User Profile

Andrew Mole

Small yet hardy fish rehomed

THERE’S some big news about some of the Murray River’s smallest fish. The critically endangered Murray hardyhead (Craterocephalus fluviatilis) is making a comeback and has now found a new home in Brickworks Billabong at Merbein. The native...

22 seconds ago

Farming and Environment

Strong citrus season expected

THE Sunraysia’s citrus industry has launched into what could be what the harvest growers have been waiting for to consolidate 2024’s return to pre-COVID levels. Citrus Australia chief executive Nathan Hanock said in 2019 Australia harvested...

8 hours ago

Politics

Government gathers drought support

THE Federal Government has promised an extra $2 million to boost the Rural Financial Counselling Service in the face of the drought across southern Australia. However, Member for Mildura Anne Webster is demanding Canberra revive...

8 hours ago

Farming and Environment

New saleyard record set

MUT at Tempy set an Ouyen saleyard record this week when it saw a line of 84 crossbred lambs knocked down for $366. Although the BR & C/Nutrien Ag catalogue topped the sale, the team from McKean McGregor was right behind when the Andersons at...

07 Jun 2025

Farming and Environment

System breaking the cycle

IN the northwest Victorian region, farming is a constant balancing act, managing profitability, soil health, feed availability and soil cover. And within this complex system, the growing use of break crops is helping significantly break the...

26 May 2025

Farming and Environment

Prices rise on livestock

THIS week’s Ouyen livestock sale – with 11,907 head yarded – saw prices surge across the board, with mutton classes rising as much as $35 to do best of all. Ouyen livestock exchange manager Colin Mole said the sale included 8709 lambs and 3198...

25 May 2025

Farming and Environment

Go early, go deep with sowing

IN mid-autumn last year, there was good subsoil moisture available in many cropping paddocks after summer rains, presenting farmers with the opportunity to get cereals established early through deep sowing. To investigate how this compares to the...

12 May 2025

Farming and Environment

Wine exports future cloudy

WINE Australia’s latest figures show total Australian wine exports have soared 41 per cent – in value – to $2.6 billion. But how good is the good news for the embattled wine industry?The Chinese – in the first full 12 months since...

04 May 2025

Farming and Environment

Skills training about life on the land

WOMEN way out west in New South Wales – somewhere beyond the crossroads of mainstream communities – have been given an intensive leadership skills training program targeting farming women in the Wentworth-Pooncarie districts. Beyond...

14 Apr 2025

Farming and Environment

Bugs getting the chop

FOR leading Australian citrus grower and exporter Darren Minter of Iraak’s Minter Magic, several months of complete pest control ensures his export pack-out consistently meets China’s strict first-grade protocol. The...

13 Apr 2025

Farming and Environment

Sales strong at Ouyen

THERE was another strong yarding at Ouyen Livestock Exchange this week with a total of almost 16,000 sheep and lambs on offer. McKean McGregor dominated the sale with two lines of crossbred lambs – one from Ouyen and one from Hopetoun...

16 Mar 2025

Farming and Environment

Dust storms are soil warning

DUST storms across the Mallee earlier this week are a reminder of how fragile some of our soils are. On Monday, people driving between Ouyen and Piangil were forced to pull off the road when a heavy dust storm reduced visibility to...

15 Mar 2025