April 2014

The WAFarmers Beekeepers Executive will be meeting with representatives from the Department of Environment and Regulations as well as Department of Parks and Wildlife to discuss longer clearing permits attached to apiary sites, access to heavy equipment to clear sites, rezoning of apiary sites and its consequences on industry, access to sites in the event of a disease or pest outbreak. Members wishing the Bee Executive to consider other matters dealing with apiary sites are

WAFarmers beekeepers section has made a submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Future of Beekeeping and Pollination Industries in Australia. The submission covered areas of food security, environment and financial aspects of the beekeeping industry in Western Australia.  Current challenges facing the industry both domestically and internationally were outlined as well as matters which may impact its future sustainability.  Areas of biosecurity, truth in labelling and research and development also received attention.  There have

The WAFarmers Grains Council congratulates Wally Newman on his appointment to Deputy Chairman and Chairman-Elect of the CBH Group Board.  Mr Newman will become Chairman from mid-August when the current Chairman, Neil Wandel, resigns.  The Council extends its appreciation to Mr Wandel for his work with CBH on behalf of growers which, among other things, strengthened CBH’s co-operative structure and saw investments into rail rolling stock resulting in a seven percent reduction in freight rates

Submissions are being sought on the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment (Removing Re-Approval and Re-Registration) Bill 2014.  The Bill implements the Australian Government’s 2013 election commitment to remove the requirement for agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines re-registration.  This will be achieved by removing end dates for approvals and last renewal dates for registrations so that approvals will no longer end after a particular period and registrations may be renewed perpetually.  It will also remove

The CBH Group is in the process of rolling out a new grower identification system, GRID, in order to protect growers’ personal and farm business information. The system will provide growers with the ability to manage their personal and farm business information online, including who is authorised to act on behalf of the business.  The process will involve a once only identification check for any individual who is connected to a farming business, as well

Mark your diary for April 8th, 9th and 10th 2014 as WAFarmers Dairy Council together with Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) will be will be touring WA. Over the 3 days there will be farm meetings held in various areas with all dairy farmers invited to attend to hear from WAFarmers and ADF personnel about issues and policies they are working on and to share thoughts on opportunities and issues which impact WA. This will be

WAFarmers President Dale Park will travel to China next week as part of a delegation to boost Australia’s trade profile in the country. The trip will be an opportunity to promote Western Australian agriculture in China and put the industry front and centre in China’s future plans to feed its massive population, Mr Park said.  “If the industry is to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by Asia, it is essential for key figures