South Australian Country Hour

Dairy farmers fight to stop non-dairy products using terms like milk, dairy and cheese, an extra $1.6million for on-ground support for varroa management in SA, and graziers in north-eastern SA and far-west NSW record some drought-breaking rainfall.

Varroa mite detected at several new locations across SA in recent weeks, a form of genetically modified wheat being trialed in Australia, and almond growers delay the start of harvest amid wet conditions.

Heavy rains fall and cause flooding across parts of outback SA and far-west NSW, Australian sheep and goat meat exports to the US to be hit with a 15% tariff, and calls grow to allow animal vets to use Telehealth and E-prescription services.

Beekeepers shocked by early signs of resistance to a key chemical used to control varroa mite, a satellite used to detect fires in real-time is dying and causing multi-hour blind spots, and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator launches a multi-state operation during wine grape harvest.

A parliamentary inquiry into the SA algal bloom recommends a fishery licence buy-back scheme, a new Australian Wine Future Fund to fast-track innovations that address the industry's critical challenges, and South Australian wineries pilot a new program to give old vineyard posts a second life.

The South Australian record price for an Angus bull is smashed at auction, the Federal Ag Minister says the government is working hard for a good deal from the EU trade deal, and struggling Riverland grape growers look to exit industry by rezoning their land for housing projects.

The South Australian Liberal party has announced its own loan scheme for primary producers as a pre-election promise, as eastern parts of the Yorke Peninsula celebrate the reopening of oyster harvesting areas after eight months, their western neighbours are seeing the bloom for the first time and a Livestock SA project is investigating the feasibility of South Australia adopting a mobile abattoir service.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Regional mayors argue for wider access to the State Government's drought loan package, resistance to a common varroa mite pesticide discovered in northern NSW, and an Australian company develops reusable stainless steel bottles for the premium wine market.

Issues still being reported with the Bureau of Meteorology's new website, thousands of camels causing havoc in remote APY communities, and a wine economist calls growers of non-premium red wine varieties to leave the industry.

Livestock SA proposes changes to the State's Sheep and Cattle Industry Funds, Australia's dairy industry concerned about the impact of a potential free trade deal with the EU, and research finds virtual fencing can be used to contain cattle in cropping paddocks.

Heavy downpours fall across parts of outback SA and far-west NSW over the weekend, the SA Dairyfarmers Association calls on government to expand its new drought loan to more parts of the state, and all oyster harvesting areas impacted by the algal bloom & closed due to the detection of brevetoxins re-open.

Funding ends for the $100million National Varroa Mite Response program, an Australian-first reverse osmosis facility to be established in Loxton, and the wine industry requests millions in Federal funding to address a structural crisis.

The Murray Darling Basin Authority progresses a major review of the Basin Plan, clean up begins of a massive native fish kill on the banks of the Menindee Lakes, and farmers report a sharp influx of dogs on the SA side of the dog fence in recent weeks.

The SA Government announces new low interest loans for drought-affected farming businesses, Yorke Peninsula farmer Ben Wundersitz named Grain Producer of the Year, and the forestry industry warns of the impact of cheap imported timber on Australian manufacturing.

The GRDC marks 30 years of presenting its annual update in Adelaide, SA researchers focus on the future of double-knock weed management and herbicide resistance, and debate continues over whether Goyder's Line is moving.

South Australian vets and biosecurity officers help assess and treat livestock injured in Victorian fires, donations of fodder flow from South Australians farmers into Victorian fire zones, and the Australian cattle industry forecast to enter a herd rebuild phase this year.

A Saleyards Canteen competition is shining a spotlight on the often overlooked importance of the humble saleyards canteen, and the people who run them, and prolonged heat like South Australia has been observing can be very detrimental for the states fruit growers. Producers in the Riverland and Mid North have been feeling the impacts. 

In parts of South Australia temps over 40 degrees for ten days has been observed. For many in the outback they are pretty used to the heat but when its hot for so long it's still very uncomfortable, we catch up on how have they been faring. And Irrigators in the Riverland are having to plan and prepare for hot days and as much as experience can play a part, it's still a bit of a guessing game, putting grapes, nuts and stone fruit at risk.

Late rain in some areas has meant South Australian farmers have reaped an 8.9 million tonne crop in 2025/26, Australian wine exports declined by 8 per cent in value to $2.34 billion and 6 per cent in volume to 613 million litres in 2025 and hundreds of Aussie exporters and trade officials are at Gulfood in the Emirates' biggest city, Dubai.

Resistance to DIM herbicides has been a long time coming but research agronomist Peter Boutsalis says it has arrived with a vengeance, the Australian Government's Business Research and Innovation Initiative has provided two million dollars to develop these two low-emissions alternatives to glass wine bottles and pest insects to thrive in a warming climate

Since 1979 Rex Liebelt has been a stalwart of South Australian show, receiving an OAM for his dedication, for the third year in a row Freeling farmer Harrison Schuster has tilled a piece of Australia Day artwork into his paddock and the state opposition is promising to extend grants for farm fire-fighting units until 2030, if it wins the March electionstralia and the nation.

