Working together on weed surveillance – DAFWA

The Department of Agriculture and Food is calling for producer and community input into the development of a targeted weed surveillance program for the South West. The project will focus on 20 high priority declared weeds, declared under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act), such as kochia, golden dodder, wheel cactus and hoary cress which have a significant impact on agricultural productivity and production. Five of the 20 weeds will be chosen

WA Farmers January 9, 2015

Update on National Vendor Declaration phase out

The Cattle Council of Australia has released the following key points regarding the phase out of national vendor declarations (NVD). The Red Meat Advisory Council released a statement on Monday 4 August 2014 encouraging the industry-wide use of only the 0413 Cattle, EU Cattle, Sheep and Goat LPA National Vendor Declarations (LPA NVDs) for livestock movements from 1 February 2015. The statement encouraged the use of the latest LPA NVD versions to provide the most

WA Farmers January 8, 2015

EnergySafety releases Parkerville report – Department of Commerce

EnergySafety’s report into the pole failure that caused the Parkerville bushfire on January 12, released today, shows the private power pole failed because of rot and termites. The report follows the January 15 finding that the bushfire originated from the failure of a privately owned point-of-attachment pole (PA pole) at 180 Granite Road, Parkerville. When the pole toppled, it caused the customer’s submains cable to pull through the hole at the bottom of the main

WA Farmers December 19, 2014

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from WAFarmers

WAFarmers President Dale Park has a message for our members. The video can be seen by clicking here.

WA Farmers December 19, 2014

Grow your knowledge of soils this summer – DAFWA

Farmers planning the management of soil organic matter over summer for the 2015 growing season are encouraged to refer to a practical guide published by the Department of Agriculture and Food. ‘Managing Soil Organic Matter: A Practical Guide’ was developed to support the profitability and sustainability of the State’s broadacre cropping and pasture-based farms. Funding for the guide was provided by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the Australian Government, via its Action

WA Farmers December 19, 2014

South-West Food Processing Precinct report released – DAFWA

Waterloo, near Bunbury, will be investigated as a potential host for a South West agri-food processing precinct, after being identified as the preferred location in a comprehensive planning study. The South West Food Processing Precinct report assessed six possible sites in the South West region for suitability as an agri-food processing precinct. The report was commissioned by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA), Landcorp and the South West Development Commission (SWDC), and

WA Farmers December 18, 2014

Nepal visit builds foot-and-mouth disease knowledge – DAFWA

A specialised training program involving Western Australian veterinarians is helping build the State’s capacity to respond to emergency animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Veterinary officers from the Department of Agriculture and Food have taken part in a real-time training program run by EuFMD – a regional body of the European Commission for the Control of FMD. Department veterinary officers Kevin Hepworth, stationed in Geraldton, Rod Thompson (Moora), Ashley Jordan (Northam), Tom De Ridder

WA Farmers December 18, 2014

Dangerous solar dc isolating switches (NHP brand) – Department of Commerce

EnergySafety has issued a public warning about dangerous switches used in some solar systems installed between July 2013 and 10th October 2014. Director of Energy Safety Ken Bowron said today the switches formed part of solar photo-voltaic installations. “They are used to disconnect the current produced by solar panels so electricians can work safely on the electrical installation of a home or business,” Mr Bowron said. “The switches listed below are faulty and the supplier

WA Farmers December 18, 2014

Old National Vendor Declarations to be phased out

The Red Meat Advisory Council of Australia has issued a collective industry wide agreement to phase out all old versions of the Livestock Production Assurance National Vendor Declaration (LPA NVD) up to and including the 2012 version. The Western Australian Meat Marketing Co-operative (WAMMCO) supports the phasing out of old versions of the National Vendor Declaration and will implement the industry wide agreement from 1 February, 2015. If old versions of the LPA NVD are

WA Farmers December 17, 2014

Sheep Welfare Survey opens

The Animal Welfare Science Centre has launched the Sheep Welfare Survey in conjunction with the University of New England, Sheep CRC and Meat & Livestock Australia. The survey aims to establish what producers, industry experts, scientists and the general public consider to be important sheep welfare issues. The survey is also concerned with how well issues relating to the on-farm welfare of grazing sheep are managed in Australia. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes

WA Farmers December 16, 2014