Rural News

Don’t delay Keelty report, says Sheed

There should be no delay to releasing the report of Murray-Darling Basin water resources interim inspector-general Mick Keelty’s inquiry into water sharing arrangements between the states, according to State Member for Shepparton Suzann...

James Bennett

Beef producers seek hydatid disease advice

A survey of beef producers has highlighted the need for more awareness on hydatid disease, which comes from a parasite and can infect livestock, dogs and people. Hydatid disease is caused by a small tapeworm that lives in the gut of dogs and their...

Jamieson Salter

Katamatite memories

Katamatite is in the Murray Valley irrigation area, 42 km north-east of Shepparton. Katamatite farmers mostly grew wheat and animal fodder, and bagged wheat was transported from the Katamatite Railway Station until a silo was built in 1943...

Jamieson Salter

Katamatite memories

Katamatite is in the Murray Valley irrigation area, 42 km north-east of Shepparton. Katamatite farmers mostly grew wheat and animal fodder, and bagged wheat was transported from the Katamatite Railway Station until a silo was built in 1943...

Jamieson Salter

Labradors fit easily into family farm life

There is always a fair bit of action going on at the Fisher family farm at Girgarre and a lot of mouths to feed. Between parents Bec and Jayke, and their four kids Cooper, Max, Harry and Ava, a herd of dairy cows, three Labradors and now nine new...

Sophie Baldwin

Southern NSW sheep producers needed for ewe research

Commercial sheep producers in southern NSW looking to improve the survival of ewes during lambing are being sought to participate in a research project funded by Meat & Livestock Australia. The project, ‘Unlocking the key to ewe...

Rodney Woods

Lobbying vets get their wish

The Australian Veterinary Association is lobbying governments to ensure vets are classified as essential service providers. Vets are seeking assurances they can continue to provide animal health services in the event of any restrictions or national...

Geoff Adams

Water prices likely to remain high in southern Murray-Darling Basin

Water prices in the southern Murray-Darling Basin are likely to remain high in 2020 to 2021, according to the latest Market Outlook report from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences. ABARES’ farm performance...

Country News

Country News still available in Gannawarra Shire area

Loyal readers in the Gannawarra Shire area will be aware Country News is normally found inside the Gannawarra Times, but with the latter closing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Country News will be available at three local businesses. Country News...

Rodney Woods

Saleyards put precautions in place to reduce the spread of coronavirus

The restrictions on how many people are allowed at outdoor and indoor events have been set and saleyard operators must abide by the rules. That’s the message from the Victorian Government and it seems saleyard operators are listening. Echuca &...

Rodney Woods

Young people encouraged to enter Furphy Literary Awards

Young talents across the Goulburn Valley will have a chance to share their stories through the Furphy Literary Awards. The awards were established in honour of Shepparton author Joseph Furphy, who wrote Such is Life in 1897, a book portraying his...

Country News

Pets can save the lives of their elderly owners

Household pets have the ability to save lives. A new study by the University of South Australia has found the presence of a dog, cat, or even birds can be enough to stop some older people from taking their own life. Suicide rates among people aged...

Country News

Shutdowns will not affect food production

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said Australia’s food production and supply chain would not be affected by coronavirus shutdowns. “The Commonwealth is guaranteeing food production and supply as we deal with the...

Country News

Bullying accusations a ‘diversion’ from serious water issues

Accusations of bullying in the divisive water debate are nothing more than “a diversion tactic”, according to water lobby group Speak Up. The group’s chair Shelley Scoullar says she has “had enough” of this latest effort by...

Rodney Woods

Connections written off in new report

The Sefton report into socio-economic impacts in the Murray-Darling Basin appears to write-off outcomes of the northern Victorian Connections program. The draft report says: “There is little evidence of the outcomes of off-farm infrastructure...

Geoff Adams

No comment from minister

Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt has welcomed the completion of the new Sefton report, but has not answered questions put to him by Country News.

Geoff Adams

Murray-Darling Basin independent panel members

Members of the independent panel who were responsible for the report: Robbie Sefton: NSW consultant (chair). Dr Deborah Peterson: Agricultural and natural resource economist. Rene Woods: A Nari Nari man from south-west NSW with a long involvement in...

Country News

Extra water can’t be achieved: Drum

The new Sefton report on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan points to the difficulty in delivering the extra, 450 Gl of upwater, Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum believes.

Geoff Adams

From the independent panel’s basin report:

“When speaking about water recovery, many people told us the reduction in the water available in the consumptive pool exacerbates the effects of drought and climate change. “They noted it removes a buffer to drought conditions, and...

Geoff Adams