Sat, Feb 9, 2002
Nearly every farmer in the country has a collection of unregistered, unwanted, out of date and potentially dangerous chemicals in a shed somewhere on their property. Until now, paying a specialist to collect and destroy the chemicals has been the only way farmers could legally rid themselves of this burden, and reduce the threat to the environmentiroment. The cost though is so high, most farmers have just stored what they no longer need. After decades of waiting for a solution farmers finally have another option, and the best thing about it is - it's free.
Sat, Feb 16, 2002
Hobby farmers are an integral part of rural Australia. The money they spend stocking, fencing and planting out their small holdings is very important to the towns they surround. The trouble is, systems set up to service large scale farms do not always suit small scale hobby operators. Six years ago, one New South Wales auctioneer decided the most basic system, the auction, could be modified to suit the weekend farmer.
Sat, Feb 23, 2002
Five years ago, George King's neighbours scoffed at the idea he could turnaround the fortunes of his family's farm without spending a fortune in the process. By any objective measurement the place was falling to bits. The paddocks were clapped out, the stock was in-bred and the dams were silting up. He believed the problem was not the farm as such, but the way it was being managed, lots of decisions with no clear goal in mind. After a decade in the red, the place is in the black and we have just been back to see how George King turned it around.
Sat, Mar 2, 2002
Transplanting fully grown trees is an expensive business, and usually the preserve of landscape gardeners on a big budget not commercial orchardists. In southern Queensland though, one avocado grower is transplanting thousands of mature trees, in a bid to dramatically boost yields. After seeing how it's done you'may be left wondering how on earth the trees survive let along go on to produce more fruit than before.
Sat, Mar 9, 2002
Although still only a relative small industry in Australia, quail farming does have big ideas. After taking a devastating blow in the export arena when Newcastle disease struck the poultry sector several times in recent years, these growers are once again looking to take their product overseas.
Sat, Mar 16, 2002
The saleyard - for many it's just as much a social meeting place as a site where livestock is bought and sold. But the saleyard is about to undergo a transformation - and soon it'll have just as many barcode scanners as the local supermarket. Electronic identification is here to stay and your local saleyard may never be the same.
Sat, Mar 30, 2002
Early next week, a herd of dairy cattle will arrive in Dili to bolster supplies of fresh milk in East Timor. They have been donated by Australian farmers in a goodwill gesture to neighbours going through tough times. Most of the massive international aid effort in East Timor over the past couple of years has focussed on restoring peace to this poverty-stricken nation. But now with independence just weeks away, a lot more emphasis is being placed on rebuilding agriculture and the peoples' capacity to feed themselves into the future.
Sat, Apr 6, 2002
As the world's driest vegetated continent, Australia is continually being moulded by fire. With its summer droughts, northerly winds, steep terrain and tall, dry eucalypt forests - no environment is more fire-prone or combustible than southern-Australia. It has a history dotted with catastrophic bushfires. Seventy per cent of lives lost to bushfire have occurred in Victoria and historically the state also accounts for 70 per cent of the nation's economic loss. It is not surprising then, that land managers are reluctant to use fire as a management tool.
Sat, Apr 13, 2002
After a lifetime of collecting, former scientist Ken Plomley has reluctantly decided to part with his treasures. Among them are some of the rarest and valuable books on early Australian agriculture. The jewel of his library is an 1826 book on agriculture and grazing in New South Wales, by James Atkinson. It cost Ken 50 pounds back in the early 1960s. The winning bidder in Melbourne on April 16, will likely pay more than $30,000. They may be antiquarian, but Ken's agricultural books make some surprisingly sharp observations about farming in the fledgling colony.
Wed, Feb 20, 2002
The bush food industry has been around for a long time and it's often promised to be 'the next big thing'. But for any number of reasons it's never quite delivered and bush food remains to this day, a niche business with little in the way of promotion or marketing. However that could be changing. Kirsten Aiken found out, there's a focus and a confidence about the potential of bush food.
Wed, Feb 27, 2002
The growing divide between city and country has seen another push to teach children from metropolitan areas about life and work on the land. The Kondinin group has just released another book in its children's educational series, this time it looks at beef. It seeks to educate young urban Australians into the culture of the beef industry, its history and its importance to the rural and national economy.
