‘Insane’ spike in thefts forces roadside honesty stalls to close
Mandarin grower Bruce Crain says people’s growing dishonesty, including the theft of 70 bags in one weekend, makes it impossible to offer a roadside service. ⌘ Read more

Future of iconic wine Wolf Blass unclear amid large brand overhaul
A cloud hangs over the future of the famous Barossa brand as its maker, Treasury Wine Estates, looks to cull more than half of its labels. ⌘ Read more

Extreme heatwaves making it harder to grow our food, and not only in summer
Record-breaking heatwaves decimated crops in Australia this year and served as a “real wake up call” for the urgent need to develop more heat-resistant crops and research into food security. But it’s not only in summer heatwaves are occurring and causing crops to fail. ⌘ Read more

Border Force busts multi-million-dollar illicit NT tobacco operation
Australian Border Force officers have seized hundreds of thousands of illegal cigarettes and vapes worth millions of dollars from a Northern Territory storage facility. ⌘ Read more

Dieback disease killing mango trees is spreading in the NT
At a field day in the Northern Territory, mango growers were desperate to learn what could be done to stop the spread of mango twig tip dieback. ⌘ Read more

Major winemaker threatens to move business overseas if tax changes go through
The managing director of Taylors Wines in South Australia is threatening to move the business internationally in response to the federal government’s proposed tax changes. ⌘ Read more

Darwin’s Middle Arm precinct could be roadblocked by endangered herb
The NT government is arguing its planned mega Middle Arm gas industry precinct will be needed to help shore up Australia’s future fuel and energy supplies — but it has just identified that a tiny endangered herb could be growing in the way. ⌘ Read more

Major wine retailer puts vineyards up for sale amid industry-wide squeeze
Endeavour Group, which owns Dan Murphy’s and BWS, announces it will step away from some key vineyards and wineries in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, and close a major South Australian bottling plant. ⌘ Read more

Winery turning grape waste into ‘gold’ gets top farming gong
A winery squeezing value out of every part of the vine has received the country’s top agricultural gong at a a difficult time for the wine industry. ⌘ Read more

Huge demand for vegetable seedlings
In March Tasmania’s biggest vegetable and flower seedlings producer almost sold out of vegetable plants, ⌘ Read more

Retailer says tobacco licence ‘not worth the paper it’s printed on’ amid illicit market
A Senate inquiry has heard the illicit tobacco market now accounts for around 50-60% of all tobacco sales in Australia - worth around 7 billion dollars to crime gangs.
It’s estimated the federal government is now losing out on more than 11 billion dollars in tobacco excise annually.
While public health advocates and the tobacco industry argue over the merits of lowering the tobacco excise, sma … ⌘ Read more

From cask to car, could red wine be Australia’s next fuel?
Australia’s wine industry is investigating whether its current 263 million litre glut of wine would be better used as biofuel to power cars, trucks or even aircraft. ⌘ Read more

Poppy processor has new owner
Tasmania’s largest poppy processor has a new owner, and it’s on board with a vision to extract more value from alkaloid poppies grown here. ⌘ Read more

Ancient drought resistant winegrape instilling hope for struggling farmers
In an Australian first, two South Australian winegrape growers are trialling an ancient variety from Cyprus that is reducing water consumption and reconnecting them to their Mediterranean roots. ⌘ Read more

Paddock-to-plate revival as farmers grapple with surging food freight costs
As the cost of each kilometre food travels explodes, growers and consumers are looking for ways to shorten the supply chain. ⌘ Read more

Save money on groceries with ‘relatively little effort’ by home gardening
With grocery prices continuing to bite, more Australians are discovering that home gardening isn’t just good for wellbeing — it can also make real financial sense. ⌘ Read more

Making wine in memory of officers killed by Dezi Freeman
The Porepunkah community and Victoria Police pick grapes together to make wine in honour of Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart, who were killed by Dezi Freeman. ⌘ Read more

Wine code of conduct details emerge as industry continues to shrink
Industry representatives welcome a new mandatory code of conduct that dictates how wineries treat wine grape growers, but it may be too late for some producers. ⌘ Read more

