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Weeds : A Curse For Native Plants In Farm Woodlands, Max Abensperg-Traun

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

Weeds have a mJOR IMPct on native Australian plants, particularly in the tropical north and the agricultural regions of southern Australia.

Maz Abensperg-Traun, and his clooeagues from the CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology, explainthe effects of weed invasion on the diversity of native herbaceous plants in faarm woodlands in the centeral wheatbelt of south-west Western Australia.

Virulent Footrot : Mild Or Severe?, Laurie Depiazzi

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

The footrot eradication scheme in Western Australia has resulted in a low prevalence of severe footrot.

To appreciate the achievement, we need to understand what exactly is being eradicated. 'S' strains of Dichelorbacter nodosus, the infectious bacterium of footrot, are the target of footrot eradication. Laurie Depiazzi examines the basis for eradicating 'S' strains.

Test Detects Resistant Green Peach Aphids In Lupins, Francoise Berlandier, Ian Dadour

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

Confirmation of insecticide resistance in green peach aphid in Western Australia's lupin crops means farmers will have to choose insecticides much more carefully to control this pest. Resistance within an aphid population varies, and when resistant aphids are no longer exposed to insecticides, they may revert back to being susceptible in as little as one generation. Furthermore, when these revertant populations are exposed to the same insecticides in the future, resistance quickly reoccurs. In this article, the authors discuss a test to determine the extent of insecticide resistance in green peach aphid and how to manage it.

Australian Genetic Resources Of Trifolium And Ornithopus Species, Richard Snowball, Kevin Foster, Bill Collins

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

The introduction of improved pasture legumes into the cereal growing areas of southern Australia changed the face of our agricultural systems.

Subterranean clover was the first pasture legume to have a major impact, and the first varieties were available commercially in the 1930s. Since then, many varieties have been released, leading to the most recent release of Denmark, Gou/bum and Leura in 1992.

The development of burr, barrel and murex medics also had an impact on the pasture production of less acid heavy soils. Yellow serradella is still being developed for the more acid sandy soils.

This development of improved …

On The Trail Of The Native Budworm, Kevin Walden

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

Native budworm, the worst pest of lupins, is a bit of a uiill-o-the-unsp. Some years the native budworm moths go virtually unnoticed. In others, they appear in plague proportions without warning - in these years, the cost to growers in lost yield runs into millions of dollars.

If an early warning system can be developed to predict the extent of moth flights into lupin crops, and this seems possible, major crop losses could be averted.

The Department of Agriculture has started research to develop a system of predicting the size of spring flights of native budworm moth. We need to …

Wildlife Corridors In The Wheatbelt, Richard Hobbs, Denis Saunders

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

Native vegetation in the Western Australian wheatbelt now persists mostly in small areas that remained uncleared for various reasons. (See 'Remnant vegetation on farms is a valuable resource' on page 43.) On their own, most of these remnant areas are difficult to manage, and too small to retain viable populations of many of the birds and other animals found in the wheatbelt. These patches of vegetation can be linked by wildlife corridors, which may increase the ability of the wildlife to move about and persist in the area

Biological Control Of Paterson's Curse, John Dodd, Bill Woods

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

The long- delayed biological control programme for the weed Paterson's curse (Echium plantagineum) has begun with the release of the leaf mining moth (Dialectica scalariella)' an insect slightly bigger than a mosquito. Yhe caterpillar stage of the moth feeds inside the leaves, producing tunnels and chambers which damage the leaf.

The leaf mining moth has already become established in suitable areas. Although the familiar purple haze of Paterson's curse will continue to be seen for years to come, we expect that the leaf mining moth - and other agents yet to be released - will make it a more manageable …

Reproductive Wastage In Sheep, R W. Kelly

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

The average lambing performance of Western Australia's ewe flock fluctuates between 60 and 70 per cent. Although this level of performance and variation between years is important for the sheep industry, individual farmers are more concerned about performance of their own flocks.

