Agricultural Economics Commons^™

Lot Feeding Of Beef Cattle. 2. Some Cost Factors, W J O Wilkie

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

BECAUSE of the difficulties that have been experienced in making lot feeding pay, it is essential to examine cost factors in some detail.

Kimberley Research Station Progress Report, 1964 : Cotton, Jan Jerzy Basinski, J. P. Evanson, W. R. Stern, N. J. Thomson

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

SINCE 1960 cotton has occupied the prominent place in the Station's research programme.

Considerable progress has been made in all aspects of cotton culture (Thomson and Basinski 1962b; Thomson 1962.)

Agriculture In Western Australia. 3. The Economic Potential Of The Wongan-Ballidu Shire. Part 1, G D. Oliver, A. W. Hogstrom

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

IN West Australian agriculture there is a considerable "backlog" of information available to farmers which is not being used in practical farming. This, of course, is true of agricultural industries anywhere in the world.

This "backlog" results in a big difference in productivity between the best farms and the "average" farms in each district.

This article is a simple economic study of the potential of one shire of Western Australia.

Maintaining The Quality Of Western Australia's Oat Harvest, J L. Mcmullan, J. A. Parish, C. V. Honner

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

WESTERN AUSTRALIA deservedly enjoys the reputation of being a producer of oats of high milling quality.

Because of this, we have been able to develop valuable export markets which pay a premium for our oats.

For some time Ballidu has been rated as the best milling oat in W.A.

The work reported in this article indicates that other recommended varieties are equal to or better than Ballidu for milling.

Recommended Barley Varieties, 1966, J L. Mcmullan

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

THE varieties Prior and Beecher are recommended for 1966 by the Coarse Grains Advisory Committee and the Department of Agriculture.

The areas suitable for these varieties when planted for various purposes, are given in the map and table.

Barley Variety Trials, 1964, J L. Mcmullan, J. A. Parish

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

The most promising varieties in last year's trials were the 2 row crossbreds W44 and W45 and the 6 row white grained variety Atlas 57.

BARLEY variety trials were located on four Research Stations and on farmers' properties at Northampton, Tammin and Mt. Barker. Brief details of the characteristics of the varieties and crossbreds under test were given in a previous article.

Molybdenum Increases Cereal Yields On Wheatbelt Scrubplain, R J. Doyle, R. J. Parkin, J. A. C. Smith, J. W. Gartrell

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

IN four field experiments and two paddock strip trials since 1960, molybdenum applied to wheat and oats grown on scrubplain soils in the eastern wheatbelt increased yields by up to 3 i bushels of wheat and 5^ bushels of oats per acre.

The Economic Potential Of The Wongan-Ballidu Shire. Part 2. Costs And Returns, G D. Oliver, A. W. Hogstrom

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

THE potential of the Wongan-Ballidu Shire to produce increased quantities of grain, wool, sheep and meat up to the year 2,000 was estimated and discussed in the first part of this article (see last issue).

In this second and final part the financial returns likely to accrue to the shire and the individual farmers as a result of these increases are discussed.

Recommended Wheat Varieties, 1966, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE State Wheat Advisory Committee has prepared recommendations for wheat varieties for 1966 sowings.

Kimberley Research Station Progress Report, 1964 : Introduction, W M. Nunn

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

THE Ord Irrigation settlement has recently planted its second commercial crop of cotton.

Research and planning toward the development project has been systematic over the last 20 years and has included hydrological surveys and dam-site investigations by the Public Works Department soil and topographical surveys by both the Department of Agriculture and C.S.I.R.O., and concerning farming methods both by research station investigations and by pilot farming.

Mastitis : Prevention And Control. 2. Principles Of Mastitis Control, F C. Wilkinson

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

MASTITIS is a major cause of financial loss in over half our dairy herds.

Losses result from treatment costs, milk discarded, permanent loss of milk production, culling, lowering of solids-not-fat content and loss of butter-fat production.

Mastitis CAN be controlled. This article outlines the basic principles of mastitis control in the milking shed.

Stocking Rate And Wool Production At Kojonup, Davies H. Lloyd, A. W. Humphries

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

RESEARCH workers in several parts of the world have recognised the overriding importance of stocking rate in raising animal production per acre.

This article describes some of the initial work on the effect of stocking rate on wool production and liveweight change in medium-Peppin Merino sheep.

The work was carried out at the C.S.I.R.O. "Glen Lossie" Field Station at Kojonup, Western Australia.

Premium Wheat In Western Australia, J A. Parish, R. F. Stone

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

This article describes the requirements for premium wheat and suggests a simple way for farmers to predict if their wheat will be suitable.

Correct initial sampling is vital.

Pasture Seeds : 1965 Statistics And Comments, B J. Quinlivan

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

A KNOWLEDGE of market conditions and procedures is not of direct importance to some primary producers.

For example, cereal growers as individuals are neither in a position to negotiate prices nor does their production have any direct effect on prices.

Recommended Oat Varieties, 1966, J L. Mcmullan

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

THE varieties Avon, Fulmark, Irwin, Kent and Ballidu are recommended for sowing in 1966 by the Department of Agriculture and the Coarse Grains Advisory Committee.

The areas suitable for these varieties, when planted for various purposes, are given in the map and tables.

List Of Registered Fertilisers : 1963/64, H G. Cariss

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

IN accordance with the provisions of the Fertilisers Act, 1928-1955, it is required that —with the exception of bulk sales to a manufacturer and those made in accordance with a buyer's written prescription—all fertilisers sold must be registered annually.

