Agricultural Economics Commons^™

Eleventh Random Sample Laying Test : 1967-68 Cages, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

ELEVENTH RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST,

1967-68 - CAGES

POULTRY RESEARCH STATION, WEMBLEY

SIXTH PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 3rd NOVEMBER, 1968

Higher Stocking Rates For Cattle On Irrigated Pasture : A Report From Wokalup Research Station, Maurice C. Cullity

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

The possibility that higher cattle stocking rates than those commonly used could be economical was suggested by the results of a stocking rate trial at Wokalup Research Station

The Western Australian Pig Industry, P Mcnamara

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

A look at the pig industry in Western Austrailia.

Profitable Bacon Production In A Small Herd, B M. Goss

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

PIG HERDS are tending to become larger and more specialised, but it is still possible for the small herd of less than 20 sows to absorb by-products and spare labour very profitably.

These advantages can be lost if the scale is larger.

Bulletin No 3609 - Land Development In The South Eastern Wheatbelt, G T. Halpin, P. Nelson

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

Interest in the development of light lands in the south-eastern wheatbelt was spurred by the many ex-servicemen seeking farms after the 1939-45 World War.

Previous attempts to develop this area had been frustrated by poor crop yields, and by the poor carrying capacity of those volunteer pastures which developed on cleared land.

Research into reasons for the poor crop results was begun in 1948-49 with trials sown by Messrs Smith and Halpin between Borden and Lake Grace. The results clearly showed the important role played by copper and zinc in successful crop growth. Since then, field trials have been conducted …

Nitrogenous Fertilisers For Cereal Production, M G. Mason

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

THE greatest responses to nitrogenous fertilisers can be expected in areas with a relatively long growing season.

In such areas light soils with a low nitrogen status provide the best prospects for addition of nitrogen—provided adequate moisture is available.

West Midlands Development : Farm Planning, G W. Spencer

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

FARM planning relates to the development and sub-division of a property in such a way that it is possible to obtain the safest, most efficient, and most practical use of every acre of land.

West Midlands Development : Sources Of Credit For Farmers, J T. Stoate

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

RAPIDLY increasing costs associated with land development and farm improvement have placed heavy financial burdens on farmers.

At the very least such burdens must often slow the rate of development, increase family hardship and lower farm profitability.

Many farmers however, are unaware of the sources of loan money which could help them overcome their problems.

This article outlines some of the credit sources available.

This Could Happen Here : If Foot-And-Mouth Disease Came To Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE first outbreak would probably be on a piggery not far from a major port. But it might also appear among cattle or sheep in a similar area, or even on a cattle station in the North.

Wheat In Development Programmes For New Esperance Farmers, R J. Doyle, G. D. Oliver

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

IN the December, 1967, issue of the Journal of Agriculture, we reported on five development budgets for the Esperance region.

The aim of the exercise was to find out if a new settler concentrating on sheep, with $20,000 available for development after acquisition of land, could make a reasonable living for himself and his family while developing his farm.

The Pear Leaf Blister Mite, G D. Rimes

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

THE pear leaf blister mite* may be causing widespread but undetected damage in Western Australian pear crops.

A bud-dwalling form exists which shows none of the leaf blisters normally associated with this species.

West Midlands Development : Selection Of Areas For Development, J A. Swarts

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

BEFORE commencing any clearing or fencing on a new property it is most important to carefully select those areas which are to be developed first.

New Strains Of Subterranean Clover : Prospects And Problems For The Seed Producer, B J. Quinlivan

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

THREE new strains of Subterranean clover—Daliak, Seaton Park and Uniwager—have been released.

In Western Australia, in other States and perhaps some overseas countries, the next few years will see many farmers or graziers summing up the merits and demerits of these strains and subsequently making a decision to change or not to change their present strains.

Trials With Urea And Anhydrous Ammonia For Wheat Growing, M G. Mason

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

THE recent subsidy on nitrogenous fertilisers has greatly reduced their price to farmers. This, and farmers' increasing awareness of the benefits of application of nitrogen to cereals, has led to a substantial increase in the use of these fertilisers.

Wheat Weevil And The Farmer, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins, G. D. Rimes

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

INSECT pests have been taking toll of mans' crops and herds since very early times and despite modern control techniques the annual loss is still very high.

It has been estimated that damage to stored grain alone may average 10 per cent, per year, or, in terms of the West Australian harvest, a loss by weevils of about twice the capacity of the large Midland Junction bin.

West Midlands Development : The Economics Of New Land Development, I J. Moncrieff

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

THE economics of new land development cannot really be separated from the financial aspects.

However, financing development is such a personal business that for general advisory purposes the distinction must be made.

For this reason, the article which follows largely avoids the financial side and is devoted to a consideration of some of the economic factors involved in the development of new land in this area.

