No perfect season in a land of opportunity, but farmers can bank on each other
Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by The Land editor Samantha Townsend.
In that famous children's fairytale about the three bears it seemed Goldilocks was the only one to find a perfect bed.
But here in NSW right now there aren't any 'just right' conditions as farmers struggle to balance the feed budget and their emotional well-being, all thanks to the inclement weather.
Where there are producers getting way too much rain, there are others who aren't getting any at all. It doesn't seem fair that producers are mostly left to fend for themselves.
We can debate the pros and cons of whether this is climate change or just a vigorous cycle but the fact remains we are witnessing the harsh reality of agricultural production in NSW.
As every farmer knows, Dorethea Mackella's iconic poem My Country famously references drought and flooding rains and her words capture the harsh reality of where we live.
But what are we, as farmers, doing about this conundrum?
Nobody can afford to do nothing, hoping for just a few sunny days or, on the flip side, praying for rain.
Are we burying silage in the good times? Are we drying off cows when the autumn turns sour? Perhaps we need to wean early or destock. Is it better to sell and cop the loss or hang on for something better?
Sure, we as farmers are doing all that and more but sometimes it's not enough when Mother Nature throws a temper tantrum, the likes of which we have just seen.
Australia is not the land of milk and honey, we know that. It's the land of dust and floods. However, there are tremendous opportunities in the shoulder seasons and these silver lining moments need to be taken with positive action to mitigate the good years with the bad.
There's another thing that can't be bought with government handouts and it's called mateship.
While there are high requirements for cattle agistment extend right across the state, from the drought-stricken south to the mud-bogged North Coast, there are those putting up their hand to help.
There's country resilience and farmers helping each other, while on the ground volunteers across multiple agencies do the heavy lifting in times of crisis.
We live in a good country and we can be proud of her worth. We just need to grab it with both hands.
Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by The Land editor Samantha Townsend.
In that famous children's fairytale about the three bears it seemed Goldilocks was the only one to find a perfect bed.
But here in NSW right now there aren't any 'just right' conditions as farmers struggle to balance the feed budget and their emotional well-being, all thanks to the inclement weather.
Where there are producers getting way too much rain, there are others who aren't getting any at all. It doesn't seem fair that producers are mostly left to fend for themselves.
We can debate the pros and cons of whether this is climate change or just a vigorous cycle but the fact remains we are witnessing the harsh reality of agricultural production in NSW.
As every farmer knows, Dorethea Mackella's iconic poem My Country famously references drought and flooding rains and her words capture the harsh reality of where we live.
But what are we, as farmers, doing about this conundrum?
Nobody can afford to do nothing, hoping for just a few sunny days or, on the flip side, praying for rain.
Are we burying silage in the good times? Are we drying off cows when the autumn turns sour? Perhaps we need to wean early or destock. Is it better to sell and cop the loss or hang on for something better?
Sure, we as farmers are doing all that and more but sometimes it's not enough when Mother Nature throws a temper tantrum, the likes of which we have just seen.
Australia is not the land of milk and honey, we know that. It's the land of dust and floods. However, there are tremendous opportunities in the shoulder seasons and these silver lining moments need to be taken with positive action to mitigate the good years with the bad.
There's another thing that can't be bought with government handouts and it's called mateship.
While there are high requirements for cattle agistment extend right across the state, from the drought-stricken south to the mud-bogged North Coast, there are those putting up their hand to help.
There's country resilience and farmers helping each other, while on the ground volunteers across multiple agencies do the heavy lifting in times of crisis.
We live in a good country and we can be proud of her worth. We just need to grab it with both hands.
Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by The Land editor Samantha Townsend.
In that famous children's fairytale about the three bears it seemed Goldilocks was the only one to find a perfect bed.
But here in NSW right now there aren't any 'just right' conditions as farmers struggle to balance the feed budget and their emotional well-being, all thanks to the inclement weather.
Where there are producers getting way too much rain, there are others who aren't getting any at all. It doesn't seem fair that producers are mostly left to fend for themselves.
We can debate the pros and cons of whether this is climate change or just a vigorous cycle but the fact remains we are witnessing the harsh reality of agricultural production in NSW.
As every farmer knows, Dorethea Mackella's iconic poem My Country famously references drought and flooding rains and her words capture the harsh reality of where we live.
