March 2015

Farmers can update their skills without leaving the property if they partake in one of the live online webinars offered by Dairy Australia. To access the live webinar, a computer or tablet that has a compatible web browser and an internet connection is required. The webinars are interactive and allow all participants to give, receive and discuss information on a range of topics, including automated heat detection, oestrus synchrony, mycoplasma biosecurity awareness and pre-milking teat

Western Australian cattle producers will continue to receive assistance from the Department of Agriculture and Food cattle National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) helpdesk until June 2017 following a two-year funding extension from the WA cattle industry. The extension is being jointly funded from the repealed Cattle Industry Compensation Fund held in trust and managed by the Cattle Industry Management Committee (CIMC) and the Cattle Industry Biosecurity and Food Safety Association fund. CIMC chair David Jarvie

Farmers and the general public are being encouraged to use the free app from DAFWA, MyPestGuide, to identify and report pests. The free app was launched in August 2014 and can be downloaded through the Apple iTunes store for iphones and the Google Play Store for android devices. It provides users with an identification guide, allowing them quickly search for a pest according to the crop it’s found in, the damage observed, its type or

Main Roads WA has introduced changes to Western Australian legislation, introducing ‘Chain of Responsibility’ provisions to bring WA in line with many of the eastern states. The changes apply from 27 April, 2015. These include regulations which will require drivers to use approved webbing, tie-downs or certified rope. However, the main changes include monitoring the chain of responsibility. For detailed fact sheets that provide specific information on the roles and responsibilities of specific parties within the road transport chain,

The AgConnectWA committee will launch an initiative this week which aims to connect consumers with the farmers whose product they are purchasing. Quick response codes, which can be scanned by anyone with a smart phone, will be placed on supermarket shelves next to products including beef, lamb and dairy goods. The codes will direct consumers to a mobile phone enabled website (www.agconnectwa.com) which contains information about production processes, farm case studies and Australian farm gate

WAFarmers is concerned about new legislation currently being debated in the Upper House which potentially criminalises peaceful protests, including those staged by farmers on issues affecting agriculture. The Criminal Code Amendment (Prevention of Lawful Activity) Bill 2015, introduced to the Legislative Council, has attracted criticism for its broad language, reversal of the onus of proof and its application on both public and private land.  WAFarmers President Dale Park has expressed his concern about the potential

WAFarmers is working on a number of submissions at the moment. Executive Officers Maddison McNeil and Kim Haywood recently made a submission regarding the Industry Funding Schemes. Click here to view the two-page document. Executive Officer Maddison McNeil also recently attended the GIWA Crop Updates, the GRDC Grower Research and Development Forum in Canberra and the GPA GRDC consult meeting. Work is currently being done on the Draft State Biosecurity Strategy, due March 13, and