Sat, May 4, 2002
One of our stories will focus on the contentious and sometimes misunderstood issue of food safety. Australia prides itself on the quality of its primary produce and relies heavily on its reputation as a 'safe food producer' to maintain export markets around the world. Yet there are those skeptical about our food safety and a growing number of consumers are turning to organic produce. This week we look at the myths surrounding what our food does and doesn't contain. The news is extremely positive.
Sat, May 11, 2002
The Year of the Outback is a calendar of events highlighting who and what's in the outback, but it also aims to encourage Australians to celebrate it and think about what the outback means to the country's future. One event held in Blackall near Longreach late last month aimed to draw urban Australia's attention to the agricultural produce from western Queensland. It also alerted outback producers to the opportunities to brand and value-add their produce, whether it be honey, dates, crayfish, figs, beef or mutton.
Sat, May 18, 2002
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. By weight it's worth more than gold. Prized for its intense colour, aroma and flavour, the dried stigmas from the crocus flower are used in Middle Eastern and European cooking. Twelve years ago a Tasmanian couple decided to try growing saffron, even though no-one had ever managed to grow it south of the equator. After a devastating false start they've established themselves as Australia's only saffron suppliers.
Sat, May 25, 2002
Tucked away in a laboratory in Canberra is a group of scientists hoping to unlock the secrets of the flowering process. Already they've won a worldwide race to find the gene that makes plants flower. Now they're trying to make sense of it. When they do agriculture, as we know it, is in for a radical overhaul.
Sat, Jun 1, 2002
The Australian show jumping championships is held in a different state every year. Usually it goes goes to a royal show, but this year it went to a small rural show in Queensland. It's the second time in five years that Gympie has snared the prestigious event, with the country's top riders giving it a big tick.
Sat, Jun 8, 2002
For many farmers their life is their land so giving it up can be a very difficult process. But as with so many family businesses there comes a time when the next generation is itching to take over whether their parents are ready or not. Today we look at a project in new south wales where farmers who have successfully made the transition into retirement help others to take a similar step.
Sat, Jun 15, 2002
Organisers have always hoped the Year of the Outback would be more than the sum of its parts. At last count there's been some 700 community events and festivals organised across the country. Many of them aimed at bridging the divide between urban and rural Australia and celebrating the distinctive, often isolated and challenging lifestyle that few in the bush would swap for anything.
Sat, Jun 22, 2002
It has been touted as an industry with huge potential but so far, the Australian camel business is taking tentative small steps not giant strides forward. But in a coup akin to sending tea to China, Saudi Arabia has just accepted its first shipment of camels from the red centre. Those pushing camel still believe the industry will take off, if more graziers get behind it.
Sat, Jul 27, 2002
Since the early nineties yabbies have been serious business in Western Australia where much work has been done developing a hybrid male only species. Now farmers in New South Wales are hoping to catch up and cash in on this industry, their hopes resting on a genetic improvement program which so far has promising results.
Sat, Aug 3, 2002
When you're farming the driest continent on earth, it's water not land that's the limiting factor. It's also the cause of friction between stakeholders competing for a fair and sustainable share of this precious resource. And while there are obviously dozens of disputed catchments across the country there is only one where our biggest cotton grower is staring down a State Government threat to shut it down completely. Landline's been to Dirranbandi in Queensland's south west for this report on the case for and against Cubbie Station.
Sat, Aug 10, 2002
A group of militant farmers is attempting a coup in northern Victoria. The rebels are pitting their forces against their local Council over the issue of rates. The rural ratepayers of the Gannawarra Shire want immediate reform of the current rating system which they've decried as 'unjust'. After a two long battle and the failure of repeated mediation talks, this week the conflict goes before the Victorian Supreme Court. It's a court case which could have significant implications for rural shires across Australia.
Sat, Aug 17, 2002
The "whole production pathway" approach now underpins a range of food safety, eating quality and marketing initiatives right across Australian agriculture. And while we've obviously featured many of them over the years, we rarely get a chance to actually follow the story from the farmgate to the dinner plate... in this case beef bound for Brisbane's Royal Show, the Ekka.
Sat, Aug 31, 2002
Salinity has been identified as probably the biggest environmental issue in Australia today, but in Western Australia it's been part of the landscape for decades. A combination of clearing and the unique system of paeleo channels beneath the Western Australian wheat belt have resulted in 8 per cent of arable land there going saline. Ironically, the State with the most experience at tackling the problem and the biggest immediate need of help, is the only one in Australia yet to secure any of the Federal Government's $700 million under the National Action Plan for Salinity.
