What are the rules around wine labelling?
If you’ve picked up a bottle of wine because the label looked fun and seemed to originate from a wine region you trust, it may be time to take a closer look. ⌘ Read more

‘A lot of contentious issues on the agenda’: Australia and China preparing for high-level talks
Details and dates are still to be determined and announced, but experts say a range of thorny issues could be on the table. ⌘ Read more

China wine tariffs expected to be gone by end of March after trade minister meets with Chinese counterpart
The ABC understands that China will lift wine tariffs it had placed on Australian at the end of March, after Trade Minister Don Farrell met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao overnight. ⌘ Read more

How a clever craft distillery used grapes and rocks to win World’s Best Botanical Vodka
Forget potatoes or the Russians, Australian “underdogs” have taken out the 2024 title of World’s Best Botanical Vodka using grapes and ancient volcanic rocks. ⌘ Read more

Farmers still toiling to fix infrastructure months after Cyclone Jasper flooded the Far North
Daintree farmers have been working for two months to fix infrastructure damaged by Tropical Cyclone Jasper floods, but say there are many more months to go before they will get on top of the repairs. ⌘ Read more

Tourist crops providing selfie solution for famed Queensland sunflower fields
Specially grown sunflower crops are springing up around Southern Queensland to help meet demand from crowds of visitors keen for a photo. ⌘ Read more

Red meat industry questions sustainability ‘remit’ of Australian Dietary Guideline review
Sustainability is on the menu for the official review of the national dietary guidelines, but the red meat industry is concerned it will not recognise its work to reduce greenhouse emissions. ⌘ Read more

Listen back to the Queensland Country Hour
Listen back to the Queensland Country Hour for February 22nd 2024 ⌘ Read more

Hundreds of grape growers being paid 1970s rates at breaking point in Australia’s largest wine region
Growers in South Australia’s Riverland will gather at a crisis meeting as warm inland wine regions are pushed to breaking point by 1970s prices for their grapes. ⌘ Read more

With a bumper harvest underway, wine growers pin their hopes on an end to Chinese tariffs
Producers say ideal conditions have led to a 50 per cent increase in yields this season amid hopes the tariffs on Australian wine to China could be lifted as early as March. ⌘ Read more

Have you heard of tayberries and jostaberries? Some of the least-known berries are the best, according to this Tassie farmer
There are lots of berries to discover beyond blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, Tasmanian farmer Olivia Rundall tells her visitors. ⌘ Read more

The humble spud is now a $1 billion industry but a potato farmer says not all growers are benefitting
Australia consistently produces about 1.4 million tonnes of spuds each year and their value is on the rise. ⌘ Read more

How robots and AI can change the way Australia’s favourite fruit gets harvested
It takes effort to get bananas from the farm to the fruit bowl, with growers relying on a significant workforce to pick and pack. Now scientists are working on technology to make it easier and safer. ⌘ Read more

World-first genetically modified banana given approval as ‘safety-net’ variety in Panama disease battle
Genetically modified cavendish bananas that are nearly immune to a devastating fungal disease have been given approval for commercial production and human consumption in Australia. ⌘ Read more

Listen back to the Queensland Country Hour
Listen back to the Queensland Country Hour for February 16th 2024 ⌘ Read more

Peach trial starts to bear fruit in WA’s iron ore heartland as future beyond mining beckons
While Newman is best known for its central role in WA’s mining industry, locals hope a developing stone fruit orchard will help the town to diversify. ⌘ Read more

Family calls time on ‘gangbusters’ berry haven loved by top chef Matt Golinski
About three tonnes of spray-free blueberries are being enjoyed by wild birds as one of Queensland’s most popular agritourism destinations closes 17 years after opening. ⌘ Read more

Sabrina Hahn’s simple guide to growing chillies
Growing chillies is not only practical but the can also brighten up your garden ⌘ Read more

Banana-infused vodka? How imperfect fruit is leaving the waste stream to make boutique edibles
Tonnes of West Australian bananas that would end up as waste or mulch are being made into freeze-dried snacks and used to make products like vodka as Carnarvon growers look to reduce wastage. ⌘ Read more

Police allegedly seize more than 1,100 illegal cigarette packets from Mansfield store
Victoria Police allege investigators also found drug paraphernalia and $10,000 in cash when they executed a search warrant. ⌘ Read more

NT banana farm expansion
The NT’s largest banana farm is expanding, with an aim of producing 100 per cent of the Top End’s banana needs. ⌘ Read more

