R[0]="2107"; T[0]="Case Credit Encourages Farmers to Keep Talking"; A[0]="By ... Case IH"; Dn[0]="20071024"; Dt[0]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[0]="a01"; B1[0]="      The key message from Case Credit at Tuesday's Maintain the Edge drought crisis forum in Wudinna, South Australia was about the importance "; B2[0]="of farmers talking - to each other, to their families, to their friends and to their financiers... "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]="      The key message from Case Credit at Tuesday's Maintain the Edge drought crisis forum in Wudinna, South Australia was about the importance "; S2[0]=" of farmers talking - to each other, to their families, to their friends and to their financiers.
      Maintain the Edge was organised "; S3[0]=" by the Eyre Peninsula Rural Counselling Committee.
      Committee member, Eleanor Scholz, said the 165 people at the event were grateful for the "; S4[0]=" opportunity to hear from all of the speakers, including Joe Ulanas, General Manager Sales and Service for Case Credit.
      Case Credit was "; S5[0]=" invited to participate in the forum by local Case IH dealer, Ramsey Bros, and Joe was the only finance representative to speak at the event.
"; S6[0]="       'The aim of this event was to give people information and encouragement and let them know they're not on their own,' Eleanor "; S7[0]=" said.
      'The forum acknowledged the difficulties everyone is facing and encouraged people to talk about it.
      A lot of "; S8[0]=" people find it hard to talk about their concerns, and not just with each other - they're worried about letting their financiers know about the "; S9[0]=" issues they are facing.
      'Joe's message was very understanding and he let people know that if they needed to refinance, the first "; S10[0]=" step was to just talk with Case Credit.' Joe said he wanted people to know that Case Credit is focused on meeting farmers needs and "; S11[0]=" that they have developed schemes to re-finance and help farmers.
      'It was great to see such a strong turnout.
      "; S12[0]=" After the event I had a lot of people commenting that they appreciated a finance company making the effort to attend and allay some of "; S13[0]=" their fears.
      I think they were relieved to learn that Case Credit is genuine about wanting to help them survive this drought.
"; S14[0]="       'We want to do everything we can to help our clients and we're willing to look at all the options to re-work "; S15[0]=" their finance.
      We have solutions that provide a short term reprieve from repayments or we can offer a longer term restructure of "; S16[0]=" accounts if needed.
      Joe said the Maintain the Edge event helped restore some optimism in the area.
      'The farmers "; S17[0]=" in this area are a resilient group and I think that this event provided them with some inspiration and alleviated some of their fears.
  "; S18[0]="     The organisers should be congratulated.'.. "; R[1]="2106"; T[1]="Forum to show how improved pastures can cut production costs"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20071024"; Dt[1]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[1]="a24a27a72"; B1[1]="      'Is it worth the effort?' That's the question many Queensland cattle producers are asking when it comes to moving from native pastures "; B2[1]="to 'improved pastures' which can include a mix of legumes, exotic grasses and browse species such as leucaena... "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]="      'Is it worth the effort?' That's the question many Queensland cattle producers are asking when it comes to moving from native pastures "; S2[1]=" to 'improved pastures' which can include a mix of legumes, exotic grasses and browse species such as leucaena.
      If the improvements in "; S3[1]=" animal nutrition, increased growth rates and animal turnover are any indication then the answer would be yes.
      Pasture expert Dr Scott Dalzell "; S4[1]=" from the University of Queensland, a keynote speaker at next month's National Beef Industry Forum near Rockhampton, said improving pastures is one of the best "; S5[1]=" ways to boost an enterprise's bottom line.
      'Your cost of production can significantly be reduced by moving from native to improved pastures "; S6[1]=" because animal nutrition is improved, livestock liveweight gain is better, animal turnover is quicker and you depend less on urea supplementation,' Dr Dalzell said.
  "; S7[1]="     'Environmentally, many improved pastures are more sustainable than native pastures because they are resilient under moderate grazing pressure.
      They maintain "; S8[1]=" better ground cover thereby reducing soil erosion and improving water quality.
      'Legumes are a particularly important component of improved pasture systems because "; S9[1]=" they improve soil fertility which ensures long-term sustainability of production as well as improving the forage quality of pastures because of their higher protein content.' "; S10[1]=" The National Beef Industry Forum - one of the biggest events of its type ever to be held in Australia - will be held at "; S11[1]=" Paradise Lagoons near Rockhampton on Wednesday 21 November, while the MLA AGM will be held in Rockhampton the following day.
      The National "; S12[1]=" Beef Industry Forum will provide cattle producers the opportunity to listen to and talk with a range of industry specialists who will speak on a "; S13[1]=" number of topics under the theme of 'Meating the future head on'.
      The National Beef Industry Forum will be a combination of "; S14[1]=" a field day, conference, trade show and expo and is being held by MLA in conjunction with a local organising committee of enthusiastic and experienced "; S15[1]=" Queensland cattle producers.
      Pre-event registrations for the National Beef Industry Forum are $20 for MLA members and $30 for non-members.
    "; S16[1]="   A casual evening function will be held on-site at Paradise Lagoons following the forum and will cost $20 per person.
      An "; S17[1]=" $80 MLA-member family special package is also available, which provides entry to the forum and evening function (maximum 4 family members).
      To "; S18[1]=" register call 1800 675 717 or email noel@beefaustralia.com.au... "; R[2]="2105"; T[2]="Turning stormwater into drinking water"; A[2]="By ... CSIRO"; Dn[2]="20071024"; Dt[2]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[2]="a40a42"; B1[2]="      A public tasting of reclaimed stormwater will be held during National Water Week in a seminar being organised by Water for a "; B2[2]="Healthy Country Flagship to highlight innovations in urban water management... "; B3[2]=" "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]="      A public tasting of reclaimed stormwater will be held during National Water Week in a seminar being organised by Water for a "; S2[2]=" Healthy Country Flagship to highlight innovations in urban water management.
