9 Jan 2017
- In this 2017 election year QFF will strive for improvements to in energy, regional planning, skills and employment, policy areas with social impacts such as farm debt and succession, and the Great Barrier Reef. See the QCL column HERE.
- See what was hot and what was not for Queensland’s intensive agriculture industry in QFF President Stuart Armitage’s ‘QFF’s 2016 in Review‘.See his last QCL column for the year HERE.
- 2016 was Australia’s fourth-warmest year on record, while national rainfall was above average. See the Bureau of Meteorology wrap up of the 2016 weather year HERE.
- Places are running out at QFF & AgForce’s free pest management & chemical training workshops in Gympie (8/2) & Kenilworth (9/2). Details & registration HERE.
- Would your farm business pass a Fair Work inspection or audit today? The Queensland Agricultural Workforce Network (QAWN) has a series of Workplace Essentials Seminars scheduled in February & march 2017. Details HERE.
- Farmers and labour contractors that employ backpackers are being urged to register with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) to take advantage of the new tax rate. The new arrangements started on January 1, 2017.
- The importation of green prawns into Australia will be suspended following an outbreak of white spot disease in Queensland. Since November, five properties on the Logan River, have been infected by the white spot disease outbreak.
- Queensland primary producers will continue to benefit from low interest rates to help them improve profitability and build their businesses, with QRAA announcing their latest rates effective 1 January 2017. Details HERE.
- The proportion of caged egg sales in Australia is falling due to the popularity of free-range eggs.In 2009 caged eggs represented nearly 70% of the market, but today it is 49%. Full story HERE.
- Kimbal Musk – the brother of Tesla Motors chief executive Elon Musk – is trying to change the way we eat by creating a “real food revolution” as he ventures into the world of local urban farming.
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