Agricultural Science Commons^™

Export Carrot Production Capability Study, Dennis Phillips

Horticulture research reports

A survey was conducted by personal interview of nearly 80 per cent of Western Australian export carrot growers to determine the range of business profiles and production practices prevailing in the industry in 1996-97. The study provided significant information which the industry can use to guide future development and to benchmark its performance.

The industry was characterised by a high level of Australian ownership and a healthy mix of family and corporate ownership and vertical integration. Capital investment in production was high, potentially inhibiting new entrants to the industry.

Threats to future industry growth were identified in an ageing management …

Guidelines Of Activities And Costs Of Establishing A Vineyard For Winegrapes, Alex Sas, Roslyn Hanna, Diana Fisher

Viticulture published reports

This document is intended as a starting point for those interested in growing wine grapes and highlights the management techniques, labour requirements, and costs involved with such an enterprise. Budgeting methods are used to determine the profitability of investing in a 10 ha vineyard in the south-west of Western Australia. The document should not be used as a recipe with which to develop a vineyard, but rather as a guide.

Establishing a vineyard involves a large initial investment with no returns until usually three years after planting. Factors such as site selection, environment, seasonal conditions and management, will all affect …

Focus On The Future Agriculture Western Australia's Strategic Directions 1998 - 2008, Agriculture Western Australia

Reports

Strong growth in global demand combined with productivity gains, product innovation and sustainability improvements throughout the 1990s enable Western Australia agriculture to look to the 21st century with confidence.

This optimistic outlook is largely the result of innovation across the agricultural industries based on research, development and extension - activities in which Agriculture Western Australia continues to be the State's leading provider.

Focus on the Future is ambitious, and sends a unequivocal message about our strategic directions and the rationale guiding the agency in allocating resources to those areas which offer the biggest benefits to the Western Australian agriculture, food …

Western Australian Agriculture - Key Achievements 1997-1998, Department Of Primary Industry And Fisheries, Western Australia

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

During the past year the agriculture sector continued to be one of the most innovative and significant contributors to the Western Australian economy. In 1996/97 the value of agricultural exports reached $4.6 billion, having doubled in five years.

Not only does agriculture contribute directly to the State's financial position but farm expenditure is estimated to have a three-fold multiplier effect, thereby having a wide impact on the social well-being of Western Australians.

Increasingly, international trade is being linked to environmental performance. Accordingly, the Government has cemented sustainable farming as a cornerstone of the industry's and Agriculture WA's activities, thereby ensuring …

The Prospect For An Asparagus Industry In Northern Western Australia, John Bonnardeaux

Horticulture published reports

Asparagus grown in temperate regions of southern Australia is available, fresh, between August and March. For the remainder of the year, asparagus is not grown in Australia on a significant scale.

Recent work in Thailand, Peru, Kununurra (northern-western Australia) and Katherine (Northern Territory) has indicated that good quality asparagus can be produced in tropical and subtropical climates. Furthermore, research has shown the timing of the harvest can be manipulated by withholding irrigation and fern cutting. In an environment such as the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) it is possible to harvest asparagus at any time of the year.

This report …

An Evaluation Of Mango (Mangifera Indica L.) Cultivars And Their Commercial Suitability For The Kimberley, P. R. Johnson, D. M. Robinson

Horticulture published reports

An evaluation of 74 mango cultivars was conducted from 1983 to 1995 in the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) on Cockatoo sand. The aim to determine their suitability for commercial production and establish the basis for a mango industry in the Northern tropics of Western Australia. Measurements were made on yield, harvest times, flowering times, brix, fruit quality, growth rates and market acceptability. Results have indicated that cultivars, other than Kensington Pride, most commercially suitable in the ORIA are Banana for early cropping in mid September, Irwin for high regular yields and good market acceptability, Haden for excellent market acceptability, …

International Market Opportunities For Lentils, Andrew Quinn, Malcolm Sedgwick

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

The purpose of this report is to determine, through desk top statistical analysis, those countries which hold significant promise for the export expansion of the Western Australian lentil industry.

The report is comprised of five parts. 1) a brief lentil overview, 2) world lentil production and trade, 3) Australian lentil production and trade, 4) Western Australian lentil production and trade and 5) conclusions.

The first four sections identify the major producers, exporters, importers and premium markets operating in the international lentil market. The fifth section concludes by identifying six countries that warrant further in-market analysis to determine their lentil preferences …

International Market Opportunities For Field Peas, Andrew Quinn, Malcolm Sedgwick

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

The purpose of this report is to determine, through desk top statistical analysis, key countries which hold significant promise for the export expansion of the Western Australian field pea industry.

