Horticulture

Banana glutNorth West’s banana-za reduces price of Perth fruit

A glut of WA-grown bananas has hit the Perth market amid a perfect storm of bumper production and challenges caused by recent floods and the COVID snap lockdown.

Jenne Brammer

More helpHundreds more foreign fruit pickers to arrive in March

Three plane loads of workers — one from Fiji and two from Vanuatu — have been booked to help provide some relief to the crippling labour shortage in the horticulture industry.

Jenne Brammer

Flood falloutCarnarvon growers may miss planting window after flood

Carnarvon growers would normally plant their winter crops within the next two to four weeks but the erosion caused by the floods means their land needs immediate remediation work.

Jenne Brammer

DAMAGE BILLTrue flood damage to Carnarvon farms yet to be revealed

Some have estimated their individual losses to be as much as $100,000.

Shannon Verhagen

NO GOOn-farm quarantine ‘not being considered’ for pickers

Ms MacTiernan said health advice indicated on-farm quarantine posed too much of a risk to the State, particularly in light of the highly contagious variant strains of COVID-19 being detected.

Shannon Verhagen

FLOOD DAMAGECarnarvon Floods - How different growers were impacted

The Gascoyne River swelled to an 11-year high at the weekend and while some farmers woke from the dirt-stained chaos to replenished topsoil and a healthy water table, others woke to devastation.

Lisa Favazzo, Jenne Brammer, Elise Van Aken & Rangi Hirini

Counting the costPumpkins, melons washed away by Carnarvon floods

It’s a case of mixed fortunes as floodwaters at Carnarvon recede. Some growers have lost crops and hectares of top soils, while others are thankful that water reserves have been recharged.

Jenne Brammer

Huge flowsCarnarvon on flood watch after big rains

Rain has seen the Gascoyne River near 2010-11 levels, when floods caused widespread damage totalling $100m.

Jenne Brammer

END “STALEMATE”Calls for united front on farm worker quarantine

Just 1500 international farm workers have been flown in since the Federal Government gave the green light for the resumption of the Pacific Labour Scheme and Seasonal Worker Program in August.

Shannon Verhagen

HEART WARMINGManjimup’s fresh produce stall with a heartwarming tale

While always popular with the locals, Bella and Bryn’s stall has also become popular with people passing through the area.

Shannon Verhagen

“A BIG HELP”Fiji fathers help family back home with WA farm work

For the past three years, Fijians Kaurasi Etike and Rocky Fereti have been travelling to the State’s South West to work among the grapevines.

Shannon Verhagen

HARVEST HELPTwo more planes of Pacific workers to land by April

As of late this afternoon, more than 300 workers from Vanuatu will have been deployed to farms and agricultural operations across the State, from Mt Barker and Pemberton to Gingin and Harvey.

Shannon Verhagen

HELPING HOMEFarm work helping Vanuatu families with school, food

“For me, to have this opportunity I’m very glad to be here.”

Shannon Verhagen

VISA APPEALFrustration as WA farmworker denied sponsored visa

Visa red tape could force a long-term WA farmworker to leave the country when thousands of harvest jobs go begging, despite her employer wanting to sponsor her to stay.

Shannon Verhagen

GROWING DEMANDWA passionfruit farmers turning seconds into pulp

And it is helping local growers reduce “waste” and get more value from their crops.

Shannon Verhagen

Foreign labour$6000 farm work bonus a bust as just 350 sign up

Australia’s Agriculture Minister has all but given up on trying to convince young and unemployed people to move to the bush for farming jobs.

Daniel McCulloch

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Major issues
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Inspection blitz reveals WA farms failing safety test

More than 100 safety notices have been dished out following an inspection blitz by WorkSafe of farms across the State, with foreign-owned regional properties found to be the worst offenders.

Phil Hickey

Exports at riskShock Qld fruit fly pest found in Perth’s south

A new outbreak of a damaging exotic pest has rung alarm bells for the State’s horticulture growers.

Jenne Brammer

Helping handsVanuatu workers to join WA harvest within days

The seasonal workers will travel to 10 farms across the State for work, with more arrivals due to help once they complete two weeks of hotel quarantine.

Jenne Brammer

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‘Don’t be afraid’
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WorkSafe targets WA farms in inspection blitz

WorkSafe investigators are set to carry out blitz inspections on more than a dozen WA agricultural farms after two work-related deaths at farming properties in recent weeks.

Phil Hickey

Charity auctionBehold — a new Cherry King has been crowned

The annual Charity Cherry Auction saw a heated battle between Perth’s highest-profile fresh produce this morning. But we have a winner.

FRUIT PICKERSCouple lost business in pandemic, help farmers harvest

They are some of a number of West Aussies working on farms this summer, after the industry’s backpacking workforce was depleted, leaving 7000 seasonal jobs going begging.

Shannon Verhagen

CHERRY SEASONCherry season kicks off in South West

For many, the dotting of highways with stalls selling fresh cherries signals the start of summer.

Shannon Verhagen

Labour shortageForeign seasonal workers flown in for Christmas crunch

Hundreds of seasonal workers from Vanuatu will arrive in Perth within weeks to help ensure there’s enough fruit and vegetables on supermarket shelves for the festive season.

Peter Law