South Australian Country Hour

Testing confirms Australia's first known case of a mass mortality event involving H5 bird flu, the Bureau of Meteorology announces further changes to its controversial new website, and Australia's rural transporters want more consultation on how the heavy vehicle road user charge is applied.

SA free-range poultry producers advised to house their hens as H5 bird flu cases continue to spread, rural veterinarians receive training for handling and caring for wildlife sick with H5 bird flu, and changes to the rules around how grain is transported on South Australian roads.

Producers doing what they can to reduce the risk of H5 bird flu spreading from the wild into commercial facilities, South Australian beekeepers call for the Federal Government to increase access to organic varroa treatments, and CSIRO funded to start working on the next strain of calicivirus for release into feral rabbit populations.

The H5 strain of bird flu likely spreading locally within native birds as several more SA cases announced, Australian wine exports decline to the lowest level in more than 20 years, and new research finds dung beetles can significantly help to reduce methane emissions.

A Four Corners investigation into food fraud has reignited calls for an overhaul of country of origin food labelling, two wool service organisations are expected to merge, decades after a merger was first proposed, the Smart Sat CRC wound up at the end of June and in its place the Australasian Space Innovation Institute has taken over the work translating research into space-enabled solutions.

South Australia has recorded seven new suspected cases of H5 bird flu, grain lobby group concerned industry increasingly reliant on China for ag chemicals and a $4 million project has been launched to advance the next generation of rabbit biocontrol.

The Trump administration has confirmed a 12.5 per cent tariff will be placed on Australian exports to the US, SARDI has released the findings of its comprehensive investigation into the state's harmful algal bloom, the Australian Veterinary Association says the government has left vet students out in the cold after not including them in the expansion of the Commonwealth Prac Payments. 

Data from the Safer Farms Report 2026 shows 53 farmers died, doing their job last year, outback closed roads are keeping tourists out and cancelling long-awaited community events and US woolgrowers want more Australian merino genetics.

Live from the South East Stud Breeders Association Field Day, according to Meat and Livestock's sheep producers intentions survey both sheepmeat and wool sectors are recording strong positive sentiment at the same time for the first time in the survey's history and he Australian government is aiming to increase sheep meat exports to the most populated country in the world. 

One of Australia's largest free-range poultry farms in the Mid North has sold for an undisclosed amount, ecologist Kristen Messenger has been hearing reports from all around the state of worms up to a metre long and table grape growers are still recovering after losing a third of their crops because of extreme weather during harvest earlier this year.

The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association continuing their work to expand Right to Repair rules to include agricultural machinery, and the Department of Primary Industries warns there will be potential for an upcoming locust outbreak in Spring. 

Farmers reporting soggy paddocks and bogged tractors after a wet year to date in parts of SA, confidence high among SA's Stud Merino Breeders in the lead up to on property ram sales, and commercial fishers impacted by the algal bloom still awaiting a pathway forward from the government.

The State Government gives its first approval for a company to operate virtual fencing technology in SA, backlash grows over plans to allow more of a so called "forever chemical" onto berries, and Australia's right-to-repair reforms for agricultural machinery back in the spotlight.

Australia has produced its smallest vintage in 25 years but the reduced national crop didn't result in stronger grape prices, the United States is investigating whether it should impose tariffs on Australian lamb and the Cowell Agriculture museum is on the hunt for more volunteers to help with keeping a restored steam tractor ticking along.

An Australia-first collaboration will see people trained up to identify signs of bird flu in wild birds around the state, synthetic seaweed additives have been shown to be method of reducing methane emissions from livestock and the largest block of intact Mallee left in Australia is home to many threatened bird species and no feral goats.

Confusion in the market as Australia officially reached its quota for beef sent to China, the wheat export industry to a self-regulated system over the next three years, and an increasing number of self-fertile varieties of almond trees planted in Australia.

The H5 strain of bird flu detected in an Australian seabird for the first time, at Robe in SA's south east, Australia's chemical regulator criticised for delays in processing and approving new products for farmers, and the levy cattle producers pay when they sell their animals under review for the first time in two decades.

Farmers reiterate calls for a Universal Service Obligation following this week's nationwide Telstra outage, Wool Producers Australia says its decision not to participate in the Future Flock Strategy have been validated, and testing finds mainland Australia's seed potatoes are free of Potato Mop-Top virus.

The Country Hour broadcasts live from LambEx at the Adelaide Convention Centre, consultation underway on the Future Flock initiative, and growing demand for Australian lamb form American consumers.

Restrictions on King George Whiting eased for recreational fishers in all SA waters, changing appetites believed to be behind a decline in plant-based food options, and the Royal Adelaide Show introduces new merino classes in an Australian-first.

