Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Bulletin 4241 - Chemical Control Of Insect Pests In Field Crops And Pastures, T. P. Quinn, G. P. Mangano, P. J. Michael

Bulletins 4000 -

Chemicals currently registered in Western Australia for use against pests of field crops and pasture are given in the table below. Trade names are listed alongside each chemical formulation.

Department of Agriculture Bulletin 4185 "Insect and allied pests of extensive fanning" will help you identify the pest(s) through coloured photographs, descriptions and keys. Information on the type of damage, life cycle and control is also provided. Further information is available in Farmnotes on specific pests and on pests of a particular crop.

The Poison Schedule for each product is indicated in the table. Extremely toxic chemicals are labelled as "dangerous …

Quest For Quality Operation Quality Wheat, Sue Bestow

Agriculture reports

Variations in the protein content of wheat are largely associated with growing conditions, particularly rainfall and soil type, which influence nitrogen supply and crop yield. Management to improve protein generally also improves yield, so in future both must be considered when comparing profitabilities of management options, particularly if payment for protein increases.

Quantifying Loss Of Yield Potential Due To Leaf Disease., B A. Peters, R Loughman

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

To determine the impact of Septoria and barley yellow dwarf virus on wheat grown under the package approach on the south coast using different levels of fungicide and insecticide control on a susceptible variety of an appropriate maturity for early sowing.

Examine if there is any benefit for disease control of S. tritici from Baytan seed dressing. 92AL16.

Time of sowing and variety effects on the Septoria diseases of wheat. 92AL17.

Time of sowing effect on barley foliar diseases. 92AL19.

Evaluating variety mixtures to reduce Septoria using a range of lines. 92AL24.

Fungicides for control of Septoria nodorum of wheat. …

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.

Results Of Stubble Research In Western Australia, Michael Perry, Ron Jarvis, Mel Mason, David Tennant

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

Few farmers would question the desirability of retaining stubbles, both for control of erosion by wind and water, and to return organic matter to the soil. While the present debate is focused on the short term management of stubbles, longer term effects also need to be considered.

The Department of Agriculture has several long-running trials intended to measure long term effects.

Stubble : Friend And Foe, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

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

Several articles in this issue of the Journal of Agriculture discuss some of the important issues of stubble management. The articles are condensed from some of the papers presented at a stubble workshop at Geraldton in 1991.

Opportunity Knocks : Sowing Wheat Early In The North-Eastern Wheatbelt, Nicole Kerr, Doug Abrecht

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

Farmers consider many factors in deciding whether to start sowing wheat, but the most important are the amount of rain and time of year. In this study we assessed the chances of farmers in the north-eastern wheatbelt (less than 325 mm rainfall) receiving enough rain to sow wheat early. In low rainfall areas such as this, where an early finish to the season is likely, it is especially important that farmers take advantage of all early sowing opportunities. The potential benefits of sowing wheat early generally outweigh the associated risks, particularly in lower rainfall areas. However, early sowing depends on …

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.

Wider Spaced Rows For Lupins, Ron Jarvis

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

In this farm scale trial at Wongan Hills, a lined combine was used to seed lupins into rows spaced 380 mm apart in wheat stubble.

Stubble Retention For Control Of Wind Erosion, Dan Carter, Paul Findlater, Steve Porritt

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

The surest way to control wind erosion in continuous cropping systems is to retain stubble. Over the past ten years, Western Australian research has focused on the amounts of stubble needed to prevent that erosion.

The Role Of Earthworms In Western Australian Agriculture, Tom Mccredie, Lex Parker

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

Earthworms have a reputation as soil builders and renovators, particularly among 'organic' farmers and gardeners. They improve soil fertility through increased aeration, aggregation, water infiltration and release of nutrients from organic matter. However, the benefits of earthworms in the wheatbelt have been doubted for many years because of their poor survival in cultivated soils.

Since cropping began in the Western Auslmlian whealbelt over 1OO years ago, the physical condition of many soils has deteriorated. The primary causes of soil degradation were the European cultivation practices used by farmers and the trampling effect of introduced animals. in particular, sheep.

Revegetation Guide To The Central Wheatbelt, E C. Lefroy, R J. Hobbs, L J. Atkins, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia, Csiro, Division Of Wildlife And Ecology

Bulletins 4000 -

The rapid development of the central wheatbelt for agriculture over the past century has produced a productive farming landscape, but one which is increasingly subject to degradation. Erosion, salinization, declining soil structure, waterlogging and acidification are all symptoms of this degradation and causes of lost agricultural production. In addition, most of the native vegetation and many of the native animals have disappeared, and the natural heritage of the area resides in small scattered patches that together make up only seven per cent of the wheatbelt region.

Many farmers now recognize that replanting trees and shrubs is an effective means of …

Timing Of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application For Cereals, M G. Mason

Division of Plant Research : Technical Report Series

Results are presented for 206 trials carried out between 1959 and 1990, investigating the effect of time of application of nitrogen fertilizers on cereal grain yields. This set of data is the basis of recommendations made for timing of nitrogen fertilizer application for cereals in Western Australia. Attention is drawn to the variability of results obtained in different seasons and situations and the time of leaching rains.

