Bargaining power pork-barrel
Accusations of pork-barrelling have erupted over the Coalition government’s delivery of a $13.8 million federal program to try and enhance farmers’ collective bargaining powers in agricultural supply chains. Labor attacked the government for “deviating” from its original plan in a move they say aims to deliver political benefits for the Page electorate held by first-term National Party MP Kevin Hogan.
Joyce retains Agriculture
Barnaby Joyce will remain Agriculture and Water Resources Minister until at least the next federal election to maintain continuity and build stability following recent upheaval for the Coalition government.
China to boost recycling of farm waste
China has set goals for recycling farm waste such as crop stalks and plastic film by 2020 to prevent further pollution in agricultural production and support recycling farming. In addition, the use of pesticides is to be capped as of 2020.
Ample US meat supplies will keep a lid on prices, analysts say
Rising US meat supplies will keep a lid on prices, said Paragon Consulting and Steiner Economics, as the market struggles to absorb billions of pounds of new protein production. Exports are looking slow, as ideas of chicken exports were trimmed by 84m pounds, as the USDA cited a South Korean ban on imports from the US, after bird flu was detected last month.