AGP Executive Report

H5 bird flu response: Australia has confirmed H5N1 in a dead little penguin on Victoria’s Phillip Island, days after the state announced a major vaccination push for up to 5,000 little penguins across Phillip Island and St Kilda—raising fears of mass die-offs in the world’s biggest colony. Wildlife & farming risk: A separate explainer looks at what the H5 strain means for wildlife, the chance of spillover into agriculture, and why at-risk native species are now the priority. Livestock losses & policy pressure: In rural Victoria’s dingo/wild dog debate, a farmer has invoiced the Victorian Government nearly $40,000 after dogs killed more than 160 sheep and lambs, seeking permits to kill. Heat and feed stress: Farmers are facing crop failures and feed shortages as a fifth summer heatwave bites, with dry conditions forcing tough decisions. Rural health access: JCU research flags major fertility-care barriers for rural and remote Queensland women, including travel costs, limited services and unreliable information. Flood watch: Shepparton and surrounding areas are under minor flooding advice, with local road and park closures and possible farmland impacts.

Bird flu in Australia: CSIRO virologist Frank Wong says H5N1 has been evolving and migrating for decades, and it’s now arriving in Australia—raising alarm for wild birds and poultry. Native bird vaccination rollout: Australia is moving to vaccinate vulnerable native species against H5N1 as detections spread, with states racing to identify priority species. Trade pressure on food: USDA cut forecasts for Russian and Ukrainian grain exports due to Black Sea shipping disruption, pushing up wheat prices for rivals—another reminder of how geopolitics can hit groceries. Organic export push: APEDA ran an organic buyer-seller meet in Tripura, linking farmers and FPOs with international buyers from Australia, New Zealand and Europe to lift export opportunities. Regional jobs hit: SunRice confirmed redundancy offers for 78 staff across Deniliquin and Leeton, warning of wider impacts on Riverina rice communities. Cattle genetics spotlight: Bannaby Angus sale delivered a top $26,000 bull and strong averages, underlining ongoing demand for improved breeding stock. Climate risk planning: Sri Lanka’s climate parliament caucus urged anticipatory crisis governance tied to El Niño impacts on agriculture and water management.

Biosecurity & poultry: Australia’s H5 bird flu situation is worsening, with authorities racing to protect vulnerable native birds and expanding vaccination plans as detections spread in wild birds and states move to prioritise species. Climate & farming risk: Researchers warn El Niño could become one of the strongest in decades, raising drought-and-flood swings that threaten agriculture and water planning across the region. Grains & prices: The Black Sea shipping war is pushing up global wheat prices as the USDA cuts Russian and Ukrainian export forecasts, while EU crop damage from heat and drought adds pressure. Trade & market access: APEDA is running organic buyer-seller meets in India’s Tripura, linking farmers and FPOs with international buyers including Australia and New Zealand to boost export opportunities. Rural jobs: SunRice has offered redundancies to 78 staff across Deniliquin and Leeton, underlining how rice processing decisions ripple through regional communities. Genetics & resilience: A pangenome-guided breeding study shows a path to combine higher yield with stress tolerance, using hardy buckwheat as a proof-of-concept. Community support: WA grain co-op CBH is inviting local groups to apply for community grants tied to grain-growing regions.

PNG Agriculture Trade: Australia Awards is backing Papua New Guinea agriculture professionals with a UQ-led short course to strengthen logistics, supply chains and export pathways, building a network linking producers to markets. Queensland Industry Pulse: Ekka’s Celebration of Queensland Agriculture drew primary industry leaders and politicians, with the new QFF CEO urging growers to chase new markets, value-add, embrace digital tools and cut red tape. Biosecurity Watch: WA pet bird and poultry owners are being urged to keep wild birds out and tighten hygiene after H5 bird flu detections in migratory birds, with no detections yet in poultry or the state’s agricultural system. Bird Flu Pressure on Keepers: Wildlife educators in SA are calling for vaccines for backyard bird keepers as H5 spreads inland, citing the difficulty of rehoming rare species. Cocoa Value-Add: PNG has inaugurated a US$2.8m cocoa processing upgrade at Paradise Foods’ Queen Emma Chocolate factory, aiming to double output and lift quality for specialty buyers. Farm Support: Travla will donate 100% of Friday beer sales to Farm Angels for Flanno for a Farmer, backing farming families facing disasters, hardship and mental health strain. Farm Finance Reality: South Australian grain farmers report a “once-in-a-lifetime” turnaround after heavy winter rain, but frost risk remains.

