Farmers Struggling with Connectivity After 3G Shutdown, Senate Inquiry Reveals
A Senate Inquiry has found that telcos failed to adequately support farm communities in staying safe and connected after the 3G shutdown.
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News
Farmers Sound Alarm as Destructive Cactus Creeps Across NSW
Farmers are warning that the spread of harrisia cactus across northern NSW could be just the beginning of a growing weed crisis.
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Help Rebuild Farmers' Lives: Rural Aid's 2025 Mates Day Campaign
Support Australian farmers recovering from disasters by donating to provide essential aid, volunteer assistance, and mental health services. Your contribution can make a life-changing difference.
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Protecting Livestock from Blue-Green Algae Poisoning
Livestock owners are urged to monitor water sources for blue-green algae, particularly during warmer months, as these blooms can produce harmful toxins that pose serious risks to animals. Early detection and immediate action, including providing alternative water sources, can help prevent poisoning. Developing a management plan for water safety is essential to safeguarding livestock health.
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From Side Hustle to Full-Time Success: John Matthewson's BeefTrans Journey
John Matthewson’s BeefTrans journey turned a side hustle into a successful livestock transport business, emphasizing quality service, proper livestock preparation, and a family-focused approach.
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$20k Grants to Support Mental Health in Farming Communities
The In a Good Place (IAGP) program is offering grants up to $20,000 for community-driven projects that improve mental health and wellbeing in remote, rural, and farming areas.
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Aussie Dollar Decline Boosts Opportunities for Red Meat Exporters
The Australian dollar has recently hit a 22-year low this week, trading at US61.8c, with a dip as low as US61.3c. This marks the weakest point for the Aussie dollar since April 2003, apart from a brief COVID-19 drop. While this decline may seem concerning, it’s providing a major boost for Australian red meat exporters in global markets.
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Reflecting on a Year of Growth and Optimism in Agriculture
As 2024 draws to a close, we celebrate a year of resilience and growth in the agricultural sector, with strong livestock sales, a robust recovery in the export market, and significant growth in rural property values. Looking ahead, the outlook remains positive, with expectations of sustained growth driven by strong rainfall, interest rate cuts, and continued momentum in both the property and livestock markets.
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2025: A 'Goldilocks Year' for the Australian Beef Industry. All sectors get a slice of the pie
The Australian beef industry is poised for a rare “goldilocks year” in 2025, where profit margins are expected to be more evenly distributed across the supply chain. Producers, lot feeders, and processors/exporters all stand to benefit from favorable conditions driven by market stability, improved processing capacity, strong export demand, and seasonal factors.
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New Drought Plan Provides Clear Framework for Support
The Albanese Labor Government has released a comprehensive Drought Plan to guide the support of farmers throughout the drought cycle, from preparation to recovery. The plan includes a range of measures such as climate information, concessional loans, and income support, ensuring farming businesses can make informed decisions as conditions change.
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Gunnedah Saleyards Upgrade Reaches Exciting Milestone
The Gunnedah Saleyards, one of New South Wales' premier livestock selling centres, has reached a significant milestone in its redevelopment with the installation of a new roof. This upgrade will enhance safety, efficiency, and weather protection for livestock, workers, and buyers, securing the facility’s future as a vital hub for the region’s agricultural industry.
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The Impact of the RBA's Decision to Hold Interest Rates on Australian Farmers
Rising interest rates in Australia are putting pressure on farmers, increasing borrowing costs and complicating financial decisions. While some farmers are in strong financial positions, others face significant challenges.
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Super Tax Blocked in Senate, Delayed Until Next Year
The NFF welcomed the Senate’s rejection of a superannuation tax that would impact farmers and small businesses. The Nationals oppose the tax and vow to scrap it if elected.
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NSW Faces Heightened Bushfire Risk as Queensland's Fires Highlight Urgent Need for Preparation
Queensland’s bushfire crisis highlights the growing risk for New South Wales, where experts warn of a dangerous fire season ahead. With over 1,600 fires already reported in NSW, local communities must prepare now for a hotter, more intense summer.
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Mental Health and Suicide in New South Wales
Mental health challenges and suicide continue to impact many lives in New South Wales. This article explores the latest statistics on suicide rates, the mental health factors at play, and where to turn for support when you or a loved one needs help.
