Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

2013 Barley Variety Sowing Guide For Western Australia, Blakely Paynter, Andrea Hills, Harmohinder Dhammu, Sanjiv Gupta

Bulletins 4000 -

This publication presents general information on market demand by industry sector, variety and Port Zone for each of the malting barley varieties that will potentially be segregated in Western Australia at the 2013/14 harvest (Tables 1, 2 and 3).

This information is presented on behalf of the Grain Industry of Western Australia (GIWA) Barley Council. It represents the expected demand from domestic and international customers of Western Australian barley. Before planting any variety with a malting or food classification growers are advised to talk to their preferred grain acquirer to determine their demand for each malt and food variety, potential …

Wheat Variety Guide For Wa 2012, Brenda Shackley, Sarah Ellis, Christine Zaicou, Harmohinder Dhammu, Manisha Shankar, Mohammad Amjad

Bulletins 4000 -

The wheat variety guide summarises performance characteristics of commercially available wheats which have undergone testing in the National Variety Testing Project (NVT), and Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) wheat agronomy project.

This information includes variety summaries, agronomic, disease and herbicide tolerance characteristics and medium to long-term yield performance. There is a review of regional NVT performance, time of sowing experiments and observed flowering dates in 2011. By combining agronomy research outcomes with other related wheat research this document provides current information to assist with variety choice and management for 2012.

2012 Barley Variety Sowing Guide For Western Australia, Blakely Paynter, Andrea Hills, Harmohinder Dhammu

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This variety guide is designed as a quick reference to help growers determine which barley variety to grow in their region. It provides domestic and international market feedback, relative grain yield comparisons, disease ratings, agronomic information and herbicide tolerance ratings for all malting barley varieties, the new food variety and selected feed varieties.

The Value Of Break Crops In Weed Management, Wayne Parker, Ian Pritchard, Abul Hashem

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This publication discusses the effect on weed management of the inclusion of break crops (lupin, field pea, chickpea, faba bean, lentil and canola) in the cropping rotation compared to a rotation of continuous cereals.

Including break crops in the cropping rotation allows weed management options unavailable or not suited in wheat. For example, growing field peas allows crop-topping/ desiccation for weed seed set control, crop topping cannot be used in wheat without severe yield loss. Problem weeds can be targeted through break crops, for example, grass weeds are generally more easily controlled in break crops than in cereals. Most weed …

Wheat Variety Guide For Wa 2011, Brenda Shackley, Sarah Ellis, Christine Zaicou, Harmohinder Dhammu, Manisha Shankar

Bulletins 4000 -

The wheat variety guide summarises performance characteristics of commercially available wheats which have undergone testing in the National Variety Trials Project (NVT), breeding organisations crop variety testing and Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) variety specific agronomy projects.

This information includes variety summaries, agronomic, disease and herbicide tolerance characteristics and medium to long-term yield performance. A review of regional performance in 2010 is followed by a comprehensive summary of 2010 variety time of sowing experiments and observed flowering dates.

By combining agronomy research outcomes with other related wheat research this document provides current information to assist with variety choice and …

Subsurface Compaction A Guide For Wa Farmers And Consultants, Stephen Davies, Alison Lacey

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For plants to grow in agricultural soils, roots and emerging shoots must be able to force their way through the soil. In soils of high strength, this growth is physically restricted. High strength soils may be due to natural soil characteristics and conditions or develop as a result of agricultural practices and may be in layers or throughout the soil profile.

In agriculture, high strength soils commonly occur as a result of compaction. Compaction of agricultural soils can be in the surface (often caused by stock trampling or rain drop splatter) or in the subsurface (usually in a layer at …

Adoption Of Sustainable Farm Management To Improve Tailwater Quality - A Plan For The Ord River Irrigation Area, Tara Slaven, Rebecca Heath, Jamie Bowyer

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The overall purpose of this plan is to provide a clear pathway to improve adoption of sustainable farming practices. The focus of the plan is to develop and encourage adoption of practices that minimise sediment, nutrient and chemical export from agricultural land within the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) (Figure 1). The plan aims to build on the significant work done by growers, government agencies and community groups over the years to manage the off-site impacts of irrigated agriculture.

