Life Sciences Commons^™

Environmental Weed Risk Assessment Protocol For Growing Non-Indigenous Plants In The Western Australian Rangelands, Geoff A. Moore Mr, Christine Munday Ms, Papori Barua Dr

Bulletins 4000 -

This bulletin is a post-border environmental weed risk assessment (WRA) protocol which is based on the Environmental WRA Protocol developed for the Future Farm Industries Co-operative Research Centre (FFI CRC), but with some changes to reflect the different environment and objectives.

The WRA protocol was developed specifically as a post-border assessment of non-indigenous species that may have agricultural value in the WA rangelands and the risk that they may become environmental weeds. Weeds can occur in many land-use systems including agriculture, horticulture and forestry; however, the focus of this protocol is on the risk that non-indigenous agricultural plants may become …

Subsurface Compaction A Guide For Wa Farmers And Consultants, Stephen Davies, Alison Lacey

Bulletins 4000 -

For plants to grow in agricultural soils, roots and emerging shoots must be able to force their way through the soil. In soils of high strength, this growth is physically restricted. High strength soils may be due to natural soil characteristics and conditions or develop as a result of agricultural practices and may be in layers or throughout the soil profile.

In agriculture, high strength soils commonly occur as a result of compaction. Compaction of agricultural soils can be in the surface (often caused by stock trampling or rain drop splatter) or in the subsurface (usually in a layer at …

Adoption Of Sustainable Farm Management To Improve Tailwater Quality - A Plan For The Ord River Irrigation Area, Tara Slaven, Rebecca Heath, Jamie Bowyer

Bulletins 4000 -

The overall purpose of this plan is to provide a clear pathway to improve adoption of sustainable farming practices. The focus of the plan is to develop and encourage adoption of practices that minimise sediment, nutrient and chemical export from agricultural land within the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) (Figure 1). The plan aims to build on the significant work done by growers, government agencies and community groups over the years to manage the off-site impacts of irrigated agriculture.

A broad consultative approach was used to develop the plan. Workshops, meetings and oneon- one discussions were held with the local …

Exporting Vegetables In Bulk : Reducing Supply Chain Costs Without Compromising Quality, Helen Ramsey, Dennis Phillips

Bulletins 4000 -

Increased competition, a strong Australian dollar and increased production costs have seen Australian grown vegetables steadily lose their share in traditional export markets.

As competition increases, we need to investigate production and handling techniques that improve our price and quality competitiveness.

Improving the effi ciency of the supply chain to export markets is one way Australian growers can reduce production and shipping costs and improve product quality.

Diagnosing Crop And Pasture Problems With Detective Doug, Doug Sawkins

Bulletins 4000 -

There are numerous publications for diagnosing crop and pasture growth problems. Although they are excellent for experienced people, they can be time consuming and possibly misleading for the less experienced.

Many guidebooks assume that the user has already decided that their problem falls into the category covered by their particular guidebook, for example, a disease, pest or herbicide problem.

Guidebooks are often based on plant symptoms. However, in the field, symptoms vary and different problems can have similar symptoms.

This bulletin presents a problem diagnosis method that uses plant symptoms and paddock clues. It can be used to draw up …

Organic Apples A Production Guide, Steven Mccoy

Bulletins 4000 -

The belief among some conventional apple growers that it is not possible to reliably produce profitable yields of good quality apples under an organic system in Western Australia is being reconsidered. There are now very good examples of successful commercial organic apple orchards in many parts of the world, including WA. The organic production systems developed by these dedicated growers are showing that yields and quality are comparable to conventional systems.

Organic Mangoes A Production Guide, Steven Mccoy

Bulletins 4000 -

Mangoes have been identified as a prospective crop for conversion to organic production, particularly at Kununurra in the Ord River Irrigation Area.

Mangoes can also perform well under organic systems in other regions of WA, however variations in pest and disease pressures may require additional attention to these problems.

Returns To Research And Development Investment Of Department Of Agriculture And Food Western Australia : Benefit Cost Analysis 2005-2006, Nazrul Islam, Francis Bright, Peter Coyle, Peter Eckersley, Louise Evans, Joseph Gaffy, Allan Herbert, Ross Kingwell, Emma Kopke, Peter Tozer

Bulletins 4000 -

Programs of the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia apply benefit-cost analysis to assist in the allocation of funds to those areas likely to make the largest contribution to the rural economy and thus to achieve the Department outcome of increased market competitiveness and profitability. To learn lessons from the completed projects the Programs also use ex post analyses. Information collected in the course of the ex post analyses can usefully improve the assessment of proposed projects.

