Each week, Farm-Cover Rural News Wrap distils the biggest stories shaping Australian agriculture. Expect clear, no-fuss coverage of weather and seasonal outlooks, commodity markets, biosecurity alerts, policy and regulation changes, on-farm safety, and practical risk insights. Stay informed in under 15 minutes with trustworthy reporting and context tailored to working producers. No fluff, just the essentials to help you plan the week ahead, wherever you are on the land.
This Week:
This weeks wrap covers: emergency permits for double‑strength mouse bait as WA and SA battle a damaging plague; ongoing fertiliser tightness and the promise—but not yet scale—of renewable ammonia; rain‑driven “green shoots” in SA with reminders to prep for winter storms and potential weeds/locusts; and a WA investigation into a magpie paralysis syndrome as a prompt to tighten farm biosecurity. Practical steps throughout focus on recording costs, matching sums insured to on‑farm stock, and keeping machinery and policy details current.
EPISODE 1953 | Farm-Cover News Wrap for Aussie Farmers | Sun, 24th May 2026
28 May 2026 | Paige Estritori
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Read Full Transcript:
Hello and welcome to the Farm-Cover News Wrap for Aussie Farmers, Im Paige Estritori, and its Sunday, 24 May 2026.
First, mice are hammering parts of WA and SA, chewing crops, wiring and stored feed. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, or APVMA, has issued emergency permits for double‑strength zinc phosphide baits, designed so one grain does the job. Its not a silver bullet, but it should help knock numbers down faster. Keep grain and seed sealed, clean up spills, and note dates and costs of baiting and clean‑ups. If its been a while, speak with a broker who knows farm risk to make sure crop, livestock and machinery cover reflects whats at stake this season.
Next up, fertiliser supply remains tight. Theres growing interest in home‑grown, renewables‑based ammonia, but its not at farm scale yet, so price and delivery volatility are likely to persist. Practical step: confirm how much product you actually hold on‑farm, keep invoices handy, and check that sums insured and any chemical‑storage conditions in your policy match reality.
Meanwhile, May rain has delivered a lift across many districts, with South Australias Mallee and Riverland reporting long‑awaited green shoots after last weekends falls. Confidence is improving, but agronomists are flagging weeds and even locust pressure if follow‑up rain arrives. Use any break in the weather to tidy maintenance, review storm, hail and flood cover ahead of winter, and make sure pumps and key machinery are listed and current.
And in WA, wildlife carers are investigating a “magpie paralysis” syndrome thats killed or disabled hundreds of birds. Its not a notifiable disease, but its a fresh reminder to keep feed covered, manage standing water, and keep a simple visitor and contractor log. Strong hygiene on farm helps reduce risk and keeps your documentation in order if you ever need it.
Thats the wrap. For clear guides, risk tips and to compare tailored farm insurance options, head to farm-cover.com.au. Im Paige Estritori—stay safe and see you next week.
The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.
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