Agricultural Economics Commons^™

Forage Variety Performance Test 1990-1991, Herbert Honeycutt

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

This report summarizes the results of forage variety tests that were conducted at the Main Agricultural Experiment Station at Fayetteville, Arkansas; the Strawberry Substation near Bald Knob, Arkansas; and the Livestock and Forestry Branch Station near Batesville, Arkansas.

A Review Of Plant Introductions To The Kimberley 1955 To 1987, R Mccartney

Grain and other field crops published reports

This report summarizes the work done by the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, in the west and north Kimberley in introducing plant species during 1955-1987.

For the purposes of this repor1the following areas are defined thus:

• West Kimberley- lies between latitude 17°5 and 19°5 and longitude 121°E and 127°E, with an extension to the north of 1° between 121°E and I 24°20'E. The area is 118,000 km".

• North Kimberley - lies north of latitude 17°5 and between longitude 124°20'E and 127°30'E. The area is 85,000 km'.

• East Kimberley-lies north of latitude 19°5 and between longitude 127°30'E and …

Miscellaneous Publication 28/91 - Midas (Model Of An Integrated Dryland Agricultural System), David J. Pannell, Andrew Bathgate

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

MIDAS is a bioeconomic model of mixed crop/livestock farms in Western Australia. It selects farm management strategies which maximise profit subject to resource, technical and environmental constraints using the linear programming technique. This document provides a thorough documentation of the version of MIDAS developed for the "eastern wheatbelt" region. If you are learning to use MIDAS with the MARG menu driven system, you need to read the MARG manual as well as this documentation.

From early in the life of MIDAS, we gave a high priority to making the data and assumptions readily accessible in documentation and in microcomputer spreadsheet …

Adjusting Farm Strategy To Allow For Seasonal Conditions, Andrew Bathgate, Stephen Robinson, Ross Kingwell

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

Changes in the price of wheat did not alter the selection of best rotations on various soils, or the area of crop, in an economic study done by the Department of Agriculture. When determining what area to crop, it is much more important to consider the type of start to the season, the amount of summer rainfall and whether light land can be sown early. If there is a good start to the season, the size of the increase in the area of crop depends on the capacity of seeding gear and the mix of soil classes on the farm.

Bulletin No 4176 - Agroforestry With Widely Spaced Pine Trees, Richard Moore, Peter Jenkins, Geoff Anderson, Phil Scott

Bulletins 4000 -

Combining a softwood timber crop with other forms of agriculture on the same land can make better use of available space, soil and water, and lead to higher productivity from farms.

This Bulletin outlines the potential benefits of, and a programme for, the growing of pine on farmland in Western Australia in conjunction with either pasture or another crop. The agroforestry system described has been well researched in Westem Australia.

The main objectives of agroforestry are to produce high quality timber while maintaining adequate pasture for either grazing or fodder cropping until the timber is harvested.

The Productivity Of Western Australia's Wheat And Sheep Industry, Tim Coelli, Ross Kingwell

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

A popular economic lament is that Australian industries and workers are not as productive as they should be. Politicians and economic commentators preach the need for productivity improvement and workplace reform, and criticise inefficiency and lack of endeavour. Can such criticism be fairly levelled at farmers and agricultural scientists? What is productivity and how is it measured? What is the productivity of Western Australia's main agricultural industry — wheat and sheep farming? This article addresses these questions and shows that our wheat-sheep industry can be moderately proud of its productivity record

Farm Management Memo - Advice To Help Farming Through The Rural Downturn, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

Historically, commodity prices cycle between a "boom and a bust" every few years. Farmers are often able to adjust their operations to reduce the impact of a downturn in commodity prices by:

• Increasing efficiency through reducing or maintaining input costs while maintaining or increasing production levels.

• Maximising returns through seeking price premiums on commodities (protein, noodle quality, finer wool, increased clean wool yield).

• Reducing overhead costs

• Seeking cheaper finance or refinancing costly loans

• Careful planning and management with a high degree of attention to detail.

• Seeking advice

Economic Impact Of Growing Phomopsis-Resistant Lupins, J M. Warren, Jeremy Allen, Wallace Cowling

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

The planting of Phomopsis-resistant lupins will increase net farm income. They will also alter the traditional blend of pastures and cropping, depending on grain and wool prices. In mixed farming areas of Western Australia's southern wheatbelt, they will allow more land to be sown to lupins rather than cereals on farms in which the lack of sheep feed over summer severely restricts wool production.

The benefits of Phompsis-resistant lupins arise from a reduction in sheep deaths due to lupinosis, a longer safe grazing period (free from lupinosis) on lupin stubbles, a decrease in the need for supplementary sheep feed over …

The Effect On Farm Profit Of Conserving Stubble To Prevent Wind Erosion, A D. Bathgate

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

Over-grazing of stubbles is a major cause of winf erosion on WesternAustralian farms. Stubble contributes to the 'roughness' of the paddock; as the roughness is reduced, the risk of winf erosion is increased.

