Agriculture Commons^™

Western Australia’S Agricultural R&D Ecosystem, Ross Kingwell

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

• Decades ago, the agricultural R&D ecosystem in Western Australia (WA) was fairly simple with few funders and some key providers of R&D services such as the Department of Agriculture, CSIRO and the University of Western Australia.
• Since then, the agricultural R&D ecosystem in WA has increased in complexity with more R&D providers and a greater injection of industry and private funding.
• These changes have occurred against a backdrop of the total investment in agricultural R&D declining as a share of agriculture’s gross value of production.
• State and federal governments have reduced their share of the total investment in agricultural R&D. …

1080 Baiting Information For Pet Owners, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

A must for pest control, but a risk to domestic pets.

1080 is the brand name given to the chemical compound sodium monofluoroacetate. It is the synthetically produced sodium salt of fluoroacetate and produced as a white powder which is odorless and tasteless to humans. 1080 has been developed for incorporating into various bait formulations for the control of vertebrate pests including wild dogs, foxes, feral cats, and feral pigs.

Status Of The Western Australian Pastoral Rangelands 2024: Total Vegetative Cover, Cover Risk And Pasture Condition, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) monitors and reports on the vegetation condition of pastoral rangelands in Western Australia. Two levels of reporting are provided: every 5 years a full report (this report) details the state, trend and risk of decrease of vegetation condition in the pastoral rangelands using information derived from remotely sensed and on-ground data; in the intervening years, short reports are provided based on remotely sensed data.

This full report is based on remotely sensed vegetation cover data, rainfall data, livestock data and station-level rangeland condition assessment (RCA) data available in November 2024. Data …

The First Australian Co-Invasion Of Euwallacea Fornicatus, Fusarium Sp. [Af18] And Graphium Euwallaceae, Melinda Moir, Monica Kehoe, Dominie Wright, Stefania Bertazzoni, Peter Scott, Cuiping Wang, Elsie Kinnaird, Brenda A. Coutts

Biosecurity Research Articles

As international trade and travel increase around the world, invasive species detections and incursions are increasing in frequency. Here we document the first detection and incursion within Australia by the Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB), Euwallacea fornicatus (Eichhoff, 1868) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), an ambrosia beetle, and two of the associated fungal species; Fusarium sp. [AF18], and Graphium euwallaceae. All three exotic species were detected in a confined region within Perth, Western Australia, and represent a co-invasion. This multispecies incursion into one of the world’s most remote cities highlights the rapid increase in biological invasions globally and the pressures that urban, agricultural, …

Electric Weed Control—How Does It Compare To Conventional Weed Control Methods?, Catherine Borger, Miranda J. Slaven

Journal articles

Weed management practices in agroecosystems mainly rely on herbicide, mowing, or tillage. Electric weed control offers a novel alternative, with a range of commercially available products for weed management in agricultural environments. However, electrical weed control efficacy has not been effectively compared with conventional weed management practices. Further, electrical weed control products may have a fire risk, as highlighted but not assessed in prior studies. The current study evaluated an electric weed control machine (Zasso™ XPower) for weed management in four vineyard sites (in 2022 and 2023) in comparison to mowing and herbicide applications. Weed control tactics were applied in …

Managing Predators On Livestock Producing Properties In South Africa And Western Australia – Producer Perspectives, Tracey L. Kreplins, H A. Melville

Biosecurity Research Articles

Context

Predation impacts livestock farming enterprises worldwide. In South Africa and Western Australia, native and non-native predators negatively impact sheep and cattle farming enterprises. Aims

We hoped to compare the perspectives on predator impacts of livestock producers in relation to livestock predation in South Africa and Western Australia. Methods

Online and in-person surveys consisting of 26 questions were posed to farmers and pastoralists in both countries. The questions related to land ownership, property size, livestock management, predation impact (financial and livestock losses), control of predators, and other impacts on productivity. Key results

Livestock production properties are of a similar size …

Clearing Cloudy Or Coloured Water On Farms In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Cloudy or coloured water can be a nuisance when used for household purposes, and sometimes be unsuitable for livestock, irrigation, or crop spraying. The following is for general information only, it is recommended that people seek expert advice for treating cloudy or coloured water.