Rise in extreme weather events putting huge strain on food charities helping struggling families
Food charities helping struggling families put food on the table can no longer rely on excess produce being available as farmers count their own cost of extreme weather events. ⌘ Read more

Sunflower patch provides pocket money and life lessons for 7yo Charlie
Charlie Smith spent his school holidays growing sunflowers with his dad on their Manjimup farm in WA’s South West and has big aspirations for his little business. ⌘ Read more

Could farmers get a fairer deal with the supermarkets if there was a mandatory code of conduct?
The ACCC is investigating the disparity between supermarket check-out prices and farmgate prices and one thing it could recommend is a mandatory code of conduct. But would it make the market fairer for growers? ⌘ Read more

Bitter news for wine exporters as more people choose not to drink to save money — and health
Australian wine exports have been hit by a global trend in people drinking less alcohol and cutting costs, but hope remains for the re-opening of a major market. ⌘ Read more

Wine grape growers drive tractors through Riverland streets in protest against below-cost prices
Growers in Australia’s largest wine grape producing region are calling for more government support, along with a mandatory code of conduct to ensure the sustainability of their industry, with many letting their fruit rot due to below cost prices. ⌘ Read more

Why is an Australian tomato more expensive than a can flown around the world?
Shoppers have seen the price of local fruit and veg skyrocket, but canned produce remains relatively cheap. One expert says there’s several worrying reasons for this. ⌘ Read more

Fed-up Aussie farmers shun supermarket giants and sell direct to consumers
Some Australian producers turn their backs on the major supermarkets because of what they say are unfair prices at the farm gate. ⌘ Read more

Another tea party: how a US chemist’s salty theory sparked a diplomatic row between the US and UK
Professor Michelle Francl stirred the pot this week when she asserted that, scientifically, tea should have salt in it. ⌘ Read more

Another business falls prey to an Apple Maps wipeout. This time the entire street’s missing
Laura Ridout hoped her blueberry farm would put Scotsburn on the map. Instead, Apple took her farm off it, and it turns out she’s not alone. ⌘ Read more

Consumers may face more hot-chip potato shortages as heatwaves become more widespread
The humble vegetables are susceptible to storms, heavy rainfall and high temperatures. Frequent extreme weather events make the crop vulnerable. ⌘ Read more

Wet summer threatens to create a shortage of Australian-grown dried fruit
Lovers of dried fruit could face shortages of some Australian-grown products this year as unfavourable weather conditions create a global decline in production. ⌘ Read more

It’s a job with overseas travel and regular pay, so why are there so few cut flower growers in the Top End?
Darwin’s once numerous flower farmers have shrunk from 40 in the 1980s to five, with those left inching closer to retirement. ⌘ Read more

Retailers say illicit tobacco trade ‘needs to be stopped’
After a string of firebombing attacks at tobacco stores across Melbourne, the Federal Government have stepped in to tackle illicit tobacco trade on the black market. ⌘ Read more

Government launches illegal tobacco crackdown, as bikie ‘turf war’ on tobacco shops rages on
As another tobacco shop burns in Melbourne, the federal government announces a $188 million crackdown on the tobacco black market, hoping to stop imports before they reach the Australian border. ⌘ Read more

Supply in doubt for summer favourites like plums, peaches and nectarines as storms ravage stone fruit season
Wild weather in Victoria could mean less stone fruit on the shelves after hail and heavy rain smash Australia’s main production regions. ⌘ Read more

Made infamous by former links to the mafia, one of NSW’s biggest wineries is changing hands
Warburn Estate winery, established in 1968 by a man known as the “don of dons”, is sold to a family business best known for processing orange juice. ⌘ Read more

Pressure mounts for ACCC inquiry into alleged supermarket price gouging amid claim farmers being paid 1978 prices
Grocery prices rose and major supermarkets made billion-dollar profits last year, but Bundaberg farmer Trevor Cross fears rock-bottom produce prices will force him to leave the industry he loves — and there are many others like him. ⌘ Read more

‘I’m trying to push mothering ewes through’: Flood plain farmers reflect on emotional and financial impact of floods
A year on from flooding that devastated communities along the River Murray, farmers like Meiqing Lin and Alexandra Westlake are still feeling the impact. ⌘ Read more

It has world-class wines and scenery galore, but a lack of tourist beds could be holding this region back
Tourism leaders say South Australia’s Limestone Coast needs more accommodation to suit a range of budgets to reach its full potential as a holiday destination. ⌘ Read more

Heartbreak for family farmers as rain devastates cherry crop ahead of season peak
Farming can be tough and normally the sound of rain is welcome, but for Tasmanian cherry farmers Gene and Laura, recent downpours had them “swearing and cursing”, knowing their crop was unlikely to survive. ⌘ Read more

