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Grains Research And Development Science Highlights 2015-17, Department Of Agriculture And Food Western Australia

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Western Australian grain production and industry value has quadrupled over the past 30 years, despite declining winter rainfall, more frost and high temperature events, acidifying soils and increasing input costs. Strong evidence links this productivity growth to R&D that has delivered genetically superior varieties, better agronomic practices and more reliable farming systems. Western Australian grain growers are innovators that rapidly adopt new technology which is increasingly sourced from a wider pool of national and global science, research and innovation. Continuing to push the productivity frontier is not only critical to grower’s profitability, it underpins the international competitiveness of our exports …

Testing Carbon Farming Opportunities For Salinity Management, Peter Ritson, Mike G. Clarke, Adele Killen, Sarah Jeffery

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An emerging prospect for farm revenue from revegetation of saline and other lands that are marginal or non-productive for agriculture is the sale of carbon credits. Australian Government schemes for carbon credits include the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) and the proposed Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) Therefore, this study aimed to assess the potential for woody vegetation (trees and shrubs) established on and around salt-affected lands in the Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store (sequester) the carbon in new growth. Revegetation plantings on six farms were selected for the study after the landowners expressed …

Report Card On Sustainable Natural Resource Use In Agriculture, Robert Summers, David Weaver

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Condition and trend Nutrients, such as phosphorus (P), are essential for profitable agriculture in the south-west of WA; however, excess P – more than is required for optimal production – is stored in many agricultural soils. On average, pasture soils and arable soils contain 1.3 times and 1.6 times respectively, as much P as is required for optimal production. Production in P-enriched soils is more likely to be constrained by soil acidity (50–60% of pasture and arable soils), potassium (K) (50% of pasture soils and less than 10% of arable soils), and sulphur (S) (30% of pasture soils). Management implications …

Fresh Thinking 2013-2050, Victor Fazakerley, David Windsor

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The purpose of this report is to: • provide information on current production of a key group of fruit and vegetables grown in Western Australia and the amounts consumed, some of which are imported; • estimate how much of these fresh fruit and vegetables will be required to meet WA’s demand in 2025 and 2050; • estimate the water and land resource required to grow these fruit and vegetables under current production systems and project the demand for these resources to 2025 and 2050; and • consider the competitiveness of various fruit and vegetable industries and their capacity to meet …

Final Evaluation Of The North East Agricultural Region (Near) Strategy, Andrew Blake, Don Burnside, Vicki Williams

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No abstract provided.

Pastoral Profits Guide, A Paddock Guide To Achieving Sustainable Livestock Productivity, Mark Alchin, Jim Addison, Valarie Shrubb, Zac Cockerill, Matthew Young, Tim Johnson, Greg Brennan

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Most pastoralists appreciate the need to deliver an economic, environmental and social 'profit' from their business. Achieving these profits can be a real challenge given the comparatively low productive potential and the substantial seasonal variation in the WA Southern Rangelands region. This guide was written to assist pastoralists to meet their specific livestock production, financial and range condition objectives through the better alignment of feed demand (stocking rate) to feed supply (carrying capacity). We provide nine basic steps that simplify the process of managing the feed supply, equipping pastoralists with the tools to make· decisions and to critically assess the …

Innovation, Research And Development, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

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The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia proudly plays a vital role In lhe strategic planning, production and marketing of the State's food and fibre industries. via three main criteria.

Innovation

Research

Development

The following are some recent examples of the department's many innovative R&D programs that are showcasing our scientific and technological breakthroughs on the world stage.

Growing Cucumbers In Protected Cultivation In Western Australia, John Burt

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There are over 20 growers who produce cucumbers under protected cultivation in Western Australia, ranging from Manjimup in the South-West to Geraldton and Carnarvon. They mainly grow these crops hydroponically in greenhouses. There is also some production under shadecloth and some crops are grown in soil. There are two types of cucumbers grown under protected cultivation. The Continental or burpless cucumber is the main type of cucumber and has long fruit, whereas the Lebanese (mini) cucumber has shorter fruit. Compared with field cucumbers, these two types are seedless and do not require pollination to produce fruits. To ensure they are …

Annual Pasture Legume Options For Key Soil Types, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia, Grains Research & Development Corporation

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No abstract provided.

Current Status And 25 Year Trends For Soil Acidity, Fertility And Salinity In The Coastal Catchments Of The Peel-Harvey, Robert Summers, David Weaver

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The current status and trends of soil analyses in the coastal catchment of the Peel Harvey estuary were developed from historical soil data (1982 to 1991) combined with a renewed sampling to greater depth (1 m). This report encompasses the data collected from the first year of the project. Soil phosphorus content was found to be high but has dropped slightly since 1991. Soil pH is very low and is likely to be limiting production but have risen slightly since 1991. Soil potassium content is generally so low that it may be limiting production especially to the west of the …

Field Pea In The Great Southern, Ian Pritchard, Rodger Beermier, Mark Seymour

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Semi-leafless field pea like Kaspa have lifted the benchmark set by the previous conventional varieties such as Parafield and Dunwa. Semi-leafless field pea have the same traits as conventional field pea: adaptation to a range of soil types; wide selection of weed control options (including crop topping); nitrogen input; disease break; and reduction in root lesion nematodes. Semi-leafless pea is easier to harvest and is less prone to pod shatter.