The registration year is from November 1 to October 31 following. The list of fertilisers registered for the year commencing November 1, 1963, is set out herewith in tabular form.

Salt Land Survey, 1962 : Report Of A Survey Of Soil Salinity In The Agricultural Areas Of Western Australia, L C. Lightfoot, S. T. Smith, C. V. Malcolm

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

IN Western Australia there are within the agricultural areas about one million acres of salt land, largely within the 14-25 inch rainfall area used for cereal and wool production.

In March, 1962, farmers in 68 shires in the agricultural areas of Western Australia estimated that on their properties 305,270 acres of land previously cropped or sown to pasture had become salt affected. Of this total, 59,203 acres had gone salt in the seven years immediately before the survey.

Agriculture In The Lakes District : Report Of A Survey Of Farm Practices, A W. Hogstrom

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

At the request of the Central South Zone Development Committee a survey which covered 58 farms in the Lakes District was carried out by officers of the Department of Agriculture. Field work for the survey started in 1961.

The Lakes District supports about 70 holdings adjoining a chain of salt lakes to the east of Newdegate and Hyden but west of the No. 1 Rabbit Proof Fence.

The chain of lakes is about 70 miles long running in a N.N.W. to S.S.E. direction. The lakes are O'Connor, Carmody, Hurlstone, Varley, Gulson, Fox, Camm, King, and Pal lamp.

Pigs Have A Place In The Dairying Areas, P Mcnamara

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

Pig-keeping could become a much more important feature on South-West dairy farms in the future with the enterprise as a definite farm-unit having a considerable effect on income.

There are indications also that the collection of bulk skim milk and whey for pig feeding will increase in the future. This could make way for the efficient specialist operating large pig raising units close to the source of supply.

In this article. Pig Husbandry Adviser P. McNamara, B.A. (Cantab.) examines pig-keeping in the South-West and makes suggestions on the part that pigs can play on the modem dairy farm.

Take-All Of Wheat On The Esperance Downs : The Effect Of Multiple Cropping, S C. Chambers

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

A considerable increase in take-all occurred in the second crop of wheat following linseed, oats or vetches at the Esperance Downs Research Station.

THE take-all disease of wheat, caused by the fungus Ophiobolus graminis, has been responsible for many crop failures in the Esperance district during the past 15 years.

In an endeavour to find a practical solution to this problem, a crop rotation experiment was started in 1961 at the Esperance Downs Research Station.

Hints On Sampling Premium Wheat Crops, J A. Parish

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

EACH year much of the premium wheat received by millers is inferior in quality to the samples on which the premium bids are based. This often leads to reduction in the premium paid.

Cereal Products Adviser J. Parish, B.Sc. (Agric), describes how samples can overestimate the quality of a crop and suggests methods of taking samples which will give a true estimate of crop quality.

Cereal Variety Trials, 1961-62, J T. Reeves

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

DURING the 1961-62 season cereal variety trials were sown at eight research stations in the medium and low rainfall areas of Western Australia.

The 1964 Ord River Cotton Crop, G D. Oliver, A. W. Hogstrom

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

IN November-December, 1963, the first five farmers allocated land in the Ord River Irrigation Area planted their first crop of cotton, which is expected to be the major crop grown in the area.

The crop was harvested in May-June, 1964, and has since been sold.

List Of Registered Fertilisers : 1962/63, H G. Cariss

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

IN accordance with the provisions of the Fertilisers Act, 1928-1955, it is required that—with the exception of bulk sales to a manufacturer and those made in accordance with the buyer's written prescription—all fertilisers sold must be registered annually.

The registration year is from November 1 to October 31 in the following year. The list of fertilisers registered for the year commencing November 1, 1962 is set out in the following tables.

Deep Sowing Of Wheat : The Effect On Root Systems, S C. Chambers

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

DEEP sowing appears to be an important cause of poor emergence in wheat and care should be taken to seed at the recommended depth of 1 to 1J inches.

Nevertheless some growers in drought liable areas, persist in sowing at 2 to 3 inches in the belief that it will encourage a deep root system.

Wild Oats In Wheat, J G. Paterson

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

Trials with a new chemical suggest that economical control of wild oats in wheat is only possible in heavily infested crops.

I N recent years there has been a marked increase in the incidence of wild oats in the wheat areas of this State. Three factors have been responsible.

Agriculture In Western Australia, A W. Hogstrom

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

A review of the development of agriculture in Western Australia with an outline of the distribution and importance of present agricultural and pastoral enterprises.

WESTERN Australia's economy has always been largely dominated by its pastoral and agricultural activities.

For short periods gold has given greater annual returns than the products of farms and stations, but these periods have never been very long.

Only in recent years has the value of factory production equalled that of our stations and farms.

A New Economics Research Centre. John Thomson Agricultural Economics Centre At The Institute Of Agriculture, University Of Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

A NEW research unit has been established at the University of Western Australia's Institute of Agriculture to study the economic aspects of agricultural problems in Western Australia.

Ewe Nutrition Before And During Mating, H E. Fels

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

Lambing percentages depend partly on the condition of ewes at mating. If it is practicable, ewes should be allowed to gain condition in the months before mating.

Where this is not practical and ewes are in a store or backward-store condition at mating, flushing should improve their fertility.

Weaner Feeding Practices Need Review, W L. Mcgarry, R. J. Lightfoot

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

Many fanners feed large amounts of grain to their weaners over summer and autumn, in the belief that this is necessary for high lifetime production.

The economics of this are open to doubt; in fact, the results of a recent experiment at Wongan Hills Research Station suggested that weaner feeding practices need review.