Wine industry calls for government investment
It might sound like a good problem to have - a glut of wine sloshing around local barrels.
But a decline in export markets and changes in consumer behaviour have left some grape growers ripping up their vines and exiting the industry altogether.
In the latest development - one of Australia’s largest wineries - Winemasters SA -  has appointed administrators following a failed sales bid.
GUEST: Lee McLean, … ⌘ Read more

Pears the size of a human head grown at Paracombe
At a South Australian-owned, grown and produced juice manufacturer, pears the size of a human head are turning heads after popping up by the property’s fire exit. ⌘ Read more

Horticultural production losses reach $25 million after cyclone
Growers across Western Australia’s Gascoyne take a huge financial hit after four natural disasters in the first four months of 2026. ⌘ Read more

New grapevine virus GINV detected for first time in Australia
A grapevine virus known in China and Japan that affects plant growth and productivity has been detected in Australia for the first time in Victorian, Queensland and South Australian table grapes. ⌘ Read more

Wine grape grower bakes cupcakes to pay bills as fuel costs bite in ‘worst’ harvest
Farmers in the midst of harvest in South Australia are having to get creative to help make ends meet. ⌘ Read more

Australian bush tea hits shelves in Asia
The product is being sent from a remote property in the Northern Territory all the way to Japan, Korea and China. ⌘ Read more

WA wine industry warns of impact of Containers for Change expansion
A newly formed West Australian wine group warns that bottles of wine produced in the state could increase by $1.25 if the expansion of the Containers for Change scheme goes ahead. ⌘ Read more

Meet the teens learning maths, English and winemaking at school
These high school students in Cowra make up to 750 bottles of wine a year as part of their studies. ⌘ Read more

Man pleads guilty to dealing with millions of dollars from illegal tobacco
Malek Alhmedai’s hire car had $4 million stashed inside, with the money linked to illegal tobacco sales. ⌘ Read more

Nationals deputy leader says supermarkets should pay farmers more for produce
Farmers have urged Australia’s major supermarket chains to pay more for fresh produce, in response to increased fuel and freight costs.
GUEST: Darren Chester, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle ⌘ Read more

WA’s record for heaviest pumpkin broken
A pumpkin grown in Albany has beaten the previous WA record for heaviest pumpkin by nearly 60 kilograms. ⌘ Read more

Sick of not knowing if your avocado is ripe or bruised? This scanner could change that
An Australian-first avocado “ripeness scanner” is being trialled, with the aim of telling customers exactly when their avocados will be ready to eat. ⌘ Read more

Bargain avocados in high demand but growers pay price
A bumper avocado season is creating a perfect storm for cheaper produce and record export volumes, but growers are doing it tough. ⌘ Read more

Cobram Estate praises America’s ‘grower-first mentality’ after $260m deal
Australia’s largest olive oil producer has completed its purchase of a massive olive grove in California, giving it about 70 per cent of the state’s production. ⌘ Read more

Rare fruit sells for $200 at auction
A rare fruit has snared top dollar at auction at a Far North Queensland festival over the weekend. ⌘ Read more

Cyclone Narelle destroys banana crops, fresh food growers hit hard
Fruit and vegetable producers in one of Western Australia’s key food growing regions are counting the cost of Cyclone Narelle, with one banana grower reporting more than 80 per cent of his crop has been destroyed. ⌘ Read more

Blueberry industry under scrutiny amid rapid growth
Australians are eating and growing more blueberries than ever before, but questions are being asked about how production of the fruit is being regulated. ⌘ Read more

Vegetable growers won’t plant more crops if costs keep rising
A snap survey by AUSVEG reveals 27 per cent of Australian vegetable growers have already reduced planting, while some will not harvest current crops because rising costs make it unviable. ⌘ Read more

Farmers rubbish ‘worst ever’ EU free trade agreement
The National Farmers’ Federation says the deal will leave farmers without meaningful access to the EU market. ⌘ Read more

Discussion paper released on the Tasmanian Wine Industry as harvest begins
It’s a busy time of the year for the wine industry in Tasmania with the latest vintage underway. ⌘ Read more

Apple variety once thought extinct confirmed on NSW farm
The Rymer variety of cooking apple, once believed to have died out, has been found on a rural property in the NSW Southern Tablelands. ⌘ Read more