Characteristics Of Perrennial Grasses [Poster], T M. Lacey, Geoff Allan Moore

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Growth Characteristics of perennial C3 grasses: this table presents information on a range of perennial grass species but it is not a recommendation for them. Consider species characteristics in relation to local conditions and then source specific variety information before making decisions. It is suggest you grow trial plots of grasses before planting large areas (see key below for rating system).

Sustainability Issues For Agriculture In Western Australia, Anne Bennett, Ross Kingwell, Ross George

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Agriculture has been and will continue to be a major component of economic activity in several regions in Western Australia, and agricultural communities will remain an important part of the social fabric and landscape of the State. Promoting the sustainability of agriculture is likely to produce three main outcomes: vibrant rural communities; profitable agricultural systems; and conservation of the natural environment. This paper describes briefly the main challenges to the sustainability of agriculture and outlines some means of responding to the challenges: market-based approaches; agricultural and environmental research and development; accelerated adjustment; and global and national policy initiatives.

Agriculture And The Western Australian Economy : Value Added Contribution Of Agricultural Commodities, Nazrul Islam

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No abstract provided.

Jerramungup "Moort Type" Soils - Soil Description, Analyses And Discussion, Tim Overheu Mr

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Hard Setting Grey Clays, colloquially termed Moort Clays by the Central South Coast farmers of Western Australia, fall into the typical class of Sunday soils (i.e. too dry to sow a crop on Saturday and too wet on Monday) - acknowledgment that these soils can be difficult to manage. The local soil name derives from the dominant endemic vegetation growing on this soil (Eucalyptus platypus ssp) usually with no competing understory vegetation. Moort clays are most often found on mid to upper valley slopes and depending on parent material and pedogenesis are often alkaline (sometimes acidic), hard setting, sometimes cracking, …

Remnant Vegetation Protection Scheme 1991 Blocks, J E D Fox, P Read, J - Pg Orsini

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No abstract provided.

Reconnaissance Investigation Of Fitzgerald Location 1646 And New Land Adjacent Fitzgerald Location 1998 Mt. Ridley, Tim D. Overheu

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No abstract provided.

East Ballidu Catchment Report, L K. Lenane, C Henschke, C Thorne, D Kessell

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It will require the total cooperation of all members of the Soil Conservation District to remedy the area's problems. The first priority is for the control and better use of water on the recharge areas. The wheat/wheat/lupin rotation at present offers the best economic option. Lupins are well suited to the areas of lighter land. If lupins are planted on waterlogged soils or otherwise unsuitable soils, problems will arise and perhaps prejudice their use on the widespread suitable areas. The use of trees below rocky outcrops is an important measure to prevent excessive recharge of the deeper aquifers. Where trees …

Communication Networks And The Adoption Of Three Farn Practices, P. W. Fry, F. K. Goss

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The report commences with a discussion of the diffusion and adoption model, and illustrates some of the research observations and practical outcomes that have emerged in recent years, An overview of social network research is presented as a means of understanding communication exchanges and providing data relevant to the diffusion debate. The communication and adoption studies are then reported in three separate sections in the order they were conducted. (A map of the location of the survey areas is shown in Figure I ) . The objectives, survey method, results and a summary are presented for each study.

A background …

Field Techniques Manual, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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Contents : Vol. 1. Crop and pasture research--Vol. 2. Animal production--Vol. 3. Horticulture--Vol. 4. Management of natural resources.

Report On Kellogg Rural Adjustment Unit (Krau) Conference, Peter Eckersley

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The aim was for the 170 attenders to define how much productivity increases could help farmers in the main rural industries, and what size increases are likely in the foreseeable future (especially the next 5 years recommend feasible Government and industry action to stimulate increases in farm productivity.

Notes On Noxious Weeds Recommendations, D J. Gilbey

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A supplement to the "Recommendations for the Control of Primary Noxious Weeds and Secondary Noxious Weeds" booklet by G.A. Pearce.

Arum lily, Blackberry, Caltrop, Cape tulip, Carnation weed, Cotton bush, Couch & Kikuyu grass, Doveweed ,Gorteria, Heliotrope, Horehound, Paterson's curse, Saffron thistle, Salvinnia, Soursob, St. John's wort, Thomapple, Variegated thistle, Water hyacinth, Afghan thistle, Doublegee, Neverdie, Hyvar X, Monuron, Eradone, M.C.P.A., Sarsaparilla, Spray seed, Vorox, Cultural weed control and seed dormancy