Kim Honan
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The rural reporter 🤠 who rescued a Swiss shepherd 🐺 and flies drones for fun! 🛸
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Articles by Kim Honan
Reducing run-off from macadamia farms improves soil but more needed to boost waterways
Ten years ago, Miles Gillespie was battling heavy erosion and crop losses on his Northern Rivers macadamia farm. "In extreme rainfall situations, we would probably have on any one large event, I would say 5-10 per cent of the crop would be washed away," he said. "It's almost impossible to calculate the nutrient removal and organic matter that we lose, but it would be very high." Macadamia grower Miles Gillespie and NSW DPIRD's Jeremy Bright on the Alstonville IOM study site.
Premium beef producers expect to be the main casualty of China's new 55 per cent tariff
Australian cattle farmers producing wagyu and Angus beef are likely to be among the hardest hit by China's 55 per cent tariff on beef exceeding the 205,000-tonne quota. China's global trade restrictions came into effect on January 1 after claims by farmers in that country that beef imports were hurting their profitability. NSW Hunter Valley Angus producer Robert Mackenzie said the 55 per cent tariff would have a detrimental affect on his industry.
Australian meat industry warns China's new beef tariff impact will be 'severe'
An Australian meat industry peak body says China's move to impose an added 55 per cent tariff on beef imports that exceed quota levels from several countries including Australia will have a "severe impact" and that it is "extremely disappointed". China's commerce ministry on Wednesday explained the tariffs, also impacting Brazil and the United States, were designed to protect a domestic cattle industry slowly emerging from oversupply.
Promise of bumper coffee crop in 2026 fuelled by explosion of white flowers
A prolific flowering season has coffee growers hopeful of a bumper 2026 crop. Poor growing seasons overseas have increased demand for Australian-grown beans. Coffee crops that flowered in November will be ready for harvesting by late winter and into spring. Australian coffee growers are hoping for a bumper 2026 season to meet increased demand for homegrown beans.
New order banning supply of NSW North Coast green prawns a 'death knell' for industry
Steve Everson has been fishing for green school prawns in the Clarence River for 45 years. He had hoped to be heading out on his trawler today as a two-and-a-half-year ban on selling green prawns in northern NSW was due to end yesterday. Instead a new five-year ban is now in force. Veteran northern NSW fisherman Steve Everson said the decision was a "big kick" to the industry.
Female farmers determined to defy NSW dairy industry exodus
The number of dairy farms operating across NSW has dropped by 1,200 in the past 25 years. Those still in the industry are looking for new ways to deal with natural disasters, including floods and drought. Farmers at the NSW Women in Dairy conference say strong support networks and passion for the industry keep them optimistic about the future. After devastating floods hit her property near Taree in 2021, Rachel Nicholson knew she needed to take decisive action to protect her farm.
Controversy over Ekka cattle competition prompts call for change
Cattle producers say changes to the competition program at Ekka have reduced the public's access and made the event less relevant. There are calls for long-serving organising committee councillors to step down to make way for new representatives. The committee says there were record entries in this year's beef competitions, reflecting its relevance. A stoush over cattle competitions at the Ekka has led to calls for change on the council that organises the event.
Buster the bull at 1.3 tonnes named heaviest on grounds at Brisbane Ekka
An Angus bull weighing as much as a medium car has become one of the main attractions at one of Australia's largest agricultural shows. Buster took out the title of Heaviest Bull at the Royal Queensland Show in Brisbane this week after winning the same gong at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Weighing in at 1,356 kilograms, Buster is heavier than some species of rhinoceros and was the heaviest bull recorded at Ekka in more than a decade.
Eighty years of bull sales drives breeder's love affair with Herefords
Roger Kneipp spent his first bull sale at the Glen Innes Saleyards in northern New South Wales in a pram, and now, aged 80, he hasn't missed a single one. The Glen Innes Hereford Bull Show and Sale is Australia's longest-running multi-vendor sale, which celebrated its 80th year at the event last week. Mr Kneipp was just three months old when his parents took him to his first sale and as he grew up, it became a tradition. "I was homeschooled.
NSW farmers fear job cuts at DPIRD could leave them open to biosecurity threats
Farmers fear proposed cuts to research and development roles at the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) could leave the state vulnerable to biosecurity and climate threats. The NSW government on Tuesday announced plans to cut 165 jobs from the department, equating to a 4 per cent reduction in staff. The Public Service Association (PSA) told the ABC 55 of those jobs would be from the DPIRD's agriculture and biosecurity teams.
