Life Sciences Commons^™

Nitrogen Fertilisers And Cereals, M G. Mason

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

FEW aspects of cereal growing have received as much attention in the past 20 years as nitrogen fertilisers.

The recommendations and yield figures presented below are based on numerous trials in the agricultural areas of Western Australia.

Don't Crop Areas Liable To Waterlogging, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The increasing areas of crops being sown in high rainfall districts make it likely that many crcp areas include sections liable to severe waterlogging.

This report presents results of a 1970 trial which clearly show that sowing such sections is not economic.

Preparing For Shearing, A Ingleton

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

SHEARING is a time of concentrated and continuous activity.

Under these conditions preliminary preparation of yards, sheds, machinery, quarters, and sheep is essential if the shearing is to proceed with the minimum of delays and maximum efficiency.

The Economics Of Spray Seed, J W. Malcolm

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

THE "Spray Seed"* technique has many advantages over conventional cultivation methods of weed control. Some of these are matters of convenience, preference or opinion, and these cannot be measured in general economic terms.

However, most farmers are in the business to make money and as making money becomes harder they are more concerned with the extra money a new move is likely to earn for them.

Irrigation In South-Western Australia, K S. Cole

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

THE pattern of irrigation in South-Western Australia is constantly changing, At present, the main increase is in the private sector.

In the past century, there has been a see-saw effect from private to Government to private schemes.

New Chief For Wheat And Sheep Division, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The new Chief of the Department of Agriculture's Wheat and Sheep Division is Mr. W. J. Toms, formerly the Division's Assistant Chief. He replaces Mr. T. E. McDowell who was appointed Assistant Director of Agriculture in September.

Freeze Branding For Cattle Identification On The Farm, C P. Mcdougall, R. C. Burking

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

CATTLE identification presents many problems to beef and dairy farmers, and also to research workers. Although many methods are available no one simple method appears to be the complete answer.

This article describes the technique of freeze branding for cattle identification on the farm.

Methods Of Cattle Identification For The Farmer, R C. Burking

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

THE value of management decisions in day-to-day dairy herd management, such as breeding, selection, and culling, depends on accurate identification of individual animals.

A report on tests of some methods of cattle identification available to farmers.

This article is concerned only with methods of identification of cattle on the farm. It is the farmer's responsibility to brand his stock with his registered brand to comply with the requirements of the Brands Act, in addition to any brands or tags applied for his own management purposes.

Any marks other than the registered brand or earmark must be clearly distinguishable from, and …

Grain Finishing Of Beef Cattle Grazing Dry Pasture Or Stubble, D J. Barker

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

WHEAT quotas, poor wool prices and the availability of cheap grain on the farm have stimulated interest in grain finishing of cattle for out-of-season beef production. For many years, Animals turned off in the autumn-winter period have brought better prices than those sold in summer, at the end of the pasture flush.

Feeding grain supplements to cattle on dry pasture or stubble requires less capital than feedlotting and saves the cost of handling and processing roughage.

This article gives the essentials for grain supplementation of dry pasture or stubble but warns that grain finishing is unlikely to be profitable outside …

Feedlots For Beef In W.A. : Some Guiding Principles, D J. Barker

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

FEEDLOTS are small enclosures where all of the animal's feed is supplied from an outside source. Compared with grazing, feedlotting is an expensive method of beef production.

This article gives a guide to the requirements for establishment and management of a farm feedlot, especially the basic equipment and materials, the type of cattle most suited to feedlotting, rations and feeding techniques.

The author warns that skill and experience are needed to run a feedlot and describes feedlotting as an expensive method of beef raising when compared with grazing.

Further details are available from the author

Poison Plants Of Western Australia : The Toxic Species Of The Genera Gastrolobium And Oxylobium : Thick-Leaf Poison (Gastrolobium Crassifolium Benth.), Narrow-Leaf Poison (Gastrolobium Stenophyllum Turcz.), Mallet Poison (Gastrolobium Densifolium C.A. Gardn.), Wall-Flower Poison (Gastrolobium Grandifolorum F. Muell), T E H Aplin

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

THIS article deals with three species of Gastrolobium which are found in the south-west region of Western Australia. Two of these extend into the Eyre District, the third species is found in the Lake Grace area. The fourth species, Wall-flower poison, is the only toxic species of the genus found outside the State.

When Is A Cattle Feedlot Profitable?, J T. Stoate

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

THE current surge of interest in feedlots stems from low coarse grain prices and comparatively low early summer baby beef prices. Cattle raisers sense the opportunity for higher prices by holding the cattle on the farm over summer and autumn, and grain producers see better returns from barley and oats fed to cattle than sold as grain.

This article examines the profitability of cattle feedlots and presents sample budgets for two typical situations—the farmer who produces his own cattle but buys grain, and the cereal grower who produces grain but buys in cattle for finishing in a feedlot.

A ready …

Stone Fruit Regulations, W J. Hart

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

Stone fruit grading regulations were introduced for the first time recently to keep small, green or badly blemished fruit off the market. This type of fruit is always in poor demand and can spoil the prices obtained for better lines of fruit by creating the impression of heavy supplies.

