Fiona Broom
Sale, VIC
Fiona joined the ABC as a rural reporter in early 2023. Throughout the COVID years she was a science features editor based in the UK, with her podcast team winning an international AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Award for 2021. Fiona has reported everywhere from Shepparton to India and Lebanon, on food and agriculture, water management, and the environment.
Latest by Fiona Broom
Outdoor life comes at a price for farmers as they face a greater risk of skin cancer
Living your best outdoor life could be putting you at risk of the "national cancer", health workers warn. Here's why annual checks should be part of everybody's beauty routine.
Weather-obsessed farmers now have a dedicated agriculture decision support team at BOM
Talking about the weather is a farming pastime, and it's dominating conversations after summer storms hit. A new Bureau of Meteorology team dedicated to agricultural decision-making will give farmers even more to talk about.
Supply of plums, peaches and nectarines in doubt as storms ravage stone-fruit orchards
Weeks of wild weather in Victoria is likely to mean less stone fruit on supermarket shelves, after hail and heavy rain smashed Australia's main production regions, costing growers millions of dollars in losses.
Aussie lamb prices expected to rise in coming weeks following spike in saleyard sheep prices
After Australia's two largest supermarket chains were accused of delaying price reductions for lamb despite a plummet in saleyard prices, questions now turn to how long it will take for them to increase prices as the market improves.
From ancient rituals to self-improvement: How new year's resolutions have changed over 4,000 years
Making a promise to the gods was once seen as the way to secure a happy new year. Now, resolutions revolve around self-improvement, which may make them all the harder to keep.
Early arrival of prawns a Christmas gift for communities that have been through storms, floods and fires
Floods and storms had fishermen biting their nails in October. Now, they are counting their blessings as eastern king prawns make an early appearance.
Quail meat grown from cells 'safe to eat', says food regulator in Australia-first assessment
Quail is a delicacy for many, and restaurants could soon be serving meat grown from quail cells after Australia's food safety regulator judged cell-cultured quail meat safe to eat.
More chicken and veg, less cow to feed — and save — the world, says UN at climate summit
Wealthy countries will need to cut the amount of red meat they eat if they're going to meet climate goals, according to a sustainable food road map launched at the UN climate summit in Dubai.
Farmers say zero-emissions food still years away as agriculture rises up global climate agenda
As global climate summit COP28 kicks off, food systems will be in the spotlight like never before — both as a casualty of climate change and a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Urban sprawl, council rate hikes and land taxes push cattle saleyard out of suburban Melbourne
The 25-year-old Pakenham saleyards are the closest of their kind to the city and handle up to 100,000 cattle destined for supermarket shelves each year. But they will close in 2024, in a foreboding sign for saleyards in general.
Europe approves use of controversial weedkiller glyphosate for another decade
The European Commission has approved the use of the controversial herbicide for another decade, with a spokesperson for Australian growers backing the decision as good news for exports.
Rural families unable to work as childcare waitlists stretch years into the future
Parents in regional Australia are waiting years for places at daycare centres to open up, leaving them with the option of quitting work or hiring private childcare.
Cutting cow burps and other 'smart investments' key to curbing emissions, farmers say
As the government calls for input on a plan to help the agriculture and land sectors cut emissions, farmers say they're keen to adapt — but not at the expense of food production.
Plant-based milk goes from 'hippy alternative' to mainstream as processor tips future growth potential
Vitasoy Australia chief executive David Tyack predicts the plant-based milk market will continue to grow, noting there hasn't been a contraction in the past decade.
About 14,000 litres of 'premium grade' milk down the drain as dairy industry workers strike
Tanker drivers and dairy factory workers have walked off the job this week in separate strike actions, calling for better pay and conditions after companies "made record profits" during the pandemic.
Families in Victoria's high country 'scared' after town left without a GP
When two-year-old Daisy broke her arm a few weeks ago she was lucky to have a bush nurse in town. Now that nurse, who doubles as Swifts Creek's ambulance driver, is the town's sole healthcare provider after GP services were cut.
Lab-brewed milk attracts $25m in investments to bring synthetic dairy to market
Milk made from lab-cultured proteins could be on Australian shelves as soon as 2025 as global demand grows for animal-free food alternatives.
'Someone is making a dollar': Farmers shoot sheep rather than take them to market at a loss
Consumers continue to pay high prices for meat while farmers say the prices they are getting are not worth sending their livestock to market.
Worst conditions in seven years lead to lamb slaughter at saleyards
A Victorian livestock agent says lambs and sheep are being slaughtered at the saleyards because some animals are not meeting quality standards.
'Absolutely impossible' for toxic mushrooms to enter Australian supply chain, growers say
Australia's mushroom industry says there's no chance poisonous mushrooms could enter commercial products, as the big supermarkets say fungi sales are still going strong.