Western Australia Country Hour ABC Podcasts

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture heard the policy to end of the live sheep trade in Australia could result in a net animal welfare benefit for the global trade.

There were some heated exchanges and emotional statements in Parliament House in Canberra today for the first public hearing of the House of Representatives inquiry into the bill to end the live sheep trade by sea.

The number of live sheep exported by sea will be down about 100, 000 on the previous financial year. Despite the numbers the WA Livestock Exporters Association argues the industry is growing and new market opportunities are in the pipeline.

Some farmers in Western Australia's northern grain growing area are smiling today after more than 120 millimetres of rain fell on their properties over the last three days.

Danish wind turbine company Vestas wants to establish a big new wind farm in Western Australia. 

New data from Australia's agricultural forecaster, ABARES, shows global demand for Australia's premium sheepmeat products remains high, with strong demand for both lamb and mutton from the Middle East and other emerging markets.