      The seminar, detailing how stormwater previously left to flow down drains can "; S3[2]=" be harvested for drinking water, will be held at the Plant Research Centre, Hartley Grove, Waite campus, Urrbrae, on Monday, 22 October at 4pm.
  "; S4[2]="     The public seminar has been organised by Water for a Healthy Country Flagship to highlight innovations in urban water management.
      "; S5[2]=" Speakers from CSIRO, the Salisbury Council and the National Water Commission will discuss how stormwater innovation is being used to meet Australia's water challenge.
  "; S6[2]="     The seminar will highlight two case studies where stormwater has been used for drinking, historically in Mount Gambier in SA's south east, and "; S7[2]=" more recently, a project under development at metropolitan Salisbury, Adelaide.
      'Dr Peter Dillon, who leads CSIRO's Recycling and Diversified Supply stream in "; S8[2]=" the Water for a Healthy Country' Flagship's Urban Water Theme, says the process has been used for a demonstration bottling of stormwater as drinking water, "; S9[2]=" which will be available for tasting after the seminar.' Colin Pitman, Director, City Projects, City of Salisbury, will discuss the Aquifer Storage Transfer and Recovery "; S10[2]=" (ASTR) project, an unique project involving CSIRO, United Water, the City of Salisbury, SA Water and the SA Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation.
"; S11[2]="       The ASTR demonstration project will involve about 200,000 cubic metres of urban stormwater being harvested each year via a reed bed and "; S12[2]=" injected into an aquifer to improve quality before recovery from separate wells at drinking water standards.
      Dr Peter Dillon, who leads CSIRO's "; S13[2]=" Recycling and Diversified Supply stream in the Water for a Healthy Country' Flagship's Urban Water Theme, says the process has been used for a demonstration "; S14[2]=" bottling of stormwater as drinking water, which will be available for tasting after the seminar.
      Prime Minister John Howard and Environment and "; S15[2]=" Water Resources Minister Malcolm Turnbull were amongst the first to drink the bottled stormwater at the 17th meeting of the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and "; S16[2]=" Innovation Council in Canberra in June, 2007.
      The seminar will be introduced by Dr John Radcliffe AM, FTSE, a commissioner with the "; S17[2]=" National Water Commission and Honorary Research Fellow with CSIRO... "; R[3]="2104"; T[3]="Decline in uptake of carbon emissions confirmed"; A[3]="By ... CSIRO"; Dn[3]="20071024"; Dt[3]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[3]="a42a89a93"; B1[3]="      A decline in the proportion of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions absorbed by land and oceans is speeding up the growth of atmospheric "; B2[3]="CO2, according to a paper published today in the US Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science... "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]="      A decline in the proportion of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions absorbed by land and oceans is speeding up the growth of atmospheric "; S2[3]=" CO2, according to a paper published today in the US Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
      Lead author and Executive "; S3[3]=" Director of the Global Carbon Project, CSIRO's Dr Pep Canadell, says the acceleration is due to three factors: global economic growth; the world's economy becoming "; S4[3]=" more carbon intense (that is, since 2000 more carbon is being emitted to produce each dollar of global wealth); and a deterioration in the land "; S5[3]=" and oceans' ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere at the required rate.
      'What we are seeing is a decrease in the "; S6[3]=" planet's ability to absorb carbon emissions due to human activity,' Dr Canadell says.
      'Fifty years ago, for every tonne of CO2 emitted, "; S7[3]=" 600kg were removed by land and ocean sinks.
      However, in 2006, only 550kg were removed per tonne and that amount is falling.' "; S8[3]=" 'The longer we delay reducing emissions, the more restorative capacity will be lost,' Dr Raupach says.
      Dr Canadell says the results have "; S9[3]=" major implications for the current and future growth of atmospheric CO2.
      'The majority of current emission scenarios for modelling climate through the "; S10[3]=" 21st century assume sustained decreases in the carbon intensity of the global economy, which have not occurred since 2000,' he says.
      CSIRO's "; S11[3]=" Dr Mike Raupach, a co-chair of the Global Carbon Project, says 'The carbon cycle is generating stronger-than-expected and sooner-than-expected climate 'forcing' - that is, mechanisms "; S12[3]=" that 'force' the climate to change.
      In turn, climate change itself is feeding back to affect the carbon cycle, decreasing land and "; S13[3]=" ocean sinks.' Most of the co-authors of the study - including Dr Canadell and Dr Raupach - are members of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on "; S14[3]=" Climate Change which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 earlier this month.
      Dr Raupach says the research shows that the "; S15[3]=" Earth is losing its restorative capacity to absorb CO2 emissions following massive increases in emissions over the past half century.
      'The longer "; S16[3]=" we delay reducing emissions, the more restorative capacity will be lost,' Dr Raupach says... "; R[4]="2103"; T[4]="Changing times for women in the sugar industry"; A[4]="By ... CSIRO"; Dn[4]="20071024"; Dt[4]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[4]="a20a49"; B1[4]="      A project to improve women's participation in decision making in the sugar industry has discovered that the role and status of women "; B2[4]="in the industry is changing... "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]="      A project to improve women's participation in decision making in the sugar industry has discovered that the role and status of women "; S2[4]=" in the industry is changing.
      Researchers from CSIRO and the University of Queensland interviewed both women and men working in various roles "; S3[4]=" in the sugar industry.
      'The message from both men and women is that the industry is starting to accept women in what "; S4[4]=" were traditionally male roles and there is greater recognition of their contribution,' project leader Dr Emma Jakku of CSIRO said.
      Many of "; S5[4]=" the women interviewed felt that they are now more accepted on industry boards and at industry meetings and are increasingly being employed in different sectors "; S6[4]=" within the industry.
      Women who are employed in industry sectors, such as extension and milling, said that their focus was on doing "; S7[4]=" their job well, rather than their gender.
