Grain Producers Australia (GPA) is helping grain growers prepare for upcoming workplace exposure limit changes with new website resources, after its survey revealed growers remain in the dark about what the changes mean for their businesses. GPA’s online resources have been urgently developed to assist grain growers nationwide, following survey results that showed 91% of growers are concerned about their ability to reasonably measure, monitor, and manage upcoming work exposur

A push to hold public hearings as part of a Senate inquiry into the continued use and regulation of paraquat has been defeated, following strong opposition from Australia's grains industry to revisiting the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority's (APVMA) recent regulatory decision. In an article published by Grain Central, the Senate voted 26 to 15 against a motion by independent Senator David Pocock to require public hearings, after the inquiry committee h

Grain growers in Western Australia's Mid West are reporting substantial crop damage and rising baiting costs following persistent mouse activity throughout the 2026 growing season, with some producers estimating crop losses of up to 50 per cent. In an article published by Countryman, Mingenew grower Andrew Cosgrove detailed the financial and production impacts of the outbreak, including more than 2000 hectares requiring reseeding or fallowing and approximately $200,000 spent

Grain Producers Australia (GPA) warmly welcomes the Western Australian Government announcement today to delay workplace changes to phosphine fumigant use. Minister Simone McGurk has announced a delay of implementing a lower Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) of the critical grain fumigant – phosphine for a period of three years. This practical announcement from the Western Australian state regulator, follows in the footsteps of South Australia and Victoria that supports the grain

A program connecting former Australian Defence Force personnel with grain growers facing harvest workforce shortages is preparing to expand into other agricultural industries, creating new employment opportunities for veterans and helping address ongoing labour challenges. In an interview with FlowFM, Operation Grain Harvest Assist (OGHA) founder Lieutenant Colonel Garry Spencer AM reflected on the program's beginnings during the COVID-19 pandemic, when a partnership with Gra

The Western Australian Government's decision to delay the introduction of tougher workplace exposure limits for phosphine by three years has been welcomed by Grain Producers Australia (GPA), providing growers and the grain supply chain with additional time to address practical compliance concerns. In an article published by Grain Central, GPA Chair Matthew Madden welcomed the announcement, which follows similar decisions in Victoria and South Australia, and called on remainin

The Western Australian Government has announced a three-year delay to new workplace exposure limits for phosphine, while confirming reduced grain dust limits will still take effect from 1 December 2026. In an article published by Countryman, Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk confirmed the phosphine changes would be postponed until December 2029 following industry concerns about the practical implications for grain storage, pest management and export trade. The decis

Results from the recent Grain Producers Australia (GPA) survey show grain growers are deeply concerned and lack clarity about the 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. Almost 500 growers completed the nationwide online survey with the following r

The increasing use of artificial intelligence in Australian agriculture is raising questions about how growers' commercially sensitive farm data is collected, shared and potentially used by others in the supply chain. In an article published by Farm Online, Grain Producers Australia (GPA) Chair Matthew Madden joined Pairtree CEO Hamish Munro and CSIRO in highlighting the risks of sharing detailed farm business information with AI platforms without understanding how that data

Former Australian Defence Force personnel are putting their military training and experience to work on Australian grain farms, helping growers meet seasonal workforce demands while finding new opportunities in agriculture. In an article published by Stock Journal, retired Navy Commander Garry Kennedy and Lieutenant Colonel Garry Spencer share their experiences working in grain production and helping other veterans transition into agricultural roles. The article highlights th

The Western Australian Government has acknowledged concerns about the ability of existing monitoring equipment to accurately measure phosphine exposure under new workplace limits due to take effect on 1 December 2026. In an article published by Countryman, Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk confirmed WorkSafe was investigating technical limitations with monitoring devices, including the potential for false alarms and disruptions to grain handling operations. Grain Pr