Gunnedah: Teamwork in focus at Australian Cotton Grower of the Year Field Day
THE 2025 Bayer Cotton Growers of the Year, Merrilong Agricultural Company, will host the Australian Cotton Grower of the Year Field Day at their Spring Ridge property on March 18. The day will focus on how resilience, teamwork and communication support decision-making in a large, family-run farming business. Registration for the Field Day is now
Farm gate tax shock for trailblazers
FARMERS with cellar doors and farm gate fruit stands should be aware of huge new bills being slapped on them by the state government, NSW Farmers’ says. Reports have spiked of family farmers being forced to pay up to $300,000 in land taxes to the NSW Government for diversifying their businesses with small farmgate sales
Record demand sees future Cotton Leaders Program expand to largest cohort yet
STRONG interest in the 2026 Australian Future Cotton Leaders Program has led to the largest cohort in the program’s history, following an unprecedented number of applications for the industry’s flagship leadership initiative. Applicants include Georgina Rowlands, from Australian Food and Fibre at Ashley, north of Moree, and Hugh Lennon from Hancock Agriculture at Merah North.
NSW Farmers’ livestock welfare program gets $900,000 boost
A NSW Farmers project will get a significant boost from the NSW Government to support livestock welfare across agricultural industries and strengthen the operation of the joint government and industry Stock Welfare Panels. The funding will support NSW Farmers’ One Welfare in Action – Improving Stock Welfare Panels in NSW project, which recognises animal welfare
Reminder about rules for summer spraying
FARMERS spraying weeds this summer are reminded of the golden rules to prevent drift and avoid damage to neighbouring properties. NSW Farmers’ Agricultural Science Committee chair, Justin Everitt, said taking several key precautions remained essential when planning to spray. “We’ve always got to monitor weather conditions closely when we’re spraying, and while we’re all on
Glenn and Rachel Fernance named NSW Dryland Field Wheat Champions at AgShow awards
BELLATA dryland farmers Glenn and Rachel Fernance crowned a landmark 2025 season when they were named Dryland Field Wheat Champions at the Suncorp Bank AgShows NSW Dryland Field Wheat Competition Awards at Dubbo on Friday night. The Fernances form part of a large family enterprise, with dryland operations across four properties in the Bellata district
National Farmers’ Federation announces new Chief Executive Officer
THE National Farmers’ Federation has announced Michael Guerin as its new chief executive officer, effective March 23, 2026. NFF president Hamish McIntyre welcomed the appointment, pointing to Mr Guerin’s proven leadership capabilities and passionate ag advocacy work. “Mike brings extensive experience to the NFF CEO role, through his current role as Acting CEO of NSW
Sustainability the key to ag workforce puzzle
THE National Farmers’ Federation has called for a renewed focus on a sustainable agricultural workforce, urging policymakers to ensure the needs of regional communities are properly addressed. In a submission to the Value of Skilled Migration to Australia Inquiry, which closed this week, the NFF said while skilled migrants played an important supporting role in
NSW Farmers’: Farmers misled as government rushes firearms changes
THE state’s peak farming group warns rushed changes to firearms legislation are unworkable. NSW Farmers’ president Xavier Martin said multiple attempts had been made over the past week to engage with the NSW Government in the wake of the Bondi terror attack to ensure farmers and those in agriculture were not impacted by any knee-jerk
Virtual fencing now legal in New South Wales
MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan has welcomed news that virtual fencing was legalised in New South Wales on Thursday. Virtual fencing systems allow farmers to confine and move animals without physical fences using GPS, wireless and sensor technology. A parliamentary inquiry in October 2024 into the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Virtual Stock