      'The message from both men and women is that the industry is starting to accept "; S8[4]=" women in what were traditionally male roles and there is greater recognition of their contribution,' project leader Dr Emma Jakku of CSIRO said.
    "; S9[4]="   'The majority of women we interviewed rated their participation within the sugar industry as highly important to them personally.
      Their reasons "; S10[4]=" ranged from the need to be involved in their family business, through to the need for women's perspectives to be heard,' Ms Jenny Bellamy of "; S11[4]=" University of Queensland said.
      Women in the study identified a need for better communication, networking and information exchange among women in the "; S12[4]=" industry.
      Many women, especially in the growing sector, work off farm to help support their family and are unable to attend industry "; S13[4]=" meetings, meaning that this group of women needs to give and receive information in other ways.
      To try and meet this need, "; S14[4]=" a group of motivated sugar women are working together to create an email and online network to improve communication and information sharing.
      "; S15[4]=" This research is being funded by the Sugar Research and Development Corporation as part of its strategy to help the men and women of the "; S16[4]=" Australian sugarcane industry respond and adapt to change.
      The researchers are collaborating with: Bundaberg, Isis and Wet Tropics Women in Sugar groups, "; S17[4]=" BSES Limited, CANEGROWERS, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Burnett Mary Regional Group for NRM, Terrain NRM, FNQ and Wide Bay Area Consultative Committees, "; S18[4]=" Isis Mill, Centacare and individuals across the industry... "; R[5]="2102"; T[5]="Record harvest in Champagne"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20071024"; Dt[5]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[5]="a13"; B1[5]="      The 2007 harvest in Champagne is set to result in the largest volume of wine ever produced in the appellation.... "; B2[5]=" "; B3[5]=" "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]="      The 2007 harvest in Champagne is set to result in the largest volume of wine ever produced in the appellation.
    "; S2[5]="   If current figures are correct, this year will beat the record level of 375m bottles made from the bumper 2004 crop by over 13m "; S3[5]=" bottles.
      Although the expected average yield of 14,000 kilos per hectare (ha) will not better the highest yield levels achieved in "; S4[5]=" 1982 and 1983, the total amount of productive vineyard in Champagne has risen 38%.
      Plantings in the region have increased every year "; S5[5]=" since the early eighties.
      Had the maximum yield of 15,500kg/ha been achieved, production would have surpassed 430m bottles.
      "; S6[5]=" A poor summer, however, has affected the quantity of the black-skinned grapes Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
      Hail also hit some "; S7[5]=" areas earlier in the year and in those badly affected volumes are as low as 8,000kg/ha.
      The 2007 harvest is the "; S8[5]=" first to have the new maximum yields of 15,500kg/ha in place.
      Agreed by the Institut Nationale d'Appellations d'Origine (INAO), this new limit "; S9[5]=" will run for an experimental period of five harvests from 2007 to 2011.
      Although initially 340m bottles will be produced with "; S10[5]=" the base yield set at 12,400kg/ha, vineyard owners have the option of producing a further 3,100kg/ha, with the aim of using this surplus to increase "; S11[5]=" their reserves.
      Kept as still wine, the reserve is to be used in case of a drop in production due to "; S12[5]=" a poor harvest or if demand continues to increase... "; R[6]="2101"; T[6]="Stormwater for drinking"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20071024"; Dt[6]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[6]="a40"; B1[6]="      Adelaide residents will be drinking recycled stormwater from the mains in the future as traditional water supplies continue to dwindle, says the "; B2[6]="National Water Commission... "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]="      Adelaide residents will be drinking recycled stormwater from the mains in the future as traditional water supplies continue to dwindle, says the "; S2[6]=" National Water Commission.
      South Australia's representative on the commission Dr John Radcliffe says treated stormwater will form part of SA Water's metropolitan "; S3[6]=" supply in the future to ensure long-term water security in the city.
      Dr Radcliffe said governments had traditionally treated stormwater as a "; S4[6]=" 'hazard' and as waste which could not be used.
      He said stormwater should instead be seen as a resource.
      "; S5[6]=" 'People naturally feel a little concerned about drinking water that doesn't fall off the hillsides, but some of these hillsides aren't that pristine,' he said.
"; S6[6]="       'All water is recycled water, that's the hydrological cycle.' Stormwater is already collected, stored and used for irrigation purposes in parks across "; S7[6]=" Adelaide.
      A world-first trial to treat stormwater naturally in underground aquifers to a standard suitable for human consumption is now under way "; S8[6]=" at Parafield.
      Dr Radcliffe said the trial was one reason why South Australia was more advanced in stormwater reuse than elsewhere in "; S9[6]=" Australia.
      'One has to look at all water resources that are around and there is no perfect resource for a particular circumstance,' "; S10[6]=" he said.
      'One of the benefits is that (treated stormwater) has a lot less salinity than is found in Adelaide tap water.' "; S11[6]=" Treated stormwater will be added to the mains water pipes and dispersed among households.
      The water will supplement existing sources but figures "; S12[6]=" on what portion of existing supply could be supplemented are yet to be researched.
      Draft guidelines on the use of recycled water "; S13[6]=" for drinking have been developed by the National Water Commission.
      They are expected to be endorsed by state water ministers, including SA "; S14[6]=" Water Security minister Karlene Maywald, when they meet to discuss the guidelines early next year... "; R[7]="2100"; T[7]="Seahorses open new export doors in the west"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20071024"; Dt[7]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[7]="a24a55"; B1[7]="      While WA's mid-west is mainly known for its wheat and iron ore exports, the region's about to add seahorses to the list.... "; B2[7]=" "; B3[7]=" "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]="      While WA's mid-west is mainly known for its wheat and iron ore exports, the region's about to add seahorses to the list.
"; S2[7]="       Within a month, live seahorses will be sold to Europe, Canada and America as aquarium pets.
