Life Sciences Commons^™

How Profitable Are Herbicides For Weeds In Crops?, J W. Malcolm, G. A. Pearce

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

BEFORE spending money on chemical weed control in crops, a farmer needs to know how profitable the operation will be. He may also be influenced by other things such as the need for weed-free seed, but the most important consideration should be an increased cash return.

If a herbicide is used to control weeds in a crop, the extra yield achieved must be worth more than the cost of the herbicide and its application for the treatment to be profitable.

This article gives guidelines to help farmers estimate the likely profitability of herbicide treatments for quota and non-quota crops.

The Control Of Weeds In Linseed And Rape, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

Like all crops linseed and rapeseed can suffer from weed competition.

Linseed is highly susceptible to weed competition, while rape is susceptible to the chemicals used to kill broad-leaved weeds, so both crops pose special problems.

As in other broad-acre crops, cultural methods usually provide the best means of weed control.

A Cheaper Herbicide For Wild Oats, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

A NEW herbicide, *NEOBAN, will reduce the cost of chemical for the control of wild oats in wheat and barley to $2.50 per acre.

Because of the cost of herbicides for wild oats during the past two years, the acreage treated has been declining steadily.

Farmers who thought that spending about $4 per acre was worth while will be delighted with Neoban.

Chemical Cultivation : Its Place In Crop Planting, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

PROGRESS in the field of chemical weed control has been spectacular in recent years. Despite the cut-back in expenditure on herbicides, the idea of replacing cultivation with chemical sprays is attracting great interest.

Once A Day Calf Feeding, R A. Bettenay

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

Trials at Wokalup Research Station in 1970 proved that calves could be successfully reared with once a day liquid milk feeding, providing a high protein meal was continually available.

This trial was carried out to see if the high protein meal was essential for the success of the once a day feeding system.

Wildlife Hazards From 1080 Baiting, A R. Tomlinson, C. D. Gooding

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

ONE-SHOT oat baiting with sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is a relatively safe method of trail baiting rabbits.

The hazard to wildlife is small and every effort is made to further reduce the hazard by selective application of the poison.

Wheat Quality Surveys In Western Australia, J A. Parish, G. H. Jones

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

SINCE 1956 a number of collaborative wheat quality surveys have been carried out in Western Australia by Co-operative Bulk Handling Co. Ltd. and the Department of Agriculture.

The work was undertaken to provide facts which may be used to determine the possible advantages to this State's wheat industry of alterations in the receival and marketing arrangements.

The various surveys are described in this article.

Quarantine : Two New Inspection Centres Built, C R. Chambers

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

A BIGGER population, a busier State; more travellers, more goods from more places; faster, more frequent transport—these things have demanded for Western Australia greater efforts to protect its primary industries from the chance introduction of disease and pests which could attack our plants and animals.

Poison Plants Of Western Australia : The Toxic Species Of The Genera Gastrolobium And Oxylobium : Wodjil Poison (Gastrolobium Floribundum S. Moore) Breelya Or Kite-Leaf Poison (Gastrolobium Laytonii J. White) Roe's Poison (Oxylobium Spectabile Endl.) Granite Poison (Oxylobium Graniticum S. Moore), T E H Aplin

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

THIS article deals with four species which are found in the pastoral area although three of them are also present in the agricultural area.

Flystrike Control Methods, H E. Fels

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

A short article outlining methods to control flystrike.

Barley And Oat Yield Tests In W.A, H M. Fisher

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

BARLEY production has increased sharply over the past two seasons to compensate reduced wheat acreages.

The change over to barley has been supported by the availability of suitable varieties, notably Dampier, and a good demand for West Australian barley overseas.

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.

Control Of Water Resources In W.A, T C. Calder

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

Use of underground and surface water is controlled so that the supplies are available to the general benefit of all domestic, industrial and agricultural users in a particular area.

Water is a valuable resource and its contamination and wastage must be avoided. This article outlines the provisions of the Rights in Water Act which is designed to protect water supplies from undue exploitation, contamination and wastage.

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.

Planning Home Vegetable Supplies, James P. Fallon

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

PLANNING is important to obtain the best value from growing vegetables at home and many types can be satisfactorily stored for later use to provide a welcome change of diet when they are not generally available.

Whatever is home grown can be picked absolutely fresh and at the best stage for eating, but there is no advantage in growing too much or in growing lines which are plentiful and cheap on the market when yours are ready to pick.

