Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Ecological Sustainability For Pastoral Management, Hugh Pringle, Ken Tinley

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

Pastoralists and rangeland bureaucracies are now required to operate within the limits of ecological sustainability. However, while the concept of ecological sustainability has been enshrined in law and policy at State and Commonwealth levels in Australia, there has been little translation into pastoral management objectives. The introduction of the 'EMU (Ecosystem Management Unit) process', as an equal partnership between ecologists and pastoralists, promises to bring pastoralists into close dialogue with the landscapes they manage on their stations, and to acknowledge and manage for values other than pasture production. In doing so, pastoralists are likely to increase production, reduce costs, and …

Communications Embracing New Technologies, Peter Watt, Tony Kubicki

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

The global trend in information delivery has been to electronic publications on disc, CD-Rom and the internet. Peter Watt and Tony Kubicki report on a survey of farmer preferences for receiving informationn, and describe Agriculture Western Australia's new electronic communication packages.

Today's Woolgrowers : A Profile, Ian Mcfarland

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

Woolgrowers have been faced with fluctuating prices, a mix of seasons and rising production costs since the demise of the Floor Price Scheme in 1991. despite these difficult times, there are still very large differences in productivity and profitability between wool growing properties in Western Australia. Ian McFarland looksat production levels on wool growing properties in Western Australia and outlines some actions to lift productivity.

Farming For The Future : The Agwest Library Network, Jane Serventy

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

Jane Serventy reports on the changes in information delivery at the library of Agriculture Western Australia

European Wasps : Eradicating An Unwanted Pest, Marc Widmer, John Van Schagen

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

European wasps were first found in Western Australis in 1977. Mark Widmer and John van Schagen outline the pest's life history and control progeams which are in place.

Research : Co-Operation Is The New Style, John Hamblin, Ian Maling

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

Co-operative Research Centres, or CRCs as they are known, are a new trend in agricultural research. Instead of organisations such as Departments of Agriculture or universities pursuing their own individual research projects, sometimes in competition or covering similar fields, the idea is to combine talents and expertise. CRCs were a Federal Government initiative launched in 1990, and the Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture was the first involving agriculture in Western Australia.

100 Years : The Journal Of Agriculture, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

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

The Journal of the Bureau of Agriculture made its debut on 3 April 1894 and over the intervening century has been published in a variety of styles, reflecting the fashions of the day ,and personal preferences of individual editors .

A brief history of the 'Journal of Agriculture'. WA

Using Saltland In Pakistan : An Australian Connection, Ed Barrett-Lennard, Riaz Qureshi

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

Pakistan and Australia have a common enemy in salt. In each country millions of hectares of previously productive land have been affected by salt (or have the potential to become saline) because of inappropriate agricultural development. Since 1989 the Western Australian Department of Agriculture has participated in a research project in Pakistan which involves revegetation of salt land using Australian shrubs. Early results are very promising.

100 Years Of Advancing Agriculture, Peter Watt

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

As the Department of Agriculture's centenary year draws to a close, we look back at the pioneering agriculture of 100 years ago and those things that shaped our forerunner, the fledgling Bureau of Agriculture.

Do Farmers Really Want To Eradicate Sheep Lice?, Chris Hawkins

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

With the termination of Western Australia's Sheep Lice Eradication Campaign in 1993 farmers' views about the eradication of sheep lice are of greater relevance now than in the past. Lice control now rests with individual farmers and continuing local lice cell groups .

A recent survey of producers in the Moora Shire provides some key insights into farmers' thoughts about sheep lice and their eradication.

Agriculture's Economic Performance, Ross Kingwell

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

Changes within and outside of agriculture have affected the nature and econoicperforrmance of the industry. Some clear trends have emerged and they are discussed here.

As Australian economy grows and increasingly diversifies, agriculture will become a less important sector.

However, as long as agriculture fulfils its economic role, it will support and promote economic development elsewhere in the country.

