Farmers spraying weeds this summer are reminded of the golden rules to prevent drift and avoid damage to neighbouring properties.

NSW Farmers’ Agricultural Science Committee Chair Justin Everitt said taking several key precautions remained essential when planning to spray.

“We’ve always got to monitor weather conditions closely when we’re spraying, and while we’re all on a time crunch, it’s important to stop spraying as soon as conditions change and are no longer suitable for spraying.

“Spraying as close to the target as possible and ensuring you’re using the appropriate spray nozzle also helps enormously in pre­venting spray drift.

“It never hurts as well to consult your agronomist on your spray mix and its impact, so you have all the information you need to spray safely this summer.”

Off-target spray drift can occur when agricultural chemicals or vapour become airborne and drift outside the intended area when sprayed. This can happen if chemicals are applied at the wrong time of day, or during the wrong weather conditions.

“We’ve seen significant damage to crops in the past as a result of off-target spray drift, so it’s critical we keep prevention top of mind this season,” Mr Everitt said.

“Our neighbours will thank us for it, and wouldn’t it be brilliant if 2026 was a stellar production year for us all.”

NSW Farmers has welcomed calls from the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Compe­tition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh to introduce a legislated right to repair for agricultural machinery.

NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said commitment to legislate this was long overdue. “Right now, much of our modern farm machinery can only be fixed by an ‘authorised repairer’, but this often costs a fortune and there’s the likelihood of costly delays,” Mr Martin said.

“We can choose who fixes our cars and trucks, but can’t choose who fixes the ag machines that help us feed and clothe the nation – and that’s costing our industry time, money and productivity.

“Farmers should be able to choose to use and support a qualified local repairer or do repairs and maintenance work them­selves if they’re qualified, so they can get their machinery fixed without huge costs or wait times.”

According to the Productivity Commis­sion, legislating a right to repair agricultural machinery would boost agricultural produc­tivity by $97 million annually.

“We need our tractors, headers and other machines to be fixed efficiently if we’re to keep putting clothes on backs and food on tables,” Mr Martin said.

The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are continuing to ensure regional communities are able to thrive with a new powerful online tool to help NSW farmers better prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters including fire, flood, and drought.

The agriculture industry is the engine room of the New South Wales economy, contributing around $20 billion each year. This tool will help farmers safeguard their livelihoods during the climatic variations impacting their farming operations.

The platform, called myStockPlanner, enables farmers to pro­vide details of their farm, risks and resources so they then in return can access tailored actionable response options to consider and implement with their feed and livestock.

myStockPlanner enhances and brings together the functions that previously existed in a suite of existing tools so they are up­graded into a smarter and single platform. The old tools such as the Drought and Supplementary Calculator, DroughtPack, Feed Cost Calculator and Drought Feed Calculator have been collated into a one stop shop myStockPlanner.

This platform is designed to empower farmers with real-time in­sights, scenario planning, and recovery tracking so they can make better and quicker decisions. Importantly, myStockPlanner allows users to save their business information to a farm profile, which they can access and update anywhere, anytime even if their busi­ness records are destroyed in floods or fires.

Farmers use the free platform to calculate livestock require­ments, develop feed plans and evaluate projected annual costs of livestock sale and retention options to improve the farm’s per­formance. To learn more or sign up – myStockPlanner – https://mystockplanner.dpi.nsw.gov.au

The Minns Labor Government is plant­ing the seeds for a new wave of primary production manufacturing across regional NSW, unveiling a prospectus designed to harvest the economic benefits of the grow­ing plant-based protein sector.

This prospectus is part of the Govern­ment’s plans to strengthen regional econo­mies, build new industries and drive jobs and investment.

The prospectus is aimed at metropolitan and international food manufacturers and is designed to encourage them to consider re­gional NSW as a base for their operations.

The prospectus highlights the competitive advantages regional NSW has including:

• Access to premium raw commodities suitable for plant-based protein food and beverage manufacturing with the ability to scale and meet growing demand.

• Consumer market access with regional NSW ideally positioned and able to de­liver goods to 81 percent of Australia’s domestic market overnight.

• Skilled workforce with relevant education­al backgrounds, export-ready ports, and affordable industrial land.

• Research and development ecosystem that actively encourages collaboration between researchers across universities, DPIRD, CSIRO, Government and agri­business.

The Prospectus also identifies five key re­gions particularly suited to plant-based pro­tein manufacturing: Riverina Murray, New England North West, Central West Orana, North Coast and Hunter Central Coast.

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said: “Regional NSW offers the ideal combination of resources and advantages, from efficient transport networks and export-ready ports to skilled workforces and affordable industrial land, creating a compelling case for investors and manufacturers.

Grain growers are invited to share their thoughts at the upcoming Grains R&D: Your levies, your views consultation, organised by GrainGrowers. Image: Farmpix Photography.(www.farmpix.com.au/)

Grain growers in the Parkes region are be­ing urged to attend an upcoming grower meeting to discuss issues around grains research and development, levy rates and reviews and the impact on growers.