Sat, Sep 14, 2002
This time next year Australia could well be growing genetically modified food crops for the first time. We have had GM cotton for about six years but food is different. All sorts of accusations have been made about the benefits and drawbacks of GMOs, also called biotech or genetically engineered crops. Working through the maze of information is not easy but Landline is attempting to do just that. Landline�s Prue Adams recently hosted a forum discussion with a panel of eight of the best minds, those who agree or disagree with the imminent roll-out of fields of genes.
Sat, Sep 28, 2002
The cane toad's economic impact might be hard to determine, but it is renowned for harming many of our native animals, especially frogs. Since the toad's introduction to control another pest flopped, there have been several attempts to find a way to get rid of it. They too have been unsuccessful but only now are scientists at the CSIRO confident they will soon have the answer.
Sat, Oct 5, 2002
The fine balancing act between domestic politics and international trade has again come into sharp focus this week over sugar. On the one hand Canberra has been promoting the merits of its latest rescue package for canegrowers while our trade minister challenges the fairness of Europe doing much the same sort of thing for its farmers. There is certainly a strong view that if you can't beat them... join them. But long-term the industry might need to take a serious look at alternative markets for sugar cane, like fuel ethanol and bioplastics.
Sat, Oct 12, 2002
Imagine a wheat crop that is drought proof, provides a return just two weeks after planting and best of all could earn nearly $800,000 per hectare. It is not a fantasy designed to torment farmers unable to even get a crop away this year. It is wheatgrass, the latest health food trend promoters claim is the new fountain of youth.
Sat, Oct 19, 2002
Japan's retail, food service and media industries are being targeted in a $14 million promotional campaign aiming to restore Australia's $1.7 billion beef export market. About 90 per cent of Australia's beef trade to Japan was cut last year after BSE or Mad Cow disease was discovered in Japan. And while the Japan sales recovery campaign swings into action with 4,000 in-store promotions, at least one Aussie beef exporter has been busy turning good animal husbandry into a marketing success story.
Sat, Oct 26, 2002
Thirty years ago Western Australia's Margaret River region was depressed and its traditional primary industries such as dairy farming and timber were in sharp decline. But a new wave of winemakers and young surfers helped transform the Margaret River brand into one of Australia's best for quality gourmet food and beverage. So much so, the West Australian government is now using Margaret River to spearhead a new export drive into Asia, via Singapore.
Sat, Nov 2, 2002
There are about 50 registered cattle breeds in this country and by and large if you are in the commercial beef and dairy business, the bigger the better. But for a growing number of hobby farmers on small acreage, size is important too. They are after quiet, compact cows that will not eat them out of house and home, like the dual purpose "Dexters".
Sat, Nov 9, 2002
If you have never heard of the oddly-named weed, Branched Broomrape, you should consider yourself lucky. It is one of the world's worst parasitic pests, causing billions of dollars in crop losses mostly in the Mediterranean, Middle East and Asia. Parts of North America are also struggling to get rid of the weed and now we have it in Australia.
Sat, Nov 16, 2002
With critical pasture and water shortages, kangaroos are very much in the spotlight. So why is the RSPCA calling for a ban on farmers shooting kangaroos? Well, it's a cruelty issue. The RSPCA says farmers have yet to prove they're culling kangaroos as humanely as the professionals and drought isn't about to sway its view.
Sat, Nov 23, 2002
Australia has a very proud tradition of producing top rodeo riders. We've had many world champions and many Aussies compete successfully on the tough but lucrative American rodeo circuit. Where do these good rivers come from? They don't just happen - in fact many start at rodeo school.
Sat, Nov 30, 2002
Last week horse lovers descended on Brisbane for Australia's third Equitana. The event was the largest horse expo ever held in this country, and on show were a big range of breeds, sports, and training philosophies. The four day event attracted thousands of riders hungry for information, and a chance to see some of the world's top riders in action.
Sat, Dec 7, 2002
For many years Australian natives trees have been just as integral to third world countries where other plants died, hardy Australian species have thrived providing much needed food and fuel resources. At the heart of both our revegatation and aid efforts is the little-known Australian Tree Seed Centre.
Fri, Dec 13, 2002
For a long time mussels were used most commonly in Australia as fishing bait. But they're fast becoming one of the most popular seafood items on restaurant menus - so fast, the industry expects local production will double within two years. While growers claim the blue mussel is threatening to overtake oysters in popularity, the shellfish is facing threats to its own existence.