Grain Producers Australia (GPA) warmly welcomes the South Australian Government announcement today to delay workplace changes to phosphine fumigant use by at least 18 months. Deputy Premier, Kyam Maher and SafeWork SA have announced a delay of implementing a lower Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) of the critical grain fumigant – phosphine for a period that includes at least the next two grain harvests. This practical announcement from the South Australian state regulator, follo

A new pathway for growers to submit paddock-level evidence of mouse pressure featured in Rural Business Magazine, explaining how local observations can inform reviews of agroecological zone ratings used to determine ZP50 access. Grain Producers Australia Western Region Director Duncan Young said the GRDC-led process complemented the national monitoring network. “Mouse activity can change quickly and can be highly localised,” Mr Young said. “Growers should continue walking pad

GPA’s survey of grower awareness and preparedness featured in Grain Central’s coverage of tighter grain dust exposure limits and questions about their implementation on farms. The article highlighted gaps in growers’ understanding of how to measure and manage exposure, alongside differing state approaches to the changes. “Grain growers want to have effective communication from regulators about such changes, and we also want reasonable standards that we can actually comply wit

Grain Producers Australia (GPA) welcomes the Albanese Government’s priority pathway for urgent Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa cases, and is urging grain producers who need workers for harvest to use it straight away. Under the arrangement, urgent farm worker cases are put forward through state farming organisations and the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), with submissions made to the Department of Home Affairs by 3pm each working day. “This is a solution and we thank the

Grain Producers Australia Chair Matthew Madden has called for clearer communication and practical standards as growers prepare for tighter grain dust exposure limits, Stock & Land reported. Mr Madden said farm businesses lacked the dedicated technical staff available to large industrial operations. “Grain growers want to have effective communication from regulators about such changes, and we also want reasonable standards that we can actually comply with,” he said. VFF Grains

Grain Producers Australia (GPA) is surveying grain growers ahead of upcoming safe work exposure limits changes for grain dust, that will commence during harvest. From 1 December 2026, the Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) for grain dust is being significantly decreased from an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) from 4.0 mg/m³ to 1.5 mg/m³. Through an online survey, GPA is seeking to better understand the impact of this to growers amid concern that they will find it difficult to

Former Australian Defence Force personnel are helping growers fill harvest jobs through Operation Grain Harvest Assist as visa delays complicate staffing plans, Grain Central reported. GPA Chair Matthew Madden said veterans brought mechanical skills, safety awareness and a willingness to work, with many returning for successive harvests. “This is a workforce solution that does not depend on a visa class,” Mr Madden said. Grain Producers Australia is seeking support to expand

Grain Producers Australia (GPA) and Operation Grain Harvest Assist (OGHA) are again placing former Australian Defence Force members into grain harvest jobs - and building a permanent pipeline of skilled Australian workers for agriculture. The partnership connects former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with grain producers, offering an Australian answer to the workforce shortages confronting growers as the 2026 harvest begins. With headers rolling in northern cr

Grain Producers Australia will monitor the impact of changes to the Wheat Port Code on growers, following the government’s decision to introduce a revised three-year code while industry develops a self-regulatory framework, Farm Online reported. Chair Matthew Madden said the previous code needed updating but raised concerns about weaker regulation. “Our priority is to make sure grain growers are treated with fairness and transparency by all players throughout the grains suppl

Grain Producers Australia (GPA) welcomes the announcement by the Federal Government today to prioritise migration for key sectors including agriculture, although it is cautious about the broader impact on the upcoming harvest. During his presentation to the National Press Club today in relation to the Government's overhaul of the migration system, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that he will update a ministerial direction to prioritise migrants who have skills Aust

Grain growers are being urged to review their biosecurity arrangements because a bird flu outbreak could disrupt truck movements and grain deliveries to poultry farms. Speaking with Narelle Graham on ABC Radio South Australia, GPA Chair Matthew Madden explained the connections between grain production, livestock industries and transport. “A written biosecurity plan is one of the most useful places to start,” Mr Madden said. He encouraged growers to use the Grains Farm Biosecu

By Grain Producers Australia Chair Matthew Madden The detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in wild seabirds in Australia has understandably placed the poultry industry on alert, but the implications extend much further across agriculture. While there have been no detections in Australian poultry production systems or the broader livestock industries, the presence of H5N1 in wild birds is a reminder of how closely connected our production systems are and why eve

Countryman reported opposition from grain industry organisations to a Senate inquiry into the APVMA’s paraquat decision, with GPA stressing the need to respect the regulator’s independence. RD&E spokesperson Andrew Weidemann said the industry respected the APVMA’s authority despite disagreeing with parts of its June determination. “We cannot support the integrity and independence of that system only when it delivers the outcome we want,” he said. Mr Weidemann questioned what

Bird flu is drawing attention to biosecurity across Australian agriculture, but the risks grain producers manage extend beyond any one disease or sector. New Grain Producers Australia (GPA) Independent Director Kristy McSweeney discussed what bird flu could mean for grain growers, particularly those with dams, wetlands and mixed farming operations in an interview with News24. She also spoke about the continuing cost of mouse damage and the work underway to help growers manage

A Senate inquiry into the APVMA’s paraquat decision has raised concerns about the regulator’s independence, GPA RD&E spokesperson Andrew Weidemann told ABC SA Country Hour. Speaking with Selina Green, Mr Weidemann said stakeholders had already had the opportunity to submit scientific evidence during the regulatory review. “This is really just going back over old ground,” he said. He questioned the implications for future chemical decisions if Parliament sought to override tha

GPA RD&E spokesperson Andrew Weidemann has questioned the Coalition’s support for a Senate inquiry into the APVMA’s paraquat decision, telling Country Today’s Libby Price that stakeholders had already had the opportunity to present evidence during the regulator’s review. “I think they need to really be quite clear about what their objectives are in this process,” Mr Weidemann said. The Wimmera grower warned of wider implications if other chemical decisions were also revisited

Grain Producers Australia has called for the Senate paraquat inquiry to identify what evidence or regulatory failing warrants revisiting the APVMA’s completed review, Grain Central reported. GPA RD&E spokesperson Andrew Weidemann warned that political pressure on chemical decisions could have implications across agriculture, despite growers disagreeing with some new restrictions. “We cannot support the integrity and independence of that system only when it delivers the outcom

Farm Online reported grower frustration over the Senate’s decision to revisit paraquat regulation, with WAFarmers questioning political involvement and GPA defending the APVMA’s independent assessment. Andrew Weidemann, Grain Producers Australia’s RD&E spokesperson, acknowledged that new restrictions would create practical challenges but said the industry respected the regulator’s scientific process. “We cannot support the integrity and independence of that system only when i

Grain Producers Australia (GPA) questions the Senate’s decision to launch an inquiry into the continued use and regulation of paraquat less than three months after the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) completed its extensive scientific review of the chemical. GPA Research, Development and Extension spokesperson Andrew Weidemann said the grains industry did not agree with every restriction imposed through the final decision, but respected the AP

Grain producers are invited to join an online question and answer session examining global grain markets, price movements and the factors to consider when making grain marketing decisions. GPA Deputy Chair and South Australian grain producer Mark Schilling will be joined by Andrew Whitelaw from Episode 3 for a practical discussion about what is happening across international markets and what it could mean for Australian growers. The session will look at the global factors inf