Sat, Apr 1, 2000
One of the greatest problems any farmer faces is the unpredictable nature of our weather. A South Australian market gardener appears to have found a solution with high-tech, double-skinned plastic greenhouses. Not only are they temperature-controlled and built to survive hailstorms, they're proving a boon to the growth of the farmer's cucumbers.
Sat, Apr 8, 2000
When we talk about environmental problems in Australia, two subjects invariably emerge at the top of the list: water and soil. In many ways, the problems we face with these two basic natural resources - such as salinity and soil degradation - are interwoven and the solutions often work in tandem as well. Many of the problems with soil and water arise from the mismatch between Australian soils, water balance and climate and the traditional European farming and grazing methods.
Tue, Apr 15, 2003
Central Queensland stud breeder Geoff Maynard is achieving success with the Bonsmara beef cattle breed. Mr Maynard was among the first stud cattle breeders in the country to import Bonsmara genetics. Since the eighties, he has focused on developing eating quality and came to see the tropically-adapted Bos Taurus breeds as coming into their own.
Sat, Apr 22, 2000
We all know Vegemite, one of Australia's great contributions to international cuisine. Vegemite however is owned by Kraft, an American food group, which in turn is owned by the tobacco giant Phillip Morris and has been since the 1920s. But adventurous entrepreneur Dick Smith is ready to change that.
Sat, Apr 29, 2000
Water recycling has helped a small central Victorian town save money as well as allowing nearby vineyards to expand. The town of Ararat is selling its 'grey water' to five vineyards in the Great Western district in a deal that solves two problems - what to do with waste water and how to boost a water-starved local industry.
Sat, May 13, 2000
For some time Bonlac foods had been hailed a model for the dairy industry. The cooperative was Australia's second largest dairy processor and had made bold incursions into areas such as fruit juices, carbonated drinks and even dairy based bio-technology products. Just recently that image has taken a battering.
Sat, May 20, 2000
The population of the tiny South Australian town of Coomandook was multiplied a hundred-fold last weekend for a tractor auction. The auction of the McArdle family's tractors, dating back to war-time and shortly thereafter, highlighted the popularity of antique tractor-collecting in Australia.
Sat, May 27, 2000
Earlier this year the ABC program Australian Story ran a report on a young farmer in northern New South Wales marrying a reporter from ABC rural radio. ABC switchboards across the country were lit up with callers touched by the way Sam Bailey and Jenny Black came together. The story revealed circumstances which made this a remarkable tale of love, hope and determination.
Sat, Jun 3, 2000
Organic farming is now the fastest growing agricultural sector in Australia. Once the province of a few hippies on hobby farms, it has become a multi-million dollar business. Major supermarket chains are now offering organic produce to the public and there are the big export markets opening up in Europe, America and Japan. The Japanese alone last year spent close to $2 billion on organic products. Behind the growth is a growing consumer demand for organic produce in the face of food scares and negative reation to genetically-modified foods.
Sat, Jun 10, 2000
Australian farmers are cashing in on the growing overseas demand for organic produce. With buyers paying up to 30 per cent more for chemical-free produce, the financial incentives are becoming more and more attractive for farmers to go organic. And while the burgeoning demand is boosting the bottom line for growers, the move towards organic agriculture is helping to make farming practices in Australia more sustainable.
Sat, Jul 15, 2000
Deer farming has emerged as an alternative for disgruntled dairy farmers leaving their industry in the wake of deregulation. The deer industry sees the woes of its dairy cousins as an opportunity to grow and expand but it needs more farmers to boost production. The industry will soon embark on a recruiting drive and dairy farmers � cashed up with a $1.8 billion restructure package from deregulation � make ideal targets.
Sat, Jul 22, 2000
Namoi Valley irrigators face one of the most severe cutbacks ever faced by an industry: a 70 to 80 per cent reduction in their major input, water. Not surprisingly, the farmers are upset at the New South Wales Government plan. While locals agree the Namoi situation demands urgent action, friction has arisen over how best to deal with a problem that his literally flowed from bad decisions in the past.
Sat, Jul 29, 2000
Scattered throughout California's Napa Valley are a number of Australians who have been described as 'the shiraz in cabernet sauvignon. They have established themselves in the United States wine industry and their revolutionary ideas are making a big impression. The Aussies are doing everything from growing the grapes and making wine to marketing and managing wineries. They are also spearheading some of the world's leading edge viticultural research and development.
Sat, Aug 12, 2000
A heavy reliance on lotfeeding has helped raise United States beef production, quality and consistency, with the flow-on effect of boosting returns for producers. America now has 13 million cattle in feedlots, easily outstripping Australia's 1 million head despite a 20 per increase in local lotfeeding in the past year.
Sat, Aug 26, 2000
Greg and Judy Ollis, living outside Geelong, faced enormous difficulties when their daughter, Lauren was diagnosed with leukaemia. Months of exhausting trips to Melbourne for medical treatment almost ended the couple�s marriage. They�ve since pulled through, and decided to help others in the same situation.
Sat, Sep 2, 2000
Big Lizzie may have built during World War I but she is remembered as the mother of all tractors. When constructed Big Lizzie was the biggest tractor ever made in Australia and possibly the world. The people of Redcliffs in Victoria are proud of their piece of agricultural history and are fighting to preserve the legend.
Sat, Sep 16, 2000
A small Victorian vineyard is set to revolutionise the way wine is sold. Giaconda, makers of some of the nation's most sought after wine, has just put its entire vintage out to tender on the net. But while the wine industry has been sizing up the opportunities of marketing on the Internet for some time, results have yet to match the hype.
Sat, Sep 30, 2000
Once greeted with widespread enthusiasm, the Federal Government's 2020 Plan for backing tree plantations is now under fire. The plan aims to triple the amount of land under plantations by the year 2020, with benefits for the environment, employment, exports and rural communities. But there are some who claim plantations are out of control, displacing families and traditional rural industries.
Sat, Oct 7, 2000
Back in 1797, when the first merino rams stumbled ashore at Port Jackson after months at sea, it's unlikely they looked remotely iconic. Yet in the space of two centuries the descendents of those first Spanish immigrants have evolved into a potent Australian symbol, far beyond their utilitarian role as a provider of wool. An exhibition that has just opened at the National Wool Museum in Geelong pays homage to the artistic side of the sheep.
Sat, Oct 14, 2000
In the words of Mark Twain, "whiskey's for drinking, water's for fighting over",. The fighting has certainly started in Victoria, where farmers are asking the question: who owns the rain? Under certain state government proposals, every trickle into every farm damn used for irrigation could face strict regulation, affecting the viability of individual businesses and burgeoning industries.
Sat, Oct 21, 2000
Since the Murray Darling cap on water was introduced, a growing nightmare for irrigators is how they manage in an environment where water is restricted and becoming much more expensive. Queensland is the last state in the Basin to fall in line with the cap, and to do it, the State Government has introduced Water Allocation Management Plans, or "WAMP" in the river systems.
Sat, Oct 28, 2000
For those who appreciate the hard work and finesse that goes into producing memorable lagers and ales, "Brew-it-upï" is technology at its best. The business allows small or large groups of beer connoisseurs to brew and bottle their own unique beverages using top quality ingredients, all under the watchful eye of a team of master-brewers. It is home brewing meets boutique beer making and is a big hit in the San Francisco Bay area.