Agriculture

On the blockHay Shed Hill winery set to fetch $15m

The pioneering Margaret River winery is up for sale after chief winemaker and part-owner Michael Kerrigan decided to pursue other interests in the industry after 15 years at the helm.

Ray Jordan

Potash pioneer$300m puts Salt Lake Potash in pole position

The massive cash injection and proposed construction timeline would make Salt Lake the first commercial producer of sulphate of potash in Australia.

Stuart McKinnon

Farmers’ delightHeavy rains add millions to WA harvest value

This week’s heavy rains have potentially poured tens of millions of dollars into the value of WA’s annual grain haul, after breaking a multi-year dry spell in parts of WA’s south coast and Wheatbelt.

Jenne Brammer

Major writedownBunge WA halves value of assets, posts big loss

Six years after entering the WA market to break CBH’s stranglehold on grain receivals, Bunge has racked up local losses of more than $35 million.

Jenne Brammer

Bigger projectsPilbara’s $6m Sylvania station too small for Smoothy

Pilbara pastoralist, miner and chopper pilot Brent Smoothy is selling the sublease and cattle on Sylvania Station near Newman to concentrate on his multiple other businesses.

Jenne Brammer

Grains targetedChina spat a risk to ‘more agricultural industries’

Australian agriculture is at further risk from souring diplomatic tensions with China, former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer has warned.

Jenne Brammer

Plenty of work1000 casual harvest jobs up for grabs at CBH

It may be hot, dusty and remote, but the grain handler is offering good wages as part of its annual recruitment drive for workers to help get WA’s $5 billion harvest in the bins.

Jenne Brammer

Say cheeseWA-made cheddar back on shelves after 14 years

Brownes is hoping to make a dent in the 50,000 tonnes of cheese imported into WA each year with the launch of the first cheddar made from local milk since 2006.

Jenne Brammer

China tensionMcGowan ‘very worried’ about more China trade sanctions

WA Premier Mark McGowan says he fears rising tensions with China will see the Asian superpower impose further trade sanctions against more local industries.

Peter Law

Destructive pestWarning to farmers as armyworm marches south

The fall armyworm has been trapped at Geraldton, prompting calls for farmers in the area to be on the lookout for larvae or unusual crop damage.

Jenne Brammer

Trade tensionsFarm group warns China producers could go elsewhere

WAFarmers has put Australia’s biggest trading partner on notice, warning China the more it “beats up” Australian growers, the more inclined they will be to seek out other relationships.

Danielle Le Messurier and Ray Jordan

Standing groundAppeal to remove barley tariffs would take 3 years

A WTO appeal over China’s decision to slap hefty tariffs on Australian barley would take at least three years but is still on the table, according to a leader from our biggest grain exporter.

Jenne Brammer

Transformation neededAg will fall short of $100b goal without big revamp

An industry-wide, whole-of-supply-chain approach is needed for Australian agriculture to reach its full potential.

Jenne Brammer

No appealGovt accepts court ruling that export ban was illegal

The Federal Government has decided not to appeal a court ruling that the former Gillard Government’s 2011 decision to ban live cattle exports was illegal.

Tap or protect?Showdown brews over Fitzroy River’s future

The Kimberley has huge potential for agricultural development to create jobs but there’s opposing views about how it should proceed and fears it will ruin a sacred and “beautiful corner of Australia”.

Jenne Brammer

‘Justice’ for familiesEmail blitz to pressure PM to accept cattle ban ruling

The nation’s peak farming body says an appeal would be a slap in the face for hundreds of top end families hit hard by the 2011 ban on live exports.

Jenne Brammer

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Land of plenty
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$35m Pilbara cattle station sales biggest in five years

The sale of two massive cattle stations by one of WA’s most prominent pastoral families is set to fetch a price in the tens of millions in what could be the biggest land deal in a half-decade.

Jenne Brammer

RoseworthySA companies toast healthy bread breakthrough

A Mid North company says it can put bread on Australian table made from wheat packing ten times the punch of conventional strains.

Paula Thompson

Grain powerViterra needs 1800 more workers

Despite drought, fires and frost, SA’s grain harvest is looking highly promising – and its primary handler Viterra is putting on hundreds more workers than normal to manage it.

Paula Thompson

Nutrition guideWhy it’s time to put cheese back on the menu

There’s nothing quite like a cheesy toasted sandwich in winter. But the peak dairy industry is calling for a reform to a popular food rating system, fearing cheese is getting a bad name.

Alanah Frost