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Shire of West Arthur president Karen Harrington calls for urgent communication and planning improvements after a spate of power outages in the district.

Power failure Continuous power outages prompt rural shire’s desperate call

After enduring an “unacceptable number” of power and mobile outages, a Wheatbelt shire president has called for urgent planning and communication improvements as local businesses and residents suffer.

Hannah Whitehead

Harvest Road CEO Harvey Gaynor, Tattarang CEO John Hartman, Harvest Road COO Daniel Briggs, and Haarslev Australia New Zealand general manager Paul Martin. Harvest Road officially opened their new beef rendering facility in Harvey on Tuesday, April 21.

Beef ChainPremiumSouth West rendering facility from Harvest Road opened

A new Harvest Road state-of-the-art rendering facility in Harvey has been officially opened after more than 18 months of construction.

Georgia Campion

A new fertiliser deal with Indonesia will ensure supply amid disruptions caused by the Iran war. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

FERTILISER SUPPLY REPORTPremiumFertiliser supply shock “cannot be quickly offset”

A new semi-annual Fertiliser Outlook from Rabobank’s RaboResearch division warns the global market is experiencing a “prolonged period of strain”, driven by instability in key production and shipping routes. 

Danielle Marsland

Pine Crest Farms, at West Binnu, an exceptional broadacre cropping and grazing aggregation has sold.

THREE BIG SALESPremiumSold: Pine Crest, Treehaven, Mindarabin Heights Aggregation

Going, going, gone: two Wheatbelt properties including a cropping and grazing aggregation and a blue-chip mixed farming enterprise have sold, along with a 50-year family farm in the Great Southern region.

Danielle Marsland

AI cameras can quickly detect fires, alerting crews earlier to help bring blazes under control. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

Countryman NewsPremiumAI cameras spotted more than 1000 bushfires over summer

Cameras powered by artificial intelligence are helping Australian agencies identify fires before they can spread, protecting plantations and properties.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

The 11,262ha West Fitzgerald and West River aggregation has been sold for a reported price of $52.5 million.

RECORD PROPERTY PRICEPremiumRecord $52.5m sale sets new benchmark for Great Southern

Three locals teamed up to purchase the 11,262ha West Fitzgerald and West River aggregation, one of the largest rural holdings in WA’s Great Southern, in a deal reportedly worth a record $52.5 million.

Danielle Marsland

Trevor Kanny of Bonegilla Grazing was the top buyer at the Liberty Charolais and Shorthorn Bull Sale.

Top DollarPremiumLiberty Charolais yearling tops sale at $18,000

Mid West cattle producer Trevor Kanny, of Bonegilla Grazing, dropped two of the highest amounts on Charolais bulls at a Liberty sale in Toodyay.

Georgia Campion

Olivia and Ben Wright, Munda Reds, Nutrien's Daniel Wood and son Ben, 12, with buyer representative Max Wallis, Munda, and the top-priced bull.

DROUGHTMASTER DEMANDPremiumDemand strong at Munda Reds’ annual sale

Munda Reds Droughtmaster stud has defied the tough season at its annual on-property bull sale, recording a full clearance with strong repeat support. 

Rebecca Nadge

Michael Thompson of Munda Reds Droughtmaster Stud, Kylie Ward of Virbac Australia, Nutrien auctioneer Trent McKinlay and Rob Jowett. Munda Reds Droughtmaster Stud sold J1P22 for $19,000 to Warrawagine Cattle Company.

Bull for ResearchPremiumTelethon bull winning bid tips charity donation over $100k

The Thompson family celebrated as its fifth bull sale tipped their total donations to Telethon over $100,000, five years after launching the fundraiser sale.

Georgia Campion

DPIRD says aerial culling of deer is humane, despite claims to the contrary by the Australian Deer Association.

DEER CONTROL PremiumDeer control will take place in Harvey in June

An aerial control of rusa deer is set to be conducted by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in the Harvey region later this year.

Rose Patane

Chris Johnson, Anne and John Stanley, Lara Johnson and her children Aurora and Aston Johnson at Chestnut Brae, Nannup.

AGRITOURISM ACADEMYPremiumNannup local gives leg-up to agritourism business hopefuls.

A Nannup local who travelled the world as a kid with her famous horticultural expert dad and helped her parents build a award-winning farmstay has launched an agritourism academy to help give farmers a leg up.