Miscellaneous Publication 28/91 - Midas (Model Of An Integrated Dryland Agricultural System), David J. Pannell, Andrew Bathgate

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

MIDAS is a bioeconomic model of mixed crop/livestock farms in Western Australia. It selects farm management strategies which maximise profit subject to resource, technical and environmental constraints using the linear programming technique. This document provides a thorough documentation of the version of MIDAS developed for the "eastern wheatbelt" region. If you are learning to use MIDAS with the MARG menu driven system, you need to read the MARG manual as well as this documentation.

From early in the life of MIDAS, we gave a high priority to making the data and assumptions readily accessible in documentation and in microcomputer spreadsheet …

Bulletin No 4219 - Chemical Control Of Insect Pests In Field Crops And Pastures, T. P. Quinn, G. P. Mangano, P. J. Michael

Bulletins 4000 -

Chemicals currently registered in Western Australia for use against pests of field crops and pasture are given in the following tables. Trade names are listed alongside each chemical formulation.

Department of Agriculture Bulletin 4185 "Insect and allied pests of extensive farming" will help you identify the pest(s) through coloured photographs, descriptions and keys. Information on the type of damage, life cycle and control is also provided. Further information is available in Farmnotes on specific pests and on pests of a particular crop.

The Poison Schedule for each product is indicated in the table. Extremely toxic chemicals are labelled as "dangerous …

Bulletin No 4220 - Growing High Yielding Wheat Crops In The Central Wheatbelt, Michael Perry

Bulletins 4000 -

In this Bulletin we hope to provide you with what we believe is the best and most up-to-date information about growing wheat in your particular environment.

It is now more important than ever for producers to get the most out of their resources of land, labour and capital. The key to doing that is the knowledge to do even better what you probably do well already-growing wheat.

Transpiration And Water Relations Of Irrigated Peach Trees At Manjimup, Western Australia, P R. Green

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Nitrogen On Pastures And Subsequent Sheep Production., L. Cransberg

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 89MT1

Location: Mt Barker Research Station

To measure the effect of autumn/winter application on:

1. Pasture growth rates and composition

2. Sheep production using pregnant/lacting ewes.

Trial 89KA6

Management systems for sheep.

Location: Kojonup

To measure the effects of set stocking and strip (rotation) grazing on:

1. Pasture production, composition and quality.

2. Sheep production (liveweight, condition score, wool growth rate, fibre diameter strength and vegetable matter contamination).

Performance Of Annual Legumes And Their Mixes Under Different Crop:Pasture Rotation., P. Evans

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 86KA64, 86KA65 and 86KA66

Performance of annual legumes and their mixtures under different crop:pasture rotations.

Seed reserves, especially in the 1:1 rotation treatment, are on average below 100 kg/ha and in many cases below 50 kg/ha for all three soil types. Because of this the 1991 season will be used to fertilize, control weeds, and apply a grazing management system to favour legume production and seed set. No crop will be sown in 1991.

Sub clover flowering, sequential sowings.

Location: Katanning

To provide seven different temperature and photoperiod regimes, eight cultivars of sub clover ranging in maturity from Nungarin …

Seed Phosphorus In Wheat And Lupins, Blakely Paynter, K. Adcock, R. W. Bell, Tim Pope

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 90NO119

Seed P in wheat.

Location: Greenhills.

Design: 2 applied P x 3 seed P x 4 replicates, sowing wheat (cv. Aroona) seed from 89N33 at 70 kg/ha on May 15, 1990.

Trial 90NO120

Seed P in wheat.

Location: York

Design: 2 applied from P x 3 seed P x 4 replicates, 89N33 at 70 kg/ha on May 25, 1990.

Trial 90NO117

Seed P in lupins

Location: Greenhills.

Design: 2 applied P x 3 seed P x 4 replicates, sowing lupins (cv. Gungurru) from 85BA35 at 100 kg/ha on May 15, 1990.

Trial 90NO118

Seed P in lupins.

Location: …

Adjusting Farm Strategy To Allow For Seasonal Conditions, Andrew Bathgate, Stephen Robinson, Ross Kingwell

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

Changes in the price of wheat did not alter the selection of best rotations on various soils, or the area of crop, in an economic study done by the Department of Agriculture. When determining what area to crop, it is much more important to consider the type of start to the season, the amount of summer rainfall and whether light land can be sown early. If there is a good start to the season, the size of the increase in the area of crop depends on the capacity of seeding gear and the mix of soil classes on the farm.

