Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Ponded Pasture Systems For Beef Production In Seasonally Dry Zones Of Northern Australia, J H. Wildin

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In northern Australia's monsoonal zone the dry season nutritional stress is a major constraint to beef production. Between May and November the quality of dry native pastures is extremely low, particularly in digestibility, nitrogen and mineral content, and cattle lose weight. To overcome this serious constraint many innovative technologies in cattle husbandry, supplementary feeding and improved pastures have been developed, Growing water-loving grasses for green forage in the dry season using wet season water in artificial ponds is a permanent forage system being adopted commercially in central Queensland and other regions of northern Australia. Para grass (Bracltiaria mutica) …

Assessing The Productivity Of Pastures In The Central Highlands Region Of Queensland, Australia, J Willcocks, P Filet

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

A sustainable grazing industry requires careful management of pastures. This study measured the growth potential and productivity of different pasture types in the Central Highlands region of Queensland to develop recommendations on stocking rates which are sustainable in the long term. The most productive pasture measured, buffet grass (Cenchrus clliaris) is generally used for fattening prior to sale to the meatworks. The least productive, a mixed native pasture under a eucalypt forest, is generally used for maintaining breeding stock. Forest Mitchell grass (Bothrioclrloa ewartiana) has intermediate levels of productivity and is used for both breeding and …

Extension Through The Landcare Movement In Australia's Pastoral Zone, B R. Roberts

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Landcare movement, presently based on over 1300 landholder committees nationwide, is potentially Australia's most significant popular movement ever. Its success largely depends on producers identifying with the movement and "owning" its objectives and programmes, Central to attainment of Landcare's goals is the support given by technical advisors, These advisors require a special understanding of group extension techniques, group dynamics and the subtleties of invisible leadership when appropriate. In the vast pastoral zone of Australia, where highly independent graziers operate very individualistically, the required group extension is a special challenge to committed advisory officers.

Adopting New Technologies For Grazing Lands: The Role Of Decision Systems, John A. Ludwig, Steve Marsden

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The management of Australia's arid and semi-arid grazing lands involves the consideration of many complex and interconnected issues related to both ecological and economic factors. Climates are highly variable across these lands and markets fluctuate widely; decision making is . difficult at the best of times, As new grazing and land management technologies become available through research organisations, such as CSIRO, the adoption of these technologies is a prime concern, Traditionally, State extension services provide this information to grazing land managers, which has proven effeclive for transferring information about current short-term problems (e,g,, locust plagues) and easy to apply products …

The Victorian Volcanic Plains Grassland: Past, Present And Future, Steve G. Clark, J. Crosthwaite, J. Dorrough, J. R. Hirth, Y. Ingeme, J. Mavromihalis, V. Turner

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plains have been replaced with introduced pastures and crops since European settlement with the loss of many plant and animal species. What remains, on public and private land, has high conservation value and needs urgent protection.

Leygrain: A Participatory Action-Learning Model For Ley Pastures In Cropping Systems, D. L. Lloyd, B. Johnson, S. M. O'Brien

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Since the 1930s, crop/pasture rotation systems have been used in the wheat-sheep belt of temperate southern Australia to maintain the productivity and environmental sustainability of farming systems (Puckridge & French, 1983). Yet, in the northern grain belt of Australia, there is limited adoption of ley pastures, owing to inherently fertile and well-structured vertisol soils. However, soil fertility decline now costs the grain industry about $450 m per year. Legume-based leys are an option for improving soil OM and N and providing other benefits to cropping and livestock production systems (Lloyd et al., 1991). Despite strong one-on-one extension processes since …

Vegetation Changes In Southeast Australian Temperate Grasslands, D. L. Garden, T. P. Bolger

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In temperate areas of southeast Australia, the combined effects of tree clearing, grazing, application of fertilizer and the introduction of exotic species have modified the original grasslands. This paper describes these changes and attempts to explain them in terms of ecological principles derived from North American grasslands. Stability of the original grasslands appears to have been due to the lack of disturbance and the slow rates of nitrogen (N) cycling within them. Increased N cycling after disturbance has allowed invasion of species better adapted to higher N status, particularly exotic annual grasses and weeds. The present composition of grasslands, in …

The Response Of Selected Temperate Forages To Increasing Summer Drought Conditions And High Summer Temperatures In Northern Victoria, Australia, M. E. Rogers, A. R. Lawson, K. B. Kelly, W. J. Wales, J. L. Jacobs

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In the dairy region of northern Victoria, Australia, the performance of temperate perennial dairy pastures is often poor over summer due to a combination of high temperatures and limited water availability that can restrict dry matter production and plant survival. A series of field experiments examined the effects of heat and restricted irrigation (as a consequence of drought) on the growth and nutritive characteristics of selected forage species, and whether survival under experimental conditions was influenced by plant genotype, irrigation and grazing management strategies, as well as endophyte presence. The major focus was on perennial ryegrass.

Detailed sampling of perennial …

Phosphorus Fertilizer And Stocking Rate Effects On Soil Microbial Biomass Of A Long-Term Dairy Farmlet Experiment, S. R. Aarons, C. R. O’Connor, C. J. P. Gourley

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The effects of a range of P fertilizer rates and dairy cow stocking rates on microbial biomass carbon and phosphorus were compared in a long-term farmlet trial in southeastern Australia. Pastures were stocked at 2, 3, or 4 cows/ha and received fertilizer at rates of 0, 35, 70 or 140 kgP/ha. There was no effect of either P fertilizer rate or stocking rate on microbial biomass C from 1995 to 1998. Increasing P application rate significantly increased the chloroform-released microbial P flush measured, but stocking rate had no effect on microbial P. There were significant temporal changes, with the seasonal …

Classroom To Paddock: Delivery Of Grazing Land Management Education In The Northern Territory, Australia, Ellena Hannah

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.

