Drought support for Australian farmers
For the first time ever, all farmland in the Australian state of Victoria is covered by full exceptional circumstances (EC) drought declarations. “This drought, the worst on record, has taken a severe toll,” agriculture minister Peter McGauran said. Almost 9 000 farming families in are now receiving EC income support, up from around 2 700 in October last year. The Australian government’s total commitment to the programme in Victoria has now reached A$410 million. Nationally, the government’s spending on income support and interest-rate subsidies has increased to more than 26 million a week, totalling more than 2,4 billion since 2001. – Alan Harman
Food miles
A new UK survey has shown that the food miles myth is gaining strength among shoppers. R esearcher Mintel International Group Ltd found that 41% of respondents believed producers and supermarkets should provide more details about food miles on the products they sell, and 19% already try to avoid products with high food miles. The campaign is based on the claim that local produce is more environmentally friendly than imported goods, because it has a smaller carbon footprint than food shipped from abroad. – Alan Harman
Sheep left to die of thirst
Western Australian shearing contractor was fined A$10 000 and labelled “hardhearted” by a magistrate after ignoring multiple warnings and failing to give enough water to 3 500 sheep. Inspectors found more than 1 500 dead sheep on two leased properties. The contractor didn’t even bother to remove carcasses from troughs to stop them fouling the water. The magistrate banned him from keeping livestock. – Alan Harman
