Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Wheat In Development Programmes For New Esperance Farmers, R J. Doyle, G. D. Oliver

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

IN the December, 1967, issue of the Journal of Agriculture, we reported on five development budgets for the Esperance region.

The aim of the exercise was to find out if a new settler concentrating on sheep, with $20,000 available for development after acquisition of land, could make a reasonable living for himself and his family while developing his farm.

Land Resource Evaluation - Ninety Mile Tank Report On Trials Conducted 1968, 1969 And 1970 By Plant Research Division And Wheat And Sheep Division, J W. Gartrell

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

In the late 1920's the seven million acres of virgin land between Hyden and Salmon Gums were considered for settlement under the "3,500 farms scheme" because it constituted "practically the only large area of wheat lands in a suitable climatic zone not then settled in Australia" (Teakle 1939). At that time the sandy scrubplain soils were more a liability than an asset because methods of profitably farming the light soils had not then been evolved. These useless scrubplains merely increased the distances between patches of' more f'ertile soils. The scheme for settlement was based mainly on the potential of' the …

N-P Compound Fertilisers, M G. Mason, W. J. Cox, R. N. Glencross

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

FARMERS were able to buy the two compound fertilisers N-P Compound Fertiliser 28:14 and N-P Compound Fertilser 24:24 in the 1967 season.

West Midlands Development : Development Techniques, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Most clearing in the West Midlands is carried out by chaining, though the method chosen will depend on the country being cleared and on the resources of the farmer.

West Midlands Development : Fertilizers For The West Midlands, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

FARMING the light lands of the West Midland area would be impossible without fertilisers.

Most light land areas are inherently very low in phosphate and also require nitrogen.

The nitrogen can come from fertiliser for cereal crops, or can be built up by growing appropriate legume pasture plants such as clovers and lupins.

West Midlands Development : The Interpretation Of Lands Department Soil Maps Of The West Midlands Area, T C. Stoneman

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

Before most Crown land in the West Midlands area was released, Lands Department survey parties examined and mapped the soils using a soil classification system based on technical advice from the Department of Agriculture.

New Strains Of Subterranean Clover : Prospects And Problems For The Seed Producer, B J. Quinlivan

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

THREE new strains of Subterranean clover—Daliak, Seaton Park and Uniwager—have been released.

In Western Australia, in other States and perhaps some overseas countries, the next few years will see many farmers or graziers summing up the merits and demerits of these strains and subsequently making a decision to change or not to change their present strains.

Amsinckia Or Yellow Burr-Weed (Amsinckia Spp.), G R W Meadly

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

YELLOW BURR-WEED is widely established in the Wimmera and Mallee districts in Victoria, presumably introduced with fodder brought to this country from the United States about 1914.

It is a problem in Oregon and other north west wheat areas of America.

The weed is also widespread in New South Wales, being most troublesome in the wheat-growing sections of the Riverina. It is not established to the same extent in South Australia and Queensland.

The recent discovery of areas infested with yellow burr-weed at Merredin prompted the Agriculture Protection Board to declare it a primary noxious weed for Western Australia.

Trials With Urea And Anhydrous Ammonia For Wheat Growing, M G. Mason

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

THE recent subsidy on nitrogenous fertilisers has greatly reduced their price to farmers. This, and farmers' increasing awareness of the benefits of application of nitrogen to cereals, has led to a substantial increase in the use of these fertilisers.

Wheat Weevil And The Farmer, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins, G. D. Rimes

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

INSECT pests have been taking toll of mans' crops and herds since very early times and despite modern control techniques the annual loss is still very high.

It has been estimated that damage to stored grain alone may average 10 per cent, per year, or, in terms of the West Australian harvest, a loss by weevils of about twice the capacity of the large Midland Junction bin.

Canberra Creeping Lucerne Outyields Hunter River In Denmark Trial, F E. Ryan

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

LUCERNE is successfully grown as a fodder crop in high rainfall areas in Western Australia without irrigation and there is scope for expansion.

Establishment problems can be largely overcome by choice of a well drained site, spring planting to avoid weeds and pests, an application of 1 ton of limestone to the surface 5 to 6 inches of soil before sowing, and sowing of innoculated and pelleted seed.

Stubble Burning Helps Control Wimmera Rye Grass, M G. Mason, W. J. Toms, J. W. Gartrell

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

In a trial at Wongan Hills Research Station, burning of wheat stubbie in a continuous cropping system, helped to control Wimmera Rye Grass in the crop and resulted in yields up to 25 bushels an acre higher than where the stubble was ploughed in.

WIMMERA RYE GRASS is the most widely used annual pasture grass in the agricultural areas of Western Australia.

It has proved valuable for sheep feed where legume pastures are not grown.

However, it has often proved a serious weed in cereal crops, causing large yield reductions.

Identifying The Grain Of Barley Varieties In Western Australia, J L. Mcmullan, H. M. Fisher

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

THE identification of varieties of plants depends on the existence of a number of visual characters which have recognisably different forms in different varieties, but are relatively unaffected by environmental conditions.

For many species the characters of the whole plant may be required to arrive at a satisfactory identification and seed must be grown and the resulting plants compared with known varieties.

The Changing Fertiliser Industry, Edgar Noel Fitzpatrick

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

Background to current developments in the Australian fertiliser industry.

FOR many years superphosphate was the basic fertiliser used by most farmers in Western Australia.

During the 1950's some farmers began to use sulphate of ammonia, and recently urea and anhydrous ammonia have become important.

Barley Diseases In Western Australia, W A. Shipton, W. R. Tweedie

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

BARLEY DISEASES caused by pathogenic organisms are capable of reducing yields considerably.

The recognition of disease is important so that control measures can then be taken at the appropriate time.

