Plant Sciences Commons^™

Testing The Efficiency Of Broadacre Farms, Ben Henderson, Ross Kingwell

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

A study of 93 broadacre farms has revealed that most farms display high levels of technical efficiency. On average, technical efficiency is improving, although a small proportion of farms remain relatively inefficient due to a number of factors.

Ecological Sustainability For Pastoral Management, Hugh Pringle, Ken Tinley

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

Pastoralists and rangeland bureaucracies are now required to operate within the limits of ecological sustainability. However, while the concept of ecological sustainability has been enshrined in law and policy at State and Commonwealth levels in Australia, there has been little translation into pastoral management objectives. The introduction of the 'EMU (Ecosystem Management Unit) process', as an equal partnership between ecologists and pastoralists, promises to bring pastoralists into close dialogue with the landscapes they manage on their stations, and to acknowledge and manage for values other than pasture production. In doing so, pastoralists are likely to increase production, reduce costs, and …

Bugs By The Million For Medfly Eradication, Bill Woods

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

As a first step towards nation-wide eradication of Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly), a pilot project was undertaken in Broome using Sterile Insect Technique in an attempt to eradication the Medfly population. The results have been promising, and further investigation of eradication for Western Australia is underway.

Improving Irrigation For Ord Sugar Cane, Jim Engelke, Joe Sherrard, Gae Plunkett, Tim Triglone

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

Major changes are underway in irrigation practices for the Ord sugar industry as it moves to implement recent findings on improving irrigation efficiency and managing rising groundwater. Significant improvement in efficiency is expected by more accurately matching water application with crop water requirements and by minimising drainage losses through improved water application techniques.

Based on findings from this work, drying off may not be an appropriate strategy for the ORIA as a means of improving crop sucrose content, but could allow for some reduction in water use towards the end of the crop cycle without adversely impacting on sucrose yield. …

Raised Beds Prevent Waterlogging And Increase Productivity, Greg Hamilton, Derk Bakker, David Houlebrook, Cliff Spann

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

Permanent Raised Beds are proving to be a revolutionary means of preventing waterlogging and a substantially increasing the productivity of wet and poorly productive land in Western Australia. In just three years, a research project has seen significant improvements in yield and reductions in waterlogging.

Improving Feed Grains, Bruce P. Mullan

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

Clearly, to encourage grain growers to focus their production systems towards feed grains, it is important to first identify the reasons for variation in the nutritional value of grains and then to develop rapid, cheap, and accurate methods of measuring these factors. The analytical methods should ideally be suitable for application either at the site of grain delivery from the farm or within the place of stockfeed manufacture. This will mean the nutritional value of the grain can be known before it is used. The rational marketing of feed grains could then be achieved, with the benefits from more efficient …

Managing Lupin Anthracnose, Greg Shea, W A. Cowling, B J. Burchell, D Luckett, H Yang, Mark W. Sweetingham, Geoff J. Thomas

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

Anthracnose in lupins was first reported in commercial crops in Western Australia in September 1996. By October 1996, several thousand lupin breeding lines and wild types of 11 lupin species were sown in New Zealand for resistance screening. In 1997, resistance to anthracnose was confirmed in several breeding fines and commercial cultivars of narrow-leafed lupins (I. angustifolius), landraces of albus lupins (I. albus) and wild types of several other lupin species. Important information on critical seed infection levels and fungicide seed treatment has also been determined.

Accelerating Variety Release With Double Haploids, Sue Broughton

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

The use of plant tissue culture to produce special lines called doubled haploids is reducing the time taken to breed new varieties of cereal crops by up to three years. Sue Broughton outlines what doubled haploids are, how they are produced, and why they have been able to short circuit the usual lengthy breeding process.

Transgenic Cotton Research Paves The Way For A New Industry In The Kimberley, Geoff Strickland, Amanda Annells

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

The use of transgenic cotton varieties (INGARD®) in conjunction with t_x integrated pest management (IPM) systems in the Kimberley region is producing excellent yield and quality prospects for an emerging cotton industry in Western Australia. Geoff Strickland and Amanda Annells report on the value of transgenic cotton and the additional benefits being gained from the use of multi-faceted IPM systems.

Carrot Export Growth Depends On Keeping Cavity Spot Under Control, Allan Mckay, Elaine Davison

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

Cavity spot is the most serious disease affecting carrot production in Ly Western Australia. With carrots now being the State's most important horticultural export, Agriculture Western Australia has undertaken extensive research to ensure the export market continues to grow.

Clubroot, Rachel Lancaster, Caroline Donald, Ian Porter

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

Rachel Lancaster, Caroline Donald and Ian Palmer, outline some control measures for clubroot, one of the most serious diseases of crucifers world wide.

Success With Serradella In The Wheatbelt, Clinton Revell, Bradley Nutt, Michael Ewing

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

Clinton Revell, Bradley Nutt, and Michael Ewing review the latest developments with new varieties of French serradella and yellow seradella that should provide the basis for productive legume pastures on acidic, sandy soils throughout the wheatbelt of Western Australia

Trees Working In Western Australia, Dave Berry

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

There is an air of inevirability about farm forestry - no-one disputs that planting trees is a sure route to curbing agriculture's serious land degredation problem. Dave Berry talks with some of the key players developing the industry.

Durum Wheat : A Potential New Crop For Western Australia, Alfredo Impiglia, Wal Anderson

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

The export orientation of our grains industries and the current favourable position of durum wheat in the world trade make this an opportune time to examine the propsects for durum wheat in Western Australia. Alfredo Impiglia and Wal Anderson summarise the known requirements for consistant production of high quality durum that will lead to the establshment of a new industry in Western Australia.

Defusing The Salt Time Bomb, David Berry

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

Practical adviser to famers about managing salt affected soils on their property.

