Agricultural Economics Commons^™

Production Of High-Value Wheats : One Sustainable Answer To The Cost:Price Squeeze, Wal Anderson, Alan Peggs, Doug Sawkins

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

Farmers and scientists alike over the past decade have sought to address the declining terms of farm trade (the cost.price squeeze) by increasing wheat yields in ways that will ensure both their economic and ecological survival. Nevertheless, costs have continued to increase as a proportion of the value of the product.

Many farmers have increased their wheat yields substantially and the industry as a whole is more conscious of the quality of its product.

Over the past 10 years or more there has been intense interest in, and considerable adoption of. conservation farming techniques such as minimum tillage, residue retention, …

Progress Toward Eradication Of Virulent Footrot, Bob Mitchell

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

Western Australia is well placed to eradicate virulent footrot from the State's sheep and goat populations.

Between 1950 and 1993 the proportion of sheep flocks with footrot fell from about 15 per cent to less than 2 percent, and the 1990-92 outbreak has been turned around. One hundred and eighty properties (]. 7 per cent) of flocks, mostly in the high rainfall South-West, are in quarantine for footrot today.

This high level of footrot control is the result of strong support from the sheep industry and years of good cooperation between farmers and the Department of Agriculture.

Western Australia leads …

Bulletin No 4247 - Introduction To Commercial Mushroom Growing, Margaret Graham

Bulletins 4000 -

No abstract provided.

Landman Development And Evaluation In The Wallatin Creek Catchment - Final Report, Alan Hawkins

Natural resources published reports

The aim of the project was to evaluate and further develop the Landman farm planning procedure. The Wallatin creek catchment in the Kellerberrin shire of Western Australia was selected. This catchment is typical of a large area of the wheatbelt of Western Australia.

The landman farm planning procedure has a goal of sustainable farming. The outcome of the procedure is farm layout and farm management plans. The procedure however has components of personal development, technology transfer and development of problem solving skills at both individual and group levels. The process steps are; definition of objectives, collection of information, problem or …

Influence Of Water Supply On Farm Productivity In The North-Eastern Wheatbelt, E J. Hauck

Resource management technical reports

In the area with reliable reticulated water supplies, average what yield, average wool production and average number of sheep per pastured hectare showed a positive correlation with annual rainfall in all but one year. By contrast, in the area served by on-farm water supplies only, average wheat yield and annual rainfall were strongly correlated, whereas average wool production and average number of sheep per pastured hectare showed a weaker correlation with annual rainfall. These correlations suggest tt on farms with a reliable water supply, livestock numbers have been adjusted annually to ensure optimum utilisation of available feed in all seasons.

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 …

Miscellaneous Publication 17/91 - Mudas - Model Of An Uncertain Dryland Agricultural System: A Description, R. S. Kingwell, A. D. Bathgate

Farm Systems and Economics research reports

In the early 1980s, the Department of Agriculture developed a mixed integer whole-farm mathematical programming model of the dryland farming system in the eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia (Morrison et al. 1986). The model named MIDAS (Model of an Integrated Dryland Agricultural System) was constructed, tested and scrutinised by a multi-disciplinary team of researchers, advisers, farm management consultants and farmers (Kingwell 1987a). The model described in some detail the biology and finances of the dryland farming system in an average season and calculated profit-maximising farm plans.

MIDAS remains an often used tool in research and extension, being applied to many …

Bulletin No 4189 - Training And Care Of The Sheep-Dog, John Charlick, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

A well trained sheep-dog is a considerable asset to a farmer — in a recent Queensland Department of Primary Industries study, participating graziers estimated the value of a good working dog to be up to $20,000 a year.

Despite their value, dogs can be maintained cheaply. The Queensland study quoted $130 a year as the most any grazier spent on an individual dog — for dry food, vaccine and treatments for internal and external parasites.

This Bulletin aims to show how to train a sheep-dog from a raw pup to a highly useful and well trained, mature dog. The methods …

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.

Miscellaneous Publication 33/91 - Markets For Western Australian Beef, Alan Peggs

Animal production and livestock published reports

In 1990/91 the Western Australian beef industry generated close to $172 million and was the State's third largest rural industry.

As at 31 March this year the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates the State's cattle herd at 1,651,000 head of which 108,000 head are dairy cattle. Of the beef cattle 832,000 are located in the agricultural area and 819,000 in the pastoral area.

The principal market for Western Australian beef is the domestic market. This market consumes around 65 per cent of the State's annual production. Export markets use close to 35 per cent with the principal markets being the …

Deep Tillage : Keep An Eye On Costs As Well As Yields, Amir Abadi, Andrew Bathgate

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

Deep tillage overcomes compaction of sandy soils caused by movement of heavy machinery. Many experiments since 1981 have shown cereal yields improve as a result of deep tillage. However, the increased yield does not necessarily mean more profit when costs are taken into account. To determine the profitability of deep tillage farmers must consider its impact on other farm operations. A whole-farm analysis is needed to accurately determine the increase in profit resulting from deep tillage

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.

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

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

Miscellaneous Publication 36/90 - Western Australian Beef Industry - Background, Alan Peggs

Animal production and livestock published reports

The Western Australian beef industry is poised to expand production in response to improved export opportunities in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

There are a number of beef processors and exporters with substantial experience in exporting beef to international markets. These companies can supply a wide range of beef products.