The Role Modelling And Farming Systems Research Can Play In Redesigning Grazing Systems For Improved Productivity And Environmental Sustainability, Angela Avery, Kate Sargeant, Michael A. Friend, Ralph Behrendt, Paul Sanford, Craig Beverly, Cameron Allen, David L. Michalk

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Achieving production and natural resource outcomes from farming systems is critical with growing demand for livestock products, increasing pressure on land and water resources and the desire of farmers to improve profit and standard of living. In many countries this brings to the fore a number of policy dilemmas and conflicts in terms of pastoral household livelihood, regional economic growth and development, as well as natural resource management. By using two case studies; (1) Temperate Grasslands in Southern Australia (EverGraze project); and (2) Western Grasslands in North West China (ACIAR project), this paper considers how farming systems can be redesigned …

Foragemax® Herbicide–A New Product For Weed Management In Forage Brassicas In Australia, Gregory S. Wells, Peter J. Nott

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

ForageMax Herbicide (50 g/L Aminopyralid + 100 g/L ARYLEX^TM, active ingredient Halauxifen-methyl) is a new herbicide product for selective weed control in rape or turnips in Australia. ARYLEX (development code XDE-729 methyl) is a novel arylpicolinate synthetic auxin herbicide being developed by Dow AgroSciences for post-emergence broadleaf weed in cereals and several other crops. This paper describes the research conducted by Dow AgroSciences that support the application to register the product in Australia.

A Strategic Approach To Developing The Role Of Perennial Forages For Crop-Livestock Farmers, Rick Llewellyn, Michael Robertson, Richard C. Hayes, David Ferris, Clinton K. Revell, Katrien Descheemaeker

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

A substantial proportion of Australian animal production from grazing comes from regions and farms where cropping is the major enterprise. Developing new and improved grazing systems for mixed farms where crop production is the major driver of farm management decisions presents a unique research and development challenge. In this paper we describe a multi-disciplinary farming-systems research approach (‘EverCrop’) aimed at improving farm profitability, risk management and environmental impacts through the development and integration of new grazing options. It has been used to analyse and target new opportunities for farmers to benefit from perennial species across dry Mediterranean-type and temperate regions …

Developing And Implementing Animal Welfare Assessments On Extensive And Intensive Grassland Systems: An Overview, Nguyen Xuan Trach, Bob Kilgour

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

While several definitions of animal welfare exist, in this paper we use the concept of the Five Freedoms. The Five Freedoms are freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury and disease; freedom from fear and distress; freedom to perform normal behavior. While the idea of the Five Freedoms has limitations, it is still a widely-used conceptualization of animal welfare and we use it here to discuss the welfare of cattle in intensive and extensive management systems in Vietnam and Australia. Compared to extensive pasture systems, intensive management systems do result in heightened animal welfare …

Organic Wheat : A Production Guide, Steven Mccoy

Bulletins 4000 -

Many people believe that organic agriculture systems can only work in high rainfall regions. However, some of Australia’s most successful organic farmers are the experienced organic wheatbelt growers who produce cereal, pulse and oilseed crops in different regions and soil types across the country.

Wheat is the major organic cereal crop grown in Australia - predominantly noodle and breadmaking wheats for export markets.

Farming systems developed by modern organic wheat growers can differ significantly in concept, strategies and techniques from those used by conventional growers. Successful conversion to organic requires careful planning and integration of the whole farming system over …

Organic Vegetables : A Guide To Production, Steven Mccoy

Bulletins 4000 -

There appears to be considerable opportunity for the development of organic vegetable production in Western Australia for either fresh or processed product. While a number of growers are successfully producing relatively small quantities of organic vegetables for both domestic and export markets, few large scale commercial growers have sought to capitalise on this opportunity.

Consumer interest in organically grown vegetables has increased rapidly in recent years due largely to concerns relating to food safety, health and the environment. For more information on markets for organic vegetables refer to AGWEST publication “Market Prospects – Organic Carrots and other Vegetables”.

Organic Grapes And Wine : A Guide To Production, Gerry Parlevliet, Steven Mccoy

Bulletins 4000 -

The tastebuds, health concerns and environmental conscience of affluent consumers are demanding more organically grown food than producers worldwide can supply. Growing consumer concerns about the effects of synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilisers on human health and the environment have boosted world trade in organic products by a rate of about 20-30 per cent a year for the past 10 years. World trade was estimated to be worth $US 21.6 billion in 2000 and is expected to reach US$100 billion by the year 2006.

The Australian market for organic products alone is valued at $200-$250 million - with exports estimated …

The Tiger's Back "A Report On Australian Organizations For Metropolitan Planning Administration", Robert D. Kuzelka

Conservation and Survey Division

The Australian town planning scene presents many interesting and unusual aspects to the city planner from the United States of America. Aspects which because of familiarity and proximity may not strike the Australian town planner as being either interesting, or unusual. This report will discuss some of these aspects as they seem to be affecting each major metropolitan region which includes the capital city in each of the six Australian States. Throughout the report, "metropolitan region" refers to the unit, or units of Local Government which are included in the planning area of each organization which is considered in this …