Country Today - January 13th
A 1400 acre merino stud farm, commonly known as Fowles winery just outside Avenel in central Victoria, has been burnt to the ground by the Longwood Bushfire. Today, Matt Fowles, who has lost his home, one thousand sheep and 100 per cent of his crops, has to help his young daughters make sense of the unimaginable reality of losing everything you own. And Meat and Livestock Australia has released the annual summer lamb campaign, this year it's based on the fact that Australia has slipped outside the top 10 on the World Happiness Index. As bushfires continue to burn across Victoria’s south-west, residents are hoping a more favourable weather outlook offers some relief. Polwarth MP Richard Riordan speaks about what lies ahead for the region’s recovery. You’ll hear from National Farmers Federation President Hamish McIntyre, about a submission to the Federal Government, he says agriculture has more of a need for unskilled and semi-skilled workers, with the major issue being a sustainable migrant scheme, not just sourcing labour.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
