Life Sciences Commons^™

A Review Of The Economics Of Regenerative Agriculture In Western Australia, Anne Bennett

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• There is no published work detailing the economics of regenerative agriculture in Western Australia.
• Of the work completed in other jurisdictions and nations captured in this review, the profitability of regenerative agriculture compared with conventional agriculture was variable, although generally lower.
• The loss of income associated with the transition from conventional agriculture to regenerative agriculture is a significant barrier to adoption, although it is enterprise-sensitive.
• Farmers who are operating regenerative agriculture systems self-report higher levels of wellbeing.
• Conventional agriculture and regenerative agriculture are overlapping approaches.
• The literature presented in this review is mostly based on small samples, case studies or …

Geology, Soils And Climate Of The Margaret River Wine Region, Peter J. Tille, Angela Stuart-Street, Peter S. Gardiner

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This report is an extract from the broader description and analysis of the Geology, soils and climate of Western Australia's wine regions. It expands on the brief descriptions in the second edition of 'Viticulture' (Coombe & Dry 2004) concerning the soils and landscapes of Western Australia’s main wine growing regions. We have tailored this report extract to the specific needs of the Margaret River wine region. It contains local soil names and soil-landscape zones and systems maps.

The wine industry recognises the importance of giving customers an understanding of the vines’ environment and how that may influence wine character …

Minimum Tillage Trials 1966-1981, Geoff Pearce

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Continuous Cereal cropping with alternative tillage systems in WA over 5 years.

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 …

Ici, Sprayseed And The W.A. Department Of Agriculture, Geoff Pearce

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The story which follows tells how the systems for planting cereals, developed on research stations over a period of about 40 years, has been changed by a Commercial Chemical Company using newly developed herbicides to replace cultivation.

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.

Research Into Western Australian Honeys, Robert J G Manning

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On the 26 February 2002, the then Department of Agriculture released a media statement about the results of research conducted by Rob Manning and Nola Mercer about WA honeys’ antimicrobial activity using an assay developed in New Zealand. The research showed that Western Australian honey had some of the highest activity levels in the world due to a naturally occurring enzyme in the honey. Upon dilution of honey, the enzyme glucose oxidase produces low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide which is the source of its antimicrobial activity. It is different to Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey from New Zealand which is termed …

Horse Alert Wa, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

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Increasing awareness of emergency horse diseases, their management in Western Australia and practical strategies to minimise the risk of spreading disease. Horse Alert WA has been developed to help participants in the racing, sporting and recreational sectors of the horse industry in Western Australia to prepare for, recognise and respond effectively to an emergency disease that affects horses, such as the equine influenza outbreak in Australia in 2007. This manual provides biosecurity information to minimise the risks of a horse disease establishing and spreading in Western Australia, and guidance on the actions to take if an emergency disease occurs. Some …

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 …

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.

Progress Rural Western Australia Conference : A Conference Focusing On How To Bring Out The Best In Your Community, 13 And 14 August 1999, New Norcia, Western Australia : Conference Proceedings, Progress Rural Western Australia

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The Objective

The 1999 Progress Rural WA Conference aims to build on the skills and exposure that many delegates have already had to inspiring and innovative practice from across the globe and the excellent practice currently being implemented by rural West Australians.

Our keynote speakers have been selected on their ability to paint the big picture - we want to heighten the excitement, push people beyond their comfort zones and stretch peoples thinking.

From project workshops and feedback across the state, we hear a number of common issues. The workshop themes have been developed to provide an action learning experience …

Social And Economic Data For Regional And Natural Resource Management In Western Australia's South West Catchment : Results Of The 2006 Landholder Survey, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia, South West Catchments Council (W.A.), Michael Hanslip, Australia. Bureau Of Rural Sciences.

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This report presents a summary of the key findings from a mailed survey to 2,000 landholders in the South West Region of Western Australia in 2006. The survey gathered information on the key social and economic factors affecting landholder decision-making about the adoption of practices expected to improve the management of natural resources in the region. The response rate for the survey was 69.4%.

The South West Catchment Council, Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food and the Bureau of Rural Sciences were key project partners. Funding was from a mix of national, state and regional programmes, including the Natural …

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

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No abstract provided.