But what are we, as farmers, doing about this conundrum?
Nobody can afford to do nothing, hoping for just a few sunny days or, on the flip side, praying for rain.
Are we burying silage in the good times? Are we drying off cows when the autumn turns sour? Perhaps we need to wean early or destock. Is it better to sell and cop the loss or hang on for something better?
Sure, we as farmers are doing all that and more but sometimes it's not enough when Mother Nature throws a temper tantrum, the likes of which we have just seen.
Australia is not the land of milk and honey, we know that. It's the land of dust and floods. However, there are tremendous opportunities in the shoulder seasons and these silver lining moments need to be taken with positive action to mitigate the good years with the bad.
There's another thing that can't be bought with government handouts and it's called mateship.
While there are high requirements for cattle agistment extend right across the state, from the drought-stricken south to the mud-bogged North Coast, there are those putting up their hand to help.
There's country resilience and farmers helping each other, while on the ground volunteers across multiple agencies do the heavy lifting in times of crisis.
We live in a good country and we can be proud of her worth. We just need to grab it with both hands.
Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by The Land editor Samantha Townsend.
In that famous children's fairytale about the three bears it seemed Goldilocks was the only one to find a perfect bed.
But here in NSW right now there aren't any 'just right' conditions as farmers struggle to balance the feed budget and their emotional well-being, all thanks to the inclement weather.
Where there are producers getting way too much rain, there are others who aren't getting any at all. It doesn't seem fair that producers are mostly left to fend for themselves.
We can debate the pros and cons of whether this is climate change or just a vigorous cycle but the fact remains we are witnessing the harsh reality of agricultural production in NSW.
As every farmer knows, Dorethea Mackella's iconic poem My Country famously references drought and flooding rains and her words capture the harsh reality of where we live.
But what are we, as farmers, doing about this conundrum?
Nobody can afford to do nothing, hoping for just a few sunny days or, on the flip side, praying for rain.
Are we burying silage in the good times? Are we drying off cows when the autumn turns sour? Perhaps we need to wean early or destock. Is it better to sell and cop the loss or hang on for something better?
Sure, we as farmers are doing all that and more but sometimes it's not enough when Mother Nature throws a temper tantrum, the likes of which we have just seen.
Australia is not the land of milk and honey, we know that. It's the land of dust and floods. However, there are tremendous opportunities in the shoulder seasons and these silver lining moments need to be taken with positive action to mitigate the good years with the bad.
There's another thing that can't be bought with government handouts and it's called mateship.
While there are high requirements for cattle agistment extend right across the state, from the drought-stricken south to the mud-bogged North Coast, there are those putting up their hand to help.
There's country resilience and farmers helping each other, while on the ground volunteers across multiple agencies do the heavy lifting in times of crisis.
We live in a good country and we can be proud of her worth. We just need to grab it with both hands.
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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
How meteorologist Jane Bunn uses AI to update weather forecasts 18 times a day
Weather watchers across regional Australia will have access to cutting-edge forecasting and rainfall information in their pocket following a deal between ACM, the publisher of this masthead, and weather forecasting platform Jane's Weather. The partnership will enhance ACM weather portal with a suite of Jane's Weather services powered by artificial intelligence as well as the exclusive insights of veteran meteorologist Jane Bunn. Jane's Weather forecasts are updated 18 times a day through a weather station network three times the size of the Bureau of Meteorology network. "We're really excited to see the Jane's Weather AI Forecast powering with our interactive maps, warnings that clearly show if you are in the danger zone, all the long-range climate tools and the latest weather news," Ms Bunn, meteorologist for 7News Melbourne, said. "I've always been passionate about making sure the right weather information gets through to as many people as possible, and it's thrilling to see our AI-powered weather helping Australians across the country." The ACM network's reach will put Ms Bunn's expertise and hyper-local, AI-powered forecasts at the fingertips of more regional Australians. is part of the ACM Agri division that includes long-standing specialist agricultural publications The Land in NSW, Victoria's Stock & Land, SA's Stock Journal, Queensland Country Life and WA's Farm Weekly. The weather portal will integrate Jane's Weather's powerful forecasting engine, which is already used by leading farm businesses, construction companies and local councils. Ms Bunn said her forecasts out to eight days were formulated using multiple global weather models and machine learning and were "better than other