Home
Search
thewest.com.au

Countryman

Not Supplied

financeTreasurer grilled on $3m super tax fears

Labor has come out swinging in defence of its controversial changes to superannuation taxation, calling for a “bit of perspective”.

Cameron Micallef

The man was fined for setting yabby traps around a dam on a Wickepin farm.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
CourtPremium
The West Australian exclusive
WA man fined for stealing yabbies from farms

A West Aussie who ‘just wanted yabbies to eat with his mum’ has been slapped with a fine for trespass and stealing.

Hannah Whitehead

DFV vice-president Eckhart Nine, DFV Veterinarian Dr. Farina Mieloch, Platinum Award Winner Danny Ciampini of Mondo Doro, AMIC smallgoods chairperson Franz Knoll, AMIC board director Stacey McKenna, and AMIC general manager smallgoods Oliver Stankovski.

WA meatsSausage connoisseurs snag international recognition

Two Western Australian sausage connoisseurs have taken top honours at an international competition in Germany for their European-inspired speciality meats.

Melissa Pedelty

WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis and WAMMCO Katanning plant manager Marc Chambers standing where the WAMMCO expansion will take place.

ABATTOIR BOONWAMMCO upgrades bolstered by $12m State Government loan

WA’s biggest sheep abattoir has taken out a $12 million loan with the State Government to turbocharge a $50 million capital works program expected to boost its processing capacity by a third. 

Cally Dupe

Ross Hooper from Zanthorrea Nursery.

GIDGEGANNUP SMALL FARM FIELD DAYGidgegannup Small Farm Field Day: Up the Garden Path returns

The Up The Garden Path section will return to the Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day for a second year.

Cally Dupe

Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day chairwoman Penny Morgan.

GIDGEGANNUP SMALL FARM FIELD DAYHear from Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day’s Penny Morgan

On behalf of the Experience Gidgegannup committee, I am thrilled to welcome you to the 17th annual Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day.

Penny Morgan

Kit Prendergast and one-month-old Sapphire in her garden.

Gidgegannup Small Farm Field DayBee scientist Kit Prendergast among Gidgegannup speakers

There is an invisible world of bees waiting to be discovered.

Casey Lister and Cally Dupe

New research from Murdoch University's Centre for Animal Production and Health found feedlot cattle with access to grooming brushes are generally more content, sociable and have less stress.

best-practiceMurdoch University proves cattle can brush away stress

A study conducted in Lake Preston has found that grooming brushes are a simple and cost-effective way of reducing the anxiety of feedlot cattle.

Melissa Pedelty

Vincenzo Velletri produces homemade olive oil and pickled olives.

Gidgegannup Small Farm Field DayBeautiful time to be o-live

WA’s annual Olive Festival will celebrate its fourth year at the Gidgegannup Field Day, with plans to again unite the industry with an olive oil competition, producer displays, tasting and much more. 

Cally Dupe

Australian Wool Innovation’s Sheep Producer Intentions Survey is open for responses throughout May.

sentiment surveyAWI’s Sheep Producer Intentions Survey is now open

Australian sheep producer confidence slumped this time last year and it is now time to determine whether this sentiment has changed in the face of continuing harsh weather conditions and industry uncertainty. 

Melissa Pedelty

Nutrien Seed category manager and Seednet regional manager David Clegg, WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis, DPIRD senior principal research scientist Daniel Real and Nutrien Katanning agronomist Tom Coleman.

new varietyDPIRD releases new forage crop for challenging soils

Western Australian grain and livestock producers are set to reap the rewards of a new forage crop developed in the State’s south.

Melissa Pedelty

Cattle Australia says rising cases of Q Fever requires urgent funding to bring a new vaccine to the market.

vaccinationCSL Seqirus says Q Fever vaccine has resumed normal supply

Australia’s sole Q Fever vaccine provider says the serious bacterial infection vaccine is no longer in short supply, quelling fears the national farming industry would not be able to combat rising case numbers.

