January 2015

WAFarmers urges the State Government to assist CBH and Brookfield Rail in their negotiations which, if positive, would see the Tier 3 Rail lines reopened. As the owner of the rail, the Government has a responsibility to ensure that the asset is utilised. The Government has yet to respond to the Economics and Industry Standing Committee report into the management of the State’s grain freight network which was tabled in October. WAFarmers President Dale Park

Under the APC Act 1988, and on behalf of its Committees, the Commission is seeking proposals/applications for initiatives or projects which will benefit Western Australian Fee for Service paying producers. Initiatives or projects gaining Committee approval are funded through Fee for Service collected by the relevant Committee. APC Committees which can provide services to producers are: avocado, beekeepers, eggs, pork, pome, citrus & stone fruit, strawberries, table grapes, potatoes and vegetables. Services can be provided

Sheep producers looking to boost lambing rates can access training as part of a project to grow the sheep flock in Western Australia. Training under the Lifetime Ewe Management (LTEM) program equips participants with best practice management principles for ewe management to increase on-farm productivity and profitability. The training has been on offer previously but is undergoing a renewed push as part of the Sheep Industry Business Innovation project, made possible by Royalties for Regions

WAFarmers has welcomed the announcement that a new strain specific footrot vaccine for sheep, developed by Sydney University, has been approved for use after months of negotiation. Since the previous footrot vaccine, Coopers’ Footvax, was banned in Australia in 2008, sheep owners have struggled to control and eradicate footrot. The only preventative practices available are foot paring/foot bathing, antibiotic treatment under specific conditions and the culling of flocks under a destocking regime. The Australian Pesticides

Please click on the link below to access the Notice of Motion for changes to the WA Farmers Federation (Inc) Constitution. Notice of Motion If you have any questions regarding the matter please contact the WAFarmers office on (08) 9486 2100 or email [email protected].

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA has been working in conjunction with Agrifood Alliance WA to provide advice and set up pilot programs for employing trainees in the Agrifood sectors. There are approximately 80 apprenticeships and 400 traineeships available in WA. Businesses that offer an apprenticeship or traineeship may be eligible for Commonwealth Government incentive payments and other financial benefits or funding (subject to eligibility criteria). ApprentiCentre manages the apprenticeship and traineeship system in