      Dr Mick Payne "; S3[7]=" from the Kalbarri Seahorse Sanctuary says it could be a profitable enterprise.
      'I'd have to say that captive-bred seahorses are certainly worth "; S4[7]=" more on the export market than they are domestically,' he says.
      'There's another farm supplying the domestic market and it's not a "; S5[7]=" huge market here so the value of the product is down, but it's a rather large market in the UK and in the US.
  "; S6[7]="     So they're worth I'd say probably about fifty per cent more on the export market'... "; R[8]="2099"; T[8]="Wool industry braces for price falls"; A[8]="By ... Editor"; Dn[8]="20071024"; Dt[8]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[8]="a25"; B1[8]="      The wool industry is anxiously watching to see how this week's big offering of almost 67,000 bales sells.... "; B2[8]=" "; B3[8]=" "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]="      The wool industry is anxiously watching to see how this week's big offering of almost 67,000 bales sells.
      After "; S2[8]=" strong rises early last week, the eastern market indicator fell seven cents on Thursday, after reports that a major exporter had sold 1000 tonnes of "; S3[8]=" wool into China at below market rates.
      Riverina wool broker Marty Moses says that trends likely to continue this week, but he's "; S4[8]=" not sure how much prices will fall.
      'That's going to be the $64 million question, what it did was immediately put a "; S5[8]=" halt to any offers that exporters had out to China and other countries so it will be the benchmark I think,' he says... "; R[9]="2098"; T[9]="Canadian farmer rejects Japanese GM claims"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20071024"; Dt[9]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[9]="a12"; B1[9]="      A visiting Canadian farmer says Australian canola growers shouldn't be swayed by lobby groups opposed to genetically modified crops.... "; B2[9]=" "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]="      A visiting Canadian farmer says Australian canola growers shouldn't be swayed by lobby groups opposed to genetically modified crops.
      "; S2[9]=" A Japanese consumer delegation arrived in Australia last week to pressure state governments to extend their bans on GM canola.
      But Stew "; S3[9]=" Gilroy, president of the Canadian Canola Council, says if consumers want non-GM, they'll have to offer premium prices.
      'I think what the "; S4[9]=" consumer's saying is, I want non-GM product and I don't want to pay for it, but we service all the international markets that you do, "; S5[9]=" you have a non-GM product, we have a GM product and it's usually co-mingled and it's a very small percentage that is gone into the "; S6[9]=" non-GM,' he says.
      'I think if those consumers want to pay for that product they certainly should have the right and I "; S7[9]=" know the farming community will respond'... "; R[10]="2097"; T[10]="WA considers GM cotton for the Ord"; A[10]="By ... Editor"; Dn[10]="20071024"; Dt[10]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[10]="a12a67"; B1[10]="      The Western Australian government says it will consider an exemption to its genetically modified crop ban, to allow GM cotton to be "; B2[10]="grown in the Ord Valley... "; B3[10]=" "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]="      The Western Australian government says it will consider an exemption to its genetically modified crop ban, to allow GM cotton to be "; S2[10]=" grown in the Ord Valley.
      The move comes after positive public feedback to a discussion paper on the crop.
      "; S3[10]=" Agriculture Minister, Kim Chance, says the government is still to receive a response from the traditional owners of the Kimberley region, but so far support "; S4[10]=" has been positive.
      'But it also indicated that it's not a crop that people have deep concerns about,' he says.
    "; S5[10]="   'Clearly within the conservation lobby there is a long standing resistance and I need to acknowledge that, but generally speaking I think it's a "; S6[10]=" crop that we've shown can be adapted to the valley as a broad scale industrial crop, again provided that it is adopted on a sufficient "; S7[10]=" scale'... "; R[11]="2096"; T[11]="Irrigators protest against water plan"; A[11]="By ... Editor"; Dn[11]="20071024"; Dt[11]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[11]="a05a40"; B1[11]="      Angry irrigators from along the Murray River have protested in Canberra against the Federal Government's $10 billion national water plan.... "; B2[11]=" "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]="      Angry irrigators from along the Murray River have protested in Canberra against the Federal Government's $10 billion national water plan.
    "; S2[11]="   Up to 400 farmers have attended an ecumenical service to pray for rain, but are also calling for more water to keep permanent plantings "; S3[11]=" of fruit trees and grapevines alive.
      Wakool Shire mayor, Ken Trewin, says the irrigators want to sit down with whoever wins government, "; S4[11]=" and explain that the trade of permanent water rights is not the answer to problems in the Murray Darling basin.
      'Isn't it "; S5[11]=" time to stop the tax cuts and the political garbage, and let's get on and really face what we need done in this nation', he "; S6[11]=" says.
      'And what we need in this nation is more dams, and it's time they listened.
      'The Greens don't "; S7[11]=" run this country, the people do'... "; R[12]="2095"; T[12]="Water level alert looms as dams look damned"; A[12]="By ... Editor"; Dn[12]="20071024"; Dt[12]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[12]="a40"; B1[12]="      Melburne's water storages could plunge back to 28 per cent full by March next year.... "; B2[12]=" "; B3[12]=" "; B4[12]=" "; B5[12]=" "; S1[12]="      Melburne's water storages could plunge back to 28 per cent full by March next year.
      Calculations by The Age "; S2[12]=" show that, if weather conditions match last summer and water is consumed at a similar rate, the city's dams will lose about 200,000 million litres "; S3[12]=" between November 1 this year and March 31, 2008.
      That would leave reservoirs hovering around 28 per cent and could expose them "; S4[12]=" to a possible further slide by mid-year.
      This year, reservoirs hit 28.4 per cent, their lowest point, in mid-June before starting a "; S5[12]=" slow climb back to last week's high of 40.2 per cent.
      The grim prospect of even lower dam levels follows a spike "; S6[12]=" in water consumption caused by the weekend's 33-degree weather.