The Grains R&D: Your levies, your views consultation, organised by GrainGrowers as part of its representative organisation (RO) role with the GRDC, will take place in Parkes on Thursday 11 September at the Parkes Services Club, 10:30am – 12pm.

In total, meetings will be held in 18 re­gional centres across five states from 2 September through until 16 October. The Parkes meeting is one of four being held across NSW.

GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel said the meetings are an ideal opportunity for growers to consider the current situation, to put forward their thoughts on the issues and raise questions that they would like considered and answered.

Ms Gawel said in recent months there had been many discussions about grains research and development, and it was im­portant to engage as widely as possible with growers.

“As a grower member organisation, di­rect engagement is in our DNA, and these meetings are designed to allow us to listen and to reflect carefully on the next steps.”

“While our members are free to contact us at any time, growers across Australia now have multiple opportunities to come together to discuss.

“The full schedule of consultations is available via our website. For anyone un­able to attend, we will be holding a virtual session at a later date to encourage the widest possible consultation,” Ms Gawel said.

Further information and to register, at: www.graingrowers.com.au/events/grains-r-and-d-your-levies-your-views-parkes-nsw

LEFT: 15 year old Lilly Eagles from Forbes, will represent NSW in the Dairy Cattle Parading final. Local Talent. RIGHT: 17 year old Jack Smyth from Canowindra, will represent NSW in the Beef Cattle Parading final.

The 2025 National Championships is being hosted at the Royal Adelaide Show from 1-6 September 2025. The prestigious com­petition includes paraders of beef and dairy cattle, young judges of beef and dairy cat­tle, grain, Merino sheep and fleece, meat breeds sheep, and poultry, the Australian Young Farmers Challenge, and National Rural Ambassador Award.

The National Championships brings to­gether the best of the best in rural talent, community spirit, and industry excellence.

Young judges and paraders aged from 15 to 25 Qualify via success in competitive re­gional and state competitions.

Lilly Eagles, 15 of Forbes has been se­lected to represent NSW in the Dairy Cat­tle Parading final. Currently in Year 9 at Forbes High School, Lilly is a regular on the show circuit.

“My two best moments at a show would have to be winning Junior Champion at the Forbes Show with my Ayrshire, Ash, when she was a heifer – and then taking her to International Dairy Week where she won Reserve Junior Champion. The other was at the Sydney Royal Easter Show earlier this year – I won my paraders class with my heifer Deluxe, then went on to be named Reserve Champion Parader. Now, I get the amazing opportunity to represent New South Wales at the Adelaide Royal.”

Thomas French, who is Relieving Head Teacher Science at Forbes High School said “Lilly is a diligent student who has been a part of the Forbes High School Show Team for multiple years. She is an active participant at all shows the school team attends and passionately participates in everything the Show Team has to offer.

Lilly has proven her outstanding ability in showing cattle and judging both produce and livestock at a range of shows. Lilly’s dedication is not only evident in Show Team but across the school, excelling in her academic studies as well. Lilly has earned her spot as one of the 6 national finalists through hard work, dedication and a passion in agriculture.”

Jack Smyth, 17 of Canowindra has been selected to represent NSW in the Beef Cat­tle Parading final.

Jack Smyth is a young stock and sta­tion agent with MCC Chudleigh Dobell in Forbes, NSW.

“I started competing in the paraders when I was 14 because I had friends do­ing it and it’s something I love doing. I’ve been in agriculture my whole life with my family but I started by showing cows with my school and then worked for Goondoola Livestock and Kianma Poll Herefords. I’m looking forward to my first visit to Adelaide, catching up with people and having a good day in the ring.”

Kimberly Chudleigh, Director of MCC Chudleigh Dobell said ”Our youngest stock agent Jack Smyth has proven his dedica­tion to the agricultural industry once again! Daily Jack demonstrates a knowledge of the livestock industry which continues to grow and show in his Livestock Agent role.”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released the latest statistics on live­stock slaughtered and red meat production, which according to Meat & Livestock Aus­tralia (MLA) has confirmed a historic period for the red meat sector.

Financial year 2024-2025 has seen beef production reach an all time high, lamb slaughter maintained near-record levels, and mutton throughput surging to its highest volume since 2007. The results reflect the strength, resilience, and strategic adaptabil­ity and forward thinking of Australian pro­ducers across diverse seasonal conditions, according to MLA’s Acting Market Informa­tion Manager, Erin Lukey.

“These results show that continued adop­tion of new technology and innovation onfarm, along with investments in supply chain efficiency, are continuing to pay dividends across the supply chain,” Ms Lukey said.

“Despite seasonal challenges in some parts of Australia, the industry has deliv­ered record beef production and maintained strong lamb and mutton throughput.”

Australia processed 8.88 million head of cattle in FY25, which is the third-largest an­nual slaughter since 1978 and the highest since the drought-driven peak in 2015.