Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, has today opened its fourth annual Spirit of the Bush photography competition.The winning twelve photographs will be used in Rural Aid’s stunning 2024 calendar.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said he was excited to see what the bush’s talented photographers had captured this year.

“The photographs that are submitted are always breathtakingly raw, real, and reflect the highs and lows of life on the land,” Mr Warlters said.

“I hope to see dozens of photos of successful crops, happy working dogs and fat cattle.”

“On the flipside, the pictures of flooded creeks and empty paddocks tell a sobering, but equally important, story,” said Mr Walters. “I’d encourage anyone with a love, and eye, for the bush, to send their photos in.”

Photographers are encouraged to submit their photos to the themes of; family, community, mates, faces, eyes, tough, golden hour (sunrise/sunset), or all things rural.

Winners will be awarded a feature in the 2024 calendar, and a $250 pre-paid VISA card. Rural Aid’s 2024 calendar will be available for purchase later this year. Proceeds will directly support Rural Aid’s range of programs that help farmers and their families.

The competition closes May, 29 2023. To enter the competition, entrants must submit a high-resolution, landscape image via Instagram or Facebook, with the hashtag #SOTB2023 and tag @ruralaid in the picture, or upload their photo through the Woobox link: www.ruralaid.org.au/spirit-of-the-bush

NSW Farmers is calling for an immediate ACCC inquiry into the grain supply chain following reports of billions of dollars bleeding from the economy.

According to GrainGrowers, ‘large pricing anomalies’ last year saw farmers underpaid for their grains and oilseeds despite high global prices and constrained supply due to the war in Ukraine.

NSW Farmers Grains Committee chair Justin Everitt said farmers were bleeding billions of dollars a year – hurting the economy – and the Australian Government must immediately act and direct the ACCC to review the grain supply chain, the market, and pricing fairness.

“There are market failures occurring across the supply chain due to a lack of competition, and there is the real possibility of monopolistic behaviour because of bottlenecks in the system,” Mr Everitt said.

“We’re out there in the paddock trying to grow food for Australia and the world, but then we’re forced to take lower prices because we don’t have the supply chains or markets that would allow real competition.

“Failure to act on this issue will see our economy continue to bleed billions of dollars when we can least afford it, we need immediate action.” 

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said farmers will now be able to borrow up to $2 million to identify and address risks to their businesses, improve on-farm infrastructure and ensure long-term productivity and sustainable land use.

“For almost a decade, the Farm Innovation Fund has given farmers access to long-term, low-interest loans of up to $1 million to finance projects that contribute to productivity and resilience – now we are doubling that,” said Mr Toole. 

“To date, more than $840 million in loans under the Farm Innovation Fund, Seafood Innovation Fund and Drought Assistance Fund have been approved, assisting more than 8,600 NSW farmers to help launch crucial innovation and infrastructure.”

“Not only are we planning to increase the maximum loan amount from $1 million to $2 million, we also want to expand the program so the loan can be accessed for the adoption of new technologies, usage of automation and robotics to address labour shortages and carbon farming infrastructure.”

Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said farm productivity will always be a priority for the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government.

“The fund will no longer be limited to on farm infrastructure but rather the imagination of farmers who want to future proof their land, their operations and their businesses.

“Through this boost, farmers will be able to invest in a range of initiatives to become more profitable, resilient and sustainable such as new energy generation, automation, boosting soil carbon, reducing emissions and increasing vegetation.”

Chief Winemaker at Robert Stein Winery Jacob Stein said he’s excited for what this support will mean for the future of his business. 

“I have always been keen to look at opportunities for automation within our winery and our vineyard but haven’t had the cash flow to do so,” Mr Stein said.

With a Board comprising 57% women and a Steering Group with strong female representation, the SSF is leading the charge to educate and raise awareness of women’s equality in the sheep industry.

“The Sheep Sustainability Framework has benefitted from female leadership, reflecting our participation and collaboration throughout the sheep meat and wool value chains,” SSF Board Chair, Lucinda Corrigan, said.

Established early 2021, the SSF helps industry better understand its opportunities, challenges and impacts in key areas such as environmental health, economic resilience, animal care, and people and community. It presents evidence to stakeholders that Australian sheep meat and wool is produced responsibly, and demonstrates the industry has a clear path towards continuous improvement, where needed.

Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) and WoolProducers Australia (WPA) lead the Framework, with Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) providing funding, strategic advice and secretariat support.

SSF Sustainability Steering Group Chair, Dr Scott Williams, said having more women in leadership positions has helped foster a more inclusive culture within the SSF.

“Sustainability affects all of us – so ‘all of us’ need to be involved in conversations about sustainability,” Dr Williams said.

Marked annually on 8th March, International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and campaigns for accelerated gender parity.