Trade & Market Access: Bangladesh is asking Australia to back its RCEP accession and to extend its LDC graduation transition, while also floating a bilateral FTA with Australia (and a separate proposal to NZ) to lift agricultural and food-processing trade. Food & IP: Pakistan has won an Australian court fight over “Basmati” trademark exclusivity, protecting the term for Pakistani growers, millers and exporters. Biosecurity & Wildlife: Australia’s H5N1 bird flu situation is worsening, with a federal “list of doom” warning hundreds of native species face high-to-extreme risk, including penguins and Tasmanian devils. Energy Costs for Farms: A report warns business power “demand charges” can spike bills after a single 30-minute peak, with one surge cited at a $1,350 penalty. Agri-Research & Tech: Ocean Intelligence secured pre-seed funding to expand marine forecasting and monitoring for aquaculture and ports, aiming to help operators detect risks like harmful algal blooms. Agriculture Diplomacy: New Zealand and Vietnam agreed new agricultural market-access arrangements covering NZ honey, deer velvet and venison, plus Vietnamese cut flowers and foliage.

H5N1 Bird Flu Response: Tasmania has confirmed its first H5N1 case after a migratory brown skua tested positive, bringing detection to every Australian state; the federal government has also acquired early vaccine vials for high-risk captive birds, with Tasmania set to vaccinate orange-bellied parrots once approvals land. Regional Agriculture Education: Greater Shepparton Secondary College students are gearing up to compete in the Victorian Merino Wether Challenge, with school wethers raised over six months and judged on fleece, carcass and presentation. Biosecurity & Wildlife Crime: An illegal emu egg exporter has been convicted and fined after eggs were seized and destroyed before being flown out for sale overseas, highlighting strict permit rules and heavy penalties for native wildlife exports. Trade & Food Branding: Australia’s courts have dismissed India’s basmati trademark appeal, strengthening Pakistan’s geographical indication position and keeping the door open for legitimate use by multiple producers. Agri-Food Business & Investment: The Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Summit in Singapore has added major speakers from Walmart, PepsiCo, Nestlé and Microsoft, aiming to boost resilience and investment across the region’s food value chain. Rural Connectivity Pressure: A new report says regional and rural Australians are being left behind by telco services, with long waits for repairs and gaps that can affect emergency contact. Farm Community Support: Travla will donate all beer sales on Friday to Farm Angels as part of Flanno for a Farmer, backing farming families hit by disasters, hardship and mental health strain.

Biosecurity & poultry impacts: Victoria’s poultry sector is bracing for wider disruption as H5 bird flu spreads, with lockdowns and event cancellations continuing to ripple through supply chains. Dairy planning & tech: Across Australian dairying, producers are weighing labour, ageing infrastructure and herd growth against automation and herd-management upgrades, with many shifting from “what to replace” to “what the dairy must deliver in 15–20 years.” Poultry investment: Ingham’s is committing about US$35.3m to two new automated poultry breeding farms in Victoria (Charlton), with construction starting now and production due in 2029. Flood risk: Greater Shepparton residents are warned of rising Broken River flooding; Archer Rd is closed and farmers are urged to move livestock and machinery to higher ground. Trade & IP: Australia’s Federal Court has rejected India’s bid for exclusive “Basmati” certification trademark rights, a win welcomed by Pakistan’s position on the term as a geographical indication. Export cooperation: Papua New Guinea’s investment push in Brisbane highlights opportunities for deeper Australia–PNG cooperation beyond mining, including agriculture and fisheries. Market watch: Ahead of USDA updates, corn and soybeans were slightly higher while wheat and cotton moved modestly, keeping grain pricing sensitive.

H5 bird flu response: Melbourne Royal poultry events were cancelled as H5 spreads, with Victoria also rolling out the world’s biggest little penguin vaccination push (5,000 birds at Phillip Island and St Kilda) to protect colonies and keep visitor sites operating. Water policy and jobs: SunRice confirmed 78 redundancies across Leeton and Deniliquin, blaming low rice volumes and Murray-Darling Basin water buyback settings; local leaders say the cuts hit wider Riverina value chains. On-farm tech adoption: Halter’s virtual-fence cow collars keep expanding, with 1.5m cows collared globally and reported profit growth in New Zealand. Research and capability building: ACIAR, Fiji National University and USP are redesigning Pacific Agriculture Scholarships and Support to grow local research capacity in agriculture, fisheries and forestry. Innovation funding (cattle): Queensland’s Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund has made its first investment, backing advanced cattle breeding tech to speed up selective breeding. Sustainability in practice: An Orange-area organic winery is pairing solar and sheep grazing under vines, including trials of floating solar, to cut costs and boost resilience.

