Category Archives: Agriculture

More farmers across the region could soon be swinging their gates open to visitors, thanks to a new policy that makes it easier to set up agritourism opportunities.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the NSW Government had released its final agritourism policy aimed at helping local businesses thrive.

“This policy will make it easier for our farmers to set up, run and grow agritourism experiences on their properties, such as farm stays, cafes, cellar doors, retreats, roadside stalls, fruit picking and small wedding venues,” Ms Cooke said.

“It will help bring more tourists to our region and provide endless avenues for primary producers to drive productivity and cash flow on their doorstep.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the new policy would make it would be cheaper and easier for farmers to diversify their income and support the thriving agritourism sector.

“Agritourism is a growing sector for both the Australian and NSW economies and is expected to be worth $18.6 billion nationally by 2030. It’s important we provide a clear and simple pathway through the planning system,” Mr Toole said.

“We have introduced clear definitions and new planning pathways to allow agritourism activities to happen with either faster or no planning approval, if they meet requirements set out in the policy.”

Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the finalised policy will support the growing agritourism industry and encourage the next generation to farm the land.

“Our primary producers have shown resilience time and time again over the last few years, battling through floods, fires, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic, and we want to support them however we can,” Mr Roberts said.

“These reforms will help landowners build up their resilience and recover faster from the pandemic and natural disasters by providing another source of income.”

The new policy will commence on 1 December. For more information visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/agritourism

The 2022 Cootamundra Show, to be held on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 October will be bigger and better than ever thanks to support from the NSW Government’s Country Shows Support Package.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the program has already delivered over $125,000 to country shows across the electorate, with the Cootamundra APH & I Association securing $30,000 to support their delivery of this year’s show.

“These grants provide certainty to show organisers to lock in suppliers, hire equipment and purchase goods, which is also great news for local businesses,” Ms Cooke said.

“Our local shows are a fantastic tradition, with this grant ensuring they continue to delight and be a part of our history for many generations to come.

“I encourage everyone to get behind the Cootamundra Show this year and see all the amazing things they have on offer.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the $5 million Country Shows Support Package provides a funding opportunity for the 190 agricultural shows that are planned across NSW in 2022.

“It’s been a tough few years for country shows, with drought, bushfires, storms, floods and COVID-19 disrupting plans, but as they say, the show must go on and these grants are helping make that happen,” Mr Toole said.

“Country shows are the heartbeat of so many rural communities – they not only celebrate the best of the best in the community but allow visitors to experience the tastes, sights and sounds of the bush.”

The $5 million Country Shows Support Package is part of the NSW Government’s $200 million Regional Recovery Package, which will deliver long term support and certainty for the regions as the state reopens.

For further information on Country Shows Support Package go to: www.nsw.gov.au/CountryShows.

Recreational fishers in NSW will band together once again on ‘Gone Fishing Day’ for activities and fishing workshops that aim to connect the one million fishers state-wide and reel in keen, new fishers to the hobby.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke is encouraging fishing clubs and organisations in the region to host their own Gone Fishing Day event with the help of funding grants of up to $2,000.

“The series of events offer something for everyone, from workshops that teach beginners how to hook a fish to activities that help veteran freshwater anglers sharpen their skills,” Ms Cooke said.

“Mark 9 October in your calendar; Gone Fishing Day is on again.”

“The grants can be used to purchase fishing gear, bait, food and drinks or hire equipment to assist in holding an event for Gone Fishing Day.”

“Gone Fishing Day packages are also up for grabs as part of the grants which will put rods, reels, bags and giveaways into the hands of our local fishing clubs.

The Department of Primary Industries will also be hosting free community fishing events throughout NSW, to encourage everyone to wet a line.

NSW Minister for Agriculture, Dugald Saunders said Gone Fishing Day is back by popular demand.

“Every year, fishers young and old, get involved, and I’m looking forward to seeing our fishers in rural and regional areas turn out to make the 2022 Gone Fishing Day the biggest and best one yet,” the Minister said. 

“Application forms and grant funding guidelines are now on the DPI website, so if your local fishing club wants to get involved, then get your submission in now.”

The NSW recreational fishing industry and its one million anglers pump $3.4 billion into the economy each year.

Grant applications are open until Tuesday 6 September 2022. Application forms and grant funding guidelines are available at

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/go-fishing-nsw  

Gone Fishing Day is a national initiative organised by the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation, with activities in NSW supported by the Recreational Fishing Trust and DPI.

