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WA grain farmers have defied predicted odds of a falling winter crop production.

Crop reportWA defies planting area forecasts with canola and barley

WA grain farmers have defied predicted odds of a falling winter crop production as canola and barley planting levels soar thanks to recent rainfall events.

Georgia Campion

An aerial view of OATSPO 2024, in Highbury near Narrogin.

Oat ExpoOATSPO 2024 oat trial results released by GIWA

The final field trial findings of OATSPO 2024, developed at a trial site near Narrogin, have been released by the Grain Industry Association of Western Australia.

Georgia Campion

Darrell Turner and Suzanne Turner with dogs Charlie and Ruby. The Turners have cropped at their Aldersyde home for three generations since 1903.

Family FarmOn farm with Aldersyde’s cropping family, the Turners

Aldersyde crop farmers Darrell and Suzanne Turner are celebrating 100 years of farming at Millbrook Farm which has been handed down over three generations. 

Georgia Campion

A paddock being overtaken by Gazania in Loxton, South Australia.

Pesky FlowerIntroduced flower threatens grain production with resiliency

Invasive African flower Gazania is more resilient than previously thought and is now considered one of Australia’s biggest weed threats to grain production and the native environment.

Georgia Campion

Farmers Across Borders' will make their first convoy into SA in the coming weeks.

helping hayHay from the west sent to farmers in drought

WA farmers now have the ability to lend a helping hand to replenish South Australia’s hay stocks as the state continues to grapple with some of the driest conditions in decades.

Melissa Pedelty

Canola crops near York.

CANOLA PLANTINGS PremiumWA grain farmers pull back GM canola plantings

WA grain farmers are slowing down their plantings of genetically modified canola for the first time, enticed by a price premium of up to $100 per tonne for non-GM canola. 

Cally Dupe

GRDC and partners will tackle mouse impact on crops in a $11 million joint investment, with research to be led by CSIRO.

Managing MiceMouse management in crops gets $11m in funding

Mouse activity, and threat it presents to Australian grain growers, will be tackled by CSIRO with an $11 million joint investment from the Grains Research & Development Corporation and partners.

Georgia Campion

Australia’s agricultural production value is forecasted to fall by $2.6 billion in 2025-2026.

Agricultural ProductionAg production value predicted to fall by 2.8 per cent

Low crop and livestock production volume is expected to cut Australia’s agricultural production value by $2.6 billion in 2025-2026.

Georgia Campion

Demand for hay of any quality has skyrocketed across all livestock sectors.

Hay ReportDemand for hay jumps as lambing and calving approaches

Demand for hay of any quality is high across all livestock sectors as farmers prepare for lambing and calving, according to the Australian Fodder Industry Association May 30 Hay report.

Georgia Campion

BCI Minerals CEO David Boshoff at a WA Mining Club Lunch. Riley Churchman

AgriculturePremiumBCI Minerals goes long on potash

Salt developer BCI Minerals is playing the long-game in its bid to crack Australia’s potash problem while making the most of the Pilbara’s insatiable need for more port capacity. 

Simone Grogan

A Rabobank report has predicted changes to Australia's pulse exports as a result of changes in global supply and demand.

Pulse ExportsAustralian pulse export impact predicted in Rabobank report

Changes in global supply and demand may impact Australia’s pulse exports, causing minor global headwinds according to Rabobank’s Australian pulses exports and tariffs report.

Georgia Campion

Call&Co machinery used for seeding on Michael O'Callaghan's farm

CROP ONWA grain farmers boost plantings, pull back wheat

WA farmers are heading for a large winter crop planting with a projected increase to cropping area, with Australia as a nation is bound for a record-high winter crop planting according to Rabobank.

Georgia Campion

GrainGrowers Limited chief executive Shona Gawel.

Farming SurveyHow much do you pay your farm workers?

GrainGrowers Limited has launched a new survey asking farmers in WA and New South Wales to share how much they are paying their workers in cash and non-cash benefits. 

Georgia Campion

Nutrien Seed category manager and Seednet regional manager David Clegg, WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis, DPIRD senior principal research scientist Daniel Real and Nutrien Katanning agronomist Tom Coleman.

new varietyDPIRD releases new forage crop for challenging soils

Western Australian grain and livestock producers are set to reap the rewards of a new forage crop developed in the State’s south.

Melissa Pedelty

Checking out crops at Salmon Gums.

SEEDING 2025Mixed bag of rain, crop composition for WA farmers

Grain crops are up and away in the Great Southern and Esperance areas, but farmers in the Mid West still enduring dry and hot conditions are looking to the sky and praying for rain. 

Cally Dupe

Urea ammonium nitrate fertiliser.

UNDERGROUND PIPEPremiumSummit Fertilizer’s $8m plan draws ire from Coogee Chemicals

Summit Fertilizer’s $8 million plan to build an underground fertiliser pipe from the Kwinana Bulk Jetty has draw ire from competitor Coogee Chemicals.

Cally Dupe & Caitlin Vinci

An Aurizon train at the Forrestfield depot.

TransportPremiumAurizon swings axe on 200 jobs in bid to get back on track

Freight rail operator Aurizon is slashing 200 jobs after a series of major bulk customers have run aground and Alcoa closed a key WA operation.

Matt Mckenzie

The Vantage Euphoria at the Port of Albany.

HISTORIC SHIPMENTPremiumCommodity Ag’s historic faba bean export from Port of Albany

Great Southern farmers have exported faba beans from the Port of Albany for the first time, with 5000 tonnes of the legume destined for Egypt.

Cally Dupe

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at CBH’s Metro Grain Centre.

GRAIN ON RAILPremiumAlbanese backs WA plan for deprivatisation of rail network

Anthony Albanese has thrown his support behind a WA Government push to bring the State’s privatised rail network back into government hands.

Cally Dupe and Neil Watkinson

Brianna Peake, who has left CBH Group after 15 years to pursue a new US-based role as WA’s Investment and Trade Commissioner for the Americas.

INDUSTRY PEAKEPremiumBrianna Peake reflects on CBH Group career

Brianna Peake’s new career adventure to Austin, Texas, is a world away from her farming roots at Dalwallinu. 

Cally Dupe

Professor David Henry from Murdoch University will lead a new Grains Research and Development Corporation investment into soil water repellence.

new researchPremiumNew GRDC research could save growers millions

New research will aid Australian grain growers in better managing and mitigating soil water repellence and its impact on crops, saving them millions each year in reduced yield.

Melissa Pedelty

Indonesia plans to buy US agricultural products including wheat and soybeans, the government says. (AP PHOTO)

BusinessIndonesia to increase US imports and lower other orders

After being slapped with US tariffs of more than 30 per cent, Indonesia has agreed to buy more American food and commodities at the expense of other countries

Staff Writers

Seeding at North Doodlakine.

GIWA CROP REPORTPremiumFarmers ‘cautious’ as tale of two seasons plays out

Two very different scenarios are playing out for grain growers taking a “cautious” approach to seeding crops across WA, with bone-dry conditions at farms near Geraldton and waterlogging in the Great Southern.  

Cally Dupe

CBH Group's new wagons in action.

NEW TRAINSPremiumCBH Group’s first wagons of $400m rail spend hit the tracks

Regional drivers may have noticed some unusually shiny, clean grain wagons rolling through the countryside in recent weeks. 

Cally Dupe