Agricultural Economics Commons^™

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.

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.

Skim Milk : The Cheapest Pig Feed, P C. Beck

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

BUTTERFAT production has started on most South-West dairy farms, and although pig prices are not high at present, many dairy farmers have either purchased young stock or bred pigs to utilise their surplus skim milk.

Skim milk is the best feed for pigs on the dairy farm. Properly used in conjunction with other feeds it produces high quality carcasses at minimum cost.

Cull Your Dairy Cows On Production, R A. Bettenay

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

Good production and breeding records are essential to allow effective culling of dairy cows, says Busselton Agricultural Adviser R. A. Bettenay, B.Sc. (Agric.) in this article, in which he outlines points to take into account when culling the herd.

Skeleton Weed : A Menace To The Wheat Industry, G R W Meadly

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

If introduced into Western Australia skeleton weed could become a greater problem to the wheat industry in this State than it is in the Eastern States.The risk of introduction is increasing.

Study these illustrations so that you will be able to recognise skeleton weed if you see it; early recognition may mean the difference between eradication and infestation.

List Of Registered Fertilisers For 1962, 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 in the following year. The list of fertilisers registered for the year commencing November 1, 1961, is set out in the following tables.

Pigs On The Dairy Farm : Cutting Costs To Meet Low Prices, R A. Bettenay

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

As all dairy farmers know, the market prices of pigs tends to fluctuate, depending on supply and demand, in a manner which is very hard to predict.

At a time when prices are low there are several things which the dairy farmer can do to continue operating, although at a reduced margin.

Barrel Medics For Eastern Wheatbelt Pastures, D B. Argyle

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

There is a big potential for the use of barrel medic in wheatbelt pastures, and prospects have been further improved by the advent of the early-maturing Cyprus strain.

In this article Merredin Agricultural Adviser D. B. Argyle gives some hints on establishment and management of barrel medic pastures in the eastern wheatbelt.

Much of what he says also applies to other areas; contact your local adviser for further information.

Cotton Growing On The Ord River, N J. Thomson

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

Cotton growing is nearing the commercial stages on the Ord River, with the first farm scale crops now ready to harvest on the Pilot farm, and the Kimberley Research Station.

It is already backed by some years of experimental work at K.R.S., which has provided the background for this article giving the first recommendations on cotton growing for future settlers in the Ord River Irrigation Area.

Root Diseases In Wheat On Clover Ley : Factors Under Investigation. 5. The Evaluation Of Fungicidal Treatments, S C. Chambers

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

The use of fungicides, either as seed or soil dressings, for the control of root rotting diseases of wheat, was examined in a series of field experiments.

Results suggest that seed dressings have no effect on the incidence of root rotting fungi in the mature crop.

When fungicides were applied to the soil, a reduction in the incidence of take-all was noted in one experiment, but the same treatments had toxic effects on plants in a second similar experiment.

Light Lands In Western Australia. 1. History And Future Prospects, F L. Shier

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

BECAUSE of the scattered distribution of light lands of the agricultural areas of Western Australia among the better soils, and their large total area, it is not surprising that attempts to develop these unattractive soils for agriculture started many years ago.