State And Transition Models For Mulga Rangelands Of Western Australia, Alison O'Donnell, Anna E. Richards, Suzanne Prober, Peter-Jon A. Waddell, Sarah Luxton, Ian Watson, Brett Abbott, Philip Thomas, Joshua E. Foster

Natural resources published reports

This report details a collaborative project between the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and CSIRO that focused on developing State and Transition Models (STMs) for mulga rangelands in Western Australia. The overarching aim of the project was to improve the common understanding of the characteristics and dynamics of mulga rangeland ecosystems and the expected impacts of management. Specifically, the project aimed to collate expert knowledge and monitoring information using a nationally consistent framework to develop quantitative and dynamic STMs. The geographic scope of the project covers the extensive mulga rangelands of Western Australia, particularly the Gascoyne …

Predator Management With A Single Bait? Use Of Eradicat For The Simultaneous Management Of Feral Cats, Red Foxes, And Wild Dogs, Tracey L. Kreplins, David Algar

Biosecurity Research Articles

Context

In Western Australia, there are three invasive predators that require management for agriculture and biodiversity protection, feral cats, wild dogs, and red foxes. These three predators often coexist in the same locality, suggesting potential efficacy gains can be made via simultaneous control. While Western Australian native species have evolved a high tolerance to poison baiting (1080), invasive predators have not. Therefore, landscape-scale baiting is commonly used for predator management. Aims

Eradicat baits designed for feral cat control have also been known to be consumed and control wild dogs and foxes. In this trial, we aimed to evaluate Eradicat as …

Potential Economic Impact Of Grapevine Phylloxera (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae) On Western Australian Winegrapes, David C. Cook, Andrew S. Taylor, Peter S. Gardiner, Rodrigo Pires, Hamish L R Mckirdy, Karen W. Holmes, Helen Spafford

Viticulture Research Articles

Grapevine phylloxera Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae) has been present in Australia for almost 150 years but has not spread to south-west Western Australia, in part due to the relative isolation of the region. Recent improvements in tourist access, with interstate flights now arriving at Busselton Margaret River Airport, raise concerns about potential phylloxera introductions via wine tourism. In this paper, we simulate the potential economic impact on the Western Australian winegrape industry following a hypothetical arrival event in the Margaret River wine region. We use soil texture maps to assess the suitability of winegrape-growing areas to phylloxera establishment and …

Grains, Seeds & Hay Industry Funding Scheme: 2023-24 Annual Report, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

The Grains IFS collects funds from producers to address biosecurity pest and disease threats relevant to and determined by the WA grains/seed/hay industry. The current IFS contribution rate of 0.25 cents per tonne of grain and seed, and 0.125 cents per tonne of hay, is applied to the first sale of produce grown in the agricultural areas of WA in 2023-24. Grains IFS contributions fund the:

1. Skeleton Weed Control Program (SKW).

2. Three Horned Bedstraw Eradication Program.

3. Research and Development (R&D) – Research grants and programs to improve the effectiveness and/ or efficiency of the IFS-funded programs, as …

What’S The Best Way To Store Toxic 1080 Baits?, Heather M. Crawford, Ricarda Fenske, Gerard Smith, Teen Ryan, Jamie (Frog) Taylor, Daniel Carlisle, Debbie Dowden, Dean Butcher, Tracey L. Kreplins, James Miller, Malcolm S. Kennedy, Patricia A. Fleming

Biosecurity Research Articles

Being able to store toxic baits could allow livestock producers to target ‘hot spots’ of predator activity, supplementing or even replacing broadscale baiting, therefore avoiding potential risk of bait-resistant populations. We compared 1080 dose recovered from dried meat baits (DMB; camel, horse and kangaroo) and sausage baits stored by different methods (shed, locked transport box, freezer, cryo-vacuumed) to identify whether they were still lethal, and address concern that freezing/thawing could result in loss of the water-soluble 1080 toxicant. We developed a bait collection method to halt microbial activity (preserving 1080 dose), al-lowing collection of baits manufactured under field conditions by …

Ndp 54 V1 - National Diagnostic Protocol For Meadow Spittlebug (Philaenus Spumarius), Melinda Moir

Biosecurity research reports

National Diagnostic Protocols (NDPs) are diagnostic protocols for the unambiguous taxonomic identification of plant pests. NDPs:

• are a verified information resource for plant health diagnosticians
• are consistent with ISPM No. 27 – Diagnostic Protocols for Regulated Pests
• provide a nationally consistent approach to the identification of plant pests enabling transparency when comparing diagnostic results between laboratories; and,
• are endorsed by regulatory jurisdictions for use (either within their own facilities or when commissioning from others) in a pest incursion.

Where an International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) diagnostic protocol exists it should be used in preference to NDPs, unless it is shown …

Consultation Summary For Proposed Declared Pest Rates 2025/2026, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

Under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act) the State raises a Declared Pest Rate (DPR) from land or leaseholders (hereafter landholders) in prescribed areas (DPR Areas) and matches the funds raised from the rate dollar-for-dollar.

The combined funds are made available to Recognised Biosecurity Groups (RBGs) who provide support to landholders to fulfil their obligations under the BAM Act to manage widespread and established declared pests on their land. A community-led and coordinated approach is considered the most effective way to support landholders to manage these types of pests.

