How potato farmers feel when they see Maccas

McDonalds has revealed it spends more than $1 billion a year with Aussie farmers and supplies - with 90-per-cent of menu ingredients sourced locally. The potatoes used in hash browns and fries are by far the biggest item on the annual  shopping list.  Rural Reporter Gabrielle Hodson spoke with Ca…

National Rural News Friday August 14

In today's National Rural News:   ** National parks staff find the first H5 bird flu case in Tasmania - in a brown skua in the state's north west, ** A Canadian agricultural investment giant reportedly eyes off our second biggest chicken meat company, ** And AgForce wants Queensland's Critical M…

Farmers ditch mobile phones for UHF radio

With more people working from home - and more farm monitoring equipment connected to the internet or mobile signals - you would think telecommunications were getting better in 2020s Australia. The Australian Telecommunications Ombudsman has just delivered a report saying many remote people feel li…

National Rural News Thursday August 13

In today's National Rural News:   ** A damning report about the state of telecommunications in the country - with some frustrated mobile customers dusting off their UHF radios, ** SunRice slashes job in Deniliquin and Leeton - with water buybacks blamed as the root cause, ** And a call to fund w…

Vaccination doesnt always mean jabs

Governments around Australia have been told the prioritise their most endangered native birds - and put them forward for H5 bird flu vaccinations. They're yet to roll out for chickens - but NFF President and Queensland chicken meat producer Hamish McIntyre says if the situation gets that bad, ther…

National Rural News Wednesday August 12

In today's National Rural News:   ** The Victorian Government says it'll vaccinate an estimated 5000 wild Little Penguins against H5 bird flu, ** The drough in the USA worsens with the country's largest lake at its lowest ever level, ** And Australia's Best Young Dairy Judge credits good mentors…

Check out how H5 bird flu has spread since 2005

The WA Government is the latest to come up with a map of  H5 bird flu cases - both positive and negative. For a while now, Deakin University has been working with Wildlife Health Australia, Birdlife Australia and the AWI (Alfred Wegener Institute) on a global map which shows the spread of the viru…

National Rural News Tuesday August 11

In today's National Rural News:   ** Australia will  follow the lead of New Zealand - to protect endangered native species with vaccines against the H5 bird flu.  ** Australia's top young cattle judge says being based in Tasmania is a massive advantage, ** And the Opposition slams the Federal Go…

Roger wants a wife

There are a plethora of single men across country Australia who just want somebody to love. ABS data shows the problem's especially dire in regional WA, where there are 124 men for every 100 women. In country SA the ratio is a little less uneven at 117-men. Rural Reporter Gabrielle Hodson spoke w…

National Rural News Monday August 10

In today's National Rural News:   ** The national H-5 Bird flu tally reaches 200  - with the Melbourne Royal Show meeting to consider cancelling its bird exhibits, six weeks ahead of time - following cancellations at the Adelaide show, ** Satellite data appears to be the new evidence you need to …