Biosecurity & Conservation: Australia will begin vaccinating vulnerable native birds against H5N1, with an initial focus on priority species in captivity as the outbreak spreads and mass mortalities loom. Poultry Industry: Chicken giant Inghams expands lockdown measures as bird flu risks mount, while states move to identify which native species should be first in line for vaccines. Food & Trade Policy: An EU study warns pesticide import curbs could lift food prices, adding pressure to ongoing trade negotiations that include Australia. Farm Tech & Water: Ranchbot, an Australia-founded ag water monitoring business, closes a Series B to help ranchers track and manage water resources amid drought and extreme weather. AI for Agriculture: Australian Women in Agriculture highlights how AI and automation—from autonomous sprayers to satellite animal monitoring—are starting to cut costs and workload for producers. Markets & Grains: Record grain stocks are helping cushion global food supply risks as El Niño threats continue to build. Regulation & Labelling: The ACCC launches inquiry into food labelling claims after a Four Corners investigation, raising fresh scrutiny of country-of-origin promises. Agri-exports & Supply Chains: Australia and Vietnam deepen cooperation on agriculture and sustainable development alongside broader trade and critical minerals supply-chain resilience. Innovation Spotlight: Halter founder Craig Piggott’s scaling story points to how customer focus is driving growth in ag-adjacent tech.

H5N1 Bird Flu Response: Australia will begin vaccinating vulnerable native birds in captivity against H5N1 “in the coming days and weeks”, with species chosen by risk and conservation impact, after the virus spread beyond initial detections and mass mortalities were reported. Biosecurity Mapping: Western Australia has launched a public online dashboard showing H5 bird flu detections and surveillance test results, as authorities ramp up monitoring. Trade & Ag Cooperation (Vietnam): Australia and Vietnam signed agreements to deepen cooperation on agriculture and sustainable development, including biosecurity and food safety, as leaders also push broader economic and defence ties during President To Lam’s visit. Farm Skills & Tech: Harvest Christian College opened a new Agriculture Centre on the Yorke Peninsula, backing agronomy and sheep production with modern facilities and industry partnerships. Infrastructure for Rural Power: The last turbines were erected at the Warradarge wind farm expansion in WA, lifting it to 283MW and making it the state’s biggest wind site.

Biosecurity & Poultry: Australia’s H5 bird flu situation keeps escalating, with NSW confirming new native bird cases and Victoria tightening poultry rules and lockdowns; shows and poultry events are being cancelled as wildlife risk rises. Disease Preparedness: Agriculture Victoria warns growers that an unexpectedly early wet season has caught fungicide supply chains off-guard, urging integrated disease management, close crop monitoring and smart product rotation. Canola Breeding: DPIRD and GRDC are funding a national project to screen canola lines for better frost tolerance, aiming to reduce frost damage risk at flowering and pod stages. Ag Exports & Logistics: DP World has signed a multi-year deal to move more than 10,000 TEU of Balco Australia forage exports annually, linking regional production to overseas customers. Protein Industry Investment: JBS has partnered with Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara, with a $2.5b stake in JBS’s Australia and New Zealand operations to expand regional growth. Rice Value Chain: Vietnam and Australia are pushing to expand investment in a sustainable rice value chain in the Mekong Delta, with added focus on processing, storage and traceability.

Black Sea Shipping Shock: Escalating Russian-Ukrainian attacks are disrupting grain and energy routes, cutting Ukraine’s Black Sea export capacity and lifting war-risk costs—another pressure point for global food supply. Dingo Protection Costs: NSW northern farmers want government insurance and funded exclusion fencing if stronger dingo protections increase livestock losses near national parks. WA Soil Leadership: Environmental scientist Dr Renee Young has been appointed Chair of WA’s Soil and Land Conservation Council, replacing Dr Hayley Norman. Bird Flu Hits the Pocket: Australia’s $8bn poultry sector braces for higher egg and chicken prices as H5N1 risk grows and wild-to-farm spread is flagged as “inevitable”. Grain Lobby Unity: GrainGrowers signs MoUs with NSW Farmers and Grain Producers SA to coordinate national advocacy and share policy input. Cashew Value Gap: Cambodia is losing $125m a year in potential cashew revenue by processing only ~5% domestically; Australia backs an Olam partnership to expand processing capacity. Field Days Date Locked: Senator Pauline Hanson will officially open the 2026 Henty Machinery Field Days in southern NSW. Precision Ag Tech: EAvision Australia promotes locally supported spray drone options for faster, more controlled crop protection.

