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Fox Modular group sales manager Mike Mead at the 2026 Newdegate Machinery Field Days.

Housing DemandPremiumModular housing ‘booming’ amongst West Aussie farmers

Modular housing demand has been “booming” amongst WA farmers looking to increase their capacity for farm workers, despite recent changes to slash immigration rates by the Federal Government.

Georgia Campion

The 2027 Nuffield scholars. Seated: Sam Fryer, Ivan Blacket, Lynne MacDonald and Jacky Cartwright. Standing: Billi Marshall, Kristen Clark, Harry Tyson, Jodi Duncan, Heidi Millership, Rachael McGrath, Rebecca Fing, Ellenor Nixon, Angus Smith, Lucy Etheridge, and John Board.

Nuffield 2027 ScholarsPremiumWA’s two Nuffield Scholars to explore global solutions

Two of WA’s highest achievers in agriculture have been awarded prestigious Nuffield Australia scholarships to explore global solutions in their areas of interest.

Bob Garnant

Farm business consultant Carter Johnson, Grower Group Alliance chief executive Rikki Foss, and Newdegate Machinery Field Days president Stephanie Clarke-Lloyd.

Crops the size of PortugalPremiumFull contribution of WA ag outlined in newly launched report

The full extent and contribution of the WA agriculture sector to the State’s economy has been outlined in a new report led by an eastern Wheatbelt farming community.

Georgia Campion

Commander Agriculture were inundated with requests for quotes on their livestock feeders, grain augers and sheep yards after the $30 million Farm Business Transition Program was announced. Pictured: Commander Ag-Quip sales consultant Martin Buggins and design and product development director David Jackson.

missed opportunitiesPremiumHundreds of farmers are missing out on grant funding

WA livestock infrastructure manufacturers were left scrambling to fulfil quotes following the announcement of the Federal Government grants available to help producers transition away from live exports.

Melissa Pedelty and Georgia Campion

Rachel Willcocks, 3, with Neika, 5, and Mustang, 4, on a CFMOTO Albany buggy at the 2026 Newdegate Machinery Field Days.

All SmilesPremiumAround the grounds at the Newdegate Machinery Field Days

It was all smiles and excitement at this years Newdegate Machinery Field Days as crowds flocked from afar to cook, get up to date on the latest agriculture tech, and see all the various competition winners.

Rebecca Nadge and Georgia Campion

Paris Hall and Trent Lavell kept the crowd entertained.

Spring fashionPremiumSpring fashion showcased on Dyson Jones catwalk

All eyes were on the catwalk as the music pumped and models strutted their stuff for the Dyson Jones fashion parade at the 2026 Newdegate Machinery Field Days. 

Rebecca Nadge

Dr Bruno Martinez from MiniTube Australia emphasised the significance of heifer development from as early as two months old to ensure success during synchronisation protocols.

start youngPremiumAI program expert emphasises importance of doing it right

An artificial insemination expert is reminding WA cattle farmers that consistent nutrition from birth, low-stress handling and attention to detail are key to getting the most from AI programs.

Melissa Pedelty

Kojonup Agricultural Supplies' Nat Wedderburn and Matt Atkinson at the 2026 Newdegate Machinery Field Days.

Auto feederPremiumKojonup Ag Supplies now the WA agent for auto sheep feeder

A Great Southern agricultural supplier that has become the WA agent for an automatic sheep feeder says interest has been enormous since launching the product two weeks ago. 

Rebecca Nadge

The MV Katy Oldendorff departs from CBH's Esperance Grain Terminal.

Grain HaltPremiumPhosphine limits threaten multi-billion dollar grain trade

WA’s multi-billion dollar grain trade is at risk of grinding to a halt at the height of this year’s harvest, with new phosphine exposure limits threatening to hold up the State’s second largest industry.

Georgia Campion

Improving the resilience and productivity of sheep in low rainfall farming systems is the focus of a new national collaborative research project.

farmer-led researchPremiumNew project focuses on sheep in low-rainfall systems

WA will be home to 10 trial sites for a new farmer-led national collaborative research project which will focus on improving the resilience and productivity of sheep in low-rainfall systems.

Melissa Pedelty

Radicle Lab is the world's first fully automated soil laboratory.

new techPremiumBiggest advance in soil testing hits WA soils

A US-based company is bringing a world-first fully automated soil laboratory to WA, revolutionising the way soil samples are gathered and analysed. 

Melissa Pedelty

Quillan Pritchard, Barfeeds, Sam Howie, Dyson Jones, winner Rob Newman, Newman Farms, event coordinator Bryce Sinclair and Grantly Mullan, MerinoWA, with the motorbike donated for the 2026 Helen McDonald Champion Ewe Hogget Shield.

