Western Australia Country Hour

The WA representative on the National Farmers Federation's workforce committee Mic Fels says the government's overhaul of the working holiday maker visa highlights the need to develop a specific broadacre visa.

Rural news and events from Western Australia and the nation.

State agriculture minister Jackie Jarvis says she's happy to consider co-funding new biosecurity measures with BICWA, the Bee Industry Council of WA to keep varroa mite out of WA.

Not a single shipment of live sheep by sea is likely to be exported this season, as the ongoing war in the Middle East continues to disrupt the safe passage of vessels to key markets in the region.

The Federal Government is funding works to maintain an abandoned oil rig off Western Australia's Mid West coast after its owners went into administration in July this year. 

The only major abattoir in the north of the state is set to re-open in February after it finally secured visas for 25 skilled workers, and possibly another four, from the Philippines.

It has been revealed in state parliament that more than half the trees harvested through WA's ecological thinning trial are being chipped or burned.

Rural news and events from Western Australia and the nation.

Australia's emerging abalone aquaculture industry is in serious trouble as Chinese producers significantly expand production. 

The federal government will clamp down on backpackers and the families of international students in a major overhaul to Australia's migration system.

The immediate past president of the PGA Tony Seabrook is warning a plan to get the state's freight rail network back in government hands could result in a case of "jumping from the frying pan into the fire."

The global agrochemical company Bayer says it's started to make submissions to the chemical regulator to release a new weed killer in Australia in 2028.

Rural news and events from Western Australia and the nation.

Rural news and events from Western Australia and the nation.

Today's you'll hear about a senate inquiry that's just been announced. It will question why the APVMA has decided to allow paraquat to still be used by a lot of Australian farmers when lots of other countries have banned it.

A station owner in North Queensland will be behind bars for the rest of his life after being found guilty of murdering three people after accusing them of stealing his cattle.

Strong demand for rams, a chainsaw world record ...and even though some farm dogs are old, deaf and arthritic, they're still working and loveable. 

Today you'll find out why prices for GM and non-GM canola are pretty similar at the moment...and who knew some people enjoy plucking maggots from an echidna's snout!!   

You're off to the Newdegate Field Day event today.

We're talking about pork and copper today and you'll also hear about a wheat art installation in the middle of Perth.  

Today's show is being presented by Jess Baker from Kununurra so a decent chunk of the show is about the Kimberley.

Investment in gold exploration in Australia is now at an all-time high and a major drilling contractor is reporting unprecedented demand.

Behind the energy brawl the Prime Minister knows leaders want a data centre boom.

A group of demersal fishermen, who can no longer fish along a 900 kilometre stretch of coast, has hired a legal firm to negotiate on their behalf for compensation from the state government.

A Perth butcher says he has seen a decline in his otherwise stable chicken sales in recent weeks which he attributed to unfounded public anxiety about the threat of bird flu.

Scrutiny over WA government's decision to 'eco-thin' landmark South West forests.

WA's education minister says she understands parents at the Munglinup primary school want a stable teaching staff, but has not committed to securing more permanent school housing for the town.

Parents from Munglinup are heading to Perth this weekend to lobby for increased permanent school housing for their town.

Cotton picking in the Ord is officially underway.

Gemma Cripps introduced pasture-based chickens to her cattle station after a regenerative agriculture course inspired her to trial what soil health benefits chicken scratching and manure could deliver.

The WA grains industry is concerned changes to the backpacker visa could affect growers ability to effectively and efficiently harvest the crop this season.

Fourth generation Harvey dairy farmer Phil Hall and his family have made the very tough call to sell up and get out of the industry.

CBH has unveiled its new locomotives and Chief Operations Officer Mick Daw says a lot of work and money has gone into them. 

Every five years GrainGrowers puts out a report and its latest shows the Australian grains industry's production average has increased by nearly fifty per cent since the last one. 

Today you're going to hear why politicians debating a rail safety bill means so much to Mid West pastoralist Lara Jensen. 

Frost events in the last week have damaged some canola grown in parts of Western Australia's grain growing areas. 

We're off to two rodeos today. Australia's biggest was held at Mt Iza yesterday and Roebourne hosted its second event on Saturday. 

A couple of novel new strawberries are now being grown commercially in Australia.

WA's Agriculture Minister says an advisory group made up of wildlife experts will be created to inform the state's response to bird flu.

A growing demand for camel meat for pet food is helping to manage feral numbers on pastoral properties. 

A 500 kilogram gold bar worth $100 million is the star attraction at this year's Diggers and Dealers mining conference.

A biofuel enterprise in WA's wheatbelt is calling on the state and federal governments to support the development of locally produced renewable diesel.