Red Meat Prices: The FAO sheepmeat price index hit a record in July, rising 4.7 points to 168.9, with tight exportable supplies in Oceania and steady global demand driving the jump. Biosecurity & Poultry: Australia’s H5N1 situation continues to escalate, with NSW confirming new inland native-bird cases and Victoria tightening poultry rules as the outbreak tops 200 cases. Trade & GI Exports: Bihar’s GI-tagged Mithila Makhana has entered Australia via its first sea shipment (18 tonnes), with officials saying it boosts grower returns and strengthens export-led market access. Livestock Supply Pressure: Scotland’s beef herd keeps shrinking, with beef cow numbers down 10.4% versus four years ago, feeding through to lower slaughter and tighter processing capacity. Energy for Farms: Hydrogen-on-demand tech from an Australian entrepreneur is being pitched as a way to cut reliance on imported gas and avoid large storage needs. Wildfire Risk: Canada’s British Columbia declared a state of emergency as the Bald Range fire surged, with evacuations and impacts to a major wine region underscoring how quickly rural operations can be disrupted.

Biosecurity Watch: Australia’s H5N1 bird flu keeps accelerating, with inland NSW detections in greater crested terns raising alarm bells as confirmed/presumed positives pass 200 and Victoria tightens poultry rules. Show Circuit Risk: Melbourne Royal Show may cancel bird exhibitions and poultry competitions as breeders weigh flock safety amid the spread. Carbon Farming Controversy: A historic Victorian high-country cattle station, Cobungra, has been sold to a carbon credit manager, prompting community and MP concerns about how cattle and carbon projects will be run together. Farm Succession: ABARES-backed commentary argues succession planning is a conversation-led process, not a one-off decision, as many farm businesses face leadership change. Trade & Identity: Nepal moves to build a standalone legal framework to protect geographical indications, as basmati origin claims intensify among India, Pakistan and Nepal. Regional Links: Fiji’s Tui Nayau calls for visa-free travel to Australia and earlier domestic university fee access for Fijians under the expanded Vuvale Union. Wildfire Disruption: Wildfires in Canada’s British Columbia have triggered mass evacuations in a major wine region, underlining how extreme weather can quickly disrupt farm supply chains.

Avian Influenza Surge: Australia’s H5N1 bird flu tally has jumped past 200, reaching 203 confirmed or presumed cases nationally, with South Australia leading (147) and Victoria adding more detections in greater crested terns. Inland Spread Alarm: NSW has confirmed its first H5 in native birds, with two greater crested terns testing positive—one near Narooma and another near Wentworth—marking the first native-bird H5 detection in the state and raising fears of faster inland spread. Poultry Biosecurity Moves: Victoria has ordered south-coast poultry producers with flocks of at least 50 birds to house indoors for 14 days to protect commercial flocks, while authorities stress the virus has not yet entered Australia’s agricultural production system. Wildlife Monitoring: CSIRO testing has confirmed further detections in Victoria and Melbourne, and surveillance is continuing at affected NSW sites. Trade & Exports (Agri): APEDA backed the first commercial sea shipment of 18 tonnes of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana from Bihar to Australia, aiming to lift farmer returns and expand export access.

Wildfire smoke health toll: A new report highlights how wildfire smoke can kill far beyond the fire line, with toxic gases and fine particles driving serious lung and wider organ damage. Biosecurity and bird flu: H5N1 keeps spreading through Australia’s wild birds, with fresh detections in South Australia and growing pressure on native bird colonies; authorities are tightening monitoring and poultry controls. GI-tagged export win: Bihar’s GI-tagged Mithila Makhana has made its first sea shipment to Australia, with farmers in Darbhanga reportedly earning about 18% more than market prices. Queensland farm leadership: QFF’s new CEO Kylie Porter has started a collaboration push, including updates on water and energy pricing priorities for irrigators. Mushroom farm closure: Rising costs and weak returns have forced a Sunshine Coast family to shut down a commercial mushroom operation after 45 years. Cambodia cashew push: Australia backs expanded cashew processing in Cambodia with Olam Food Ingredients, aiming to lift local value-add and jobs. Grains industry week: AGIC expands to a full week with field trips and international delegation tours across key grain zones.