Outdoor Pig Production In Western Australia. An On-Farm Study To Document Performance And Management Practices On Extensive Pig Farms., Roy Butler

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This paper presents data, collected between 1991 and 1995, relating to the management and performance of 10 extensive piggeries in the south west of Western Australia. The herd sizes varied from 15 to 73 sows and capital investment varied from $144 to $2,000 per sow. Labour costs also varied widely, from $84 to $996 per sow per year. Only 2 of the 10 herds exceeded the PigStats 95 average of 20.1 pigs weaned/sow/year. Pre-weaning mortality was high, and averaged 28.7%. Nine of the herds participated in the state Pig Health Monitoring Scheme and their pigs were inspected at slaughter to …

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, …

Farmer Groups - A Fad Or The Future, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

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The question I have asked is 'Are farmer groups a fad or the future?' I believe there is no question about it. Farmer groups ARE an important part of future agricultural extension. With shrinking government resources devoted to extension, a farmer group approach has many advantages. These advantages have been shown in Western Australia with landcare catchment groups and lice cell groups and these have been recognised by both extension workers and farmers. What makes these groups different to groups of the past? Farmer groups have come and gone in an almost cyclical fashion. An exception is the Kondinin Group, …

Proceedings Of The Ninth Annual Joint Research Meeting Ccnt / Csiro / Dpif / Wada, Ian T. Riley

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Abstracts

Overview of WADA involvement in cropping the Kimberley - McGhie, D.A. WADA

Overview CSIRO Division Tropical Crpos and Pastures - Winter, W.H. CSIRO

An overview of a program for developing a comprehensive crop yield simulation in the tropics - McCown, R. CSIRO

Developing a family of crop models for SA using the CERES framwork - Carberry, P.S. CSIRO

Development of a model of the N cyle of crop-pasture rotations in the semi-arid tropic. - Dimes, J.P., McCowan, R.L. , Saffinga*, P.G. and Myers, R.J. CSIRO

Visual/Interactive CERES Models. - Hargreaves, J. and Carberry, P. CSIRO

The applicability of a …

Australian Co-Operation With The National Agricultural Research Project Thailand Farming Systems Research - Future Directions, B J. Gorddard

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CONTENTS

Farming Systems Research - Future Directions - Introduction by Mr B. Gorddard

The CIMMYT Approach to Farming Systems Research Dr L. Harrington

The Relationship of FSR to Discipline and Component Technology Research: Dr D. Ivory

A Cropping Systems Technology Development Process: The Basis for Improving Links Between Research and Extension Through FSR. : Mr Iain A. Craig

Extension - Research : A Natural Linkage Mr B. Gorddard

Follow-up Discussion with FSRI: - Dr L. Harrington - Mr B. Gorddard - Dr D. Ivory

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 …

Statistical Services, Jane Speijers, Australian Co-Operation With The National Agricultural Research Project, Thailand.

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2. TERMS OF REFERENCE

To achieve familiarity with the existing resources for biometrical work within the Department of Agriculture both at Bangkhen and at the regional centres - and to gain an understanding of the present systems whereby biometricians are involved in designing experiments and analysing results. This will involve visits to research stations and discussions with both research directors and scientists.

2.1 To become informed on the planned improvements in biometrical services for regional research centres to be carried out through the Thai/World Bank, National Agricultural Research Project (NARP).

2.2 Against the background of items 2.1 and 2.2 above, …

A Preliminary Report On Work Conducted In 1985 To Evaluate Plantago Ovata As A Potential Crop In The Ord River Irrigation Area, D. L. Mcneil

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This paper reports on the first year of a 3 year programme aimed at developing P. ovata as a crop in the Ord River Irrigation Area (O.R.I.A.) of Kimberley region of Western Australia. The data from one year of trials indicate that Plantago ovata is highly suited to mechanisation and the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA). Machine harvested yields of up to 1.2 t/ha off 0.12 ha were achieved (after cleaning). The maximum hand harvested yield was 2.1 t/ha, 60 per cent higher than any other published value. Cununurra clays proved the best soil type for growth of the crop …

Farmers' Use Of Agricultural Information 1983, P W. Fry, K F. Goss

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The Western Australian Department of Agriculture produces information for farmers which is disseminated through various mass media, The Australian Broadcasting Commission and commercial media outlets provide further agricultural information, In 1983 a telephone survey of cereal-sheep farmers was undertaken to determine what information sources were used by farmers, and how farmers used that information.

A number of information processing factors were taken from communication research literature, These were accessibility and availability; surveillance and exposure; selection; storage and retrieval. From within this theoretical framework, information sources such as farming magazines, radio and television programmes were examined.

Special attention was given to …

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.

The Oombulgurri Project Clancy Committee Report, D J. Clancy, P Mccosker, C Mayberry, A J. Millington, P Ryan

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In early August the Oombulgurri community requested assistance in the following terms.

"On behalf of the Oombulgurri Community, we invite assistance in developing the grain and pasture cropping at Oombulgurri. We have experimented with peanuts, sorghum, and many varieties of vegetables. This has tested the reality of hopes to expand acreage and varieties to become self-sufficient in stock feed. The Farm and Garden Guild now needs the expertise of your services to plan a four-year programme. vie need assistance in choosing from the many options, opinions and advices available from Australia and elsewhere, for grain production, pastures, methods appropriate to …

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