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Agtech investors, farmers and start-ups flock to evokeAG

AUSTRALIA’S largest agrifood tech event — evokeAG — ignited in Melbourne yesterday with a sold-out crowd of more than 1100 delegates and a long list of domestic and international agtech investors and companies…Read More

Terry Sim, February 20, 2019

FarmLab on a mission to put soil testing into farmers’ hands

FARMLAB chief executive officer Sam Duncan began his pitch at the evokeAG conference in Melbourne yesterday with a smile and a simple message – we make soil testing easy…Read More

Terry Sim, February 20, 2019

Lamb Production

It’s ewe time! Forums set for Victoria and NSW

Sheep producers across northern Victoria and the Riverina region of NSW will have access to timely tips and tools to tailor flock management to seasonal conditions when the It’s ewe time! forums kick off later this month…Read More

Sheep Central, February 20, 2019

Western Australian agrifood businesses seek investors

WESTERN Australian agtech businesses spanning innovative livestock pricing, grain production and irrigation are at evokeAG in Melbourne this week seeking exposure and investment…Read More

Sheep Central, February 20, 2019

50-year-old semen still as fertile as the day it was frozen

Pregnancy scanning results indicate that despite 50 years of storage, semen collected from four rams in 1968 is as fertile as the day it was frozen – demonstrating that long term frozen storage of sperm is safe and reliably preserves genetics for future use, not just for agriculture but also human medicine…Read More

Australian Wool Innovation, February 20, 2019

Weekly rainfall wrap + rain outlook, 20 Feb 2019

A cold front and pre-frontal trough brought light falls to southern Victoria, and moderate falls in western Tasmania. Thunderstorms and showers produced light to moderate falls across northern Australia throughout the week…Read More

Bureau of Meteorology, February 20, 2019

NLIS workshops for Victoria’s livestock producers

Sheep Central, February 20, 2019

Is it the RSPCA’s role to help flood affected livestock?

James Nason, February 19, 2019

WoolProducers Australia highlights FMD risk to wool trade

Sheep Central, February 19, 2019

New-look Sheep Central website is all about reader experience

Sheep Central, February 18, 2019

AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb clearance rates improve

Sheep Central, February 18, 2019

Boundary-breaking and sustainable fashion wins International Woolmark Prize

Sheep Central, February 18, 2019

WoolProducers Australia highlights FMD risk to wool trade

CHINA’S suspension of wool exports from South Africa is expected to intensify demand for Australian wool this week. However, the fall-out from South Africa notifying the World Organisation for Animal Health of a FMD outbreak in Limpopo, bordering Zimbabwe, has also highlighted the importance of Australia’s biosecurity measures…Read More

Sheep Central, February 19, 2019

Boundary-breaking and sustainable fashion wins International Woolmark Prize

WHAT do American cowboys, a biker jacket and an 18th century frock coat have to do with Australian wool?..Read More

Sheep Central, February 18, 2019

Crossbred wool prices reach historic levels in buoyant Australian auctions

HISTORICALLY high crossbred wool prices, including gains of up to 35 cents for 28 micron lines, were the highlight of a buoyant Australian auction market this week…Read More

Sheep Central, February 15, 2019

Agtech investors, farmers and start-ups flock to evokeAG

AUSTRALIA’S largest agrifood tech event — evokeAG — ignited in Melbourne yesterday with a sold-out crowd of more than 1100 delegates and a long list of domestic and international agtech investors and companies…Read More

Terry Sim, February 20, 2019

Global grass and seed giant to extend its reach in Australia and NZ

THE world’s biggest pasture grass and clover seed company – DLF Seeds — is set to increase its market reach after it received important Australian and New Zealand regulatory approvals for its NZ$421 million acquisition of PGW Seeds this week…Read More

Sheep Central, February 15, 2019

Weekly rainfall wrap + rain outlook, 20 Feb 2019

A cold front and pre-frontal trough brought light falls to southern Victoria, and moderate falls in western Tasmania. Thunderstorms and showers produced light to moderate falls across northern Australia throughout the week…Read More

Bureau of Meteorology, February 20, 2019

Industry Dashboard

$A / $US Graph

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.7150

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

21 Feb 2019 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$6.20
Australian Agricultural Co	$0.93
Graincorp	$9.62
Ruralco	$3.01
Ridley	$1.41
Woolworths	$30.30
Wellard	$0.042

Source: ASX

ESTLI

Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator. Ac/kg cwt

Last Week

630

Source: MLA's NLRS

EMI

Eastern Market Indicator. c/kg clean

Today

1944

Source: Australian Wool Exchange

SOI Graph

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

9.3

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Goat Graph

Eastern States 2.1-16kg c/kg cwt

Today

580

Source: MLA

What readers are saying

Western Australian dairy farmer’s fight with activist prompts call for police intervention

Activists should not have the right to film where children live. How would they feel if people took of photos of their property? How would they feel if they..

