Belinda Varischetti
Perth, WA
Belinda Varischetti started her career with the ABC in 1993 as a Rural Reporter on the Western Australian Country Hour.
After a short stint in the ABC's Perth office, Belinda moved to Shepparton in northern Victoria to work as the region's Rural Reporter. Belinda enjoyed the opportunity to explore the rich dairying, fruit growing and agricultural region of the Goulburn Valley.
Belinda then took every chance to work on as many ABC programs and explore as many regions around Australia as possible.
Over her 18 year career with the ABC Belinda has presented the WA, Victoria and Tasmania Country Hour programs; Presented National Rural News; Presented and worked as a producer on Radio National's Bush Telegraph; Presented breakfast and drive programs on Local Radio in Tasmania; produced ABC Grandstand and produced the Morning Show on Local Radio in Perth.
After a five year break to stay at home with her two children, Belinda returns to the ABC to present the WA Country Hour.
She looks forward to taking the program on-the-road and catching up with some of the old faces she hasn't seen for a while and also getting to know some new ones.
Latest by Belinda Varischetti
More than three weeks after leaving Fremantle, thousands of livestock remain stuck on ship off WA coast
Questions are being asked about what will happen to thousands of sheep and cattle on the live export ship MV Bahijah, which was turned around due to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.
Fine for cattle deaths 'makes a mockery' of WA animal welfare laws, businessman says
Mugarinya Community Association's $50,000 fine for animal welfare breaches "does not reflect the community standards and expectations put on the agricultural industry", claims feedlot operator Paul Brown.
A fifth of a farmer's canola crop died — then the seed company asked him to sign an NDA
John Snooke says the Pacific Seeds' "garrison" canola variety's underperformance has cost him more than $70,000, but the company will not pay compensation.
WA beekeepers fear biosecurity 'complacency' has left state ill-prepared for a varroa mite outbreak
WA's peak industry body for beekeeping believes there's a "huge risk" of the deadly parasite entering the state via freight link traffic or swarms of feral bees — but authorities are "incredibly confident" it can be kept out.
Two Broome cattle yards added to Indonesia's live export restriction list over lumpy skin disease fears
Government authorities maintain lumpy skin disease has never been detected in Australian cattle despite Indonesia claiming positive tests have been in recorded in livestock from three new export facilities, which follows the banning of four other facilities earlier this year.
Sheep exporters upset at latest footage of animal welfare breaches but question activists' tactics
Producers say a video purporting to show Australian sheep cruelly treated in Oman does not represent the reality for the vast majority of animals exported live.
Cheaper meat on the horizon, but alarm for farmers as prices slump
Prices paid to farmers for their lamb have fallen dramatically and shoppers should see prices decrease soon, according to the WA meat industry.
Fishers furious over wait for details on marine park plans
The industry on WA's south coast says the state government is taking an "untrustworthy" approach to the creation of a new marine park in the region.
Cattle industry heads back to court with Commonwealth over live export ban
Australia's cattle industry says the Commonwealth's offer of compensation over the 2011 live export ban was "not within a bull's roar" of the cost on producers, so will fight it out in court.
Farmers 'paralysed with fear' and authorities flooded with calls over WA's new Aboriginal heritage laws
Western Australia's planning authorities are fielding an average of 25 phone calls and 50 emails a day from landholders confused over the state's new Aboriginal heritage laws.
The bubble has burst for Aussie cattle prices and producers are taking the hit
Cattle producers in WA who are supplying beef to domestic and international markets are feeling the pain of sudden price drops.
Focus on livestock tracing intensifies under new strategy to protect agricultural industry
Australia's agriculture minister says improved monitoring for animals from farm to killfloor will help protect producers from biosecurity threats and appease consumers keen to know the origins of their meal.
WA's largest pork producer 'shocked' by mass pig deaths on supplier's farm
Linley Valley Pork says it is deeply concerned by animal welfare issues on the property, where hundreds of pigs have died in recent days.
Authorities investigate mass pig deaths at WA property
The government confirms animal welfare inspectors have attended a Wheatbelt piggery in response to a developing animal welfare situation.
End of live trade could have 'catastrophic' consequences for wool industry
Western Australia's wool industry is worth $650 million, but growers say it will shrink rapidly if live exports are stopped.
Grain handler CBH spends big on new trains to future-proof supply chain
Western Australia's main grain handler will make its biggest purchase of rail infrastructure in preparation to move big crops in the future.
Farmers support closing firearms loophole 'abused' by some recreational shooters
Outgoing WA Premier Mark McGowan says the "property letter" system will be overhauled as part of the state's gun law reform.
Live sheep trade to Saudi Arabia set to reopen, as federal government's live export ban looms
The number of sheep headed to the Middle East could double if the trade to Saudi Arabia reopens next year, boosting the multimillion dollar industry.
Cattle deaths linked to sea voyage from Darwin to Broome sparks blame game
An export depot has defended the management of cattle following the death of 31 animals during transport.
Special firearms licence likely for WA farmers as state rewrites gun laws
The police minister acknowledges primary producers "require a firearm to make their living" and appoints a special advisory board to consult with them, as Western Australia moves to ban high-powered weapons.
Farm deaths inquiry finds 'risk-taking culture', proposes levy for more safety inspectors
After 12 deaths in as many months, a WorkSafe investigation into Western Australia's agricultural sector finds that workplace fatalities are the highest of any industry.
'Nothing left standing': Station owners left picking up the pieces after Tropical Cyclone Ilsa
Pastoralists across Western Australia's Pilbara region are facing a mammoth clean-up in the wake of severe Tropical Cyclone Ilsa.
Small-scale pig farmers call for end of carbon dioxide stunning
With a centralisation of pig abattoirs owned by large multinationals, many small-scale pig farmers say they have limited choices on where to send their pigs for slaughter.
Cattle farmer launches grassroots campaign to challenge live sheep export ban plan
Michael Thompson runs cattle in Western Australia, but he has launched a campaign to fight the federal government's phase-out of the country's live sheep export industry.
Minister backs down in fight to keep WA live sheep exports afloat
WA's agriculture minister says despite her efforts, the federal government will continue with its plans to shut the sheep live export trade.