The risk of lupinosis in sheep has previously reduced the likelihood of lupin stubble being over grazed, but the development of Gungurru, a phomopsis-resistent variety of lupin, has increased the potential for over-grazing and hence the probability of wind erosion.

This article describes the economic benefit (or cost) of conserving stubble at the conservation standards.

Trees In The Peel-Harvey Catchment, C S. Peek, Richard Silberstein

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

The peel-Harvey catchment has been the focus for an intensive research and extension programme to reduce phosphorous run-off flowing into the Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary, while maintaining agricultural productivity.

One of the proposed management strategies is to plant large areas of trees on the catchment's leaching sands. Farmers would be encouraged to take this option if growing trees was at least equal, in financial return, to the present agricultural land uses.

Preliminary data indicate that growing Eucalyptus globulas (Tasmanian bluegum) for woodchipping may be at least as profitable as agriculture. Tree plantations also have the added potential to reduce …

Miscellaneous Publication 11/88 - Manjimup Horticultural Research Centre - A Guide To Activites, David Johnston

Horticulture published reports

Within the south-west of Western Australia, in the area encompassed by Bunbury, Margaret River, Albany and Manjimup, the horticultural industries have become of major importance to economic viability and employment opportunities.

The Manjimup Shire grows45 percent of the State's potatoes, 50 per cent profits cauliflowers and 32 per cent profits apples. Other important crops are onions, beans and peas for processing and Chinese cabbage. A range of other horticultural crops are produced on a small scale.

The recent establishment of an Edgell-Birds Eye processing plant at Manjimup will provide a further significant boost to the region. By 1992 this plant …

Wheat Payments And Protein Content, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

In recent years there has been increasing support from within the Australian wheat industry for the principal of wheat growers recieving payment for their grain according to market value.

Individual loads are now tested for quality characteristics such as hectolitre weight, unmillable material and moisture content.

At present, technology is not sufficiently advanced to enable rapid and accurate analysis of individual loads for all important quality factors.

A more practical system of quality assessment would be one based on allowances for various basic measures (such as hectolitre weight, unmillable material and moisture content), variety (to allow for genetic differences in …

The Potential For Skeleton Weed, John Dodd, F. D. Panetta

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

Since its introduction into Australia during the 900s skeleton weed has become one of the most economically significant weeds. Its presence in cereal crops in south-eastern Australia has caused suvere yield reductions and harvesting problems.

Skeleton weed was first found on a Western Australian farm in 963. Since then it has been the subject of an intensive eradication campaign organised by the Agricultural Protection Board and funded by an annual levy on wheat growers. Such campaigns, which rely mainly on volunteer searchers, do not exist in eastern Australia because the weed is so widespread it would be impossible to eradicate. …

Vegetable Budgeting Handbook Manjimup Region 1986-87, Peter Eckersley

Horticulture published reports

This handbook is designed as a guide

i) to help growers cost out or budget for their own or alternative enterprises, and use correct methods for calculating benefits and costs of alternative actions. production, and

ii) to help advisers and lending agencies prepare and review budgets.

WARNING - The budgets herein do not purport to represent the average profitability of each crop. It is the reader's responsibility to use the information in them correctly.

The Manjimup region here includes Pemberton, Nannup, Bridgetown and Donnybrook.

Unit production costs vary widely within any farming district. Low-cost production requires the right levels and …

Documentation Of Whole-Farm Model For The Eastern Wheatbelt Of Western Australia, Ross S. Kingwell, David J. Pannell, David. A. Morrison

Grain and other field crops published reports

The Eastern Wheatbelt Model (EwM) is a hypothetical farm model, intended to be representative of farms in the eastern wheatbelt region. It is a model of an 'average' farm in an 'average' season. Nevertheless it is possible to substitute the resource mix of a 'real' farm for the •average' and to substitute various types of season for the 'average'.

Assumptions of 'average' farm resources and •average' season are based on opinions by WADA researchers and advisers. For the EWM, researchers and advisers at Merredin prescribed average resources for an eastern wheatbelt farm receiving a 300 mm average rainfall including 210 …

Ord River Irrigation Area Of Western Australia - Background Information For Prospective Farmers, Western Australian Department Of Agriculture

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

The Ord Irrigation Project is located in the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley in the far north of the State of Western Australia.

The potential for harnessing northern rivers was realised many years ago. In 1941, a small experimental farm was established on the Ord, and possible dam sites were investigated upstream.

In 1945, this small experimental farm was relocated and the Kimberley Research Station was established on Ivanhoe Plain, part of the 12,000 hectare area now irrigated from Lake Kununurra above the Diversion Dam.

By 1958, the Western Australian Government was convinced of the viability of an irrigation scheme on …

Ord River Irrigation Area Of Western Australia, Western Australian Department Of Agriculture

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

The Ord Irrigation Project is located in the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley in the far north of the State of Western Australia.

The potential for harnessing northern rivers was realised many years ago. In 1941, a small experimental farm was established on the Ord, and possible dam sites were investigated upstream.