Pia Riachi

More

Worldwide condolences honour wool science revolutionary Dr Jim Watts

Dr Watts was also a great advocate of eduction and training. He was all for explaining and teaching those around him and those who were prepared to listen and..

Robert Harris

More

Four red meat reform options released, one month to have your say

Merge all the red meat concerns/bodies into one organisation for administrative efficiency and better use of taxpayer/producer levies. Don't get carried away with being unnecessarily cute with names like Food..

San Jolly

More

Worldwide condolences honour wool science revolutionary Dr Jim Watts

Jim's death is a tragedy for his family and for the Australian wool industry. His legacy in changing the profile of the Australian wool clip is profound...

Peter Small

More

Markets

Crossbred wool prices reach historic levels in buoyant Australian auctions

HISTORICALLY high crossbred wool prices, including gains of up to 35 cents for 28 micron lines, were the highlight of a buoyant Australian auction market this week…Read More

Sheep Central, February 15, 2019

Tight wool supplies staving off forward contract discounts

AUSTRALIA’S wool auction market had another strong week, with low supply pushing Merino qualities higher and forward price discounts being offset by the tight supplies…Read More

Michael Avery, Southern Aurora Markets partner, February 15, 2019

Online wool sales lift with lower dollar and strong overseas demand

ONLINE wool sellers benefited from strong overseas demand and the weaker Australian dollar last week as buyers continued to show interest in sourcing suitable crossbred clips. AuctionsPlus sold 291 bales online last week, including 133 bales of crossbred wool…Read More

Sheep Central, February 12, 2019

NSW sheep producers continue their online drought turn-off

AUCTIONSPLUS online sheep and lamb listings increased last week, with another big turn-off of stock from drought-stricken New South Wales…Read More

Sheep Central, February 11, 2019

Lamb Production

It’s ewe time! Forums set for Victoria and NSW

Sheep producers across northern Victoria and the Riverina region of NSW will have access to timely tips and tools to tailor flock management to seasonal conditions when the It’s ewe time! forums kick off later this month…Read More

Sheep Central, February 20, 2019

Western Australian dairy farmer’s fight with activist prompts call for police intervention

FARMERS harassed by activists have been urged to call police rather than take direct action, following an altercation between vegan activists and Western Australian dairy farmer this week after which a firearm was fired…Read More

Sheep Central, February 15, 2019

Global grass and seed giant to extend its reach in Australia and NZ

THE world’s biggest pasture grass and clover seed company – DLF Seeds — is set to increase its market reach after it received important Australian and New Zealand regulatory approvals for its NZ$421 million acquisition of PGW Seeds this week…Read More

Sheep Central, February 15, 2019

Four red meat reform options released, one month to have your say

RETAIN the existing red meat Memorandum of Understanding; abandon it altogether and let the ‘law of the jungle’ dictate industry affairs; merge organisations like MLA, AMPC and Livecorp and their peak industry councils; or establish a new ‘future-focused’ organisation to oversee all red meat R&D and industry advocacy…Read More

James Nason, February 14, 2019

Wool Production

It’s ewe time! Forums set for Victoria and NSW

Sheep producers across northern Victoria and the Riverina region of NSW will have access to timely tips and tools to tailor flock management to seasonal conditions when the It’s ewe time! forums kick off later this month…Read More

Sheep Central, February 20, 2019

50-year-old semen still as fertile as the day it was frozen

Pregnancy scanning results indicate that despite 50 years of storage, semen collected from four rams in 1968 is as fertile as the day it was frozen – demonstrating that long term frozen storage of sperm is safe and reliably preserves genetics for future use, not just for agriculture but also human medicine…Read More

Australian Wool Innovation, February 20, 2019

Western Australian dairy farmer’s fight with activist prompts call for police intervention

FARMERS harassed by activists have been urged to call police rather than take direct action, following an altercation between vegan activists and Western Australian dairy farmer this week after which a firearm was fired…Read More

Sheep Central, February 15, 2019

Global grass and seed giant to extend its reach in Australia and NZ

THE world’s biggest pasture grass and clover seed company – DLF Seeds — is set to increase its market reach after it received important Australian and New Zealand regulatory approvals for its NZ$421 million acquisition of PGW Seeds this week…Read More

Sheep Central, February 15, 2019

Processing

Worldwide condolences honour wool science revolutionary Dr Jim Watts

MERINO sheep, Angora goat and alpaca breeders around the world have expressed their condolences on the passing of revolutionary Merino breeding and wool scientist Dr Jim Watts. Dr Watts, 69,..Read More

