New South Wales’ peak farm body says practical fixes are urgently needed to the state’s new firearms laws, warning uncertainty is creating confusion across regional NSW.

Grain Producers SA is calling on all political parties to commit to practical support for the state’s grain industry ahead of the 2026 South Australian election. The organisation has formally provided its election priorities to all major political parties and crossbench representatives several months ago, focusing on drought resilience, infrastructure, biosecurity, chemical access, connectivity, workforce pressures and the protection of productive agricultural land.

NSW Farmers has welcomed a parliamentary vote supporting the establishment of a Royal Commission into water management, describing it as a critical step towards restoring confidence in the system.

Training barriers for forest firefighters in the Green Triangle are set to be reduced under new projects funded through South Australia’s Wood Fibre and Timber Industry Master Plan.

Regional roads in Victoria are continuing to deteriorate, with new figures reported in the Herald Sun revealing potholes have increased by as much as 178 per cent in western parts of the state. Victorian Farmers Federation President Brett Hosking says the worsening road conditions are a serious safety hazard and a significant economic burden for local communities.

Livestock SA has launched a statewide consultation with South Australian sheep and cattle producers on the future of the Sheep and Cattle Industry Funds. The review forms part of a statutory requirement to remake the regulations governing the funds by September 2026 under the Primary Industry Funding Schemes Act.

Grain Producers SA is urging growers and industry members to act quickly, with tickets for the 2025 South Australian Grain Industry Awards close to selling out ahead of the February event at Adelaide Oval.

Rural and remote Australians are being encouraged to make preventative health care a priority as the new year gets underway. The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine said the start of the year presents a natural opportunity to check in on long-term health and follow up on any lingering concerns.

In the midst of Victoria’s ongoing fire emergency, the Country Fire Authority has rejected claims that its funding has been reduced and that volunteers and brigades were not aptly prepared for this year’s fire season.

GrainGrowers has closed out 2025 with several significant policy achievements for Australian grain producers, alongside continued advocacy on sustainability, infrastructure and long-term industry resilience, CEO Shona Gawel said in her end-of-year catch-up with FlowFM's Country Viewpoint host Jessica Dempster.

The Country Fire Authority is reminding farmers to prioritise machinery safety following a paddock fire this week in Victoria’s north-east, which burnt approximately 40 hectares.

As part of National Skin Cancer Action Week (November 16 -22 2025) Dr RT Lewandoski from the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, joined FlowFM's Jess Dempster on the Country Viewpoint to discuss the heighten risks faced by rural and regional Australians when it comes to skin cancer.

Two leading rural health charities, Active Farmers and the Fat Farmers Rural Health Initiative, have announced they will join forces to expand health and wellbeing programs across regional Australia.

The Victorian Farmers Federation is urging Victorians to sign a new petition calling for stronger protections for the state’s prime farmland.

Grain Producers Australia has launched its 2025 Autonomous Farm Machinery Survey, giving farmers the chance to shape how automation and robotics are rolled out across the nation’s paddocks.

The Australian Trucking Association has added its voice to growing industry concern over a federal proposal to reduce speed limits on unsigned regional roads.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has expressed concerns regarding a proposed $300 million hot chips processing facility slated for Victoria’s west - saying its success relies on protecting the farmland that will supply it.

Australia’s world-leading natural fibre industries - wool and cotton - were in the global spotlight last month as Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and Cotton Australia joined forces to champion the sustainability of Australian fibres at World Expo Osaka.

The Albanese Labor Government has announced five million dollars in funding to help farmers manage the impact of invasive pests and weeds across Australia. Twenty-six new projects will target pest animals such as feral deer and pigs, and weeds including African boxthorn, serrated tussock, and prickly acacia.

Australia’s vegetable industry has warned that labour shortages are worsening across rural and regional areas, despite data suggesting an increase in backpacker arrivals.