One year after the worst disaster to hit Australia's strawberry sector, growers are optimistic about this year's harvest but say they are not out of the woods just yet.

A sea snake has washed up on a beach near Esperance on WA's southern coast, marking the region's first verified record of the typically tropical creature.

There is no sign of retirement for 91-year-old Rex Egerton-Warburton who still enjoys an active farming career despite being in the saleyards since he was five.

Alannah MacTiernan says farmers risk losing access to foreign markets because of their reliance on glyphosate, but her remarks draw criticism from farming groups that say the herbicide is a linchpin of the industry.

Tasmanian farmer Richard Headlam says he was reassured a proposed coal mine on his land would not go ahead. Two years later, the plan by Midland Energy has been revived.

Photos and documents show nurses in the Roy Fagan Centre for aged psychiatric patients use old pagers and duress buttons held together with sticky tape.

Australia's island state is known for its rich history and pristine environment it also provides 50 per cent of the raw materials that go into the powerful painkillers at the centre of the United States' opioid crisis.

A water scientist is backing Hamilton farmers' concerns about threats to a local lake from a proposed fish hatchery, including the threat of algal blooms.

DAILY BRIEFING: Premier Will Hodgman says it is "improbable" mining exploration licences or leases will be granted to companies looking for coal on agricultural land, and the Hobart City Council is one step closer to drug testing councillors.

Diversification and innovation are proving to be a key factor in the survival of multi-generation farming families.

These farmers have an unusual complaint. As drought takes its toll on the rest of the nation, they just cannot keep water off their land and it's forcing them to halve their stock numbers.

Scientists at the University of Tasmania find vaping is just as harmful to human health as cigarettes and even has the potential to cause lung cancer. But some say any alternative to smoking is worth the risk.

Using cameras and wind disturbance, a Tasmanian wind farm will be the first in Australia to deter wedge-tailed eagles from flying into the turbine blades.

Friends of a man allegedly murdered on South Australia's Nullarbor Plain on Monday say he had previously worked as an interpreter with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the US Army in Afghanistan, and had "escaped the warzone" in moving to Australia.

Proposed new powers for South Australia's Country Fire Service volunteers to be able to stop members of the public from operating due to fire dangers has put them at odds with farmers.

The National commodity forecaster, ABARES, finds three quarters of dairy farmers and half of all broadacre farmers will receive a lower income than they did last year because of the drought.

When the Foster family bought their new family home, they had no idea they would become lavender farmers and the work it would involve.

A former Adelaide doctor jailed for trying to murder a pharmacistwho reported him for overprescribing medication loses his bid to reduce his decade-long sentence.

Sustainable farming for this Eyre Peninsula family means organic, holistic practices and homeschooling four children.

The South Australian Government is considering providing council rate relief to drought-affected farmers as the state opposition claims that South Australia is way behind other state support.

A woman has been arrested and a man is on the run after a customer was stabbed during an attempted robbery at an Adelaide pub last night.

Hundreds of thousands of eggs are removed from the shelves of supermarkets across four states following an outbreak of salmonella cases linked to an exotic strain of the bacteria.

This year's Budget reflects a horrific summer of natural disasters, with increased support for natural disasters and drought relief.

For residents living in the New South Wales village of Murrurundi in the Upper Hunter Valley, three minute showers and a limit of two loads of laundry a week have become the norm.

On the outskirts of Bendigo in central Victoria, a farm run by a social worker is helping children and adults with behavioural and mental health issues.

Outreach workers across Australia say that the survival of farming communities will depend on support and understanding from the Australian community.

Australia's largest integrated battery and solar farm in Victoria's north can power 16,000 homes. It was officially opened today.

Victorian agriculture authorities are investigating allegations of cruelty at the Bridgewater Poultry Farm, after footage released by Animal Liberation appeared to show workers mistreating chickens they were culling.

Footage from a Victorian poultry farm, released by animal activists, appears to show workers stretching the necks of chickens and throwing them onto a concrete floor.

Diana Gibson has been her husband's "eyes" for many years, but now her own health is failing with Parkinson's disease. But despite everything, Harry still tends the cows.

Ahead of the huge preliminary clash between the Geelong Cats and Richmond Tigers tonight, one player has a unique way to unwind All-Australian defender Dylan Grimes takes to his tractor and tends to his grapes.

The Swan Hill and Robinvale regions produce more $800 million in agricultural goods each year, but a "dangerous" C-class road connects them to Melbourne. The community says the lack of funding is a "human rights issue" and the system "needs to change".

The supermarket giant announces it will bypass processors and contract milk directly from dairy farmers in New South Wales and Victoria from July 1.

Costs are eroding Australian dairy farmers profit and hitting confidence, with the number of farmers positive about the industry the lowest in 15 years. Poor seasonal conditions are mostly to blame, with high feed and irrigation water costs.

The paddocks of Gippsland look green, but farmers are still in drought and have lost as much as 70 per cent of their regular income.

Wellington Shire Council in Victoria's Gippsland region gives eligible farmers $700 pre-loaded debit cards to provide some financial relief and stimulate the local economy.

A new food truck is empowering disadvantaged Gippsland families to choose their own fresh produce and is also allowing for more efficient delivery.