sources of weather information, especially in regional areas". "We've been really pleased with the accuracy," she said of her service's coverage beyond the Bureau of Meteorology's weather stations. "We have got a network of 2500 stations ... significantly more than the BOM, which helps increase the accuracy of the forecasts." ACM chief financial officer Chris Hitch said: "As Australia's leading agricultural media network, reaching 78 per cent of Australian farmers, ACM Agri is delighted to deliver them both a new, exclusive weather column from Jane as well as access to the most thorough free forecasts via Ms Bunn expects AI to enhance the accuracy of long-range forecasts: "With the 8-10 day forecast, the events are already happening, but longer term forecasts are a different kettle of fish. You don't know how many low pressure systems will connect with a feed of moisture. It is very complex. "There is a lot of machine learning still to come before the AI can deep dive into the data, but we've seen great results with AI in the short-term forecast and I'd love to see that moved into the longer-term window, which is of course what farmers really want. "AI can do things we haven't been able to with the traditional models and it is a very exciting space." She said a key priority would be getting more data points. "The more stations and data we have, the more complete and the more accurate our forecasts become." Ms Bunn said her connections with the agricultural sector had played a key role in establishing her business. "Through my work as a meteorologist I was frequently presenting at agricultural events and I was always being asked what weather app I recommended," she said. "We'd progressed really rapidly from having a limited set of sources via the Bureau of Meteorology and the forecasts you got in the papers and on TV to having so much information out there, but there wasn't anyone collating that information and presenting it in the way farmers need. "That is the aim of Jane's Weather, to provide that critical information in a meaningful way." With this in mind, Ms Bunn said the service looked to survey information from a variety of different models to provide growers with an overall view of the outlook. "We're aiming to dampen that roller coaster that goes with using just one model which may go from 50mm in the first run to 2mm the next then back up to 30mm after that, utilising a range of information gives you a clearer picture," she said. Weather watchers across regional Australia will have access to cutting-edge forecasting and rainfall information in their pocket following a deal between ACM, the publisher of this masthead, and weather forecasting platform Jane's Weather. The partnership will enhance ACM weather portal with a suite of Jane's Weather services powered by artificial intelligence as well as the exclusive insights of veteran meteorologist Jane Bunn. Jane's Weather forecasts are updated 18 times a day through a weather station network three times the size of the Bureau of Meteorology network. "We're really excited to see the Jane's Weather AI Forecast powering with our interactive maps, warnings that clearly show if you are in the danger zone, all the long-range climate tools and the latest weather news," Ms Bunn, meteorologist for 7News Melbourne, said. "I've always been passionate about making sure the right weather information gets through to as many people as possible, and it's thrilling to see our AI-powered weather helping Australians across the country." The ACM network's reach will put Ms Bunn's expertise and hyper-local, AI-powered forecasts at the fingertips of more regional Australians. is part of the ACM Agri division that includes long-standing specialist agricultural publications The Land in NSW, Victoria's Stock & Land, SA's Stock Journal, Queensland Country Life and WA's Farm Weekly. The weather portal will integrate Jane's Weather's powerful forecasting engine, which is already used by leading farm businesses, construction companies and local councils. Ms Bunn said her forecasts out to eight days were formulated using multiple global weather models and machine learning and were "better than other sources of weather information, especially in regional areas". "We've been really pleased with the accuracy," she said of her service's coverage beyond the Bureau of Meteorology's weather stations. "We have got a network of 2500 stations ... significantly more than the BOM, which helps increase the accuracy of the forecasts." ACM chief financial officer Chris Hitch said: "As Australia's leading agricultural media network, reaching 78 per cent of Australian farmers, ACM Agri is delighted to deliver them both a new, exclusive weather column from Jane as well as access to the most thorough free forecasts via Ms Bunn expects AI to enhance the accuracy of long-range forecasts: "With the 8-10 day forecast, the events are already happening, but longer term forecasts are a different kettle of fish. You don't know how many low pressure systems will connect with a feed of moisture. It is very complex. "There is a lot of machine learning still to come before the AI can deep dive into the data, but we've seen great results with AI in the short-term forecast and I'd love to see that moved into the longer-term window, which is of course what farmers really want. "AI can do things we haven't been able to with the traditional models and it is a very exciting space." She said a key priority would be getting more data