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Countryman

Bull salePremiumCollege bull ahead of the class

Spontaneous applause followed the sale of the record $23,000 top-priced bull at the Nutrien Livestock Great Southern Blue Ribbon Bull Sale held last Tuesday at the Mt Barker Regional Saleyards.

Bob Garnant

Flood falloutPremiumDamage to vital freight track means delays could last weeks

Some 400 kilometres of the Trans-Australian Railway which connects the eastern states to Perth has been inundated by heavy rain in South Australia, with some calling it a ‘once-in-300-year’ weather event.

Adam Poulsen

Done dealsCommentsPremiumRinehart reveals buyers for big slice of cattle empire

Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, has sold a vast bundle of agricultural interests across the country and is close to finalising a deal for three other holdings.

Adrian Lowe

Angus Australia PremiumAngus Australia drives genetic improvement

Angus Australia continues to push towards genetic improvement in the Angus breed, monitored by performance recording and careful animal selection practices.

Bob Garnant

Cattle salePremiumManypeaks Angus cows reach record $4600

A pen of eight Manypeaks-bred Angus cows sold to a sale record $4600 top price at the Nutrien Livestock Great Southern Blue Ribbon Female Sale held last Tuesday at the Mt Barker Regional Saleyards.

Bob Garnant

Angus committeePremiumWA Angus Committee remains in good hands

A change of leadership and the naming of a prestigious award highlighted the WA Angus Committee general meeting held online last Friday.

Bob Garnant

Kapari AngusPremiumNorthampon-based Kapari Angus to offer 31 bulls at Gingin

The Sudlow family of Northampton-based Kapari Angus stud have seen their cattle come through and thrive despite the post-cyclone Seroja challenges from last year.

Bob Garnant

NEW FIGURESWA slaughter volumes ‘solid’: MLA

WA meat processors are bucking the national trend, with slaughter chugging along at a healthy rate as Eastern States abattoirs face declining productivity caused by Omicron-induced worker shortages.  

Adam Poulsen

Shears, mate!‘Gun’ shearers nudging $300,000 amid skills shortage

Not afraid of hard graft and keen to make some serious money? Here’s the sector that’s desperate for workers.

Rebecca Le May

EXTENSIVE DAMAGEPremiumGascoyne bushfire causes ‘huge’ livestock losses

Gascoyne pastoralists are counting the cost of ‘huge’ livestock and feed losses, as a bushfire sparked by lightning nearly three weeks ago continues to ravage the region.

Adam Poulsen

BEYOND THE SALEYARDSBeyond the Saleyards: Minerva enters the market

WA sheep markets have kicked higher again with one of the largest meat processors in the world entering the market.

Rob Kelly

Harvest 2021-22 PremiumLongest but most rewarding harvest in history finally done

The longest and biggest harvest in Eriwin Farms’ history has come to an end, with father-and-son team Kelvin and George Hams celebrating record yields after a challenging year.

Cally Dupe

labour crisisPremiumDoubt waiving backpacker visa fees will make much difference

Off the back of pandemic-induced labour shortages, crops in Carnarvon are being left to rot in paddocks, with no one around to pack them and not enough truck drivers to pick them up.

Shannon Verhagen

COVID restrictions‘Business as usual’ at WA livestock saleyards

New COVID protocols have not been imposed at WA’s four major livestock saleyards after the State Government last week handed down its latest round of restrictions.

Adam Poulsen

BOYNAUP SALEYARDSPremiumLivestock agents slam contentious Boyanup Saleyards lease

Livestock agents have blasted Capel Shire’s decision to renew WALSA’s lease at Boyanup Saleyards, claiming it will eliminate competition in the South West cattle trade for at least another decade.

Adam Poulsen

at lastPremiumOn-farm quarantine an option for WA growers

WA grain growers have welcomed the ‘brilliant’ news the door will open for ‘specialist workers’ to quarantine on-farm, but are seeking ‘urgent clarification’ that skilled farm operators will make the cut.

EXCLUSIVE Shannon Verhagen

Mou signingAg minister visits Indonesia to sign MOU

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud is on a three-day visit to Indonesia to strengthen relations with the country he called “one of Australia’s most vibrant regional partners”.

Shannon Verhagen

visa pleasWA shearing industry calls for visa deal to boost numbers

Across WA, contractors are running weeks behind due to crippling COVID-19-induced labour shortages, working overtime to get through the backlog.

Shannon Verhagen

Export boostPremiumWyndham live cattle exports on track for 10-year high

New figures have revealed 2021 live cattle exports out of the Wyndham Port were the highest in at least five years, bucking trends seen in WA’s south where shipments have dwindled.

Stephanie Sinclair

GRAIN FORUMAnnual grains industry forum to be held online

The Grains Research and Development Corporation’s annual Perth industry forum has switched to a virtual format this year as uncertainly lingers over COVID-19 restrictions in WA.

Staff reporter

Wool medalPremiumWool medal nominations open for worthy recipient

Nominations are now open for the prestigious 2022 Australian Wool Industry Medal to recognise those who have made an exceptional contribution to the national industry.

Bob Garnant

“unseasonally hot”WA farmers swelter through five days over 40 degrees

While many Mid West and Wheatbelt towns are used to extreme temperatures over summer, the heatwave has also hit some areas which normally scrape through summer without too many hot days.

Shannon Verhagen

Wagin earthquakeVideoWagin earthquake latest in ‘swarm’ of Wheatbelt quakes

A 4.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Wagin on Tuesday morning was the biggest in a series of ‘swarm’ quakes — but it may not be the last, according to a seismologist.

Brianna Dugan

‘Still standing’VideoPremiumWagin’s giant ram ‘OK’ after earthquake rocks Wheatbelt town

An earthquake that originated in Wagin was felt as far away as Perth on Tuesday morning, but the local shire president reports that the town’s biggest tourist attraction appears to be unharmed.

David Johns and Brianna Dugan