Physical Sciences and Mathematics 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 …

A Simple Guide For Describing Soils, Angela Stuart-Street, Nicolyn Short Dr, Paul Galloway, Noel R. Schoknecht

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Soils are enormously diverse and can be very confusing to understand and talk about. This simple guide for describing soils helps to identify the most important parts of a soil profile and provide an easy way to understand and explain what you see. It gives you a step-by-step guide of what soil properties to describe and how to describe them, along with the tools to make basic soil classifications. The soil descriptors help you to identify the soil type and aid in assigning a simple and standardised name to the soil. While this guide is designed to link with a …

Establishing Pastoralist Monitoring Sites In The Grasslands: A Guide For Pastoralists, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development

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This guide is for lessees and station managers who wish to establish rangeland condition monitoring programs for their pastoral leases. The guide outlines the main principles to consider for establishing monitoring sites, and the collecting and recording data to monitor changes over time of rangeland condition within a grassland environment.

Identifying and ongoing monitoring of representative sites can be used to objectively assess the effect of livestock numbers, fire and seasonal conditions on the health of the perennial vegetation and soil. Importantly, monitoring can assist lessees demonstrate whether their current land management practices are appropriate for achieving acceptable rangeland condition.

Planning For The Peel Food Zone, Heather M. Percy

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The Planning for the Peel Food Zone project is part of Phase 1 of the Transform Peel initiative.Transform Peel is intended to be a ‘disruptive’ long-term program that supports economic growth, diversification and creates jobs in the Peel region. Transform Peel recognises the importance of protecting the internationally recognised waterways and wetlands of the Peel–Harvey Estuary and aims to halve the nutrient loads entering its waterways from the surrounding catchment.

The $49.3 million Phase 1 program for Transform Peel comprises three main components: Peel Food Zone; Peel Integrated Water Initiative; Peel Business Park.

This report summarises the findings from the …

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 …

Soil Peels: Their Preparation And Presentation, Tim D. Overheu

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Soil peels are an exciting and inexpensive technique for collecting an exact reproduction of soil profiles. They are an excellent product for displays and soil extension activities. Introduced in the mid-1960s, the soil peel (lackfilm) technique was initially developed using a flexible glue product in combination with a cloth base, and was used to preserve soil stratigraphy at geo-archaeological excavations (Voight & Gittins 1977). The method described in this update introduces refinements to the technique for heavy and consolidated clay or duplex soils in Western Australia. Applying and removingtechnique was initially developed using a flexible glue product in combination with …

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 …

Water Management Plan For The Town Of Perenjori, Mark Pridham

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The Rural Towns – Liquid Assets (RT–LA) project was established with the aim of integrating salinity, waterlogging and flooding control with development of new water supplies in wheatbelt towns, and where possible, finding ways of putting the excess water to commercial use. Following the identification of effective integrated water management strategies, these have been applied to the 15 Shires participating in the DAFWA led RT–LA project. This report summarises the outcomes from all scientific investigations undertaken for Perenjori. In addition it presents the water management options, a preliminary analysis of those options and the priority recommended ones. Due to the …

Western Australian Resource Condition Monitoring Projects 2007-2009, Ceidwen Pengelly, 2010

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Monitoring the status and trends of our natural resources is the only way we can assess whether the actions that have been implemented are making a difference. The impetus for this resource condition monitoring program (RCM) was the recognition that our monitoring networks, baseline data and data management systems were inadequate to enable quantitative reporting to government, and the community, on the difference their investments in natural resource management were making. It was considered that making a significant investment in raising our ability to report would be a long-lasting legacy of value to the state.

