Mildura Swan Hill Rural Report
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Latest Report
Victorian irrigators say they'll get even more water
Water allocations to Victorian irrigators are flowing, providing security to food producers.
The Murray system has a 57 per cent high reliability water allocation, increasing by 34 per cent.
Dried Fruit Australia board member Warren Lloyd who farms at Mildura says he's expecting more water to flow through to allocations this year.
He says they need good production and good prices for dried fruit to try and make up for losses.
"We've had extraordinary low production years out of the last three.
"Everything is very fragile we need some good years with good prices."
Mr Lloyd says he expects a 100 per cent allocation this year.
"There's going to be no reason to scrimp and save on water.
"We need to get as much water on that's going to give us a good crop."
Meanwhile in central Victoria, Loddon irrigator water allocations have jumped 15 per cent, up to 41 per cent of entitlement.
Water Wheel Vineyards owner Peter Cumming at Bridgewater says it secures production for not only this year but seasons to come.
He says it's a relief to have water after four years of minimal allocations.
"To have this quantity of water is just fabulous.
"It gives us so much inspiration."
Bluegum harvest delayed
Tim Marshall
The global financial crisis isn't done having an effect on western Victoria.
Ongoing repercussions from the GFC means demand for wood is down.
It's delaying the south west's blue gum harvest.
Plantation Timbers Group general manager John Kellas says low world demand is delaying the harvest.
He says there's competition coming out of China as they're selling pulp and paper.
Victorian Features
Willmott Forests collapse
Forestry company Willmott Forests collapses with debts of $120 million. Their operations are subject to Korda Mentha's administration processes, the company that specialises in dealing with collapses in Australia's $2.5 billion managed investment schemes.
One street in a big flooding mess
Farmland around Shepparton is filling with water as the flood spreads around houses in the Goulburn Valley.
Water, water, everywhere!
Flood waters have spread right across Northern Victoria as a blanket of rain fell on the state.
Stranded sheep get a lift
Flash flooding across Victoria after heavy rains has led to some timely rescues, but none more so than the help extended to a mob of sheep that found themselves caught on a narrow strip of land as water rushed past at Red Lion, near Talbot in central Victoria.
A flood in the gardens, a tree on the roof
Photos from Castlemaine's share of the big rains to hit Victoria on the first weekend of September
Pakistan agriculture in turmoil after floods
Pakistan is an agrarian society with more than half its GDP generated by agriculture. As millions of livestock die and crops are inundated, the future looks grim for food and for exports.
Wimmera River flows into Lake Hindmarsh
The Wimmera River embraces gums that have sprouted in the the river channel after more then a decade of below average rainfall. The water's back.
Seedbanks guard against future shock
The head of Plant Health Australia says the seed banks are neglected and underfunded.
Hunting for locust eggs
Mildura Rural Reporter goes hunting for locust eggs with the Victorian Department of Primary Industrie's Melissa Cann.
Vine pruners recognised
Surrounded by vines, with a cool breeze passing through and dark clouds overhead, pruners get to work. But there's a little more frenzy involved with this pruning of the vines.
