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Cascade grain farmer Mark Walter with visa workers Ludwig and Gustav from Denmark, Europe.

backpackers are essentialPremiumWA farmers relieved as visa approvals trickle through

WA farmers are breathing a sigh of relief that visa approvals for farm workers are starting to trickle through after months of uncertainty following the Federal Government’s “backpacker crackdown”.

Melissa Pedelty

C-Wise CEO Greg Watts with some of their high quality multch.

opinion
opinion
OpinionPremium
opinion
Opinion: How many carbon problems should farmers solve?

If a farmer improves the carbon in their soil and can ultimately derive another income stream from doing so, fantastic. But carbon credits should be the bonus, not the reason for doing it, writes Greg Watts.

Greg Watts

The first load of the season arrives at CBH's Geraldton Port terminal last week.

harvest beginsPremiumHarvest has begun with 62.9t of canola dropped at Geraldton

Harvest has begun three weeks early this year after a dry winter period, with the first load delivered to Geraldton port last Tuesday.

Melissa Pedelty

Brittany Were, of Wagin, has been named the 2026 WA rural ambassador at the Perth Royal Show.

Perth Royal ShowPremiumPerth Royal Show: Brittany to represent WA at national level

A livestock scientist passionate about agricultural education has been named the 2026 rural ambassador at the Perth Royal Show. 

Bob Garnant

WA Farmers CEO Trevor Whittington.

OpinionPremiumOpinion: Australia is recruiting the wrong migrants

What we don’t need is more former international students graduating into an Australian passport while farmers can’t find a tractor driver at harvest, writes Trevor Whittington.

Trevor Whittington

Broomehill woolgrower Damien Boyle won this year's Perth Royal Show open shearing title, claiming a record 27th win at the Royal Agricultural Society of WA sheep Shearing and Woolhandling Competition.

Perth Royal ShowPremiumPerth Royal Show: Damien Boyle wins his 27th open title

Broomehill woolgrower Damien Boyle claimed his record 27th open shearing title at this year’s Perth Royal Show, demonstrating excellence on the boards and appealed for new entrants to pick up a handpiece.

Bob Garnant

WA farmers face fuel price uncertainty as harvest rolls around.

Fuel concernsPremiumFuel price uncertainty hits farmer’s pockets at harvest

WA farmers and rural transporters are feeling the pinch as fuel prices remain high in the lead up to harvest. 

Bob Garnant

Displaying the grand champion August shorn Poll Merino ewe, is handler Cameron Sutherland, Royal Agricultural Society of WA president Anne Stroud, and Belmont Park stud co-principal Raymond Edward.

Perth Royal ShowPremiumPerth Royal Show: Miling’s McLagan family take supreme title

Astute Merino breeder James McLagan has raised the bar at the Perth Royal Show taking out three major titles including the prestigious supreme exhibit of the Merino and Poll Merino section.

Bob Garnant

The Muralgarra woollen clothing label will feature at the Perth Royal Show's fashion parade.

Wool fashionPremiumWool Fashion Day to feature at the Perth Royal Show

The Perth Royal Show will host its newly branded Wool Fashion Day featuring five designers at the sheep shed on Friday, October 2.

Bob Garnant

Sheep producers are being urged to monitor stock following an increase in photosensitisation reports. 

Animal healthPremiumWA producers urged to monitor sheep for photosensitisation

Sheep producers are being urged to monitor stock following an increase in photosensitisation reports. 

Rebecca Nadge

Veteran volunteer David Ashfold has been crowned 2026 Legend of the Show.

AgriculturePremiumVeteran volunteer granddad crowned 2026 Legend of the Show

The Perth grandfather has made his legend status official after being crowned 2026 Legend of the Show, making him the second recipient of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA’s highest show accolade.

Jessica Evensen

Claire Ryan, Rabobank with Rod Birch, Coorow, and Rabobank Australia board member Christine Feldmanis.

Quarter centuryPremiumRabobank Geraldton branch celebrates 25 years

Farmers, agribusiness operators and members of the local agricultural community joined Rabobank to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the bank’s Geraldton branch.

