a snag with the commercial sector accusing the government of allowing the agenda to be hijacked by 'anti fishing environmental activists'. However, recreational lobby group, Sunfish, says it's pleased with the progress.

Today on the Country Hour: bioprocessing in agriculture is entering a new era - QUT will lead a $14 million project focusing on turning waste from livestock industries into bio-packaging and Bio Processing Australia has secured more than $8 million in state funding for a $50 million integrated refinery, producing yeast and soymeal for the agricultural feed industry and 15-megalitres of biodiesel per year; Central Queensland cattleman, Peter Milne, honoured for his services to the industry with an OAM; as the cane crush starts more cane growers supplying Wilmar finalise cane supply agreements; the Seafood Industry Australia launched as the voice of the industry; a cat proof fence in central Australia provides hope for endangered native animals.

Today on the Country Hour: Barcoo Queensland shuts down it's kangaroo processing plant at Charleville, with the company saying it was told to do so by Safe Food Queensland. Dalby cattle producer Bryce Cam named Chairman of RMAC's Australian Beef Sustainability Network. The Federal Minister for Regional Communications Fiona Nash launches the ABC youth initiative 'Trailblazers' in Longreach. Environmental group the Pew Charitable Trusts moves to clarify it's position on Wild Rivers, saying it wants regulations changed to prevent fracking. Australian farmers wanting to grow medicinal cannabis are "voting with their feet", according to federal health minister Greg Hunt, in just six months authorities have already received more than 75 applications to grow the crop and 12 licences have been approved.

Today on the Country Hour: the Adani Carmichael mine project may have celebrated a huge milestone yesterday, but many say the race is far from over as the plan to build Australia's largest coal mining industry continues to divide the community. Environment groups are determined to make Wild Rivers and election issue and are calling on the Palaszczuk government to honour it's promise to reinstate protection measures for rivers in the channel country, but this riled graziers who see a need to develop the country. Small miners want the Federal government to reinstate The Exploration Development Incentive, which allowed investors to claim tax breaks, they say it allowed them to use everything from crowd funding to seed capital projects to stay afloat. We meet some fascinating farmers: a grazier turned pecan grower; a community of Vietnamese market gardeners at Logan and Central Queensland university is a putting a call out for farmers to take on Ag students for work experience

Today on the Country Hour: The chairman of Indian mining giant Adani gives the final investment approval for its multi-billion dollar Carmichael mine in central Queensland's Galilee Basin. Sydney Markets declared its own war on waste 12 years ago which has saved it $20 million in landfill costs, but Queensland's waste levy was binned in 2012, and the state now has the lowest recycling rates in Australia. Dry weather has seen a higher then usual rejection of pineapples by the Golden Circle cannery, costing farmers dearly but in the north of the state one farmer has his own plans for using pineapple seconds. The Etheridge Shire in far north Queensland is geologically a remarkable part of the world, but a plan by the local Council to have the entire shire listed as a UNESCO geo-park has rocked graziers. A NW grazier is using his chopper to spread herbicide along fence-lines, saving him time and money. Cows are social animals, the challenge is to find whether understanding the social behaviour of cattle can improve productivity.

On the Country Hour today: Tourism industry leader Daniel Gschwind says it's time for the government to 'pull out all stops' to manage impacts on the reef, including tightening tree clearing laws; a sheep revival prompts re-think on training curriculum for young people entering the industry; boutique pig producers say online support for 'buy local' campaigns does not translate at farmers' markets; Monto cattle drive keeps spirit of drovers alive; and new software saves growers time and money in the packing shed.

The Federal Court has penalised a Queensland labour-hire operator and his company $102,000 for underpaying 144 employees; A north Queensland seafood wholesaler and retailer has blamed white spot disease for consumers turning away from prawns; The financial burden on Queensland prawn farmers wiped out by white spot disease is about to get a lot worse, with farmers having to spend big dollars on biosecurity measures; Volunteers for Isolated Student Education, a not-for-profit organisation that's been providing teaching support to isolated families, will shut down at the end of the year; Heart tissue from Queensland cows is being used in a life saving medical device; The company behind the Queen Garnet plum has teamed up with a Sunshine Coast food processor, to try and squeeze even more value out of the popular plum, turning a waste product into money; A Tasmanian farmer who produces blackcurrants which are juiced for blackcurrant cordial has discovered that the waste skins are equally valuable.

Canegrowers say power price increases proposed by the Qld Competition Authority are devastating; Beef industry analyst Ross Ainsworth is doubtful a ban on slaughtering Indian buffalo will remain in place; Elders has sold its live export business, the North Australian Cattle Company; The Qld Premier says a Land Court decision against the New Acland coal mine raised important issues about groundwater and farming history; As the meat industry debates whether to install new x-ray technology in abattoirs, research at Murdoch University has found it's very accurate in predicting cattle carcases; Two months after Tropical Cyclone Debbie and some north Queensland farmers are now only starting to feel the full impacts; Cotton prices are forecast to stay over $520 per bale.

The Queensland Government says the future of the mega mine now rests with Adani's board, because a royalties deal has been struck with the Indian mining giant; The 'Urban Food Street' neighbourhood on Queensland's Sunshine Coast has hit trouble with the local council cutting down a number of fruit trees; Sugar Research Australia is increasing its investment in the fight against soldier fly, and it needs cane farmers help; A caffeine obsession has lead to a trial coffee crop in Bundaberg; Researchers have begun uncovering techniques to deter magpie geese from mango orchards; The ink is now dry on a 30 year lease for the Longreach Saleyards and spelling centre with plans to sell 100,000 cattle annually within 5 years; Grain Producers Australia says mandatory disclosure of grain stocks in Australia could be in place by the coming harvest; A four year old has won the beginners' section at some dog trials in the New England.

Today on the Country Hour: the smoke stacks have been a permanent feature of the Mt Isa skyline but now mining giant, Glencore, says it's cannot guarantee the future beyond the life of the current copper mining and smelting operation in north Queensland, the company has written to the Prime Minister and Premier citing energy, labour and freight costs, as threats to its viability and up to 2000 jobs. 'Waste not want not' is an old but true adage, as we declare war on waste, thanks to the ABC TV series, we ask what has the glare of national attention done to help farmers still grappling with the perennial problem of farm waste? When you're at the supermarket, do you look for the 'Fair Trade' logo? In South Africa 'Fair Trade' coffee is making a big difference to the lives of small communities. A horse on the gold coast euthanised after contracting the hendra virus, the first death in Queensland since 2015, calls to the state governments, to provide ongoing funding for the Queensland fire ant eradication program and restoring old tractors a tradition for Atherton Tablelands family the Serra family.