Grain Producers SA has released its state election priorities with the key focus of having SA grains as a $6 billion industry by 2030, Australia's international borders have reopened - we look at what this means for tourism in the outback and we catch up with two backpackers who are helping with vintage in the Riverland.

South Australian Country Hour

Heavy rain may have meant a fair bit of damage around the place but many farmers are seeing the silver lining of plenty of sub soil moisture, the Ukraine/Russia tension could have a flow on effects to many pantry staple foods and worker shortages have meant there is a mushroom shortage in South Australia.

Basin state governments have agreed, in principal, to a mandatory code of conduct for water brokers implemented through Commonwealth legislation, a new abattoir will be built on Kangaroo Island by the end of this year following a state government post fire recovery grant received by farmers Will and Jenny Stanton and after flood damage forced an almost three-week closure of the interstate railway network between Port Augusta and Tarcoola it's back up and running.

Sustained river flows have seen a significant increase in the bird life on the Lower Lakes and Coorong, the brewing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been causing volatility in the grain and oilseeds market for a few weeks and after a unicorn vintage in 2021, some Riverland growers say they're considering dumping their red wines grapes due to low prices.

A look at the impact of the peak of the flood in the Darling River on local communities, With fully vaccinated tourists returning to Australia next week, there's hope this will mean more reliable air-freight routes for exporters and today marks the very first trip, 70 years ago, of the tuna boat the Tacoma arriving in Port Lincoln.

Today's Country Hour comes to you from the opening of the new RFDS clinic at Maree, it's a huge project to replace the 100 year old hospital with a modern facility to service the outback, you'll also hear from the local community in Maree and restrictions on importing produce into South Australia will soon be further tightened to ward off fruit fly.

Taste testing of edible insects - a new study by the University of Adelaide, yesterday the Premier's department met with the Eyre Peninsula councils to discuss the ongoing impacts of the floods and recovery and farmers are making the most of the summer rains with fields of sunflowers.

Truck drivers are said to be fed up with their treatment by West Australian authorities at the border with South Australia, an Adelaide surgeon is wanting to convert reusable plastics into end user products ...working with local Eyre Peninsula industries to help reduce overall waste and a year 10 student from Streaky Bay says it has been frustrating having to do home schooling when he was meant to return to Adelaide for boarding school.

The latest on the partial opening of the Stuart Highway. RFDS delivering food supplies to the Oodnadatta community. Barossa grape growers are facing doing their first vintage since hail storms tore through the region's vines late last year.

Grain Producers SA has toured parts of the flood ravaged Eyre Peninsula to try and get an understanding of what work needs to be done, one of Australia's largest performance horse auctions has seen its sale record beaten, with $260,0000 paid for a filly and McLaren Vale's bells have rung to mark the start of vintage.

The is still work to do before grain company Tports knows the full extent of recent rains on grain at its sites at Lucky Bay, Lock and Kimba, recent rain is adding another logistical hurdle for pastoralists in the outback in the middle of shearing and the latest report from Wine Australia shows exports excluding mainland China have reached two billion dollars in a calendar year for the first time since 2009.

Rural news and events from South Australia and the nation.

SA Country Hour

China's export ban on meat processing giant Teys Australia, will have wider industry implications according to the Australian Meat Industry Council, a program to re-snag, or recreate fish hotels, in the Murray River has found some unusual allies and Port Augusta residents survey the damage after a quarter of the city's rainfall fell in a few hours.

Chinese authorities have temporarily suspended the meat processor Teys Naracoorte from exporting meat to the country, Hancock Agriculture and S Kidman and Co have entered into contracts to sell Innamincka and Macumba ((MA-cum-buh)) Station in north east South Australia and 15,000 seagrass fruit have been gathered from Adelaide's beaches and returned to the ocean to restore Adelaide's seagrass meadows.

Two houses have been torn apart, along with sheds and fences after a massive storm swept through the Cummins area on the Eyre Peninsula, Riverland fruit growers James and Sandra Schober have spent 14 years transforming a 1960s lifeboat into a luxurious river cruiser and truck drivers weigh up their options as the Stuart highway remains closed.

The South Australian Country Hour delivering rural news and information for primary producers.

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South Australian Country Hour

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