Tougher tobacco laws on the way as illegal vape market booms
Criminal gangs cashing in on Australia’s illicit tobacco boom will face tougher penalties and expanded police surveillance powers in a fresh crackdown on the black market. ⌘ Read more

Flower importers feel the pinch as Iran war affects flight routes
The war in the Middle East is not just affecting petrol prices and travel plans — florists and their suppliers have suddenly found themselves unable to supply blooms due to the disruption of air freight routes. ⌘ Read more

New vintage underway
As predicted, a late start for the 2026 Tasmanian wine grape vintage with harvest getting underway this week. ⌘ Read more

Fertiliser prices skyrocket for Aussie farmers as Middle East conflict rages on
The Middle East conflict is forcing up the cost of an essential fertiliser for Australian farmers, but there are other factors more likely to affect grocery prices. ⌘ Read more

New cold storage facility to streamline supply chains for citrus growers
Oranges, mandarins, lemons and table grapes could soon have a more direct path to market. ⌘ Read more

Farmers celebrate as parched paddocks drenched
A big downpour across much of drought-affected Victoria puts smiles on farmers’ faces. ⌘ Read more

Coastal growers take on Sturt’s desert pea as demand for natives soars
Sturt’s desert pea may be native to dry, arid conditions but that hasn’t stopped growers on the NSW coast from giving it a crack as demand grows for unique Australian flowers. ⌘ Read more

Swordfighting in medieval armour an unlikely outlet from bushfires
Michael Henry’s armour and weapons survived January’s bushfires, as the Swordcraft community helps him rise from the ashes. ⌘ Read more

SPC scales back plans for Shepparton juice production move
SPC Global is moving juice production away from Melbourne in a bid to save $8 million a year. ⌘ Read more

National vineyard register welcomed by struggling wine industry
Grape growers have endured a tough few years and there are hopes that a national database will help to improve the industry’s fortunes. ⌘ Read more

Growers warn ‘watered down’ lavender oil widespread in surging imports
Despite an Australian lavender industry dating back to the 1850s, you’re more than likely using an imported and “watered-down” product, local growers say. ⌘ Read more

‘Scarecrow of the sky’ in full flight to protect Australian fruit and almond crops
A new falcon drone wards off peckish birds that have been destroying valuable fruit crops. ⌘ Read more

Gift shop in west Victorian small town targeted in late night fire
The small west Victorian town of Dimboola is the latest regional centre to be affected by the state’s illicit cigarette trade and tobacco wars. ⌘ Read more

Grape growers want to rezone land for housing to exit industry in crisis
The wine grape industry in South Australia’s Riverland continues to face unprecedented levels of uncertainty, as growers look to exit the industry and turn their land into residential housing. ⌘ Read more

WA hop growers gear up for harvest as craft beer tastes evolve
Local brewers are experimenting with new flavours, while some farms invest in US-made machinery to modernise and streamline the harvest process. ⌘ Read more

Flower industry fights for clearer labelling amid $220m Valentine’s spend
Millions of red roses will fly off shelves at florists this weekend, but the flower industry says there is not much to tell customers where the flowers are from. ⌘ Read more

New Wine making facility opened in Northern Tasmania
A shortage of contract wine making facilities has led to a new venture in the states north, opening just in time for vintage. ⌘ Read more

Scorched flower farms face Valentine’s Day without blooms
A record heatwave has destroyed a Mallee flower farm’s Valentine’s Day blooms, leaving its owner devastated. ⌘ Read more

NT avocado farm getting closer to reality
A Top End horticulturalist is working on tropical variates of avocado and has agreed to supply a grower with hundreds of trees. ⌘ Read more

Would you drink wine from a bottle made from seaweed instead of glass?
The federal government provides $2 million towards developing low-emissions alternatives to glass wine bottles using materials like seaweed and plant sugar. ⌘ Read more

Growers turn to netting to save crops from heatwave sunburn
Sales of netting to protect fruit crops from extreme weather have increased in the past five years as researchers warn heatwaves will continue to impact agriculture. ⌘ Read more