Preparing For A Changing And Variable Climate: Final Report To Grape And Wine Research And Development Corporation Rt 07/02-2, Glynn Ward

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Climate change has the potential to reshape the Australian wine industry. Regions will be differentially impacted and will respond according to their unique viticultural, environmental, economic and social characteristics. An industry forum and regional workshop series was held in Western Australia focusing on three wine regions: Margaret River, Pemberton and Mount Barker. Fine scale climate information (mesoscale maps) and overviews of current and emerging technologies and resources that can be used by the wine industry to plan for and manage the risks and opportunities resulting from a changing and variable climate were presented. The information indicated that the wine regions …

Benchmarking Biodiversity: Land Resource Mapping In The Ord River Catchment., Tricia Handasyde, Peter J. Tille, Noel R. Schoknecht, Karen Carnes

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This 2009 report describes the mapping of landform, vegetation and soils undertaken in the Ord River Catchment in the East Kimberley of Western Australia in order to provide a basis for biodiversity benchmarking. The project: • brought together and standardised existing Ord River catchment land resource mapping held by the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) and Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in a format compatible with adjoining mapping in the Northern Territory • mapped to land unit level an additional 4400 sq km of the Ord River catchment. • re-digitised 2200 sq km of vegetation mapping previously not …

Optlime, A Bioecenomic Model Of Soil Acidity Management In Agricultural Systems, Chris Gazey

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Optlime is a model that represents the essential biological, physical and economic factors related to soil acidity management in Western Australia. The model allows users to define site and soil characteristics for an acidic scenario and then simultaneously assess likely outcomes for 2 different lime sources and application strategies. With and without liming scenarios are examined over a 20 year simulation so as to capture the long-term impacts of soil acidity management. Output provided allows you to examine the likely effect of liming on pH, exchangeable aluminium, yields, and profits. An investment appraisal is provided to show you how liming …

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

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No abstract provided.

Natural Resource Management Intermediaries As Potential Next-Users, Jamie Bowyer, Marie Shanks

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A wide range of individuals and organisations play a role in Natural Resource Management (NRM) in Western Australia currently. Many different service providers also Interact with farmers and land managers to assist or influence farm management decision making. This extensive network has the potential to be tapped by NRM projects to more efficiently influence on-ground practice change. Given the current environment of 'information overload' it is even more important to use these established networks effectively rather than to invent new ones.

This document lists a selection of NRM-related intermediaries and the roles they play in the agricultural sector. Where available, …

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.

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.

Agwest Revegetation Monitoring Activity : Report, Caroline Hatherly, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia, Neil Guise

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This annual report summarises the landcare vegetation and revegetation projects that were completed at the end of 2001 in the Peel Harvey Catchment, Western Australia. Revegetation activities included: streamlining, vegetation belts, alley farming, tree lots, revegetation, wetland rehabilitation. Activity was recorded for Coolup, Harvey River, Dandalup Murray, Serpentine Jarrahdale Land Conservation District Committees.

Vegetation Health Analysis (Peel-Harvey Coastal Plain Catchment) : An Impact Study On The Use Of Alkaloam (Bauxite Residue) As A Soil Amendment On Agricultural Land, Garry Heady, Chris Ferreira

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In 1997, a program was established to monitor the long term, (a minimum of 10 years), impacts on remnant native vegetation, of Alkaloam bauxite residue used as a soil amendment on adjacent agricultural land Data collection is to be repeated on an annual basis for the duration of the program. This report presents pre-treatment site and vegetation data for 2001, the fourth year of sampling in the program. Overall results are compared with those from 1997, 1998 and 2000. Descriptions of monitoring sites and an outline of project design and methodology are provided so the report can be read independently …

Potential Nrm Structures For Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

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A discussion paper to scope and present options for regional Natural Resources Management (NRM) structures suited to Western Australia’s South West agricultural division.

Main Issues Rural Women Experience With Information & Communication Technology, Teresa Maiolo

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This brief report will outline the main issues rural women encountered with information and communications technology. This information was derived from interviewing twenty-one rural women from the South West, Eastern Goldfields, Murchison, Gascoyne, and Kimberley regions of Western Australia.

Avon And Upper Hotham Region Natural Resource Atlas, Sarah Weaving, Jason Batory

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The Avon and Upper Hotham Region Atlas is one of a series of Natural Resource Atlases covering the agricultural region of Western Australia. The purpose of the Atlas is to provide data for local people who manage or have an interest in natural resources. This includes the members of Land Conservation District Committees (LCDC), catchment groups, local government, non-government organisations, conservation groups, schools and libraries.