Each year, the Minister for Agriculture and Food …

Sheep And Goat Industry Funding Scheme 2023-24 Annual Report, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

I am pleased to present the 2023-24 annual report for the Sheep and Goat Industry Funding Scheme (Sheep and Goat IFS) to our participants, key stakeholders in the Western Australian (WA) sheep and goat industry, and the Minister for Agriculture and Food.

The WA sheep and goat industry has faced a challenging year. After a period of relative stability between 2010 and 2019, the WA flock has continued to decline since 2020, reaching its lowest point since 1952. This downward trend is expected to continue due to local factors such as increased turn-off and seasonal conditions, further compounded by political …

Pastoral Land Condition: Kimberley Land Condition Standards, Robert Sudmeyer, Rick Fletcher, Kathryn Ryan, Matthew Fletcher, Charles Martin, Philip Thomas, Karen Holmes, Karyn Reeves, Wayne Fletcher

Natural resources published reports

This report outlines the conceptual basis and quantitative land condition standards that define acceptable pastoral land condition for the Kimberley, Western Australia (WA), to meet the regulatory requirements of the Land Administration Act 1997 and the Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) develops regional-level pastoral land condition standards for WA to implement the Framework for sustainable pastoral management – Revised edition, which is designed to address the Office of the Auditor General’s recommendations to improve the management of pastoral lands in WA. The application of these standards is expected to …

Self-Mustering Yards For Pastoral Livestock Management, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

Self-mustering yards (SMYs) are an important component of effective total grazing management in the pastoral regions. These yards are used to self-muster cattle, sheep and goats, as well as native browsers and feral animals as they enter the yards to access the water point.

Citrus Fruits Maturity Parameters 2025-2026, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Viticulture research reports

Under Biosecurity and Agricultural Management (Agricultural Standards) Regulations 2013 Part 5.

An Economic Analysis Of Cell-Fencing In Semi-Arid Rangelands, Stuart Dawson, Tracey L. Kreplins, Malcolm S. Kennedy, Santhi Wicks, Patricia A. Fleming

Biosecurity Research Articles

In Australia, livestock predation by dingoes (Canis familiaris) has contributed to what some livestock producers consider a dire situation for rangeland pastoralism, driving demand for cooperative regional-scale exclusion (‘cell’) fencing (i.e. pest-proof fences that encompass one or more individual properties) and landscape-scale predator control. The present case study predicted the effect of four cell-fences in the state of Western Australia (WA) on the gross margin of sheep (for meat or meat and wool) and cattle pastoral enterprises. We modelled the potential effects of the following four key variables: (1) four levels of commodity prices, (2) five levels of …

Estimating The Carbon Footprint Of Sheep Production In Western Australia, Tafesse Estifanos, Christophe D'Abbadie, Johnny Machon, Amir Abadi Abadi Ghadim, Gus Manatsa, Paul Mattingley, Ross Kingwell, Kevin Foster

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

Western Australia’s broadacre mixed farming systems combine cropping and sheep production and are the largest component of the state’s agricultural sector. The south west Western Australia (WA) agricultural area hosts about 98% of the state's sheep flock. The sheep industry contributed $1.5 billion to the state’s economy in 2021-22 and accounts for about a quarter of on-farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Most sheep industry emissions (over 80%) come from methane produced by the sheep. Despite this environmental impact, only 9.9% of Australian sheep producers have estimated their emissions, which limits the industry's ability to monitor and manage carbon footprints effectively. …

Citrus Gall Wasp Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Citrus gall wasp (Bruchophagus fellis) is an Australian native insect from northern NSW and Queensland and is now established in most Perth suburbs. It affects all citrus species, particularly lemons and grapefruit, and will be an ongoing pest to manage for Perth gardeners, like other common pests. It has not been found in commercial citrus orchards in Western Australia yet.

Skeleton Weed In Western Australia: 2025 Management Guide, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity bulletins

Skeleton weed can reduce crop yields by competing for moisture and nutrients (mainly nitrogen).

This guide helps you manage and eradicate skeleton weed infestations on your property, and helps to stop the spread across WA.

Without the coordinated program aimed at controlling the spread, skeleton weed would now be much more abundant and widely established throughout cereal growing areas.

If you find skeleton weed on your property, we can help you get rid of it.

Skeleton weed is unpredictable and can spread over long distances due to wind dispersal, but once identified it can be managed effectively and eradicated

Skeleton Weed In Western Australia: Control Program 2024–2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity bulletins

Key program changes

Winter eradication program

New herbicide recommendations for control in crops, legume based annual pastures, plantations and glyphosate tolerant canola.