Are Australians ready for genetically modified tomatoes? The proof will be in the eating
The purple tomato was altered to make it taste better and boost nutrition. ⌘ Read more

Sobering export report for Australian producers as world turns off wine consumption
Global demand for Australian wine is continuing to dwindle, with the latest Wine Australia export report showing an 8 per cent decrease in 2025 as consumers opt for alcohol-free trends. ⌘ Read more

Illegal tobacco boom exposes the demand problem behind WA’s black market
Much has been made of how the WA government is trying to stop the supply of illegal cigarettes, but its more difficult challenge is what can be done to ease demand. ⌘ Read more

Aussie table grape exports jump nearly 300 per cent amid ‘great’ growing year
A rise in demand is making it feasible for some Australian grapes to be on sale in South-East Asia within 48 hours of being dispatched. ⌘ Read more

Your supermarket apple could be a year old. How is that possible?
Apples only grow for three months of the year — but thanks to an ancient technique, that doesn’t stop us grabbing one from the grocery store year round. ⌘ Read more

NT citrus growers fear Vietnamese imports will flood market and bring in disease
The Top End’s pomelo industry is worried about the impending importation of the citrus fruit from Vietnam. They say it will depress the local market and bring a biosecurity risk. ⌘ Read more

How WA went from leader to loser in the illegal tobacco wars
Burnt out storefronts in Perth and regional cities are testament to the government’s inability to control the illegal tobacco trade — and it’s not clear when things will change, writes Keane Bourke. ⌘ Read more

Winemakers face long road to recovery after fire destroys vineyards
Two wineries in the Strathbogie Ranges have lost a combined 150 hectares of vines, 3,000 sheep and three homes in the Victorian fires. ⌘ Read more

Lychee growers’ creative desserts and drinks offset a dismal harvest
Freeze-dried desserts, lychee ice cream, sorbets, and frozen juice are keeping family owned farms open to the public longer, despite a dramatic drop in the Sunshine Coast lychee harvest. ⌘ Read more

WA mango grower finds fruit as big as bowling ball
A WA mango grower is pleasantly surprised to find a crop full of massive mangoes, as big as a bowling ball. ⌘ Read more

WA authorities still powerless to shut down illicit tobacco and vape shops
An eastern states public health expert says “it’s a mystery” why Western Australia is lagging behind the rest of the country on updating its illicit tobacco laws. ⌘ Read more

Leasing vineyards
Farmers take many risks with the weather, what sort of crop will grow, and will the price be right. ⌘ Read more

Workers rehired as new managers revive Dicky Bill salad farms
About 160 staff lost their jobs when Dicky Bill collapsed owing up to $10 million. Two separate businesses have stepped in to take over, but not all operations will reopen. ⌘ Read more

Creative efforts to drive down thousands of tonnes of coffee pod waste
Between 10 and 20 per cent of the 3 million coffee pods Australians consume daily are actually recycled. Here’s what’s being done to change that. ⌘ Read more

Growers hope to keep coffee cups full in 2026
Australian coffee growers are hoping for a bumper 2026 season to meet increased demand for homegrown beans following a prolific flowering season. ⌘ Read more

Outback gardeners continue 30-year battle with destructive fruit pest
There was no fruit fly to be found in Broken Hill 20 years ago, but now gardeners are facing an uphill battle trying to rid themselves of the pest. ⌘ Read more

Christmas lychees best quality in decades despite tough season
After season constraints and rain-delayed harvests, this summer is producing exceptional Queensland lychees, according to the wholesalers. ⌘ Read more

Pickers ‘living in squalor’ claim their end-of-season bonus was unfairly withheld
Ten pickers who worked at Hallmark Cherries’ orchard in NSW complain about poorly maintained accommodation and failure to pay an end-of-season bonus. ⌘ Read more

Long-awaited mandatory wine industry code of conduct too late for growers
After 20 years, three senate inquiries and an independent review, the sale of wine grapes will be regulated by a mandatory code of conduct, but growers say it might be too late. ⌘ Read more

Victorian vegetable farmer accused of underpaying migrant workers
The Fair Work Ombudsman has accused Bulmer Farms in Victoria’s East Gippsland region of underpaying migrant workers more than $645,000. ⌘ Read more

