Gundaline Station's woes continueAllegations of wrongdoings continue to plague Gundaline Station, an irrigation farm covering more than 14,000 hectares east of Hay.At the recent national Cotton Conference held on the Gold Coast in early August, rumours circulated of a group of disgruntled fellow growers, unhappy with Gundaline’s continuing myBMP certification.myBMP (Best Management Practice) is Cotton Australia’s national accreditation system, aimed at ensuring that Australian cotton is produced according to best practice.“myBMP is a voluntary farm and environmental management system which provides self-assessment mechanisms, practical tools and auditing processes to ensure that Australian cotton is produced according to best practice,” the myBMP website states.The Riverine Grazier reached out to Cotton Australia’s CEO Adam Kay to discuss the rumoured grower discontent, however no reply or statement was received.Communications Manager – Engagement for Cotton Australia Darrin Davies did provide information about the certification process.“myBMP certifications are for a five-year period,” Mr Davies said. “Once a grower has their certification, they have two years before they are subject to a possible random audit. Every year a number of growers are selected for a random audit to ensure they remain compliant. “If a grower is not subject to a random audit their certification will expire in five years and they have to undergo recertification.“There is a Code of Conduct that growers must adhere to, and anyone found not to be compliant with that code can face consequences including the possibility of having their certification removed.”The code of conduct Mr Davies referred to was not provided, but growers say the number of issues surrounding the operation and management of Gundaline Station makes a joke of the certification system.It is believed growers are considering raising a petition to have Cotton Australia remove Gundaline’s myBMP certification. The Riverine Grazier has previously reported on allegations of undisclosed fuel spills, biosecurity breaches and safety concerns raised by the Australian Workers Union.

Are you a young adult 18 to 25 years (or know someone who is) who is keen to in crease their agricultural knowledge and skills, expand networks and take advantage of priceless mentoring? Applications are now open for the 2025 Hay Inc Rural Education Program. Next year’s intake will be the 11th cohort of the uniquely local and focussed training pro gram, which now boasts more than 140 alumni. Hay Inc was established in 2014 in response to concerns about the decline in the traditional jackaroo or jillaroo system and the passing down of essential rural skills among generations. Hay Inc’s bespoke training program consists of a range of short courses which involve practical training, delivered on rural properties throughout the Hay district. The training and assessment is delivered by qualified trainers and subject matter experts who have extensive practical experience in primary production. Students complete training in blocks, living and working across the Hay district. The application form can be found online at https://www.hayinc.com.au/apply-now/ Enquiries about the application process can be forwarded to Sandra Ireson Hay Inc Program Manager - email [email protected] or phone 0439 938119.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (above) will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds of farmers from across the country next week, in an unprecedented rally against Labor’s anti-farming ideology. Mr Coulton said Labor is destroying agriculture and making life impossible for the nation’s producers of food and fibre, due to endless cuts to the regions, anti-farming legislation and unnecessary red tape.“The Nationals 100 per cent support our farmers attending the National Farmer Rally outside Canberra Parliament House,” Mr Coulton said.“This Labor Government has decimated our farming and agriculture industry in the Parkes electorate. It has been more than 40 years since farmers last felt so aggrieved to protest against a government.  It’s easy to understand why our farmers are fed up, after being constantly attacked by Labor and its anti-farming policies, from water buybacks to reckless renewables and its senseless phase out of our live sheep export trade.” The Nationals are demanding 10 key changes by Labor;Reinstate the live sheep export trade.Bring back the Agriculture Visa and fix Labor’s PALM scheme mess.Stop Labor’s water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin.Introduce a container levy (so our own farmers don’t pay for the biosecurity risk created by international competitors). Reverse Labor’s cuts to regional infrastructure. Stop Labor’s truckie tax and vehicle efficiency standard.Create a mix of energy, rather than Labor’s all-renewables approach, which is destroying agricultural land.Scrap harmful emissions profiles, or Scope 3.Stop Labor’s proposed taxes on superannuation, which will impact family farms.Ensure the 88-day backpacker work visa remains in place for the agriculture sector. “These 10 key areas are crucial to farming, agriculture and regional Australia,” Mr Coulton said. “The Nationals will not stop fighting until common sense prevails and our farmers get a fair go.”

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (above) will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds of farmers from across the country next week, in an unprecedented rally against Labor’s anti-farming ideology. Mr Coulton said Labor is destroying agriculture and making life impossible for the nation’s producers of food and fibre, due to endless cuts to the regions, anti-farming legislation and unnecessary red tape.“The Nationals 100 per cent support our farmers attending the National Farmer Rally outside Canberra Parliament House,” Mr Coulton said.“This Labor Government has decimated our farming and agriculture industry in the Parkes electorate. It has been more than 40 years since farmers last felt so aggrieved to protest against a government.  It’s easy to understand why our farmers are fed up, after being constantly attacked by Labor and its anti-farming policies, from water buybacks to reckless renewables and its senseless phase out of our live sheep export trade.” The Nationals are demanding 10 key changes by Labor;Reinstate the live sheep export trade.Bring back the Agriculture Visa and fix Labor’s PALM scheme mess.Stop Labor’s water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin.Introduce a container levy (so our own farmers don’t pay for the biosecurity risk created by international competitors). Reverse Labor’s cuts to regional infrastructure. Stop Labor’s truckie tax and vehicle efficiency standard.Create a mix of energy, rather than Labor’s all-renewables approach, which is destroying agricultural land.Scrap harmful emissions profiles, or Scope 3.Stop Labor’s proposed taxes on superannuation, which will impact family farms.Ensure the 88-day backpacker work visa remains in place for the agriculture sector. “These 10 key areas are crucial to farming, agriculture and regional Australia,” Mr Coulton said. “The Nationals will not stop fighting until common sense prevails and our farmers get a fair go.”

