OPINION: FIRST and foremost looking back at 2013 I am so pleased that it was a year of abundance for many farmers who have done it tough for quite some time.
We saw much of the State experience decent rains and bumper harvests.
We have not forgotten, however, the regions that were not so lucky and I have just returned from visiting some farmers who are having a very poor season.
Their crops are low and sparse and it is another heartbreaking period for them.
I also acknowledge the many challenges that remain for the industry.
Businesses need the support of their banks and access to credit, they need the value of the Australian dollar to continue its slide, they need less red tape as they go about their work and access to new markets in China and the Middle East.
These issues are important across the sector - to agricultural, horticultural and dairy businesses as well.
It was great to be able to offer the $7.8m farm assistance package, including grants of $25,000 to hundreds of farm businesses, funds to assist rural counselling organisations and grants so shires could hold community events.
Community support has been proven to be essential in difficult times.
This year we announced an unprecedented investment into agriculture in WA through the State Government's $300m Seizing the Opportunities program.
I look forward to sharing details of the 14 projects that will be funded through this initiative in the New Year.
I can assure you we are on track to see low interest Commonwealth Government-funded loans roll out early in the new year.
They will be available for those farm businesses wishing to improve their productivity.
And while we have seen much debate about foreign investment, I am personally heartened by interest coming from overseas.
We need the capital injection to be able to strive towards our target of doubling agricultural production by 2025 and to stake the best possible claim on demand coming from our Asian neighbours.
There are exciting projects underway to help with this target, for example, we are using excess mine dewater to grow fodder and biofuel in the Pilbara and are progressing with expanding horticulture in the Ord and in the Le Grange area south of Broome.
We have been working to address water issues for horticulture in Carnarvon, in part by setting up a new advisory committee to work out long and short-term solutions and by drilling two new bores and electrifying the bore system to reduce the costs of drawing water.
We are also working hard to promote and market WA's agricultural produce both domestically and internationally.
In 2014, I am trialling a dog bounty.
The success, or otherwise, of the trial in the Murchison will help me determine how we best deal with this problem in the Southern Rangelands and the eastern Wheatbelt.
We have seen momentum returning to the live export trade - not without hiccups along the way, such as the examples of animal cruelty overseas that have come to light.
The cruelty is totally abhorrent and there is a long way to go to improving animal welfare in our markets.
But this industry is so important to our economy, our farmers and our pastoralists and must continue and grow into the future. Australia's ESCAS system is the most rigorous animal welfare protection model in the world and I believe it allows us to educate our key markets on what is acceptable.
I am excited about what we will achieve in 2014 and look forward to working with the industry and stakeholders along the way.
I wish you and your families a happy Christmas and New Year and wish you the right amount of rain, abundant produce and prosperity in the coming year.