State farming organisations express concern about the Future Flock process, trials underway in SA into how to grow lucerne without paraquat, and calls for better regulation around data centre projects in regional Australia.

A suspected case of H5 avian influenza detected in a wild bird for the first time now in NSW, farmers across parts of South Australia buoyed by a very wet start to July, and the Goat Industry Council of Australia proposes a levy increase for producers.

The ACCC fines a major dairy producer over allegations it misled consumers on fresh milk labels, calls for more resources to tackle the management of buffel grass in SA, and researchers investigating using spider venom to attack the parasitic 'Varroa destructor' mite.

Changes arrive to wages, superannuation, food labelling, and fuel charges with the start of a new financial year, bee industry representatives meet at an emergency roundtable to discuss managing varroa mite, and SA's duck season closes on schedule amid advice to monitor birds for potential signs of bird flu.

Urea fertiliser prices start dropping closer to pre-Middle East conflict levels, work continues to repair hundreds of roads damaged by heavy rains earlier in the year, Australia's pork industry calls for country of original labelling for its products.

SA egg producers take measures to keep their flocks safe from the growing risk of bird flu, an emergency roundtable called to find the next actions on managing varroa mite, and Australian consumers driving a surge in demand for olive oil.

Egg farmers urge consumers to continue buy and eat South Australian eggs and chicken products, farmers look at what other options they have for weed control as the fight to ban paraquat continues, and a five-year dung beetle exchange between SA and north-west Tasmania a success.

Confirmation that the deadly H5 strain of bird flu has been detected on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula, farming groups raise concerns over the potential implications for agriculture from AI data centres, and Murray-Darling Basin communities across four states have their say on the future of the Basin Plan.

Australia's veterinarians say the H5 bird flu detection highlights a need for urgent investment in the profession, the State Government announces $500,000 for the South Australian industrial hemp industry, agronomists look to help growers manage crops with a reduced rate of diquat and paraquat.

Australia's chemical regulator allows farmers to continue to use paraquat under tighter restrictions, farmers worry restricted use of the herbicide will lead to great resistance and lower quality crops, and wildlife groups call for $200million to be dedicated to protecting Australia's fauna from H5 bird flu virus.

SA responds as Australia's first ever detection of the H5 strain of bird flu is confirmed in WA, Australian farmers await an imminent decision on the future use of paraquat, and a nationwide project underway to try and reduce methane emissions from sheep.

Concerns for farmland and water as AI data centres proposed for rural SA, Farina Station is the state's far north sells at auction for $2.75million amid strong interest, and Australian research continues to find new non-chemical methods to control varroa mite.

Fuel and fertiliser concerns push SA farmer confidence into negative territory despite a better season rainfall-wise, research into an alternative to shearing to remove sheep fleece enters a new phase, and beekeepers gather at the SA Apiarists Association Conference to hear challenges & opportunities in varroa treatment.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Three more government-backed urea shipments expected to arrive for Australian farmers in the coming weeks, a fertiliser importer says the government's intervention has distorted the market and hurt competition, and PIRSA confirms the detection of treatment resistant varroa mite in the Riverland.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Two major players in the Australian wool market set to merge, concerns over regional Australia's growing reliance on satellite internet service Starlink, and a family-owned SA winery wins a National Wine Show award for the 3rd time.

Sixth-generation farmer Rick Gladigau has shut the gate on the family dairy at Breezy Heights, ending a generational link to dairy that stretched back to 1859, and dairy farmers struggling to lock in contacts following confusion around milk price announcements. Kangaroo Island has successfully eradicated feral pigs, can other regions follow its lead?

A new sale record at the Naracoorte saleyards with 78 Poll Dorest ewe lambs from Leigh Clifford's stud Gowanbrae at Furner reaching $428 as head, and a step ahead in the fight against varroa with New Zealand researchers developing a new biopesticide which helps make varroa destructor mite infertile.

Meet the 97-year-old grazier, who still gets up for work each day on his sheep and cattle property in far west NSW, and the goat industry have been a hive of activity in recent months, so what is the state of the industry. And after a few weeks of use, have the double strength mouse baits been helping producers?

Australia on track to produce the nation's biggest ever crop of lentils, a new report finds Australian ag "desperately under prepared" for a shortage of honey bee pollination, and South Australians recognised for their contribution to the ag sector in King's Birthday honours.

We unpack what is and isn't in the State Budget for the state's ag sector, Treasury Wine Estates plans to move away from around half of its wine labels, and police warn farmers to be vigilant over fuel thefts amid high diesel prices.