Figure shows the range in lambing performances that exist between farms in this State in 1983-84. The seriously poor performance of many flocks is apparentm - 28 percent of farms had less than 60 per cent lambing. By contrast, 24 farms had performances better than 100 per cent. The reasons for the large differences between farms ( and …

A Survey Of Drench Resistance In Sheep Worms, J R. Edwards, R. Wroth, G. C. De Chaneet, R. B. Besier, J. Karlsson, P. W. Morcombe, D. Roberts, G. Dalton-Morgan

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

Sheep worms which are resistant to chemical drenches have been detected with increasing freuency is Western Australia's south-western farming areas between 977 and 1980. These worms have anthelmintic resistance and such genetis resistance puts essential internal parasite control practices at risk.

This prompted veterinarians in the Esperance, Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton and Northam areas to survey farms to determine the prevalence of resistance to drenches and to define those sheep management practices which encourage its development.

This article describes the survey which was conducted to assess the extent of drench resistance, what causes its build-up and how it can be controlled …

Rabbit Kitten Survival In The South-West, D R. King

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

In the South-West of Western Australis reliable winter rains allow the rabbit breeding season to extend through winter and spring, and thus a large number of kittens are produced each year.

Studies on the biology of rabbits at Cape Naturaliste (270 kilometres south-west of Perth) and Chidlow (40 kilometres east of Perth in the Datling Range) have shown that at these sites each doe produces about 30 and 27 kittens respectively a year. If all these youg rabbits survived, there would be a 15-fold increase in numbers. Within a short time the State would be covered "wall to wall" by …

Rabbits North Of Carnarvon, D R. King

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

In Westeern Australia rabbits are mainly a pest along the south-western coastal parts of the State, but there are populations north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Rabbits after crossing the Nullarbour plain from South Australia and colonising the South-West of the State, were reported to have reached the west coast near Geraldton by 1912 and then spread northwards.

There is little information on the biologhy of rabbits in the northan parts of their range, but pastoralists in some areas are concerned about erosion and damage to vegetation on their stations when rabbits reach high numbers.

The Agricultural Protection Board undertook …

Keeping Starlings Out Of W.A, John L. Long

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

In Europe and North America huge flocks of starlings cause millions of dollars worth of damage to grain and fruit crops each year and large sums of money are spent trying to control them.

Starlings were introduced into australia in the late 1890s when more than 200 birds were released near Melbourne. They are now well established over much of eastern Australia, ranging from central Queensland, south to Tasmania and along the Great Australian Bight to the South Australian-Western Australian border, occasionally crossing it and sometimes moving as far west as the Esperance region on the south coast.

Some people …

The Place For Annual Brome Grass, G W. Anderson

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

Grasses in the anual pastures of southern Australia are particularly important early in the growing season.

The main grass sown, has been annual rygrass, but concerns are emerging with 'annual ryegrass toxicity' and and 'in crop' competition.

This work looks at the role of annual brome grass in pastures.

Learning To Live With Spotted Alfalfa Aphid, M Grimm

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

The spotted alfalfa aphid which can devastate lucerne crops and perhaps also medic pastures, has been established in Western Australia since early 1978. However several methods of control are being developed, which could allow continued production of lucerne.

Biological Control Of Insects On The Ord. 1. Production Of Sitotroga Cerealella For Mass Rearing Of Trichogramma Wasps, M Grimm, P. J. T. Lawrence

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

Department of Agriculture entomologists have developed a technique for the production and collection of eggs of the Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella) for mass-rearing the parasitic waspTrichogramma pretiosum Riley.

Trichogramma is giving promising results in trials aimed at developing biological control of insect pests in the Ord River Irrigation Area.

Biological Control Of Heliothis In Sorghum, P J. Michael

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

This research looks at Biological control of Heiiothis in sorghum, a preliminary report.

Planting And Care Of Trees In The Wheatbelt, F Batini

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

THE climate of South Western Australia includes a long summer drought which subjects trees to considerable moisture stress.

Shade trees and shelter belts can be established successfully in the wheatbelt without hand watering, provided a suitable site and variety of tree is selected and a little time is spent in site preparation and care of the young tree.

