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WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis has unveiled the $97.3 million State Biosecurity Response Centre in Canningvale. PIctured is the facility

HALF BAKEDPremiumWA’s $97m biosecurity hub not operating ‘at full capacity’

WA farmers and the opposition have come out swinging at news the State’s $97 million biosecurity hub in Canning Vale is not running at full capacity more than six months after being opened. 

Cally Dupe

DPIRD research scientists Amy Bowden and Brittany Bolt with Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis.

Methane StudyKatanning sheep feed trials delivered at NZ conference

West Australian research on sheep feed efficiency and methane emissions has been delivered at an international livestock genetics conference in New Zealand.

Georgia Campion

Shaydan Riley was driving home from work when he collided with a truck and a ute in Aldersyde on Tuesday.

WA NewsPremiumTributes flow for ‘loving dad’ killed in Wheatbelt crash

The 30-year-old man who died in a horror three-vehicle crash in the Wheatbelt is being remembered as a ‘loving’ father of three with a ‘big personality’.

Caitlin Vinci

Mingenew Midwest Expo

Mingenew Midwest Expo PremiumMingenew Midwest Expo cancelled, new grants program launched

The Mid West’s biggest agricultural field day — the Mingenew Midwest Expo — has been cancelled indefinitely after more than 40 years.

Cally Dupe

Peter Bird, Dr Hammad Khan, Jackie Jarvis MLC, Dr Nic Taylor, Dr Parwinder Kaur, and Richard Dickmann.

Crop ResearchWA joins nation-wide plant phenotyping project

WA crop production and grains research is set to be boosted thanks to a $5 million State Government investment into a nation-wide plant phenotyping project.

Georgia Campion

Pingelly State Emergency Service volunteers Phil Ludbrook, Peter Mann, local manager Bill Mulroney, volunteer Raelene Keeble and Roy Keeble in front of the Pingelly State Emergency Service building where a new mural titled Giants Among Us will be painted in October.

GIANTS AMONG USNew mural will honour Pingelly emergency service vollies

Only one regional emergency service group in WA has received the nationwide Rebuilding Futures grant shared between 14 communities to boost resilience and preparedness in disaster-impacted areas.

Hannah Whitehead

As many as 128 trees had to be cut down at Perth Zoo from the shot hole borer (inset).

state politicsCommentsREVEALED: Grim trail of damage caused by pest at Perth Zoo

A bitter argument has broken out in State Parliament as questions mount over the trail of damage left behind by the shot hole borer and whether it could have been stopped.

Jessica Page

Australian Wool Network board Brendon Lunney, Rick Maybury, John Collye, and Ben Barlow. AWN chief operating officer Rick Maybury has taken a step up and into the role of the pastoral houses’ managing director and chief executive.

New BoardPremiumRick Maybury appointed new AWN chief executive

Australian Wool Network chief operating officer Rick Maybury has taken a step up and into the role of the pastoral houses’ managing director and chief executive.

Georgia Campion

Major Crash investigators are appealing for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

Disaster and EmergencyPremiumDriver killed in horror three-vehicle Wheatbelt crash

The 30-year-old sustained serious injuries and died at the scene.

Jessica Evensen

The CWA conference had 200 members gather from across the State.

Annual conference PremiumCWA State Conference brings together WA’s regional women

The Country Women’s Association of WA State Conference held this year in Albany, brought fond memories of years gone by and a taste of the future for members. 

Jacki Elezovich

Trees infested with polyphagous shot-hole borer are destroyed at Hyde Park in Perth. Inset: WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis.

INVASIVE PESTCommentsPremiumREVEALED: How much Governments spent on shot-hole borer

The State and Federal Governments spent $57 million inspecting 2.9 million trees and trying to eradicate polyphagous shot-hole borer from the Perth metropolitan area.

Cally Dupe & Harriet Flinn

The Port of Albany has been allocated $11 million in the State Budget for the design and redevelopment of the ageing Berth 1 and Berth 2. Inset: Southern Ports chief executive Keith Wilks.

Port plansPort of Albany upgrades years away despite Budget funding

Bigger grain ships could one day berth at the Port of Albany, but it will take “several years” and more than $10 million in planning before the project breaks ground.

