Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Kununurra Region - Land Utilization Report - 1984 Dry Season - 1984/85 Wet Season And 1985 Dry Season In The Ord River Irrigation Area, S. Sandover

Natural resources published reports

Kununurra Region

3rd edition

A small experimental farm was first established on the Ord River in 1941. This farm was relocated in 1945 to what is now known as the Frank Wise Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

The first stage of the Irrigation Scheme which included the Diversion dam was completed by 1963 and by 1966, 31 irrigated farms had been established.

In 1967 the second stage was commenced and by 1972 the main dam had been completed.

Cotton was the major crop until 1974. In the wet season of that year 3642 hectares was devoted to cotton. Various crops such …

Lupin Processing : A New Development, R S. Coffey

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

For a number of years Grain Pool marketing representatives have approachd stockfeed manufacturers around the world in an attempt to broaden the market for Western Australian lupin seed.

Wherever there was enough consumer interest to conduct a nutritional evaluation of the product, lupins were found to be non competitive for inclusion in both pig and poultry rations, while at the same price being acceptable as a cattle feed ingredient. The reason for this disparity proved to be the varying degrees of fibre digestability of lupins for the various livestock tested.

It became apparent that the fibrous lupin seed coat or …

Communication Networks And The Adoption Of Three Farn Practices, P. W. Fry, F. K. Goss

All other publications

The report commences with a discussion of the diffusion and adoption model, and illustrates some of the research observations and practical outcomes that have emerged in recent years, An overview of social network research is presented as a means of understanding communication exchanges and providing data relevant to the diffusion debate. The communication and adoption studies are then reported in three separate sections in the order they were conducted. (A map of the location of the survey areas is shown in Figure I ) . The objectives, survey method, results and a summary are presented for each study.

A background …

Documentation Of Whole-Farm Model For The Eastern Wheatbelt Of Western Australia, Ross S. Kingwell, David J. Pannell, David. A. Morrison

Grain and other field crops published reports

The Eastern Wheatbelt Model (EwM) is a hypothetical farm model, intended to be representative of farms in the eastern wheatbelt region. It is a model of an 'average' farm in an 'average' season. Nevertheless it is possible to substitute the resource mix of a 'real' farm for the •average' and to substitute various types of season for the 'average'.

Assumptions of 'average' farm resources and •average' season are based on opinions by WADA researchers and advisers. For the EWM, researchers and advisers at Merredin prescribed average resources for an eastern wheatbelt farm receiving a 300 mm average rainfall including 210 …

Ord River Irrigation Area Of Western Australia - Background Information For Prospective Farmers, Western Australian Department Of Agriculture

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

The Ord Irrigation Project is located in the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley in the far north of the State of Western Australia.

The potential for harnessing northern rivers was realised many years ago. In 1941, a small experimental farm was established on the Ord, and possible dam sites were investigated upstream.

In 1945, this small experimental farm was relocated and the Kimberley Research Station was established on Ivanhoe Plain, part of the 12,000 hectare area now irrigated from Lake Kununurra above the Diversion Dam.

By 1958, the Western Australian Government was convinced of the viability of an irrigation scheme on …

Ord River Irrigation Area Of Western Australia, Western Australian Department Of Agriculture

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

The Ord Irrigation Project is located in the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley in the far north of the State of Western Australia.

The potential for harnessing northern rivers was realised many years ago. In 1941, a small experimental farm was established on the Ord, and possible dam sites were investigated upstream.

In 1945, this small experimental farm was relocated and the Kimberley Research Station was established on Ivanhoe Plain, part of the 12,000 hectare area now irrigated from Lake Kununurra above the Diversion Dam.

By 1958, the Western Australian Government was convinced of the viability of an irrigation scheme on …

Ord River Irrigation Area - Potential For A Sugar Cane Industry In Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

The Ord River Irrigation Area is in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia, 3,200 kms from Perth, the State’s Capital City.

The area is located in the arid tropics with a climate suitable for high plant growth rates provided water supply is adequate.

With only 12,000 ha of land developed out of a potential 72,000 ha of clay soils the area has the potential for further development of a major irrigated agricultural enterprise.

The Ord River Irrigation Project has been developed for commercial agriculture following the construction of a diversion dam in 1963, and a major dam in 1974, The …

Crop Monitoring Handbook 1979, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Grain and other field crops published reports

Prepared by the Plant Research Division of the Department of Agriculture for farmers who wish to keep detailed records of crop growth with the aim of achieving higher yields in the future.