Lamb price records continue to tumble as $460 per head recorded in NSW
Lamb prices are continuing to reach record highs in Australian saleyards asdrought conditions impact supplyamid high demand. A national lamb record was set in Forbes in the New South Wales Central West on Tuesday when a pen of 33 heavy lambs sold for $460 a head. The previous record of $554 per head was set six days earlier at the Forbes Central West Livestock Selling Exchange. Eugowra producer Matt Parker said the sale price came as a shock.
Australia's top working stock dog named at national championships in Casino
Luke Aisthorpe and his dog Eva have taken home an $11,000 prize for top dog at the Australian Working Stock Dog Championships. During the five-day event in Casino, New South Wales, 80 handlers and 180 dogs competed across 400 runs to get their shot in the finals for the national titles. The sport involves the handler directing their working dog to round up and move a mob of cattle through a series of obstacles on a course.
Calls for tougher biosecurity controls after 62,000kg illegal import sentence
Australian agricultural sectors are calling for tougher biosecurity controls following the sentencing of a woman who illegally imported 62 tonnes of food from Thailand. The woman was handed a 24-month intensive corrections order and 150 hours of community service. Industry representatives have criticised the sentence, saying it is not a strong enough deterrent.
Wagyu embryos, semen and cattle recovered after alleged fraud in NSW
A stolen liquid nitrogen tank filled with wagyu cattle semen worth $100,000 has been recovered in an alleged case of modern-day cattle rustling. Police have charged Eric Keddie Fraser in Grafton, New South Wales, with more than 20 offences includingthe alleged theft of the highly valuablegenetic material at a wagyu cattle farm in the state's north. The charges also relate to the allegedly fraudulent purchase of cattle from the man's employer at a bargain price.
Prawn disease resurfaces just as two-year bans were about to end
The highly contagious white spot disease has been detected in wild prawn populations offshore areas near the Clarence, Evans and Richmond rivers. The discovery came just as a two-year ban on the sale of green prawns from the Clarence River was due to end. Prawn fishermen in the Clarence say a two-year extension to an existing control order could end their industry.
Australian exporters fear Donald Trump's tariffs will trigger global recession
As the global trade war escalates, Australian meat exporters are growing increasingly worried about the possibility of a recession. Australia exports about 70 per cent of what is produced by the agriculture sector, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). The biggest exports are grains, meat, cotton and wool.
Banana farmers still salvaging fruit four weeks after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred
For four weeks Sarvan Singh has salvaged what fruit he can from the floor of his banana plantation in the Tweed Valley. Highly destructive winds ripped through his 8-hectare farm on the Cudgen plateau last month, knocking plants with full bunches to the ground. It has left him without an income for the next year. Mr Singh said the winds were too much for half of his 20,000 trees, which he had tied and propped up. He said he had lost about 90 per cent of his production.
Ex-Cyclone Alfred costs NSW farmers millions in stock loss and damage
NSW farmers are assessing the cost of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, with a reported damage bill so far of $17 million. Horticultural businesses across the Northern Rivers region are some of the worst impacted. NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders has called for immediate cash grants for impacted farmers. Farmers across the NSW North Coasthave reported damages of $17 million as they continue to take stock of the impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Farmers pour out thousands of litres of milk as flood damage cuts off properties
Dairy farmers have been forced to dump thousands of litres of milk due to flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Some producers have found ways to use their excess milk and processor Norco has continued to pay those unable to have the product delivered. Some farmers remain unsure when trucks will regain access to their properties.
Beekeepers search for solutions to kill varroa mite without chemicals
As the world's deadliest bee pest continues its slow spread across Australia, beekeepers are seeking out chemical-free treatments. Beekeeper Jackie Morrison is looking for an alternative to miticide strips, a chemical treatment used in hives to kill varroa mite. She says her customers want products free of chemical residues. "They want to see clean, natural, pure, unadulterated honey and wax and that's exactly what we aim to keep producing," she said.
Lightning strike kills pregnant stud cows sheltering under tree
Five Angus stud cows have been killed during a storm at Tenterfield in northern NSW. The storm delivered a welcome 12mm of rain to the property, but cattle seeking shelter under a tree died from a lightning strike. The cows have been buried and the breeder will select replacements for their annual female sale next month. A storm that swept through Lisa Martin and Colin Keevers' Angus stud at Tenterfield this week brought much-needed rain but left five stud cows dead.
Australian Made is not necessarily Australian-owned, and actual local businesses are calling for clearer labelling
It is an iconic Australian logo, but is the kangaroo in the triangle confusing customers? A survey of more than 1,000 people commissioned by dairy cooperative Norco found more than half of consumers were guided by the Australian Made logo. But Norco CEO Michael Hampson is concerned grocery buyers believed they were supporting Australian-owned businesses when they buy products with the logo when that was not necessarily the case.