Entering The Egg Industry With Laying Cages, W Ward

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

DEPARTMENT of Agriculture Bulletin 3579, "Entering the Egg Industry with Laying Cages", by W. Ward, examines various aspects of the cage system of housing laying hens.

This system is by far the most popular method of housing layers, with 90 per cent, of new farms using cages and many daep litter farms now converting to cages.

The Outlook For Wool, Lamb And Beef, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WOOL and fat lambs have been traditional products of farms in the wetter parts (20 inches of rainfall and above) of Western Australia's agricultural areas.

The prices for both these products are causing corncern and some farmers have already changed to beef production.

This article discusses the future prices for wool, fat lambs and beef.

Space Requirements For Pullets And Layers On Litter, A H. Lean

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

UNEVEN growth, cannibalism, weakened resistance to disease, unsanitary conditions and poor production commonly arise from failure to provide sufficient floor, feed and watering space for pullets and layers.

The Changing Fertiliser Industry, Edgar Noel Fitzpatrick

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

Background to current developments in the Australian fertiliser industry.

FOR many years superphosphate was the basic fertiliser used by most farmers in Western Australia.

During the 1950's some farmers began to use sulphate of ammonia, and recently urea and anhydrous ammonia have become important.

Sources Of Nitrogen For Cereals : Their Characteristics And Costs, M G. Mason

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

Generally similar results may be expected from all the sources of nitrogen available for cereal growing.

The unit nitrogen price and the convenience of use of each fertiliser in the particular situation should be taken into account in deciding which fertiliser to use.

THE first point to consider when deciding which nitrogen fertiliser to use for wheat growing is the effectiveness of the nitrogen source in increasing crop yield. Second, the cost per unit of nitrogen must be considered.

The convenience of using a particular source in a particular situation is also important and greater convenience may offset some cost …

Worms In Sheep. 4. Drenches For Treatment And Control Of Worms In Sheep, W A. Halhead

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

PREVIOUS articles in this series have described the species of worms affecting sheep in Western Australia, their life histories and the factors which lead to the seasonal rise and fall in worm burdens.

A programme of strategic (preventative) drenching has been outlined which is based on a knowledge of these seasonal changes in worm burdens.

Rates Of Superphosphate For Cereal Grain Production In The Under 20 Inch Rainfall Areas, Walter Jacob Cox

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

EVERY year farmers use large quantities of superphosphate with cereal crops to overcome the inherent phosphate deficiency of West Australian soils.

The increase in the average rate used by farmers reflects the increasing amount of new land being cropped.

Good seasons and favourable economic conditions may also have influenced super rates.

Private Irrigation Systems : Do They Pay?, G D. Oliver

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

WESTERN AUSTRALIA, with 71,000 acres under irrigation, can hardly claim to have an important irrigation farming industry.

However, irrigation is daily growing in importance, especially through private schemes. These account for almost half the present irrigated area.

Winter Beef Production Trial : Wongan Hills Research Station, D J. Barker, H. G. Cariss

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

IN 14-inch rainfall districts most rainfall occurs between May and October. It is d i f f i cult to keep beef animals fattening on summer dry pastures but such areas do have a ready supply of locally grown cereals.

Using these materials as the basis of a supplement it is possible to market prime baby-beef by June-July.

The higher prices obtained for this "winter" beef more than offset the cost of supplementary feed.

Drilled Versus Topdressed Superphosphate For Cereal Production, A Loutit, P. Stallwood, W. J. Cox

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

CEREAL growers in Australia usually use a drill or combine to apply their seed and superphosphate in one operation.

However, during the last few years, there has been a rapid increase in the amount of super broadcast bafore seeding.

Production Costs In The Apple Industry : Comments On A Survey, A W. Hogstrom, I. J. Moncrieff

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

IN 1964 and 1965, light and heavy bearing years respectively, apples cost $2.40 per bushel to produce in Western Australia. This figure, to be considered with many other factors, was reached in a cost-of-production survey of 45 selected growers.

Packing and labour costs, in that order, were the two biggest cost-of-production items.

Cattle : And The Ord Irrigation Project, W M. Nunn

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

No abstract provided.

Beef Production In A 14 Inch Rainfall District, D J. Barker, H. G. Cariss

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

Progress report on a farm scale beef-raising investigation at the Department of Agriculture's Wongan Hills Research Station.

A SMALL herd of beef cattle was established at Wongan Hills Research Station in 1964 and the first crop of calves was dropped in the autumn of 1965. The calves' growth rates were recorded and they were marketed as 18-month-old steer beef in November, 1966.

Oat Variety Trials, 1965, J L. Mcmullan, J. A. Parish

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

M l 2 8 , an early midseason fixed crossbred bred at the Merredin Research Station, Avon and P8304, a late midseason fixed crossbred from N.S.W, were the highest yielding oats in last year's trials.

Irwin was the highest yielding oat of early maturity.