Rural Business June 2025

Management

Three things a ‘Bento Box’ teaches about building a culture of care

July 16, 2025 | 3 min read

One of the most effective ways to begin building a compassionate work culture is by looking at a surprisingly simple concept: the Japanese bento box.

Commentary

Australia heads to record winter crop planting

July 16, 2025 | 4 min read

Australia’s farmers are heading towards a record-high winter crop planting this year, Rabobank says in its newly-released 2025/26 Australian Winter Crop Outlook writes Vitor Pistoia*.

Cotton - Market insight

Cotton conclave set for Toowoomba

July 15, 2025 | 2 min read

Tickets are on sale for the cotton industry’s key learning and engagement opportunity, and the biggest trade show for cotton in 2025, to be held from August 5–7 in Toowoomba, Queensland.

Cotton - Market insight

Central Highlands visit engages growers and industry

July 15, 2025 | 2 min read

A recent visit to the Queensland Central Highlands gave Cotton Australia chief executive Adam Kay the chance to meet with local growers and industry leaders to hear firsthand about regional priorities and challenges.

Rural Business

Investment targets mouse activity

July 15, 2025 | 3 min read

The ongoing threat of mouse activity to Australian grain growers is the focus of two key investments aimed at reducing the impact of mice in crops.

Rural Business

Refining the double-break tactic for grassweed control

July 15, 2025 | 4 min read

A broadleaf crop double-break is keeping grassweed numbers down for the Curr family as they expand their area of cropland and complete the transition out of livestock production.

Rural Business

Non-toxic weed control to boost crop production

July 14, 2025 | 3 min read

A non-toxic, environmentally friendly method of controlling weeds and pests in horticultural crops which has already proved successful in the US and EU will now be tested in Australia through a $4.74 million project led by La Trobe University.

Rural Business

Non-toxic weed control to boost crop production

July 14, 2025 | 3 min read

A non-toxic, environmentally friendly method of controlling weeds and pests in horticultural crops which has already proved successful in the US and EU will now be tested in Australia through a $4.74 million project led by La Trobe University.

Rural Business

Feedlot cattle can brush their stresses away

July 14, 2025 | 2 min read

Feedlot cattle with access to grooming brushes are generally more content, sociable and have less stress, according to recent research out of Murdoch University’s Centre for Animal Production and Health.

Market insight

50 years of cutting edge automation

July 11, 2025 | 5 min read

John Deere has put its suite of automation features on the groundbreaking S7 Combine to the ultimate test in an exciting new challenge that has pitted one of Australia’s most experienced operators against a next-generation farmer in the most recent wheat harvest.

Rural Business

Tackling a mystery that's killing blueberries

July 11, 2025 | 3 min read

Identifying the cause and prevalence of a costly disorder in blueberries is the goal of a team of researchers at The University of Queensland.

Rural Business

Is there an integrated approach for curtailing Phalaris?

July 10, 2025 | 5 min read

Bhagirath Chauhan, professor at the University of Queensland’s Centre for Crop Science, says the increasing prevalence of Phalaris with resistance to Group 1 and 2 herbicides makes controlling this weed more difficult and demands a more integrated approach.

Market insight - Technology in agriculture

Tech allows for easy network switch

July 10, 2025 | 3 min read

As digital nomads are increasingly welcomed around the world, eSIM technology becomes essential when traditional SIM cards and costly international roaming fees no longer meet the demands of a borderless workforce.

Market insight

Are computers ready to run our farms?

July 9, 2025 | 3 min read

Nature is still too complex for artificial intelligence (AI) modelling to be effective, but the tipping point is close, according to a new study which found the technology may still trip at the last real-world hurdle.

Agsafe

Clean drums– rinse before recycling

July 9, 2025 | 2 min read

Every chemical drum recycled through programs such as drumMUSTER is part of a bigger story – one of sustainability, resource recovery, and shared responsibility.

Agribusiness - News

Collaboration to boost wheat yield

July 8, 2025 | 2 min read

A new collaborative laboratory will allow researchers to share expertise between Australia and France to boost wheat yields in a changing climate.

Merchandise

Malting barley accreditation for Laperouse

July 8, 2025 | 1 min read

Grains Australia has announced the barley variety Laperouse has been accredited as malting barley.

Movers & Shakers

VICCHEM appoints new territory manager for northern and western Victoria

July 7, 2025 | 1 min read

VICCHEM has named Adrian Carter as its new Northern Victoria, Goldfields and Wimmera Territory Manager.

Agribusiness - News

International buyers enjoy pick of Aussie hort

July 7, 2025 | 2 min read

Fruit and vegetable buyers from key export markets in the Asia–Pacific and Middle East regions have visited Australia for a first-hand view of the country’s world-class horticultural offering.