The report is comprised of five parts. 1) a brief field pea overview, 2) world field pea production and trade, 3) Australian field pea production and trade, 4) Western Australian field pea production and trade and 5) conclusions.

The first four sections aim to identify the major producers, exporters, importers and premium markets operating in the international field pea market. The fifth section concludes by identifying six countries that warrant …

International Market Opportunities For Faba Beans, Andrew Quinn, Malcolm Sedgwick

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

Western Australian faba bean production is growing and export volumes are increasing. In contrast, production is declining in many of the world's traditional faba bean regions. World trade, however, is growing.

China dominates the world export market and is growing rapidly as an exporter. The UK and Australia are the second and third largest exporters respectively.

As Western Australian production increases, the State will increasingly play an important role in Australia's ability to supply faba beans into markets looking tor quality and stable supply.

Saudi Arabia has emerged as the State's largest export market. The State is well located to …

Resource Management Decision Support Tools - Brief Model Descriptions, Campbell White & Associates Pty Ltd

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

During the past 10 years, a number of financial models have been developed within Agriculture Western Australia to assist decision making in resource management. Various approaches have been taken including whole farm, development and partial budgets.

Natural resource managers within Agriculture Western Australia, have identified a need to preserve these decision support systems in a central library. The models should be readily accessible to new staff, and the library should provide an 'engine' through which the models can be promoted, and information relating their application distributed. Recent technology such as the development and mainstream adoption of the World Wide Web …

Bulletin No 4315 - Western Australian Agricultural & Fishery Exports At A Glance...1995/96, Graeme Robertson Dr, P. P. Rogers

Bulletins 4000 -

Second edition (revised and updated) January 1997.

Western Australia's economic growth and high productivity is based on a well established export-oriented economy that relies heavily on primary production.

Our abundant and diverse range of agricultural and fish products is supported by highly innovative and dynamic primary industries. These are backed by modern financial and physical infrastructure.

Western Australia's agricultural industries and fisheries have an international reputation for a professional approach to business and a proven track record in producing and supplying food and fibre products of consistently high quality. Clean air, unpolluted oceans and waterways, and abundant quality farmland are …

Achievements In Wool, Agriculture Western Australia

Animal production and livestock published reports

The Wool Strategy Group, which I initiated in 1993, works with Agriculture Western Australia's Wool Program to set the strategic directions for its activities. Chaired by Mr Philip Gardiner, it has members whose experience include fashion, marketing, financial markets, wool production, selling, as well as strong industry linkages. This document outlines the activities that the Group and the Program have been undertaking over the past 12 months.

The Chairman of the IWTO has recently suggested that Australian production in the coming years will be insufficient or not of the right specifications to supply market demands.

In order to assist Western …

Effects Of Tactical Responses And Risk Aversion On Farm Wheat Supply, Ross S. Kingwell

Natural Resources Research Articles

A discrete stochastic programming model of the farming system of the eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia is used to examine the effect of tactical responses and risk aversion on wheat supply. Including within-season tactical changes to wheat areas decreases the own-price elasticity of supply. By contrast, introducing risk aversion has no consistent effect on the own-price elasticity of supply. The implications for supply models are discussed.

Buntine-West Wubin And West Maya Catchment Management Report, William Oldfield, Natalie Hunt

Natural resources published reports

Buntine West/Wubin land Conservation District was formed when a number of landholders wanted to extend and join on to some existing deep drains. At first the group concentrated on the deep drains with some farmers joining on anda project to connect the drains up througha naturally occurring saline area and to run the main drain into a salt lake system. Funding was attained for 50% of the project and farmers with drains paid for the rest. It was considered unfair for landowners whose land this drain went through to pay all the cost as it was not draining arable land. …

Bulletin Ma 1/95 - Cauliflower Growing In The South West, M. Shellabear, D. Phillips

Horticulture published reports

Manjimup Regional Office

Agdex No 254/11

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracae, variety botrytis) is closely related to cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts and kohl rabi. This group of plants may be referred to as crucifers, brassicas or cole crops.

The cauliflower probably developed in Italy from broccoli. The head is the short. thickened part of the immature flowers, before these have differentiated into flower-buds. Cauliflowers are the third most valuable vegetable crop grown in WA.