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Indonesia Becomes a Major Player in Australian Beef Exports
Indonesia has rapidly emerged as a major market for Australian beef, with significant growth in both boxed beef exports and live cattle trade. Over the past 18 months, Australian boxed beef exports to Indonesia have reached record highs, driven by factors such as increased import permits, delays in cheaper Indian buffalo meat imports, and the expansion of cold storage capacity in Indonesia.
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Cattle Industry Calls for Tougher Penalties on Biosecurity Breaches
Cattle industry leaders are calling for tougher penalties for biosecurity breaches, saying current fines are too low to protect the $86 billion sector. With illegal incursions still a threat, leaders urge stronger deterrents and more resources to safeguard Australia’s cattle industry.
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Urgent Health Risks for Livestock Amidst Rapid Pasture Growth
Lush pastures from recent rains can cause serious health issues like bloat and pulpy kidney in livestock. Producers should closely monitor their animals and manage their diets and vaccinations.
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The Growing Demand for Quality Beef
Consumers are increasingly seeking high-quality beef options for home cooking, driving demand for premium products.
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Report Exposes NSW's Approach to Invasive Species Needs Urgent Reform
New South Wales is facing a potential $30 billion problem by 2030 if its current approach to managing invasive species doesn't change. A government-commissioned review released Monday highlights the fragmented and ineffective response to the spread of invasive species across the state, including pests like cats, foxes, and 340 varieties of weeds.
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NSW Farmers Urge for Improved Connectivity as 3G Networks Shut Down
NSW Farmers urge improved connectivity as Telstra and Optus shut down 3G networks on October 28. They stress that 4G and 5G must match or exceed 3G coverage for rural communities. Farmers should check devices to avoid disruptions.
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Government Allocates Over $100 Million to Combat Avian Influenza
The government has announced over $100 million in funding to combat avian influenza, focusing on enhanced biosecurity measures and support for affected farmers. This initiative aims to protect the poultry industry and safeguard public health amid rising concerns over disease outbreaks.
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Australia Sets the Benchmark for Drought Resilience
Discover how Australia’s extensive experience and innovative strategies position it as a global leader in effective drought management, ensuring resilience for its agricultural communities.
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Five tips to protect from rural crime
Stay Vigilant: Protecting Your Rural Property from Theft
Whether your agricultural business is big or small, rural properties often have valuable assets that can attract thieves. Fortunately, as technology and connectivity advance, there are now effective ways to safeguard your property and deter potential criminals.
John Hill from Land Watch shared insights on the latest trends in rural crime and provided practical tips to help protect your property.
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Market Report: Gunnedah Saleyards – Increased Yarding as Warmer Weather Continues
As the warmer weather sets in, Gunnedah Saleyards saw an increased yarding, with a strong supply of young cattle.
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Woolworths $1.7B net profit draws fire from farm, consumer groups
Woolworths, Australia's largest supermarket chain, announced a net profit of $1.7 billion for the financial year ending 30 June, marking a 3% increase from the previous year. This announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of supermarket practices, particularly in relation to pricing and profit margins.
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Why does regional Australia need a brain reset tour?
Micro-behavioural neuroscientist Allan Parker OAM has noticed a significant shift in 35 years of working with Australian farming families. Once seen as more grounded and stable than their city counterparts, rural communities are now experiencing stress levels on par with or even higher than those in urban areas.
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IGT Expands to New Facility, Enhances Cattle IVF Technology
Inventia Genetic Technologies (IGT), Australia's leading provider of cattle IVF programs, has moved into a larger facility to support its growth. The expansion features advanced R&D capabilities, including the introduction of robots and AI to improve embryo production. IGT's new premises will also focus on integrating genomics with IVF, exploring new species, and enhancing staff training. This development marks the company's third major expansion since its founding in 2012, reflecting its confidence in the future of cattle genetics and IVF technology.
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Rural NSW Farmers Urged to Speak Up Against New Super Tax
The Federal Government’s proposed ‘Super Tax’ on unrealised gains could heavily impact small business owners and farmers in rural NSW, potentially forcing asset sales and disrupting succession plans.
