A01 Agriculture

Late surge lifts grain forecast

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The West Australian – Page: 45 : 6-Jan-15

The Grain Industry Association of Western Australia scaled back its forecast for the state’s 2014-15 harvest to 13.6 million tonnes in late 2014. However, new figures show that the crop is poised to exceed 14.5 million tonnes. David Capper of CBH says the group’s receivals have totalled 13.36 million tonnes to date, and he estimates that it will receive at least another 100,000 tonnes. The state’s harvest in 2013-14 was a record 17 million tonnes

CORPORATES
GRAIN INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA (INCORPORATED), CBH LIMITED, CO-OPERATIVE BULK HANDLING LIMITED

Race on for Magic Millions

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Original article by Fiona Carruthers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 6-Jan-15

Some 916 yearlings will be offered at the Gold Coast’s Magic Millions sale, which will run from 7-12 January 2015. The yearling sale began in 1986, and boasted total sales in excess of $A219m by the end of 2014. The annual thoroughbred sale will be accompanied by the Magic Millions race day, whose prizemoney will rise from $A4.7m in 2015 to $A10m in 2016. Magic Millions is owned by Gerry Harvey and Katie Page

CORPORATES
MAGIC MILLIONS LIMITED, WILLIAM INGLIS AND SON LIMITED, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, TATTERSALLS LIMITED, KEENELAND, RACING QUEENSLAND LIMITED, PATINACK FARM PTY LTD

Drought relief flow to Victoria’s farmers

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Original article by Darren Gray
The Age – Page: 6 : 20-Nov-14

Victorian farmers will be offered concessional loans of up to $A1 million under drought relief schemes announced by the Federal and Victorian Governments on 19 November 2014. The southern Mallee and northern Wimmera regions have suffered severe drought conditions, with areas around Wedderburn and Charlton also being affected

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF AGRICULTURE, AUSTRALIA. BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY

Rinehart to milk China’s dairy fix

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Original article by Rick Wallace
The Australian – Page: 9 : 14-Nov-14

The new Hope Dairies joint venture is being launched by government enterprise China National Machinery Industry Corporation and Hancock Prospecting, the main vehicle of Australian mining heiress Gina Rinehart. The $A500m business will seek to cash in on the recently negotiated free trade agreement between Australia and China, by exporting powdered infant formula. Rinehart has also diversified from iron ore into beef cattle, with investments in Western Australia

CORPORATES
HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD, HOPE DAIRIES PTY LTD, CHINA NATIONAL MACHINERY INDUSTRY CORPORATION, CUBBIE STATION, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, BEIJING AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENT FUND

Outrage as ACCC rubbishes plans for free range egg standard

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Original article by Esther Han
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 13 : 14-Nov-14

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims argues that the nation does not need a standard on what constitutes free-range eggs. John Coward of Australian Egg Farmers warns that Sims’ comments could affect the progress that has been made to date on developing a standard for the industry. Choice also favours a national standard in order to protect consumers

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN EGG FARMERS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN CONSUMERS’ ASSOCIATION, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, PIROVIC FAMILY FARMS, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF COMMERCE. OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING

Great wagyu debate put to the taste test

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Original article by Sue Neales
The Australian – Page: 5 : 23-Oct-14

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) will conduct an investigation into whether consumers are potentially being misled by the labelling of beef as coming from wagyu cattle. The main issue is whether only full-blood animals should qualify for this descriptor. The Australian Wagyu Association and breeder David Blackmore welcome the move by the ACCC, which has previously looked into claims about free-range eggs and extra virgin olive oil

CORPORATES
BLACKMORE WAGYU BEEF PTY LTD, BLACKMORE GENETICS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN WAGYU ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

China pact sees miners duck tariffs

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Original article by Sid Maher, Scott Murdoch
The Australian – Page: 5 : 22-Oct-14

The Chinese Government recently declared new tariffs of 3% and 6% on imports of metallurgical and thermal coal respectively. However, Australian producers will be spared the measure, as Trade Minister Andrew Robb has negotiated a zero tariff in the talks on a new free-trade agreement between the two nations. Meanwhile Prime Minister Tony Abbott is being criticised by some of his Coalition MPs over failing to roll out a promised tightening of foreign investment limits in the agricultural sector

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20), WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION, CHINA. MINISTRY OF FINANCE

Speed-up plan for Japan deal

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Original article by Greg Earl, Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 14-Oct-14

The free trade agreement between Australia and Japan was slated to begin on 1 April 2015. Both nations are keen for the trade deal to begin earlier, possibly in February. This could result in the tariff on beef exports being reduced on the starting date for the deal and again at the beginning of Japan’s financial year on 1 April. Japan is the biggest export market for Australian beef

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA-JAPAN BUSINESS CO-OPERATION COMMITTEE

Gippsland farmers lead state with a bumper year

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Original article by Darren Gray
The Age – Page: 6 : 8-Oct-14

Victorian livestock producers had a profitable year in 2013-14. A study of earnings and costs found that farmers in Gippsland were the most profitable, with average gross income of $A695 per hectare. Gippsland farmers Steven and Lisa Harrison said that the seasonal conditions were the best in about 15 years

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT AND PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, RURAL FINANCE CORPORATION PTY LTD

Trifecta of calamities to deplete crop harvest

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Original article by Sue Neales
The Australian – Page: 19 : 11-Sep-14

Severe frosts in the southern part of New South Wales are likely to affect early wheat crops in areas around Wagga, West Wyalong, Griffith and Hillston. In Western Australia and Victoria, crops may be smaller as a result of below-average rainfall. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural & Resource Economics & Sciences forecasts national wheat production of 24.2 million tonnes for 2014, which is 10 per cent lower than the previous year

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE ECONOMICS AND SCIENCES