South Australian Country Hour

Primary producers continue to experience challenges accessing fuel, voting continues for many rural electorates following the State Election, and increased concerns around fuel thefts as prices continue to rise.

The Country Hour broadcasts live from the South East Field Days at Lucindale, an overview of the potential impact of the Middle East conflict on the grains industry, and a new program upskilling health services to provide skin checks for farmers and rural people.

The ACCC launches an investigation into allegations of anti-competitive conduct by major fuel companies, Australian Wool Innovation says things could be looking up for South Australian wool growers, and calls for better investment in a local biofuel industry to fill supply gaps.

Calls for government to increase the instant asset write-off scheme to help growers fund fuel storage, the Middle East conflict causes more volatility in international grain markets, and sheep graziers experiencing delays due to diesel supply and road closures caused by rain.

More rainfall in the north and across parts of the agricultural area has set up winter cropping and pastures, the National Road Freighters Association is very concerned about the rising cost of diesel and how quickly it went up and a team of biosecurity experts have not been able to confirm the source of the deadly varroa mite, which has changed the face of beekeeping in Australia. 

Growers increasingly concerned over the potential impacts of fuel shortages into harvest, Australia's best kelpie trainers head to SA for the National Kelpie Field Trials, and the Labor and Liberal ag ministers go head to head over ag policy ahead of the state election.

The Federal Government to release millions of litres of fuel from Australia's domestic reserves, the wool market remains relatively immune to the upheaval caused by the Middle East conflict, and tighter controls flagged for some of Australia's most commonly used rat poisons.

Regional fuel suppliers report low or no diesel supply, outback stations dealing with floodwater impacts, and Livestock SA outlines is state election wish list.

AusVeg calls on the State Government to undertake an urgent assessment of statewide food security threats, an Australian-first trial north of Adelaide to convert piggery waste into renewable natural gas, and renewed calls for onshore production of urea in Australia amid possible shortages.

SA farmers concerned as supplies of fuel and fertiliser tighten up and prices rise, the ACCC writes to fuel and fertilizer companies for information about stocks and prices, and data reveals more than half of the cattle slaughtered for meat in Australia last year were female.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

A new national lamb record of $495 a head set in NSW, a vineyard removalist records a surge in work in the Riverland and Barossa, and farmers raise concerns over the impact of the the Northern Transmission Project.

WA Farmers' grains council to remain with GPA as SA and NSW withdraw membership, warnings that Australia could run out of urea fertiliser due to the Middle Est conflict, and renewed calls for funding for a weather radar for the Eyre Peninsula.

The Country Hour broadcasts live from the the Australian Citrus Congress in Adelaide, SA to get its first ever accredited cold storage facility for citrus and table grape exports, and potato crops now facing the risk of water logging. after recent heavy rain.

Grain Producers SA withdraws its membership from national body Grain Producers Australia, farmers from across SA share their rainfall figures after the weekend brings record rain for some, and fuel, fertiliser, wheat & oilseed prices all set to rise due to conflict between the US, Israel and Iran.

Producers warned to keep a close eye on livestock in the weeks after big rains, SA's kangaroo population drops by an estimated one million after drought, and farmers across Australia report rabbit numbers are on the increase.

A new National Vineyard Register to map the nation's vineyards, the Australian horticulture industry hits its highest production value on record, and a cold front brings nearly a year's worth of rain to some parts of central SA.

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.