Rural News

News

Heatwave for next 48 hours

Northern Victoria and southern Riverina’s typical summer heat is expected to arrive early with today and tomorrow’s highs nearing orsurpassing 40 degrees celsius. The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a top of 37 degrees and sunny conditions...

Rodney Woods
News

VFF calls for overhaul of council rates

The VFF has called for a total overhaul of council rates and the way local government is funded at a public hearing in Melbourne. In the VFF’s submission to the Local Government Rating Systems Review, the federation asked for an equalised...

Rodney Woods
News

Miracle Mutts tells captivating stories

“I’ve also had some teary interviews,’’ Laura acknowledges when talking about her most recent book, Miracle Mutts

Geoff Adams
News

Booth Transport keeping Victoria beautiful

Despite the company going home empty-handed at the Premier’s Sustainability Awards, Booth Transport has taken out the Environmental Sustainability Award as part of the Keep Victoria Beautiful Tidy Towns 2019 program. The recognition stems from the...

Country News
News

Improvised fire fighting outfits do the best they can

“People aren’t usually this glad to see me,” Brian Acheson laughs as steers his makeshift fire truck onto yet another neighbour’s property to help battle a bushfire that’s been raging for days. Families living off Hillville Rd south of...

Geoff Adams
News

Caldwell volunteer fights NSW bushfires

Southern Riverina firefighter Kevin Barnes journeyed into the cauldron of the NSW bushfires, leaving his grain farm behind for the fifth time. After only being back home at Caldwell for 24 hours, Mr Barnes received a text message from the Deniliquin...

Jamieson Salter
News

Southern NSW strike teams sent to fire grounds

NSW Rural Fire Service firefighters from Berrigan and Federation shires in southern NSW have been sent to to the fire ground to fight the severe bushfires that have ravaged the state further north and also Queensland over the past eight weeks...

Jamieson Salter
News

NSW bushfires burn path of destruction

The Rural Fire Service NSW has confirmed more than 250 homes have been destroyed, with almost 90 damaged. Some 480 outbuildings and 18 facilities have also been razed. While conditions eased following a “catastrophic” danger rating earlier last...

Country News
Opinion

Split MDBA up: Ryan

Irrigators and basin communities have lost faith in the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). The only way to restore faith is genuine change. We must do more than just shuffle the deckchairs to earn the confidence of irrigators and Basin...

Geoff Adams
News

More companies phasing out mulesed sheep wool

Kmart and Target have committed to phasing out mulesed sheep wool by 2023 and 2024 respectively. Animal welfare has shot up the priority list of the international fashion industry this year, a trend which is also taking off in Australia. Recent...

Rodney Woods
News

Tips for preventing heat stress in dairy cattle

Dairy farmers are being encouraged to assess their heat-stress management for cows in the lead up to summer.

Rodney Woods
News

Agriculture Victoria job cuts to research

Agriculture Victoria will be axing jobs across its research branches which could result in the loss of 50 positions at offices in Macleod, Horsham, Bendigo, Rutherglen and Bundoora. It is believed six positions will be cut in Tatura. When asked in...

Jamieson Salter
News

Private company to goFARM in Murray Valley

A global view on food production and dietary trends, the benefits of investing in land above the Barmah Choke, soil quality, a great climate and pre-existing infrastructure are the main reasons for privately owned company goFARM buying farms in the...

Rodney Woods
News

Fossickers receive tick of approval

Fossickers across north-east Victoria are trying their luck at hitting gold. Earth Resources Regulation inspectors conducted spot checks over Melbourne Cup weekend and found all participants were in possession of a valid miner’s right. Earth...

Country News
Water

What they said at the ACCC forum

About 130 people, mostly irrigators, attended the Shepparton forum as part of the ACCC’s inquiry into the operation of water markets in the Murray-Darling Basin. Here are what some said before and during the inquiry: “I’m here to know a bit...

Rodney Woods
Water

Jerilderie irrigator attended Shepparton meeting in support of water market

While most of the vocal irrigators wanted major change to the water market, one farmer stuck his neck out and went against the grain. Jerilderie sheep and rice farmer Denis Tinkler said he attended the Shepparton forum of the ACCC’s inquiry into the...

Rodney Woods
News

ACCC hears concerns about how the water market operates at a Shepparton forum

Irritated irrigators filled the room at the Shepparton Golf Club last Wednesday to vent their concerns about the operation of the water market. One farmer went as far as saying that for dairy to prosper again, carryover had to be scrapped, while at...

Rodney Woods
News

Bunnings sausage sizzle to help those affected by drought and fires

Drop by your local Bunnings store’s sausage sizzle on Friday to help raise funds and support communities impacted by drought and bushfires. Bunnings will again partner with GIVIT, whose national presence aids local communities all over Australia by...

Rodney Woods

Trending stories

News

Body recovered from Lake Benalla - UPDATED

Benalla Police and SES are currently searching the Lake Benalla shoreline with an area from the Art Gallery around to the showgrounds taped off. We are waiting on Victoria Police to contact us with more information which we will share with you as...

Simon Ruppert
Sport

Shepparton boxer Dwight Ritchie dies aged 27 in training accident

Shepparton’s sporting community is in shock after boxer Dwight Ritchie died tragically on Saturday in a freak training injury. The 27-year-old was sparring with WBA Oceania middleweight champion Michael Zerafa in Melbourne, when he was struck with...

Alex Mitchell
News

Shepparton boy wins car in McDonald’s Monopoly

You could not wipe the smile from 14-year-old Bodi Fitzsimmons’ face on Friday afternoon as he collected the four-wheeled prize he won through playing McDonald’s Monopoly.

Ashlea Witoslawski
News

Major collision at Curr Road intersection

POLICE have confirmed two vehicles are involved in a collision at the corners of Curr Road and Graham Road. Graham Road is currently closed to traffic between Scobie Road and Curr Road, and police are urging motorists to avoid the area. Ambulance...

Holly Tregenza