Agribusiness

Western Australian businesses are being drawn to the long-term growth opportunities offered by the aquaculture sector as increasing demand from Asia drives investment.

Agricultural chemicals maker Nufarm's long serving chief executive Doug Rathbone has stepped down.

As the summer’s harvest draws to a close, CBH Group has announced that this year’s crop production was the fourth highest on record.

The state government’s farm finance concessional loans scheme has been expanded to allow loans for debt restructuring, and to farmers in areas that are not rainfall deficient.

Farmers and Labor are on the same side when it comes to broadening the GST to fresh food.

Iron ore magnate Gina Rinehart has agreed to invest in WA business Bannister Downs Dairy, to support a planned $20 million-plus expansion of the niche dairy producer.

Western Australia’s grain harvest for this season will be around 13 million tonnes, as a result of lower than forecast yields in some areas.

Grains marketer and maltster GrainCorp is facing a challenging year, with smaller crops, dry weather and tough competition from rivals.

Agribusiness Elders says initiatives undertaken so far as part of a major plan to improve the performance of the company are making progress.

A bid by the Western Australian government to allow a certain amount of genetically modified material in certified organic food has failed.

Director of sandalwood producer TFS Corporation Patrick O’Connor has resigned from the board today, just weeks after stepping down as chairman as the company continues a refreshing of the board.

Another big-four lender has announced a reprieve for drought-hit farmers in NSW and Queensland.

Two thousand investors in failed Great Southern managed investment schemes will be forced to repay their loans after the Supreme Court of Victoria upheld a settlement that will see the investors get back just $23.5 million.

A Nationals senator wants to make it illegal for banks to foreclose on drought-hit farmers.

A fire at a margarine factory in Western Australia's south has caused an estimated $1 million worth of damage.

Australia’s free trade agreement with China is likely to deliver significant benefits to agricultural exporters but the gains will be mainly indirect and apparent over the longer term, a report by Rabobank has concluded.

One of three independent directors on the board of grain grower cooperative CBH Group, Samantha Tough, has resigned today after reported divisions among its directors.

The southern town of Augusta will be home to a new artificial reef as a Western Australian company uses local technology to improve productivity in abalone ranching.

The falling Australian dollar has been a positive development for growers of the state’s two largest agricultural exports as the harvest cranks up across the grain belt.

A Western Australian dairy boss who waited three years for the business to turn a profit has discovered the other end of the spectrum, and is now dealing with an operation that has outgrown its facilities.

The state government has granted approval for an Augusta-based aquaculture company to expand its abalone production.

Coles stores in Western Australia will be selling WAFarmers branded milk from today, with part of the proceeds from sales going to development of the state’s agricultural industry.

Agribusiness Ruralco has nearly doubled its annual profit and hopes much-needed rain will start falling to help farmers in some states struggling with drought.

Western Australia is leading the country when it comes to the cooperative and mutual business sector, with three local operations named amid the nation’s five largest.

Australian farmers and dairy processors will get a better deal than their New Zealand counterparts under a free trade agreement with China, the federal government says.

Agribusiness Elders says there's a long way to go before it sees any benefit from Australia's $18 billion free trade agreement with China.

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart is looking to expand her business empire with a $500 million bid to take advantage of booming demand for baby formula in China.

Cattle and lamb slaughters have continued on a strong upwards trend in September 2014, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Some farmers will have to take a hit for the nation if proposed plans to build more dams are approved, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce says.

The state government must take action to amend its freight network lease, and should take action to recommission rail lines that have been put into care and maintenance, according to a report by the state parliament’s Economic and Industry Standing Committee.

Niche production of quality exports might be the future for high-cost sectors of WA’s agribusiness industry.

The Productivity Commission has called for a series of reforms to improve the competitiveness of the dairy industry, and warned that the federal government’s drought assistance measures would have costly unintended consequences.