WAFarmers welcomes Regional Biosecurity Officer to head office

WAFarmers welcomes the appointment of the Livestock Biosecurity Network’s Regional Biosecurity Officer, Megan Harrod, who is now stationed at WAFarmers head office. The new Livestock Biosecurity Network (LBN), which is being rolled out in all states and territories, will ensure the livestock industry is prepared to face biosecurity issues as they arise and increase the industry’s understanding of animal welfare and disease surveillance. WAFarmers President Dale Park welcomed Ms Harrod to the role and said

WA Farmers September 16, 2013

Time to enact policies now that ministry announced

WAFarmers welcomes today’s announcement of Australia’s new government ministry and looks forward to seeing the commitments on agriculture made during the election campaign turned into policy. WAFarmers President Dale Park congratulated Barnaby Joyce on his appointment as Agriculture Minister, as well as Richard Colbeck on his appointment as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister. “We look forward to building a constructive relationship with the new minister and parliamentary secretary and working together to ensure the future

WA Farmers September 16, 2013

Make foreign investment register a priority

WAFarmers has today reiterated its calls for the newly-elected Federal government to establish a register for foreign investment in agriculture to inform future policy on the issue. The Prime Minister-elect has already indicated his intention to visit Indonesia shortly, which would be an ideal time to discuss issues of foreign investment in agriculture, including matters of food security, WAFarmers President Dale Park said. “Western Australia is ideally placed to assist our nearest neighbour with shoring

WA Farmers September 12, 2013

Congratulations to WA’s Rising Champion finalist

WAFarmers congratulates member Blythe Calnan on being selected as the WA State finalist for the fourth NAB Agribusiness Rising Champions Initiative. Blythe is one of seven State finalists chosen from a competitive field of more than thirty-five applicants. She will head to Canberra from 28 – 30 October where the State finalists will have the opportunity to build networks, develop skills and gain insights into the policy-making role of the Cattle Council of Australia. “I’m

WA Farmers September 10, 2013

WAFarmers looks forward to Coalition enacting ag policies

WAFarmers congratulates the Coalition on its election victory and looks forward to working with it to achieve increased profitability for the agriculture sector. It is important the new government immediately sets to work implementing its agricultural policies to deliver results for farmers and industry, WAFarmers President Dale Park said. “Farmers have faced, and continue to face, difficulties due to over regulation, financial circumstances and often unfavourable trading environments,” Mr Park said. During the election campaign,

WA Farmers September 9, 2013

Survey on financial pressure now open

WAFarmers is inviting farmers and those operating farm enterprises to fill out a quick and easy survey to help build a profile of the lending practices of financial institutions in the rural sector. The survey will help determine the range of interest rates being applied to farm borrowings and whether farmers are facing additional pressures in their businesses. Both WAFarmers members and non-members are encouraged to fill out the survey, which contains only five questions

WA Farmers September 9, 2013

More funding needed to take advantage of Asian opportunities

Ahead of this weekend’s Federal election, WAFarmers is asking the next Federal government to make agricultural research and development a priority to provide industry with the best opportunity to meet the challenges of competing in the Asian region. WAFarmers President Dale Park said while the funding commitments made by both parties for agricultural research during the campaign were welcome, there was always room to do more in the vitally important sector. “Injecting funding into agricultural

WA Farmers September 5, 2013

WAFarmers to uncover true face of financial pressure

WAFarmers will unveil the true extent of financial pressure facing the State’s farmers by constructing a profile of interest rates being applied to the borrowings of farm enterprises. Amidst anecdotal evidence suggesting severe financial stress affects many in the agriculture industry, the profile will determine the true extent to which interest rates on farm borrowings are impacting on farm businesses. WAFarmers President Dale Park said there were concerns excessively high interest rates were being applied

WA Farmers September 2, 2013