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Wooleen Station

Tourism gemPremiumWooleen Station shines at national tourism awards

Wooleen Station in the Murchison took home a gong at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards last week.

Kate Campbell

WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis with Chloe, Royce, Elle, 9 months, and Louie, 2, Quartermaine of Carlton Spring farm, Kojonup, at the 2026 Wagin Woolorama.

Water LevelsPremiumUp to $20k in water grants for GS and Wheatbelt farmers

A trial to uncover underground water resources and improve security amid WA’s drying climate is underway across grain regions, with the State Government offering up to $20k for the “shared risk” project.

Georgia Campion

Premier Roger Cook and Amber Jade-Sanderson at the Energy Exchange Australia 2026, press conference at the PCEC. Sandra Jackson

state politicsCommentsPremiumGovernment blame ‘panic buying’ for WA fuel shortage

A round-table will convened to tackle fuel shortages but the State Government insists it’s a result of panic buying and that there’s no actual supply issues as result of the war in Iran. 

Jessica Page and Simone Grogan

The earthquakes are contained within a 10km radius.

earthquakesCommentsPremiumEarthquake swarm hits WA town, tremors expected for months

A WA town rattled by more than 100 earthquakes since the start of 2026 is likely to keep experiencing the rumbles for several months, according to a seismologist who couldn’t rule out a damaging main shock.

Melissa Sheil

Pemberton farmer Steve Bendotti says fuel shortages will affect food supplies.

FUEL CRISISPremiumFuel crisis could raise food prices, Pemberton farmer warns

A Pemberton farmer has warned food prices could climb if fuel supply issues continue, as the Southern Forests region begins to feel the early effects of a global oil price surge.

Serian Lockwood-Jones

Matthew Shaffer will begin as Dairy Australia's new chief executive on July 19.

DAIRY BODY REVIEWEDPremiumDairy Australia releases independent performance review

Farmers want clear communication, transparency and practical on-farm returns from Dairy Australia

Danielle Marsland

Chardonnay harvesting underway at Howard Park Wines.

WinePremiumWet and wild conditions can’t dampen Margaret River wineries

Wet and wild conditions are not dampening the Margaret River region’s wine production, with several wineries expecting measured and even yields with chardonnay and sauvignon blanc looking best suited.

Craig Duncan

The salmon farming sector has been stopped from using an antibiotic putting wild species at risk. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

EnvironmentPremiumRisk to wild species ends antibiotic use in salmon

A national regulator has revoked a permit for salmon farmers to use an antibiotic on the basis it poses an unacceptable exposure risk to wild sea creatures.

Ethan James

Five workshops to look at what is causing bush and crop fires will be held across WA's Wheatbelt region and Esperance in March and April. They will be led by Karen Chappel AM.

Bushfire-readyPremiumWA grain growing areas visited by Fire Harvest Conversations

An increase in bushfires in WA’s freshly wrapped-up harvest season has triggered a series of workshops across key grain growing regions to gain real-time knowledge from farmers.

Georgia Campion

South Stirling farmer Reece Curwen.

COUNCIL OPPORTUNITY PremiumCBH on the hunt for five new councillors

WA grain growers have a new opportunity to shape the industry, with five positions now open on CBH’s Growers’ Advisory Council.

Danielle Marsland

Peninsula Downs owner Ross Woodhouse said the new hybrid solar system will save the business $40,000 a year in overall power bills.

SOLAR SOLUTION PremiumPeninsula Downs dairy farm transitions to hybrid energy

Western Australia’s biggest family-owned dairy farm is taking its future off-grid, and it’s already paying off. 

Madelin Hayes

West Australian shoppers will soon be forking out more at the supermarket.

AgriculturePremium‘Real pile of strife’: Supermarket prices in WA set to soar

West Australian shoppers could soon be forking out more at the supermarket, with agribusinesses bracing for higher oil and fertiliser prices to bleed into production costs amid war in the Middle East.