      Melbourne Water spokesman Ben Pratt said the 1209 million litres of water consumed "; S7[12]=" on Sunday was above the daily average for spring.
      It was also well above the daily average consumption of recent weeks - "; S8[12]=" between 980 million litres and 1001 million litres.
      Mr Pratt said the 201,000 million litres consumed over the five months between November "; S9[12]=" 2006 and March this year involved a period with fewer water restrictions.
      'Any comparison with last year's figures must take into account "; S10[12]=" that we are now on much tougher water restrictions,' Mr Pratt said.
      'And this spring's weather has so far not seen the "; S11[12]=" same record low inflows that we experienced last year.
      'October inflows to date for the four major catchments are twice what they "; S12[12]=" were for the same time last year.' Mr Pratt said storage levels depended on factors including consumption, rainfall and inflows.
      The State "; S13[12]=" Government has been touting its controversial $4.9 billion water plan, including the Goulburn Valley food bowl upgrade and the Gippsland desalination plant, as solutions to "; S14[12]=" Melbourne's water shortage by 2012.
      But short-term measures were also needed to shore up supplies.
      Mr Pratt said contingency "; S15[12]=" measures to save more than 40 billion litres this year and next were being implemented.
      The water authority was also reconnecting Tarago "; S16[12]=" reservoir and site preparation for the reservoir's treatment plant had begun, Mr Pratt said.
      Melbourne Water has emergency pumps available at Melbourne's "; S17[12]=" biggest reservoir, the Thomson Dam, if water levels there plummet below the 14.8 per cent minimum operating level.
      The National Water Commission's "; S18[12]=" chief executive, Ken Matthews, said yesterday there were 'real deficiencies in urban water management in Australia'.
      Mr Matthews was commenting in the "; S19[12]=" first biennial assessment of Australia's National Water Initiative.
      More reform was needed as a priority 'to improve urban water supply security in "; S20[12]=" light of the current and emerging water challenges in Australia,' Mr Matthews said.
      ?Melbourne's water storages were 40.1 per cent full yesterday "; S21[12]=" after dipping at the weekend.
      Melbourne will remain on stage 3a restrictions until at least June next year... "; R[13]="2094"; T[13]="Farmers call for water trading moratorium"; A[13]="By ... Editor"; Dn[13]="20071024"; Dt[13]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[13]="a40"; B1[13]="      Farmers are warning that the Commonwealth's water plan for the Murray-Darling Basin will wipe $28 billion from the economy.... "; B2[13]=" "; B3[13]=" "; B4[13]=" "; B5[13]=" "; S1[13]="      Farmers are warning that the Commonwealth's water plan for the Murray-Darling Basin will wipe $28 billion from the economy.
      "; S2[13]=" About 300 farmers have marched on Parliament House in Canberra.
      They want a three-year moratorium on permanent water trading, a planned emergency "; S3[13]=" weir on the Murray in South Australia to proceed and a ban on environmental flows during drought periods.
      Pat Byrne, from the "; S4[13]=" Murray-Darling Basin Water Crisis Management Council, says members' voting intentions for the election are undecided.
      'The politicians really do not understand the "; S5[13]=" complexity of this problem,' he said.
      'It took 13 years at the beginning of last century to negotiate the interstate water sharing "; S6[13]=" agreement, they passed the recent water bill in a matter of hours and we are convinced that virtually none of the politicians understand the implications "; S7[13]=" of it.' Federal Nationals leader Mark Vaile says he understands the frustration of irrigators on the Murray-Darling who are worried about their livelihoods.
    "; S8[13]="   Mr Vaile says there is already been some compromise but he agrees there is a major challenge ahead if crops and orchards are lost.
"; S9[13]="       'The reality is that it is being put at risk and it is being curtailed, not from any specific Government decision, but "; S10[13]=" because it hasn't rained,' he said.
      'I say our responsibility during the drought is to provide the economic and moral support for "; S11[13]=" people that are in very very stressful circumstances.'.. "; R[14]="2093"; T[14]="AWB to pay wheat growers $150m"; A[14]="By ... Editor"; Dn[14]="20071024"; Dt[14]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[14]="a22"; B1[14]="      AWB Limited (AWB) national pool will make a $170 million payment to Australian wheat growers, which after allowing for site-to-sea charges will "; B2[14]="provide a $150 million.
      Payments will be distributed to Australian wheat growers who delivered to the FY07 AWB National Pool on 24th "; B3[14]="October 2007... "; B4[14]=" "; B5[14]=" "; S1[14]="      AWB Limited (AWB) national pool will make a $170 million payment to Australian wheat growers, which after allowing for site-to-sea charges will "; S2[14]=" provide a $150 million.
      Payments will be distributed to Australian wheat growers who delivered to the FY07 AWB National Pool on 24th "; S3[14]=" October 2007.
      The firm said that this brings the total payment to growers who delivered to the 2006/07 National Pool to $426 "; S4[14]=" million.
      AWB explained that FY07 prices had improved by around $5 per tonne since July as sales had been made into a "; S5[14]=" higher priced market.
      Although, the capacity to increase the estimated pool return was restricted by the volume of forward sales, which were "; S6[14]=" made last year when the market outlook was for lower prices.
      An AWB spokesperson said that the size of the 2006/07 national "; S7[14]=" pool was vastly reduced due to the drought however AWB had continued to supply a small number of key markets throughout 2007.
      "; S8[14]=" 'Importantly for Western Australian wheat growers, Japan and South Korea have received consistent supplies of high quality wheat for noodle manufacture,' the firm said.
  "; S9[14]="     'In addition, Indonesia, Sudan and the Pacific Island markets have also received wheat from the 2006/07 national pool.' The grain-marketing organisation noted AWB "; S10[14]=" was trying to maintain continuity of wheat supply to these markets at a time of record low availability of wheat on world markets.
