Farmland values up 20 per cent, says bank
RURAL Bank’s recently released Australian Farmland Values 2022 report says the median price of our farms hit $7087 per hectare.
That’s the largest year-on-year rise in 27 years. Victoria led the charge with its median price per hectare soaring 30.4 per cent or $10,583, with 256,237ha traded.
The report said that was on the back of six years of rising median prices.
Soaring stock crime rate
LIVESTOCK thefts across Victoria in 2021 have increased 7 per cent on 2020 but the number of cases solved has gone down.
Crime Statistics Agency figures show there were 267 livestock theft reports to Victoria Police but 230 – or 86 per cent – remain unsolved compared with 79 per cent the previous year.
In the past five years stock theft has climbed 67 per cent and the VFF is demanding the resurrection of the Victoria Police stock squad to focus on rural crime.
The Victorian stock squad was disbanded in 2000.
Wool and meat conference
AGRICULTURE Victoria says early-bird tickets for the BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef Conference are on sale now.
The conference will return to the Bendigo Exhibition Centre on June 16, featuring three keynote speakers and 12 specialised speakers and demonstrations.
The conference dinner will be held the evening before.
Early-bird tickets at $99 are on sale online at eventbrite.com.au until May 31 or sold out.
Grains and livestock conference
THE 2022 Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Grains and Livestock Conference is back after years of COVID-19 forced delays and is set to tackle the big challenges, issues and opportunities facing both the Victorian grains and livestock industries.
VFF grains president Ashley Fraser encouraged all growers to meet in person and discuss the current landscape of the industry.
“Supply chain delays, high input costs and volatile international trade markets are just some of the issues growers are keeping a close eye on,” he said.
The conference will be held on June 21 at Mercure Hotel and Convention Centre in Ballarat.
Details on the VFF website.
