South Australian Country Hour

The Country Hour broadcasts live from the Nuffield Australia National Conference in Adelaide, and the state and federal governments announce a further $30million in drought funding.

The NFF and SA drought commissioner speak as we broadcast live from the National Drought Forum at Gawler, SA among three states placing import restrictions on Tasmanian potatoes due to mop top virus, and an SA beekeeper criticises the decision to allow interstate hives into the state amid the varroa outbreak.

Apiarists worry the discovery of varroa in SA could destroy countless family businesses, Bunge expecting an average SA grain crop as it launches its harvest recruitment drive, and Coles to pause its phase out of cage eggs for 5 years as a result of bird flu outbreaks.

Beekeepers, citrus and almond growers react to the news that SA has recorded its first outbreak of varroa mite, the QLD Government confirms the SA varroa detection came from hives that originated in a previously free of the pest, and a new report finds Australia's wine industry contributes $51.3billion to Australia's economy.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Cassie Hough broadcasts live from the Royal Adelaide Show, celebrating 100 years of the event at the Wayville Showgrounds, the first ever schools' wheat competition, our Rural Ambassador finalists and the first showing of blacknose valais sheep at the Adelaide Show.

The Federal Government announces an extra billion dollars for the Regional Investment Corporation, wool-growing property Telopea Downs, on the SA-Vic border, listed for sale with a potential $100 million price tag, and the BOM's long-term forecast for spring trends towards a wetter than average spring for parts of SA.

An independent MP calls for the creation of an Independent Office of Animal Welfare for SA, room for cattle processing in southern Australia outstrips the north for the first time in two decades, and the national spring outlook show an elevated risk of bushfires in parts of WA, Victoria and South Australia's Mallee.

The potato industry calls for stricter measures as Tasmania works to control an outbreak of potato mop-top virus, South Australia's net rural confidence level falls 25% for the previous quarter, to just 3%, and 24 new varieties of wheat added to the national master list.

The SA Government announces another $1million in drought support through fodder deliveries and technical advice for farmers, canola disease experts warn growers against using fungicides by default, as resistance to blackleg grows, and the number of cattle in feedlots across Australia reaches record levels.

Australian wool production for the 25/26 season forecast to drop a further 10%, small-scale livestock producers advocate for greater access to community or micro-abattoirs, and a new study puts a billion dollar price tag on the contribution of working dogs to the Australian economy.

The Premier flags the potential for more drought relief for South Australian farmers, dairy giant Fonterra to sell its brands to French company Lactalis for nearly $3.5billion, and conservationists concerned about the decision to halt environmental water flows in NSW.

The farm chemical regulator bans a popular insecticide for the majority of uses, Riverland Wine surveying the area of winegrape vines being removed or rested ahead of the 2026 vintage, and the CSIRO opens a new South Australian-based lab to better measure groundwater recharge.

Wheat prices take a dive as a record corn crop is forecast for the USA, work continuing to try and slow the global spread of foot and mouth and lumpy skin disease, and beneficial insect numbers take a hit after months of drought in southern Australia.

Irrigators suing the Murray Darling Basin Authority over its water and river management from 2017 to 2019 have given evidence in the NSW Supreme Court, a South Australian invention that helps test wool microns on property is picking up in popularity and the almond pollination season across three states is underway, but the low rainfall has made it a tricky year for multiple industries including the beekeepers.

Small businesses call for an expansion of eligibility for algae bloom government support, GPA wants a review of the rules around foreign investment in Australian farm land, and Australian onion exports drop to their lowest level since 2017.

Calls for supermarket milk price increases to be passed on to dairy farmers, NZ potato growers explain how they've been managing the mop top virus that's now turned up in Australia, and submissions now open into a government inquiry into the algae bloom.

Potato mop top virus detected for the first time in Australia, on a potato farm in North-West Tasmania, opportunities for Australian growers as China announces a 75.8% tariff on Canadian canola seed, and SA producer Gavin Schuster elected chair of the national fodder association AFIA.

SA's record lamb price falls again as a pen of crossbred lambs sells for $450 a head at Dublin, the southern bluefin tuna harvest winds up a bit later than usual due to recent weather conditions, and Australia's farming sector welcomes the Reserve Bank's latest interest rate cut.

A class action launched by irrigators against the MDBA begins in the Supreme Court, farmers report cautious optimism for the season after significant rainfall across July for parts of SA, and the latest round of aerial sterile fruit fly releases begins across the Riverland.