points. "The more stations and data we have, the more complete and the more accurate our forecasts become." Ms Bunn said her connections with the agricultural sector had played a key role in establishing her business. "Through my work as a meteorologist I was frequently presenting at agricultural events and I was always being asked what weather app I recommended," she said. "We'd progressed really rapidly from having a limited set of sources via the Bureau of Meteorology and the forecasts you got in the papers and on TV to having so much information out there, but there wasn't anyone collating that information and presenting it in the way farmers need. "That is the aim of Jane's Weather, to provide that critical information in a meaningful way." With this in mind, Ms Bunn said the service looked to survey information from a variety of different models to provide growers with an overall view of the outlook. "We're aiming to dampen that roller coaster that goes with using just one model which may go from 50mm in the first run to 2mm the next then back up to 30mm after that, utilising a range of information gives you a clearer picture," she said. Weather watchers across regional Australia will have access to cutting-edge forecasting and rainfall information in their pocket following a deal between ACM, the publisher of this masthead, and weather forecasting platform Jane's Weather. The partnership will enhance ACM weather portal with a suite of Jane's Weather services powered by artificial intelligence as well as the exclusive insights of veteran meteorologist Jane Bunn. Jane's Weather forecasts are updated 18 times a day through a weather station network three times the size of the Bureau of Meteorology network. "We're really excited to see the Jane's Weather AI Forecast powering with our interactive maps, warnings that clearly show if you are in the danger zone, all the long-range climate tools and the latest weather news," Ms Bunn, meteorologist for 7News Melbourne, said. "I've always been passionate about making sure the right weather information gets through to as many people as possible, and it's thrilling to see our AI-powered weather helping Australians across the country." The ACM network's reach will put Ms Bunn's expertise and hyper-local, AI-powered forecasts at the fingertips of more regional Australians. is part of the ACM Agri division that includes long-standing specialist agricultural publications The Land in NSW, Victoria's Stock & Land, SA's Stock Journal, Queensland Country Life and WA's Farm Weekly. The weather portal will integrate Jane's Weather's powerful forecasting engine, which is already used by leading farm businesses, construction companies and local councils. Ms Bunn said her forecasts out to eight days were formulated using multiple global weather models and machine learning and were "better than other sources of weather information, especially in regional areas". "We've been really pleased with the accuracy," she said of her service's coverage beyond the Bureau of Meteorology's weather stations. "We have got a network of 2500 stations ... significantly more than the BOM, which helps increase the accuracy of the forecasts." ACM chief financial officer Chris Hitch said: "As Australia's leading agricultural media network, reaching 78 per cent of Australian farmers, ACM Agri is delighted to deliver them both a new, exclusive weather column from Jane as well as access to the most thorough free forecasts via Ms Bunn expects AI to enhance the accuracy of long-range forecasts: "With the 8-10 day forecast, the events are already happening, but longer term forecasts are a different kettle of fish. You don't know how many low pressure systems will connect with a feed of moisture. It is very complex. "There is a lot of machine learning still to come before the AI can deep dive into the data, but we've seen great results with AI in the short-term forecast and I'd love to see that moved into the longer-term window, which is of course what farmers really want. "AI can do things we haven't been able to with the traditional models and it is a very exciting space." She said a key priority would be getting more data points. "The more stations and data we have, the more complete and the more accurate our forecasts become." Ms Bunn said her connections with the agricultural sector had played a key role in establishing her business. "Through my work as a meteorologist I was frequently presenting at agricultural events and I was always being asked what weather app I recommended," she said. "We'd progressed really rapidly from having a limited set of sources via the Bureau of Meteorology and the forecasts you got in the papers and on TV to having so much information out there, but there wasn't anyone collating that information and presenting it in the way farmers need. "That is the aim of Jane's Weather, to provide that critical information in a meaningful way." With this in mind, Ms Bunn said the service looked to survey information from a variety of different models to provide growers with an overall view of the outlook. "We're aiming to dampen that roller coaster that goes with using just one model which may go from 50mm in the first run to 2mm the next then back up to 30mm after that, utilising a range of information gives you a clearer picture," she said. Weather watchers across regional Australia will have access to cutting-edge forecasting and rainfall information in their pocket following a deal between ACM, the