    "; S11[14]="   'Most of the remaining stocks from the 2006/07 national pool will be shipped by December and we aim to finalise the 2006/07 national pool "; S12[14]=" in early 2008,' the firm concluded.. "; R[15]="2092"; T[15]="China develops a taste for Australian wine"; A[15]="By ... Editor"; Dn[15]="20071024"; Dt[15]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[15]="a13"; B1[15]="      New Australian statistics out this week show the amount of red wine being exported to China has more than doubled over the "; B2[15]="past year, reaching seven million litres... "; B3[15]=" "; B4[15]=" "; B5[15]=" "; S1[15]="      New Australian statistics out this week show the amount of red wine being exported to China has more than doubled over the "; S2[15]=" past year, reaching seven million litres.
      The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation is a government institution which provides strategic support to the "; S3[15]=" Australian wine sector.
      It says Australian wine producers, and the government, are keen to tap the growing Chinese wine market even further "; S4[15]=" in the coming years.
      As Xiaoning Mo reports at wedding banquets in China, wine is making inroads into the territory of traditional "; S5[15]=" white liquor.
      Drinking a glass of high quality red wine is also an increasingly fashionable past-time for middle-class Chinese in restaurants, acccompanied "; S6[15]=" by lazy jazz and dim lights.
      China already has a strong domestic wine industry, with home-grown wine accounting for around 90 percent "; S7[15]=" of the market.
      But imported wine, which is widely seen as being of better quality despite its price, is a fashionable commodity "; S8[15]=" for wealthy Chinese.
      French wine still tops the imported wine market, but Australian producers are catching up rapidly.
      Ali "; S9[15]=" Hogarth is the regional manager for emerging markets at the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation.
      She says China has overtaken Japan as "; S10[15]=" the top Asian destination of Australian bottled wine.
      And she says Australia will focus on the lucrative Chinese market over the next "; S11[15]=" three to five years.
      Imports Gaining Market Share Steven Shi is the sales manager of WineChina.net, a wine import consultancy based in "; S12[15]=" Shenzhen in south China.
      He says imported wine is grabbing a larger share of the market since China lowered tarrifs after it "; S13[15]=" joined the World Trade Organisation six years ago.
      Home-made wine is losing its price advantages as many imported wines are not much "; S14[15]=" more expensive than local wines.
      As a result, many people prefer imported wine since the quality and taste are better than the "; S15[15]=" industrialised wines made in China.
      Lots of other wine-exporting countries are eyeing Chinese consumers.
      More than 50 French wine "; S16[15]=" producers will head to China next month, looking for distributors.
      Steven Shi says there's plenty of scope for French and Australian wine-makers.
"; S17[15]="       'In 2006, three and a half million boxes of wine were sold in China.
      Given the huge population in "; S18[15]=" China, three and a half million is a very small number.
      As the base number is so small, the potential and space "; S19[15]=" for further development in the Chinese wine market is huge,' he said... "; R[16]="2091"; T[16]="Water the new oil as the rush is on"; A[16]="By ... Editor"; Dn[16]="20071024"; Dt[16]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[16]="a40"; B1[16]="      If Water is 'blue oil', then the industry may be at the start of a wildcatters' rush.... "; B2[16]=" "; B3[16]=" "; B4[16]=" "; B5[16]=" "; S1[16]="      If Water is 'blue oil', then the industry may be at the start of a wildcatters' rush.
      Take BlueScope "; S2[16]=" Water.
      The waiting time for its rainwater tanks has stretched to 10 weeks, up from about a month this time a year "; S3[16]=" ago.
      And that's after the company, a division of BlueScope Steel, tripled production in Victoria, with a further doubling planned to 200 "; S4[16]=" tanks a week by December.
      Melbourne's water reservoirs began shrinking over the weekend, and are likely to drop below 40 per cent "; S5[16]=" capacity within days, about two months earlier than last year.
      Unlike the debate over how to halve carbon emissions over the next "; S6[16]=" four decades or so to forestall dangerous global warming, the need for urgent water conservation is accepted by farmers and city-folk alike.
      "; S7[16]=" Not surprisingly, the business of supplying water-saving products such as drip-feed irrigation systems to keep everything from crops to sporting ovals alive is booming.
  "; S8[16]="     'It's growing hand over fist,' said Chris Harkness, manager of the Thomastown branch of Water Pro's, a distributor of water tanks and irrigation "; S9[16]=" systems.
      'Australia's becoming a drier continent whether we like it or not.' Mr Harkness spoke at last weekend's Save Water Save Energy "; S10[16]=" Expo in Melbourne, which drew thousands keen to make their homes and businesses more efficient.
      The industry, though, is already facing growth "; S11[16]=" strains.
      'There's no university course, no apprenticeship and no formal training' for much of the industry, Mr Harkness said.
      "; S12[16]=" One consequence is consumers can find it hard to assess the competence of suppliers.
      Much the same is true for investors prospecting "; S13[16]=" for profit.
      Fund managers of the MFS Water Fund last week noted that with the main water companies all in state hands, "; S14[16]=" there are relatively few investment opportunities in Australia.
      Even for BlueScope Steel, Cranes Group and Hills Industries, which are among listed companies "; S15[16]=" providing water-related products, such business makes up only a portion of their total.
      The same is largely true overseas.
      "; S16[16]=" For investors looking at mid-cap companies with a market value of between $US250 million ($A280 million) and $US1 billion, there only about 130 companies globally "; S17[16]=" to pick from, said Martin Kloeck, chief investment officer of Signina Capital, one of the MFS fund's six specialist managers.
      Nevertheless, the "; S18[16]=" MFS fund, which claims to be Australia's only actively managed and internationally diversified water investment fund, plans to increase tenfold to $200 million by June "; S19[16]=" 2009.
      It may also establish a private equity fund, said Craig McIntosh, investment manager for the MFS Water Fund.
