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Disease threatPremiumFMD ‘extremely likely’ to reach Australia, expert warns

The risk of foot and mouth disease spreading to Australia within the next six months is “extremely high” and the highly infectious livestock virus is likely to reach Bali “soon”, a leading analyst has warned.

Adam Poulsen

Biosecurity Risk PremiumBanana growers on high alert for freckle disease

WA’s banana industry is on high alert after the devastating banana freckle disease was discovered in the Northern Territory, the first detection since Australia was declared free of the disease in 2019.

Bob Garnant

Countryman NewsNanotech to help fight against flystrike

Tiny nano-particles are providing a promising new method to protect sheep against deadly flystrike, according to University of Queensland researchers.

Liv Casben

MINISTERIAL VISITPremiumWatt in town to feel the mood of farmers

Meeting with live sheep export stakeholders — from farmers to peak industry bodies — was the top priority for Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt during his first ministerial visit to WA last week.

Adam Poulsen

Farm safety probePremiumWorkSafe inquiry after ag sector’s 12th farm death in a year

WorkSafe has launched an inquiry into the ‘unacceptable’ number of fatalities in the State’s agriculture industry after a 24-year-old farmer became the 12th to die while working on a WA farm in as many months. 

Adam Poulsen

Dairy awards PremiumBrownes’ dairy good idea

Brownes Dairy’s bold move as the first Australian company to release environmentally-friendly milk cartons has gained international attention and a major accolade at the World Dairy Innovation Awards.

Cally Dupe

Outstanding contributionPremiumWooleen Station host awarded tourism gong

Frances Pollock from Wooleen Station in the Murchison has been honoured for her outstanding contribution to the tourism industry.

Staff reporter

BIOSECURITY ACT REVIEWSubmissions open into review of WA biosecurity laws

Farmers and pastoralists are being encouraged to provide input on a statutory review under way into the effectiveness of WA’s biosecurity legislation, with public submissions now open.

Adam Poulsen

sw wa drought hubPremiumWA farmers combat drought through soil amelioration

Soil amelioration techniques have delivered “make or break” results, enabling soils to store an extra 30mm of plant available moisture and upping yields by 400kg/ha.

Shannon Verhagen

Lentils instead of lupins?PremiumTrials to test lentils over lupins

Vast tracts of WA land could be opened up to “hardy, high-value” lentil crops over low-value lupins if a genetic acid tolerance study in the central Wheatbelt proves successful.

Shannon Verhagen

NEW BOSS SPEAKSPremiumMeat Muchea Livestock Centre’s new boss

Muchea Livestock Centre’s new boss Steve Wainewright is inviting WA producers to visit the state-of-the-art saleyard in a bid to “build transparency and trust” and ensure all vendors “have a good experience”.

Adam Poulsen

‘game changer’AWI invests $1.4 million into ‘biological defleecing’ study

The three-year study will investigate how zine protein, found in corn, could be given to sheep to weaken the staple of their wool so it can be harvested without the use of a mechanical handpiece.

Shannon Verhagen

LIVE EXPORTS DIVEPremiumLive cattle exports set to fall further, MLA report says

Live cattle exports are pegged to plummet to 500,000 head this year — nearly 272,000 fewer than in 2021.

Adam Poulsen

Ministerial Visit PremiumFederal Ag Minister Murray Watt makes his first visit to WA

WA farm advocacy groups say they “have the ear” of Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt after the Labor MP’s first visit to the west and plan to spend the next three years showcasing the live sheep trade.

Cally Dupe

STEEP RISEPremiumBeef consumption declines as prices soar

The price of beef has shot up steeper than any other protein in Australia over the past year, rising at more than triple the rate of chicken according to a new report.

Adam Poulsen

LIVE EXPORT PremiumLove takes aim at live export relocation probe

Shane Love has slammed the State Government’s $2 million probe into the possible relocation of Fremantle Port’s live export berth, saying the move won’t happen while the ALP remains divided.

Adam Poulsen

Countryman NewsPort Phillip Bay nears baby snapper record

The near-record abundance of baby snapper in Victoria's Port Phillip Bay is expected to help strengthen fishing over the next decade.

Cassandra Morgan

Dodgy dealing accusationsPremiumCCC probe details ‘serious misconduct’ of livestock manager

Murdoch University’s prized farms have been labelled a “breeding ground for misconduct” and its well-known livestock manager accused of “deceiving” the institution for personal benefit in a damning report.

Adam Poulsen

‘BOLSTERING BIOSECURITY’PremiumNew livestock officers to ‘bolster biosecurity’ in WA

WA’s biosecurity frontline is being beefed up and laws governing the contentious topic are set for an overhaul as the “greatest threats to animal agriculture in decades” creep closer to Australian shores.

Adam Poulsen

farm dog fridayPremiumFarm Dog Friday: Our favourite photos from around WA

From kelpies running around the yards, heelers on the ute for a croppy, maremmas protecting their flocks, or what some may classify as ‘house dogs’, a farmer’s best mate comes in various shapes and sizes.

Shannon Verhagen

LIVE EXPORTPremiumPremier pressured over live exports

The Opposition has ratcheted up calls for Mark McGowan to clarify his stance on live sheep exports, with WA Nationals leader Mia Davies demanding the Premier “unequivocally state his support” for the industry.

Adam Poulsen and Josh Zimmerman

Brownes expansionPremiumBrownes Dairy to resume exports to Singapore

WA’s oldest dairy company Brownes is set to re-enter the Singaporean market after logistical headaches caused by COVID-19 led to the market drying up.

Adam Poulsen

Cracking egg traceabilityImproved traceability ‘eggsactly’ what industry wants

Australian egg farmers can now trace their eggs from point of purchase to the date and location they were laid with the launch of an online traceability tool aimed at improving food safety.

Adam Poulsen

BURP TAXPremiumNew Zealand Government set to tax belching cattle and sheep

New Zealand is on track to become the first country in the world to tax farmers for emissions caused by belching cattle and sheep.

Adam Poulsen