Agribusiness

A dispute over Indian sandalwood producer Santanol Group has pitted 21 Western Australian investors, led by forestry veterans Bob Bunning and Tony Jack, against private equity giant KKR and its local representatives, including Jock Clough and incoming Wesfarmers executive Ed Bostock.

Potato growers say farmers may be forced to accept a $650,000 reimbursement offer from the Western Australian government over a failed legal battle with Perth's maverick 'Spud King', despite it being less than half of what they are owed.

An investor has chosen not to sell a parcel of plantations to troubled sandalwood producer Quintis, with the first deadline to exercise the option having expired.

CBH Group has announced a surprise selection as its new chief executive, recruiting former BHP iron ore boss Jimmy Wilson to succeed Andrew Crane.

Fremantle-based seafood producer Mareterram has examined more than 30 potential acquisition opportunities in the past couple of years as it seeks to grow into a larger diversified business focused on protein.

A new share-farming initiative is being established in the state's South West, giving the public the opportunity to stake a patch in the exclusive and expensive truffles market.

One of WA's biggest egg producers has been slugged more than $1 million after it deceived shoppers by falsely labelling some of its products free range, and consumer class action may follow.

Shares in Wellard have hit an all-time low after the live cattle exporter flagged a disappointing end-of-year result.

Troubled Perth company Quintis plans to take legal action against its founder and former managing director over claims he has failed to meet repayment obligations on an $11 million loan.

Olive oil, chocolate, avocados, marron and cider are among a number of Western Australian products that are ideal for local industry to target as premium markets, according to a report commissioned by the Department of Agriculture and food released Thursday night.

Grain handling cooperative CBH Group's partially owned subsidiary, Interflour, has officially opened a new malt production facility in Vietnam, which it said would give Western Australian farmers better access to the Asian nation's beer market.

Aquacuture firm Atlas Pearls and Perfumes has locked in two debt facility agreements for a total of $3 million, one of which is with its director, Tim Martin.

Embattled sandalwood producer Quintis has once again requested its share trade suspension be extended while it continues to negotiate transactions it says are critical to its solvency.

Perth's maverick "Spud King" Tony Galati has been fined $40,000 for contempt of court after growing more potatoes than he was allowed.

Quintis has suffered its fourth credit ratings downgrade within a month, after the troubled Indian sandalwood producer on Tuesday revealed more operational and financial issues.

Interflour Group, which is half-owned by CBH Group, has today shipped the first load of wheat from Kwinana to its new Mabuhay mill in the Philippines.

Sandalwood producer Quintis has revealed more operational and financial pain, with the embattled Perth company suspending plantation sales, lowering forecast product sales and admitting a $27 million investment would not proceed.

Ian Trahar has taken a larger stake in his listed agribusiness Seafarms Group while the Perth business taps investors for $10 million.

An upgrade to a meat processing plant at Katanning, a chicken feed mill in Muchea, a new piggery at Moora and a live lobster holding facility in Welshpool are the latest in a string of investments that will boost the agribusiness sector in Western Australia.

Live cattle exporter Wellard has announced the sale of one of its mid-sized ships to Israeli company Dabbah Slaughterhouse for $US26 million ($A35 million).

Global ratings agency S&P has cut its credit rating for Quintis for the second time this month and kept the troubled Indian sandalwood producer on credit watch with negative implications, suggesting another downgrade is possible.

Poultry giant Ingham's will continue to be Woolworths' main chicken meat supplier after the pair extended their national agreement.

Troubled sandalwood producer Quintis has extended its ASX suspension by a week to review its operations and update its earnings guidance.

Fremantle-based livestock exporter Wellard has appointed Chinese businessman Kanda Lu as an executive director in an effort to boost the company's expansion into China's beef cattle market.

Western Australian farmers are among the most optimistic in the nation, according to the annual Commonwealth Bank of Australia Agi Insights report to be released today, with 39 per cent likely to be investing in their businesses in the year ahead.

Shares in sandalwood company Quintis have gone into a trading halt, after horrific losses last week including a nearly 36 per cent fall on Friday.

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Poultry producer Ingham's Chicken will invest more than $70 million to build a new feed mill near Muchea as part of a plan to grow production volumes in Western Australia.

Good summer crop conditions and record livestock and wool prices have helped agribusiness Elders lift its first-half profit by 56 per cent and flag the resumption of dividend payments this year.

Ratings agencies Moody's and S&P have downgraded the debt of agribusiness Qunitis, while private equity fund Black Rock revealed it had taken a 5.1 per cent stake in the company.