This article, which is adapted from a Forests Department publication "Catalogue of Trees for growing under Western Australian conditions", sets out the best varieties of trees and establishment methods.

Mating Weaners Does Not Affect Future Ewe Performance, R J. Suiter, K. P. Croker

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

Maiden ewes in Western Australia are usually mated in their second year because of supposed ill-effects of earlier mating on the ewe's future production. Mating at a younger age however, providing there was no reduction in future performance, would provide for an extra lamb drop and thus increase the lifetime output of ewes.

Information from various sources indicated that weaners could be successfully mated providing their bodyweights were satisfactory. This trial was carried out to test the results of mating weaners under Western Australian conditions.

Control Of Weeds In Garden Areas, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

THE present-day gardener does not appear to relish the tedious job of removing weeds by hand. It is a never-ending task and no sooner is one germination controlled than another appears.

Modern herbicides provide a ready answer for overcoming the weed problem in the home garden, but it is essential to select the correct chemical and to understand its limitations.

Ninth Random Sample Laying Test, 1965-66, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

NINTH RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST, 1965-66

POULTRY RESEARCH STATION, WEMBLEY

FINAL REPORT TO 500 DAYS

Tenth Random Sample Laying Test, 1966-67 : Cages, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

TENTH RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST, 1966-67 - CAGES

POULTRY RESEARCH STATION, WEMBLEY

SECOND PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 26th FEBRUARY, 1967

Average age of birds 215.5 days or 30 weeks and 6 days.

Special Field Days For Merino Breeders, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

More than 200 Merino stud breeders attended special stud breeding and fertility field days arranged for them by the Department of Agriculture recently.

Breeders attending represented some 40 per cent of the State's Merino studs.

Department Of Agriculture Services : The Botany Branch And The W.A. Herbarium, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

ALTHOUGH the flora of Western Australia strongly attracted early botanists and collectors, it was virtually neglected by settlers faced with a century or more of hard pioneering.

Only recently has enthusiasm for our remarkable flora developed within the State and, with the formation of sponsoring societies and the establishment of the Kings Park Botanic Gardens, native species have become popular in home and civic gardens.

Ornamental Trees For The Farm Garden, P Luff

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

THE need for trees in the farm garden is being realized by many people.

Trees around the homestead are required to give such features as shade, colour, fragrance and many other advantages to generally make an area more livable.

Besides these advantages, trees appear to help smaller plants flourish by increasing the humidity and providing various degrees of shade and sunlight.

Poultry Behaviour As It Affects Management, R H. Morris

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

UNDER natural conditions animals have considerable control over their movements and over their proximity to each other.

Today, however, there is a trend in animal husbandry towards greater intensificaton, and this is most evident in the poultry industry.

Tenth Random Sample Laying Test, 1966-67 : Litter, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

TENTH RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST, 1966-67 - LITTER

POULTRY RESEARCH STATION, WEMBLEY

SECOND PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 26th FEBRUARY,1967

Average age of birds 215.5 days or 30 weeks and 6 days.

An Assessment Of Cattle Husbandry Problems In Western Australia, W J O Wilkie

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

THE science of animal husbandry deals with all those things which affect the welfare and productivity of our domestic animals.

The relative emphasis placed on welfare and productivity depends on whether the animals are kept as pets or for profit.

The Sparrow Invasion Of 1962, C D. Gooding, C. R. Walton

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

During late 1962 and early 1963, a report that sparrows were at large in the metropolitan area close to Perth drew intense public interest.

This article gives some facts about the reported sightings.

The Webworm. 1. The Webworm In Its Natural Environment, J A. Button

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

MANY farmers are concerned about the apparent increase in webworm numbers in recent years.

It has been suggested that the problem is now more widespread and the outbreaks more regular than a few years ago.

Spraying For Grasshopper Control, T J. Tozer

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

A BIG increase in cereal growing in the "hopper" belt has brought a general improvement in the grasshopper situation over the past few years.

This highlights the emphasis entomologists have placed on cultivation as the best known way of controlling grasshoppers.