National Rural News

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Coalition backs Greens' call for register of foreign farm ownership Photo

The Federal Opposition is supporting a call for a national register of foreign purchases of land and water in rural Australia.

Banned insecticide found on NZ food Audio Photo

New Zealand's food safety body has found residue from the banned chemical endosulfan on local fruit and vegetables.

Water authority admits overcharging for irrigator exits Photo

A water authority in southern NSW has been overcharging farmers deciding to get out of irrigation.

Farmers plan to buy blue gum forests and burn them down Photo

A group of 32 landholders have joined forces to buy up blue gum forests on Kangaroo Island, burn them down and create farmland.

Abalone poachers may have damaged Esperance stocks Photo

Two Perth men have been fined for illegally catching abalone off Western Australia's south coast.

Rural illegal workers to be deported Photo

Immigration officials are organising the deportation of illegal workers found in three states this week.

Rebel land clearer sent to jail Audio Photo

A Western Australian wheat farmer has been jailed for contempt of court in relation to the state's native vegetation clearing laws.

NT developing carbon strategy Photo

The Northern Territory Government hopes to have a legal framework around carbon ownership in place by the end of the year.

Blame the union for Pluto fines, says AMMA Photo

Mining companies say the CFMEU needs to take responsibility for the fact that 1500 workers on the Pluto gas project are facing individual fines of about $28,000.

Bats besiege town's power supply Photo

Continued power outages caused by bats at the remote Northern Territory town of Mataranka are putting lives at risk, a community meeting has heard.

WA fish farmers happy to see red tape cut

The aquaculture sector in Western Australia says it's very happy with a government decision to make the Department of Fisheries a one-stop regulator for the industry.

Burke defends absence from lobby group conferences

The Federal Agriculture Minister is a city raised non-farmer, so how does he get the vital information he needs to direct policy for the nation's primary industries?

More staff for Manildra canola mill

A canola mill in central-west NSW is set to boost its workforce by 25 per cent.

Integrated pest management trials for WA cropping systems

Increasing insect resistance to insecticides in WA's cropping systems has prompted the Grains Research and Development Corporation to invest in integrated pest management trials.

Sugar growers to watch videos

Canegrowers is taking farmers for a ride.