Abalone divers in Tasmania are looking at a record low catch for 2017 after the Total Allowable catch limit was released.

The Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff has set the catch at 1,561 tonnes, down 133 tonnes on last year's record low catch.

The Minister has also asked for public comment on the new biosecurity framework for Tasmanian into the future.

The EPA says it will reduce the salmon biomass for Macquarie Harbour due to oxygen levels, meaning fewer fish will be in the harbour.

Two days of public hearings in the Upper House inquiry into the deer population began this morning in Hobart.

The inquiry was told by DPIPWE it's been a decade since the last proper count of deer numbers was done.

A survey of 1300 farmers has shown 80 per cent want more done by governments about climate change.

And a delegation from China is visiting Tasmania this week to look at the high end seafood market.

The backpacker tax saga could be over after the Government agreed to a compromise rate of 15 per cent.

Primary Employers Tasmania says the compromise is fair and they are happy with the result.

Moonlake Investments are negotiating with a number of Tasmanian producers after signing a freight deal with Qantas.

Moonlake will underwrite flights to China, but says there is room for other products than milk to be freighted to China.

Qantas is set to become the freight partner for Van milk to fly fresh milk from Hobart airport to China.

The National carrier will begin a weekly service for Van milk early in the new year, flying 50 thousand litres of fresh milk to the city of Ningbo each week.

CEO of the TFGA Peter Skillern says the choice of Fiona Simson as new head of the NFF will not change their attitude to joining the national farmers group.

A new truck wash will be constructed at the Powranna saleyards in the north of the state as part of the plan to help biosecurity protocols.

As a number of Tasmanian products reach the China market, reporter Craig Zonca visits China to take a look into the future of our biggest export market.

The half hour special looks at where and how the opportunities for expanded trade with China will occur as the free trade deal kicks in.

Primary Employers Tasmania President Glynn Williams has urged the Government to finalise the backpacker tax issue today in the Senate.

Tasmanian grain growers have been urged to look at new types of grains like gluten free barley to expand their markets.

The controversial so-called 'factory trawler', the Geelong Star, has left Australian waters, to a mixed response from commercial and recreational fishers. It comes ahead of the results of a Senate inquiry into the economic and environmental impact of super trawlers, to be released this afternoon.

Mixed results have emerged out of a study of global kelp forests. Researchers expected to find that climate change was decimating kelp populations.

Tasmania's agricultural contractors association is recommending its members keep prices at last years rates. That's despite the costs of most new farm machinery rising, according to the chairman of the Agricultural Contractors of Tasmania, Peter Campbell.

Tasmania's deer association says recreational deer hunters can help reduce the state's wild deer population by extending the hunting season and through greater access to farms.

Tasmania's Legislative Council begins its inquiry into Fallow Deer today, by taking public submissions at Campbell Town.

The latest high tech hatchery for one of Tasmania's big salmon producers has been officially launched at Judbury in the Huon Valley.

The $30 million hatchery will see an extra 10 new employees for Huon Aquaculture and will mean the fish will spend less time in the ocean.

Australian Wool Innovation has delivered its annual report outlining plans to target leisure wear and bolster staff numbers in regions close to key markets.

Over the weekend the Tarkine was full of amateur scientists taking part in the second annual bioblitz, mapping and identifying the flora and fauna of the Tarkine.

The Tasmanian working sheep dog Association state championships were held over the weekend at Campbell Town.

First and second places in the Tasmanian open went to Michael Grant and Malcolm Taylor, who are both back from the nationals in Western Australia

Tasmanian pinot's have dominated the gold medal tally at this year's Royal Hobart International Wine Show.

It comes as the Hill Smith Family vineyards plan to invest upwards of $800,000 in further expansion in both northern and southern Tasmania

Many of the best cool climate wheat varieties available now aren't ideally suited to Tasmanian conditions.

That's the broad consensus emerging in the first year of Tasmania's biggest grains research project called the hyper yielding cereals project.

Tasmania's latest home grown value-added primary product has hit the supermarket shelves this week.

The family owned Daley Potato Company from Boomer Bay has launched a range of ready to eat potato salad products through the Woolworths network.

Multi national meat processing company JBS says increasing lamb and cattle supply is the reason they have re employed 100 workers.

In a move which has shocked cattle researchers and breeders, two American companies are trying to patent the bovine genome in Australia.

Cargill and Branhaven have been granted right to proceed to patent the genome in Australia.

Sustainable agriculture campaigner Graeme Sait believes Tasmania could become a national showcase for carbon rich farming.

Australian chemist Dr Peter Brookes is developing an Australian atlas of bio active tea trees to capture a share of the high value anti biotic manuka honey market.

The Yolla co-op from Tasmania's north-west is coming up to a milestone of 40 years as a rural supply retailer.