“One of the most successful people in Australian agribusiness.”The man behind one of the most iconic farm gates on the Hay Plains has passed away.Mr Gordon Paterson, of Hells Gate, between Hay and Balranald, died last week.When interviewed by ABC’s program ‘Landline’ in 2012 Mr Paterson refused to destroy the mystery of the much-photographed gateway."It was called Richlands when I bought it, but it was widely known as Hells Gate," Mr Paterson told the ABC.As for where that came from, Mr Paterson says he does not really know - and if he did, he would not tell."I don't want to spoil the mystique of it," he said.Photographic backdrops aside, Mr Paterson built a legacy of agricultural holdings, farming 65,000 hectares in the Riverina and another 10,200 hectares in the Western District. He was one of Victoria’s major landholders.The Riverina holdings include Pevensey Station, Chillagoe, Glenmea, Berawinnia, Dales Block and Loorica. In the Western District Mr Paterson’s properties included Clifton, Iramoo, Glenlivett, Vermont and Kurrumbee.Mr Paterson grew up on a small irrigation farm outside Swan Hill, and in the 60s he and his father bought Hells Gate, which at the time was a sheep station with no staff and very little infrastructure."[My wife and I] struggled pretty hard for the first 10 or 12 years to keep this place," Mr Paterson told Landline in 2012.When the wool price collapsed the family switched to cattle and later set up a feedlot. It was a move that paid off when the Paterson’s started supplying retailer Coles.Working alongside his son Lachlan, tragedy struck the family when Lachlan was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, and passed away in 2008. Mr Paterson considered selling up, but instead grandson James Paterson stepped forward and the two commenced working together.Just two years ago, at age 86, Mr Paterson purchased Kooba Ag’s holdings for a reported $63 million. At the time of the sale, he was described in the media as “one of the most successful people in Australian agribusiness.”It is believed James, who has run the family company JHW Paterson and Son for several years, will continue Mr Paterson’s work, calling his grandfather “a visionary”.Mr Paterson, who was 88, is survived by his wife of 65 years, Verna.

A program designed to reduce the risk and impact of flood events across towns in inland NSW has been extended thanks to a $3 million Australian Government grant.The Improving Floodplain Connections – Urban Protection Program is a risk-reduction program that targets existing flood works. Since 2022, it has been working to restore hydrological connectivity across northern basin floodplains of inland NSW. The grant, which is funded through the Commonwealth National Emergency Management Agency, will provide $3 million over a three-year period. It will be used to investigate areas where rural flood works are impacting on urban communities and propose remediation options.The funding will allow the NSW Government to expand the program to help develop an evidence-based, coordinated approach to addressing risks to life and property in urban areas in inland NSW that result from rural floodwork development.According to the NSW Government, the expansion will help determine a remediation pathway to modify and approve flood works, working closely with the landholder, raise awareness and help communities better understand the rules around Floodplain Management Plans, which will improve compliance culture and continue meaningful engagement and collaboration with First Nations communities, landholders and other key stakeholders.The expansion will build on the Improving Floodplain Connections Program work to date and will help mitigate against flooding to towns in high-risk locations, including in Moree, Bourke, Forbes, Moama, Narromine, Walgett, Hay, Condobolin and in other inland towns and communities.NSW DCCEEW has identified 14 Local Government Areas across inland NSW where flood works pose known risks, and have received strong support for the program. “We need to build resilience for communities against flood hazards, especially as climate change brings more challenges than ever before," NSW DCCEEW Director Healthy Floodplains Project Delivery Alastair McKenzie-McHarg said."Expanding the Improving Floodplain Connections Program will build on the critical work done to date, and deliver a coordinated approach for these high-risk locations to mitigate against flooding to towns across our state’s west.“Flooding remains one of the biggest natural disaster threats to the people of NSW. This program takes another vital step towards remediating the most high-risk flood works, which will help protect people, their homes and businesses from future harm.”

Toyota is bidding farewell to one of the iconic symbols of the wide brown outback – the V8 Landcruiser. Often the butt of well-meaning ribbing thanks to the over accessorising of the popular ute, the announcement by Toyota will end an era of motoring across rural Australia.Final production of the V8 Wagon, Troop Carrier, and WorkMate and GX pick-ups will take place in September with vehicles expected to be in customer hands late this year or early next year.The distinctive sounding V8 1VD-FTV 4.5-litre turbo-diesel engine powered the LandCruiser 70 Series since 2007 and Toyota says more than 170,000 V8s have been sold in that time.It has now been replaced by a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, with Toyota adding a new five-speed manual gearbox.Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said the decision to bring down the curtain on the V8 had been inevitable due to changing regulations and community expectations.“Bidding farewell to the V8 marks the end of one chapter and the start of another for the go-anywhere 70 Series – a vehicle that’s renowned for its ruggedness, reliability and simply getting the job done,” Mr Hanley said.“We continue to work closely with our production team to receive the maximum possible V8 allocation so that we can fulfil as many local customer V8 orders as possible,” he said.Mr Hanley said he would encourage any enthusiasts who might lament the V8 decision to join the growing number of drivers who have found the four-cylinder alternative is even more capable. "Both here and in Japan, Toyota was determined to return the loyalty of our customers by devoting significant resources into ensuring the 70 Series remains a vital part of our line-up for years to come.“The only alternative was to walk away from this model – and that was not an option.”