A broad consultative approach was used to develop the plan. Workshops, meetings and oneon- one discussions were held with the local …

Wheat Variety Guide 2010 Western Australia, Christine Zaicou, Steve Penny, Brenda Shackley, Sarah Ellis, Shahajahan Miyan, Harmohinder Dhammu, Manisha Shankar, Darshan Sharma

Bulletins 4000 -

This guide summarises performance characteristics of commercially available wheats which have undergone testing in the National Variety Testing Project (NVT), breeding organisations crop variety testing and Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) variety specific agronomy projects. This information includes variety summaries, agronomic, disease and herbicide tolerance characteristics and medium to long-term yield performance. A review of regional performance in 2009 is followed by a comprehensive summary of 2009 variety time of sowing experiments and observed flowering dates.

By combining agronomy research outcomes with other related wheat research this document provides current information to assist with variety choice and management for …

Lucerne Guidelines For Western Australia Principles For Integrating A Perennial Pasture Into Broadacre Dryland Farming Systems, Diana Fedorenko, Perry Dolling, Christopher Loo, Tom Bailey, Roy Latta

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Lucerne, often regarded as the queen of forages, has been used in agriculture for centuries. In Western Australia, however, its potential has never been fully realised despite its well-documented ability to dewater soils and reduce groundwater recharge. Over the years adoption has been limited by a range of factors including pests and diseases, soil acidity, grazing management and economics. During the last decade research has addressed these issues, paving the way for much greater impact at the farm and catchment level.

Can R&D Investment Offset The Negative Impact Of Climate Change On Agricultural Productivity?, Nazrul Islam, Ruhul A. Salim

Climate Science Published Reports

Productivity growth in agriculture helps maintain the nation's economic prosperity. However, long-run productivity growth in agriculture faces several challenges such as the potential worsening of climate due to global warming and the loss of productive land due to land use competition, salinity, wind erosion and soil acidity. Strategic policy making and appropriate funding for sustained productivity growth in agriculture is therefore crucial.

Research and development (R&D) to drive innovation is an acknowledged main source of productivity growth. The development and application of technologies generated through R&D boosts agriculture's productivity. Agricultural R&D activities in Australia and in most other developed economies …

Exporting Vegetables In Bulk : Reducing Supply Chain Costs Without Compromising Quality, Helen Ramsey, Dennis Phillips

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Increased competition, a strong Australian dollar and increased production costs have seen Australian grown vegetables steadily lose their share in traditional export markets.

As competition increases, we need to investigate production and handling techniques that improve our price and quality competitiveness.

Improving the effi ciency of the supply chain to export markets is one way Australian growers can reduce production and shipping costs and improve product quality.

Pasture Condition Guide For The Ord River Catchment, K Ryan, E Tierney, P Novelly

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This guide has been produced as a tool for assessing pasture condition over a range of pasture types in the Ord River catchment. A pasture type is a distinctive mix of plant species, soil type and landscape position. For example, the Mitchell Grass Alluvial Plain Pasture type is a mixture of Mitchell grasses and other species occurring on black soil alluvial plains.

Pasture condition is an important factor affecting the potential of the rangelands for animal production and is a useful indicator for the sustainability of production.

Crop Updates - 2009 Katanning, Murray Scholz, Peter Newman, Glenn Adam, Trevor Bell, Michael Whitehead, W. K. Anderson, Chris Gazey, J. Andrew, R. Pearce, Bill Bowden, Wayne Pluske, Jeremy Lemon, D. C. Edmeades, J. J. Russell, Blakely H. Paynter, David Ferris, Abul Hashen, Catherine Borger, Stephen B. Powels, Qin Yu, Mechelle Owen, Roberto Busi, Sudheesh Manalil, Sally Peltzer, David Minkey, Raj Malik

Crop Updates

This session covers seventeen papers from different authors

1. GM canola – How will it affect the way I farm? Murray Scholz, 2008 Nuffield scholar, Southern NSW

2. Eight years of IWM smashes tyegrass seed banks by 98% over 31 focus paddocks, Peter Newman, Glenn Adam & Trevor Bell, Department of Agriculture and Food

