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Myalup vegetable grower Peter Ivankovich with carrots almost ready for harvest in 2012.

“Not feasible” PremiumMylup farmer questions plans to level beloved pine forest

A South West farmer has talked down the proposed plans to level beloved pine forest for new market gardens, saying it makes no financial sense.

Craig Duncan

Overland’s new feed mill joint venture in Bullsbrook with WA’s Thompson and Redwood.

AgriculturePremiumWestpork and Dardanup Butchering folded into new flagship

Overland Group combines the two businesses and a joint venture to build a $60 million feed lot in Bullsbrook, but its backers are eyeing other growth and export opportunities.

Sean Smith

Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis (2nd from left) and Buy West Eat Best's Melissa Worthington (far right), with WA farmers at the Perth Royal Show.

state politicsCommentsOctober declared the month to buy West

West Australians are being urged to show their loyalty at the checkout, with a new campaign raising awareness of the symbol guiding shoppers to buy local.

Jessica Page

Grain Producers Australia chair Barry Large.

SURVEY LAUNCHEDPremiumWA farmers urged to vote in ‘historic’ grain levy review

WA grain growers are being urged to take part in a landmark national consultation process that could shape how hundreds of millions of dollars in farmgate levies are managed and spent each year. 

Cally Dupe

The outbreak has heightened tensions between the countries ahead of a planned review of trade ties. (AP PHOTO)

AgriculturePremiumUS criticises Mexican handling of screwworm near border

The US has blamed Mexico for inadequate screwworm control near the border, as the pest poses a multibillion-dollar risk to the American beef industry.

Leah Douglas and Cassandra Garrison

Amazon's low-earth orbit satellites are hoped to connect some of Australia's most remote areas. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

AgriculturePremiumConcerns over sovereignty, risk in satellite internet

Satellite technology has advanced rapidly as "constellations" promise better internet in remote areas, but the transformation is not without risk.

Jack Gramenz

Cocoa production is forecast to outpace consumption by about 186,000 tonnes in the 2025-26 season that starts next month.

AgriculturePremiumCocoa’s historic crunch eases further as harvests pick up

The world’s cocoa crunch is finally showing signs of a turnaround, as better harvests in South America and waning demand put supplies on track for a back-to-back surplus.

Mumbi Gitau

Output targets might be met ahead of schedule but Australian farmers may not be seeing any benefits. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

AgriculturePremiumFarming export success sows seeds of growth goal reset

A $100 billion target is expected to be met by Australian agriculture, but whether it remains the best goal has been questioned at a farming conference.

Jack Gramenz

Australia’s top service technician Daniel Popovici works at the AFGRI Equipment dealership in Albany.

TOP SERVICEMANPremiumFrom Romania to Albany: Service tech named Australia’s best

Daniel Popovici never would have believed that when he started his career in Romania a decade ago, he would one day be named Australia’s best service technician.

Melissa Sheil

Ryan Hair CEO Covalent Lithium, Premier Roger Cook, Minister for Ports David Michael and Ian Hansen MD WesCEF look around the plant site

InfrastructureCommentsPremiumCook hopes to pick a winner in development revamp

Just 13 of 45 projects given priority status by the WA Government have entered construction, adding pressure on looming State development reforms to deliver a better result. See the full list of 45 projects.

Simone Grogan & Matt Mckenzie

Grain grower advocacy groups want Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins to cut the grower levy paid to the Grains Research Development Corporation.

LEVY DEBATEPremiumShould farmers pay a lower levy rate to GRDC?

WA’s three main grain grower advocacy groups have penned a letter to Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins, calling for an cut to the grower levy paid to the Grains Research Development Corporation.

Cally Dupe

Dyson Jones Wool Marketing Services WA manager Peter Howie

WOOL PRICESPremiumWool prices surge to 2.5-year high as supply dwindles

WA farmers are netting wool prices nearly 20 per cent higher than this time last year, as the Western Market Indicator surges to 1480c/kg — its highest level in 2.5 years. 

