After 82 years, Mackay's Bonaventura family harvest the last cane field

10 December 2020 | ABC

As his cane fields went up in flames for the final time, Mackay councillor Laurence Bonaventura reflected on 82 years of his family's farming legacy.

"It's a bit of a sad occasion, but it's about knowing when is a good time, and I believe this is the time to finish cane growing," Cr Bonaventura said.

As a councillor for the Mackay region, he has decided to retire as a farmer and focus full-time on his other commitments.

Cr Bonaventura's family arrived in Australia in 1914 by recommendation of a relative, who said there was "good money in the sugar industry, as long as you're prepared to work hard".

His grandfather and father bought several neighbouring blocks, where they cleared land, planted cane and expanded their production. More...

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NSW Sugar Season Wraps Up

7 December 2020 | Sunshine Sugar

In what has been a tumultuous year across the globe, the sugar industry in NSW has successfully manoeuvred its way through a crush season filled with challenges and opportunities.

Despite the many hurdles presented by the COVID pandemic, the cane growing and harvesting community of the Northern Rivers has safely and successfully completed harvesting this year’s 1.75 million tonne sugarcane crop. More...

Sugar mills crush out for 2020

8 December 2020 | Queensland Country Life

More than 29 million tonnes of sugar cane has been crushed in Queensland this year with the season set to close this week.

The last bins will be tipped at Mackay Sugar's Farleigh, Marian and Racecourse mills, signalling an end to the 2020 season. More...

Elders and Maize Australia working on battling Fall armyworm threat

9 December 2020 | The Land

As the threat of Fall armyworm continues to trend south, agronomists and industry bodies are exploring ways of limiting the pest's potential damage.

Elders is among those on the frontlines and has enlisted the help of Toowoomba-based technical services manager Maree Crawford to help find an answer to the increasing threat. More...

Queensland farmers encouraged to register now for Farm2Plate Exchange

9 December 2020 | QFF

Queensland farmers looking to capitalise on the opportunities that agritourism could provide are encouraged to attend the national agri-food networking event Farm2Plate Exchange run by agritourism and agri-innovation experts Regionality from 18-19 May 2021. More...

Grown in Queensland initiative to help consumers choose local

7 December 2020 | QFF

As the security, quality and in particular the origin of food, fibre and foliage has become increasingly important to consumers, a new initiative has been launched to assist Queensland consumers to identify and purchase items grown and produced in Queensland.

The Grown in Queensland initiative, formed by a farming family and run by Advance Queensland Pty Ltd with support from the Queensland Farmers’ Federation, is designed to assist Queensland consumers by placing a priority on the locality of the origin of the produce they choose to purchase.

Advance Queensland Pty Ltd is the owner of the registered trade mark logo ‘Grown in Queensland’. When used on packaging and marketing material, this logo, along with an attached Queensland postcode from where the food was grown, will be easily identifiable by consumers.

Farmers who are licensed and adhere to the ‘Code of Practice’ are able to display the ‘Grown in Queensland’ logo on their goods. Not only is the logo available to farmers as ‘Suppliers’, but there are also opportunities for other businesses and individuals to promote themselves as ‘Supporters’. 

The initiative is seeking Queensland farmers who are interested in the initiative to participate and receive the ‘Grown in Queensland’ logo for use in the marketing and sale of their produce.

Queensland farmers are among the world’s best at growing food, fibre and amenity to the highest quality and ethical standards, with support from Queensland consumers, we an ensure a productive and sustainable agriculture sector for the future. 

For more information about the Grown in Queensland initiative, visit: www.advancequeensland.com.au

National award launched for those promoting healthy soils

7 December 2020 | Farm Online

A national award has been launched to recognise those doing the dirty work of promoting healthy soils.

The General Jeffrey Soil Health Award is open to any individual farmer, land manager, extension specialist or educator who is making an outstanding contribution to improving soil health in Australia. More...

Calls for Pacific travel bubble to ease ag labour shortage

8 December 2020 | Farm Online

Less than 150 people have taken up the government incentives to relocate to regional Australia for seasonal harvest work, and the horticulture says a Pacific Island travel bubble is the only realistic solution to the sector's labour shortage. More...

Tourism Australia campaign pitches horticulture and hospitality work to Kiwis

10 December 2020 | ABC

A new advertising campaign to lure New Zealanders to Australia to help pick fruit and vegetables is the latest attempt to try to offset a potential labour shortage crisis for Australian farmers. More...

Fruit picking jobs available in North Queensland

8 December 2020 | Queensland Country Life

Workers are trickling North to take up seasonal fruit picking jobs, but fears are mounting as to how the horticulture industry will handle labour shortages in 2021. More...

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Promised December rain on the map

7 December 2020 | Queensland Country Life

Queensland's promised "wet December" may have been slow in coming, but the Bureau of Meteorology's latest mapping shows good rain is on its way for at least some parts of the state.

BOM's eight day forecast map (see above) shows some potentially handy handy falls, particularly for north Queensland and parts of the south east. More...