Country News
Saleyards a sanctuary
As fires threaten parts of the region, the Euroa Saleyards has quietly transformed into a place of refuge — not for people, but for animals. Over two days, the yards were turned into an emergency stable, now sheltering around 60 horses and seven dogs,...
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Battery progress
The construction of a new 250 megawatt battery park, is well advanced on farmland east of Shepparton. The switching station, which will allow the batteries to be connected to the high voltage power grid, was completed by owner and operator Ausnet...
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CFA truck alarm
A fire that swept through Goomalibee grasslands has raised safety issues over the CFA’s fleet of rural fire trucks. Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, said more needs to be done to ensure the safety of CFA volunteers at large fires,. The fire...
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Bear-y Christmas
A teddy bear of hay bales sits at the entrance to Stephanie Renkin’s Lima home, one of a growing trend in the small rural community, south of Benalla.
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Harvest ute theft
A farm ute has been stolen while the farmer was harvesting a paddock of canola at Arcadia. The Toyota HiLux was later found burnt out near Invergordon. The Arcadia farmer later learnt of a suspicious grey Nissan X-trail that had been visiting...
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Cost ‘outrageous’
The recent Bureau of Meteorology website redesign cost almost $100 million, but growers are more concerned about usability. In a statement on the BOM website, chief executive meteorology director Stuart Minchin said the changes were made to benefit...
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Beef tariffs removed
Donald Trump has removed tariffs on one of Australia's biggest exports to the United States. The US president revealed on Saturday morning Australian time he would lift reciprocal tariffs on some agricultural goods, including a plethora of beef...
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Buyback hike ‘punishes’
An expansion of the Federal Government’s non-strategic buyback program is, “taking away water from farmers” Australian Dairy Farmers said. In Parliament on Wednesday, November 12, Victorian Water Minister Gayle Tierney said the Commonwealth Water...
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Survey says trust low
Trust in the management of water across the Murray-Darling Basin has taken a belting in a survey of thousands of residents and farmers. The recently published results in the 200-page study reveal a lack of confidence in governance issues across the...
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Too little, too late
Rainfall has come too late in the season to be of much use and recent winds have further dried already dry land. Marungi farmer Eddy Rovers is expecting his nonirrigated canola to yield less than half of his irrigated crop.
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Numurkah Show success
The wind may have howled through Numurkah on Wednesday, but nothing could blow away the community spirit at the 135th Numurkah Agricultural Show. Locals turned out in force to celebrate the region’s proud farming roots, with livestock parades, family...
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On parade
Although her Holstein heifer towers over her, Britney Gavenlock, 7, was firmly in control while parading at the Shepparton Show youth show. She placed third in the handler under eight years class. More pictures of junior champions on pages 16 and 17...
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Field day friends
Tiia Shiels, 15, and her fellow agricultural students from Moama Anglican Grammar couldn’t walk past the Beloka Kelpie demonstration at the Elmore Field Days without passing up a cuddle with nine-weekold future working dog Ella.
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RIDING RIVALRY
Australian teams were winners in an international competition involving horses known for their sprinting speed and agility, at Tatura Park on Friday, October 3 and Saturday, October 4. The Trans-Tasman Challenge brought together Australian and New...
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Yentrac enjoys strong sale
The Yentrac Annual Ram Sale saw strong demand this year, with nearly 90 per cent of rams sold. The total yarding was 101 head, with an average selling price of $1522.73. “The Poll Dorset rams all had very good eye muscle, weight, and length, which is...
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AgTrade Machinery are proud to now be official suppliers of the Trioliet range in Australia
Trioliet is a total supplier of premium feeding technology. Every day, thousands of cows all over the world are fed with their machines. Over more than 70 years, their family business has grown into a global player. AgTrade has a great range of...
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Saleyard booming
A decision made in 2024 has helped Echuca saleyard see prices soar in recent months. Elders Echuca branch manager Matthew O’Connor said the saleyard had seen a significant increase in yarding over the past four or five years. He attributed the boost...
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China breakthrough
The restructured SPC Global company has recorded a $30 million profit but there is a small, but promising, development in its marketing. The SPC name is back in China, after many years largely confined to the domestic market. SPC Global managing...
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Lactalis buys Fonterra
Fonterra plans to sell its Australian business, including its milk processing factories, to the French giant food company, Lactalis. But Australian Dairy Farmers and the VFF say it’s a major threat to farm gate milk prices and the Australian dairy...
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MDBA faces court
Irrigators have started their class action against the Murray-Darling Basin Association and the Commonwealth Government in the Supreme Court of NSW. Barristers representing the plaintiffs and the respondents began by presenting their opening remarks...
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ACM sues Fonterra
Girgarre milk processor ACM is taking Fonterra Australia to court with a claim that a field officer has been approaching ACM suppliers. ACM claims Fonterra Australia’s field officer has been encouraging dairy farmers to break exclusive supply...