      "; S20[16]=" The sums needed for investment on water infrastructure are huge, including some $30 billion earmarked for desalination plants and new pipelines in Australia over the "; S21[16]=" next decade.
      Globally, the figure was $US355 billion last year, and will grow to $US1.2 trillion by 2025, said Mr McIntosh, citing "; S22[16]=" Credit Suisse data.
      And, notes Mr McIntosh, unlike oil, water is more than merely scarce: 'Water cannot be substituted, nor can its "; S23[16]=" use be deferred.'.. "; R[17]="2090"; T[17]="Wanted: fishing stories"; A[17]="By ... Editor"; Dn[17]="20071024"; Dt[17]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[17]="a34"; B1[17]="      Anglers on Upper Yorke Peninsula will be questioned randomly this weekend as part of South Australia's biggest recreational fishing survey.... "; B2[17]=" "; B3[17]=" "; B4[17]=" "; B5[17]=" "; S1[17]="      Anglers on Upper Yorke Peninsula will be questioned randomly this weekend as part of South Australia's biggest recreational fishing survey.
    "; S2[17]="   More than 7000 households have been contacted as part of the Primary Industries' Fisheries department survey.
      Each was asked questions about "; S3[17]=" their involvement in recreational fishing.
      Fishers also are being warned about the month-long snapper closure between November 1 and November 30, in "; S4[17]=" which all snapper caught must be returned to the water immediately.
      The survey aims to provide fisheries with a greater understanding of "; S5[17]=" changes in fish populations and recreational fishing practice.
      Its results also could shape changes to catch limits for recreational fishers.
    "; S6[17]="   In the status report of fisheries in SA last year, popular species King George whiting and garfish were listed as 'over fished' while mulloway "; S7[17]=" in the Lakes and Coorong fishery was classed 'environmentally limited'.
      Primary Industries and Resources SA Fisheries executive director Will Zacharin said on-site "; S8[17]=" interviews of recreational fishers at key boat ramps and jetties had been conducted at places on Eyre Peninsula, including Coffin Bay and Whyalla.
    "; S9[17]="   Today and tomorrow, the survey team will visit boat ramps between Port Hughes and Wallaroo.
      'Surveys of northern metropolitan Adelaide (Semaphore "; S10[17]=" to Thompson's Beach) will be undertaken early next month with the coast from southern metropolitan to Cape Jervis scheduled for early December,' Mr Zacharin said.
"; S11[17]="       'As an additional part of the survey, almost 100 avid recreational anglers have volunteered to record their catches and sizes of fish "; S12[17]=" they catch, through research log books, issued by PIRSA Fisheries.
      'The log books and measuring rules are currently being issued and this "; S13[17]=" part of the survey will also run through until September next year.' Mr Zacharin said 'it is vitally important for the future sustainability of our "; S14[17]=" state's fisheries that we have up to date recreational fishing data available'.
      'Information on size compositions on popular species including King George "; S15[17]=" whiting, snapper and blue swimmer crabs as well as some freshwater species will be collected to add to our existing biological knowledge on those key "; S16[17]=" species taken by recreational fishers throughout the state,' he said.
      The final survey report will be completed in early 2009... "; R[18]="2089"; T[18]="GE threatens canola exports"; A[18]="By ... Editor"; Dn[18]="20071024"; Dt[18]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[18]="a12a82"; B1[18]="      South Australia's canola exports to Japan will be under threat if the State Government does not extend a moratorium on commercial genetically-engineered "; B2[18]="crops, the Japanese have warned... "; B3[18]=" "; B4[18]=" "; B5[18]=" "; S1[18]="      South Australia's canola exports to Japan will be under threat if the State Government does not extend a moratorium on commercial genetically-engineered "; S2[18]=" crops, the Japanese have warned.
      Three representatives from Japan's No! GMO campaign, which represents 155 consumer organisations and food producers, were in "; S3[18]=" Adelaide yesterday to plead with the State Government to extend the ban.
      The 300,000 tonnes of canola Japan obtains from Australia each "; S4[18]=" year amounts to half the national export of the crop.
      Canola is one of the major crops grown in South Australia.
  "; S5[18]="     Most is exported.
      Japan is one of five key markets.
      South Australian law prevents genetically-engineered crops from "; S6[18]=" being grown commercially.
      This is under review.
      Delegation spokeswoman Ryoko Shimizu said Japanese food producers had obtained canola from "; S7[18]=" Canada but turned to Australia when Canadian governments allowed genetically-engineered crops to be grown.
      'We Japanese consumers are now standing at a "; S8[18]=" critical crossroads in assuring our food safety,' she said.
      'Australia is the only country that can supply GE-free canola to food-importing countries "; S9[18]=" like Japan.
      If the moratoria are lifted, it would damage the reputation of Australian crops in Japan and Japanese consumers would stop "; S10[18]=" buying Australian crops.' She said the relationships between Australian farmers and Japanese consumers 'would collapse' if genetically-engineered crops were allowed.
      Delegates yesterday "; S11[18]=" presented SA Legislative Assembly speaker Jack Snelling with a petition signed by organisations representing 2.9 million Japanese consumers.
      Greenpeace GE campaigner Louise "; S12[18]=" Sales said state governments should continue to protect the environment and industries by extending the bans... "; R[19]="2088"; T[19]="Solar team`s edge"; A[19]="By ... Editor"; Dn[19]="20071024"; Dt[19]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[19]="a93a94"; B1[19]="      TAFE SA's World Solar Challenge team hope their knowledge of solar energy science will power them to victory.... "; B2[19]=" "; B3[19]=" "; B4[19]=" "; B5[19]=" "; S1[19]="      TAFE SA's World Solar Challenge team hope their knowledge of solar energy science will power them to victory.
      RAA "; S2[19]=" Kelly, TAFE SA's solar car, came second in the production class and 12th overall in the 2005 challenge.
