South Australian Country Hour

The first Bunge shipments of the 2026/27 harvest season year have cleared South Australian port this week destined for the Philippines, and scientists develop artificial intelligence technology capable of recognising individual lobsters, with the innovation expected to allow for new levels of traceability.

The Bureau of Meteorology latest long-range forecast suggest it is shaping up to potentially be a bit wetter for some parts of the state in the coming weeks, and locust spraying to begin in the Riverland soon despite earlier PIRSA advice that the district wasn't suitable for spraying. 

Aerial spraying underway across southern Australia to try and control locust numbers, analysis shows Australia's meat processing sector will need to attract almost 100,000 additional workers, and South Australia's John Dalla secures his 15th national blade shearing title.

The Yorke Peninsula's Stansbury oyster growing area closed following detection of a micro-algal species, Australian milk production slowly increases across Australia but continues to slip backwards in SA, and dairy farmers ask the government to cut them out of a free trade deal between Australia and the European Union.

The Bureau of Meteorology responds to criticism of the accuracy of its forecasts.

The SA Government announces temporary exemptions on approvals for installing additional grain storage.

A parliamentary inquiry into buffel grass management begins hearing evidence South Australia.

Farmers in the Adelaide Hills raise concerns about a proposed hyperscale data centre at Tungkillo, a One Nation MP levels criticism at the accuracy of Bureau of Meteorology forecasts, and fertiliser importers claim to have lost up to $25million as a result of the Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility.

Livestock SA says not all producers are ready to operate under upcoming changes to electronic tagging, Rural Business Support secures $11.8million in funding to continue financial counselling services for farmers, and producers divided over a proposal to allow more water harvesting from floodplains that feed into SA.

SA to delay implementing new federal workplace exposure limit regulations for grain dust, methyl bromide and flour dust, cattle prices kick after widespread rain falls across parts of QLD and northern NSW in the past week, and the CFS allocates aerial firefighting resources ahead of what's expected to be a huge harvest in SA.

Farmers continuing to struggle to access enough harvest workers amid a backpacker visa slowdown, a new tool to help lock in contracts for hay carting amid fluctuating fuel prices, and the government announces a 5-year funding extension for Rural Financial Counselling Service providers.

SA Police investigating thefts of fuel from farms across the Lower Eyre Peninsula, the Black Sea conflict continues to influence how global grains markets are behaving, and more than a thousand medical professionals gather in SA to discuss rural health services.