Life Sciences Commons^™

Trees Working In Western Australia, Dave Berry

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

There is an air of inevirability about farm forestry - no-one disputs that planting trees is a sure route to curbing agriculture's serious land degredation problem. Dave Berry talks with some of the key players developing the industry.

Finfish Aquaculture In Western Australia, David Berry

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

David Berry surveys fish farming from Broome to Williams, on off shore reefs and in farm dams, for barramundi, silver perch and black bream, trout and tuna.

Something Fishy Is Going On - Aquaculture, David Berry

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Aquaculture id Australia's fastest growing primary industry. Product from fish farms is currently valued at $399 million, forecast to exceed $5oo million by 2000.

Whilst the figure pales into insignificance alongside world production (about $45 billion) it does represent a huge window of opportunity for prospective investors and for Australian primary producers who are keen to diversify.

David Berry reports on the prospects for yabbie and marron farming in Western Australia.

Results Of Stubble Research In Western Australia, Michael Perry, Ron Jarvis, Mel Mason, David Tennant

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Few farmers would question the desirability of retaining stubbles, both for control of erosion by wind and water, and to return organic matter to the soil. While the present debate is focused on the short term management of stubbles, longer term effects also need to be considered.

The Department of Agriculture has several long-running trials intended to measure long term effects.

Red Kangaroos Can Set Back Range Regeneration, Andrew Mclaughlin

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

After years of severe drought, stocking rates in Western Australia s arid rangelands have been kept low since the 1970s to allow native pastures to regenerate. As well, extensive re-seeding programs have started and sheep and cattle grazing on these areas has been restricted or eliminated. However, pasture regeneration in the rangelands can only succeed when grazing by all animals - sheep, cattle, kangaroos, goo.ts, camels, brumbies and donkeys - is controlled Many more red kangaroos roam throughout Western Australia's pastoral areas today than 20 years ago. The installation of windmills and troughs to water domestic livestock has allowed kangaroo …

Native Plants : Water Savers In The Garden, K S. Cole

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The climate of Western Australia may be one of the best in the world for people but it is a difficult one for many of our imported, and common garden plants. as a consequence, some 70 per cent of our summer water usage is for gardens and lawns.

This is not the sort of statistic that we should accept easily or happily.

There is a solution to this problem: a new approach to home gardening is required.

The new garden is based on W. A.'s own colourful native plants, which are adapted to mild winters, hot dey summers and poor …

Economics Of Farm Water Supplies, P P. Eckersley

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The economics of farm water supplies can be studied in two ways. One is to compare the costs of alternative ways of supplying a specified quantity of water to a farm. Another is to calcu;ate how mucha farmer can afford or will pay for a water supply.

I propose to look at these questions from the point of vieew of an eastern wheatbelt farmer, assuming that he must pay the full costs of any water supply provided for his property.

Some Basics Of Marron Production, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

marron are native to the South-West of Western Australia, and are keenly sought by inland fisher-men. However, supplies do not equal the apparent demand.

One solution is to cultivate marron in farm dams, or more intensively as a commercial enterprise.

This article suggests a few guidelines for marron production.

Water Supplies On Wheatbelt Farms : A General Picture, I A F Laing

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In good rainfall years, farm dams provide water fo more than 50 per cent of the total stock in the wheatbelt.

Other sources include ground water supplies and the piped Comprehensive Water Scheme.

The March 1970 census included questions on farm water supplies including how farmers coped in the 1969-70 drought.

A Logical Approach To Wheatbelt Water Supply, Stanley Thomas Smith

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

My particular task in this seminar (paper) has been to enunciate a logical approach to water recource utilisation in the wheatbelt, based on the points made by the speakers.

Cost Of Farm Water Supplies : Conclusions From Surveys, I A F Laing

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Farm Water Supply Advisory Committee, has conducted farm wster supply surveys in many districts in the wheatbelt.

The aim of the surveys was to collect data to assess the existing water supplies, the potential for further water supply developments and to compare the relative difficulty of water supply development in different localities.

Nitrogen Fertilisers For Pasture Production, Walter Jacob Cox, K Hawley

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

At current prices nitrogen fertiliser is not an economic substitute for good clover pastures, but it can supplement the system by increasing nitrogen supply at peak growth periods. It can also provide useful increases in pasture production at critical feed times. Nitrogen usage for pasture production is still in the experimental stages and small areas should be tried before large-scale application.

Water Storage Has Not Kept Pace With Stock Numbers : South Stirling Survey Finding, A L. Prout

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

RESULTS of a survey on water storage capacity in the South Stirlings area indicate that farm water storage has not kept pace with increased clearing and stock numbers.

This has resulted in many farmers requesting advice on water conservation projects following two consecutive years of low rainfall runoff.

Irrigation In The South-West : Report On Government-Controlled Areas, 1965-66, G Gauntlett

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

LARGE scale irrigation in the south-western part of Western Australia is confined to the coastal plain, west of the Darling Range where the three irrigation districts of Waroona, Harvey and Collie have been established.