Flower growers see red over glyphosate import rule change
The Australian government says it plans to stop treating imported flowers with glyphosate, but local growers are not happy and are raising biosecurity concerns. ⌘ Read more

The battle to trademark matcha as counterfeits from outside Japan rise
As Japanese matcha producers struggle with the surge in demand, the industry is facing another problem — counterfeit matcha. ⌘ Read more

Water thieves forced to pay $558,000
Jindalee Road Wines and its former manager have been penalised $558,000 for illegally tapping into an irrigation pipeline and stealing water. ⌘ Read more

Supersized strawberries fill supermarket shelves
Seasonal conditions are leading to big berries this summer, with the fruit on the larger side in some regions because of a wetter spring. ⌘ Read more

The sweet spirit ‘steeped in tradition’ that’s becoming trendy
South Australian distillers are tapping into a growing global thirst for Limoncello and finding a new market for lemons and grape spirit. ⌘ Read more

Sexism, harassment and inflexibility drive women out of winemaking
Among the main factors contributing to women leaving Australia’s wine industry were sexism, discrimination, and a lack of flexibility, a nationwide study has found. ⌘ Read more

Australia’s red-tipped bananas go viral after cheeky social media post
Red-tipped bananas are not new to Australian consumers, but they have gone viral on social media this month after an inquisitive post from two bewildered British backpackers. ⌘ Read more

Victorian grower finds success in relatively unknown sweet crop
Jujubes are a relatively unknown fruit for most Australians, but the sweet fruit has strong domestic demand for those looking for a taste of home. ⌘ Read more

White wine grape growers already in crisis suffer ‘another kick in the guts’
The wine grape industry has written to the SA government pleading for help as it reaches breaking point after indicative pricing for the next vintage is released showing growers could face losses of up to $270 per tonne. ⌘ Read more

Drought down south sends potato prices soaring up north
Potato growers in Queensland’s far north are suddenly in hot demand as drought-stricken paddocks in the country’s south fail to deliver. ⌘ Read more

All hail SA’s new Cherry King as first box goes for $65k
The first box of cherries this season went under the hammer at the SA Wholesale Produce Market in Pooraka, raising money for Variety - the Children’s Charity, assisting sick & disadvantaged kids. ⌘ Read more

NT’s largest banana farm suffers cyclone damage
The NT’s largest banana farm suffered damage from Cyclone Fina on the weekend, losing about 40 per cent of its fruit. ⌘ Read more

Grower trials purple-skinned pineapple varieties in Queensland
Striking new purple-skinned pineapples are being trialled in Queensland, but the wait to taste them could last 10 years. ⌘ Read more

Small wineries worried about ‘onerous’ costs of consumer recycling scheme
Container Deposit Schemes are loved by consumers for getting a little cash back, but wineries say the financial and administrative burden outweighs any environmental boon. ⌘ Read more

Quirky avocados with ‘bumps, lumps and butt cheeks’ causing chuckles
Avocado growers in WA’s South West say the oddly shaped fruit popping up on their trees may cause a few chuckles, but that does not affect the taste. ⌘ Read more

Wine body sorry for ‘disappointing’ T-shirts bearing ‘irresponsible’ messaging
The Coonawarra Vignerons, in South Australia’s South East, has deleted a post which attracted controversy for celebrating binge drinking. ⌘ Read more

New mango variety to hit shelves after years of development
The Ruby Gold mango has been produced in commercial quantities for the first time and sellers say they are sure it will be a winner with consumers. ⌘ Read more

Former nurse turns ‘absolute passion’ for lavender into 35-year career
Annemarie Manders reflects on how she became a lavender farmer in the Yarra Valley. ⌘ Read more

Uncertainty for small-scale Tasmanian farmers over new food safety rules
The new regulations would bring Tasmania into line with national standards, but smaller growers are worried they will have to pay the same fees and meet the same auditing requirements as large-scale growers. ⌘ Read more

These trees are usually laden with apples. This year they’re strangely bare
Across the the Blue Mountains, apple farmers are noticing less fruit this season. Some are wondering if it’s linked to varroa mite. ⌘ Read more