March 2014

WAFarmers has received calls from members expressing concern about the seemingly unnecessary delay in the payout of Ravensdown shares.  As a response, WAFarmers has written to the board of Ravensdown Ltd on behalf of members requesting clarity to the terms and schedule under which WA shareholders can expect the redemption of Ravensdown shares.  This follows correspondence from Ravensdown to its members regarding the purchase of Ravensdown’s WA operations by Louis Dreyfus Commodities and that the

WAFarmers reminds its members in the Wheatbelt and Great Southern areas that the Main Roads Information sessions are currently running over the next two weeks. The Department of Transport’s Agricultural Advisory Group, which includes WAFarmers, with the generosity of Main Roads WA, has organised the sessions to provide valuable information to farm operators regarding the contentious Compliance & Enforcement ‘Chain of Responsibility’ legislation which is due to be implemented through out WA. Furthermore, valuable information

WAFarmers is seeking to involve dairy farmers in the organisation throughout 2014 with support from national body Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF). One day each month, WAFarmers Dairy Executive Officer Stephanie Tarlinton, accompanied by a member of the Dairy Council, will travel to the farms of members and non-members as part of a Dairy Members Day initiative. Dairy Section President Phil Depiazzi said the visits would be an opportunity for two-way communication between the peak lobby

WAFarmers Beekeeper members are urged to vote on the proposal to reform and increase the honey producer and export levy.  The Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) is proposing to raise the honey levy from the current 2.3c/kg to 4.6c/kg on 1 July 2015.  This will be a 2.3c/kg raise in biosecurity levies and will raise an additional $460,000 per annum for AHBIC to contribute to biosecurity activities across Australia.  This will fund the development

In 2012 WAFarmers welcomed the the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority’s (APVMA) announcement that it would review the science on pesticides and bee health. There have been concerns in various parts of Europe and USA about the potential for insecticides to impact on the health of honey bees and other insect pollinators in the environment. It is thought that a new generation of pesticides called neonicotinoids may play a role in the Colony Collapse

WAFarmers recognised eight people and one organisation for their service to the Federation and the agricultural industry during its annual Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony, sponsored by CBH Group, last week. The Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony ended the two-day WAFarmers 2014 Annual Conference, sponsored by Coles, which was held at The Vines Resort and Country Club on March 19 – 20. Former WAFarmers President Trevor De Landgrafft was awarded life membership to the Federation

Following a meeting with Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce today, WAFarmers is calling for immediate action to be taken by the State government to ensure struggling Western Australian farmers can access the Federal drought assistance package as soon as possible.  WAFarmers agreed with a suggestion by Minister Joyce that the roll out of loans in Western Australia should be administered by the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority (QRAA), as in Queensland and the Northern Territory, President