Returns To Research And Development Investment Of The Department Of Agriculture And Food Western Australia : Benefit Cost Analysis, 2006-2007, Peter Coyle, Editor, Roslyn Blanchard, Francis Bright, Paul Mattingley, Manju Radhakrishnan

Bulletins 4000 -

Strategic decision making is enhanced by the consideration of benefit cost analyses of many projects. Each year a selection of projects is evaluated to assist in the determination of the most appropriate allocation of funds. This is only one of the methods that are employed by the Department’s Executive to increase market competitiveness and profitability in agriculture and the pastoral industries. This report includes both ex post and ex ante analyses, as they are complementary processes.

Alstroemeria, Aileen Reid

Bulletins 4000 -

About 60 species of Alstroemeria grow wild in South America, in habitats ranging from the snowline of the Andes and high mountain plateaus down through the highland forests to the coastal deserts.

A member of the lily family, Alstroemeria grows from a rhizome that also develops tuberous storage outgrowths and fleshy roots. The aerial shoots can be either vegetative or reproductive. Normally shoots that have unfolded more than 30 leaves will not flower and remain vegetative.

The leaves of Alstroemeria are unusual in that they rotate through 180 degrees as they unfold, so that the upper surface becomes the lower …

Growing Chinese Cabbage In Western Australia, John Burt, Dennis Phillips, David Gatter

Bulletins 4000 -

Chinese cabbage is a member of the Brassiceae family, which may be called brassicas, crucifers or cole crops. This includes various crops such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, radish, turnips, swedes and weeds such as wild radish.

In general trade, the term Chinese cabbage can loosely be given to both the heading types (Brasssica rapa L. subsp. pekinensis) and to non heading types such as pak-choi (Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis). This Bulletin deals with the heading type of Chinese cabbage. The Chinese name is Wong Bok, and this name is often used in Australia.

Producing Pulses In The Southern Agricultural Region, Peter White, Mark Seymour, Pam Burgess, Martin Harries

Bulletins 4000 -

The development of pulses in Western Australia has undergone tremendous advances over the past 12 years. From a tiny industry in the early 1990’s where the knowledge of both scientists and farmers was very limited, we now have a robust industry with production packages and improved varieties for all the grain legumes species that are well suited to our environment.

This book, which is both comprehensive and practical, collates much of the information gathered through pulse research and commercial experience over the past 10 years and will be valuable to all pulse growers, agronomists, students and industry advisors alike. The …

Avocado Culture In Western Australia, Alec Mccarthy

Bulletins 4000 -

The avocado is a large evergreen tree of sub-tropical origin. The fruit are high in protein, fats (mono and polyunsaturated), several minerals and vitamins. The Guinness Book of Records lists the avocado as the most nutritious fruit in the world. It is suitable for infants through to the elderly and does not contain any cholesterol.

Avocado trees are quite adaptable, being grown from Kununurra in the north down to Albany in the south. They are being grown commercially in the south-west from Perth down to Pemberton and in Carnarvon. Avocado trees are frost susceptible, particularly when young, so they are …

Growing Lavender In Western Australia, Aileen Reid

Bulletins 4000 -

Lavender oil is an essential oil, derived from plants (genus Lavendulai primarily by steam distillation of the flowers. There are several types of lavender oil. The 'true' lavender oil, and the most highly prized, comes from Lavendula augustifolia; it is primarily used in the fragrance and perfume industry. World production is about 200 tonnes per year. Spike lavender oil, derived from Lavendula latifolia, has a world production of about 150-200 tonnes per year. Lavandin oil is derived from hybrids of L. augustifolia x L. latifolia that yield much higher than L. augustifolia but the oil is lower quality, hence it …

Mango Growing In Western Australia, P R. Johnson, D C. Parr

Bulletins 4000 -

This bulletin covers mango growing in Western Australia in Kununurra, Carnarvon, Kimberly, Gingin, Perth regions. Details include climate requirements, soils, propagation, planting, spacing, weed control, nutrition, pests, diseases and disorders, pruning, harvesting and packing, ripening and storage, and processing.

The Chickpea Book : A Technical Guide To Chickpea Production, Stephen Loss, Neil Brandon, K H M. Siddique

Bulletins 4000 -

The area of chickpea production in Australia has expanded rapidly in recent years especially in south-western Australia. This has been partly brought about by the keen interest of farmers and a concerted research effort and industry development by Agriculture Western Australia, The Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) and other institutions, in partnership with the Grains Research and Development Corporation and other industry funding bodies. Private consultants, grain traders and other industry groups have also contributed to the expansion of the industry.

Much of the local knowledge generated by these research and development projects has been published in various …

Plant Propagation From Cuttings, Aileen Reid

Bulletins 4000 -

Description on the selection, treatment, disease control and environmental conditions of plant material from which cuttings are taken.