South Australian Country Hour

Frustration for freight services as the rollout of Kangaroo Island's new ferries again delayed, farming groups concerned by the government's decision to slow down processing of new working holiday visa applications, government flags challenges with any potential rollout of H5 bird flu vaccines for the poultry industry.

Federal and state water ministers gather to discuss proposed national standards for data centres, dairy farmers express industry concern as Woolworths announces a national end to its own label of milk, and iconic Australian TV series McLeod's Daughters celebrates 25 years since filming started in regional SA.

Free-range egg producers concerned over potential cost of having to house hens to prevent bird flu spread, calls for SA to follow Victoria's lead and delay changes to phosphine use in grain storage, and Treasury Wine Estates' profits down as challenging market conditions persist for wine.

We broadcast live from the Eyre Peninsula Field Days at Cleve as it celebrates 50 years, machinery dealers report a downturn in tractor sales after some tough years, and primary production and transport groups team up to roll out defensive driver training for trucks.

We broadcast live from Streaky Bay, where good rain has local farmers feeling very optimistic about the season, GPSA and NSW Farmers sign a Memorandum of Understanding with national body GrainGrowers, and a business boost for Streaky Bay as the annual Variety Club Bash rolls into town.

Heavy rain falls across parts of SA over the weekend, cutting off outback roads and stations, we broadcast live from Port Lincoln and meet local women leading the seafood sector, and a major Indonesian Investment company to take a 25% share in JBS Australia's operations.

The Royal Adelaide Show cancels this year's bird sections over H5 flu concerns, producers say vaccinations still some way away for Australia's commercial egg and chicken flocks, and research finds improved technologies and practices could save drivers up to 20% in diesel costs.

Financial counselling available for poultry and egg producers to prepare for bird flu impacts, nice numbers reduce across SA as farmers take advantage of stronger baits, and farm buildings included in expanded government program to slash cost of installing rooftop solar.

Farming groups welcome an independent review into the Bureau of Meteorology, looming changes to phosphine use in Australia to impact grain storage, and the ACCC to hold an inquiry into mobile services for people in rural areas.

Calls for a senate inquiry into the Federal Government's scheme to underwrite fertiliser imports, Australia's largest contiguous sheep station in outback SA sold to an Adelaide businessman, and an ABC investigation into horticulture work exploitation spurs renewed calls for labour hire regulations.

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.