• The minimum size of ‘squares’ (infested areas) has been reduced from 40 m x 40 m (0.16 ha) to 20 m x 20 m (0.04 ha) to help reduce the winter treatment area.
• Landholders will need to consult with DPIRD/LAG officers to assess the degree of infestation before working or cultivating through squares in Code 1 paddocks.
• Clopyralid (LontrelTM) herbicide will no longer be provided for treatment on heavily infested paddocks. Landholders will still be required to undertake …

Regional Differences In Australian Export Grain Supply Chain Velocities And Their Implications, Ross Kingwell, Hemali Kanthilanka

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

The size of grain harvests are increasing in most Australian states, enabling farmers to supply increasing volumes of grain to domestic and international customers. There is a market preference to supply international customers in the months prior to the availability of the northern hemisphere grain harvest that commences from June. To expedite export sales of Australian grain, most owners and operators of regional export grain supply chains in Australia are increasing their investments in the velocity, reliability, and capacity of their export grain supply chains. Larger volumes of Australian grain are now more rapidly exported. But what are the ramifications …

Farm Profit Impacts Of Consecutive Drought Years Under Climate Scenarios In Southwestern Australia, Sud Kharel, Kevin J. Foster, Meredith M. Guthrie, Ross Kingwell

Climate Science Research Articles

Climate projections for southern Australia indicate an increased likelihood of years of consecutive droughts. How resilient are farm businesses and their farming systems to recover from episodic drought? This study assesses the farm economic and financial impacts of consecutive droughts in southwest Australia. Bioeconomic simulation modelling of farm businesses with different farming systems at three locations is used to examine the long-term financial consequences of consecutive droughts. Various key factors affecting those consequences are examined. Farm location, farming system and starting equity are found to be the main determinants of how quickly a farm business can financially recover from the …

Profitable Improvement In Rangeland Conditions: Cunyu Station’S Achievement Of Synonymous Objectives In The Highly Variable Southern Rangelands Of Western Australia, Bradley Plunkett, Christophe D'Abbadie

Natural resources research reports

This case examines the objectives and management practices of Cunyu Station in Western Australia from 1990–2017. The owners’ objectives were to apply best practice knowledge augmented with localized management skills to rigorously adjust total grazing pressure (TGP) from all species (cattle, kangaroos, camels, horses, and donkeys) to levels commensurate with improved landscape conditions, minimized operating costs, and stable cash flows. A combination of infrastructure investment, feral herbivore control, use of the native apex predator (dingo) for kangaroo control, creation, and maintenance of around 18 months of ‘buffer’ pasture, and finishing 30-month-old steers on the Station were key management practices for …

Value Of Horticulture Industries In Western Australia 2022-2023, Manju Radhakrishnan, Rohan Prince

Horticulture published reports

The horticulture sector in Western Australia (WA) produces high quality fruit, vegetables, nuts and amenity horticulture. Western Australians benefit from consuming this steady supply of diverse, affordable and sustainably grown fresh fruit and vegetables. Amenity horticulture, in the form of parks and gardens, adds a great richness to the quality of life in WA.

It is estimated that WA produced $1.75 billion worth of fruit, vegetables, nuts and amenity horticulture in 2022–23. The real value1 of production at the wholesale level increased by 4% when compared to the 2020 figures presented in the report, Situation analysis of horticulture in Western …

Western Australian Soil Groups - A Diagnostic Key To Identify Soils In Western Australia (5th Edition), Paul Galloway, Dennis Van Gool, Angela Stuart-Street, Edward A. Griffin, Shahab Pathan, Noel R. Schoknecht

Resource management technical reports

The aim of the Western Australian soil groups (WA soil groups) is to classify soils of Western Australia into a limited set using criteria that are easy to recognise in the field. It is a general-purpose classification with a focus on agronomic and rangeland grazing potential. The WA soil groups are designed for WA needs. It complements the Australian Soil Classification (ASC) by grouping the continuum of soils into a limited set of soil types, which simplifies soil variability for generalists, allows soil surveyors to create standardised soil-type legends for mapping products and permits further analyses of spatial data for …

Evaporation Basins For Salinity Management, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

An evaporation basin is an engineered earth structure designed to safely store and evaporate saline water discharged from drainage or pumping, while protecting high-value agricultural land, natural assets or built infrastructure.

DPIRD recommends that evaporation basins should form part of an integrated water and salinity management program. Information on this page is a guide only.

It is recommended that landholders seek expert advice plus engineering design and related support from qualified contractors.

Rabbit Control: Bait Products, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

This factsheet is part of the bait and poison directory for vertebrate pests in Western Australia (WA). It provides information on bait, poison, and toxin (bait) products available for use in WA to control rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

For information on how to access bait, poison and toxin (bait) products, training required, animal welfare considerations and legal requirements, refer to the Bait and poison directory for vertebrate pests’ page on the website at dpird.wa.gov.au. Information on bait, poison, and toxin (bait) products available for use in WA for rabbits, is provided below.