This Month
Louis Dreyfus fires back at Olam in takeover battle for Namoi Cotton
The French agribusiness has struck another blow in the battle with its Singaporean competitor for control of Namoi Cotton.
- Brad Thompson
GrainCorp profit downgrade casts doubt over earnings target
GrainCorp boss Robert Spurway is expected to face a grilling over the company’s through-the-cycle guidance after a downgrade to 2023-24 earnings.
- Brad Thompson
Takeover battle for Namoi Cotton heats up with fresh bid
Singapore-based group Olam has moved to trump Louis Dreyfus’ latest takeover offer for the Australian business.
- Brad Thompson
Australia eyes UK, India for sheep meat trade ahead of live export ban
China, the United Kingdom and India are among countries the Australian government hopes will buy more processed sheep meat after it bans live export.
- Tom Rabe
April
Louis Dreyfus hits back in bidding war for Namoi Cotton
The French agribusiness giant has trumped a takeover from Olam in the latest twist in the battle for Namoi Cotton.
- Brad Thompson
- Exclusive
- Rural property
Huge mango farming operation in NT for sale by receivers
Receivers are hoping to recoup almost $10m owed to NAB through the sale of the Cheeky Farms aggregation of mango plantations.
- Larry Schlesinger and Lucas Baird
Queensland’s Emerick family lists Mulgowie portfolio for $200m
The Mulgowie Farming Company, Australia’s largest grower of sweet corn and green beans, has come up for sale for the first time in its history.
- Larry Schlesinger
Avian flu outbreak in US cows tracked by Australian officials
The CDC says this is a developing situation and so far, a person in Texas who had direct contact with dairy cattle, has tested positive for H5N1 bird flu.
- Jill Margo
March
Cargill enters biofuel fray in fresh blow to GrainCorp growth plans
The global grains giant is working with a co-operative controlled by thousands of WA farmers on plans to tap into the booming market for biofuels.
- Brad Thompson
Olam lobs $122m bid in takeover war for Namoi Cotton
Global agribusiness heavyweights are locked in a takeover battle for Namoi Cotton and its strategic food and fibre infrastructure assets in Queensland and NSW.
- Brad Thompson
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Greens’ farming ‘crisis point’ is rubbish
The Greens are using farmers as allies of convenience to pursue their left-wing populist campaign against the supposed price and profit gouging of Coles and Woolworths.
- The AFR View
Research we’re watching: pancreatic cancer, dementia, Arctic ice
We look at recent research in: pancreatic cancer; three-dimensional processors; an ice-free Arctic; a dementia breakthrough; and a new cash crop for Australia.
- Alana Piper
Greens claim farmers are in crisis. The data doesn’t back it up
The fruit and vegetable sector is expected to be bolstered by strong production growth over coming years despite the Greens claims that Australian farming is at “crisis point”.
- Tom Rabe and Carrie LaFrenz
Alceon PE ready to harvest 50pc of agricultural equipment biz
Sources said Alceon had no troubles securing backers for the deal and was due to close the transaction in the coming days.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Dry conditions to cost Australian farmers, with grim outlook for wine
Dry conditions and soft international grain prices have led to Australia’s agricultural output dropping by 15 per cent, hitting farm incomes.
- Tom Rabe
- Opinion
- Opinion
Rebooting farm productivity will help achieve climate goals
Delivering sustainability outcomes is paramount for farmers, but more work needs to be done to understand the challenges in the sector as costs rise faster than revenues.
- Jared Greenville
CBH gatecrashes GrainCorp’s biofuels strategy, closes in on BP deal
The ASX-listed agricultural giant’s major West Australian rival is preparing plans for its own large-scale oilseed crushing plant in Perth, sources said.
- Brad Thompson
February
Why the agriculture secretary needs mediation and a ‘big fat novel’
It’s Adam Fennessy’s second stint as an agriculture secretary. He shares his best leadership tips, how to embrace digital transformation and what he looks for when hiring.
- Tom Burton
GrainCorp shares plunge as it flags big drop in earnings
GrainCorp boss Robert Spurway says earnings and profit forecast have fallen in line with an end to a golden run of harvests for Australian farmers.
- Brad Thompson
WA lobster worth more than $150m slips through China trade ban
As it celebrates the Year of the Dragon, China is being supplied with big volumes of WA-caught “lucky red” lobster through unofficial trade routes.
- Brad Thompson