Double winPremiumNewman Farms win champion fleece and ewe hogget at Newdegate

A family operation has claimed a double at this year’s Newdegate Machinery Field Days, winning two major sheep competitions at the annual event. 

Rebecca Nadge

DataGene is working on understanding whether the protein trend is the new normal and whether it should update its Balanced Performance Index accordingly.

protein over fat?PremiumProtein trend is making waves in the dairy genetics space

Dairy farmers are raising concerns that herd improvement and genetic gain indicators might not be targeting the correct trends, as consumer demand for protein continues to surge.

Melissa Pedelty

A 40-year-old man has had part of his prison term suspended for stealing copper wire from CBH sites.

courtsPremiumPartly suspended term for stealing copper from CBH sites

A man who stole more than $38,000 worth of copper wire from multiple disused grain processing terminals in the Great Southern and Wheatbelt more than two years ago has had part of his jail sentence suspended.

Jacki Elezovich

Charlotte Jensz and Allan Hobley, Wiringa Park, Nyabing, at the 2026 Newdegate Machinery Field Days.

Best displayPremiumWiringa Park claims Newdegate’s best studstock display award

A Nyabing operation has claimed the Best Studstock Display Award at the 2026 Newdegate Machinery Field Days. 

Rebecca Nadge

AgriGard co-founders Dr Neil Grice and Karla Blake at the 2026 Newdegate Machinery Field Days.

NEWDEGATE MACHINERY FIELD DAYSPremiumWA-designed fire detection system awarded for innovation

A newly-launched fire detection system, designed in conjunction with local farmers to protect against header fires, has snagged an innovation award at one of WA’s annual field days.

Georgia Campion

Sharon Wyllie from Whicher Park Farm and Amy Scott from Gundagai Dairy.

InnovationPremiumNetworking event features major technologies shaping ag

More than 20 dairy and beef producers gathered for a day of education, innovation, networking and idea-sharing at the 2026 Farmwest Discovery.

Melissa Pedelty

Making WeedRemeed technology more accessible allows land managers to make better use of their on-ground resources.

hovering into viewPremiumDrone technology gets a user-friendly upgrade

A collaboration between the leading invasive plant research organisation and a renewable energy company is helping to make advanced technology more practical and accessible for everyone.

Melissa Pedelty

Jumbuck Plains woolgrowers Olivia Fowler and Stephen Fowler, of Esperance, with farmhand Baden Denhom.

Fowler’s Jumbuck PlainsPremiumThe Fowler family run sheep as mainstay at Esperance

A family-run mixed sheep and cropping farm outside of Esperance is enjoying a bumper season thanks to “magnificent” rainfall on coastal sandplain country.

Bob Garnant

Lewsidale's Ray Lewis, auctioneer Cam Petricevich, buyer Steve Fowler, Dyson Jones' Sam Howie, AWN's Greg Tilbrook, and Lewisdale's Cohen Matthews, John Bushby, Kai Taylor, 9, and Jordan Taylor, 11, with the top-priced ram Lewisdale 17.

Lewisdale ram salePremiumLewis Poll Merino sale records full clearance, $10,000 top

A father-son duo have secured 35 per cent of the Lewisdale Poll Merinos sale draft for their respective farming operations at Esperance.

Rebecca Nadge

Western Crop Genetics Alliance technical officer Ethan Ryan, back, senior research fellow Dr Tianhua He, research associate Dr Hao Luo, front, Professor Chengdao Li, plant pathologist Dr Hieu Tran and DPIRD principal research scientist Manisha Shankar.

Septoria leaf blotchPremiumNew research to develop resistance to Septoria leaf blotch

New research to develop oat and oaten hay varieties aims to improve resistance to Septoria leaf blotch

Bob Garnant

George the Farmer founder Simone Kain and Quality Wool Genevieve Dyson, of Quality Wool, with George and a display of wool discovery kits that are expected to reach about 4000 students.

Wool discovery kitsPremiumNominations are open to assign wool discovery kits

Teachers, parents and members of school communities are encouraged to get in the running to receive one of 50 wool discovery kits as part of a national competition.

Bob Garnant

ZELP Sense is a low-cost, easy-to-use system for continuously measuring methane emissions from individual cows.

new techPremiumUK company launches breakthrough livestock emissions device

A UK-based agricultural technology company has identified Australia as a priority market for its breakthrough wearable device for real-world livestock emissions measurement

Melissa Pedelty

GRDC Harvester Set-up workshop in Carnamah in 2025.

hands-on learningPremiumWA farmers are saving harvesting days with free workshops

WA farmers are saving almost six days of harvesting and reducing losses after participating in leading grains research organisation’s harvester workshops, which will run again this year pre-harvest.

Melissa Pedelty