Terry Sim, February 13, 2019

Premiums for Australia’s non-mulesed wool staying strong at auctions

PRICE premiums for non-mulesed Merino wool have remained strong at up 53c/kg in the first six months of the 2018-19 auction wool-selling season, the peak national brokers body reported today…Read More

Sheep Central, February 11, 2019

New Zealand shearing and wool champions have a big weekend

REIGNING Golden Shears and New Zealand Open shearing champion Rowland Smith continued on a relentless march in quest more of the top honours and a possible second world title when..Read More

Doug Laing, Shearing Sports New Zealand, February 11, 2019

New Australian lamb definition set for 1 July 2019

AUSTRALIA’S new definition of lamb is likely to take effect from 1 July 2019, pending amendments to federal and state legislation, the nation’s peak sheep producer body said today…Read More

Sheep Central, February 6, 2019

Trade

Crossbred wool prices reach historic levels in buoyant Australian auctions

HISTORICALLY high crossbred wool prices, including gains of up to 35 cents for 28 micron lines, were the highlight of a buoyant Australian auction market this week…Read More

Sheep Central, February 15, 2019

Premiums for Australia’s non-mulesed wool staying strong at auctions

PRICE premiums for non-mulesed Merino wool have remained strong at up 53c/kg in the first six months of the 2018-19 auction wool-selling season, the peak national brokers body reported today…Read More

Sheep Central, February 11, 2019

No live cattle export closure under Labor, pledges Fitzgibbon

LABOR’s agriculture minister-in-waiting, Joel Fitzgibbon has shut down speculation that his party’s intention to close live sheep exports out of Australia within three or four years will inevitably lead to similar actions on live cattle…Read More

Jon Condon, February 11, 2019

RSPCA Australia unconvinced by live export transparency initiative

A LIVE sheep export transparency initiative launched yesterday to promote trust in the trade has been branded a PR stunt and “desperate industry propaganda” by RSPCA Australia…Read More

Terry Sim, February 6, 2019

Property

Merino breeders buy Victorian showcase Mt Fyans for $37 million

NEW South Wales stud Merino breeders Ian and Camilla Shippen have paid $37 million for Mt Fyans, one of the largest and most highly regarded agricultural holdings in Victoria’s Western District…Read More

Linda Rowley, December 7, 2018

Weekly Property Review: Is it possible to fence in value?

IS the growing momentum being seen in investment in exclusion fencing for wild dog and kangaroo control yet being reflected in property values? Property editor Linda Rowley puts the question to a number of rural land valuers and other stakeholders…. ..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, November 29, 2018

Property: No ceiling in sight for climbing ag land prices

Agricultural land prices in Australia are set to continue to climb over the next two years with no peak in sight, according to a new report issued by Rabobank. This is driven in the most part, the report says, by projected continuing high demand for ag properties, which in most regions will continue to far outstrip supply…Read More

Sheep Central, August 23, 2018

Property: Hassad’s $70m-plus Telopea Downs sale sets Vic record

QATAR-owned Hassad Australia has offloaded its 47,677ha Telopea Downs Station in western Victoria for more than $70 million, in what could be the largest single farm transaction in the state’s history…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, August 16, 2018

Beef Central

Saleyards, agents lending support to NQ’s struggling flood victims

A fund-raising appeal directed at saleyards and the broader livestock industry in aid of Northwest Queensland’s flood devastated livestock producers has attracted an immediate and enthusiastic response. The North.. Read More

NLIS workshops for Victoria’s livestock producers

Agriculture Victoria is holding practical, hands-on workshops across the state to assist sheep, goat and cattle producers use the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database...Read More.. Read More

Is it the RSPCA’s role to help flood affected livestock?

Should the RSPCA be playing a role in helping to assist cattle affected by floods in north western Queensland, now widely recognised as one of the greatest animal welfare.. Read More

$75,000 grants start to flow to flood-affected NQ cattle producers

The first recovery grants of up to $75,000 were paid to flood-affected northwest Queensland beef producers yesterday, after applications opened on Friday under a simplified application process...Read.. Read More

Grain Central

GrainCorp pursues offshore expansion through drought

Shareholders at today's GrainCorp annual general meeting heard the company is ready to set up facilities in India, that several companies were interested in buying parts of the GrainCorp.. Read More

Australia’s first sulphate of potash fertiliser project for WA’s Pilbara

The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) will invest $74 million in Australia's first plant to produce sulphate of potash near Newman in Western Australia...Read More.. Read More

New tech start-up fund to drive grains innovation

Australian grain growers are set to reap benefits of a $50 million venture capital fund to draw the best and brightest tech start-ups from across the globe to focus.. Read More

Big dry cuts summer crop prospects: ABARES

Drier and warmer than average seasonal conditions in cropping regions in Queensland and northern New South Wales during December and January reduced prospects of summer crop production in 2018–19,.. Read More