Rural Depopulation In Western Australia, Ross Kingwell

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

Western Australia's population has recently drifted from inland rural areas to cities and coastal regions. Changes in fanning practices over several decades and the recent falls in wheat and wool prices, have forced many families to leave inland farms and rural towns .

However, many families are also developing sources of off-farm income and other activities to keep themselves, local businesses and towns suroiving.

Changes In The Western Australian Dairy Farm Industry, Ross Kingwell, Graham Annan

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

Over the past decade, the number of dairy cows and the number of producers in the Western Australian dairy industry have steadily declined. The industry still relies heavily on market milk quotas for its profits, but recent export contracts have boosted profits from manufacturing milk production.

Market milk quotas remain unevenly distributed across the dairy regions and amongst quotaholders, although the regional distribution of quotas is changing.

What Do Foxes Do At Night?, Peter Mawson, John Long

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

Foxes are often labelled as ruthless killers of lambs, kid goats and poultry. However, studies of the incidence of predation on lambs and kids have shown that foxes generally kill less than 3 per cent of lambs and 3 to 5 per cent of kids,

Are foxes, therefore, killers of lambs and kid goats, or just timid scavengers?

This article provides an insight into the behaviour of foxes in lambing and kidding paddocks at the Department of Agriculture's Avondale Research Station, Beverley, and near Moora, during 1987 and 1988.

The Live Sheep Export Industry, Richard Norris, Barry Richards, Tony Higgs

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

Australia's live sheep trade to Middle Eastern countries is an important export industry. However, about 2 per cent of the sheep die, mainly during the sea voyage. The Western Australian Department of Agriculture has conducted a major research programme to improve the health and welfare of sheep during live export. The programme has'examined many aspects of the export sheep industry, and a substantial part of it has focused on why sheep die during sea transport.

Land Capability And Land Use In The Leeuwin-Naturaliste Region, Peter John Tille, Neil Lantzke

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

The Leeuwin-Naturaliste region is one of Western Australia's most beautiful areas. Located in the far south-west corner of the State, it is a popular scenis and tourist spot, as well as supporting grazing, horticultureal and viticultural enterprises.

Outside of perth the region is the most popular tourist destination in the state. It is also responsible for about a quarter of the State's milk production, and 15 percent of the state's potato production and a quarter of the State's wine grapes.

Many new agricultural enterprises have opened up in the past 15 years, and the population has increased by almost 40 …

Feeding Behaviour Of Live Sheep During Export, C L. Mcdonald

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

Live sheep exporters in Western Australia often hold as many as 00 000 sheep in assembly feedlots while the consignment is being purchased and assembled before shipment. During the assembly phase the sheep ane introduced to the pelleted rations used on board.

Industry reports have highlighted the wide variability in condidtions, facilities and procedures used, and showed that there was little evidence from which to make recommendations to the live sheep shipping indudtry. This article discusses ten experiments by the Department of Agriculture from 1981 to 1985 designed to investigate what influences the feeding behaviour of Merino wethers under conditions …

Survival Of Lambs, R W. Kelly, David Lindsay

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

Between one in every five or six lambs that are born each year in Western Australia die at or about the time of birth. This represents a loss approaching two million lambs and is arguably out single greatest wastage in sheep production. The deaths have an immediate impact on lambing performance and therefore lamb sales, and ultimately effects on such areas as selection of breeding replacement stock, the proportion of ewes and weathers that can be run in a self-replacing flock and the amount of wool produced and its uality.

This article summarises information on what influences lamb survival, and …

Avondale Research Station : Representing 150 Years Of Western Australian Farming, D A C Johnson

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

Avondale Research Station is open to the public as a 1979 Anniversary Year contribution by the Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the Primary Industries Committee of W.A.Y. 1979

New Policy Hits Hard At Sheep Lice, F C. Wilkinson

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

In March 1977 the regulation requiring compulsory routine dipping of all sheep within 30 days of shearing changed, and only infested flocks were required to be dipped. This change has allowed concentrated eradication efforts.