Farm Management Information - Comparative Costs And Return Whole Farm Budgets, Machinery Costs, Gross Margins, A. F. Herbert

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

The cropping costs, gross margins, and whole farm budgets contained in this booklet are published to assist you in your selection of enterprises on the farm, and to give background information for prospective farm purchasers in the Esperance/Dundas area.

The worked examples have attempted to approximate reality. However, individuals do things differently and it is pointless to generalize. The information presented should only be used as a guide. You need to prepare your own budgets for your own situation using your own assumptions and up-to-date costs and prices.

Services of the Department of Agriculture are readily available should you wish …

Twenty-One Hints For Savings Of Seeding Time, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The efficiency of machinery and labour during seeding operations has been studied by the Kondinin and Districts Farm Improvement Group and the Department of Agriculture.

The following specific hints were suggested.

Replacing Farm Machinery, R Crossman

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

In talking of machinery replacement it seems implied that the replacement items of plant are bigger and therefore better than their predecessers. It is also implied that plant replacement is becoming more costly.

Before any decision to replace machinery, the reason for replacement should be carefully considered.

There may be alternatives to the bigger and better solution.

Options For Machinery And Labour, A F. Herbert

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

Machinery is one of the highest costs in farming today. It is not unusual for capital investment in machinery to be 20 to 30 percent of the total investment in the farm.

On an annual basis, expenditure directly attributable to machinery can be 40 per cent or more.

This article cannon be a panacea for everyone to reduce machinery costs - each farm is different. But some of the issues might be of help.

Grain Crop Variety Trials Western Australia 1978-1979, H. M. Fisher, G. B. Crosbie

Grain and other field crops research reports

The regional crop variety testing programme conducted by the Western Australian Department of Agriculture covers the final two stages of a four stage process of evaluating locally produced crossbreds and introduced material comprising:-

Plant Breeder Trials

Stage 1: Initial small plot yield tests on early generation material - 1 to 3 sites. Stage 2: Small plot yield tests on selected material (F5 derived) - 3 to 4 sites.

Regional Testing Programme

Stage 3: Large scale preliminary trials - 9 to 10 sites. Stage 4: Large scale final yield trials - 40 to 50 sites.

The basis of the regional programme …

Farm Syndication Has Advantages, G T. Kennedy

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

Sharing of single items of plant between farmers is common in Australian Agriculture but it is quite rare for farmers to amalgamate their holdings and farm them as a single unit.

This article looks at the advantages of syndicate farming. It is based on a study of four whole farm syndicates in the Wimmera of Victoria.

Report On Kellogg Rural Adjustment Unit (Krau) Conference, Peter Eckersley

All other publications

The aim was for the 170 attenders to define how much productivity increases could help farmers in the main rural industries, and what size increases are likely in the foreseeable future (especially the next 5 years recommend feasible Government and industry action to stimulate increases in farm productivity.

Bulletin No 4007 - Grasses In South Western Australia, J G. Paterson

Bulletins 4000 -

IThe grasses comprise one of the world's largest families of flowering plants, with over 500 groups or genera containing well over 5000 individual types or species distributed throughout the world. About 125 groups have been recorded in Western Australia but it is probable that the list is far from complete. About one third of these have ° been introduced from overseas.

The purpose of this bulletin is to describe those grasses which are more commonly found in the south-west of Western Australia. Also, as many people are interested in knowing the name and nature of a grass when they find …

Bulletin 4002 - Trickle Irrigation For Farms, K Cole

Bulletins 4000 -

The continued demand for, and use of trickle irrigation is proof of the inherent potential and performance of this form of irrigation.

Originally it was used in glasshouses and nurseries but it is now widely adapted to orchards, vegetable and other horticultural small crops and home gardens.

Although research is being actively pursued in the design and use of trickle irrigation it is now beyond the experimental stage as a technique and is an accepted and proven technique of watering many types of crop.

Why New Land Farmers Need A Super Bounty, Edgar Noel Fitzpatrick

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

Development of farming land in Western A ustralia's agricultural areas requires the application of large amounts of superphosphate. Since 1963, the Phosphate Fertiliser Bounty applied to superphosphate manufacture has ensured that this superphosphate has been available to farmers at reasonable cost and has helped to make new land development economically worth while.

Originally applied as an incentive to agricultural development, the bounty is now to be withdrawn and it is feared that the resulting increase in the cost of superphosphate will retard development of many West Australian farms and reduce many farm incomes to an unsatisfactory level.