After losing crops to floods, banana famers now face an even greater risk
Queensland growers are on high alert this week with devastating floods increasing the possible spread of Panama TR4 fungal disease — the greatest threat to banana production worldwide. ⌘ Read more

Listen back to the Queensland Country Hour
Listen back to the Queensland Country Hour for December 22nd ⌘ Read more

Fruit growers plead for help from consumers, prime minister as flooding cleanup begins
Far North Queensland growers are reporting major losses to Cyclone Jasper and torrential rain as the tropical fruit season peaks for Christmas, including sweeping damage across mango orchards. ⌘ Read more

Cherry trees go from bonfire pile to celebrated chef’s high-end restaurants
A meeting at a Melbourne restaurant 10 years ago has helped open revenue streams for a north-east Victorian cherry grower as he diversifies to lessen the blow of consecutive rough seasons. ⌘ Read more

Why this year’s bumper berry crop is benefitting buyers but not necessarily growers
Several wet years and this month’s cooler, spring-type temperatures have been ideal for raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries, but as prices drop at the supermarket there’s a real fear expenses will overtake profits for growers. ⌘ Read more

Could solar panels improve Australian wine?
Australian researchers are testing solar panels in a vineyard to see if they can help protect the fruit from extreme weather, but that is not the only potential benefit. ⌘ Read more

These watermelons are taking a little longer to grow due to fires, with heat still on for harvest workers
While Central Australia’s largest melon farm’s yields have been affected by bushfire ash this year, these workers from Timor-Leste still have plenty of harvesting, and singing, ahead of them. ⌘ Read more

Farmer startups backing themselves to bring chocolate capsicum and other ‘new fruit’ to markets
From pink custard apples and sweeter capsicums that resemble the colour of chocolate, these Queensland farmers are working to bring innovative new varieties to supermarket shelves. ⌘ Read more

An ambitious quest to supply Australians with locally grown garlic year-round is paying off
Garlic lovers can now buy Australian-grown all year round, thanks to decades of work by persistent farmers who refused to give up on the difficult crop. ⌘ Read more

Access to affordable food needs government intervention, report finds
A year-long parliamentary inquiry focused on the future of Australia’s food security recommends introducing a minister for food among its 35 recommendations to the federal government. ⌘ Read more

Australia’s largest canned vegetable producer to sell Thai corn in supermarkets
Simplot Australia, which owns brands including Edgell, says natural disasters have led to a shortage of Australian-grown vegetables, forcing it to look outside the country for supply. ⌘ Read more

Food charity ‘distressed’ by dumped fruit, vegetables after Aldi launches new supermarket
The manager of a charity that organises food donations for people in need says she is “distressed” by the amount of produce a new Townsville supermarket has sent to landfill. ⌘ Read more

Should we remove best-before dates on produce?
Advocates say a simple change would stop Australian households from unwittingly throwing out perfectly edible food, and they are banding together to get the regulator on board. ⌘ Read more

Once home to a pair of the world’s largest pears, this fruit dynasty houses 160 years of orchard innovation
The longevity of Greenhill Orchards comes down to the dedication of the Yeomans family, innovation, and their love of all things fruit. ⌘ Read more

Remote community strives to improve health by growing their own fruit and veg in APY Lands
A Central Australian Aboriginal community hopes to improve the health of residents and increase food security by re-establishing a once plentiful orchard that has fallen into disrepair. ⌘ Read more

Queensland school program a ‘game changer’ for encouraging kids to eat more fruit and vegetables
Shelly struggled to get her six-year-old to eat more vegies, but a Queensland school program teaching children about growing fruit and vegetables is helping to turn that around. ⌘ Read more

Food charity ‘distressed’ by dumped fruit, vegetables after Aldi launches new supermarket
The manager of a charity that organises food donations for people in need says she is “distressed” by the amount of produce a new Townsville supermarket has sent to landfill. ⌘ Read more

Health groups angered after New Zealand scraps world-first smoking ban
The generational ban, which would have stopped anyone born after 2009 buying tobacco, has been ditched by New Zealand’s new government. ⌘ Read more

Tea harvesting on two wheels pays off for father-son farming duo
Nestled in a rainforest timber plantation is a unique tea producer. Queensland father and son Brendon and Darryl Collins are creating a unique legacy as they move away from timber farming. ⌘ Read more

