October 2016

WA sheep and lamb producers are becoming increasingly disappointed with the constant price disparity paid by meat processors in the west for mutton, lamb and skins, as compared to the prices paid for the same products in the east.  With evidence to suggest that over the last 10 years, lamb prices in the west have been, in general, lower than in the east, WAFarmers challenges WA based meat processors to explain why this discounting occurs. 

WAFarmers is facilitating milk shipments to the east from the state’s out-of-contract dairy farmers to prevent the dumping of their unwanted milk during their transitional period. WAFarmers Dairy Section President Michael Partridge said the measure was only a short-term arrangement and would buy more time for industry and government to discuss export growth and opportunities. “Their only option at the moment is to pour the milk down the drain, so this temporary arrangement will prevent

WAFarmers and supporters of genetically modified crops are celebrating the repeal of the GM Free Areas Bill 2003 which was finally passed by the Western Australian State Government overnight. WAFarmers Grains Section President Duncan Young said it was a significant win for industry. “We are pleased this issue was resolved before government headed into caretaker mode in preparation for the State Election in March, and that other pressing agricultural issues can be the focus moving

As the three dairy farmers whose contracts with Brownes ended at the start of the month face the reality of exiting the industry, WAFarmers and the state’s dairy industry implore the State Government to come to a long term solution to prevent this happening again. The contracts ended on 1 October, with a mystery processor stepping in the following day and agreeing to collect the milk for a two week period. Despite ongoing negotiations during

Ahead of the flowering of jarrah in the next few months, the WAFarmers Beekeeping Section implores the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) to safeguard the future of the jarrah industry by implementing sustainable logging and fire prevention practices. WAFarmers Beekeeping Section President Leilani Leyland said there were approximately 200 jarrah sites in Western Australia with a potential retail value of $30 million in a flowering year, but activities by DPaW and the Forest Products

WAFarmers has joined the National Farmers Federation and state farming organisations in condemning the Australian Labor Party for referring the revised backpacker tax plan to the Senate Economics Committee for review. Two weeks after the Federal Government announced their intention to drop the proposed tax rate of 32.5 per cent to 19 per cent, the Labor Party today announced their intention to refer the backpacker tax to the Senate Economics Committee, a move which has

WAFarmers is pleased to offer members a discounted rate to participate in Australia’s Biggest Mental Health Check-in as part of our partnership with HBF. Through the check-in, individuals can track their own mental health through the most comprehensive psychological and physical mental health check-in the world has ever seen. There are two components to the testing; combining the most rigorous assessment tools with the world’s first sleep and circadian heart rhythm algorithm, HBF’s team of

The loss of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of crops due to severe weather, combined with a potential downgrade in quality, has prompted WAFarmers to call on the Premier to make the repeal of the GM Free Areas Bill 2003 a priority ahead of the State Election. The Bill passed through the Legislative Council in late June, but has not progressed further since then. WAFarmers Grains Section President Duncan Young said the uncertainty around the

WAFarmers and Rural Bank are calling for nominations from agricultural advocates who are making a difference in their community, for the 2016/2017 Western Australian Young Achiever Awards. The second annual event, which will be held in May next year, sees the establishment of an Agriculture Award, which is open to individuals involved in any sector of Western Australian agriculture. “The Western Australia Young Achiever Awards aim to acknowledge, encourage and, most importantly, promote the positive

A short term arrangement has been secured for the three Western Australian dairy farmers whose contracts with the processor Brownes expired overnight. “An arrangement has been put in place that will see the milk collected for the next two weeks, and during that time further negotiations will take place to come to a longer term solution,” WAFarmers Chief Executive Officer Stephen Brown said. “WAFarmers will continue to be involved in this process.” WAFarmers Dairy Council