The 2022 Barellan Show, to be held on Saturday 27 August will be bigger and better than ever thanks to support from the NSW Government’s Country Shows Support Package.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the program has already delivered over $125,000 to country shows across the electorate, with the Barellan Show Society securing $15,000 to support their delivery of this year’s show.

“These grants provide certainty to show organisers to lock in suppliers, hire equipment and purchase goods, which is also great news for local businesses,” Ms Cooke said.

“Our local shows are a fantastic tradition, with this grant ensuring they continue to delight and be a part of our history for many generations to come.

“I encourage everyone to get behind the Barellan Show this year and see all the amazing things they have on offer.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the $5 million Country Shows Support Package provides a funding opportunity for the 190 agricultural shows planned across NSW in 2022.

“It’s been a tough few years for country shows, with drought, bushfires, storms, floods and COVID-19 disrupting plans, but as they say, the show must go on and these grants are helping make that happen,” Mr Toole said.

“Country shows are the heartbeat of so many rural communities – they not only celebrate the best of the best in the community but allow visitors to experience the tastes, sights and sounds of the bush.”

The $5 million Country Shows Support Package is part of the NSW Government’s $200 million Regional Recovery Package, which will deliver long-term support and certainty for the regions as the state reopens.

For further information on the Country Shows Support Package go to: www.nsw.gov.au/CountryShows.

The 2022 Ungarie Show, to be held on Saturday 10^th September, will be bigger and better than ever thanks to support from the NSW Government’s Country Shows Support Package.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the program has already delivered over $125,000 to country shows across the electorate, with the Ungarie Show Society securing $14,600 to support the delivery of this year’s show.

“These grants provide certainty to show organisers to lock in suppliers, hire equipment and purchase goods, which is also great news for local businesses,” Ms Cooke said.

“Our local shows are a fantastic tradition, with this grant ensuring they continue to delight and be a part of our history for many generations to come.”

“I encourage everyone to get behind the Ungarie Show this year and see all the amazing things they have to offer.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the $5 million Country Shows Support Package provides a funding opportunity for the 190 agricultural shows that are planned across NSW in 2022.

“It’s been a tough few years for country shows, with drought, bushfires, storms, floods and COVID-19 disrupting plans, but as they say, the show must go on and these grants are helping make that happen,” Mr Toole said.

“Country shows are the heartbeat of so many rural communities – they not only celebrate the best of the best in the community but allow visitors to experience the tastes, sights and sounds of the bush.”

The $5 million Country Shows Support Package is part of the NSW Government’s $200 million Regional Recovery Package, which will deliver long term support and certainty for the regions as the state reopens.

For further information on the Country Shows Support Package go to: www.nsw.gov.au/CountryShows.

The NSW Government’s Narrandera Fisheries Centre has played a vital role in freshwater fish breeding and stocking across the State.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said more than 5.3 million fish have been released in NSW in 2021-22, including a record 1.26 million Murray cod.

“The Murray cod fingerlings are part of the State’s largest-ever breeding program, aimed at sustaining populations in NSW lakes and rivers following years of drought,” Ms Cooke said.

“In addition to Murray cod, there are also golden perch, silver perch and endangered trout cod bred at the Centre and stocked throughout NSW.”

The Narrandera hatchery is currently undergoing a major upgrade to increase production capacity for native sportfish and threatened species.

The upgrade, which includes a new hatchery building fitted with state-of-the-art fish breeding technology, is part of a $6 million grant from the NSW Government.

The NSW Government is committed to breeding millions of native fish each year to keep our lakes and rivers well stocked.

Local and visiting recreational fishers will also benefit from hundreds of thousands of native sportfish stocked into local waterways.

Last season, 125,000 Murray cod were released into Wyangala Dam as well as 10,652 Golden perch and 2,955 Murray cod released into local waterways by the Jugiong and Narrandera Fishing Clubs, as part of the Dollar-for-Dollar program, supported by the Recreational Fishing Trusts.

These ongoing stocking events not only maintain and enhance recreational fisheries, but also benefit our local communities through tourism and economic opportunities.

The 2022-23 season has already commenced with broodstock collection and stocking already underway and this year’s season is expected to be one of the biggest yet.

For more information about fish stocking in NSW, visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

An $18 million compensation package has been developed for registered beekeepers affected by the varroa mite outbreak, under an agreement reached by the Commonwealth and State governments and industry.

The National Management Group (NMG) for Emergency Plant Pests has also endorsed a National Response Plan to eradicate Varroa Destructor from NSW.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke welcomed the support and encouraged local beekeepers to keep doing their part.

