WAFarmers Grains section made a submission on the Inquiry into the Australian Grains Network to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Reference Committee on August 8, 2014. It provided an opportunity for the WAFarmers Grains Council to comment on the recent Tier 3 rail closure and the future of the grains industry in relation to supply chain efficiencies, grain marketing and export arrangements, competition constraints and transparency. Some key points of the submission

The endorsed copy of the Best Practice for the Transportation for Open Entrance Beehives can be downloaded by clicking here: Best Management Practice for the Transportation of Open Entrance Beehives April 2014. This was endorsed by AHBIC at the recent AGM. It is important that beekeepers do adopt this practice as there have been instances of irresponsible actions by beekeepers in leaving bees at petrol stations when refuelling and also at road works.  These irresponsible

Growers are reminded to investigate uneven crops to check if plant parasitic nematodes are present, after root lesion and burrowing nematodes were found in the Moora area. Department of Agriculture and Food nematologist Sarah Collins recently visited the area where a number of wheat and barley crops have been damaged by burrowing (Radopholus) nematodes and by root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus, RLN). Samples were diagnosed by AGWEST Plant Laboratories as the RLN species Pratylenchus penetrans. “This was

WAFarmers President Dale Park and Transport spokesman Bill Cowan met with Transport Minister Dean Nalder earlier this week to seek clarification on some aspects of the Tier 3 issue. The outcomes of the meeting indicate a change of attitude from government towards the issue. One result of the meeting is that there will be a full investigation of the future transport needs of the entire southwest land division for the next 20 to 30 years

WAFarmers is making a submission on the senate inquiry into Environmental Biosecurity. The Environment and Communications Reference Committee is investigating the adequacy of arrangements which prevent the entry and establishment of invasive species likely to harm the natural environment of Australia. The inquiry is broad, covering risks posed by any exotic organism relevant to the WA grains industry, and potential for preventatives and improvements in the current system. WAFarmers is seeking member feedback on any

Muresk Institute is hosting free herbicide and foliar disease diagnostic field days from Monday August 18 – Friday August 22. Please see the flyer for more information.  To register your attendance, either: • complete the booking form available at: http://www.dtwd.wa.gov.au/trainingproviders/mureskinstitute/newsandevents/Pages/default.aspx    or • email [email protected]     or • call 1300 994 031