publisher of this masthead, and weather forecasting platform Jane's Weather. The partnership will enhance ACM weather portal with a suite of Jane's Weather services powered by artificial intelligence as well as the exclusive insights of veteran meteorologist Jane Bunn. Jane's Weather forecasts are updated 18 times a day through a weather station network three times the size of the Bureau of Meteorology network. "We're really excited to see the Jane's Weather AI Forecast powering with our interactive maps, warnings that clearly show if you are in the danger zone, all the long-range climate tools and the latest weather news," Ms Bunn, meteorologist for 7News Melbourne, said. "I've always been passionate about making sure the right weather information gets through to as many people as possible, and it's thrilling to see our AI-powered weather helping Australians across the country." The ACM network's reach will put Ms Bunn's expertise and hyper-local, AI-powered forecasts at the fingertips of more regional Australians. is part of the ACM Agri division that includes long-standing specialist agricultural publications The Land in NSW, Victoria's Stock & Land, SA's Stock Journal, Queensland Country Life and WA's Farm Weekly. The weather portal will integrate Jane's Weather's powerful forecasting engine, which is already used by leading farm businesses, construction companies and local councils. Ms Bunn said her forecasts out to eight days were formulated using multiple global weather models and machine learning and were "better than other sources of weather information, especially in regional areas". "We've been really pleased with the accuracy," she said of her service's coverage beyond the Bureau of Meteorology's weather stations. "We have got a network of 2500 stations ... significantly more than the BOM, which helps increase the accuracy of the forecasts." ACM chief financial officer Chris Hitch said: "As Australia's leading agricultural media network, reaching 78 per cent of Australian farmers, ACM Agri is delighted to deliver them both a new, exclusive weather column from Jane as well as access to the most thorough free forecasts via Ms Bunn expects AI to enhance the accuracy of long-range forecasts: "With the 8-10 day forecast, the events are already happening, but longer term forecasts are a different kettle of fish. You don't know how many low pressure systems will connect with a feed of moisture. It is very complex. "There is a lot of machine learning still to come before the AI can deep dive into the data, but we've seen great results with AI in the short-term forecast and I'd love to see that moved into the longer-term window, which is of course what farmers really want. "AI can do things we haven't been able to with the traditional models and it is a very exciting space." She said a key priority would be getting more data points. "The more stations and data we have, the more complete and the more accurate our forecasts become." Ms Bunn said her connections with the agricultural sector had played a key role in establishing her business. "Through my work as a meteorologist I was frequently presenting at agricultural events and I was always being asked what weather app I recommended," she said. "We'd progressed really rapidly from having a limited set of sources via the Bureau of Meteorology and the forecasts you got in the papers and on TV to having so much information out there, but there wasn't anyone collating that information and presenting it in the way farmers need. "That is the aim of Jane's Weather, to provide that critical information in a meaningful way." With this in mind, Ms Bunn said the service looked to survey information from a variety of different models to provide growers with an overall view of the outlook. "We're aiming to dampen that roller coaster that goes with using just one model which may go from 50mm in the first run to 2mm the next then back up to 30mm after that, utilising a range of information gives you a clearer picture," she said.
The Advertiser
11-06-2025
- The Advertiser
Why the price of blueberries could continue to rise in the coming months
Around 25 per cent of Australia's blueberry crop has been destroyed by recent floods, which could lead to price increases later this year. Blueberries have surged to almost $10 a punnet but Berries Australia CEO Rachel Mackenzie told ACM the price right now on the supermarket shelf was consistent for non-seasonal produce. Reduced availability of crops due to flood damage might lead to higher prices than last year in the coming peak season, which is between October and February, Ms Mackenzie said. Coffs Harbour produces more than 80 per cent of Australia's blueberries. Along with other areas in the Hunter and mid north coast, the region was devastated by the recent, record-breaking floods in May, wreaking havoc on the agriculture sector. Ms Mackenzie noted there was more blueberry supply on the horizon from Western Australia in the coming weeks, which may buffer against higher prices. READ MORE: Record-breaking floods are an insurance 'catastrophe' Oysters, cattle, bees, and horticulture are some of the industries affected by recent crises. NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said while the exact figures were unknown, the damage bill would run in the "hundreds of millions of dollars". "It's going to be a long road ahead to recovery, and our farmers must not walk this alone," he said. NSW Farmers dairy committee chair Mal Holm