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Australia Sets New Beef Export Record for July Despite Lower Slaughter Rates
Australia’s beef exports reached a record 129,998 tonnes in July, surpassing previous highs despite lower slaughter rates. Strong demand from key markets like the US, Japan, and South Korea contributed to this achievement.
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Walcha Beef on National Television
Walcha beef takes center stage on national television! Featured in the acclaimed PBS documentary "Grilling Down Under," this episode showcases the Halliday family’s commitment to sustainable and flavorful beef production.
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Polled Perfection: Navigating Challenges in Breeding for Hornless Cattle
Exploring the complex journey of breeding hornless cattle (polledness), highlighting challenges and strategies from Australian Agricultural Co's initiatives with Mitchell composite and Wagyu herds.
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Industry Outcry Over Senate's Live Export Ban Decision
Agricultural leaders express outrage over the Senate's approval of a ban on live sheep exports, denouncing it as a politically motivated blow to Australian farming, sparking a broader campaign against live cattle exports.
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Expanding Beef Processing Capacities Drive Australia's Rising Slaughter Rates
Explore how substantial increases in beef processing capacity across Victoria, South Australia, and NSW are reshaping the national slaughter landscape, with southern states leading the charge in processing growth and cattle sourcing strategies shifting southward.
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Australian Meat Group Secures Landmark Access to Chinese Beef Market for Dandenong Facility
Australian Meat Group has achieved a major milestone with its Dandenong beef processing facility gaining official approval to export to China. This marks the first new access granted to an Australian red meat processor since 2017, amidst delays attributed to COVID-19 and diplomatic tensions.
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Farmers given hope after Grocery Code of Conduct changes
The Federal Government has announced major reforms to supermarket practices in response to criticism. These include making the Food and Grocery Code mandatory, increasing penalties for breaches, and improving protections for suppliers. Farmers and industry groups support these changes as steps toward fairer competition, though challenges and the need for broader reforms persist.
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Research working towards redefining how feedlot methane emissions are predicted
AS PART of one of the four key work areas in relation to the beef industry’s Carbon Neutral 2030 Roadmap referring to greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, it has been discovered that the current equation used to determine the levels of enteric methane emissions from feedlot cattle may overestimate the numbers.
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Steer prices stronger in 16,700 head online offering
Cattle numbers on AuctionsPlus dropped by 5% to 16,702 head due to weaker demand, resulting in a 54% clearance rate. Most steer prices rose, while heifer prices varied. New South Wales contributed the most listings, followed by Queensland. Processor activity remained low. Weaner steers sold at a 22% premium over heifers, the highest gap since 2016. Steer prices increased significantly, with notable sales in the over 400kg category.
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Woolies, Coles drop winter retail prices on beef items – do cattle contracts follow suit?
NATIONAL supermarket operators Woolworths and Coles have lowered prices on a small selection of popular beef items, effective from winter’s official start on Saturday.
However beef items are only thinly represented among hundreds of grocery and fresh food items listed for reductions by both retailers.
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Increasing slaughter rates
It seems like the cattle processing industry is facing some challenges with increasing slaughter rates and nearing capacity. The recent surge in weekly cattle slaughter, boosted by favorable weather conditions and events like Beef 2024, has pushed the industry's capacity close to its limit.
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Hard work needed to earn soil carbon credits says NSW farmer
Nick Blomfield from Cheyenne Pastoral at Walcha has long been a proponent of regenerative agriculture and was recently issued about 12,000 Australian Carbon Credit Units for his project through carbon developer Carbon Link.
Mr Blomfield said the project was based on increasing stocking densities and rest periods – with the property now hosting 144 paddocks over 750ha.
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Agriculture Industry Outraged at Live Sheep Ban
The agriculture industry has united in its outrage at the Federal Government's four-year plan to phase out live sheep exports by sea, with many accusing the government of treating the industry with contempt and pandering to animal activists who base their arguments on emotion rather than science.
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Virtual Reality Boosts Animal Welfare Training In Vietnam and Indonesia
The livestock export industry has launched a virtual reality (VR) training tool as the latest innovation to support animal welfare training in Indonesian and Vietnamese abattoirs.
