Agribusiness

Working on trading relationships has benefited two nominees in the upcoming state exporter awards, while recently negotiated trade agreements will also boost business.

The federal government has promised an "arms-length" decision on Gina Rinehart and Shanghai CRED’s joint $365 million bid for cattle empire S. Kidman & Co, which will still require foreign investment approval.

A new $3 million premium food centre that will help regional agricultural and food businesses find new markets was officially opened in Manjimup today.

Milk processors have agreed to develop a code of conduct with dairy farmers aimed at preventing controversial farmgate price cuts.

GrainCorp-backed Australian Grains Champion has written to Western Australian growers withdrawing a bid launched in February to corporatise and list cooperative grain handler CBH Group.

Wellard chief executive Mauro Balzarini has sold a big chunk of his stake in the local agribusiness to a Chinese firm and repaid the company $16.3 million through his private investment vehicle.

Grain producers are set for a bumper crop in Western Australia going into harvest, with the latest production forecasts from the federal government estimating production will reach 17.1 million tonnes, an increase of 17 per cent on last year.

Six years after buying into Bibra Lake-based InterGrain, agricultural biotech company Monsanto has decided to sell its 26 per cent stake in the government-backed grain breeding company.

Elders is expecting underlying earnings to jump as much as 24 per cent after it decided to stop long-haul live animal export shipments and sell its short-haul operations.

SPECIAL REPORT: New research and software products are aiming to further reduce workplace fatality rates.

Less than half of 1 per cent of Australia’s agricultural land is owned by Chinese investors, while UK investors make up the largest proportion of overseas interest in Australia, according to a new report.

Western Australia's potato industry no longer faces heavy regulation after the state government passed legislation to remove 70-year-old restrictions.

The $529 million Ord-East Kimberley expansion project cost more and took substantially longer than originally expected, has not delivered the expected benefits, and left the region with an unclear pathway for future development, auditor general Colin Murphy has found.

Nedlands-based TFS Corporation has signed a $50 million supply deal for its Indian sandalwood oil with US-based Young Living under a five-year agreement.

Perth Markets will begin a fresh search for a chief executive to replace David Timmel, who has stepped down after just six months in the role.

Local businesswoman Sharon Warburton has resigned from the board of live cattle exporter Wellard, which has missed its prospectus forecasts on revenue, profit and margins to book a $23.3 million net loss.

Western Australian farmers have plenty of reason for optimism despite poor rainfall and lower yields during the 2015 season, according to Bankwest’s annual Benchmarks report. 

ANALYSIS: Changing water-use habits is essential if WA’s lifestyle is to be maintained over the long term, irrespective of who owns the assets.

With CBH Group in the midst of an internal review of its structure, Business News thought it an opportune time to sit down with CEO Andrew “Andy” Crane at Julio’s in West Perth to discuss his career to date, and the grain cooperative’s future.

Nedlands-based sandalwood producer TFS Corporation has pointed to solid growth in cash revenue and underying earnings to support a positive outlook for the business, despite reporting a fall in net profit after tax. 

Local aquaculture firm Seafarms Group has announced its second capital raising in the past two months, this time tapping investors for $11 million to fund ongoing work at its $1.45 billion Sea Dragon prawn project.

Perth-based agribusiness Wellard has warned the market of yet another profit downgrade, its third since February, with the Perth-based agribusiness now expecting a $15 million net profit at best.

A wheat variety developed by researchers based at Murdoch University could increase profitability for Australia’s $6 billion wheat industry. 

Water Corporation CEO Sue Murphy was Business News’s luncheon guest at the newly re-opened Julio’s restaurant, where a range of business and personal topics was on the menu. 

Gina Rinehart’s family company, Hancock Prospecting, has announced the purchase of two cattle stations in northern Australia, continuing the investment in agriculture by magnates such as Andrew For

Indian sandalwood producer TFS Corporation has refinanced $US200 million of debt through a note issue overnight in the US, while also raising extra funds for working capital.

The depreciation of the British pound following the UK's decision to leave the European Union could hurt demand for imported wine, including from Australia.

Water Corporation will spend $232 million to double the capacity of its water recycling plant in Craigie, which is designed to boost Perth's drinking water supplies.

Perth-based Seafarms Group has commenced a $1.2 million upgrade of its prawn quarantine facility in Exmouth, which forms part of its Sea Dragon prawn aquaculture project.

Sandalwood producer TFS Corporation has reaffirmed its earnings guidance for FY16 after finalising the $29 million sale of plantations to a US-based investor.

Two new directors have been appointed to Perth Markets, with Frank Romano replacing his former colleague Nick Tana on the board.

SPECIAL REPORT: A strong, whole-of-business focus on quality and sustainability has helped Austral Fisheries achieve a significant lift in its turnover during the past four years.