said the devastation to dairy farmers, particularly in the Manning region, was substantial. "There are a lot of very stressed dairy farmers," he said. "They are not only worried about their future but also about the impact on their animals." Some farmers, he said, won't return to farming. Camden Haven oyster farm's Brandon Armstrong said the lingering impacts of Cyclone Alfred in February were still felt across the regional agriculture sector. "Oysters have been under a lot of stress since Cyclone Alfred two months ago," he said. "A lot of water coming through is low salinity in the estuary, and the latest flood is a whole lot of dirty water on top of that. "People shouldn't be concerned about pricing; other products can fill the gap. They should be more concerned about accessing stock from local estuaries." Around 25 per cent of Australia's blueberry crop has been destroyed by recent floods, which could lead to price increases later this year. Blueberries have surged to almost $10 a punnet but Berries Australia CEO Rachel Mackenzie told ACM the price right now on the supermarket shelf was consistent for non-seasonal produce. Reduced availability of crops due to flood damage might lead to higher prices than last year in the coming peak season, which is between October and February, Ms Mackenzie said. Coffs Harbour produces more than 80 per cent of Australia's blueberries. Along with other areas in the Hunter and mid north coast, the region was devastated by the recent, record-breaking floods in May, wreaking havoc on the agriculture sector. Ms Mackenzie noted there was more blueberry supply on the horizon from Western Australia in the coming weeks, which may buffer against higher prices. READ MORE: Record-breaking floods are an insurance 'catastrophe' Oysters, cattle, bees, and horticulture are some of the industries affected by recent crises. NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said while the exact figures were unknown, the damage bill would run in the "hundreds of millions of dollars". "It's going to be a long road ahead to recovery, and our farmers must not walk this alone," he said. NSW Farmers dairy committee chair Mal Holm said the devastation to dairy farmers, particularly in the Manning region, was substantial. "There are a lot of very stressed dairy farmers," he said. "They are not only worried about their future but also about the impact on their animals." Some farmers, he said, won't return to farming. Camden Haven oyster farm's Brandon Armstrong said the lingering impacts of Cyclone Alfred in February were still felt across the regional agriculture sector. "Oysters have been under a lot of stress since Cyclone Alfred two months ago," he said. "A lot of water coming through is low salinity in the estuary, and the latest flood is a whole lot of dirty water on top of that. "People shouldn't be concerned about pricing; other products can fill the gap. They should be more concerned about accessing stock from local estuaries." Around 25 per cent of Australia's blueberry crop has been destroyed by recent floods, which could lead to price increases later this year. Blueberries have surged to almost $10 a punnet but Berries Australia CEO Rachel Mackenzie told ACM the price right now on the supermarket shelf was consistent for non-seasonal produce. Reduced availability of crops due to flood damage might lead to higher prices than last year in the coming peak season, which is between October and February, Ms Mackenzie said. Coffs Harbour produces more than 80 per cent of Australia's blueberries. Along with other areas in the Hunter and mid north coast, the region was devastated by the recent, record-breaking floods in May, wreaking havoc on the agriculture sector. Ms Mackenzie noted there was more blueberry supply on the horizon from Western Australia in the coming weeks, which may buffer against higher prices. READ MORE: Record-breaking floods are an insurance 'catastrophe' Oysters, cattle, bees, and horticulture are some of the industries affected by recent crises. NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said while the exact figures were unknown, the damage bill would run in the "hundreds of millions of dollars". "It's going to be a long road ahead to recovery, and our farmers must not walk this alone," he said. NSW Farmers dairy committee chair Mal Holm said the devastation to dairy farmers, particularly in the Manning region, was substantial. "There are a lot of very stressed dairy farmers," he said. "They are not only worried about their future but also about the impact on their animals." Some farmers, he said, won't return to farming. Camden Haven oyster farm's Brandon Armstrong said the lingering impacts of Cyclone Alfred in February were still felt across the regional agriculture sector. "Oysters have been under a lot of stress since Cyclone Alfred two months ago," he said. "A lot of water coming through is low salinity in the estuary, and the latest flood is a whole lot of dirty water on top of that. "People shouldn't be concerned about pricing; other products can fill the gap. They should be more concerned about accessing stock from local estuaries." Around 25 per cent of Australia's blueberry crop has been destroyed by recent floods, which could lead to price increases later this year. Blueberries have surged to almost $10 a punnet but Berries Australia CEO Rachel Mackenzie told ACM the price right now on the supermarket shelf was consistent for non-seasonal produce. Reduced