Movers & Shakers

Shaffer joins Dairy Australia

July 4, 2025 | 1 min read

Dr Matthew Shaffer– DataGene’s chief executive since its formation in 2016 – will take on the role of chief executive at Dairy Australia from July 16.

Agribusiness - News

QUT snags $3.4 million for methane research

July 4, 2025 | 2 min read

Bovotica, a pioneering agtech spinout from QUT, has successfully raised $3.4 million in its seed funding round.

Agribusiness

Tomato virus here to stay

July 3, 2025 | 2 min read

The National Management Group (NMG) has confirmed it is no longer technically feasible to eradicate tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) from Australia.

Movers & Shakers

New faces for IFPA board

July 2, 2025 | 2 min read

The International Fresh Produce Association ANZ (IFPA ANZ) has appointed two prominent leaders from distinct sectors of the fresh produce and floral industry to its board.

Movers & Shakers

Scientific and on-farm expertise for BCG Board

July 2, 2025 | 2 min read

Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) has announced the appointment of Dr Marisa Collins and Giles Cunningham to the board, bringing deep scientific, educational and on-ground production expertise to help shape the future direction of the organisation.

Agribusiness - News

Gazania’s wreak havoc on grain crops

July 2, 2025 | 2 min read

A La Trobe University study has found the invasive South African flower Gazania is more resilient than previously understood, with its ability to adapt to different environments making it one of the biggest weed threats to Australian native grasslands and grain production.

Movers & Shakers

New service head at HortInnovation

July 1, 2025 | 1 min read

Hort Innovation has welcomed Louise Pavihi as its new head of service.

Agribusiness - News

Pollination pressure a concern

July 1, 2025 | 4 min read

Potential declines in bee populations due to varroa mite infestation could jeopardise Australian horticultural production, Rabobank says in a newly released report.

Agribusiness - News

Australian insect industry $2m research program

June 30, 2025 | 2 min read

Led by the University of Adelaide and supported by AgriFutures Australia through its Emerging Industries program, a new $2 million program of research is set to unlock the potential of Australia’s insect industry by addressing critical barriers to growth.

Movers & Shakers

Key moves at Elanco

June 30, 2025 | 2 min read

Elanco Animal Health has announced key leadership appointments it says will strengthen its commitment to customers and partners in the Pacific rim region.

News - Rural Business

Australian Academy of Science honours Varshney

June 27, 2025 | 1 min read

Australia’s pre-eminent scientific organisation has recognised Murdoch University Professor Rajeev Varshney for his groundbreaking and translational contributions to crop productivity and global food security.

Movers & Shakers

AgNova’s new manager

June 27, 2025 | 1 min read

AgNova Technologies has announced the appointment of Earl Yandall to the position of area sales manager for NSW.

Agribusiness - News

Crop Smart opens new store in Horsham

June 25, 2025 | 2 min read

Crop Smart has relocated its Dooen store to a new site in Horsham.

Rural Business

7 Worlds Ag expands product range

June 25, 2025 | 2 min read

7 Worlds Ag is continuing to expand, adding several more fungicides, insecticides and other crop protection products to its product range in coming months.

Merchandise

New spray drift solution available in winter cereals

June 24, 2025 | 3 min read

Corteva Agriscience’s low odour, low volatility Colex-D herbicide has been approved by the APVMA for use in winter cereals, pastures and non-agricultural areas, giving growers confidence they can use the new 2,4-D formulation without the risk of spray drift.

Merchandise

Peridot delivers long lasting fungal control

June 24, 2025 | 3 min read

Fungal diseases are one of the most persistent and costly challenges for growers across various crops. Left unchecked, these pathogens can devastate yields, reduce product quality, and impact the long-term health of soils and plants alike.

Merchandise

Hasten top for herbicide performance

June 23, 2025 | 1 min read

Backed by leading labels, Hasten helps farmers get the best return from every spray.

Merchandise

Next generation nematicide delivers long, cost-effective control

June 23, 2025 | 5 min read

A valuable new tool in nematode management has arrived in Australia with the highly anticipated release of Velum Prime by Bayer, a fast-acting, long-lasting nematicide that provides targeted control of plant-parasitic nematodes while maintaining soil health.

Movers & Shakers

Movement at the Nufarm station

June 20, 2025 | 3 min read

Bill Webb has joined Nufarm as the senior field R&D specialist. Bill is based out of Southern NSW, working from his family farm at Kingsvale, near Young.

Movers & Shakers

Pollock joins New Edge Microbials

June 19, 2025 | 1 min read

New Edge Microbials is pleased to welcome David Pollock as territory sales and development manager for New South Wales, based in Dubbo.