These effects will …

Pasture Seeds : Production Techniques And The Future Market Situation, B J. Quinlivan

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

Like other farming and grazing industries, pasture seed production has its share of booms and slumps —perhaps more than its share. In Western Australia, the industry reached a high point during the mid-1960's when land development along the south and west coastal districts was at its height.

The drought year of 1969 and the subsequent rural depression saw pasture seed production fall to its lowest level for ten years and it is only in the last 12 months that there has been a revival.

With the sudden upsurge of interest last summer there will be many potential seed producers now …

Machinery Syndicates : An Effective Way Of Reducing The Cost Of Hay Making, E K. Simmons

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

No abstract provided.

Market Prospects For Rapeseed : 1972-73, R J. Guyton

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

Interest in rapeseed as an alternative crop in the agricultural region of Western Australia was reflected in the area sown in 1971, some 70,000 acres, and an initial export contract of 10,000 tons made in January 1972.

This market report draws upon information released by the Department of Primary Industry and Department of Trade and Industry (both located in Canberra) and research within the Department of Agriculture. Its purpose is to outline future prospects for rapeseed as an aid to decision making for the 1972 season.

Farm Operations Management, H E. Fels, A. W. Hogstrom

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

The main defence of Australian farmers against the cost-price squeeze has been to increase productivity. The tendency is to run more and more stock per man and to grow more crop per man.

Some farmers run unusually large numbers of animal units per man-year.

The operations of 16 such farmers over one year were examined to find out whether it had been profitable for them to reduce labour inputs to such an extent.

Crop Variety Recommendations For 1974, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Crop variety recommendations are reviewed each year and reflect trends in the market situation and the availability of new varieties with specific applications and advantages.

The following recommendations for 1974 cover a wide range of grain crops grown in the agricultural areas of W.A.

Bulletin No 3861 - Kimberley Research Station - Progress Report 1972, J. R. Mcalpine, R. H. Gunn, P. Jakobsen, R. Wetselaar, J. J. Basinski, N. J. Thomson, A. G. L. Wilson, D. H. Mackenzie, A. J. Millington, D. F. Beech, P. C. Owen, B. G. Williams, C. G. Blunt, A. Mcr Holm

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

The systematic investigations of the potential of the Ord area for irrigated farming began during the Second World War when the possibilities of damming the river were first examined, initial soil survey was carried out, and agricultural experiments started. The Kimberley Research Station was established on its present site in 1945. A year later the State and Commonwealth Governments agreed to finance and operate the Station jointly, with CSIRO and the Western Australian Department of Agriculture being responsible for research.

The construction of the main dam designed to store 5,675 million m" ( 4.6 million acre feet) was completed in …

Fertilising Quota Wheat Crops, N J. Halse

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

BEFORE wheat quotas were introduced, a farmer had to make two major decisions on fertilisers for wheat crops each year—what area to crop; and how much fertiliser to use.

Market Prospects For W.A. Wheat, William John Toms, J. A. Parish

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

WITH the Western Australian wheat industry valued at $100 million per year and subject to production restrictions, can market prospects be improved?

What types of wheat should we produce? Can we increase sales by segregating specific types from the present crop? This article discusses the changes in W.A. wheat production that would be necessary to suit specific markets.

Barley Staining, J A. Parish, G. B. Crosbie, A. G. P. Brown, P. A. Portmann

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

GRAIN discolouration or "staining" is a quality defect in W.A. barley which substantially reduces the marketable value oi the crop. It also causes heavy losses to individual growers whose grain is docked or rejected.

Wheat Quality Surveys In Western Australia, J A. Parish, G. H. Jones

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

SINCE 1956 a number of collaborative wheat quality surveys have been carried out in Western Australia by Co-operative Bulk Handling Co. Ltd. and the Department of Agriculture.

The work was undertaken to provide facts which may be used to determine the possible advantages to this State's wheat industry of alterations in the receival and marketing arrangements.

The various surveys are described in this article.

Barley And Oat Yield Tests In W.A, H M. Fisher

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

BARLEY production has increased sharply over the past two seasons to compensate reduced wheat acreages.

The change over to barley has been supported by the availability of suitable varieties, notably Dampier, and a good demand for West Australian barley overseas.

Wheat Yield Tests In W.A, H M. Fisher

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

WHEAT production is the major crop industry in Western Australia so emphasis has been placed on this crop in variety tests.

Over the last 5 years 61 wheat varieties, including 30 named varieties from various sources, have been tested in variety trials.