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Lettuce has crossed the $10 mark, milk prices are soaring by major supermarkets and strawberries are $6 a punnet. Almost everywhere you look, the prices of food and other agricultural goods are on the rise. You’d be forgiven for thinking this must be a great time for Australian farmers, preferably gazing out the window at the gentle rain. Not too. Rising price Understanding what drives the price of any commodity can be a confusing exercise at the best of times. The current situation is generally caused by a number of problems, the first of which relates to the nature of Australia’s growing season. Australian vegetables come from different parts of the country depending on the season. Currently the main supplier is Queensland. Earlier this year, several developing areas were hit by two floods in 11 weeks. Queensland’s Lockyer Valley flooded earlier this year destroying large vegetable crops. ( Provided: Lockyer Valley Regional Council ) Belinda Frentz is a herb grower on the state’s G

But deadlines beckon and efforts of journalistic savvy can fall short. And with some extreme trepidation, I’m now trying to offer some avocado-related money-saving advice for everyone looking to tackle the new affordability challenge of, well, everyone. Figures released this week confirmed the cost of purchasing a typical basket of consumer goods and services rose 6.1 percent last financial year. The Ministry of Finance estimates this growth rate will reach 7.75 percent by the end of the year. Ouch. The price increase will be felt by low-income households, for which non-discretionary goods such as gasoline, groceries and housing are already a burden. Am I sensitive to the real cost pressures Australians face? I believe. Worryingly, the price pressures will be felt most by low-income households, where non-discretionary goods such as gasoline, groceries and housing are already a larger part of their budgets. It is also true that many such households are already money-saving ninjas

When the price of lettuce jumped to $10 due to extreme weather in New South Wales and Queensland, it caused a shockwave across the country, but some farmers in the flood zone were left relatively unscathed – as they grew in the shade. Key points: Protected crops have seen significant growth in Australia over the last 10 years Two Lockyer Valley farmers say protected plantings reduce flood damage on their property Experts say farming under cover is inevitable with more extreme and varied weather events Now experts say protected plantings could be key to keeping cabbages away from burgers and spring rolls in their place and getting farmers back to planting after extreme weather. What are protected plants? Protected crops are the production of horticultural crops under or within structures. It’s more than just a greenhouse according to Paul Gauthier, who is professor of protected plants with the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation. He said there are three types of prot