Lara Webster
Tamworth, NSW
Lara Webster is a Queensland rural reporter.
Lara has grown up in regional Queensland working with horses and cattle beside her father.
From the time spent by her dad's side, Lara has inherited his passion for the bush and the people who are a part of it; that's why she wanted a career which would enable her to travel the country to the most remote places and share the stories of rural Australia.
Lara recently finished her Bachelor of Journalism at the University of the Sunshine Coast and is now looking forward to the adventures being a rural reporter will bring.
Latest by Lara Webster
Can agriculture really act as a carbon sink to neutralise the emissions of heavy polluters?
Agriculture will have to store carbon for the big polluters if Australia is to meet its net zero emissions target by 2050. But a leading researcher says the plan won't work.
Monty moonlights as a marriage celebrant when he's not working on the farm
Farmer Monty Haron has an alter ego — or some might say altar ego. One day the 29-year-old could be carting hay, and the next hitching newlyweds.
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Bird flu detected on Sydney poultry farm different to Victorian strain
Avian influenza has been detected at a commercial poultry farm in the Greater Sydney Basin. The affected egg farm has implemented quarantine to prevent the movement of equipment and animals.
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How the 'Yellowstone effect' is making cowboys 'even cooler' in Australia
The streaming series Yellowstone has become a worldwide phenomenon, and Australians are not immune as they open up their wallets to buy expensive horses, pushing up the demand for trainers.
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Ewe beauty: Trailblazing Jeanine Kimm shears her way to an Australian record
The 31-year-old NSW shearer has set the first Australian women's merino shearing record for the most ewes shorn in an eight-hour period.
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Farmers trial new tech to keep equipment running as 3G shutdown looms
As the shutdown of the 3G network approaches, millions of Australians are switching over their phones to make sure they are compatible with 4G. But farmers are facing a much bigger problem.
Feral pigs attacking humans, killing livestock and destroying crops as numbers explode in NSW
A $13m control program has led to more than 69,000 feral pigs being culled in the state, but landowners say there is plenty more to be done.
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Widespread rain 'lifts the spirits' and potentially the profits of farmers in NSW
Graziers are hoping an east coast low dumping rain across NSW will spur a last minute burst of pasture growth for producers offloading stock, and crops will be boosted — if there's enough sunshine in coming weeks.
There is not a man in sight at this vet clinic, but you might find some kids in cubby houses
From letting them wait inside for the school bus to building cubbies in animal cages, one veterinary clinic is doing what it can for children to help their mums continue working.
Why are some people happy to pay more if it means buying direct from farmers?
Have you ever tried buying food direct from the producer? As the nation watches the ACCC investigation into supermarkets, more farmers are looking at ways to sell direct to consumers.
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New parasite threat detected in NSW bees as the industry continues to deal with varroa mite
The wingless braula fly, which rides on bees before laying larvae that can damage honeycomb, has been found in bees near Tamworth.
Hemp is a superfood, can replace plastics and is 'even used in BMWs'. So why isn't Australia embracing it?
Hemp can be used for everything from building materials to plastics. It's a superfood, with a low-carbon footprint. But Australian production is lagging far behind Canada, China and other countries.
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Farmers hit with $100,000 insurance bills as extreme weather events become more frequent
Farmers consider running the gauntlet and leaving machinery uninsured as premiums go through the roof, with insurers blaming erratic weather, inflation, and increasing costs for the price hikes.
How an ex-tropical cyclone in north-east Queensland is causing havoc in outback NSW
Large parts of northern NSW have been hit by heavy storms causing flash flooding. Some farmers are delighted to see the dams fill, but homes and businesses have been inundated.
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Australia's junior rodeo champions dream of big bucks and buckles in the United States
Teenage cowboys and cowgirls are working hard to achieve their goals of competing on the bigger US rodeo circuit.
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Cold water, shade sails and sprinklers keeping cows cool as heatwave builds
Dairy cows are one of the animals most susceptible to heat stress, which can result in reduced milk production and fertility. As temperatures soar, farmers look to keep their cows cool.
How a 79-year-old cowboy and a $250 steed claimed glory in a contest where horses can cost half a million dollars
Casino horseman Neil Flynn has a knack for finding diamonds in the rough and turning them into performance horse champions.
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Once home to a pair of the world's largest pears, this fruit dynasty houses 160 years of orchard innovation
The longevity of Greenhill Orchards comes down to the dedication of the Yeomans family, innovation, and their love of all things fruit.
Farmers breathe sigh of relief as livestock prices rebound after rain
Prices for some cattle have doubled as buyer confidence is restored following rainfall for many areas that have endured a long dry spell.
140mm of rain for the year then 116mm in a night puts 'smiles on dials' of farmers doing it tough
After one of the worst winter seasons, heavy rain "means a hell of a lot" to many producers in New South Wales, where 70 per cent of the state is in drought.
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Hudson bushfire in north-west NSW downgraded but similar conditions expected on Thursday
An emergency warning has been downgraded for the Hudson bushfire burning in the Narran Lake Reserve in north-west New South Wales, but authorities are bracing for similar conditions on Thursday.
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Farmers await emergency fodder drops, as RFS confirms homes destroyed in devastating Tenterfield fires
As the reality of losses begins to sink in, easing weather conditions are at last helping firefighters get on top of fires still burning in New South Wales border communities.
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'Scariest thing we ever experienced': Multiple fire fronts converge in border town as homes confirmed lost
As multiple blazes threaten Tenterfield region and beyond, farmer firefighters, neighbours and councillors have rallied together to support each other.
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Among the grain crops of northern NSW, there's a boom of farming mums planting fields of flowers
Tamworth mum Shona Robilliard started with a few seeds in her veggie patch, but in search of a better work-life balance she's ditched the vegetables and is now a fully fledged cut-flower farmer.
Dry conditions are returning to northern NSW, but these farmers have learnt a thing or two about managing drought
Farmers have gathered in a dusty paddock in northern New South Wales to share how they have improved their readiness for life without regular rain.