Fifth-generation dairy farmer Jane Polson has endured devastating floods, livestock losses and years of recovery — pressures a new report warns are being felt across Australian agriculture.
Agriculture
Posted inAgriculture, Local News
Farm leaders tackle agriculture’s biggest challenges at NFF summit
Agriculture leaders gathered in Canberra to tackle global uncertainty, food security and growing competition for the nation’s agricultural land.
Posted inAgriculture, Coffs Harbour, Environment, Water
Cucumber growers warned after pesticides found in Coffs waterways
Quarterly testing of 20 priority waterways since mid-2025 found pesticides in every sampling round at several sites in the Willis Creek and Hearnes Lake catchments.
Posted inAgribusiness, Agriculture, Investigation, National News
Knee-jerk reaction to flawed ABC program may make food more expensive
In the continuing fallout from the ABC’s Four Corners investigation Duped, more highly experienced food industry professionals have come out and criticised the program, warning that a knee-jerk reaction from government could make food more expensive.
Posted inAgriculture, Coffs Harbour, Workers and Unions
Return help available for illegal farm workers, department says
Workers told the ABC they couldn’t afford to fly home. The Department of Home Affairs says return costs are usually covered, and help is available for those who need it.
Posted inAgriculture, Lismore, Science and Research
Southern Cross University to lead $4 million push to grow Australia’s own coffee industry
Less than one per cent of Australia’s coffee is home-grown. A new $4 million research program led by Southern Cross University wants to change that, five years, five partners, one big brew.
Posted inAgriculture, National News, Phone and Internet, Social issues and services
Regional Tech Hub shuts its doors after six years
It helped 80,000 households navigate patchy internet, the 3G shutdown and Triple Zero outages. Now the Regional Tech Hub has closed, after funding for the free service ran out.
Posted inAgribusiness, Agriculture, Coffs Harbour, Investigation, Long Read
Duped by the ABC: Food fraud investigation may be rotten
The ABC’s food fraud special ‘Duped’ made Australians afraid of what’s in their fridge. A closer look at the evidence, the lab behind it, and the sources it relied on tells a very different story.
Posted inAgriculture, Bucca, Legal
Bucca blueberry farm dam costs owners $100,000, contractor $30,000
A Bucca blueberry farm’s “spur of the moment” dam has cost its owners $100,000 and their contractor $30,000, as NRAR reveals 13 more Coffs Harbour blueberry operations are already under investigation.
Posted inAgribusiness, Agriculture, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Valley, NSW News, NSW Politics, Workers and Unions
Commissioner and Singh clash over North Coast berry farm slavery claims
A damning parliamentary report and now a public apology demand. The state’s Anti-slavery Commissioner and Nationals leader Gurmesh Singh are at war over old claims of exploitation on North Coast berry farms.