Australian table grapes exports to Japan have increased by nearly 300 per cent following a successful campaign to remove trade restrictions on varieties and Saleyards Australia wants your help finding the best saleyards canteen in the country. 

A Riverland wine grape grower says the state and federal government's extension of the SA Wine Recovery Program until 2027 will not meaningfully help growers and a new report has found record high cocoa prices and a volatile supply has made some chocolate companies explore alternative, cheaper ways to get that cocoa taste like growing it in a lab.

A cow has been scientifically documented using a tool for the first time, and SA Police Minister Blair Boyer explains how the new federal hate speech and gun control laws will mean for the state. 

A team of 10 South Australian biosecurity field staff are heading the Victoria to help assess livestock injured in the fires there in recent weeks, the Birdsville Track is now open to all road users following the completion of minor works near the Cooper Creek causeway and there are hopes artificial intelligence could help to prevent more mass fish deaths along the Darling River in outback New South Wales.

Tens of thousands of houses will need to be built in regional South Australia to meet the housing needs by 2051 according to a new report and the State Government has released six regional plans to set out the housing, land use and infrastructure needs for Kangaroo Island, Eyre and Western Peninsula, Far North, Yorke Peninsula and Mid North, Murray Mallee and Limestone Coast. 

The Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) has declared a Queensland fruit fly outbreak in Elizabeth East, a team of experienced South Australian biosecurity field staff will be deployed to Victoria to support the response to the ongoing fires and the final remaining closed section of the Birdsville Track in South Australia is now open to road users, which means the Cooper Creek Barge is no longer required. 

The River Murray downstream of the Darling River is now listed as critically endangered under national environment law, at Talia Farms in the Riverland table grape harvest has begun and more than 250,000 people around Australia do not have ready access to veterinary services, according to new research

Queensland graziers say multiple rain gauges failed during major floods that have led to almost 50,000 cattle deaths, for the first time an Australian Red will be up for auction at International Dairy Week and in one of the most remote parts of new South Wales, a desert has been turned into an oasis. 

The flood waters are receding and graziers in Queensland are getting out to check their livestock and properties, the damage bill and the livestock death toll are expected to rise significantly from the Victorian fires and interest in the national sales of properties with vineyards is limited 

Victorian farmers and property owners are still dealing with devastating bushfires, due to the drought and low prices in the grain market many farmers have decided it's better to cut their crop for hay and a new non destructive leaf scanning method has been developed by researchers at the University of Adelaide which will be able to accurately predict cannabis crop potency

Premier Peter Malinauskas has been visiting the Riverland speaking with grain growers and the wine industry, the National Farmers Federation has a new CEO and Fat Farmers launches new health hub 

Seafood Industry Australia has presented at the State Parliament's Joint Committee on Harmful Algal Blooms, there is still a way to go when it comes to having equal access to the economic rewards of farming for women and a tweet by a former senior executive at the world's largest agricultural commodities trader has gone viral

It's been a scorcher in South Australia, but outback life keeps moving on, MLA says it's disappointed with China's new global measure on beef imports and looking back at a record breaking lamb 

The SA Government buys Mundoo Island cattle station to restore into wetlands & form part of the Coorong National Park, about 50,000 head of cattle expected to be sold in coming weeks as weaner sales start across SA & Victoria, and significant livestock losses expected as a result of flooding in north-west Queensland.

South Australia's largest olive grove and olive oil processing facility proposed for Waikerie, truck drivers opposed to a potential further increase to heavy vehicle charges, and SA researchers looking into ways to help scale-up the nation's seaweed farming industry.

The Australian cattle industry responds to China's new tariffs on Australian beef imports, Stansbury oyster growers allowed to harvest and sell again after a seven month shutdown, and Adelaide Hills cherry growers winding up amid a later and shorter cherry season.

A Mallee farmer still harvesting into the new year as he hopes for a better season in 2026, Broken Hill commercial and residential fruit growers desperate to rid the city of fruit fly, and farming waste being tested as possible material for furniture and home construction.

Long-range marine heatwaves now able to be forecast with a new CSIRO and weather bureau model, an industry analyst says US tariffs were actually advantageous for Australian beef producers in 2025, and researchers and chefs tout the overlooked benefits of eating offal.

The CFS attending to several fires across regional SA during a day of scorching heat, a new safety reminder issued after several deaths in SA in recent years involving quad bikes and ATVs, and a NSW farmer reflects on his experience of training his livestock with virtual fencing technology.

A second official government review finds the dairy code is operating as intended, the algae bloom forces some SA oyster growers to remain closed during the busy Christmas period, and an iconic South Australian brandy label celebrates its 100th distilling season in 2025.