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Good rainfall totals across most parts of the grainbelt in late-August and early September have increased yield potential.

Growing potentialPremiumGrain growers in for a sharp finish

WA grain farmers are in for a sharp finish, with heat taking over as the biggest limiting factor for the forecast 23 million tonne harvest.

Melissa Pedelty

Demeter Grains chief executive and GIWA chair Andrew Bolt, at OATSPO 2026, Hillside.

Oats for DaysPremiumWest Aussie-grown oat demand grows across China and India

Demand for West Australian oats continues to grow in markets across China and India, reflecting the State’s “huge” increase in crop production despite the cereal’s price volatility.

Georgia Campion

While some are hailing Anthropic's massive data centre investment, others fear dire outcomes. (Joanna Kordina/AAP PHOTOS)

Countryman GrainPremiumBoom or bust? Farmers fear energy and water data drain

A state government and regional council want to power full steam ahead with a new data centre, but local farmers worry about being left behind.

Andrew Stafford

Esperance Distillery Co managing director and chief lemon squeezer James McCarthy-Price at the 2026 Newdegate Machinery Field Days.

Happy HourPremiumLocal farm flavour in WA’s home-grown beer and whisky

WA brewers and distillers are offsetting rising inflation and fluctuating grain prices by offering premiums to attract local producers.

Georgia Campion

WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis, pictured, has confirmed she is working with Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk to avoid any disruption to the State's grain trade as a result of new phosphine workplace exposure limits in December.

Trade DisruptionPremiumPhosphine deadline extension not ruled out by WA Government

WA’s agriculture minister has confirmed the State Government is working to ensure the continuation of the multi-billion-dollar grain trade as the deadline for new phosphine workplace exposure limits approaches.

Georgia Campion

An inquiry into the APVMA's June decision on Paraquat has been slammed by the Australian grain industry.

Chemical ReviewPremiumInquiry into APVMA’s paraquat review slammed as ‘calamity’

The Australian grain industry has slammed an inquiry into the chemical watchdog’s decision to not ban paraquat earlier this year, labelling it a “calamity” that undermines the independent regulator.

Georgia Campion

The MV Katy Oldendorff departs from CBH's Esperance Grain Terminal.

Grain HaltPremiumPhosphine limits threaten multi-billion dollar grain trade

WA’s multi-billion dollar grain trade is at risk of grinding to a halt at the height of this year’s harvest, with new phosphine exposure limits threatening to hold up the State’s second largest industry.

Georgia Campion

GRDC Harvester Set-up workshop in Carnamah in 2025.

hands-on learningPremiumWA farmers are saving harvesting days with free workshops

WA farmers are saving almost six days of harvesting and reducing losses after participating in leading grains research organisation’s harvester workshops, which will run again this year pre-harvest.

Melissa Pedelty

Yealering farmer Sarah Corke said she would be harvesting "incredibly low" this year after receiving minimal rainfall this winter crop season.

Have you ever seen the rainPremiumCrop output expected to fall amid poor weather conditions

West Australia’s winter crop production is expected to fall this year after a bout of poor weather conditions, with one Wheatbelt grower expecting to harvest “incredibly low” this year

Georgia Campion

Whitfert WA sales manager Phil Brooks and CSBP sales strategy and reliability manager Ben Sudlow.

Market UpdatePremiumFarmers warned of above average fert costs for next crop

Fertiliser suppliers have urged farmers to put their orders in early for next year’s winter crop as global supply disruptions continue to affect the market, with prices to remain elevated above average.

Georgia Campion

GRDC managing director Nigel Hart and chair Sharon Starick at the Dowerin Machinery Field Days.

New platformPremiumGRDC launch one-stop-shop for soils research

Australia’s leading grains research organisation is investing $7.4 million in a new online platform intended to be the one-stop shop for decades worth of soils research and knowledge.

Melissa Pedelty

CBH has marked its first bulk shipment of oats from the Port of Esperance.

Bulky ridePremiumCBH marks milestone bulk oats shipment from Esperance

WA’s largest grain handler has shipped its first bulk oat shipment to China from Esperance as demand for the cereal grows on the global market.