How Efficient Are Seeding Operations : Kondinin Work Study, E J. Roberts, C. R. Lester, J. E. Young

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

The efficiency of machinery and labour during seeding operations was studied in 1977 by the Kondinin and Districts Farm Improvement Group and the Department of Agriculture. The aim was to find what influenced efficiency during cropping.

Time spent on activities during the working day was measured, and it was found that repairs, maintenance, meals and other incidental jobs considerably reduced the time spent driving the tractor.

Each farmer participating in the study was given the results of his own farm compared to the group, indicating tasks most needing improvement.

Native Plants : Water Savers In The Garden, K S. Cole

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

The climate of Western Australia may be one of the best in the world for people but it is a difficult one for many of our imported, and common garden plants. as a consequence, some 70 per cent of our summer water usage is for gardens and lawns.

This is not the sort of statistic that we should accept easily or happily.

There is a solution to this problem: a new approach to home gardening is required.

The new garden is based on W. A.'s own colourful native plants, which are adapted to mild winters, hot dey summers and poor …

Forty Years Of Weeds And Seeds, G R W Meadly

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

The Chief of the Department of Agriculture's Biological Services Division, Mr G. R. W. Meadly, retired on November 12, after more than 40 years with the Department.

Mr Meadly who has an international reputation for his work in weed control and seed certification, was Officer-in-Charge of the Department's Seed Certification and Weed Control Branch from 1950 to early 1972, when he was appointed Chief of the Biological Services Division.

Skeleton Weed : The 1974 Narembeen Campaign, C R. Chambers

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

Skeleton weed took an alarming, historic turn in Western Australia at the 1974 New Year.

After a decade of an almost complacent pattern—control of one or two small outbreaks annually by the Agriculture Protection Board— general alarm erupted with the discovery of big areas at Pithara and mainly Narembeen.

What followed was a massive movement and engagement of not only Department staff but also the farming community in an attempt to beat this outbreak.

New Chief For Wheat And Sheep Division, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The new Chief of the Department of Agriculture's Wheat and Sheep Division is Mr. W. J. Toms, formerly the Division's Assistant Chief. He replaces Mr. T. E. McDowell who was appointed Assistant Director of Agriculture in September.

Publications Of The Department Of Agriculture, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WITH the Journal of Agriculture no longer produced as a practical monthly farming magazine, some farmers may feel they have been deprived of valuable reference material.

The publications listed below are available on application to the Department of Agriculture, Jarrah Road, South Perth, 6151, or to district offices of the Department. Bulletin numbers should be quoted when ordering by letter.

Observations On The Mating Behaviour Of Rams, K P. Croker, D. R. Lindsay

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

TO work efficiently in commercial flocks, rams must mate with and fertilise relatively large numbers of ewes, often over short periods of mating.

The importance of mating behaviour is obvious. Despite this, little is known of the mating behaviour of rams under commercial situations.

A series of experiments in 1968 at Badgingarra Research Station was designed to investigate this and other aspects of mating behaviour.

Recommendations For Management Of Flocks During Joining, K P. Croker

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

THE age or experience of the ram, the number of ewes it has to serve and the management of the ram and ewe flock at mating time all influence the lamb-marking percentage.

These are the findings of a systematic research programme conducted over the period 1963 to 1955 by Dr. R. J. Lightfoot,* in collaboration with Mr. J. A. C. Smithf (1966) and continued by the author in the years 1967 to 1969.

List Of Department Of Agriculture Publications, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE following publications are available on application from the Department of Agriculture.

Most of the bulletins listed are reprints from the Journal of Agriculture

These publications are free to farmers and in limited quantities to members of the public seeking specific advice.

The Protection Of Primary Production : The Role Of The Agriculture Protection Board Of Western Australia, A R. Tomlinson

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

THE main function of the Agriculture Protection Board of W.A. is, as its name implies, "protection", and, in this case, it is the State's primary production which is being protected from pest animals, birds and weeds.

In general, the Board's activities are centred on the prevention, destruction or management of animals and plants which are troublesome to agricultural or pastoral production, or are capable of being troublesome.