Cally Dupe

Kwinana port.

Intensive NegotiationsPremiumKwinana pay negotiations continue to drag at Fair Work

A wage war between CBH Group and wharfies at the Kwinana Grain Terminal will continue to behind closed doors this week with the Fair Work Commissioner stepping in to mediate negotiations.

Georgia Campion

Harvest at Mindarabin.

AgricultureCommentsPremiumWA farmers set to harvest bumper 23 million tonne crop

WA grain farmers look set to harvest a crop bigger than 20 million tonnes for the fourth time in five years, after breaking through what many thought was an unachievable barrier for the first time in 2021.

Cally Dupe

Nicola Forrest and Andrew Forrest at Minderoo Station.

AgriculturePremiumForrests denied access to MinRes docs in water serpent spat

Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s legal bid to slither past a mythological water serpent has hit a snag after their company was blocked from probing a deal between Mineral Resources and an Aboriginal group.

Adrian Rauso

Top: WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis. Bottom: Federal live sheep export transition advocate Dr Chris Rodwell. Right: Sheep at the Katanning Saleyards.

COMMITTED TO HELPPremiumLive sheep export transition advocate wants ‘best’ outcome

The man tasked with helping the Australian sheep industry prepare for the end of the live export trade says he is committed to “ensuring the best possible transition” for the State’s sheep industry. 

Cally Dupe

CBH Group's upgraded Broomehill receival site.

ContractingPremiumCBH’s $22m rapid rail build blue wends through Supreme Court

The State’s biggest grain handler is refusing to back down despite a big setback in a knotty $22 million contract quarrel over the build of a rapid loading station in the Great Southern.

Simone Grogan

No strangers to striking, French farmers will hold a day of action to protest an EU trade deal. (AP PHOTO)

AgriculturePremiumFrench farmers' union calls for day of protest

France's new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is facing multiple protests and strikes called by French trade and farmers' unions.

Dominique Vidalon

Ships berth at Kwinana bulk jetty.

TradeCommentsPremiumPlea to fix jetty costing shippers $70m and choking growth

WA’s unassuming but critically important industrial lifeline —- the Kwinana bulk jetty — is so congested it is acting as a handbrake on the State’s economy.

Ben Harvey

Union members will be locked out of the Kwinana Grain Terminal until further notice after announcing a five-day 24-hour rolling work strike.

Grain InterruptionsCommentsPremiumCBH initiates union members lockout following work strike

Industrial action at CBH Group’s biggest grain export terminal has reached fever pitch, with the co-operative initiating a lockout of all employees covered by a proposed EBA “until further notice”. 

Georgia Campion

Fresh Australian apples will soon be bound for Canada under a newly negotiated trade agreement by the Federal Government in a win for the $680 million industry. Inset: Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins.

Apple TradeCommentsPremiumTrade deal opens new apple opportunities to Canada

Fresh Australian apples will soon be bound for Canada under a newly negotiated trade agreement by the Federal Government in a win for the $680 million industry.

Georgia Campion

Australia’s gross gross agricultural production is forecast to rise by $685 million in the financial year.

BusinessPremiumRecord forecast for Australia's world-class agriculture

Australia's farmers and producers are on track to deliver a record result, with new figures showing the industry will pass $100 billion this financial year.

Fraser Barton

Farmers are on the frontline of climate change - and are adapting to meet the challenge. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

AgriculturePremiumPolling 'farmers, not Facebook' reveals climate reality

Most farmers view climate change as a major threat to their businesses and are already dealing with unpredictable growing seasons and unusual rainfall patterns.

Poppy Johnston

Meat and Livestock Australia released its latest cattle industry projections on September 1.

BEEF BOOM Premium Beef Boom: Aussie farms to achieve record production

Australia’s beef industry is poised to hit record production levels this year, as demand for the “best beef in the world” continues to soar.

Cally Dupe