Bean Yellow Mosiac Virus In Lupins, Roger Jones

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

Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) is a threat to lupin crops in high rainfall areas of south-western Australia, particularly in districts where subterranean clover pastures are prevalent. The disease causes markedly reduced grain yield in all types of lupins. Worldwide this is the most important virus affecting lupins. The author outlines the symptoms, spread and management of this serious disease.

Promising Pasture Plants From Overseas, John Lawson

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

Farmers from Northampton to Albany were among the 00 visitors to a spring field day at Agriculture Western Austrslis's Medina Research Station, where they saw a collection of promising new and different pasture legumes. These were the products of a highly succesful selection and breeding program based mainly on material collected overseas.

John Lawson highlights the overseas collection aspects of an exciting and rewarding program.

Weeds Can Poison Crops, Aik Hock Cheam

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

Weeds can interfere with the growth of a crop simply by competing with the crop for nutrients, moisture and light. But some weeds also release chemicals that inhibit the germination and growth of crop plants; the technical term for this is allelopathy. Aik Cheam outlines the problems caused by two common weeds and the discusses preventative measures.

No-Till Sowing : Helping To Keep Cropland Soils In Place, Kevin Bligh, Paul Findlater

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

Repeated erosion of tilled land can ;ower crop and pasture yields because of reduced available moisture and nutrient storage. Kevin Bligh and Paul Findlater look at the causes of water and wind erosion and the role of no-till sowing in minimising erosion.

Cotton Rising From The Ashes, Georgina Wilson

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

Two hundred thousand dollars worth of quality cotton was deliberately destroyed by burning in the Kimberley last December. The same thing will probably happen again this year, but there will ne no cries of arson and police will not be seeking the perpetrators. Georgina Wilson reports on the emerging cotton industry on the Ord.

Options For Pest Management In Pastures, Phil Michael, Mike Grimm, Mike Hyder, Peter Doyle

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

Redlegged eath mit, blue oat ite, lucern flea and aphids damage pastures across southern Australia, and it has been estimated that they cause annual losses to the Australian wool industry alone of over $200 million.

Redlegged earth mite is without doubt the most serious of the four pests. Peter DoPhil Michael, Mike Grimm, Mike Hyder and Peter Doyle discuss intergrated management options to control these pests.

Positive Price Outlook For Wheat : Implications For Wa Agriculture, Alan Haagensen, Ian Wilkinson

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

After a 40 year period over which wheat prices have dropped by an average of 2.7 per cent annually in real terms, fundamental changes in wheat supply and demand look set to reverse this trend. It is possible that real prices could increase by as much as 4 per cent anually in the medium term.

Alan Haagensen and Ian Wilkinson look at the forecasts for wheat prices and outline the forces that will influence world supply and demands for wheat.

Skeleton Weed : The Current Situation, Peter Scott, Jon Dodd

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

Skeleton weed is a major threat to western Australia's grain industry. This weed established itself throughout the entire eastern States wheatbelt in just over 50 years and is now found from south-east Queensland to South Australia. It was first founs in Western Australia at Ballidu in 1963, and since that time has been the subject of an ongoing and intensive eradication campaign. Peter Scott and Jon Dodd report on the present status of skeleton weed in Western Australia and outline the progress to date and future directions of the eradication campaign.

Western Flower Thrips, David Cook, Ian Dadour, Ernie Steiner, Brett Scourse

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

Western flower thrips (Franklinislla occidentalis Pergands) is a serious pest of floral and vegetable crops. From its original habitat in western USA it has now spread throughout North America, Mexico, New Zealand and Europe. David Cook, Ian Dadour, Ernis Steiner and Brett Scourse outline its biology and the control options available.

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus And Its Management, Lindrea Latham, Roger Jones

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

In 1993, western flower thrips, an important pest of horticultural crops, was found in Western Australia. Since then there has been an upsurge in damsging virus disease epidemics caused by tomato spotter wilt virus in horticultural crops. This has occurred because western flower thrips is a more effective vector of tomato spotted wilt virus than other thrips species. Lindrea Latham and Roger Jones outline the symptoms, spread and management of this serious virus disease in vegetables and ornamentals.

Improving Dairy Farm Performance, Ruth Dilley

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

Western Austraian sairy farmers produce more milk per cow and per farm than their eastern Sttates counterparts and the milk is also of higher quality. But there is always room for improvement and as grain prices rise it is crucial that maximum benefit is derived from the cheapest feed source - the pasture.With this in mind Ruth Dilley looks at the Dairy Farm Performance Program - a comprihensive farm database developed by Agriculture Western Australia.

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.

Wiping Out Tall Weeds, Brad Rayner

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

Control of weeds is an on-going battle for farmers, with many weapons becoming increasingly expensive. A refreshing exception to this trend is the blanket wiper, a cheap but effective meens of applying herbicides to taller weeds in pasture. Brad Rayner explains how it works.

Canola : Golden Oil For Farmers And Consumers, Paul Carmody

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

It is feasible that canola could become Western Australia's fourth largest crop after wheat, barley and lupins by the turn of the century.

Without the stigma attached to its parent crop, rapeseed, canola has also become one of the most successful international agricultural product launches, proving itself not only a useful cropping alternative but a healthy oil for consumers. State Oilseeds Adviser PAUL CARMODY sets the scene.

Planting Seeds For A Sound Future, Peter Portmann

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

Royalties have been collected sales of all new crop varieties released in We tern ustralia by the Department of Agriculture since the lease of Merrit lupins and Yilgarn oats in 1991.

Many questions have been raised by farmers about these royalties. Why pay royalties when we have already paid for the development of the varieties through our Grains Research end: Development Corporation levy? Why should we pay a Jevy if it - is just going back into Government revenue? Is there any real benefit to us?