Windbreaks Prove Their Worth, Tim Negus

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

Strong winds in the south-west of Western Australia in April 1991 carted tonnes of top soil from stubbles, over-grazed pastures, and recently prepared cropping land. However, where there were windbreaks, downwind protection into the paddock was up to 10 to 20 times the height of the windbreaks. On May 1, 1991, the author inspected farm land for damage from Narrogin to the Dongolocking area, to Harrismith, up the rabbit-proof fence to West Corrigin and back to Narrogin via Kweda. He found the extent of soil erosion varied, and that some tree species planted in windbreaks gave better protection than others

Whole-Farm Planning : Success At Wilgi Creek, Kevin Shanhun

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

Ian and Bev Lynch own Wilgi Creek, a 376 ha mixed farming property at West Mount Barker in the 700 mm rainfall zone. In 1983, they started a whole-farm plan to overcome the problems of declining production caused by waterlogging (their biggest problem), salinity and deterioration of the remnant native vegetation. Today, their property is an example of a successful, wholefarm land conservation plan based on agroforestry, timber production, water harvesting and improved pastures.

Management Systems For Sheep., Peter Doyle, L. Cransberg, P. Evans

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 89KA6

Location: Kojonup

To measure the effects of set stocking and strip (ration) grazing on:

i) Pasture production, composition and quantity

ii) Sheep production (liveweight, condition score, wool growth rate, fibre diameter, strength and vegetable matter contamination).

Development Of Procedures To Determine The Fertilizer Requirements Of Annual Pasture Legumes Grown In Cereal Cropping Systems., Blakely H. Paynter

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trials 88ME67, 88SC17, 90ME1 and 90ME2

Location: Merredin

To determine the phosphate (P) fertilizer requirements of burr medic on marginally acidic, medium textured soils and yellow serradella on acidic, light textured soils.

Trials 89ME52, 89ME55 and 86ME61

Location: Merredin

Determine the response of yellow serradella and burr medic to residual phosphate and freshly applied phosphate.

Trials 89ME50, 89ME54, 88ME67, 88SC17, 89ME60

Location: Merredin.

To measure the influence of different levels of pasture productivity (generated by different levels of P supply) and the different pasture legumes on subsequent wheat crops.

Pasture And Fodder Shrub Species For Deep Sandy Soils., Tim Wiley

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 90MO64

The evaluation of alternative pasture species on deep sandy soils.

Location: Moora.

Soil type: Deep siliceous sand, moisture at depth pH 5.9 - 6.1 in CaC1^₂.

Trial 90MO65

The evaluation of alternative pasture species on deep sandy soils.

Location: West Gillingarra

Soil type: Deep siliceous sand, moisture at depth pH 5.9 - 6.0 in CaC1₂

Trial 90MO66

The evaluation of alternative pasture species on deep sandy soils.

Location: West Koojan

Soil type: Deep siliceous sand pH 5.8 - 5.9 in CaC1₂

Trial 89BA40

Tagasaste establishment trial

Location: Badgingarra Research Station.

Soil type: poor quality …

Tree Crops For Profit And Land Improvement, John Bartle

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

Western Australian agriculture is deficient in good perennial species. The traditional segregation of agriculture and forestry has diverted attention from commercial wood producing trees as a potential perennial crop. Recently, scientists have made rapid progress in developing tree cropping systems suitable for extensive use in the wetter (more than 600 mm average annual rainfall) areas of the lower south-west. There is potential for a major industry based on fast-growing eucalypts for pulpwood. The foundations for this industry developed from work on agroforestry, forestry sharefarming and salinity control.

Bulletin No 4176 - Agroforestry With Widely Spaced Pine Trees, Richard Moore, Peter Jenkins, Geoff Anderson, Phil Scott

Bulletins 4000 -

Combining a softwood timber crop with other forms of agriculture on the same land can make better use of available space, soil and water, and lead to higher productivity from farms.

This Bulletin outlines the potential benefits of, and a programme for, the growing of pine on farmland in Western Australia in conjunction with either pasture or another crop. The agroforestry system described has been well researched in Westem Australia.

The main objectives of agroforestry are to produce high quality timber while maintaining adequate pasture for either grazing or fodder cropping until the timber is harvested.

Farm Management Memo - Advice To Help Farming Through The Rural Downturn, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

Historically, commodity prices cycle between a "boom and a bust" every few years. Farmers are often able to adjust their operations to reduce the impact of a downturn in commodity prices by:

• Increasing efficiency through reducing or maintaining input costs while maintaining or increasing production levels.

• Maximising returns through seeking price premiums on commodities (protein, noodle quality, finer wool, increased clean wool yield).

• Reducing overhead costs

• Seeking cheaper finance or refinancing costly loans

• Careful planning and management with a high degree of attention to detail.

• Seeking advice

The Productivity Of Western Australia's Wheat And Sheep Industry, Tim Coelli, Ross Kingwell

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

A popular economic lament is that Australian industries and workers are not as productive as they should be. Politicians and economic commentators preach the need for productivity improvement and workplace reform, and criticise inefficiency and lack of endeavour. Can such criticism be fairly levelled at farmers and agricultural scientists? What is productivity and how is it measured? What is the productivity of Western Australia's main agricultural industry — wheat and sheep farming? This article addresses these questions and shows that our wheat-sheep industry can be moderately proud of its productivity record