South Australian Country Hour

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.

The BOM confirms that May was one of the wettest on record for parts of SA, data shows SA on track for an average season as crops emerge earlier than usual, and the government assures farmers there's enough fertiliser to produce this year's winter crop.

The SA Country Hour broadcasts live from the southern hemisphere's largest horticulture event, veggie growers react to this week's announcement of a minimum wage increase, and researchers try to help understand viral food trends to increase fresh produce sales.

CEO of South Australian Dairyfarmers' Association reflects on the broad variation in opening milk prices, SAFCOL turns the sod on an $80 million investment in food processing in Adelaide and the 2026 Impact Report from the International Fresh Produce Association released today shows how Fruit and Veggies Yummy Yummy campaign has helped drive fruit and veggie consumption in Australia.

A taskforce tries to progress approval and rollout of a footrot vaccine for Australian producers, eyes turn to Australia and Argentina to see how global grain prices will develop this year, and Renmark records a huge month of rain and breaks long standing May records.

Concerns over the future of wild dog management as landowners report increased sightings, councils calls for access to bird baits to manage little corella numbers, and a Coonawarra winery repurchases a historic label 60 years after selling it to another company.

The McLaren Vale wine industry disappointed by Endeavour's plans to close a local winery and bottling facility, economic modelling shows government buybacks in the Murray Darling Basin have pushed up water prices, and provisional approval granted to develop one of the world's largest critical minerals projects in Australia.

Wine retailer Endeavour Group announces a major restructure and sale of wine assets in SA, thousands of people provide feedback to the BOM over its controversial new website, and Ag KI welcomes a decision on livestock freight costs on the new Sealink ferries from Cape Jervis.

South Australia's Court of Appeal has upheld a judgement that found the late pastoralist, Tom Brinkworth was responsible for the Blackford bushfire that threatened the south east town of Lucindale 2021, ongoing road closures continue to impact the far west NSW communities, months after large rainfall events caused severe damage to parts of the network and more than a decade after Berri Fruit Juices co-op closed its former factory workers are attempting to keep its memory alive.

South Australia has seen one of the best starts to the season in years but input costs combined with low wheat prices mean confidence hasn't been boosted as much by the rain as it might have been in the past,  the Iran War put the global spotlight on fuel and fertiliser supply chains but has also raised questions about Australia's sovereign capability and new research has found the spinning cone column technology that removes alcohol from wine can also help mitigate smoke taint effects as well.

The Federal Government begins consultation on right to repair legislation for farm machinery, SADA says the Dairy Code of Conduct is working as the ACCC penalises two companies for alleged breaches, and SARDI watching waters around Port Lincoln amid elevated levels of karenia linked to algal blooms.