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Campaspe zone protest
One of the Victorian Government’s proposed new energy zones will cover prime agricultural land in the Goulburn Valley. The zones will become a priority for the establishment of solar farms and wind farms to drive the government’s push for renewable...
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Millions swallowed
The Victorian Government has promised to rescue the Winton Wetlands after the governing body abandoned it, but questions remain over the past 12 months of management. The committee of management walked away from the project in June, but hasn’t...
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New code for brokers
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will enforce a new code applying to water brokers across the Murray-Darling Basin. The code requires brokers to establish a trust account when they receive money on behalf of another person for their...
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Less for irrigators
The 2025-26 irrigation season will open with about half the water available at the same time last year. The Victorian Murray system will start with a seasonal determination of 39 per cent of high-reliability water shares. The Goulburn and Loddon...
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Optimism is growing
A wetter start to winter has been good news for farmers, but the cold mornings are slowing crop growth. Shepparton has seen 54mm of rain in the first 25 days of June, with the most rain falling on Sunday, June 8 which saw 11.6mm. Strathbogie saw the...
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Fixing what’s Broken
Irrigators are hoping new funding of $130 million will help resolve reliability and sustainability issues along the Broken River. Farmers relying on water from the Broken have been battling to have the issues addressed for more than a...
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$63m water purchase
Water buybacks are top of the agenda again, as the VFF condemns the latest Commonwealth water purchase and a new report claims buybacks are damaging the dairy industry. The VFF has slammed the Federal Government for paying $1000 per megalitre above...
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Autumn hits records
The region’s autumn was record-breaking for its warm temperatures and lack of rain. However, a rainy weekend has marked the start of a forecast wet, warm winter. Rain kicked off in Shepparton just after 9pm on Friday, June 6 and finished at 10.30pm,...
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Fire levy reprieve
The Victorian Government has backed away from charging farmers its new emergency services levy. But it’s only for 12 months. The news that farmers will be temporarily spared from paying the hiked tax came on Friday as the government expanded drought...
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Virtual step closer
Victorian farmers will soon be able to harness the benefits of virtual fencing and herding technology. Victorian Agriculture Minister Ros Spence announced on Wednesday, May 21 that new regulations will be prepared for the use of the technology for the...
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Fury at fire levy
The controversial emergency services tax was passed into law in the dead of night and farmers are furious. The bill to establish the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund passed the Victorian parliament in the early hours of Friday morning after the...
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Factory to close
Bega Group will close its Strathmerton factory, with the loss of more than 300 jobs. The company told employees and the Australian Stock Exchange of the closure late on Tuesday, May 6. A phased closure of the factory is expected to be complete by...
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Virtual green light
The NSW Government has legalised virtual fencing, leaving Victorian farmers still waiting for access to the technology. VFF president Brett Hosking said the change wasn’t a surprise. “NSW’s move to legalise virtual fencing is welcome and expected,”...
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Dry start for crops
Most of the region is still waiting on an autumn break, while some areas got up to 37.8mm of rain on a wet Anzac Day. Kerang saw 37.8mm of rain fall during the 24 hours up to to 9am on Saturday, April 26, and Echuca received 21mm in the same time...
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On the world stage
Jerseys have taken centre stage for the past two weeks as World Jersey Conference participants toured the country. Last week they were in northern Victoria, and among the farms they visited was Rohan and Graeme Sprunt’s Kaarmona stud at Bunbartha. See...
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Sanctuary to close
The Barmah brumby sanctuary looks like it will close unless it gets a financial lifeline in the next month. The Barmah Brumby Preservation Group, which rescues and re-homes wild horses from Barmah National Park, says it has fodder debts of $12,000 and...
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Expo draws crowds
Beloka Kelpies owner Paul Macphail entertained the crowds with his working dogs display at the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo on the weekend.
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Tax burns farmers
Northern Victorian farmers will have to cough up millions of dollars for the new emergency services tax, according to new figures generated by local government. The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund — which begins in July and replaces the current...
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Stock service ends
A Stanhope knackery has ceased collection of dead stock, leaving just one service provider in northern Victoria. Auld’s Stock Removalists ceased collecting dead stock from farms on Monday, March 17. The business will continue to take live animals to...
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Farmers frustrated
Irrigation farmers are continuing to wrestle with rationed water deliveries in the Boort, Calivil and Dingee areas, as Goulburn-Murray Water struggles to handle high demand for water. Rationing was introduced to the districts on March 5 on the back of...
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Water sale slammed
The two peak bodies representing Victorian farmers have slammed the latest water buyback by the Federal Government. Both the VFF and NFF have loudly criticised Friday’s news that 30 gigalitres of water has already been secured under the second tranche...
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Major boost for SPC
SPC Global will spend $23.5 million to expand production capacity at its Shepparton factory, creating more than 50 new full-time jobs. Over the next two years, the company will shift its Original Juice Company production from Mill Park to Shepparton,...
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Water rationing starts
Irrigators in sections of the Loddon Valley Irrigation Area will enter a rationing cycle for water next week. This area includes about 370 Goulburn-Murray Water customers in and around Dingee, Calivil and Boort. The rationing cycle will start on...
