Concerns are growing across southern New South Wales after major local employer SunRice announced it will scale back operations at its Leeton and Deniliquin mills, with the decision reigniting political debate over water management and the pressures facing regional industries.

Australia's horticulture industry is being urged to start planning for a future where reliable crop pollination can no longer be taken for granted, as the continued spread of Varroa mite forces growers and beekeepers to rethink how pollination services will be delivered. National Farmers' Federation Horticulture Council executive officer Richard Shannon joined FlowFM's Jessica Dempster on The Country Viewpoint to discuss the developing situation and future plans.

Australia has recorded its first confirmed case of the H5 bird flu strain in a native seabird, after a greater crested tern found on South Australia's Limestone Coast tested positive for the virus. The detection at Robe Marina marks the first confirmed case in an Australian seabird and brings the national total to 12, including 11 migratory birds and one native species.

Australia's competition watchdog has clarified how free-range poultry products can be labelled as producers strengthen biosecurity measures against the H5 bird flu strain.

The National Farmers' Federation is calling for a review of the approval process behind the sale of Tasmania's largest farm, arguing questions remain over whether Australian buyers were placed at a disadvantage.

Five people linked to an Adelaide Plains piggery are facing dozens of animal cruelty charges following an investigation by the RSPCA South Australia.

Australian Dairy Farmers says recent action by the consumer watchdog against Lactalis Australia highlights the importance of maintaining trust in the nation’s dairy industry. The dairy giant has paid almost 60 thousand dollars in penalties after the ACCC issued infringement notices over claims two milk products marketed as “fresh” contained significant amounts of powdered, reconstituted ingredients.

The Victorian Farmers Federation is urging regional drivers to report every pothole and road hazard as part of a two-week campaign highlighting concerns over the state of country roads.

The APVMA's recent decision regarding the future use of paraquat in Australia has drawn mixed responses from Australia’s agricultural industry, which maintains paraquat is an essential farming tool, as well as health organisations and advocates who say the chemical should be banned entirely. The regulator said the evidence from their decades-long reviews did not show a link between approved paraquat uses and Parkinson's Disease, a position refuted by Parkinson's Australia.

Three New South Wales regional MPs are calling on the State Government to provide certainty over the future of the Murray Local Land Services native seed collection program, amid concerns funding changes could see decades of specialist environmental knowledge lost across the region.

Entries have opened for Rural Aid's 2026 Spirit of the Bush photography competition, inviting Australians to capture the people, landscapes and stories that define rural and regional communities.

New South Wales has confirmed its first case of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza after the virus was detected in a giant petrel found near Hawks Nest.

New information boards are being installed at boat ramps across South Australia as part of a statewide effort to improve safety and environmental awareness for recreational boaters and fishers.

GrainGrowers has lodged its submission to the Federal Government's review of Australia's Right to Repair laws, as consultation continues on expanding the scheme to agricultural machinery.

Southern Australia's grassfed cattle producers are being encouraged to have their say as the national review of the Cattle Transaction Levy continues.

A new insight report from Grain Producers South Australia has revealed the state's grain growers are increasingly leasing land, adopting collaborative farming arrangements and planning for succession as they adapt to a changing operating environment. The 2025 Annual Grain Producer Survey attracted a record 1,046 responses from growers across every cropping region, providing a comprehensive snapshot of the industry's structure, workforce and future direction.

Rural Aid is encouraging farmers across Australia to seek assistance as biosecurity threats, pest outbreaks and seasonal pressures continue to place increasing strain on farming businesses.

Australia's nursery industry is continuing to strengthen its biosecurity defences through a national diagnostic program helping growers identify pests and diseases before they spread.

New South Wales authorities have activated their H5 bird flu response after a Giant Petrel found near Hawks Nest returned a preliminary positive test for H5 influenza.

The Victorian Farmers Federation says new federal environmental laws are making it harder for farmers to manage their own land.