Logging in NSW state forest halted after rare emu chicks hatch
Timber harvesting has ceased near where an endangered coastal emu nest was discovered in a state forest near Grafton on the NSW North Coast. The Forestry Corporation of NSW had initially found nine eggs in the nest, but the state's environment department confirmed that its Saving our Species (SoS) team later found another egg had been laid. SoS collected and transferred seven of the 10 eggs to an incubator, where two have hatched so far. One of the chicks died from unknown causes.
Logging in New South Wales state forest halted after rare emu chicks hatch
Logging in New South Wales state forest halted after rare emu chicks hatch By Kim Honan ABC News, Australia September 11, 2024 Category: Forestry Region: International Timber harvesting has ceased near where an endangered coastal emu nest was discovered in a state forest near Grafton on the NSW North Coast.
Rare coastal emu eggs found in NSW state forest bring joy to Clarence Valley conservationists
A "really exciting" discovery of endangered coastal emu eggs has wowed conservationists and forestry workers. The nest was discovered during a recent routine habitat inspection ahead of forestry harvesting in the Clarence Valley on the NSW north coast. Senior field ecologist Joshua Brown said nine eggs were discovered in a protected area next to the harvesting zone. He said it was the first emu egg discovery he had seen in his 18-year career.
Sugar tug history makes a splash
More than 5,000 people turned out at Harwood Sugar Mill on Sunday to celebrate 150 years since it started crushing cane in 1874. It's the second oldest continuously operating sugar mill in Australia, behind Macknade Mill which started in 1873 near Ingham in Queensland. The community day featured local markets, mill tours, live music, cooking demos, hobby horse races and machinery and historical displays.
SunRice monopoly set to end, Australian growers eye new markets
Australian rice growers have mixed views about the biggest shake-up of the industry in 100 years, but change is on the way. Powered by the Echo RSS Plugin by CodeRevolution.
SunRice monopoly set to end, Australian growers eye new markets Original
In short: Australian rice growers are set to have more say in how their crop is exported from July 1, 2025. Australian-grown rice – 98 per cent of which is grown in the NSW Riverina region – is centrally processed and sold by major food company SunRice. What's next? Growers have mixed responses to the change and say the deregulation of the market will be challenging.
Why are some people happy to pay more if it means buying direct from farmers?
In short: Our Cow co-founder Bianca Tarrant has seen a 25 per cent increase in consumers since allegations of supermarket price gouging. More farmers are enquiring about selling direct and getting a better price What's next? Farmers and consumers are waiting to see what come of the ACCC investigation into alleged price gouging The country might be in the grip of a cost-of-living crisis, but some consumers are will to pay extra if it means more of their money gets to the famer producing the food.
Why are some people happy to pay more if it means buying direct from farmers?
Have you ever tried buying food direct from the producer? As the nation watches the ACCC investigation into supermarkets, more farmers are looking at ways to sell direct to consumers. Powered by the Echo RSS Plugin by CodeRevolution.
Count Her In: Celebrating women in food, farming and fishing on the North Coast
The United Nations theme for International Women's Day 2024 is Count Her In: Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress. Three inspiring women from the North Coast joined Kim Honan on the Rural Report to discuss the successes and the challenges faced in their chosen food, fishing and farming sectors.
New parasite threat detected in NSW bees as the industry continues to deal with varroa mite
In short: The bee parasite braula fly has been detected in an apiary near Tamworth. The wingless fly looks similar to a varroa mite but only has six legs and is less destructive. What's next: The DPI says it will not attempt to eradicate the pest from NSW. The NSW government will not attempt to eradicate an exotic bee parasite from the state after it was detected near Tamworth.
Farmer anger after Woolworths axes Norco milk from all of its 150 stores in metropolitan Sydney
In short: Woolworths has removed all Norco milk from Sydney stores. 150 stores will be affected. What's next: The supermarket says it will offer an expanded range of Norco products north of Sydney. Woolworths has been slammed for its decision to remove Australian farmer-owned Norco milk from all of its 150 supermarkets and Metro-branded stores in metropolitan Sydney.
National plan to slow varroa mite spread in Australia focuses on beekeeper education
In short: A $100 million plan to manage varroa mite in Australia has been agreed. 32 industry officers will support bee keepers. What's next? Control measures will focus on slowing the spread. Specialist staff will be dispatched around Australia to slow the spread of the destructive varroa mite across the bee industry The federal government's National Management Group has endorsed a Transition to Management Plan, under which response costs will be capped at $100 million.