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Bird flu spreads
Bird flu has been found at a second poultry farm at Euroa. Agriculture Victoria late on February 13 said its tracing activities had confirmed the presence of H7N8 avian influenza at one new property, which has been placed in quarantine. The first...
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Quarantine continues
Northern Victoria’s quarantined tomato glasshouse at Katunga Fresh is likely to be closed down for weeks, as the site is rid of a rare virus. The outbreak of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) was detected in January and production shut down as...
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Fruit fly threat grows
Hundreds of people sat inside the Sikh Gurduara Sahib Temple in Shepparton on Sunday, listening attentively to a talk about pests that can wreak havoc on local fruit growers. Following melodic prayers beneath chandeliers and ceiling fans working...
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Tomato virus found in GV
A huge crop of tomatoes from a Katunga producer is under threat following the discovery of a rare disease in plant material. Agriculture Victoria has imposed a biosecurity quarantine around the glasshouse operated by Katunga Fresh. Under the...
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YOUTH ON SHOW
Imogen Kath from Rochester competed in the Holstein Australia clipping challenge at International Dairy Week on Sunday at Tatura Park. Imogen was part of the northern Victoria sub-branch team.
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Farmers need feed
Northern Victorian farmers have been assisting their Western District colleagues who have been hit by the Grampians bushfires. About 13,000 hectares of farmland has been burnt out by the fires. The Lions Club’s Need for Feed program has transported...
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Ride ’em cowboy
In classic style, first division saddle bronc rider Tristan Halden competed at the Katamatite Rodeo on Saturday night.
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What’s next with pig inquiry?
The Victorian Government has been urged to fast-track the recommendations of an inquiry into cruelty in the state’s pig industry, after it released its response to the inquiry’s report on December 20. The inquiry’s chair Georgie Purcell tabled the...
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SPC back on ASX
SPC was the focus of attention at the Sydney-based Australian Stock Exchange on Tuesday, December 17, when senior company executives ‘rang the bell’ to start trading. The opportunity was created to mark the food company’s relisting on the stock...
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Noumi pledges donation
One of the nation’s leading dairy manufacturers has joined forces with Shepparton Foodshare in a three-year deal to help ensure food security for those struggling financially. Noumi Limited produces a range of dairy and non-dairy milk products...
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Rain hurts harvest
Recent heavy rain has impacted the 2024 wheat harvest with some yields, quality and protein levels lower than hoped for as farmers managed their harvest around the weekend’s downpour. The rain is also expected to reduce the cherry harvest across...
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Summer will sizzle
Large parts of Australia face higher bushfire risk over summer, as authorities also warn people to be ready for floods and heatwaves. The seasonal bushfire outlook for summer was released on Thursday, November 28, showing much of southern Australia...
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More buybacks from basin
The Federal Government has begun its program to spend $100 million buying up Murray-Darling irrigators’ water for First Nations cultural water. The purchase is targeting water only from the Murray-Darling Basin. The government has nominated WaterFind...
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Cows cross Nullarbor
When Western Australian dairy farmer Colin Gilbert wanted to sell his award-winning Guernsey herd, he chose to take all 50 head on a 3000km road trip to Rochester. The result was an auction that achieved a total clearance and a second-highest average...
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Push for ag school
Amanda McClaren wants to lead the charge for establishing Victoria’s first selective-entry agriculture secondary school. As mayor of Strathbogie Shire from 2016 to 2020, Ms McClaren watched the average age of farmers go up with each year. “Like...
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Katunga energy flop
From the start the AgBioEn alternative energy project ticked all the environmental and commercial boxes. Creating a fuel source which would replace fossil fuels. Using crops grown in northern Victoria’s agricultural sector. Harnessing new water...
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Sinkholes can catch you
Farmers around Nanneella continue to be vigilant with looking for sinkholes in their paddocks as they begin to harvest lucerne and other crops. Sinkholes are generally rare in Australia but can occur frequently in the middle of crops in areas of the...
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Protect farms plea
The Goulburn Valley has been identified as an area of critical food production that needs to be protected from too many renewable energy developments. The VFF is urging the Victorian Government to safeguard the state’s most strategically significant...
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Crops on a knife’s edge
Grain farmers in northern Victoria have taken little comfort from last weekend’s rain, with most crops now entering the critical stage of ending their flowering and filling out seed heads. Most of the Goulburn Valley received less than 10mm in the...
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Rain, as season edges forward
Lewis, Jeb and Hugh Freeman stand amid a strong show of flowering Scepter wheat with parents Andrew and Cherie. The Freemans, and other farmers, have been hoping for rain to finish off the crops — so Friday’s rain was crucial.
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Fruit fly funding fury
The Victorian Government’s plan to terminate funding for fruit fly protection is expected to heavily impact the state’s 2,760 horticultural farms. Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell told parliament on Thursday, September 12 that funding needed...
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