Sturt Pea Hosts Collar Rot Fungus, M D. Marcley

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

Evidence that Western Australia's Sturt Pea can be attacked by collar rot fungus suggests a reason for the occurrence of collar rot in places where the fungus should not survive.

At Carnarvon for instance, in spite of the hot, dry conditions, the collar rot fungus has been found on eggplants and Tuart trees.

Dairy Calves Can Safely Be Fed Once A Day, R A. Bettenay

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

THE sale of milk rather than butterfat has increased greatly in the past few years and less than half the dairy farmers in Western Australia now own cream separators.

Feeding whole milk once a day can be successful for raising dairy calves, even in winter when calf rearing is most difficult.

A recent experiment at Wokalup Research Station showed that satisfactory weight gains can be achieved if liquid milk is fed only once a day from a very early age. Trial calves gained I lb a head a day over the 12 weeks of the experiment.

Once-a-day feeding greatly reduces …

Growing Plants With Salty Water, C V. Malcolm, S. T. Smith

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

LACK of good quality water in many parts of Western Australia often forces people to use salty water for irrigation and gardening.

This article gives some hints on how to reduce salt damage to plants when salty water must be used for irrigation or gardening.

It includes a table of plants which may be irrigated with water of varying degrees of salinity and lists precautions which should be taken for each group.

Calotropis Or Rubber Tree (Calctropis Procera (Linn.) Dryand), G R W Meadly

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

TWO SPECIES of Calotropis have been introduced to the northern parts of Western Australia. They are closely related in most respects but differ in one fundamental feature which decides their significance as undesirable plants.

Chemical Control Of Eucalypts : Standing Timber, Stumps, Sucker Regrowth, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

The eucalypt is particularly well adapted to withstand long periods without rain. The characteristics which make this possible also make the tree difficult to kill, without removing the stump and part of the root system.

A New Look At Sweet Lupins In Western Australia, C M. Francis, M. L. Poole, M. H. Chopping

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

BECAUSE they have a seed protein content of 30 to 45 per cent., sweet lupins are playing a growing role in animal feeding, particularly in the poultry industry. Their value as a protein supplement should ensure a continued local market as at current prices they are highly competitive with soya beans in cost per unit of protein.

Calculation Of Nitrogen Rates For Quota Wheat, M L. Meaton

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

WHEAT delivery quotas well below previous production levels on many farms have created strong farmer interest in alternative land uses and economic production methods.

Fertilising Quota Wheat Crops, N J. Halse

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

BEFORE wheat quotas were introduced, a farmer had to make two major decisions on fertilisers for wheat crops each year—what area to crop; and how much fertiliser to use.

Field Peas : A Crop For The Cereal Growing Areas?, M L. Poole, H. M. Fisher

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

No abstract provided.

Rapeseed. 1. Establishing A Healthy Crop, M L. Poole, M. G. Mason

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

No abstract provided.

Simplified Sheep Skin Tanning, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Most people would agree that a white sheepskin rug adds a touch of luxury to any home.

The following method will produce dressed, woolly sheep skins with chemicals and equipment available to any householder.

Grain Sorghum In The Ord Valley : Three Crops A Year?, P J. May

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

High temperatures and ample irrigation water allow grain sorghum to be grown throughout the year on the Ord River Irrigation Area, and observations in 1969-70 indicated that it may be possible in this area to produce three crops in one year from one planting, by ratoon cropping.

This article describes the technique and discusses its possibilities on the Ord.

The sorghum midge, one of the worst pests of sorghum, could well make ratoon cropping impossible, but the midge has not yet been seen in this area.

Pasture Legume Varieties And Ewe Fertility, T Marshall, H. E. Fels, H. G. Neil, R. C. Rossiter

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

ALTHOUGH it was first thought that all varieties of subterranean clover would cause ewe infertility, research in the last 10 to 15 years has shown that varieties differ in potency.

The relative level of potency has also been shown to remain consistent for any one variety under normal conditions.

Sorghum Midge : Threat To Re-Cycle Cropping, D G. Shedley

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

SORGHUM midge is one of the most widespread and persistent pests of any crop, Under suitable conditions, the midge can halve the yield of grain sorghum crops.

W.A. Wildflowers Are Unique, Alexander S. George

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

Western Australian wildflowers are some of the most unusual and fascinating in the world. Of the 3,000-odd species growing in the southwest, about 85 per cent, grow nowhere else in the world.

Thirteenth Random Sample Laying Test : 1969-70, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

SLXTH PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 1st NOVEMBER, 1970 AVERAGE AGE OF BIRDS 459 DAYS OR 66 WEEKS

POULTRY RESEARCH STATION, WEMBLEY

FINAL REPORT TO 500 DAYS

Director Of Agriculture Retires, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

In the June, 1934, issue of the Journal of Agriculture appeared an article entitled "A modified rotation for the wheat belt", by T. C. Dunne and F. L. Shier, which advocated a new rotation of pasture, fallow and cereals to replace the crop-fallow rotation generally used at that time.

Dr. Dunne retired on May 8 after 45 years' service to the Department of Agriculture. He had been Director of Agriculture for more than 10 years.