Steve Martin - President

It was a pleasant surprise for Wannamal producer Steve Martin when he was elected to the WAPPA Executive Committee at WAPPA's 2006 AGM.

Replacing Immediate Past President, Stuart Coole of Boyup Brook, he is enthusiastic about his new role.

Steve has been involved in the pork industry for almost a decade, firstly working for Westpork in 1997 before shifting the next year to its grow-out farm, 'Mindara'.

In 2001 Steve started his own operation, 'Martin's Piggery' and is a contract grower for Wandalup Farms.

He runs a mixed livestock farming operation, with sheep, cattle and 8000 grower pigs, which are housed in 32 eco-shelters on his 1100 hectare property.

'Martin's Piggery' is a family operation, with Steve's daughter and son-in-law, Stacey and Jarrad Carter working for him and his sister Denva Martin and local Louise Hahn working part-time.

Wife Sharon is also actively involved in the business and industry. She is on the Pork Industry Training (WA) Committee and WA Pig Skills Centre Committee.

"The labour shortage issue is one of the biggest facing the industry and I'm lucky to have family working with me," Steve says.

He is concerned about non-compliance with on-farm biosecurity regulations, which have the potential to compromise the industry. Non-compliance with on-farm bio-security regulations also worries him as it has the potential to compromise the industry.

Steve enjoys the camaraderie of other producers within the industry and sees this as one of its major strengths. However, he believes a majority of stakeholders resist change.

"Processors aren't taking on the advice that we need to start growing bigger pigs to meet local and export market demands, hence educing production costs and improving industry efficiency.

"But we need to also cater to the individual needs of our markets and build the Asian marketplace, including Japan and China, our biggest future markets.

"Vietnam and similar countries also have good potential, with their large pork eating populations and we need to tailor our pork production techniques accordingly," Steve says.

"We don't want to miss out on any potentially lucrative markets and the industry needs to produce more pork to service them."

Steve intends to do his best to support and advance the industry in any way possible.

Graeme Dent - Vice President

Graeme Dent’s farming career at Cuballing in Western Australia’s Great Southern has always involved pork production. Over the years his herd has grown from 60 sows to 250. Mr Dent’s commitment to the development of the WA pork industry is evidenced by the various positions he holds.

Besides his current role as WAPPA President (elected 2005), he is also a member of the Agriculture Produce Commission’s Pork Producers’ Committee and a WA delegate for Australian Pork Limited.

In the past, Mr Dent was heavily involved with Rural Youth for three years (1986-88) and was President of the Pingelly Rural Youth group for two years (1987-88). Mr Dent is committed to the continual development of the pork industry and he believes WA’s producers need to continue to commit to delivering a quality product.

“Quality can never be sacrificed, especially with changes to labelling that enable shoppers to buy local or not.

“We want to ensure consumers buy locally produced pork and once they have bought local they keep on buying local, which means we need to supply them with a superior product.”

Mr Dent emphasised that delivering a quality pork product was essential for maintaining global competitiveness.

Aside from his passion for pork, Mr Dent has a passion for his family. He has a 14 year old daughter, Ashlee and a 10 year old son, Mathew, with his wife, Belinda.

Graeme Dent, Tel 08 9883 6060

Richard Evison - Treasurer

Richard is Production Manager at the Great Southern Pig Company (GSPC) in Albany.

After showing a keen interest in WAPPA and attending general meetings, he was nominated and accepted onto Executive in February 2005, replacing Keith Ashton of Kojonup.

Growing up in England , Richard worked on the family's pig farm before attending the Bishop Burton Agricultural College in 1986.

He moved to Australia in April 2003.

With more than 20 years experience in pork farming, including running piggeries in Canada , Richard brings international best practice and a broad knowledge of the industry to Executive.

He enjoys the Executive responsibilities and praises WAPPA, noting that if issues were left to hard working farmers, important ones just wouldn't be addressed.

"I'd like to make a difference and help WA's pork producers enjoy a more sustainable and profitable future," he said.

GSPC has one of the largest outdoor herds in Australia , with about 3000 sows enjoying a combination of free range and straw-based shelters. GSPC pork is sold through PPC Linley Valley and Watsons.

Richard is married to Sue and they have two sons, Josh (8) and Anthony (11).



Errol Howard - Executive Committee Member

Errol Howard and wife Annette run a mixed farming enterprise at Wannamal, with 160 head of breeding cattle, 1500 Merinos and an 8000 pig grow-out facility.

The grow-out facility Errol and Annette operate now is a far cry from when they first ventured into pigs with a 20 sow operation after moving from Bulyee, south of Quairading, to Wannamal 26 years ago.

Errol said while pig breeding had been interesting, the grow-out system with Wandalup Farms, owned by George Weston Foods, worked well.

Before establishing a grow-out facility in 1995, the Howards had increased the size of their small piggery to house 35 sows. This was pushed up to 70 sows when a dry sow facility was added.

Errol said his pigs, supplied to Watsons, were quality assured, although it did not gain him more money for his pigs than a producer who was not quality assured and had access to the same markets.

He noted, however, that quality assurance was important to ensure WA producers maintained access to export markets and if processors provided the right incentives more producers would become quality assured.

"I think we have got very good markets in Asia that are close and we can get the product there fresh," Errol said.

"My thought is that quality assurance should be high on the agenda for pig producers and that they should all be quality assured."

Cattle and sheep are also quality assured. Calves are sold at eight months to another farmer, while merinos mainly go into the export wether market.

The Howards have three boys, one, Brenden, working on the farm at Wannamal, another working on a fish farm at Badgingarra and another starting a butcher's apprenticeship in Perth.

There is one other employee on the farm, Tanya, who works in the piggery.



Lui Rinaldi - Executive Member

Lui Rinaldi was elected to WAPPA’s Executive at its 2007 AGM and brings a processor’s perspective to WAPPA, based on 25 years in the industry.

Lui commenced his career with George Weston Foods/Watsons in 1981, first working in the company’s Livestock and Wholesale Departments, based at Spearwood.

As Watsons Livestock Buyer, he purchased pigs at auction and helped establish and set up contracts for growers with Watsons.

He was later appointed Factory Production Planner, then Production Manager and, finally, Operations Manager (when he helped set up an export facility and export sales), before leaving to join PPC Linley Valley in 2002.

As PPC Agribusiness Manager (Business Development and Export), Lui is responsible for ensuring PPC has the right number and mix of quality pork producers supplying its state-of-the-art abattoir and boning and packing facility at Wooroloo, so that PPC maintains its status at the forefront of Australian pork processors and exporters.

“PPC and parent company, the Craig Mostyn Group, are very dynamic in their pursuit of product excellence and market growth and this is reflected with how they deal so professionally with suppliers and customers alike.

“A key part of my role at PPC is helping ensure WA pork producers can access the best available technology and expertise so that their pigs can find a market which suits their production systems and meets the requirements of particular markets.”

Russell Cox - Executive Officer at WAPPA

Russell Cox is WAPPA Executive Officer. He has  extensive managerial experience and a wide range of skills , including  working in a political environment, on the staff of a former Federal Minister.

A key aspect of the position is to lobby government and industry on behalf of producers.

Mr Cox's extensive managerial experience includes employment as Executive Manager (WA) of the Australian Kidney Foundation, General Manager of the Swan Districts and Claremont Football Clubs and inaugural Football Manager of the West Coast Eagles.

After commencing at WAPPA on June 8,  2004, Mr Cox said his enthusiasm would engender enthusiasm in others.

"My experience in a broad range of disciplines allows me to understand issues facing the pork industry and I look forward to tackling the challenges this represents."