Modern Methods Boost Apple Production In A South-West Orchard, N H. Shorter

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A WELL-KNOWN South-West apple orchard with an impressive cropping record is owned by W. F. & E. M. Dilley and Sons, of Upper Capel, near Donnybrook.

Trees in this orchard have been producing consistently heavy crops for many years and, furthermore, yields have increased steadily over a 10-year period.

A Progress Report On Commercial Cotton Growing On The Ord River Project, William John Toms

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The recommendations given in this article have been built up from the experience of the author in growing 200 acres of cotton in the Ord River area during the 1962-63 season for the Department of Agriculture, from findings made by Kimberley Research Station, and from discussions with the present farmers in the area.

When a new form of agriculture is introduced into a new area techniques and ideas change rapidly as farmers become acquainted with their new environment and the new crops. The recommendations will therefore require constant revision.

Swing Fence Flood Crossing For Creeks In The Kimberleys, A L. Payne

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

FENCING is the basis of the regeneration programme on the eroded Ord River catchment area, and the fences constructed must cross numerous creeks.

But heavy downpours of short duration characterise the wet season experienced in this area.

Because the rain falls on to bare, compacted ground, run-off is intense and gullies and creeks rise rapidly, causing serious damage to conventional fences and flood gates across watercourses.

Hints On Irrigating Citrus With Saline Water, Stanley Thomas Smith

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IN the past few years a number of citrus orchards near Perth have shown signs of damage caused by excess "salt" (chloride) uptake. All have been irrigated either from the Canning River or from private bores or dams.

Senior Soil Research Officer S. T. Smith describes glasshouse experiments which have given some useful guides to minimising "salt" damage in citrus trees irrigated with low-quality water.

Water For Agriculture. 6. Control Of Algae In Water Supplies, R C. Gorman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ALGAE are primitive forms of plant life that are common and normal in surface waters. They are fonnd in every water supply exposed to sunlight.

Their presence is not normally detectable until there are enough of them to make their presence obvious.

Care Of Autumn And Winter Tomato Crops, W H. Kooyman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

I N recent years there has been a considerable increase in plantings of autumn and winter tomatoes in the Perth metropolitan market garden area.

Water For Agriculture. 1. Water For Agricultural Purposes In Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE total soluble salts content of a water is the most important characteristic in determining the suitability of Western Australian waters for stock, irrigation or general use.

Other quality characteristics are of secondary importance.

Water For Agriculture. 2. Plants For Salty Water, C V. Malcolm

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ALL natural water supplies contain dissolved salts. In wet climates these salts are usually not present in sufficient quantity to cause plant damage.

However, in Western Australia many natural water supplies contain harmful amounts of dissolved salts.

Soft Water For Dairy Cleaning, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

CLEAN utensils are essential for the production of high quality dairy products.

Cleanliness of dairy equipment depends a lot on how efficiently the detergent can do its job.

Water For Agriculture. 3. Watering Plants With Salty Water, Stanley Thomas Smith

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In Western Australia it is often necessary to use saline water for irrigation and gardening because of the lack of better water.

Two factors influence the results achieved. One is the selection of suitable plants, the other is the way in which the water is used.

Is Your Water Supply Safe?, D C. Mickle

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THERE can be no doubt in anyone's mind that the need for a clean, safe and adequate water supply is essential for the production of high quality milk and cream.

It naturally follows, that, even though every possible care has been taken in an endeavour to produce clean, germ-free milk and cream, contamination by bad water can render these efforts void.

Potatoes Sprinkler Irrigated From The Collie River, John W. Lewis

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE highly productive soils of the flats along the Collie River at Roelands are an important source of many of our summer grown potatoes in this State.

Large areas are planted year after year, the record being held by Mr. Clarry Cox of Roelands, who has planted potatoes on the same seven acres every season since 1922.

Automatic Waterers For Day Old Chickens, P Smetana, W. Ward

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ONE of the most tedious and time consuming tasks on a poultry farm is the provision of water to chicks from day old up to the age of three or four weeks.

Most poultry farmers use half-gallon glass fonts with metal bases for the first few weeks, until the chicks are old enough to use the automatic watering system usually situated along one wall of the brooder house.

This cumbersome glass font system can be replaced by the cheap and easily installed automatic watering system described below. This system has already been adopted by several local poultry farmers.

Thirsty Cows Are Poor Milkers, S R. Dunstan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE HOT summer weather is not far away, and now is a good time for the whole milk producer to attend to those points which will ensure that milk production is maintained at a high level during this period.

Water Usage Trials With Bananas On The Gascoyne, W M. Nunn

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE banana industry at Carnarvon is an unusual one by most agricultural standards.

Normally a tropical plant liking relatively humid conditions in a high rainfall, the banana is cultivated at Carnarvon in an area of extremely low rainfall and with relatively low humidity throughout the year.

Water is pumped to irrigate the crop from the sands of the Gascoyne River bed or from bores adjacent to the river course.