Prevention is always better than cure at David Nix’s Atherton Tablelands farm. After all, the arrival of an unwanted pest or disease can instantly devastate the far-north Queensland potato grower’s livelihood – together with those of his neighbours, and regional and state colleagues if quarantine restrictions are imposed. That threat looms large every day, David says, with tomato potato...

Feral animals are a fact of life on the land and many producers understand the threat of livestock predation, destruction of crops or damage to farm infrastructure. Compared to these risks, the human and animal health impacts of feral animals are often overlooked, though the threat is just as pressing. Research indicates that wild dogs, for example, can live comfortably within a kilomet...

In January 2018, a worker received second degree burns while trying to pour fuel into the vent pipe of a furnace used for drying woodchips. The worker was attempting to light the furnace and spilled the fuel which then ignited resulting in burns to his hands, arms and legs. Investigations are continuing. Preventing a similar incident Fire and explosions can have catastrophic consequences...

Last night the Senate sabotaged the fate of Northern Basin communities and the environment by voting to support the Greens Disallowance Motion that will see a further 70 GL recovered from the Northern Basin. The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) and members have condemned the outcome of the vote labelling it as a blatant example of putting politics over people and balanced independen...

In January 2018, a 25 tonne articulated crane (a ‘pick and carry’ type mobile crane) overbalanced and fell across four lanes of a major arterial road while it was lifting a sign. Three lanes of traffic were closed at the time and there was no traffic in the open lane. The crane was removing a signage structure 15m in height, 3.9m wide and weighing approximately 4.5 tonnes. While manoeuv...

A $75 million investment in the chicken industry, including in state of the art technology through the supply chain, has laid the foundations for sustained growth and the generation of skilled job opportunities. Visiting Ingham’s new logistics and laboratory facilities at Lytton today, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Ingham’s investment underpins 2000 full time jobs in Queensland inc...

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) and members have condemned the decision by the Federal Labor Party to support the Greens Disallowance Motion in the Senate that will see a further 70 GL recovered from the Northern Basin. QFF President Stuart Armitage said it was very disappointing that the Labor Party, particularly Queensland Labor Senators, appear set to put South Australian St...

FIVE years ago, double the amount of young people turned apprentices. The drop, tradies say, is because they don’t like to work hard. AUSTRALIA is on the verge of an apprenticeship drought — and some tradies are claiming it’s all down to the younger generation being a “bunch of softies”. Apprentice numbers continue to drop across all Australian states as younger people begin to favour...