“Agreement to provide reimbursement costs to residents who have bees for commercial use and recreation will ensure people will continue to come forward,” Ms Cooke said.

“We all have a common goal to protect the sector locally and at a state and national level, and it’s good to know beekeepers won’t be out of pocket.”

Ms Cooke the agreement will see registered commercial beekeepers reimbursed for all equipment, hives and bees that are destroyed in the eradication process, as well as the costs of honey.

NSW Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders said eradication is the primary goal, and the state’s strong initial response and contact tracing work have made this possible.

“We still have extensive surveillance operations in place to find and destroy any further cases of this infestation,” Mr Saunders said.

“I want to thank the entire beekeeping community for their commitment and vigilance during this time.”   

The National Management Group also endorsed compensation for licensed recreational beekeepers in recognition of their critical role in the response to this incursion.

The NSW Government is putting on an additional 26 compliance and surveillance officers to manage risk to facilitate key pollination events and ensure business continuity.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has called for travellers coming back from overseas to play their part in keeping the highly contagious Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) out of Australia.

Ms Cooke said FMD has never been closer to Australia – with the disease now spreading through Bali and other parts of Indonesia – and it’s critical for everyone to play their part in protecting our biosecurity.

“With flights to Bali now almost back at pre-pandemic levels, it’s critical we get the messaging out there about the ramifications an incursion of FMD would have on our state’s primary industries sector,” Ms Cooke said.

“If you are returning from FMD infected parts of the world, the messaging is clear: do the right thing, declare where you’ve been, make sure clothes and shoes are clean and free from soil and manure and steer clear from anywhere there might be livestock for seven days upon your return.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the impact of an FMD outbreak in Australia would be disastrous for the livestock sector, the economy and regional communities.

“We have kept Australia FMD free for more than 130 years, but it is now on our doorstep and we all have a role to play to keep our industry safe,” Mr Toole said.

“Nobody wants to be the person who brings in a disease that would devastate our livestock industry, cost the economy $80 billion, and shatter regional communities for years to come.

“The message is simple: if you have friends or family holidaying in Bali or other parts of Indonesia, hit them up on social media or send them a text and make sure they understand the risks and do the right thing when they come home.”

Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said the NSW Government has been working hard to bolster biosecurity to keep the agricultural sector safe, with record investment to drive active surveillance, rapid diagnostics and effective traceability systems to monitor, track and respond to threats. 

“Biosecurity has been my top priority since becoming Agriculture Minister,” Mr Saunders said.

“An incursion of Foot and Mouth Disease would have severe consequences for Australia’s animal health and trade. Significant economic losses would be felt, with restrictions being placed on both domestic and international markets for live animals, meat and animal products. 

“An uncontrolled outbreak could lead to the immediate closure of our meat export markets, and control costs have been estimated at more than $80 billion.”

Mr Saunders said while Australia has an internationally recognised capability to deal quickly and effectively with emergency animal disease outbreaks – including the large outbreak of equine influenza in 2007 and the outbreaks of avian influenza in 2012 and 2013 – primary producers must know what to be on the lookout for when it comes to protecting their livestock.

“We’re encouraging primary producers to engage in detailed contingency planning, to be overly cautious with people who come into contact with their livestock and monitor closely for signs of FMD which include blisters in and around the mouth area, drooling and limping,” he said.

“I have requested the Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services ramp up their work with farmers to recognise the signs of Foot and Mouth Disease in their stock.

“If livestock exhibit any unusual signs consistent with FMD, they must be reported immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.”

FMD affects all cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, sheep, goats, deer and pigs. It can be carried by live animals as well as in residual soil left on shoes, clothing and equipment.

For more information on Foot and Mouth Disease, visit: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/beef-cattle/health-and-disease/viral-diseases/fmd

NSW Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders has encouraged beekeepers to be aware of their responsibilities under expanded biosecurity zones which have come into force as part of the emergency biosecurity response to Varroa mite.

Minister Saunders said NSW Department of Primary Industries biosecurity officers had now traced a total of 7 infested premises, including the initial detection at sentinel hives near the Port of Newcastle.

“A new report of an infected property in the Bulahdelah area has been identified resulting in another 10km Eradication Zone being established,” Minister Saunders said.

“Critically, these new infested premises are directly linked to a previously identified property which shows the prompt and efficient response by the NSW DPI is working well.”

