Agriculture

Social distancingSafety slows meat output

Abattoirs are taking major precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19, but that is slowing operations at a time when meat demand is soaring.

Jenne Brammer

Livestock salesSaleyards to remain open under strict measures

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud confirmed today national cattle and sheep auctions — and wool sales — would not be halted, despite the mounting coronavirus threat.

Zach Relph

Regional workWA farmers on recruitment drive as city jobs slashed

While many thousands of people are out of work as part of the COVID-19 fallout, WA farmers are recruiting. A new campaign aims to connect the two groups.

Jenne Brammer

Wise wordsMacTiernan dispels uncertainties amid COVID-19 outbreak

Conceding there was “a long way to go in this crisis”, Alannah MacTiernan said agricultural workers would not be impeded by the strict border measures implemented yesterday.

Zach Relph

War on germsWhipper Snapper hand sanitiser

The Whipper Snapper distillery has turned off whiskey production, making sanitiser instead.

Jenne Brammer

Farming reassuranceState-imposed border closures will not halt farming

“That means State-imposed border shutdowns will not affect agricultural supply chains. The trucks carrying food and produce will get through to the shops.”

Zach Relph

Toilet roll giftQuilton to donate one million toilet rolls

Quilton - which makes toilet paper in Forrestfield - is donating one million toilet rolls and working with charities to ensure they get to those most in need.

Jenne Brammer

Days of oldPerth milko is back as virus keeps us at home

WA’s oldest dairy is reviving history by restarting it’s ‘milko’ service to help support the community as it comes to grips with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jenne Brammer

New cleanWA eucalyptus oil in hot demand

A small Wheatbelt business’s eucalyptus oil is in hot demand in the bid for cleanliness

Jenne Brammer

Formal exemptionsFarmers want consistent message on border restrictions

Governments must assure all Australians the agricultural supply chain would not be disrupted by State and Territory border closures and mandatory quarantine, and offer peace of mind, says NFF.

Jenne Brammer

Meat workersAndrew Forrest beefs up the thanks to meat workers

The billionaire, who owns Harvey Beef, has paid tribute to the 650 workers who turn up to work every day to ensure food is on the tables of West Australians.

Jenne Brammer

Lobster deliveryWA lobsters to go on private jet to China

The State’s seafood industry could charter its own jet to reignite exports now that Chinese restaurants are starting to re-open.

Jenne Brammer

Pastoral isolationCOVID-19 on the mind of WA’s isolated pastoralists

“We are so far away from everything and isolated here, but there is still the uncertainty.”

Zach Relph

Wine worryIndustry raises vintage concerns

Vintage is in full-swing across Australia and the wine industry is concerned about what coronavirus could mean for the sector.

Paula Thompson

Grain marketsHuge grain train reflects demand

Demand for South Australian grain has been climbing, leading grain handler Viterra to send off its largest single rail loading.

Paula Thompson

Calm downFarmers offer food for thought to panicking hoarders

Panic buyers are hoarding food, but there’s no real shortages as the nation produces three times as much as it consumes, and any challenges are being addressed.

Jenne Brammer

Choppy watersLive export feeling virus effects

There’s huge demand for Australian livestock from abroad but hard to get workers on ships because of movement restrictions.

Jenne Brammer

‘There is enough food’Farmers calm shoppers over food shortage fears

National Farmers Federation president Fiona Simson said Australians did not need to be concerned about a national food shortage amid growing COVID-19 fears.

Mining jobsBHP steps up to the plate with jobs push

BHP has announced a large new jobs push in its second major announcement this week to combat the fallout of the coronavirus.

Cameron England

Hoarders travelPerth panic buyers go bush to raid country stores

Amid irrational fears that Perth will run completely dry of toilet paper, hoarders are travelling to regional areas to raid the shelves of smaller supermarkets.

Jenne Brammer

Tighter lendingFarmer credit squeeze could stifle WA crop size

After a tough season in 2019, some farmers are finding it tough to borrow funds to seed their next crop next month.

Jenne Brammer

Independent observersFederal Government takes IOs off live voyages

“The department is monitoring the situation closely and will begin deploying independent observers when conditions allow.”

Zach Relph

Sales doubleMeat is the new black as hoarders rush to butchers

Butchers say meat sales have at least doubled in recent days as panic buyers turn to hoarding food staples for the freezer in preparation for a coronavirus lockdown.

Jenne Brammer

Sewing the seedsThe odd couple growing the Galati empire

INSIDER: Tony Galati built an empire on hard work. His son Frankie, the chief executive, has added smooth smarts. But don’t be fooled by first impressions.

Kim Macdonald