‘Sweeter, nuttier, fruitier’ locally-grown bean gives coffee lovers a taste of Australia
Coffee drinkers may tell you an Australian brew tastes different. And they’d be right, with research finding local beans have a distinct taste of place, or “terroir”. ⌘ Read more

Wondering how much your Christmas cherries will cost this year? The news isn’t great
People hoping to spend less this Christmas may need to look to areas other than the dinner table, with favourites like cherries and lobster not expected drop much in price from last year. ⌘ Read more

Winery deploys ducks to help reduce vineyard snails and cut input costs
After introducing the birds last growing season as a trial, Castle Rock Estate is using them again this year with hopes to grow the flock. ⌘ Read more

At $14 each, price is ‘no barrier’ for Aussie mangoes in the US
It takes two weeks for these Aussie mangoes to go from a farm to a US supermarket shelf. But for Manbulloo Mangoes it’s been worth it. ⌘ Read more

Popular winemaker saved from closure by new investors and old hands
Cassegrain Wines on the NSW Mid North Coast is purchased by a syndicate of investors including the son of its former managing director, after going into voluntary administration earlier this year. ⌘ Read more

Queensland farmer specialises in melons that you’re unlikely to see on supermarket shelves
Shaun Jackson grows niche varieties of melons and, just as Australians are cutting back on fruit, an expanding Japanese market can’t get enough of them. ⌘ Read more

Wine lovers thirsty for ‘genuinely good’ no or low alcohol option, as search continues for perfect drop
Alcohol products for those keen to stay sober have gone from niche to mainstream in a short span of time. But connoisseurs say finding such a drop replicating the mouth feel of real wine is like searching for “the holy grail”. ⌘ Read more

Cockatoos develop taste for world’s stinkiest fruit on Top End farm
The first durians of the season are fetching more than $30 a kilogram wholesale, meaning the cockatoos are “picking the most expensive fruit in town”, grower Han Shiong Siah says. ⌘ Read more

New jumbo blueberry varieties behind farm’s big expansion plans
The biggest blueberries in the world are grown in Western Australia and export markets love them. Demand for the berries is driving one farm to quadruple in size. ⌘ Read more

Red wine glut and industry setbacks no barrier for the next generation of winemakers
When 28-year-old Mick Elliott left his office job for the wine industry he picked up a palate for the perfect drop and left behind a sense of dread. ⌘ Read more

How one woman turned farm waste into a sustainable food business
A South Australian woman is turning farm waste into a sustainable food business by making meals out of second-grade fruit and veggies. ⌘ Read more

Footscray pensioners told to shut down street stalls
Sueanne Nguyen’s mother is one of the traders, and she hopes to work with Maribyrnong City Council to find a compromise. ⌘ Read more

Capers looks effortless and appetising on a plate — but harvesting them is a brutal labour of love
Australian-grown capers are a sought-after ingredient for high-end restaurants, selling for up to $50 per 250 grams. And with each tiny bud picked by hand, it’s not hard to see why. ⌘ Read more

How a ‘wrestle’ with the rough end of a pineapple inspired a classic Aussie invention
In the 1970s, the pineapple peeler was a staple in many Australian kitchens. But the story behind this Aussie invention shows why life’s little pleasures are often the sweetest. ⌘ Read more

How is decaf coffee made? And is it really caffeine-free?
Here’s what you need to know about decaf coffee: how it’s made, the flavour, the benefits — and whether it’s actually caffeine-free. ⌘ Read more

Why funky young wines are a winner for Aussie producers looking for fresh export markets
It’s out with the heavy old-world styles and in with bright, natural drops as young consumers around the globe seek wines with more Australian sunshine and fewer additives. ⌘ Read more

This farmer never planned to grow asparagus — now he’s putting it into ice cream
While he grew up on an asparagus farm, it took a pandemic-era career shift to turn Markum Boston into his home town’s first grower of white asparagus. ⌘ Read more

Farmers on edge as orchards ‘hammered’ by rise of European earwigs
First detected in Australia in the 1930s, European earwigs can affect citrus, cherries and canola – and farmers are being warned to check carefully and early for signs of infestation. ⌘ Read more

Alcohol health warnings for bottles has some winemakers worried
A recent health survey has reignited the push for health warnings to be introduced on alcohol packaging, but boutique wine producers say their products aren’t the problem when it comes to problem drinking. ⌘ Read more

Fancy fungi business takes off for tradie still learning the secrets of edible mushrooms
A Pemberton electrician is supplying up to 20 kilograms of fungi a week to shops and restaurants in a mushroom-growing side hustle that has been a process of trial and error. ⌘ Read more