3. The global economic climate and impacts on agriculture, profile on Michael Whitehead Rabobank New York

4. Lessons from five years of cropping systems research, W.K. Anderson, Department of Agriculture and Food

5. Case study of a 17year old agricultural lime trial, C. Gazey, Department of Agriculture …

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Crop Updates 2009 - Cereals, Jeff Baldock, Doug Edmeades, Mark Seymour, Paul Carmody, Ian Pritchard, Alan Meldrum, Michael Robertson, Roger Lawes, Rob Sands, Peter White, Felicity Byrne, Andrew Bathgate, Kedar Adhikari, Tanveer Khan, Stuart Morgan, Alan Harris, P. Gaur, K. M. H. Siddique, H. Clarke, N. C. Turner, W. Macleod, S. Morgan, Chris Veitch, Tony Leonforte, Kithsiri Jayasena, Geoff J. Thomas, Rob Loughman, Kazue Tanaka, Ravjit Khangura, Mohammad Amjad, Richard Oliver, Dusty Severtson, Peter Mangano, John Botha, Brenda A. Coutts, Manisha Shankar, Kasia Rybak, Michael Baker, Andrea Hills, Shahajahan Miyan, Peter Portmann, Nicole Rice, Robert Henry, Jeff Russell, Blakely H. Paynter, Linda Price, Brenda Shackley, Vicki Scanlan, Darshan Sharma, Christine M. Zaicou-Kunesch

Crop Updates

This session covers twenty seven papers from different authors:

PLENARY

1. Building soil carbon for productivity and implications for carbon accounting, Jeff Baldock, CSIRO Land and Water, Adelaide, SA

2. Fact or Fiction: Who is telling the truth and how to tell the difference, Doug Edmeades, agKnowledge Ltd, Hamilton

3. Four decades of crop sequence trials in Western Australia, Mark Seymour,Department of Agriculture and Food

BREAK CROPS

4. 2008 Break Crops survey Report, Paul Carmody,Development Officer, Department of Agriculture and Food

5. Attitudes of Western Australian wheatbelt growers to ‘Break Crops’, Paul Carmody and Ian …

Wheat Variety Guide 2009 Western Australia, Ben Curtis, Steve Penny, Christine Zaicou, Harmohinder Dhammu, Sarah Ellis, Dorthe Jorgensen, Shahajahan Miyan, Brenda Shackley, Darshan Sharma

Bulletins 4000 -

This guide summarises performance characteristics of commercially available wheats which have undergone testing in the National Variety Testing Project (NVT), breeding organisations crop variety testing and Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) variety specific agronomy projects. This information includes variety summaries, agronomic, disease and herbicide tolerance characteristics and medium to long-term yield performance. A review of regional performance in 2008 is followed by a comprehensive summary of 2008 variety time of sowing experiments and observed flowering dates.

By combining agronomy research outcomes with other related wheat research this document provides current information to assist with variety choice and management for …

Management Of Merino Weaners For Optimum Production, Patricia Harper, Keith Croker, Danny Roberts

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Sheep mortality during the first year of life is a large problem on many farms and poses a significant animal welfare issue for Australian agriculture. Post weaning mortality is estimated to cost the Australian sheep industry more than $89 million annually through reduced income, poor productivity and increased management expenses (Sackett et al. 2006).

A high mortality rate among weaners reduces the number of surplus animals available for sale and the number of potential breeding replacements. This, in turn, affects the selection intensity for desirable traits and the flock’s rate of genetic improvement.

Ill thrift and poor growth of weaner …

Soil Ph In Northern And Southern Areas Of The Wa Wheatbelt, Chris Gazey, Joel Andrew

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More than 80% of the topsoils sampled fall below the critical surface pHCaCl2 of 5.5 in the northern and southern wheatbelt study areas, with more in the south than the north. These results confirm soil acidity is a serious concern throughout the WA wheatbelt when considered in conjunction with the more intensive analysis of current soil pH throughout the Avon River Basin (2005–2008).

