South Australian Country Hour

Australia strikes a deal with Indonesia to bring much needed fertiliser into the country, consumers face higher meat prices as livestock producers experience soaring input costs, and visitors to the BOM's website climb since the controversial $96 million dollar update.

Graziers call for faster repairs to outback roads damaged or cut off by floodwaters, Coorong fishers struggle to keep operating amid increasing seal numbers taking their catch, and support for those working in the ag industry to look after their mental health during tough times.

SA's River Murray irrigators projected to receive minimum opening water allocations of 62% this coming year, the State Government and private donors commit almost $1.2 million dollars towards eradicating cats on KI, and a national minimum quality standard for the cherry industry to be developed over the next three years.

Calls for more government support to expand Australia's domestic biofuel industry, the CSIRO working to roll out a new tool to help farmers remain profitable through drought, and one of the last map shops in Australia set to close after almost 60 years.

SA producers urged to check their paddocks for signs of increased mouse activity, resistance detected to the two most effective chemicals used to treat varroa mite, and an SA company launches a a system to electrify the trailer system for heavy vehicles.

Interstate orders for SA-produced hay cancelled over skyrocketing freight costs, the creation of the new biggest dairy company in Australia completed, and calls for an increase in the price of milk to help out dairy farmers facing higher costs.

Growers weigh up their cropping options in an increasingly risky year, the ATO leads a crackdown on non-compliance in three South Australian wine regions, and farmers call for a review of food labelling laws to better identify Australian made products.

An agronomist considers the risks faced by the increasing number of growers early seeding their crops, truckies welcome transport reforms by the State Government to tackle the growing fuel crisis, and the seafood industry quick to allay fears over reports of mass tuna deaths near Port Lincoln.

A GPSA survey over almost 800 growers finds growing anxiety around fuel and fertiliser access and costs, reports of squid numbers recovering in coastal areas impacted by the algae bloom, and a new trial looks to ways to reduce the amount of food wasted at the farmgate.

Fuel and fertiliser price rises have led to renewed calls for Labor government's concessional loans to be expanded, Steph Brooker-Jones was recognised with a Career Legacy Award at the 2026 Women in Wool Conference and Australia's first "Avocado Ripeness Scanner" undergoes a trial.

The NFF joins a new Fertiliser Supply Working Group to address concerns over fertiliser shortages, a new Drought Hardship loan now available through the Regional Investment Corporation, and an SA forestry company shares the results of its trial of a world-first electric log truck.

Consumers encouraged to support the local seafood industry this Easter weekend, an SA dairy processing plant signs a deal to produce a Chinese brand of infant formula, and monitoring continues of the algae bloom along the South Australian coastline.

Farming lobby groups warn the government's fuel plan doesn't go far enough to help their industry, good news for growers as Glynde in the Adelaide Hills finally declared fruit fly free, and latest MLA figures show record beef exports but prices for farmers will stay flat.

The government to halve the fuel excise and reduce heavy vehicle charges to address the fuel crisis, Australia's fertiliser industry looking to alternatives products and sources to ease supply concerns, and the wool industry searching for innovations and efficiencies in the selling system amid a declining wool clip.

Grain Growers calls for government action on the fertiliser supply crisis, vegetable production cut back due to the uncertainty flowing from the Middle East conflict, and an outback town cut off by floodwaters receives an anonymous donation of food and supplies.

Truckies stuck waiting for diesel as fuel supply constraints continue across regional Australia, SA the only state to record an increase in the latest farmer confidence survey, and cost of PVC pipes for irrigation to rise amid disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.

Australia finally strikes a free trade agreement with the European Union, Yumbah Aquaculture to shut down its operations on Kangaroo Island, and rural SA retailers running short on both diesel and fertiliser.

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.