News

InnovationCarbon credit “game changer” for WA farmers

A new WA business is set to help broadacre farmers tap into the burgeoning global market for carbon offsets.

Jenne Brammer

Big spendersWA farm machinery sales jump

WA farmers are set to splash the cash on machinery this year amid soaring confidence and a suite of incentives.

Jenne Brammer

‘Breathtaking’ visionMove the Royal Show to the heart of the city: Basil

City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas has offered an ‘alternative home’ to the Perth Royal Show, as organisers claim they’re being pushed out of Claremont.

Charlotte Elton

Water securityWheatbelt farmers’ interest in desalination grows

A pair of well-known WA sheep farmers have installed a large-scale desalination unit to drought-proof their farm after one of their driest winters on record.

Cally Dupe

Urea plansOil and gas junior aims to end “expensive” urea imports

The number of companies aiming to cash in on WA’s fertiliser boom is growing with an oil and gas junior unveiling plans to develop a urea plant at Narngulu, near Geraldton.

Cally Dupe & Sean Smith

Ship BanFaulty ship gets the old heave-ho

A bulk livestock carrier caught travelling through Australian waters with a huge hole in its hull has been banned from our shores for two years — the longest ban ever handed out.

Tiffanie Turnbull & Geoff Vivian

OLD MERVSHarvest rain day sparks Kojonup pair’s music journey

The pair — who grew up on mixed cropping and sheep operations in the Great Southern town — began jamming in between working on their family farms.

Shannon Verhagen & Lily Hoffmann

Water rowGrower protest on water licence curb

Farmers in one of WA’s premier food bowl regions are calling for new restrictions on their water licences to be overturned.

Jenne Brammer

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Major issues
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Inspection blitz reveals WA farms failing safety test

More than 100 safety notices have been dished out following an inspection blitz by WorkSafe of farms across the State, with foreign-owned regional properties found to be the worst offenders.

Phil Hickey

Industry hitFires sting WA honey industry

It could take up to a decade for WA’s $30 million commercial honey bee industry to fully recover from the impact of the recent bushfires near Gingin.

Jenne Brammer

Road rowState Govt backflips on Port Hedland roadworks

The State Government has backtracked on plans to build a road at Port Hedland which would have cut off access to a cattle exporting facility.

Jenne Brammer

Farm shuffleWongan farm and piggery sold

Third generation farmer Michael Brennan and wife Sue Middleton have privately sold their Wongan Hills farm and piggery business.

Jenne Brammer

CRUELTY CHARGESHallett animal cruelty charges adjourned to February

A legal showdown is looming between the State Government’s top lawyers and a high-profile farming advocate over animal cruelty charges levelled against former conservative politician Nigel Hallett.

Neale Prior

record tradeBunbury Port produces record figures

Bunbury port has produced a record trade result for the month of December after exceeding 1.8 million tonnes in exports for the first time in its history.

Nicolette Barbas

Cotton ginState allocates $4m to boost cotton gin power supply

WA cotton farmers are in a race against the clock to build the first cotton gin west of Queensland as their Northern Territory counterparts also inch closer to the goal.

Cally Dupe

Police warningTop cop’s plea after teen dies in Mt Barker crash

A 17-year-old girl was killed in the second fatal crash near Mt Barker in three weeks, with officer-in-charge Sgt David Johnson urging drivers to ‘take extra care because it is not worth your life’.

Kellie Balaam & Cameron Newbold

WATCHHilarious new lamb ad targets borders, ScoMo

Australia’s beloved annual lamb ad is a must-watch, with a hilarious clip taking the mickey out of Scott Morrison and border restrictions.

Evin Priest

Crayzy pricesCrayfishers want to keep local market happy

WA crays are about to become a popular part of summer dining, after the industry revealed it was working on a plan to keep an affordable domestic supply flowing.

Jenne Brammer

Local supplyWA dairy industry sour over imported milk

WA dairy farmers are outraged that Coles imported milk from South Australia during December because it could not source enough locally for its own brand product.

Jenne Brammer

Freight RouteFreight route project marks major upgrade

The drivers of the ambitious Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Route project are celebrating after finishing the first major upgrade project last month.

Cally Dupe

‘Not unjust’WA Pastoralist jailed over fatal crash loses appeal

A well-known WA pastoralist, who was jailed over a crash that killed two people and left two children orphaned, will spend at least another eight months behind bars after his appeal failed.

Cally Dupe

BARKLY PEARLDamaged livestock ship cops 24 month ban

Maritime Safety Authority issues most severe ban order ever.

Geoff Vivian

Harvest 2020-21Deliveries might stop but the action sure won’t

The action won’t stop when harvest wraps up at three of CBH’s key delivery sites, with multimillion-dollar storage upgrades planned this year.

Cally Dupe

Fire seasonBlazes create a fiery start to the new year

WA firefighters have spent the past week battling raging bushfires fuelled by high temperatures and howling winds in what has been a horror start to 2021.

Shannon Verhagen