availability of crops due to flood damage might lead to higher prices than last year in the coming peak season, which is between October and February, Ms Mackenzie said. Coffs Harbour produces more than 80 per cent of Australia's blueberries. Along with other areas in the Hunter and mid north coast, the region was devastated by the recent, record-breaking floods in May, wreaking havoc on the agriculture sector. Ms Mackenzie noted there was more blueberry supply on the horizon from Western Australia in the coming weeks, which may buffer against higher prices. READ MORE: Record-breaking floods are an insurance 'catastrophe' Oysters, cattle, bees, and horticulture are some of the industries affected by recent crises. NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said while the exact figures were unknown, the damage bill would run in the "hundreds of millions of dollars". "It's going to be a long road ahead to recovery, and our farmers must not walk this alone," he said. NSW Farmers dairy committee chair Mal Holm said the devastation to dairy farmers, particularly in the Manning region, was substantial. "There are a lot of very stressed dairy farmers," he said. "They are not only worried about their future but also about the impact on their animals." Some farmers, he said, won't return to farming. Camden Haven oyster farm's Brandon Armstrong said the lingering impacts of Cyclone Alfred in February were still felt across the regional agriculture sector. "Oysters have been under a lot of stress since Cyclone Alfred two months ago," he said. "A lot of water coming through is low salinity in the estuary, and the latest flood is a whole lot of dirty water on top of that. "People shouldn't be concerned about pricing; other products can fill the gap. They should be more concerned about accessing stock from local estuaries."
The Advertiser
02-06-2025
- The Advertiser
No perfect season in a land of opportunity, but farmers can bank on each other
Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by The Land editor Samantha Townsend. In that famous children's fairytale about the three bears it seemed Goldilocks was the only one to find a perfect bed. But here in NSW right now there aren't any 'just right' conditions as farmers struggle to balance the feed budget and their emotional well-being, all thanks to the inclement weather. Where there are producers getting way too much rain, there are others who aren't getting any at all. It doesn't seem fair that producers are mostly left to fend for themselves. We can debate the pros and cons of whether this is climate change or just a vigorous cycle but the fact remains we are witnessing the harsh reality of agricultural production in NSW. As every farmer knows, Dorethea Mackella's iconic poem My Country famously references drought and flooding rains and her words capture the harsh reality of where we live. But what are we, as farmers, doing about this conundrum? Nobody can afford to do nothing, hoping for just a few sunny days or, on the flip side, praying for rain. Are we burying silage in the good times? Are we drying off cows when the autumn turns sour? Perhaps we need to wean early or destock. Is it better to sell and cop the loss or hang on for something better? Sure, we as farmers are doing all that and more but sometimes it's not enough when Mother Nature throws a temper tantrum, the likes of which we have just seen. Australia is not the land of milk and honey, we know that. It's the land of dust and floods. However, there are tremendous opportunities in the shoulder seasons and these silver lining moments need to be taken with positive action to mitigate the good years with the bad. There's another thing that can't be bought with government handouts and it's called mateship. While there are high requirements for cattle agistment extend right across the state, from the drought-stricken south to the mud-bogged North Coast, there are those putting up their hand to help. There's country resilience and farmers helping each other, while on the ground volunteers across multiple agencies do the heavy lifting in times of crisis. We live in a good country and we can be proud of her worth. We just need to grab it with both hands. Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by The Land editor Samantha Townsend. In that famous children's fairytale about the three bears it seemed Goldilocks was the only one to find a perfect bed. But here in NSW right now there aren't any 'just right' conditions as farmers struggle to balance the feed budget and their emotional well-being, all thanks to the inclement weather. Where there are producers getting way too much rain, there are others who aren't getting any at all. It doesn't seem fair that producers are mostly left to fend for themselves. We can debate the pros and cons of whether this is climate change or just a vigorous cycle but the fact remains we are witnessing the harsh reality of agricultural production in NSW. As every farmer knows, Dorethea Mackella's iconic poem My Country famously references drought and flooding rains and her words capture the harsh reality of where we live. But what are we, as farmers, doing about this conundrum? Nobody can afford to do nothing, hoping for just a few sunny days or, on the flip side, praying for rain. Are we burying silage in the good times? Are we drying off cows when the autumn turns sour? Perhaps we need to wean early or destock. Is it better to sell and cop the loss or hang on for something