November 2014

WAFarmers Dairy Council will be putting together a submission on the government green paper which is now out for public comment. The paper is  presented as a discussion of the possible options proposed by stakeholders for improving the competitiveness  of the sector. Government is looking for our views on the policy area ideas which will make the biggest difference to farmers to then go forward and become the White Paper. Comment is required in order

Fungicide seed dressing in 2015 will be critical in controlling the disease loose smut, which has become more prevalent in barley crops throughout the grain belt. The Department of Agriculture and Food has the latest information on loose smut control available online, including results from 2014 trials. Research officer Andrea Hills said the positive news was that the disease could be effectively controlled with registered fungicide seed treatments. This meant that growers did not have

With many farm businesses can own over 10 to 30 vehicles, there has been some evidence suggesting that re-registering or renewals can take up a lot of time, in some instances becoming a fortnightly occurrence.  Driver and Vehicle Services of the Department of Transport offers a bulk billing payment option for 10 or more vehicles registered under a single owner. This service allows vehicle owners to choose a common expiry date and align all their

WAFarmers and the Wheatbelt Railway Retention Alliance (WRRA) will today call for the State government to take urgent action on the current state of the rail freight lease agreement with Brookfield Rail, warning they will otherwise receive an annual invoice of more than $2 million in order for farmers to recover additional fees. WAFarmers President Dale Park and WRRA Chairman Greg Richards will be joined by supporters on the steps of Parliament House at 12.30pm

Grain growers, agronomists and researchers can get the latest information on pests and diseases which have impacted crops in 2014. The Department of Agriculture and Food is hosting an interactive webinar during which plant pathologists and entomologists will provide information and advice on prevalent crop pests. Department research officer Geoff Thomas said the webinar would provide valuable information to anybody associated with grains production in WA. “We are piloting the webinar as another tool to

Feedback is sought from grain growers in the northern Wheatbelt on an interactive pilot map which highlights and reports on Department of Agriculture and Food field research conducted in 2014. Development officer Andrew Blake said the pilot map was developed to provide a centralised site which included details about grains-related research, development and extension activities conducted by the department. Feedback on the web tool will drive future improvements. “The department’s agricultural research and development activities

WAFarmers extends its congratulations to WAFarmers Meat Section President Jeff Murray, who was last week elected Sheepmeat Council of Australia President. Below is the full statement from SCA: The Sheepmeat Council of Australia (SCA), the nation’s peak sheepmeat body, has elected Jeff Murray as its new President at the Council’s Annual General Meeting in Sydney this week. Jeff Murray, a prime lamb producer from Beverley in Western Australia, is excited about the opportunity to represent

Workforce Planning; Ensuring you have a productive, adaptable and engaged workforce In a market which is marked by changing conditions it is important that small businesses take a proactive approach to ensure they have a productive, adaptable and engaged workforce. Workforce planning allows you to plan your workforce to achieve at its best capacity. It allows you to review your current workforce and plan strategies for the future. Our presenter will highlight the benefits of