Danielle Marsland

Celebrating the commercial heifers that shone the most is Irene Neville, Gingin Hiefer Competition coordinator David Roe, Caleb McCallum, 14, Steve Neville, and Meagan McCallum.

Gingin Heifer CompetitionPremiumGingin heifers display upmost quality of the region

The 42nd Gingin Heifer Competition featured some outstanding future breeders again since establishing the benchmark for its trademark of quality out of one of the most well-renowned cattle regions in WA.

Bob Garnant

Agronomist Michael Lamond, author of GIWA’s crop report.

Harvest ‘Dampener’PremiumCropping hectares down amid supply constraints

Recent rains following two ex-tropical cyclones have brought a positive start to WA’s grain-growing regions despite area shrinkage following supply constraints, soaring costs, and uncertainty.

Georgia Campion

Shane Argent, Britalia Shearing Services, travels across WA as a contractor.

SHEARER PROFILE: SHANE ARGENTPremiumCountryman meets WA shearing business owner, Shane Argent

Growing up, Shane Argent thought shearers were the “coolest people in the world”. Thirty years on he’s one of them, having done everything from shearing for Andrew Lloyd Webber to running a one-man show.

Danielle Marsland

A new fertiliser deal with Indonesia will ensure supply amid disruptions caused by the Iran war. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumAustralia secures fertiliser deal with Indonesia

Australian farmers will receive an additional 250,000 tonnes of fertiliser from Indonesia, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to squeeze supplies.

Duncan Murray

Phil and Peter Martinovich, Jandakot.

AIR SHOW ANTICSPremiumA spectacular day in the country skies

Aviation returned to the Wheatbelt in spectacular fashion at the first Beverley Air Show in 25 years.

Danielle Marsland

With the $21,000 top-priced bull, Gandy Jameson W110, is Romy Gandy, 13, of Manjimup, with her brother Steven Gandy, Elders Bunbury branch manager Deane Allen, and Lola Gandy, 15.

Gandy Angus saleGandy Angus offers first Jameson sons to a top of $21,000

The first WA sons by US Montana record setting Angus sire Basin Jameson 1076, were on offer at the Gandy Angus Yearling Bull Sale, pushing prices to a top of $21,000.

Bob Garnant

Madi Hall doing kindy at Bulloo Downs Station.

CATTLE KID TO ADVOCATEPremiumGrowing up on Bulloo Downs Station shaped ICPA’s new member

You couldn’t find a better fit for a committee advocating for the rights of remote children than Madi Hall, who grew up on a cattle station and went to a school where the only other student was her brother.

Danielle Marsland

WA will stockpile four million litres of fuel in the Kimberley as a top up and emergency supply for the agriculture sector and remote communities.

Fuel SecurityPremiumGovernments strengthening fuel security as seeding starts

WA will stockpile millions of litres of fuel in the Kimberley as the Federal Government turns to Asia-Pacific counterparts to shore up critical supplies as farmers gear up for seeding.

Georgia Campion

Shark Lake Abattoir, near Esperance.

ON THE MARKETPremiumMothballed abattoirs to be sold after ongoing speculation

Two mothballed abattoirs in Tammin and Esperance are set to hit the market, ending more than a year of speculation.

Rebecca Nadge

CSBP’s fertiliser plant in Kwinana.

Working SolutionPremiumCSBP shores up local production as supply improves

Fertiliser giant CSBP will roll out alternative fertiliser supplies for anxious WA growers after increasing its local manufacturing capacity despite its recent force majeure announcement.

Georgia Campion

Natalie Lee is the only WA representative to take part in GrainGrowers 2026 OnBoard director development program.

GrainGrower InnovationPremiumKukerin farmer selected for GrainGrowers national program

A Kukerin grower who is determined to be an active voice in the industry has been selected as the only West Australian to partake in the nationwide GrainGrowers development program.

Hannah Whitehead

The KPCA will host its inaugural leadership forum in May.

Inaugural forum supporting the next generation of leadersPremiumNORTHERN DEVELOPMENT

The Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association will host its inaugural Head Stockman’s Leadership Forum in Broome next month to recognise and invest in the next generation within the northern pastoral industry.

Rebecca Nadge

Agora Livestock price updates.

BEYOND THE SALEYARDSBeyond the Saleyards: WA hit by export and freight costs

Western Australia’s sheep and lamb market is drifting further from the Eastern States, with widening price spreads and rising freight and export pressures reshaping pricing dynamics.

DEAN HUBBARD