Agricultural Economics Commons^™

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.

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.

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

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

The highest yielding varieties in the 1965 barley variety trials were the two-row crossbred A l l , the white grained six-row varieties Arivat, Gem and Glacier and the recently-named two-row variety Dampier (previously known as W45).

Which Cereal Gives The Best Return?, H M. Fisher

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

IN 1966 farmers in the cereal areas of Western Australia sowed approximately 6.5 million acres of wheat, 1.2 million acres of oats, and 0.4 million acres of barley (mainly six-row).

The extent to which these cereals were grown in the various statistical divisions of the State, together with the average yields is summarised in the Table below.

Varieties And Time Of Sowing, H M. Fisher

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

THE extent to which seasonal conditions favour the various stages of plant development has a marked effect on cereal yields. Because varieties differ in their development they react in different ways to a particular seasonal pattern.

Cereal Yield Tests In 1966, H M. Fisher

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

FARMER'S main guide in his choice of a cereal variety is its capacity to produce high overall yields of saleable grain over many years in a particular district.

Recommended Cereal Varieties, 1967, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE wheat varieties Claymore, Gabo and Wagin have been withdrawn from the list of wheat varieties recommended by the State Wheat Advisory Committee for sowing this season, mainly because of their lower yield performances.

THE varieties Avon, Fulmark, Irwin and Kent are recommended for sowing in 1967 by the Coarse Grains Advisory Committee and the Department of Agriculture. The areas where satisfactory crops of these varieties can be grown are given in the map and table.

THE varieties Prior and Beecher are again recommended for sowing in 1967 by the Coarse Grains Advisory Committee and the Department of Agriculture.

Warning : Another Dangerous Webworm Season Possible, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Heavy webworm moth flights in most wheat-growing areas during April, and favourable conditions early in the season, have made this year a potentially hazardous one for webworm infestations in cereal crops.

Agriculture In Western Australia : Past, Present And Future, A W. Hogstrom

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

THE post war period has seen very rapid growth and changes in the agriculture of Western Australia.

Almost every industry and region of the State has contributed to the growth of rural production which in turn has been responsible for much of the development in other sectors of the economy.

Good Management For The Springers Pays Dividends, J Y. Langdon

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

This article gives a striking example of the advantages of calving cows in good and rising condition—and explains why condition around calving time is so important.

ALTHOUGH most farmers know that cows calving in good and improving condition will give higher yields than those calving in poor condition, few use this knowledge to improve the production from their cows.

Stocking Rates On Cyprus Barrel Medic In The Northern Wheatbelt, R J. Parkin

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

IN May 1963, some three weeks after germination, a 4th year stand of Cyprus barrel medic was stocked with Merino wethers.

These same sheep are still grazing the area after three years.

Sheep Or Beef Cattle?, G D. Oliver

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

THE present sustained high meat prices and the moderately low wool prices have caused many farmers to think again about the relative profitability of sheep and beef cattle.

With synthetic fibres continuing to threaten the wool price a changeover from sheep to beef cattle must be seriously exercising the minds of many woolgrowers.

Classing Your Own Clip, J Reilly

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

One of the most important activities in the Australian wool industry is the preparation of the clip for sale.

Many growers class their own clips and due to this practice they can reduce production costs.

Some Recent Developments In The Apple Industry In Western Australia, H R. Powell

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

IN 1940, the total acreage of apples in W.A. was 13,098, made up of 10,359 acres of bearing trees and 2,739 acres of non-bearing trees.

In 1959, the figures were 13,459 acres of total plantings; a bearing area of 10,926 acres and a non-bearing area of 2,533 acres.

Similar figures for 1964 show the plantings as 15,126 acres of total plantings, 10,889 acres of bearing trees and 4,237 acres of trees not yet in bearing.

Beef Cattle And Production In Western Australia, W J O Wilkie

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

IN an article published in the Journal of Agriculture for February, 1963, the growth of the beef cattle population of Western Australia was shown for a number of districts in the State.

More Sheep Per Acre, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

In the late 1950's agricultural scientists in Western Australia became convinced that much of the improved pasture in the agricultural areas of the State was going to waste.

The results of the early trials resulted in many farm demonstrations of higher carrying capacities on improved pastures in southern agricultural areas.

Cereal Variety Testing : A New Approach, H M. Fisher

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

One hundred and twenty large scale trials will be planted at 38 centres in the Department of Agriculture's expanding cereal variety testing programme.

ACCORDING to statistical returns West Australian farmers grow well over 100 varieties of cereals. More than 80 of these are different varieties of wheat.

Only a few varieties are widely grown so one might ask why farmers continue to grow so many of the less popular types.

The obvious answer is that they believe such varieties to be both suitable and profitable for their particular conditions.

Agriculture In Williams-West Arthur : Report Of A Survey Of Farm Practices, A W. Hogstrom

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

THIS article summarises the results of a survey of 81 farms in the Williams and West Arthur Shires, carried out by officers of the Department of Agriculture at the request of the Central South Zone Development Committee.

Field work for the survey started in 1961.

Survey Of Potato Losses In The Field, James P. Fallon

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

A RELATIVELY large proportion of the potatoes grown in Western Australia are below Grade 1 standard.

Some are left in the field at harvest while others are rejected during grading operations.

Baby Beef Production In W.A, D J. Barker

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

BABY beef should be marketed at about 500-600 lb. liveweight at less than 12 months old, and should be in prime condition to be sought after by the trade.

The 1965 Ord River Cotton Crop, G D. Oliver, A. W. Hogstrom

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

THE financial results of 18 cotton growers in the Ord River Valley during the 1965 season were obtained during a survey conducted in August, 1965.

All farmers who have been allocated blocks and who grew cotton in 1965 were included in the survey.*

A History Of The War Service Land Settlement Scheme Western Australia, A, R. Barrett

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

In writing a history of the Western Australian War Service Land Settlement Scheme, it is pertinent to remark that land settlement projects have ever been difficult and, in fact, to date very few have been really successful. However, there has always been the necessity to accede to the desire of returning men to go on the land, also in States such as Western Australia there was and still is the need for further land development. Therefore, when the Commonwealth Government offered to provide the funds for servicemen's rehabilitation on the land the State gladly accepted and agreed to take responsibility …

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.

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.