Oct 15, 2026 · 13 min · 8 segments
Todays Guests: Brad Millsteed - Watheroo Farmer Bec - Countryman Editor Stephen Brown - Safe Farms Tom Mayfield - ADM Trading See omnystudio.com/listener for…
Bec, the Countryman Editor.
We've got lots of stories going on at the moment.
Let's talk about some of the top stories in this week's paper, starting with the crop losses because of the mice.
Yes, that's right.
Farmers in Minganew and surrounds are reporting crop losses of up to 50% because of persistently high levels of mouse activity, with some saying it was the worst mouse plague they've ever experienced.
Mouse activity in WA reached significant outbreak and plague levels across major grain-producing regions, driven by a record 2025 harvest and favourable breeding conditions.
Southeastern Midwest farmers reported the highest impact.
The Great Southern region, specifically Esperance and surrounds, also experienced high mouse activity, followed by several other areas across the grain belt.
Midwest grain farmer Andrew Cosgrove plans to start harvest this week, but he said he had to reseed or fallow more than 2,000 hectares of crop because of the mouse damage, spending about $200,000 on aeroplanes to bait.
Now, can you give us a bit of information about the fertiliser underwriting scheme? That's
right.
Hot topic at the moment.
The release of documents regarding the federal government's fertiliser underwriting scheme has been delayed after a request for an extension.
The government was ordered to table documentation in September after a motion by independent Victorian Senator Lydia Thorpe.
It called for all ministerial submissions and decision briefs pertaining to selection criteria for the $7.5 billion fuel and fertiliser security facility delivered by Export Finance Australia to be tabled in Parliament by October 12.
citing the need for additional time to finalise the government's response to the motion.
Through EFA, the federal government partnered with suppliers CFBP, Insutec Pivot and Summit to ensure urea orders were bound for Australian shores.
Countryman understands that fertiliser suppliers were made to sign a non-disclosure agreement prior to participating in the scheme.
Pastoralist and Graziers Association of WA President Digby Stretch welcomed the move and said it would cast needed transparency on the scheme.
Yes, industry
stalwarts say the return of two beloved WA dairy brands to a pair of able and responsible hands will have a positive effect on the dairy industry.
Mundella Foods and the Margaret River Dairy Company have been sold to MMRD Holdings, sparking a return to production at the Metricup facility and the reopening of the Margaret River Dairy Company shopfront.
MMRD is a wholly owned subsidiary of emerging company Artisanal Market, which is jointly owned by Perth-based agricultural investment and asset manager Penagri Group and Research Corporation.
Bec, the Countryman Editor.
We've got lots of stories going on at the moment.
Let's talk about some of the top stories in this week's paper, starting with the crop losses because of the mice.
Yes, that's right.
Farmers in Minganew and surrounds are reporting crop losses of up to 50% because of persistently high levels of mouse activity, with some saying it was the worst mouse plague they've ever experienced.
Mouse activity in WA reached significant outbreak and plague levels across major grain-producing regions, driven by a record 2025 harvest and favourable breeding conditions.
Southeastern Midwest farmers reported the highest impact.
The Great Southern region, specifically Esperance and surrounds, also experienced high mouse activity, followed by several other areas across the grain belt.
Midwest grain farmer Andrew Cosgrove plans to start harvest this week, but he said he had to reseed or fallow more than 2,000 hectares of crop because of the mouse damage, spending about $200,000 on aeroplanes to bait.
Now, can you give us a bit of information about the fertiliser underwriting scheme? That's
right.
Hot topic at the moment.
The release of documents regarding the federal government's fertiliser underwriting scheme has been delayed after a request for an extension.
The government was ordered to table documentation in September after a motion by independent Victorian Senator Lydia Thorpe.
It called for all ministerial submissions and decision briefs pertaining to selection criteria for the $7.5 billion fuel and fertiliser security facility delivered by Export Finance Australia to be tabled in Parliament by October 12.
citing the need for additional time to finalise the government's response to the motion.
Through EFA, the federal government partnered with suppliers CFBP, Insutec Pivot and Summit to ensure urea orders were bound for Australian shores.
Countryman understands that fertiliser suppliers were made to sign a non-disclosure agreement prior to participating in the scheme.
Pastoralist and Graziers Association of WA President Digby Stretch welcomed the move and said it would cast needed transparency on the scheme.
Yes, industry
stalwarts say the return of two beloved WA dairy brands to a pair of able and responsible hands will have a positive effect on the dairy industry.
Mundella Foods and the Margaret River Dairy Company have been sold to MMRD Holdings, sparking a return to production at the Metricup facility and the reopening of the Margaret River Dairy Company shopfront.
MMRD is a wholly owned subsidiary of emerging company Artisanal Market, which is jointly owned by Perth-based agricultural investment and asset manager Penagri Group and Research Corporation.
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