Minister Saunders said DPI had put significant measures in place to arrest the spread of the threat and was being assisted in the field by Local Land Services (LLS) and NSW Police

“Since Varroa Mite was first identified at the Port of Newcastle last week, NSW DPI has been working with apiary industry bodies and stakeholders to ensure beekeepers are informed and empowered to be part of this critical response,” he said.

“Australia is the only major honey producing country free from varroa mite, the most serious pest of honeybees worldwide. It’s critical we get on top of this incursion fast and the assistance of beekeepers and the community will be critical to that success.”

Under orders issued by NSW DPI no bee hives can currently be moved within NSW, and no honey or honeycomb can be harvested.

Beekeepers within the 10, 25 and 50 km biosecurity zones around infested properties must also notify NSW DPI of the location of all bees by calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline, 1800 084 881, or visiting www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa

Eradication plans include treatment of beehives within a 10 km emergency zone around infested sites and inspection of managed and feral honeybee colonies within a 25 km surveillance zone.

Beekeepers work side-by-side with government as part of Australia’s early warning system to detect exotic honeybee pests, the National Bee Pest Surveillance Program, which includes surveillance hives and catch boxes at strategic locations around our ports and airports.

More information is available from NSW DPI: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa

NSW Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders has encouraged beekeepers to be aware of their responsibilities under expanded biosecurity zones which have come into force as part of the emergency biosecurity response to Varroa mite.

Minister Saunders said NSW Department of Primary Industries biosecurity officers had now traced a total of 7 infested premises, including the initial detection at sentinel hives near the Port of Newcastle.

“A new report of an infected property in the Bulahdelah area has been identified resulting in another 10km Eradication Zone being established,” Minister Saunders said.

“Critically, these new infested premises are directly linked to a previously identified property which shows the prompt and efficient response by the NSW DPI is working well.”

Minister Saunders said DPI had put significant measures in place to arrest the spread of the threat and was being assisted in the field by Local Land Services (LLS) and NSW Police

“Since Varroa Mite was first identified at the Port of Newcastle last week, NSW DPI has been working with apiary industry bodies and stakeholders to ensure beekeepers are informed and empowered to be part of this critical response,” he said.

“Australia is the only major honey producing country free from varroa mite, the most serious pest of honeybees worldwide. It’s critical we get on top of this incursion fast and the assistance of beekeepers and the community will be critical to that success.”

Under orders issued by NSW DPI no bee hives can currently be moved within NSW, and no honey or honeycomb can be harvested.

Beekeepers within the 10, 25 and 50 km biosecurity zones around infested properties must also notify NSW DPI of the location of all bees by calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline, 1800 084 881, or visiting www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa

Eradication plans include treatment of beehives within a 10 km emergency zone around infested sites and inspection of managed and feral honeybee colonies within a 25 km surveillance zone.

Beekeepers work side-by-side with government as part of Australia’s early warning system to detect exotic honeybee pests, the National Bee Pest Surveillance Program, which includes surveillance hives and catch boxes at strategic locations around our ports and airports.

More information is available from NSW DPI: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has welcomed the NSW Government’s $28 million investment to bolster support for the region’s Farm Forestry producers.  

The $28 million package will provide a funding boost to Local Land Services’ Farm Forestry Program to enhance on-ground education, training and support local producers to drive innovation and promote best practice.  

Ms Cooke said Farm Forestry plays a key role in the local economy and this investment demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to the sector.  

“This is a milestone investment for our state’s farm forestry sector, and local producers will benefit greatly,” Ms Cooke said.   

“Producers will have greater access to the expert advice they need to improve the management of their forests, which will help them to sustainably grow their operations.” 

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the funding boost follows the introduction of new Farm Forestry Codes of Practice earlier this year and provides increased support to farmers through enhanced education and training. 

“This investment will fund a suite of programs and partnerships to facilitate and expand the development of the State’s sustainable Farm Forestry industry,” Mr Toole said. 

“This is the largest investment in Farm Forestry in more than a decade, and it reflects the increasingly important role it will play in supporting our sustainable timber industry.” 

Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said the package will provide farmers with practical advice and support services to ensure forestry becomes a central part of on-farm planning. 

“Farmers manage their forests for multiple values, by producing the goods and environmental services we all rely on,” Mr Saunders said.  

“This investment will ensure farmers have the information they need to improve productivity and environmental outcomes on our Farm Forests for themselves and the whole community.”  

Learn more about Farm Forestry at www.lls.nsw.gov.au/help-and-advice/private-native-forestry.