In 1945, this small experimental farm was relocated and the Kimberley Research Station was established on Ivanhoe Plain, part of the 12,000 hectare area now irrigated from Lake Kununurra above the Diversion Dam.

By 1958, the Western Australian Government was convinced of the viability of an irrigation scheme on …

Ord River Irrigation Area - Potential For A Sugar Cane Industry In Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

The Ord River Irrigation Area is in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia, 3,200 kms from Perth, the State’s Capital City.

The area is located in the arid tropics with a climate suitable for high plant growth rates provided water supply is adequate.

With only 12,000 ha of land developed out of a potential 72,000 ha of clay soils the area has the potential for further development of a major irrigated agricultural enterprise.

The Ord River Irrigation Project has been developed for commercial agriculture following the construction of a diversion dam in 1963, and a major dam in 1974, The …

Economic Comparison Of Alternative Burley Tobacco Harvesting Practices By Computer, Thomas C. Bridges, Larry G. Wells, George A. Duncan, John N. Walker

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The computer model CATCH (Computer Analysis of Tobacco Cutting and Housing) was developed to provide the individual tobacco producer with management information concerning alternative methods of harvesting burley tobacco. CATCH utilizes specific producer in-puts to analyze 24 alternative burley production systems and presents up to four economic rankings containing costs, equipment and labor for each system. The economic rankings aid the producer in decision making with regard to his own operation.

Crop Monitoring Handbook 1979, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Grain and other field crops published reports

Prepared by the Plant Research Division of the Department of Agriculture for farmers who wish to keep detailed records of crop growth with the aim of achieving higher yields in the future.

Farm Management Information - Comparative Costs And Return Whole Farm Budgets, Machinery Costs, Gross Margins, A. F. Herbert

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

The cropping costs, gross margins, and whole farm budgets contained in this booklet are published to assist you in your selection of enterprises on the farm, and to give background information for prospective farm purchasers in the Esperance/Dundas area.

The worked examples have attempted to approximate reality. However, individuals do things differently and it is pointless to generalize. The information presented should only be used as a guide. You need to prepare your own budgets for your own situation using your own assumptions and up-to-date costs and prices.

Services of the Department of Agriculture are readily available should you wish …

How To Select A Tractor, W T. Brown

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

A look at some of the factors to be considered when choosing a tractor for your farm. There is no one answer

Matching Tractors And Implements, I W. Grevis-James

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

Tractor and implement matching involves balancing implement load characteristics with tractor output characteristics to obtain the best output from the combination. Too much or too little can be costly.

Contour Cultivation : Cheap Erosion Control, T R. Negus, B. Barrett

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

Although the benefits of contour cultivation are well recognised, it makes cultivation more difficult, particularly if the paddock is split by contour banks and grassed waterways. However, a comparison east of Pingelly indicates that contour cultivation is little more expensive or time-consuming than ordinary cultivation.

Soil And Plant Analysis : A Guide To Fertilizer Usage, Walter Jacob Cox

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

Soil and plant analysis can be used to identify problems in soils, diagnose nutrient deficiencies and as a guide to fertiliser usage.

Soil testing is particularily useful where large amounts of phosphorus and potassium are leached or removed from the paddock in hay or silage.

Actual rates of fertiliser can only be recommended from soil testing and only in conjunction with additional biological and economic information.

Farm Syndication Has Advantages, G T. Kennedy

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

Sharing of single items of plant between farmers is common in Australian Agriculture but it is quite rare for farmers to amalgamate their holdings and farm them as a single unit.

This article looks at the advantages of syndicate farming. It is based on a study of four whole farm syndicates in the Wimmera of Victoria.

Report On Kellogg Rural Adjustment Unit (Krau) Conference, Peter Eckersley

All other publications

The aim was for the 170 attenders to define how much productivity increases could help farmers in the main rural industries, and what size increases are likely in the foreseeable future (especially the next 5 years recommend feasible Government and industry action to stimulate increases in farm productivity.

Sources Of Nitrogen For Cereals : Urea, Ammonium Nitrate Or Sulphate Of Ammonia?, M G. Mason

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

Results and conclusions from numerous trials comparing sources of nitrogen for cereal crops give a guide to choice of fertiliser and the time and method of application.

Minimum Tillage For Crop Planting, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

this article is condensed from a report of studies of minimum tillage systems and research in the United Kingdom and North america during 1976.

The author, Mr Geoff Pearce, is a Senior Research Officer in the Department of Agriculture's Weed Agronomy Section. He has been associated with reduced tillage research in Western Australia for several years and undertook the study tour to gain the benefit of intensive overseas research on the subject.

Phosphorus Fertilisers For W.A. Farming, Michael D A Bolland

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

Phosphorus is one of the major nutrients essential to plants. Eithout the use of phosphorus fertilisers, few soils in Western Australian sagricultural areas would be agriculturaly productive.

Superphosphate has been the major source of phosphorus fertiliser used in W. A..

Now there is a possibility that the alternatives to superphosphate may be cheaper