April 2014

  ADF Tour: WAFarmers CEO Peter Nolin, Dairy Executive Officer Stephanie Tarlinton, ADF Policy Manager Irene Clarke, ADF Policy Officer Rachel Jones and WAFarmers Dairy Section President Phil Depiazzi. Last week the WAFarmers dairy council hosted Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) Senior Policy Manager Irene Clarke and Policy Officer Rachel Jones on a tour of the dairy regions in the south west. The tour commenced with meeting WAFarmers CEO Peter Nolin to discuss the issues ADF

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is urging primary producers and associated businesses to take advantage of assistance it’s offering to get their fuel tax credit (FTC) claims right. The ATO’s Pauline Zdjelar says “The online tools and information on our website helps them get their fuel tax credits claims right and avoid costly mistakes, such as claiming for fuel they use in light vehicles (4.5 tonne GVM or less) when they travel on public roads.

Members are reminded that applications for Farm Finance Concessional Loans for this financial year close on April 30. In a statement, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said the concessional loans support producers who are experiencing debt-servicing difficulties, but are considered financially viable in the longer term. “The $420 million Farm Finance concessional loans scheme allows eligible farm businesses to restructure existing debt or undertake productivity enhancement activities through access to low interest loans. It’s all about

The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Australia and Japan is the most liberalising bilateral trade agreement that Japan has ever concluded.  The agreement is said to deliver benefits to Australian farmers.  In the agreement the areas of bees, dairy and honey has been included.  Beef: The tariff on frozen beef will be cut to 19.5 per cent on full implementation. There will be significant front-end loading, with an eight percentage point cut in the first

It is estimated that the United Kingdom could have reduced their devastating 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease by 30-50% if they had implemented a national livestock standstill earlier. The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) is working with industry to enhance preparedness for a livestock standstill as part of a national program called Exercise Odysseus. Find out how a standstill would impact on your business by visiting the DAFWA website and: taking a

WAFarmers members are encouraged to take the opportunity to have their say on the management of WA’s freight rail network.  The Economics and Industry Standing Committee are calling for submissions before they report on whether the current lease arrangements and management of the Western Australian freight rail network comprising Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 lines facilitate or hamper state development.  In particular, the Committee will investigate:  the recent strategic directions and policy decisions

WAFarmers has today launched a website to share the positive and factual story behind live export from the perspective of producers.  The website, Better Live Export (www.betterliveexport.com), aims to clarify the abundance of negative and misleading information about the live trade and animal welfare standards in the public domain.  “It is important for the public to understand that animal welfare is central to the practices of all farmers in the sector – without strong animal

WAFarmers is calling on the peak body for Australia’s oil and gas exploration industry to formalise its position when it comes to exploring on farmland.  As the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) holds its annual conference and exhibition this week, it is the opportune time to consolidate the industry’s position when it comes to land access, compensation and rehabilitation regarding farmland, WAFarmers Senior Vice President Tony York said.  “Ideally, WAFarmers would like to

WAFarmers has called for the interests of the agricultural community to be considered as the State government inquires into the future of recreational hunting in WA.  In a submission to the inquiry into the potential environmental contribution of recreational hunting systems, WAFarmers has asked for any future hunting system to target feral and pest animals while also considering the safety of farmers.  “Farmers in Western Australia face huge financial losses through the impacts of feral