Flystrike Control Programmes, H E. Fels

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

THE various flystrike control methods all avoid susceptible patches of skin on the sheep.

To avoid work—

• choose methods that give the most control for the least effort, and

• combine these methods into a system that works well.

Wheat Yield Tests In W.A, H M. Fisher

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

WHEAT production is the major crop industry in Western Australia so emphasis has been placed on this crop in variety tests.

Over the last 5 years 61 wheat varieties, including 30 named varieties from various sources, have been tested in variety trials.

How To Control Flystrike In Sheep, H E. Fels

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

FLYSTRIKE affects incomes and efficiency because a large part of the work done on sheep farms is to prevent or treat it, and because it kills sheep and reduces the amount and quality of production.

Prevent Worms In Cattle, G C De Chaneet

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

PARASITIC gastro enteritis, caused by roundworms, is a common cause of economic loss in calves, yearlings and occasionally cows in south-western Australia. Losses could be prevented if stock owners realised the full effects of these parasites, and understood the causes of worm infestation.

Publications Of The Department Of Agriculture, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WITH the Journal of Agriculture no longer produced as a practical monthly farming magazine, some farmers may feel they have been deprived of valuable reference material.

The publications listed below are available on application to the Department of Agriculture, Jarrah Road, South Perth, 6151, or to district offices of the Department. Bulletin numbers should be quoted when ordering by letter.

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.

Linseed Within The Clover Ley Farming System, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

LINSEED was one of the first crops to be widely used as an alternative to cereals in the over-17 inch rainfall areas. It is now an established crop with a total 1969 production worth just under half a million dollars.

Linseed is currently worth nearly twice as much as wheat per bushel, wih its short term prospects still attractive.

Grain Aeration On The Farm, G D. Rimes

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

ALTHOUGH grain aeration is a well known and widespread technique employed to prevent insect development in stored grain, the installations are invariably designed for large scale grain handling authorities.

Experimental work carried out in Western Australia over the last four storage seasons has shown that simple unsophisticated equipment can be of direct use in farm storage.

Feeding Urea To Cattle, D J. Barker

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

RUMINANTS normally obtain the protein they require by digestion of the organisms that inhabit the forestomach (rumen), not by direct digestion of the dietary protein they chew up and swallow.

The organisms break down the dietary protein and then rebuild proteins in the form of more organisms.

Reducing Evaporation From Farm Dams : A Progress Report December 1969, I A F Laing

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

IN most seasons in the Western Australian Wheatbelt evaporation reduction techniques rate a low priority due to either the expense or the relative inefficiency of the techniques.

It is generally agreed that a similar investment in deepening or enlarging existing dams, or making new dams larger from the outset, is likely to be more profitable.

The Western Australian Herbarium, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The new Western Australian Herbarium building opened on March 5, 1970, provides for the first time, ideal storage conditions for the State's priceless collection of plants, and adequate facilities for botanists to study them.

The unique character of Western Australia's flora has attracted world-wide interest and the State needed a single herbarium recognised by the herbaria of the world.

Mating Weaners Does Not Affect Future Ewe Performance, R J. Suiter, K. P. Croker

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

Maiden ewes in Western Australia are usually mated in their second year because of supposed ill-effects of earlier mating on the ewe's future production. Mating at a younger age however, providing there was no reduction in future performance, would provide for an extra lamb drop and thus increase the lifetime output of ewes.

Information from various sources indicated that weaners could be successfully mated providing their bodyweights were satisfactory. This trial was carried out to test the results of mating weaners under Western Australian conditions.

Rearing Orphan Kangaroos, G L. Ward

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

LICENCES are required in Western Australia if certain kangaroos and all species of wallabies are kept in captivity, but orphaned young joeys often need care and hand feeding before they can be released to fend for themselves.

Rapeseed Production In Western Australia, M L. Poole

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

RAPESEED production began in Western Australia in 1968 when a few acres were grown. In 1969, about 20 growers ptanted small acreages for about 80 tons of seed. In 1970, up to 20,000 acres will be grown, and a total of 40,000 acres seems possible within the next few years.

Copper Requirements For The South-Eastern Wheatbelt, D J. Gilbey, K. D. Greathead, J. W. Gartrell

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

FARM experience and the results of five years intensive research have shown copper deficiency to be widespread in the south-eastern wheatbelt.

On many areas of the south-eastern wheatbelt, copper deficiency is likely to restrict wheat yields.