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Australian agriculture looking to profitable year ahead – industry outlook

Australia’s agricultural sector is set to enjoy an overall profitable year ahead – underpinned by high commodity prices, positive seasonal conditions and low interest rates, and despite expected continuing trade tensions with China – according to a newly-released industry outlook.
Read full storyResearch highlights summer adaptation of annual ryegrass

Research is investigating whether ryegrass is adapting to Australia’s climatic conditions and becoming more productive in the warmer months.
Read full storyStrategies to manage feathertop Rhodes grass

When it comes to managing feathertop Rhodes grass (FTR), the successful strategies being used by Queensland and northern New South Wales grain growers and farm advisers focus on stopping weed seed set.
Read full storyGlobal fertiliser price outlook positive news for Australian growers

Affordable fertiliser prices helped support Australian agricultural producers’ profits through the 2020/21 winter cropping season. And a plentiful global fertiliser supply – along with stable currency outlook – spells further good news for growers in the year ahead, according to agribusiness specialist Rabobank.
Read full storyCSIRO DEVELOPS ‘GENE SANDWICH’ TO ENHANCE WHEAT RUST RESISTANCE

Australia is expecting a strong wheat crop this year, but that would be threatened if a large outbreak of wheat rust occurred. However, researchers at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, led an international effort to develop wheats with a stronger and potentially more durable level of resistance against rust diseases by “stacking” five resistance genes together.
Read full storyDraft Report of the Independent Review of the Agvet Chemicals Regulatory System

The independent panel has released its draft report on the review of Australia’s agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals regulatory system. Public comments are invited by 26 February 2021.
Read full storyCSD releases new crop modelling tool

Crop modelling tool assists cotton growers and consultants to estimate potential yield throughout the season.
Read full storyForecast of near record 51.5m tonne national winter crop

New South Wales is on the verge of a record-breaking winter crop, with forecast production of more than 17.6 million tonnes driving near all-time high production prospects for Australia overall. The ABARES Australian Crop Report - December 2020 forecasts a 76 per cent rise in Australia’s 2020-21 winter crop production to 51.5 million tonnes, second only to the record 56.7 million tonnes in 2016–17.
Read full storyNew organic herbicide great for tree crops

Grochem Australia has launched a new non-selective, organic herbicide in what it describes as a major breakthrough for the horticulture sector.
Read full storyBOM's outlook suggests a wet summer. But never rule out fire

Summer is set to be wet, according to the official outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). Despite it being relatively dry over the past few weeks the La Niña declared back in September is still strong, according to BOM senior climatologist Andrew Watkins. At the moment, short-term climate drivers are conspiring to keep things dry, giving farmers a handy window to try and get the crop out.
Read full storyAll farmers encouraged to map crops to prevent spray drift damage this season

All cropping farmers are being encouraged to play their part in preventing off-target spray drift damage by mapping their fields this season.
Read full storySerpentine leafminer detected in SE Queensland

Serpentine leafminer has been found in a commercial vegetable crop in the Fassifern Valley
Read full storyAgchem Safety Week – Industry Insights 24 Nov

Agsafe to host virtual presentation of two passionate advocates.
Read full storyGreat leap forward in innovation and choice for South Australian Farmers

South Australian growers will have access to GM crops from next season after Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham declared that all of mainland South Australia’s farmers would be allowed to commercially cultivate the crops.
Read full storyWe’re back! Australia on track for above-average winter crop

Australia is on track for a major recovery in grain production, with the winter harvest set to come in at above-average levels, according to just-released forecasts by agribusiness specialist Rabobank. In its Australian Winter Crop Production Outlook 2020/2021, the agribusiness bank says after three successive years of below-average production due to drought in many parts of the country, Australia’s “long-awaited grain production recovery is here”, with the nation expected to harvest 47.4 million tonnes of winter grains, oilseeds and pulses this year.
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