Cranmore Park co-principal Kirsten Lefroy and father Bruce Lefroy, Grant Lupton and Matthew McKinley of Moore Park in Moora.

feeling woolyPremiumThe Lefroy family’s 76th on-farm ram sale tops at $4800

Ram buyers were chasing strong wool traits over strong meat traits for the first time in years at the 76th Cranmore Park Merino and Poll Merino stud sale, reflecting the confidence in the wool market.

Melissa Pedelty

A proposed biofuel refinery project in WA's Mid West aims to increase the State's production of canola.

Biofuel refineryPremiumWA Canola growers welcome biofuel refinery to lift demand

WA’s canola growers welcome the prospect of increased demand for their seed-oil crop based on obtaining a minimum benchmark price point of $800/tonne as they combat rising fertiliser and fuel prices.

Bob Garnant

Cowcher Agrigroup chief executive John McDonald.

exclusive
exclusive
as transparent as tin foilPremium
exclusive
Feed helps cost squeeze after live ex ban, but goes unfunded

A Williams commercial stock feed manufacturer is questioning the selection process of the Federal Government’s live sheep export transition package.

Melissa Pedelty

Agora Livestock head of markets Dean Hubbard.

Beyond the saleyardsPremiumBeyond the Saleyards: more lambs may mean more competition

More livestock doesn’t necessarily mean lower producer returns if increased supply also creates processing efficiencies, export opportunities and competition, writes Dean Hubbard.

Dean Hubbard

Morawa sheep farmers Rebecca and Andrew Moore said the State and Federal governments had missed the mark with the live sheep export transition grants.

exclusive
exclusive
missed the markPremium
exclusive
Wasn’t the outcome of the sheep export ban animal health?

Morawa sheep farmer Andrew Moore said the State and Federal Governments had missed the mark with the $140 million sheep industry transition assistance package.

Melissa Pedelty

South Stirling farmer Reece Curwen and Majuba Bistro's Andrea Love have spokenout about the proposed cuts to working holiday-maker visas.

backpacker capsPremium‘Devastating’: Caps on backpackers mark ruin for businesses

Proposed cuts to working holiday-maker visa approvals has been met with backlash by regional business operators and the City of Albany who say changes would cripple vital industries.

Melissa Sheil

Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council chief executive Mark Harvey-Sutton.

OpinionPremiumOpinion: The lesson from the live sheep transition mess

Compensation for a government decision should never be confused with vindication of that decision, writes Mark Harvey-Sutton.

Mark Harvey-Sutton

Georgia Welsh from Murdoch University is among PhD students who have received support for their studies.

Beyond the campusPremiumAg researchers to test their research in the real world

Emerging ag researchers will take their university studies beyond the campus and into WA farming communities as part of the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub’s bursary program.

Melissa Pedelty

Eligible cattle can now remain Meat Standards Australia-compliant after journeys more than three days longer than the previous road transport limit.

a win for the northPremiumNorthern producers win with new MSA transport pathway

WA’s northern and remote beef producers now have greater access to Australia’s world-leading meat grading system with a new transport pathway.

Melissa Pedelty

Adam Thomas, Hill Padua, buyer Don Alexander, Narrogin, Brad Groves, Elders, and auctioneer Craig Walker, Nutrien, with the second top-priced ram.

Rams in demandPremiumBuyers chase data-backed and easy-care rams at Hill Padua

Demand was solid at the annual Hill Padua on-property sale at Three Springs on September 21, with buyers seeking easy-care rams with dual-purpose traits.

Rebecca Nadge

Inaugural WAARC-GGA Honours Partnership Program scholarship recipient Chris Watts in the field at Kendenup. He undertook his Honours at Curtin University and was matched with Living Farm through the program.

Applications open PremiumApplications open for six scholarships for WA ag research

Six scholarships are up for grabs for students to carry out research that helps shape the future of Western Australian agriculture.

Rebecca Nadge

Nutrien agent Roy Addis, Trent James, Cam James, Zarah Squiers, and Elders auctioneer Graeme Curry.

it’s all in the figuresPremiumBuyers chase strong ASBVs at Squiers’ ram sale

Industry confidence was strong at the Squiers family’s annual ram sale, with buyers showing interest in rams with strong ASBVs.

Georgia Campion and Melissa Pedelty