With low topsoil pH, it is likely that subsurface acidity is also a problem. For soil acidity to be managed, subsurface pH also needs to be known. In the Avon River Basin study, about half of the …

Survey Of Western Australian Agricultural Lime Sources, Chris Gazey, Dave Gartner

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As a service to WA wheatbelt farmers, to assist with cost effective management of soil acidity, a survey of agricultural lime availability and quality was conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

The quality of agricultural lime surveyed varied widely between pits. High quality lime is available from limes and, limestone and dolomite sources. Twice as much of the lowest neutralising value lime surveyed would need to be applied compared to the highest to achieve the same increase in soil pH. Limes also varied in the distribution of particle sizes. Selecting limes with a high proportion of …

Plan To Support Horticulture Industry Development 2009-2012, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Horticulture published reports

The Plan to Support Horticulture Industry Development ('the Plan') recognises that healthy and profitable Western Australian agricultural industries are integral to the economic wellbeing of regional and rural communities. The Plan promotes a progressive and productive horticultural industry through efficient use of natural resources, high standards of biosecurity, modern marketing, value-adding and research to enhance continuous improvement throughout the supply chain from producer to consumer.

Plan To Support Horticulture Industry Development 2009 - 2012 - For Discussion, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Horticulture published reports

The State Government's increased investment in agriculture and food recognises the integral contribution this sector makes to the economy of Western Australia.

It is a key industry which will support Western Australia's growth beyond periods of boom and through the economic rebuilding phase ahead. Ensuring the State remains highly competitive in both domestic and international markets is vital to the future of our economy

Public funds must be 'money well spent'. This means ensuring the right direction, efficiency and effectiveness of the Department of Agriculture and Food's programs. The department must focus its efforts on economic development - this is …

Diagnosing Crop And Pasture Problems With Detective Doug, Doug Sawkins

Bulletins 4000 -

There are numerous publications for diagnosing crop and pasture growth problems. Although they are excellent for experienced people, they can be time consuming and possibly misleading for the less experienced.

Many guidebooks assume that the user has already decided that their problem falls into the category covered by their particular guidebook, for example, a disease, pest or herbicide problem.

Guidebooks are often based on plant symptoms. However, in the field, symptoms vary and different problems can have similar symptoms.

This bulletin presents a problem diagnosis method that uses plant symptoms and paddock clues. It can be used to draw up …

Strawberry Root And Crown Rot Disease Survey 2005 And 2006 Seasons, Dennis Phillips, Hossein Golzar

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Reports of unusually high numbers of plant deaths in strawberry crops from growers in Western Australia prompted a survey to identify the cause. Plant and soil samples were taken from a range of growers and runner sources over a two-year period and tested for plant pathogens.

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae was identified as the predominant pathogen, the first recording of this in Western Australia. Further work is planned to clarify the epidemiology of this pathogen and evaluate suitable methods of control. Patches

Crop Updates 2008 - Cereals, Christine M. Zaicou-Kunesch, Shahajahan Miyan, Brenda Shackley, Steve Penny, Sarah Ellis, Darshan Sharma, Blakely Paynter, Jeff Russell, Andrea Hills, Glen Riethmuller, Bill Bowden, Paul Blackwell, Harmohinder Dhammu, Vince Lambert, Chris Roberts, David Cox, Sally Cox, Jeremy Lemon, Paul Damon, Zed Rengel, Geoff J. Thomas, Ciara Beard, Anne Smith, Kithsiri Jayasena, Sean Kelly, Rob Loughman, Bill Macleod, Raj Malik, Ravjit Khangura, Vivien Vanstone, Colin Hanbury, Mehreteab Aberra, Gordon Masnish, Brenda A. Coutts, Geoff Strickland, Monica Kehoe, Dustin Severtson, Roger A C Jones, Dominie Wright, Megan Jordan, Xinhua He, Eli Manyol, Song-Ai Nio, Imran Malik, Tina Botwright-Acuña, Len Wade, Nigel Metz, Linda Price, Dean A. Diepeveen, Leisa Armstrong, Peter Clarke, Doug Abrecht, Rudi Appels, Matthew Bellgard

Crop Updates

This session covers twenty four papers from different authors:

WHEAT AGRONOMY

1. Wheat variety performance in the Northern Agricultural Region in 2007, Christine Zaicou, Department of Agriculture and Food

2. Wheat variety performance on the Central Agricultural Region in 2007, Shahajahan Miyan, Department of Agriculture and Food

3. Response of wheat varieties to sowing time in the Great Southern and Lakes Region in 2007, Brenda Shackley and Steve Penny, Department of Agriculture and Food

