January 2013

As Australians tuck into delicious locally produced lamb this Australia Day, the country’s dairy farmers face a third straight year of low farmgate and retail milk prices. On Australia Day 2011, Coles initiated its controversial $1 per litre milk price campaign. Since that day, dairy farmers across the nation, including in Western Australia, have found the going tough with low farmgate prices making profitability more difficult and forcing many to leave the industry. Western Australian

The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) congratulates Life Member and current Wool Section Advisor, Tony Gooch, on his appointment to the Western Australian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC). AWAC is a new advisory body established by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Hon Terry Redman, to provide strategic advice on matters related to animal welfare, including policy, legislation and codes of practice, education, use of animals for scientific purposes, emerging animal welfare issues and

The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) is calling for increased funding for Western Australia’s rapidly deteriorating rural road network, as part of its long term plan for a viable agricultural sector. Over the last three years, despite some funding increases, the State and Federal Governments are spending on average, about 42 per cent of what is required to sustain the road network, throughout most of the South-Western land-division. WAFarmers President, Dale Park, said in practical

The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers), as part of its long term plan for farming, is seeking the development of a State Salinity Strategy. The strategy must prioritise National Resource Management (NRM) planning and funding processes to address the impact of salinity. The most recent analysis on the impact of salinity in Western Australia was the State of the Environment Report (2007), which identified the key land salinisation impacts as: It is estimated that 75

The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers), as part of its 2013 State Election Key Issues, is calling for the extension of the operation of Tier 3 rail lines beyond the State Government’s current commitment of October 31, 2013.  WAFarmers President, Dale Park, said WAFarmers and the people of the wheatbelt would be seeking a commitment from the State Government to find a long term solution for Tier 3 rail and the broader grain rail

WAFarmers Leading Ladies held their first meeting this week at WAFarmers Head Office. Thirty five women from various industries and locations across the state gathered with the purpose of the meeting to begin developing the Leading Ladies action plan, what is expected of the group and to take nominations for the Committee. WAFarmers Marketing and Communication Manager, Allie McNeice, said the main objective was to discuss strategies for educating the next generation about where their

The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) welcomes today’s announcement from WA Labor regarding a $30 million investment in Tier 3 grain rail lines over the next three years. While welcoming the sentiment of the funding, WAFarmers President, Dale Park, said under the current arrangement the allocation of funds was not enough. “I applaud WA Labor for their support of Tier 3 rail, it is the best offer on the table at present, however with

The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) welcomes the announcement from the Liberal National Government which provides a framework for inland drainage across the State. Water Minister, Hon Bill Marmion, and Agriculture and Food Minister, Hon Terry Redman, said the framework would guide the use of drainage as an option for inland farmers to manage salinity and waterlogging. WAFarmers President, Dale Park, said a State Salinity Strategy formed part of WAFarmers’ long term plan for

The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) wants reform to the State’s land clearing laws to allow farmers to better manage their land as part of a long term plan for the State’s agricultural industries.As part of the WAFarmers 2013 State Election Key Issues, WAFarmers seeks legislative change that allows farmers to: Clear their land within accepted agricultural practices; Establish offset land parcels to enable land clearing; and Obtain financial compensation where restriction has been