Cheyanne Enciso, Simone Grogan and Georgia Campion

Main Roads’ near miss camera situated at the Stubbs Street and Kulin Lake Grace Road intersection in Lake Grace.

Dangerous DriversPremiumDriver fault main cause of Lake Grace intersection accidents

A Main Roads report has revealed driver fault as the primary cause behind a notoriously dangerous intersection in a Wheatbelt town that has been the site of hundreds of near misses and accidents.

Hannah Whitehead

Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has called the support of locals ‘critical’.

state politicsCommentsPremiumHow much wind developers will have to pay WA towns

Local councils want wind farm developers forced to pay for community benefits, but have welcomed the State Government’s new guidelines as an important step forward.

Jessica Page

Inventor Guy Coleman and Manjimup farmer Jake Ryan demonstrate the AI Sprayer.

FARM INNOVATIONPremiumAI Sprayer shows future of precision farming in Manjimup.

An innovative new AI-powered crop spraying system made its first ever grower demonstration in Manjimup on Friday evening, bringing together local farming expertise and cutting edge technology. 

Serian Lockwood-Jones

Warren District Agricultural Society president Aimee Bendotti and her prize-winning chocolate potato cake recipe have been selected to feature in a new cook book.

COOKINGPremiumManjimup cook features in new cook book

Warren District Agricultural Society president Aimee Bendotti and her prize-winning chocolate potato cake recipe have been selected to feature in a new cook book.

Serian Lockwood-Jones

Shire of Manjimup councillors have voted to reject a proposed pine plantation, citing bushfire concerns.

Tinderbox debatePremiumPotential plantation slammed at Manjimup council meeting

A proposed 458ha pine plantation near Northcliffe has been refused by the Shire of Manjimup council, following passionate objections from residents. 

Serian Lockwood-Jones

Grass-fed jersey cows at Lake Janis Farm.

Export boomPremiumWA primary industries top $11b as exports surge

WA’s primary industries have been revealed to contribute more than $11 billion to the State economy with the export market jumping more than 50 per cent.

Serian Lockwood-Jones

Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson and Bright Energy Investments general manager Tom Frood at the Warradarge wind farm.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
state politics CommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Connection missing in WA Government’s renewables plan

The West can reveal new guidelines to ensure local communities benefit from wind and solar projects excludes major infrastructure that will be needed to connect them to WA’s power grid. 

Jessica Page

Perdaman chief Vikas Rambal.

ManufacturingPremiumIran export blockade a boon for WA fertiliser plant

The owner of a $6.5 billion manufacturing plant currently under construction in Western Australia’s north is poised to become a major beneficiary of the US-Israel war on Iran.

Adrian Rauso

Shire of Dumbleyung president Amy Knight and chief executive Gavin Treasure have appeared in Katanning Magistrates Court on behalf of the shire, which is charged with unauthorised clearing of native vegetation.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
COURTPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Wheatbelt shire admits to illegal clearing of native flora

A Wheatbelt shire has been in court after admitting to clearing native flora from an endangered reserve without a permit and laying a road in its place. 

Hannah Whitehead

Australia’s agriculture industry is closely watching the sudden conflict in the Middle East for impacts on supply prices, personnel safety and animal welfare.

WarPremiumAustralian ag sector closely monitoring Middle East conflict

Australia’s agriculture sector is cautiously and closely watching the unfolding Middle East conflict that erupted over the weekend, as oil prices are predicted to soar amid disruption of the Strait of Hormuz.

Georgia Campion

Western Roads Federation chief executive Cam Dumesny.

WA NewsCommentsPremiumEast-west rail corridor washed out just days after reopening

Just days after reopening Australia’s east-west rail corridor — crucial for goods supply to WA — has been washed out again after flooding in South Australia. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

New Rabobank chief executive and Australian and New Zealand regional manager Caroline Oosterbaan.

New LeadershipPremiumRabobank ushers in new chief executive Caroline Oosterban

Rabobank has heralded in a new chief executive, replacing Mark Wiessing who has served the rural and agribusiness bank for more than 20 years.

Georgia Campion