The aim of this publication is to bring together land and natural resource information from a number of sources and present it in a clear and accessible way. The data covers a number of topics …

Agwest Revegetation Monitoring Activity: Evaluation 1999, Caroline Hatherly

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During May 1999, an evaluation on the Agriculture Western Australia (AGWEST) Revegetation Monitoring Activity was undertaken. The evaluation was designed to track how the Land Conservation District Committees (LCDCs) in the Peel Harvey Catchment utilised the AGWEST Revegetation Monitoring Activity, and to determine if AGWEST's objectives of the project were being met It also gave the community a chance to provide feedback on their experiences with the Monitoring Activity, and suggest future changes

The survey concluded that the AGWEST Revegetation Monitoring Activity was used by LCDCs as a valuable tool for recording, monitoring and planning landcare projects. However, the process …

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 …

Geographe Bay Catchment Natural Resource Atlas, Sarah Weaving

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The Geographe Bay Catchment Atlas is one of a series of Natural Resource Atlases covering the agricultural region of Western Australia. The purpose of the Atlas is to provide data for people in local communities who manage or have an interest in natural resources. It is now realised that the various components of the land interact with each other and therefore need to be managed together. This Atlas is intended to present natural resource and land information in an accessible way to people of the area. It may act as a focus for catchment planning and provide a starting point …

Phosphorus In The Landscape: Diffuse Sources To Surface Waters. Land And Water Resources Research And Development Corporation. Occasional Paper 16/98, Richard Davis, Anne Hamblin, E O'Loughlin, Nic Austin, R Banens, P Cornish, P Hairsin, M Mcculloch, Phil Moody, J Olley, B Prove, I Smalls, David Weaver

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The National Eutrophication Management Program (NEMP) and Environment Australia convened a workshop to develop a coherent overview of the sources and transport of diffuse phosphorus in Australian catchments based on the latest knowledge. The Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation (LWRRDC) and the Murray–Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) jointly fund NEMP. A select group of scientists attended the workshop and developed a coherent statement about phosphorus sources and transport in Australian catchments. The group did not extend this statement to include recommended management practices. This paper reports the findings from the workshop. State governments have developed algal and nutrient …

The Protection Of Remnant Vegetation On Private Land In The Agricultural Region Of Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

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No abstract provided.

Memorandum Of Understanding Between The Commissioner For Soil And Land Conservation, Environmental Protection Authority, Department Of Environmental Protection, Agriculture Western Australia, Department Of Conservation And Land Management, Water And Rivers Commission For The Protection Of Remnant Vegetation On Private Land In The Agricultural Region Of Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia, Western Australia. Commissioner Of Soil And Land Conservation, Western Australia. Environmental Protection Authority, Western Australia. Dept. Of Environmental Protection, Western Australia. Dept. Of Conservation And Land Management, Western Australia. Water And Rivers Commission

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Memorandum -- Schedule 1. Statutory requirements -- Schedule 2. Area covered by this memorandum -- Schedule 3. Assessment critieria -- Schedule 4. Assessment manuals: Supporting manual 4.2. Deprtment of Environmental Protection. Environmental evaluation of native vegetation in the wheatbelt of Western Australia -- Supporting manual 4.3. Agriculture Western Australia. Procedures for the administration of clearing and protection of native vegetation in Western Australia -- Supporting manual 4.4. Water and R
onmental impact assessment -- Schedule 8. Adjustment measures.

Distribution And Ecological Significance Of On-Farm Bush Remnants In The Southern Wheatbelt Region Of Western Australia - Phase Ii - Save The Bush Project, E A. Griffin

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This is the second phase of the Southern Wheatbelt Region Remnant Vegetation project aimed at surveying pieces of bushland in the 'Great Southern' of Western Australia. The first phase was completed during 1991-1992 and covered 11 shires

The aims of this survey were to document what is left (as on-farm remnant bush areas), so that the information is a available for use by the wider farming community (see also Mollermans 1992a, b).' In addition, native vegetation was defined as "endemic floral ... communities which have not been planted and which are in place as a result of natural processes" (ACF …