Melissa Pedelty

York farmer Alex Davies with his father Kevin Davies. Riley Churchman

positive sentimentYork farmer Alex Davies talks 2025 grain season

York farmer Alex Davies says he is optimistic about the year ahead but, like most grain farmers this early in the season, is feeling the “pre-game jitters”.

Melissa Pedelty

Doctors are in open revolt against the State Government’s new gun laws, refusing to conduct the health assessments people need to get a firearm licence.

State PoliticsCommentsPremium‘Huge responsibility’: Doctors hit back over new gun laws

Doctors are in open revolt against the State Government’s new gun laws, refusing to conduct the health assessments people need to get a firearm licence.

Ben Harvey

Pollies tour Sheep Loading Facilities in North Fremantle today: Pictured is a truck arriving at the centre. Michael Wilson, The West Australian.

LEAKED DOCUMENTDepartment hush on ‘confidential’ document’s release

Federal bureaucrats say a draft document detailing how the $139 million live export transition fund could be spent was “inadvertently distributed” but have declined to reveal how or who it was leaked to. 

Cally Dupe

Charles Darwin University information technology lecturer Thuseethan Selvarajah (pictured) and University of Peradeniya PhD candidate Romiyal George found most AI models that work in the computer lab are overwhelmed when put into the field.

future of farmingCharles Darwin University reveals AI on-farms isn’t far off

Artificial intelligence is still not ready to make its way onto farms, however, new research by the Charles Darwin University suggests it might not be far off

Melissa Pedelty

The Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute study showed animals forced to wait longer for health inspections were significantly more likely to be emergency killed at export abattoirs.

deadly delaysCurtin University study details cost of inspection delays

New research has found abattoir health inspection delays significantly increased the likelihood of animals requiring emergency euthanasia in Australia

Melissa Pedelty

Myroodah Station’s Allison Dakin has been selected for the National Farmers’ Federation’s mentoring and networking program designed to nurture women in the agriculture industry.

women in agWA’s Allison Dakin selected for NFF leadership program

Allison Dakin has been selected for the National Farmers’ Federation’s mentoring and networking program designed to nurture women in the agriculture industry.

Melissa Pedelty

Checking out crops at Salmon Gums.

SEEDING 2025Mixed bag of rain, crop composition for WA farmers

Grain crops are up and away in the Great Southern and Esperance areas, but farmers in the Mid West still enduring dry and hot conditions are looking to the sky and praying for rain. 

Cally Dupe

An idle truck waiting for the train to be cleared.

TRAIN DELAYPremiumIron ore train breaks down causing traffic chaos

An Aurizon train laden with iron ore broke down this morning and blocked a key transport route linking inland WA to Geraldton Port.

Adrian Rauso

Australian Wool Exchange senior market analyst Lionell Plunkett says ongoing dry weather is reducing fleece yields and negatively impacting wool style and quality.

dusty woolLack of rain is taking its toll on Australian wool quality

A lack of rain across the country is taking its toll on Australian wool quality, with dusty, low-yielding wool more prevalent than usual. 

Melissa Pedelty

New Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley expressed her support of the live export trade.

live exportPremiumSussan Ley affirms support of live sheep export industry

Newly elected Federal opposition Leader Sussan Ley has affirmed her support of the live sheep export industry, saying it should come as no surprise to Western Australian farmers.

Melissa Pedelty and Katina Curtis

The MLA predicts strong sales to continue. NewsWire / Nikki Short

FinanceAussie beef surprising move post turmoil

Australian beef exports hit an April volume record despite the looming tariff threat.

Cameron Micallef

Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins spoke to media on Tuesday morning at Bunbury abattoir V & V Walsh.

FEDERAL POLITICSPremiumPrime Minister confirms Julie Collins as Federal Ag Minister

Julie Collins has retained her role as Federal Agriculture Minister in a Cabinet shake-up to kickstart Labor’s second term ministry, cementing a position she took on suddenly nine months ago. 

Cally Dupe