New Varieties Top 1967 Yield Tests, H M. Fisher

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

LARGE gains can result from using improved cereal varieties and in recent years activity in breeding varieties adapted to local conditions has increased.

The varieties available and their suitability for different areas and conditions need constant review.

Sources Of Nitrogen For Cereals : Their Characteristics And Costs, M G. Mason

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

Generally similar results may be expected from all the sources of nitrogen available for cereal growing.

The unit nitrogen price and the convenience of use of each fertiliser in the particular situation should be taken into account in deciding which fertiliser to use.

THE first point to consider when deciding which nitrogen fertiliser to use for wheat growing is the effectiveness of the nitrogen source in increasing crop yield. Second, the cost per unit of nitrogen must be considered.

The convenience of using a particular source in a particular situation is also important and greater convenience may offset some cost …

Snail Investigations : A Progress Report, G D. Rimes

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

Experimental baits and sprays have given promising control of snails in cereals and pastures in the Geraldton-Dongara districts.

The problem of harvesting infested wheat crops has been overcome by attaching a specially designed rake in front of the header ccmb to remove snails from the plants.

Bulletin No 3547 - Kimberley Research Station - Progress Report 1968, Western Australian Department Of Agriculture

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

Rivers flowing to the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Timor Sea have been estimated by hydrologists to carry about three times the water transported annually over the Murray drainage system and the South Eastern slopes which, together, comprise the highly settled agricultural areas of South Eastern Australia.

In 1945, the North Australian Development Committee recommended research in the Ord-Victoria rivers region as a first step toward ultimate agricultural development of this Northern potential and, in 1946, the Kim- berley Research Station commenced operations under the joint control of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization and the Western Australian Department …

Cereal Eelworm : A New Disease Of Cereal Crops In The Geraldton Area, R J. Parkin, Olga M. Goss

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

CEREAL eelworm (Heterodera avenae) is a potentially serious disease of crops which was seen in the Geraldton area for the first time in the 1966-67 season.

It was first identified in this State at Beverley in 1958 and later near Northam in 1963.

The Geraldton region has been the only area found to be affected since.

The disease was identified on eight properties in 1966-67, and a further ten properties in 1967- 68. There are indications that many more properties could be affected in varying degrees.

Report On Trials Conducted In 1978 And 1969 By Plants Research Division And Wheat And Sheep Division, J W. Gartrell

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

In the late 1920's the seven million acres of virgin land

between Hyden and Salmon Gums were considered for settlement under

the "3,500 farms scheme" because it constituted "practically the

only large area of wheat lands in a suitable climatic zone not then

settled in Australia" (Teakle 1939).

Bussell Barley, J L. Mcmullan, J. A. Parish, H. M. Fisher

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

BUSSELL is a new high yielding 2-row barley variety named early in 1967.

An early maturing variety, with white grains of good quality, Bussell has short and extremely strong straw.

It has yielded more than any other variety under test in areas of Western Australia which receive more than 18 inches of annual rainfall.

It has yielded more than Prior in all areas.

Rates Of Superphosphate For Cereal Grain Production In The Under 20 Inch Rainfall Areas, Walter Jacob Cox

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

EVERY year farmers use large quantities of superphosphate with cereal crops to overcome the inherent phosphate deficiency of West Australian soils.

The increase in the average rate used by farmers reflects the increasing amount of new land being cropped.

Good seasons and favourable economic conditions may also have influenced super rates.

Subterranean Clover Establishment In The Wheatbelt, M L. Poole

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

Care and attention to detail will greatly increase the chances of establishing good subterranean clover pastures in the wheatbelt.

PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT usually takes second place to cropping in the wheatbelt, with many farmers "bunging in a bit of clover" and hoping for the best. The worst often transpires, with either patchy stands or complete failure resulting.

Using "cheap" methods of establishment is a short-sighted approach and a waste of energy and resources.

Oestrogen Free Subterranean Clovers : Their Development And Prospects, C M. Francis

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

SELDOM have plants received more publicity than the "oestrogen free" subterranean clovers developed by the University of Western Australia's Institute of Agriculture.

The production of oestrogen free clovers has attracted great popular interest, particularly among farmers in the southern sheep raising districts.

A Survey Of Stone Fruit Plantings In Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

This article presents the results of a survey of commercial stone fruit plantings in Western Australia, carried out by officers of the Department of Agriculture during 1966.

The main purpose of the survey was to provide varietal and other statistics not previously available in this State.

The results also give useful indications of future trends in the industry.

Grasshoppers And Locusts In Western Australia, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

GRASSHOPPERS and locusts are among the most ancient enemies of the farmer, for they figured prominently in Biblical times, and periodically throughout the ages have devastated crops in all parts of the world.

Drilled Versus Topdressed Superphosphate For Cereal Production, A Loutit, P. Stallwood, W. J. Cox

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

CEREAL growers in Australia usually use a drill or combine to apply their seed and superphosphate in one operation.

However, during the last few years, there has been a rapid increase in the amount of super broadcast bafore seeding.

Maintenance Phosphorus And Sulphur For Pastures : Progress Report, Walter Jacob Cox

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

PASTURE IMPROVEMENT has been based on topdressing with superphosphate, which supplies sulphur as well as phosphorus.

In the past, all the benefit due to superphosphate was attributed to the phosphorus.

It is only in recent years that the importance of the sulphur has been appreciated.

Rates Of Superphosphate For Pasture And Crop Production In The Salmon Gums District, R N. Glencross, W. J. Cox

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

DURING the last few years large areas have been released for cereal and pasture production in the southern part of the Shire of Dundas and the northern part of the Shire of Esperance.

Changes in land use since 1962 are summarised in Table 1.