4. Wheat variety performance in the South Coastal Region in 2007, Sarah Ellis, Department of Agriculture and Food

5. Flowering dates of wheat varieties in Western …

Wheat Variety Guide 2008 Western Australia, Christine Zaicou, Ben Curtis, Harmohinder Dhammu, Sarah Ellis, Dorthe Jorgensen, Shahajahan Miyan, Steve Penny, Brenda Shackley, Darshan Sharma

Bulletins 4000 -

This guide summarises performance characteristics of commercially available wheats and some pre-commercial lines. These lines have undergone testing in the National Variety Testing Project (NVT), Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) wide-scale crop variety testing (CVT) and/or variety specific agronomy projects. This information includes variety summaries (Table 1), agronomic, disease and herbicide tolerance characteristics (Tables 2 to 4), medium- to long-term yield performance by wheat grade and Agzone (Tables 5 and 6). A review of regional performance in 2007 is followed by a comprehensive summary of 2007 variety time of sowing experiments (Tables 7 to 14) and flowering …

Producing Lupins, Peter White, Bob French, Amelia Mclarty, Grains Research And Development Corporation

Bulletins 4000 -

The book contains detailed information on lupin establishment, weed control, disease management and harvesting. It also provides an excellent background to the history of lupins in Western Australia, the development of the plant and its adaptation to the Western Australian environment

Wheat Invest. A Compelling Business Case For Investment In The Western Australian Wheat Industry, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

Western Australia (WA) is an ideal location for wheat production. It has competitive advantages including:

• A proven track record in wheat production accounting for approximately 50 per cent of Australia's production. Based on a five year average from 2003/04 to 2007/08*, WA produces around 7.7 million tonnes of wheat per year.

• Over the past five years, the top 25 per cent of farmers averaged 10 per cent return on capital excluding changes in land value.

• Export focussed due to WA's small population. 90 per cent of WA's wheat is exported

• Abundant land at competitive prices and …

Tree Windbreaks In The Wheatbelt, Robert Sudmeyer, David Bicknell, Neil Coles

Bulletins 4000 -

Windbreaks comprising trees, or tree and shrub combinations, can offer many benefits on wheatbelt farms, particularly for protection of soil, stock, crops and pastures from damaging winds and erosion. Additional benefits include reduced evaporation from farm dams, reduced groundwater recharge, their use as nature conservation corridors and habitats, increased biodiversity including predators of crop and pasture pests, fire control, tree products and improved lifestyle and aesthetics.

In other areas and farming systems such as intensive horticulture, man-made windbreaks may be used, but their higher cost makes them unsuited for broadscale agriculture. Man-made windbreaks can be effective in reducing evaporative losses …

Pulse Industry Extension : Expanding Pulse Cropping By Targeted Extension Of Improved Varieties And Management Packages : A Final Report Prepared For The Grains Research And Development Corporation : Grdc Project Number Daw00100, Mark Seymour

Research Reports

The project aimed to overcome the barrier of harvesting field peas by promoting the role and value of semi-leafless varieties in combination with appropriate management in order to modify the attitude of growers and their advisers towards field pea [in Western Australia]." -- Project summary.

Organic Apples A Production Guide, Steven Mccoy

Bulletins 4000 -

The belief among some conventional apple growers that it is not possible to reliably produce profitable yields of good quality apples under an organic system in Western Australia is being reconsidered. There are now very good examples of successful commercial organic apple orchards in many parts of the world, including WA. The organic production systems developed by these dedicated growers are showing that yields and quality are comparable to conventional systems.

Identification And Control Of Pest Slugs And Snails For Broadacre Crops In Western Australia, Svetlana Micic, Ken Henry, Paul Horne

Bulletins 4000 -

The numbers of slugs and snails have increased in broadacre cropping in Western Australia with the use of minimum tillage and stubble-retention practices. The organic content of paddocks increases under such systems, providing an increased food source especially to young slugs and snails. Soil moisture content is greater over summer leading to higher survival levels of slugs and snails.

Slug and snail pests in Australia have come from other countries, mainly the Mediterranean region. They damage plant seeds (mainly legumes), recently germinated seeds, seedlings and leaves and can be a contaminant of grain at harvest.