The Australian sheepmeat industry is set for another bumper year in 2023 as the national sheep flock grows to its highest level since 2007 at 78.75m head, according to the latest Sheep Industry Projections update from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

Driving this increase are optimal breeding conditions, a genetically superior flock, improved lambing percentages and medium-term industry confidence.

Meat and Livestock Australia spokesperson, Ripley Atkinson said, “Lamb slaughter is forecast to reach 22.6m in 2023 as a result of large numbers of breeding ewes and strong marking rates. This is a rise of 595,000 head or 2.7% year-on-year.

“2022’s slaughter performance showed that small stock processors had a greater ability to increase their throughput in line with higher supply, a trend MLA expects will continue in 2023.”

Carcase weights are also forecast to increase in 2023. This is primarily due to structural genetic investment and productive improvement in the national flock over the past two years.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast that the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) will enter a positive phase in 2023. A positive IOD results in less rain across southern Australia, where most of Australia’s sheep population is located.

According to Mr Atkinson, a decline in the New Zealand sheep flock size presents an opportunity for the Australian sheepmeat industry.

“New opportunities may be made available to Australian producers and exporters as New Zealand flock size decreases, wool and lamb production become less profitable compared to dairy production, and land availability decreases.”

 

Local charity Rapid Relief Team (RRT), charity arm of the Plymouth Brethren Church, is encouraging flood-hit farmers in the NSW Central West to register by 30th January 2023 to receive free bales of hay ahead of a community event in Eugowra next month.

The RRT Farmers Community Connect event taking place in Eugowra on 3rd February will see hundreds of bales of hay gifted to local farmers in the region who have been devastated by floods.

RRT Director Lester Sharples said the floods had devastated the State’s Central West – a region still battling like much of Australia to recover from bushfires and the crippling impact of the pandemic.

“It’s been an incredibly difficult time and it’s important that as a community we give each other the strength to get through,” Mr Sharples said.

Farmers Community Connect is an initiative designed to bring local communities together by donating feed stock to farmers and offer a range of support services over a free BBQ lunch. 

Mr Sharples said RRT’s volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church hope to serve their local community with Christian values of care and compassion.

“It’s an opportunity to sit down for a coffee, grab a bite to eat with each other and offer a listening ear to those that need a chat,” said Mr Sharples.

The Farmers Community Connect event includes:

• Free barista made coffee and BBQ lunch cooked by RRT volunteers.

• Veterinary support

• Rural Financial Counsellors

• Mental and community health support.

• All members of the local community are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Farmers can register for bales of hay by 30th January via: https://rrtglobal.org/operations-appeals/farmers-community-connect-eugowra/ or email action.au@rrtglobal.org for more information.

Rapid Relief Team went on to say “The small town of Eugowra is still recovering after last year’s catastrophic flash flooding, so the Rapid Relief Team want to do our bit towards helping our flood affected farmers get back on their feet. RRT are heading to Eugowra, NSW on 3rd February to donate bales of A-grade hay, connecting the community over a free BBQ lunch, barista coffee and access to local support services. For more information, or to register for support, go to https://rrtglobal.org/operations-appeals/farmers-community-connect-eugowra/

We can’t do a lot on our own, but together with your support, we can. Your donation will go on to support communities in need. From providing emergency relief, to supporting the homeless on our streets, your support will empower people in crisis.

• $10 Can provide a meal and refreshment to a recipient in need

• $24 Can help bring joy into a child’s life through Cookie the Kookaburra, RRT’s global mascot.

• $55 Can help a family in crisis with an RRT Food Box

• $100 Can feed 10 Emergency Service personnel responding to a disaster

RRT delivers hope and relief to people across the globe. Whether it be fire, flood or humanitarian need, RRT expands their support services to meet the need at hand. 

Australia’s most trusted rural charity has distributed more than 700 bales of hay to Central West New South Wales farmers, helping to make Christmas a little brighter for flood-affected producers.

A hay drop was held at the Central West Livestock Exchange in Forbes on Friday, 16th December. Ten road trains delivered more than 480 tonnes of hay to the saleyards for Rural Aid’s registered primary producers. 

Forbes cattle breeder Danielle Beard said her property is still covered in floodwaters and thick layers of mud, smothering any grass underneath. “Seventy-five percent of our property is under water and we’re going to have water on our place for another seven months,” said Danielle.

She said the bales of hay were exactly what her family needed to help them recover from the flooding event. “We’re just so grateful for this hay.”

There is still time to donate to help our farmers this Christmas. Every single dollar makes a difference to the lives of the farmers who put the Christmas food on our table and the clothes on our backs.

To support Rural Aid or make a donation go to: www.buyabale.com.au

Livestock impacted by floods can quickly succumb to any number of animal welfare issues including swamp cancers, infections and bloat. Monitor your stock closely and contact the Agriculture and Animal Service Hotline for help on 1800 814 647, or call your local district vet on 1300 795 299.