Understanding Fertilisers For Table Grapes, B. H. Goldspink, I. Cameron, J. Campbell-Clause, N. Lantzke, C. Gordon

Viticulture research reports

A course run by the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, August 1995.

The purpose of this publication is to clarify the role fertilisers play in commercial table grape production and to detail methods of selecting fertilisers. This selection process however is not easy as there are over 600 registered fertilisers in Western Australia.

In deciding which is the best fertiliser for a particular property many factors have to be considered. These include:

* Age of vine

* Rootstock

* Variety of table grape

* Soil type

* Soil chemistry

* Irrigation methods

* Previous fertiliser history Previous yield, vigour and …

The Business Checklist, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

A business can be likened to a broken water barrel. The performance of the business is represented by the volume of water the barrel can hold and the management skills of the manager are represented by the broken staves. The higher the manager's level of skill, the longer the stave.

If the business is to be successful, the manager's skills must cover all management areas of the business. Very good skills in one management area (for example, landcare planning) will not compensate for poor skills in another (for example, financial management). The performance of the business is limited by the …

Grain Legume And Canola Autumn Updates 1995, David Williams

Grain and other field crops published reports

Grain legumes

- Chickpea

- Field pea

- Lentil

- Faba beans

Canola essentials:

Site selection -Paddock selection is critical for a successful canola crop. Avoid paddocks with waterlogging, wind erosion and broadleaf weeds - particularly wild radish, turnip, mustard and doublegees.

Soil type - Canela grows well on most soil types, however it prefers well drained gravel soils, red loams, sandy _loams and deeper duplex soils. Soil pH levels (in CaCl_²) of 4.5 to 8.0 are suitable. Soil test paddock for pH, phosphorus, and potassium levels.

Rotation - Grow canola after manipulated pasture, lupins or other grain …

Msda A Machinery Selection Decision Aid For Stubble Management Practices, Linda Leonard, Andrew Green

Grain and other field crops published reports

MSDA is a user friendly program developed to help farmers predict stubble outcomes before acting on their management practice. This manual is an accompaniment to a computer program designed on Micorsoft Excel-macros. Its aim is to help farmers assess their current machinery and stubble handling ability and view options that may be adopted as best practice for their properties.

The program is designed with the complete season in mind. Information is gathered on the full complement of machinery used from harvest through to seeding, to allow farmers to see all choices available and enable them to choose the best system …

Should Australia Export Its Native Birds?, Ross Kingwell

Biosecurity Research Articles

Commercial export from Australia of native birds, wild or captive bred, is prohibited. This paper firstly describes the current legislation and regulations that restrict the export of native birds and discusses why governments have adopted such a regulatory approach to bird species preservation. Secondly, the paper reviews the debate concerning the export ban, pointing out strengths and weaknesses in arguments and indicating the important role of CITES. Lastly, the paper outlines a new case for a conditional lifting of the ban, whereby DNA fingerprinting is used to establish transferable property rights to overcome a main source of market failure in …

Delaying The Development Of Herbicide Resistant Ryegrass By Using Alternative Weed Control Strategies, A. J. Diggle, G. S. Gill, J. E. Holmes

Biosecurity published reports

Alternative strategies to control ryegrass in wheat lupin rotations are worth approximately 15 dollars per hectare for each 50% reduction achieved in plant or seed numbers. This figure has been calculated for circumstances similar to those found at Wongan Hills, and it holds in all cases where ryegrass is still under control using standard herbicides.

Farmers should adopt any ryegrass strategy in addition to that normally practised, so long as the cost to control ratio is less than $15/ha/50% kill. This applies even where good control is being achieved using grass selective herbicides, regardless of the number of previous applications …

Growing Lettuce, Margaret Graham

Horticulture published reports

The commonly cultivated lettuce, Lactuca sativa, is an annual belonging to the sunflower family. It has been cultivated for over 2500 years, and is a popular salad vegetable.

There are three main subspecies commonly grown.

