April 2015

Following the previous success of Western Australian applicants, WAFarmers is encouraging all young people who are committed to the Australian beef industry to apply for the 2015 NAB Agribusiness Beef Industry Rising Champions Initiative. WAFarmers meat council member Hayley Goad was the WA State finalist in 2014, while Blythe Calnan and Stephanie Coombes, the 2013 and 2012 State finalists, became the overall national champions in their respective years.  The initiative is in its fifth year

WAFarmers has expressed concern over Brookfield Rail’s reported plans to increase access rates to the State’s grain freight rail network by up to 30 per cent. Brookfield Rail and Co-operative Bulk Handling (CBH) are currently in negotiations to agree on an interim access agreement for the State-owned rail network.  According to an article in today’s The West Australian newspaper, Brookfield Rail intends to increase charges, despite a recent rise in line with the consumer price

Coles has announced that it will allocate $50 million over five years in grants and interest-free loans to farmers who are keen to improve on-farm efficiency and develop new products.  The Coles Nurture Fund will be open to small and medium sized farm businesses, food producers and manufacturers. The grants and loans are available to help small entrepreneurs and innovative businesses to deliver better products to customers and improve how they get that product to

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) are reviewing chemicals and require feedback. The chemicals are listed below: Acephate Levamisole Aluminium phosphide (phosphine) Methomyl Amitrole Permethrin Carbofuran Phorate Chlorothalanil Picloram Cyanazine/simazine Propargite Dicofol Second generation anticoagulant rodenticides Dithiocarbamates (including mancozeb, metiram, propineb, thiram, zineb and ziram) Triazole fungicides (including propiconazole) Fenbutatin oxide Trichlorfon Hexazinone Please provide information on the following: The importance of any of these chemicals to you, including the availability of alternatives.

Recent media coverage of a Government crackdown on illegal workers has prompted WAFarmers to remind members it is imperative that their employees have valid and appropriate visas. It is a timely reminder for farmers whose seasonal workforce is often made up of visitors on working holidays from overseas.  The Australian Deputy Immigration Minister has stated that resources are now being re-directed to the 60,000 individuals that have overstayed their original visa. If an employee is

WAFarmers has lodged an official complaint with the Advertising Standards Bureau against the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ online advertisement which grossly misrepresents the practice of shearing. The Victorian Farmers Federation lodged a complaint this week and WAFarmers has taken similar action in support as it is vital that the industry works together against organisations that attack it. WAFarmers urges everyone to do the same and lodge a complaint against this misleading representation of the

WAFarmers has today launched a crowdfunding campaign to send Jona Weinhofen, the face of PETA’s latest anti-shearing campaign, to shearing school for a hands-on education about Australia’s wool industry. Weinhofen is the most recent celebrity to pose for PETA in a misleading advert which depicts shearing as a barbaric practice which is damaging to animals. The lamb pictured in the campaign is now widely acknowledged as being made of foam.  WAFarmers President Dale Park said the fake lamb

Cattle producers in the Great Southern should be alert for signs of a disease causing anaemia in cattle. Bovine anaemia due to the Theileria orientalis group (BATOG) is transmitted to cattle by bush ticks infected with a blood-borne parasite. Department of Agriculture and Food field veterinary officer Jenny Cotter said the bush tick was thought to be the main carrier, but other native ticks might also spread the disease. “The signs of BATOG vary and