‘Absolutely disgraceful’: NT politician speaks at global tobacco and nicotine conference
The involvement of Kezia Purick at the Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum has been labelled “shameful” by the president of the Australian Medical Association. ⌘ Read more

Among the grain crops of northern NSW, there’s a boom of farming mums planting fields of flowers
Tamworth mum Shona Robilliard started with a few seeds in her veggie patch, but in search of a better work-life balance she’s ditched the vegetables and is now a fully fledged cut-flower farmer. ⌘ Read more

Under the counter deals, ‘chop-chop’ and arson attacks: Inside Victoria’s illegal tobacco market
Police are stepping up their efforts to tackle the illegal tobacco market, after a string of arson attacks against shops in Victoria. ⌘ Read more

Why Australian grape growers are ditching shiraz and cab sav for ‘trendier’ varieties
In response to the global red wine oversupply, grape growers embrace lesser-known varietals to appeal to adventurous consumers. ⌘ Read more

How a boy from the outback became an Australian olive oil baron
Chances are you don’t know Rob McGavin. But he’s made it his life’s work to win a place on your kitchen table — and he’s been very successful at it. ⌘ Read more

How the winemakers of Champagne and Barossa are joining forces to protect their place names
Drinkers expect certain things based on where their wine comes from, so France’s prestigious Champagne district is teaming up with Australia’s winegrowing regions in the fight to better protect their unique name and identity. ⌘ Read more

China wine tariff review ‘no silver bullet’, but Australian producers hold hope for the future
Wine exports to China have dropped to a low of $10 million a year, but China’s announcement it will review tariffs on imports has given a glimmer of hope to the industry. ⌘ Read more

Mango prices on rise in WA as harvest yields fall by more than half across Australia’s Top End
With supply down by more than 50 per cent, WA supermarkets are struggling to fill shelves with the popular fragrant fruit amid an unusually light national harvest. ⌘ Read more

No profit in a pear tree as shoppers opt for other fruit instead
Shoppers have stopped buying pears in favour of other ready-to-eat alternatives, and now some farmers can’t make a living growing the “forgotten fruit”. ⌘ Read more

Can coffee help you avoid putting on weight as you age?
Most people gain small amounts of weight each year as they age. But can coffee help prevent this gradual weight gain? ⌘ Read more

Together the Thomsons were a team. Now Jimmy is keeping he and his wife’s floral bouquet tradition alive
When Jimmy Thomson’s wife Roslyn died last year, he was distraught. Her love of native flowers was something he couldn’t shake, so he continued her weekly tradition of making and donating native floral bouquets. ⌘ Read more

Yess! AhHa! Now! New names, new varieties of mango in supermarkets after years of development
It has taken decades of work and a number of setbacks, but three mango varieties are being commercially rolled out — and finally have names. ⌘ Read more

Jane Ferrari named Legend of the Vine for selling South Australia’s wine story to the world
For someone who fell into the wine industry almost by accident, Jane Ferrari has been instrumental in selling the success story of South Australia’s wines overseas. ⌘ Read more

Apple farmers exit industry after pocketing a rise of just 50c a kilo in 20 years
Retail fruit prices have barely changed in two decades, exports have dropped to around two per cent of the nation’s crop and producers are fleeing the industry, new data from a NSW Farmers Association survey reveals. ⌘ Read more

How Aussie extra-virgin olive oil is bucking an international trend
The largest producer of olive oil in Australia says it is delighted by the support it is getting from Australian consumers as prices for international competitors rise. ⌘ Read more

The surprising crop of the Moreton Bay region – the Collins family spill the tea
When you think of Moreton Bay agriculture, you might think of strawberries, pineapples and bananas. But do you think of tea? ⌘ Read more

Varroa mite outbreak and response sparks backyard beekeeper exodus
Australia’s decision to abandon efforts to eradicate varroa mite is triggering an exodus of backyard and hobby beekeepers, with thousands already selling their bee smokers and hanging up their bee suits. ⌘ Read more

Australia watching England smoking ban ‘with interest’, as government reforms tobacco laws
Australia will closely monitor a UK plan to ban cigarette sales for future generations, as the government progresses plans to prevent young people from picking up a smoking habit. ⌘ Read more

British PM announces plan to ban cigarettes for younger generations
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the smoking age would be raised by one year every year beginning in 2027, meaning the younger generation would grow up “smoke free”. ⌘ Read more

Herb grower Damien Manno has one of the best-smelling farms in the country
A basil farmer has teamed up with former AFL players to grow native herbs, bridging the gap between traditional and Indigenous farming. ⌘ Read more