Farming sector fears worst
AUSTRALIA - The present drought is expected to be the most damaging in more than a century and threatens to cut the value of agricultural production by billions of dollars.

UQ Research Project Targets Colitis In Pigs And Poultry
AUSTRALIA - A new University of Queensland study aims to improve understanding of a remarkable organism which is an important cause of diarrhoea in animals and humans.

Oz Farmers Blast Anti-Terror Laws
AUSTRALIA - Farmers say moves by the Federal Government to restrict the use of everyday farm chemicals and fertilisers are anti-terrorism tactics spinning out of control.

Biodiesel plant business case for Mid North
AUSTRALIA - The Southern Flinders Ranges Development Board is to develop a business case investigating building a canola crushing and biodiesel production plant in the Gladstone area.

Farms are raided to crack egg scam
AUSTRALIA - Large producers of eggs have been raided by food inspectors in the first stage of a state government-ordered investigation into free-range egg substitution.

Pork And Poultry Supplier Plays Down Hepatitis A Concerns
AUSTRALIA - One of the country's largest pork suppliers says there is little risk of its customers contracting hepatitis A, despite one of its staff falling ill from the virus earlier this month. Toowoomba-based company KR Castlemaine Foods,...

Australian organic producers can look to export markets
AUSTRALIA - Organic food producers in Australia should look to exports to boost their sales, advises a new government report. Organic food is one of the fastest growing sectors in the global food industry, growing at double-digit rates compared...

Draft Import Risk Analysis (IRA) Report For Chicken Meat
AUSTRALA - Biosecurity Australia recently announced changes to the IRA team conducting the IRA of chicken meat and foreshadowed that the draft IRA report was at an advanced stage of preparation (see BAPM 2006/10 of 10 April 2006).

Farmers, govt to talk about quarantine
AUSTRALIA - Farmers and bureaucrats will meet next month to work out their differences over the nation's quarantine rules. The move follows a damning parliamentary report which attacked the handling of an outbreak of citrus canker by the Australian...

Australia offers compensation for bird flu hit Indonesian poultry farmers
AUSTRALIA - The Australian Government has offered to set up a compensation scheme for Indonesian poultry farmers hit by bird flu, according to the country's Health Minister Tony Abbott. The government feels that a lack of such a compensation scheme...

Egg company urged to identify itself amid salmonella outbreak
AUSTRALIA - One of South Australia's largest egg producers is urging a local egg company linked to a salmonella outbreak to reveal itself. The State Health Department is investigating links between eggs supplied to the Buona Pasta company...

Variety of poultry up for auction
AUSTRALIA - Fancy a feathered friend or a Christmas turkey? Choose from about 2000 poultry for sale at the Euroa Showgrounds on June 4. About 2000 birds will be for sale at the Euroa Poultry Club's third auction for the year. Albury auctioneer...

Farmers Back Push To Bolster Country Of Origin Food Labelling
AUSTRALIA - Western Australian farmers have welcomed a Federal Government move to strengthen country of origin labelling for processed foods. Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran is to form a working group to develop a voluntary 'Australian...

High Costs for Country of Origin Labelling in Australia
AUSTRALIA - The report, which includes an independent study by the Centre for International Economics, concluded that this benefit to consumers would be outweighed by the costs to industry, which would harm the competitiveness of affected Australian-made...

Egg producers unhappy at adjustment package rejection
AUSTRALIA - Egg producers are furious that a meeting of state and federal primary industries ministers has refused to endorse a $23 million adjustment package, reports ABC. The funds would have helped farmers to leave the sector if they could...