increase font size
Tropical Cyclone Debbie caused damage to dairy farms in NSW and Queensland.
Tropical cyclone Debbie caused A$6 million damage to the Queensland dairy industry, the Queensland Farmers Federation says.
Debbie caused massive flooding in central and southeast Queensland and northern NSW in late March.
About 45 dairy farmers took severe damage in northern NSW, centred on Lismore and Muwillumbah, and about 50 in Queensland.
In some cases, dairy farms were inundated with flood water that killed animals, disrupted herd health, cut milk production and wrecked farm infrastructure.
Recent surveys show $300,000 in lost pumps, tractors and irrigation equipment; 400ha of pasture lost; 121km of fencing destroyed; 10km of internal laneways damaged; 400 round bales of hay lost; and 11 animals killed.
Floodwaters cut off farms and mains power was down for at least a fortnight after the storm.
A QFF spokesman says the cost to the state’s farms will be at least A$6m. About 60% of farms were affected in the flood-hit regions. Also, five farms in Logan City, two on the Gold Coast, and others in the Condamine and Mulgowie region were affected.
Queensland dairy farmers can apply for state and federal grants of up to A$25,000 to meet clean-up and recovery costs.
ANYTHING GOOD for Australia is in the long run good for New Zealand. That’s the reaction of Trade Minister Tim Groser to the news that Australia has signed a free trade agreement with China, and to speculation that their FTA with China is better than NZ’s, especially regarding dairy products.
Dairy farmers in the Australian state of Victoria had a record profitable 2022-23 season, thanks to high milk prices and carefully managed high costs.
OPINION: A mutilation mystery is playing out on a remote Central Queensland property in Australia after a number of cows were found dead in inexplicable circumstances.
A shrinking milk pool in Australia is forcing major processors, including Fonterra, to outbid each other and secure farmer suppliers for the new season.
OPINION: News that the Labour Government is spending taxpayer money to advertise to New Zealanders living in Australia that life is better there now they can get citizenship is appalling.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