Georgia Campion

End of harvest 2025 at Mic Fels' Esperance property, including visa workers: Christian Skadborg, Emil Agerholm, Karl Kristian Rasmussen, Steffen Birk, Mads Dossing, Mikkel Doessing, Mic Fels and Lionel Richards.

another slapPremiumAgriculture visa applications deprioritised

A quiet panic is emerging among WA farmers as they come to terms with the Federal Government’s visa processing priorities, prompting calls for an overhaul to the system.

Melissa Pedelty

Ian and Murray Hall.

a new eraPremiumTwo brothers, two different farming enterprises

Three generations of Halls have farmed at Brookton but a split in ownership between brothers has resulted in two very different enterprises.

Melissa Pedelty

Rabobank senior grains and oilseeds analyst Vitor Pistoia said replacing imported protein feed ingredients with canola meal could create big opportunities for Australia’s crushing sector.

industry expansionPremiumAussie opportunity: replacing feed imports with canola meal

An agribusiness banking expert has identified WA as being crucial to expanding canola crushing capacity in Australia.

Melissa Pedelty

CBH Area 4 manager Luke Rushby, chief project delivery officer Sam Gliddon, and Zach Gonzales at CBH's Moora rapid rail outloading and siding project.

Make it Grain!PremiumCBH speeds up grain supply chain with Moora site upgrades

The recent completion of CBH’s rapid rail outloading and side project at Moora as part of a $200 million project will speed up the grain supply chain and market in time for the next harvest.

Georgia Campion

CBH chair Simon Stead, Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti, and CBH chief executive Ben Macnamara unveil CBH’s new fleet of narrow-gauge locomotives.

Grain on a TrainPremiumCBH unveils new rail fleet to meet bin-busting harvests

WA’s grain handling giant has unveiled its new fleet of locomotives in its bid to keep up with the State’s continuous bin-busting harvests and almost double its monthly tonnage capacity.

Georgia Campion

A canola crop in Moora this month.

Crop ResetPremiumWar bites WA crop size, harvest of more than 20Mt at risk

WA’s hope for a grain harvest exceeding 20 million tonnes has been put at risk by a lack of rain and cold weather in southern regions, while past fertiliser supply issues are starting to hit crop quality.

Georgia Campion

GrainGrowers chair and York famer Rhys Turton.

State of GrainPremiumState of Australian grain captured in industry snapshot

Australia’s grain industry has had record-breaking crops in the past five years to increase production by nearly 50 per cent, despite growers facing escalating hurdles thrown up by geopolitics.

Georgia Campion

GRDC crop protection manager – west Jonas Hodgson and DPIRD research scientist Sneha Sharma examine the new SclerotiniaLM app.

Lupin managementPremiumNew release app for lupin foliar fungai disease control

Lupin growers can now use digital app technology as a support tool in lupin management involving foliar fungicide application decisions.

Bob Garnant

Syngenta is pulling all paraquat prodcuts from Australia and New Zealand.

Paraquat pulledPremiumSyngenta pulls paraquat products from Australia, New Zealand

A global chemical manufacturer has confirmed it will pull all paraquat products in Australia and New Zealand following recent changes to regulations.

Rebecca Nadge

Neo CL has more than doubled its market share on last year.

time will tellPremiumChina to keep an eye on WA’s new barley variety

WA’s highest-yielding barley is being eyed off by Australia’s largest barley importer but is yet to meet the desired physical requirements.

Melissa Pedelty

The Grains Industry Association of WA’s 2026 barley rationalisation plan — called the WA Malt Barley Variety Receival Recommendations — was released at the GIWA Barley Forum on Tuesday.

barley potentialPremiumWA barley market dominated by one variety

WA’s barley market will be dominated by one variety in the next two years according to a recent report, prompting concerns for the future of the State’s export market.

Melissa Pedelty

Ella Lanyan of Demeter Grains, Timothy Giumelli of Bunge and Andrew Bolt of Demeter Grains.

beer and beefPremiumEntire WA supply chain attends barley forum

WA’s entire barley supply chain came together at the State’s peak annual barley sector event on Tuesday to discuss the future of the more than $1 billion industry.

Melissa Pedelty