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“Too many paddocks being lost”: Fall armyworm impacting beef fodder crops
After being discovered in Queensland in January 2020, Fall armyworm quickly expanded throughout Australia, becoming entrenched in portions of Victoria, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.
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CERES Tag enables compliance with the incoming EU deforestation laws.
CERES Tag technology can help livestock producers meet the stringent requirements of the European Union's deforestation supply chain laws and Scope 3 emissions reporting, while also improving overall sustainability practices.
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'Just a Famer' Film Spotlights Rural Mental Health
Leila McDougall, a Walcha-born farmer turned filmmaker, says she wanted to portray farmers' "authentic" experiences on film in Just A Farmer, showcasing local talent.
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JBR Proudly Sponsoring the Gunnedah Show
James Bradford Rural is proud to be sponsoring the 2024 Gunnedah Show, running from Friday 12th April to Sunday 14th April.
Come with us to learn more about the history of The Gunnedah Show.
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Lifting lean meat yield: What can we learn from Sydney Show led steers?
The 2024 Sydney Royal Easter Show concluded this week.
During the early part of the show, stud cattle from more than a dozen breeds were exhibited and judged, with animals from most Australian states receiving ribbons and acclaim.
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MLA launches online hub for livestock transportation information.
Meat & Livestock Australia launched a one-stop shop for livestock transport information at this week's National Conference of the Queensland and Australian Livestock Transporters' Associations in Toowoomba.
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A Smart Work Tool on a Remote Outback Cattle Station
ELIZA Pearson manages 67 bores on an outback station spanning nearly one million acres (400,000ha).
Kalala Station is located 10 kilometres from Daly Waters and 280 kilometres south of Katherine in the Northern Territory, divided by the Stuart Highway.
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Meat processors are moving to mandatory video surveillance under the Animal Welfare Certification System.
The Australian Meat Industry Council announced today that video surveillance systems will become mandatory under the processing industry's Australian Animal Welfare Certification System beginning in 2026.
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Researchers create lithium batteries using cow hair.
Cattle can produce a variety of by-products, including crayons, lubricants, candles, soaps, lipsticks, shaving creams, deodorants, and toothpaste.
Argentinan researchers believe they will soon have another addition to their already long list: lithium batteries.
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Hazard Reduction - Why Is It Important?
Australia's unique climate and geography have always made us vulnerable to extreme weather events, but climate change is exacerbating those conditions even more.
We are seeing more severe and frequent bushfires, putting unprecedented strain on communities and response teams, and resulting in significant social, environmental, and economic consequences.
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Varroa Mite National Plan to Focus on Beekeeper Education
Specialist personnel will be deployed across Australia to slow the spread of the destructive varroa mite throughout the bee industry.
The federal government's National Management Group has unanimously approved a Transition to Management Plan that limits response costs to $100 million, down from a previous limit of $136 million.
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Take A Virtual Feedlot Tour to Understand What Makes the Grainfed Industry Tick.
The Australian Lot Feeders Association has released its latest educational resource, a virtual feedlot tour, which promises to provide an immersive 'on-farm' experience of feedlot operations and career opportunities.
The all-inclusive virtual experience offers an immersive 360-degree walkthrough of a feedlot, with detailed insights into operational areas and concise facts about the grain-fed beef industry.
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Big Rain Means Big Win for Farmers
Despite the floods devastating some parts of the country, cattle and sheep producers and cotton, rice and sorghum growers are some of farming’s big winners from Australia’s rain-soaked summer.
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Albanese Announces the ACCC Inquiry into Supermarket Pricing.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has bowed to industry and political pressure by announcing an investigation into supermarket food pricing, which will include a comparison of farmgate and retail prices.
Mr Albanese informed the National Press Club today that Treasurer Jim Chalmers will direct the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to conduct a 12-month price enquiry into the supermarket industry.
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A Merry Christmas from JBR
Please be advised that our office will be closing on the 22nd December 2023 and be reopening on 8th January 2024. The JBR Team wishes you and your family a safe and merry Christmas
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Keeping Sun Safe on the Farm This Summer
Make sure you and your loved ones are ready to keep safe when the temperatures rise and the school year ends.
Prior to beginning your summer to-do list, make sure the children on your farm are safe, educate yourself on the warning signs and risks of heat illness, and learn how to protect yourself from the sun.
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