Scott Hansen steps down as NSW Department of Primary Industries director general
Scott Hansen was let go as director general of the NSW Department of Primary Industries last month after almost 10 years in the role. He said he wasn't given a reason for the decision, but was informed on the Wednesday and had to be out the door on the Friday. "It's always at the back of your mind that at any stage this could happen, and after 10 years I feel incredibly lucky to have had the length of time I have had to be able to be in the role," he said.
Cattle auctions back on in beef capital of NSW after bitter seven-month saleyard dispute
The Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange in Casino is back in business following a lengthy closure sparked by a stand-off between agents and Richmond Valley Council over selling agreements. Powered by the Echo RSS Plugin by CodeRevolution.
Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange in Casino reopen to cattle sales after seven-month standoff
In short: The Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange in Casino has reopened to sales after a seven month closure. Agents, buyers and cattle have returned to the selling complex following the appointment of a new operator. What's next? All five agents previously working from the facility will be selling from the saleyard from today. After seven months of silence, the bellows of cattle and the calls of auctioneers are once again echoing around one of the largest livestock facilities in New South Wales.
Union dispute with DP World creates container backlog at Australian ports as meat industry calls for intervention
Pressure is mounting on the federal government to intervene in an industrial dispute that has left a backlog of nearly 55,000 containers at Australian ports.
NSW gardener in blistering pain after discovering new outbreak of dangerous fire ants at flood pod village
The accidental discovery of red imported fire ants by a gardener in northern New South Wales is raising concerns about whether the pests were introduced during construction of temporary flood housing, following the flood disaster of 2022.
Blisters and pain as fire ant nest uncovered in NSW outbreak
A gardener has been attacked by fire ants after disturbing a nest at a flood pod village. The find has raised questions around how the ants were introduced into the area. Powered by the Echo RSS Plugin by CodeRevolution.
Footage of fire ants 'rafting' after Queensland floods prompts concerns about pest's spread
There are growing concerns that severe thunderstorms lashing Queensland could accelerate the spread of one of Australia's most damaging invasive species.
Mystery deepens as bull spotted alongside cow that has been living on island for two years
A NSW fisherman who has been taking care of the cow says it now has a bovine companion, but both seem set to stay put until their origins can be established. Powered by the Echo RSS Plugin by CodeRevolution.
Mystery deepens as bull spotted alongside cow that has been living on island for two years
Authorities are working to solve a mystery involving cattle thought to have been washed onto a small island in the Tweed River by floodwater.
Egg producer Fabian Fabbro discovers round egg, first in more than a million eggs collected
His hens have laid more than a million eggs over the past five years, but a farmer on the New South Wales North Coast has never seen anything quite like this. Egg farmer discovers one of his 4,500 hens has laid a round egg In the past five years, his hens have produced more than a million eggs Fabian Fabbro says while the egg is perfect it is not quite perfectly round Fabian Fabbro was collecting eggs at his Woodland Valley Farm recently when he noticed a specimen that looked perfectly round.
Campers rescued from floods had ‘no idea’ they were in a danger zone. Is more regulation needed?
A NSW council says unregulated camping on private land was a disaster waiting to happen, after more than a dozen campers were caught out by rising floodwaters. Powered by the Echo RSS Plugin by CodeRevolution.
Campers rescued from floods had 'no idea' they were in a danger zone. Is more regulation needed?
The dramatic rescue of campers from flooded parts of New South Wales this week has prompted calls for better regulation of camping on private land.
Falls of more than 530mm in 48 hours puts northern NSW on flood alert as swollen rivers pose a threat
Parts of northern New South Wales have received hundreds of millimetres of rain over the past two days, causing flash flooding and rivers to spill their banks. More than 530mm has fallen at Nunimbah and Bald Mountain near Murwullimbah since Sunday morning. Six flood alerts cover almost the entire Northern Rivers region, with people at Tumbulgum and surrounds being told to prepare to isolate as it may become too dangerous for authorities to rescue them.
NSW seafood co-ops stocked to the gills as industry watchdog warns of illegal sellers
The term "silly season" takes on a whole new meaning for seafood sellers across Australia at this time of year.
'Cocktail of pesticides' – including chemical banned for decades – detected in wild oysters
Tests have revealed the presence of a "cocktail of pesticides" – including traces of a chemical that was banned almost 20 years ago – in a major New South Wales waterway and the wild oysters that inhabit it.
Researcher predicts Australia faces feral bee die-off as varroa mite found in swarms
Varroa mite has forced the euthanasia of hundreds of millions of European honeybees by authorities since it was detected at the Port of Newcastle in June last year.
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