• IL. sativa ssp capitata - Head type - Crisphead is a lettuce with a firm head and brittle leaves. It is the major lettuce type grown in Australia and is also known as iceberg lettuce. - Butterhead (buttercrunch, mignonette) lettuce has soft, pale leaves and a delicate buttery flavour. It is of major importance in Europe, where it is grown as a greenhouse crop.
• L. …

Gascoyne Research Station Field Day, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Horticulture research reports

Gascoyne Research Station Centenary Open Day Thursday 13 October 1994

100 years (1894-1994) Advancing Agriculture

Welcome to the 1994 Field Day at Gascoyne Research Station. At this day you'll have the opportunity to view and hear discussions of some of the latest Research and Development initiatives in horticulture in the region. We will commence activities at the Packing Shed at 3:00 p.m. with introductions and short discussions of new work which is currently in progress. This will be followed by field talks at the trial sites, as listed in this brochure. We are also pleased to include presentations by leaders …

Bulletin 4270 - Meat Quality In Beef Cattle, Brian Mcintyre

Bulletins 4000 -

Meat quality is the sole concern of the consumer once the product reaches the supermarket shelf. Breeding, feeding or any other factors that may have been important to the beef producer have no influence over the buyer's choice. Meat quality can be divided into two components — appearance and eating quality.

Bulletin 4272 - Growing Bananas In Carnarvon, Terry Hill

Bulletins 4000 -

The banana industry in Carnarvon began with small plantings. plantings in the 1940s. Since that time the industry has grown and become the mainstay of the region's horticulture industry.

In 1991, there were 360 ha planted to bananas and the industry was valued at $18.2 million. The major market for the crop is the Perth metropolitan area and Carnarvon remains the major supplier to this market. In recent years the development of a banana industry in Kununurra has resulted in increased competition, particularly in the winter months.

The industry is sited on land bordering the Gascoyne River, close to the …

Miscellaneous Publication 42/93 - Development And Dissemination Of Design Methods For Rangeland Paddocks Which Maximise Animal Production And Minimise Land Degradation, Shane Cridland, Mark Stafford Smith

Animal production and livestock published reports

Surveys of rangeland resources in Western Australia to date have shown that 23% of the area surveyed is in poor range condition. Poor condition is characterised by the loss of perennial vegetation allowing wind and water erosion. Approximately another 37% is in only fair range condition (Curry and Hacker 1990).

The loss of range condition is partly due to uneven use of paddocks by sheep and cattle. The areas close to water and the preferred pasture types are often over-utilised, while areas well away from water and less preferred pasture types are under-utilised. The result is that rangeland in good, …

Bulletin 4267 - Growing Macadamia Nuts, John Dick, Alec Mccarthy

Bulletins 4000 -

The macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia and M. tetraphylla) are native Australian trees that have been developed as a commercial food crop.

About two million macadamia trees are planted in Australia over 6000 hectares. These produce about 12,000 tonnes of nuts. New South Wales and Queensland account for 90 per cent of the trees.

Unfortunately, Western Australian conditions are different again to the eastern States. Therefore, local trials will be required before varieties particularly suited to this State's conditions can be developed.

Bulletin 4247 - Introduction To Commercial Mushroom Growing, Margaret Graham

Bulletins 4000 -

Mushroom cultivation began in Australia in the 1930s in the then incomplete and unused Circular Quay railway tunnel in Sydney. In the 1950s most mushrooms were grown in heaped or 'ridge-beds' of compost in disused railway tunnels.

In the last 15 to 20 years there has been considerable technical change in the method and degree of sophistication of mushroom cultivation techniques. Most growers have invested large sums of capital in specially designed and insulated buildings that control temperature, humidity and ventilation and where pest and disease prevention and control is less difficult.

The bag method also helps to alleviate pest …

Bulletin 4274 - Tree Planting On The High Rainfall Coastal Plain, Don Bennett, Richard George

Bulletins 4000 -

Careful planning can mean the difference between the success or failure of a tree planting program . Healthy , well-e stablished trees stand a better chance of survival, grow faster and are more resistant to insect attack. The need for time-consuming watering in summer is also eliminated.

The high rainfall coastal plain extends from Perth to Busselton and inland to the Darling Scarp. It receives about 800 to 1000 mm annual rainfall.

Site preparation is ideally started in summer. For a winter planting, decide before March where to plant, which varieties and how many trees to plant. Early planning allows …

Bulletin No 4216 - Broadscale Boom Spraying, Roger Doyle, Gary Dorr, Des Gilbey, John Peirce

Bulletins 4000 -

For spraying to be effective it must do the job required at a minimum cost, with no unwanted side effects. It is impo1tant to use the right chemical at the right rate, at the right tin1e and in the best conditions.

It is just as important that both the sprayer and the way it is used allows you to meet this objective. This Bulletin will help you select the right boom sprayer, maintain it for efficient operation and use it efficiently and safely.