Most beef produced in Western Australia is grass-fed. However, grain-finished beef is produced at certain times of the year.

The beef industry has been in a period of contraction since the "beef price crash" of the mid 1970s. As a result it has come to focus more on domestic market …

Pumps : A Method Of Financially Assessing Groundwater Pumping Used To Mitigate Salinity In South-Western Australia, Richard J. George Dr

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Economics Of Interceptor Drains : A Case Study, Andrew Bathgate, Ian Evans

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

This case study determines the most likely rate of return to capital invested in constructing seepage interceptor drains to reduce the effect of waterlogging on crop and pasture yields. The analysis of a farm in the Denbarker region, west of Albany, determined what increases were needed in pasture growth to justify the cost of constructing drains across four adjacent paddocks. The benefits of changing rotations to include lupins were also determined, as growing lupins was unprofitable before the construction of drains.

Bulletin No 4158 - Western Australian Beef Industry - Economic Constraints And Future Market Outlook, Alan Peggs

Bulletins 4000 -

Since the mid 1970s there has been a substantial decline in cattle numbers in Western Australia. Most of this decline has occurred in the agricultural areas.

Much of the decline in cattle numbers can be attributed to low real cattle prices.

As a result of the fall in cattle numbers beef production has also fallen. However, the percentage fall in production has been somewhat less than the percentage decline in numbers due to a rise in the average carcass weight of animals slaughtered.

With declining beef production the amount of beef available for export has also declined. Similarly domestic consumption …

The Benefits Of Weaning Cattle In The Kimberley, David Pratchett, Stuart Young

Animal production and livestock research reports

The Kimberley region was populated with Shorthorn cattle from Queensland and New Sonth Wales in the 1880's. The descendants of these cattle known as Kimberley Shorthorn are still the predominant breed in the region. The relatively poor performance of these cattle under the harsh Kimberley conditions and the fact that changing the genotype can improve productivity was recently published (Pratchett D. WADA Journal No. 4 1988)

While the adoption of Bos indicus breeds is the correct move, improved husbandry can also increase the productivity of the Kimberley Shorthorn cow. The majority of cattle in the Kimberley are not weaned. Sometimes …

Bulletin 4152 - Sheep In Western Australia, R J. Suiter

Bulletins 4000 -

Western Australia's sheep industry started in the early 1830s when the first flock-owners grazed their sheep on extensive areas of native vegetation, often by shepherding on unfenced country. Later, farm flocks built up as settlers cleared and fenced land for cultivation, and 'pastoral' or 'station' sheep were confined to fenced areas of native vegetation, leased from the Government.

By 1900, more than 75 per cent of Western Australia's sheep were still classed as 'pastoral', but by 1987/88, the pastoral areas carried only 2 million of the 34.1 million State flock.

Today, many former sheep stations carry cattle, which survive better …

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 …

Finishing Kimberley Cattle In The South-West, Brian L. Mcintyre, Bill Ryan, Neville Macintyre

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

The idea of integrating the Kimberley cattle industry with that in the south-west of Western Australia is no new, but until recently it had not been critically evaluated.

Over the past eight years the Department of Agriculture's Beef Cattle Branch has been assessing the performance of Kimberley cattle transported south for finishing in the agricultural areas.

This research has show that Kimberley weaners can be finished in the south, and that under the present (December 1988) economic conditions it is more profitable than running breeding cattle in the south-west and comparable with fattening store steers.

Prospects For Leucaena On The Ord, D Pratchett, Tim Triglone

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

For the past few years, the Department of Agriculture has been fattening cattle on the forage shrub leucaena which is grown under irrigation with pangola grass. About 400ha of leucaena is under commercial production in the Kimberley.

Cattle grazing leucaena show promising growth rates but other problems need to be overcome before its use is more widely adopted. Leucaena establishes slowly. It is also costly to transport fattened cattle to southern abbatoirs.

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 …

An Inventory And Condition Survey Of Rangelands In The Ashburton River Catchment, Western Australia, A A. Mitchell, A L. Payne, W F. Holman

Technical Bulletins

The inventory and condition survey of rangelands in the Ashburton River catchment, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) between 1976 and 1978, describes and maps the natural resources of the region’s pastoral leasehold land. This survey report provides a baseline record of the existence and condition of the natural area’s resources, to assist with the planning and implementation of land management practices. The report identified and described the condition of soils, landforms, vegetation, habitat, ecosystems, and declared plants and animals. It also assessed the impact of pastoralism and made land management recommendations. The area surveyed …

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 …

An Inventory And Condition Survey Of Rangelands In The Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia, A L. Payne, G F. Spencer, P J. Curry

Technical Bulletins

The inventory and condition survey of rangelands in the Carnarvon Basin, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) between 1980 and 1982, describes and maps the natural resources of the region’s pastoral leasehold land. This survey report provides a baseline record of the existence and condition of the natural area’s resources, to assist with the planning and implementation of land management practices. The report identified and described the condition of soils, landforms, vegetation, habitat, ecosystems, and declared plants and animals. It also assessed the impact of pastoralism and made land management recommendations. The area surveyed covers …

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. …

Banks : A Method Of Financially Assessing Banks Used To Mitigate Water Erosion In South-Western Australia, John S. Salerian, D J. Mcfarlane

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.