The Federal Government’s soon-to-be released White Paper will recommend that farmers be encouraged to take up multi-peril crop insurance using financial incentives, according to an article published in The West Australian. WAFarmers senior vice president Tony York said the news is promising as the federally supported drought funding has often been inappropriate and difficult to apply in WA, rarely benefitting the State’s growers. “It is a logical incentive to encourage farmers to take up the

The Department of Agriculture and Food has advised WAFarmers that nominations are now open for the Grains, Seeds and Hay Industry Funding Scheme management committee and the Sheep and Goats Industry Funding Scheme management committee. The committees oversee biosecurity Industry Funding Schemes, using authorised funding arrangements for producers to raise funds to tackle priority pests and diseases. On advice from the industry, the committees determine what pests and disease threats require action and how best

The WA Training Awards recognise and reward outstanding achievements of apprentices, trainees and vocational students, and the contribution to training made by trainers, training organisations and employers. For the conditions of entry, click here. All applications must be submitted via the WA Training Awards application portal,. To access it, click here. The individual awards include WA Apprentice of the Year, WA Trainee of the Year and WA Trainer of the Year. More than $80 000

WAFarmers has been working with the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) to ensure the Fuel Tax Credits Scheme continues to benefit its members and the wider agricultural sector. Following calls for the Federal Government to make cuts to the scheme that provides a rebate on fuel used for off road purposes, affected industries including agriculture have taken a proactive approach to ensure the rationale behind the tax credit is fully understood by decision makers. WAFarmers is pleased

WorkSafe WA, a division of the Department of Commerce, has released an occupational health and safety plan for agriculture in partnership with industry stakeholders, including WAFarmers. Recognising that serious injury and fatality rates in agricultural workplaces are amongst the highest in WA, WorkSafe has released the ‘Agricultural Action Plan 2014 – 2016’ to  encourage employers and workers to ensure workplaces are safe. The publication highlights the OSH risks in agriculture, everyday conditions faced by farmers

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