PORTFOLIO NEWS

Tony Burke on CPRS legislation

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke spoke to AM Agenda last week about the carbon pollution reduction scheme legislation and the Frontier Economics report. "The White Paper gives a pretty clear direction," said Minister Burke. "We [need to] have Australian laws in place [and] we’ve put forward what we believe they should be." Read the transcript.

RIRDC Rural Women’s Award Opens Opportunities

Applications are now open for the 2010 RIRDC Rural Women’s Award. The award celebrates rural women and their contributions to primary industries, and is one of the most successful and enduring leadership and capacity building initiatives for rural Australia. The award is open to all women involved in primary industries. Entry forms are available at the RIRDC website at www.ruralwomensaward.gov.au. Applications close on World Rural Women’s Day, 15th October 2009.

PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS

Energy update 2009

Australia’s energy exports rose by 3.9 per cent in 2007-08. According to a recent report from ABARE, Energy update 2009, this rise reflected strong growth in uranium oxide and coal exports, partially offset by a fall in LNG and oil product exports. Coal continues to provide more than half of Australia’s energy export trade. For a free download of Energy update 2009, visit www.abare.gov.au/

EVENTS

ABARE’s Clare Regional Outlook conference

Access the latest commodity data, economic forecasts and research results at ABARE’s Clare Regional Outlook conference on Wednesday 26 August.

This is your chance to hear from a diverse range of speakers, including:

• ABARE’s Jammie Penm on economic issues affecting the regionMike Nolan, Westpac, on a banker’s perspective on rural finances
• Leanne Lawrance, ABARE, with the commodity outlook and farm performance
• Frank Nicholls, Clare Region Winegrape Growers Assoc and Neville Rowe, Clare Valley Winemakers on operating in a tough and changing environment
• Mark Branson, Clifton, on using modern farm systems to improve profit and the environment
• ABARE’s Melanie Ford, with agriculture: moving toward emissions trading
• Darren Ray, Bureau of Meteorology, discussing El Nino and climate change: an update for South Australia
• Andy McPharlin, Office for Water Security, on Water for Good – ensuring South Australia’s water future
• John Gray, Bureau of Rural Sciences, on soil carbon
• Brett Roberts with building the grains supply chain
• Sally Hawker on agritourism: making the farm lifestyle a business
• Craig Jaeschke discussing farming full circle for sustainability
• Mary Retallack on helping grapegrowers become winegrowers

The conference is open to anyone with an interest in their community. Make new contacts, discuss industry trends and gain an understanding of global issues affecting your region.

Download the conference program and registration form at www.abare.gov.au/regional. Contact Angela Ellerman on 02 6272 2303 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Time to Act

Farmsafe WA Alliance is hosting the seventh National Farm Health and Safety Conference, Time to Act,  from 13 to 15 October 2009. The conference aims to reflect on the safety of farming and rural communities. The conference provides an excellent opportunity for attendees to discuss safety issues and learn various injury prevention strategies surrounding the agricultural sector. For further information, visit www.farmsafewa.org/page/National-Conference.aspx Biosecurity 2010

Global

An international biosecurity conference will be held in Brisbane from 28 February – 3 March 2010. Global Biosecurity 2012 is Australia's first international conference and exhibition to focus on agricultural and environmental biosecurity. Registration is now open via the conference website. Visit www.globalbiosecurity2010.com/