Georgia Campion

Melissa 'Millie' Milligan, Louise O'Neill, Debra Pearce, Ellen Smith, Fleur Thompson, Elizabeth Brennan, and Naomi Evans.

Celebrating Regional WomenPremiumRRR Network gearing up to celebrate 30th anniversary in 2026

The Rural, Regional, Remote Women’s Network of West Australia is gearing up to mark its 30th anniversary of championing rural, regional, and remote women across the state in 2026.

Georgia Campion

Hayden Ballantyne

MEATY ROLEPremiumFormer Fremantle forward Hayden Ballantyne joins AWN

Former Fremantle Dockers forward Hayden Ballantyne as a new role on the agricultural field after taking up a role as a cattle agent at Australian Wool Network. 

Cally Dupe

WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis (inset top) and Federal live sheep export transition advocate Dr Chris Rodwell (inset bottom) are set to meet to discuss the live sheep export ban.

Sheep meetingDr Chris Rodwell and Jackie Jarvis to meet on live sheep ban

WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis is set to meet the Federally-appointed live sheep export ban transition advocate this week after accusations the State Government had “walked away” from the industry.

Georgia Campion

GEN Ethan Stirrat who has started a new charity, Hurt to Help. He has organised a major charity run in the Wheatbelt. Iain Gillespie

WA YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARDSPremiumWA Young Achiever Awards: Hurt 2 Help’s Ethan Stirrat wins

The hyperlocal nature of Wheatbelt-founded charity Hurt to Help has resonated with thousands of people across WA. 

Cally Dupe

Treasurer Rita Saffioti speaking at the state budget lockup at Dumas House on Thursday afternoon.

Diabolical HighwayPremiumGS farmers frustrated with half of promised highway funds

Great Southern farmers are frustrated the full $50 million promised prior to the State Election to upgrade nearly 12kms of the “death sentence”  that is South Coast Highway was not released at the State Budget.

Georgia Campion

WA Agricultural Research Collaboration director Kelly Pearce (inset). Main: Polyphagous shot-hole borer.

UP FOR THE FIGHTPremiumPolyphagous shot-hole borer: Researchers up for the fight

WA Agricultural Research Collaboration director Kelly Pearce says the organisation is up for the challenge after investing in projects to stop polyphagous shot-hole borer from spreading into farming areas. 

Cally Dupe

WA sheep producers’ confidence has grown despite a wariness of growing their flocks.

Sheep resilienceWA sheep producers’ confidence grows despite growth wariness

WA sheep farmers’ confidence is improving on the back of high sheep prices, but many are still wary about building their flocks.

Georgia Campion

New CWA honorary life members Lesley McNee and Ellie Eaton.

top honoursPremiumCWA of WA awards night spotlights members’ dedication

The Country Women’s Association of WA honoured some of its hardest-working members last week at its annual State Conference at the Albany Entertainment Centre, with two people receiving life membership. 

Jacki Elezovich

Red Meat Advisory Council independent chair John McKillop described the industry’s 2030 goal of reaching carbon neutral as “unachievable”, but said the industry remained committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions intensity.

Meat CarbonPremiumRed Meat Advisory Council drops 2030 carbon neutral goal

The red meat industry has abandoned its goal of achieving a carbon neutral status by 2030, with Red Meat Advisory Council independent chair John McKillop describing the target as “unachievable”. 

Georgia Campion

Rabobank state manager for Western Australia Steve Kelly.

Business transition planningPremiumRabobank brings succession planning to the Wheatbelt

WA Wheatbelt-based primary producers are invited to develop family farm succession and business transition skills at three venues in August.

Bob Garnant

Kathy Nelson, Robynne Mummery, Judy Hawter, Ros Price, and Lozz Williams at the dinner.

Conference smiles PremiumIN PICTURES: Hundreds enjoy CWA State Conference dinner

The Country Women’s Association of WA held their annual State Conference in Albany this week, with more than 200 members attending from a range of branches.

Jacki Elezovich

Police are investigating a crash on Great Eastern Highway, which left a car destroyed.

Disaster and EmergencyPremium4WD destroyed, driver injured after crash in Perth’s east

The crash happened in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Claire Sadler