Work on the remaining 290 kilometre section of the cross-border wild dog fence expected to start next year, BOM records show parts of SA recorded their wettest July on record, and this year's Murray-Darling Basin outlook forecasts health flows for South Australia.

The seafood industry welcomes the re-opening of the Boston Bay marine harvesting area, concerns for international collaboration as global fire seasons grow longer and overlap, and Australia exports a record amount of beef as cattle prices remain high.

An Adelaide butcher becomes the first to sell beef coming from cattle fed with SA-developed asparagopsis, producers across SA continue to struggle to access reasonably-priced fodder, and water entitlement values across the southern Murray Darling Basin rise for the first time in three years.

The charity AFL game between the Adelaide Crows and Gold Coast Suns at Adelaide Oval has raised $115,000 to support drought-affected farmers, beekeepers say a national bee shortage and a sharp decline in colony health is threatening the 2025 almond pollination season, which is currently underway and the annual food price inflation is slowing down according to the latest data from the ABS consumer price index but is still above the long term average.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Positive signs for an Australian livestock industry developed MRNA vaccine for cattle against foot and mouth disease, the national dairy cow indicator reaches a record of 354 cents per kilogram, and a new study finds that safety protection on quad bikes has driven down farm deaths.

Barossa water users warned to prepare for allocation cuts as water resources reach critical thresholds, South Australia's winter crop revised back down by around half a million tonnes, and a new public information campaign promotes SA seafood as the algae bloom impacts consumer demand.

We broadcast live from the Isolated Children's Parents' Association national conference in Adelaide, the Australian Meat Industry Council says many processors are reducing capacity due to a lack of supply, and oyster growers react to the temporary closure of one of SA's major harvesting regions.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Nationals move to force a Senate inquiry into the decision to allow easier access for US, Canadian and Mexican beef into Australia, commercial fishers as well as small businesses hit hard by toxic algae bloom can access up to $100,000 in support and WA beekeepers are stepping up to help almond growers facing a critical shortage of hives this pollination season.

Rainfall over most of South Australia since last Friday has been welcomed by farmers across agricultural regions with open arms, charities, farmers across borders and need for feed, and the South Australian Government teamed up to bring across 6,000 bales of hay on more than 85 trucks to SA and after 45 years EP Robinson is closing its doors and consolidating with Adelaide-based Mitchell Wool to process wool in South Australia.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

The MDBA releases its most comprehensive ever review into the effectiveness of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, Australia lifts biosecurity restrictions on beef imports from the United States, and drought-hit parts of SA forecast to see their heaviest rains in some time over the coming days.

A state record falls again as heavy-weight supplementary fed merino lambs make $408 at Dublin, the federal ag department looks to import more feed into Australia in times of prolonged drought, and SA's seafood industry welcomes a State Government pledge to match the Federal Government's $14million algae package.

The Country Hour is live from WineTech 2025 at the Adelaide Convention Centre, looking at national and global wine industry challenges, as well as new technology and research in grape growing and wine production.

Fishers being pushed to breaking point as the toxic algal bloom continues, thousands raised for farming charities at drought breaker events over the weekend, and a South Australian stud takes the supreme title at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show

South Australia to receive a fleet of new purpose-built CFS vehicles to access harsh and rugged terrain, pressure mounts on the Federal Government to respond to the algal bloom devastating marine life in SA, and the Adelaide Crows get ready to take on the Gold Coast Suns in a Drought Support AFL Match.

The ATA calls on all states to follow SA's lead in tightening licensing restrictions for overseas truck drivers, the government gives further details of the $139m package to support the phase out of live sheep exports by sea, and orange juice prices dip to a decade low after peaking last year.

The state's Fisheries patrol vessel Southern Ranger carries out underwater observations of the algal bloom, RSPCA and Australian Pork investigating allegations of animal welfare abuse at an SA abattoir, and the state and federal government to jointly-fund construction of a temporary barge at Cooper Creek.

An independent review recommends a mandatory code of conduct for the wine industry to be enforced by the ACCC, the SA Oyster Growers Association encourages the public to continue to support the industry, and the South Australian Junior Heifer Expo celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

Yet another new national record price set for lambs at Wagga Wagga, fishermen call for more research into what's causing the algae bloom, and a new dual-trade apprenticeship on offer in ag machinery and auto electrical technology.