better? Sure, we as farmers are doing all that and more but sometimes it's not enough when Mother Nature throws a temper tantrum, the likes of which we have just seen. Australia is not the land of milk and honey, we know that. It's the land of dust and floods. However, there are tremendous opportunities in the shoulder seasons and these silver lining moments need to be taken with positive action to mitigate the good years with the bad. There's another thing that can't be bought with government handouts and it's called mateship. While there are high requirements for cattle agistment extend right across the state, from the drought-stricken south to the mud-bogged North Coast, there are those putting up their hand to help. There's country resilience and farmers helping each other, while on the ground volunteers across multiple agencies do the heavy lifting in times of crisis. We live in a good country and we can be proud of her worth. We just need to grab it with both hands. Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by The Land editor Samantha Townsend. In that famous children's fairytale about the three bears it seemed Goldilocks was the only one to find a perfect bed. But here in NSW right now there aren't any 'just right' conditions as farmers struggle to balance the feed budget and their emotional well-being, all thanks to the inclement weather. Where there are producers getting way too much rain, there are others who aren't getting any at all. It doesn't seem fair that producers are mostly left to fend for themselves. We can debate the pros and cons of whether this is climate change or just a vigorous cycle but the fact remains we are witnessing the harsh reality of agricultural production in NSW. As every farmer knows, Dorethea Mackella's iconic poem My Country famously references drought and flooding rains and her words capture the harsh reality of where we live. But what are we, as farmers, doing about this conundrum? Nobody can afford to do nothing, hoping for just a few sunny days or, on the flip side, praying for rain. Are we burying silage in the good times? Are we drying off cows when the autumn turns sour? Perhaps we need to wean early or destock. Is it better to sell and cop the loss or hang on for something better? Sure, we as farmers are doing all that and more but sometimes it's not enough when Mother Nature throws a temper tantrum, the likes of which we have just seen. Australia is not the land of milk and honey, we know that. It's the land of dust and floods. However, there are tremendous opportunities in the shoulder seasons and these silver lining moments need to be taken with positive action to mitigate the good years with the bad. There's another thing that can't be bought with government handouts and it's called mateship. While there are high requirements for cattle agistment extend right across the state, from the drought-stricken south to the mud-bogged North Coast, there are those putting up their hand to help. There's country resilience and farmers helping each other, while on the ground volunteers across multiple agencies do the heavy lifting in times of crisis. We live in a good country and we can be proud of her worth. We just need to grab it with both hands. Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by The Land editor Samantha Townsend. In that famous children's fairytale about the three bears it seemed Goldilocks was the only one to find a perfect bed. But here in NSW right now there aren't any 'just right' conditions as farmers struggle to balance the feed budget and their emotional well-being, all thanks to the inclement weather. Where there are producers getting way too much rain, there are others who aren't getting any at all. It doesn't seem fair that producers are mostly left to fend for themselves. We can debate the pros and cons of whether this is climate change or just a vigorous cycle but the fact remains we are witnessing the harsh reality of agricultural production in NSW. As every farmer knows, Dorethea Mackella's iconic poem My Country famously references drought and flooding rains and her words capture the harsh reality of where we live. But what are we, as farmers, doing about this conundrum? Nobody can afford to do nothing, hoping for just a few sunny days or, on the flip side, praying for rain. Are we burying silage in the good times? Are we drying off cows when the autumn turns sour? Perhaps we need to wean early or destock. Is it better to sell and cop the loss or hang on for something better? Sure, we as farmers are doing all that and more but sometimes it's not enough when Mother Nature throws a temper tantrum, the likes of which we have just seen. Australia is not the land of milk and honey, we know that. It's the land of dust and floods. However, there are tremendous opportunities in the shoulder seasons and these silver lining moments need to be taken with positive action to mitigate the good years with the bad. There's another thing that can't be bought with government handouts and it's called mateship. While there are high requirements for cattle agistment extend right across the state, from the drought-stricken south to the mud-bogged North Coast, there are those putting up their hand to help. There's country resilience and farmers helping each other, while on the ground volunteers across multiple agencies do the heavy lifting in times of crisis. We live in a good country and we can be proud of her worth. We just need to grab it with both hands.