      The team hope modifications "; S3[19]=" they have made to the car will improve their position at the end of the race from Darwin to Adelaide, which starts today.
    "; S4[19]="   TAFE SA marketing manager Peter Mantell said the challenge exposed students to new technology and helped them recognise the possibilities the technology presented.
  "; S5[19]="     'Given the world they will be inheriting, I think a reasonable understanding of sustainable energy technology is very important,' he said.
    "; S6[19]="   'I don't know how long it will be before we get serious about solar cars as a mode of transport but there will have "; S7[19]=" to be a tie-in between solar and electric vehicles.' Students experimenting with solar energy labs could one day be building their own solar car.
  "; S8[19]="     The Sunday Mail and The Advertiser, in conjunction with TAFE SA, are offering school children across the state the opportunity to learn about "; S9[19]=" solar energy through a new inter-active educational kit.
      The Solar Energy Lab is a complex device that captures the sun's rays and "; S10[19]=" turns them into electricity.
      More than 500 schools across the state will receive a Solar Energy Lab, courtesy of TAFE SA, to "; S11[19]=" teach students about solar power.
      The kit includes light and music attachments for the solar panels and teaching resources provided by The "; S12[19]=" Advertiser's Newspapers in Education division.
      TAFE SA is the sole sponsor of the solar collectable kit, which is part of an ongoing "; S13[19]=" commitment to education in electronics, science and maths... "; R[20]="2087"; T[20]="New DPI&F hybrids yield a-maizing results for Tablelands"; A[20]="By ... Editor"; Dn[20]="20071024"; Dt[20]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[20]="a74a81"; B1[20]="      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries' maize-hybrid trials on the Atherton Tablelands promise higher yields and greater resistance to disease.... "; B2[20]=" "; B3[20]=" "; B4[20]=" "; B5[20]=" "; S1[20]="      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries' maize-hybrid trials on the Atherton Tablelands promise higher yields and greater resistance to disease.
    "; S2[20]="   Two varieties in particular, AT2 and KSC 2077, have performed extremely well and have the potential to increase the profitability of the Tablelands' $6 "; S3[20]=" million dollar maize grain industry.
      DPI&F senior plant breeder Ian Martin said AT2, which is due for commercial release in the "; S4[20]=" 2007-2008 season, had produced an average of 9.3 per cent more grain than the popular district hybrid AT1.
      'The grain quality of "; S5[20]=" AT2 is good, similar to AT1,' he said.
      'It retained its healthy green leaf well into the grain-fill phase when high yields "; S6[20]=" can be determined, making it a good prospect for silage and green-chop production ideal for cattle feed.
      'At the same time, it "; S7[20]=" demonstrated almost complete resistance to Polysora (tropical) rust disease.' But more impressive was the performance of another DPI&F hybrid KSC 2077: 'Average grain production over "; S8[20]=" the two trials was 17.5 per cent more than that recorded by AT1,' Mr Martin said.
      At the test site on Ray "; S9[20]=" DeMarzi's farm in Atherton, KSC 2077 produced slightly more than 10 tonnes a hectare.
      'At the other site (at DPI&F's Kairi Research "; S10[20]=" Station) it achieved 4.85 t/ha, giving it a 1.04 t/ha advantage over AT1 - and this was despite the late planting and water stress,' Mr "; S11[20]=" Martin said.
      'On the downside KSC 2077 did not retain green leaf as long as AT1 or AT2, suggesting it is better "; S12[20]=" for grain production than for silage.
      'Grain quality was not as good as AT1, but it was adequate.
      'But "; S13[20]=" its resistance to banded leaf and sheath spot (Rhizoctonia) was superior to AT1.
      Resistance to Polysora rust was similar to AT1.' He "; S14[20]=" said KSC 2077 would undergo a second season of evaluation this summer.
      It would be released in commercial quantities for the 2008-2009 "; S15[20]=" season, if its continued performance warranted it.
      'Initial seed increase of its 'parents' has already started at Kairi Research Station,' Mr Martin "; S16[20]=" said.
      These findings were derived from the field testing of 120 experimental maize hybrids on the Atherton Tablelands during the 2006-2007 summer "; S17[20]=" season.
      Varieties included 18 from private seed companies and the remainder from the department's maize breeding program at Kairi Research Station.
  "; S18[20]="     The varieties tested at the DeMarzi farm were planted at the start of 2007.
      This trial experienced favourable growing conditions "; S19[20]=" despite heavy rain in February.
      Planting densities were between 60,000 and 65,000 a hectare.
      DAP fertiliser at about 150kg "; S20[20]=" a hectare was applied at planting and urea was side-dressed at about 300kg a hectare.
      The second trial at Kairi was planted "; S21[20]=" some six weeks later.
      Moisture stress during grain fill reduced grain yields, particularly for later maturing hybrids.
      The Grains "; S22[20]=" Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has been a financial supporter and valuable partner in DPI&F's maize breeding work for about 13 years... "; R[21]="2086"; T[21]="Learn new skills through a FarmBis course"; A[21]="By ... Editor"; Dn[21]="20071024"; Dt[21]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[21]="a07a53"; B1[21]="      North Queensland primary producers are being urged to take advantage of training subsidies, and they can discuss their options next week during "; B2[21]="a visit to regional centres by a FarmBis networker... "; B3[21]=" "; B4[21]=" "; B5[21]=" "; S1[21]="      North Queensland primary producers are being urged to take advantage of training subsidies, and they can discuss their options next week during "; S2[21]=" a visit to regional centres by a FarmBis networker.
      FarmBis Queensland networker Ian Durham will be visiting Townsville, Ingham, Innisfail and Cairns "; S3[21]=" from Monday October 15 to Friday October 19.
      He is encouraging anyone who is thinking about improving their skills to make an "; S4[21]=" appointment and find out more about FarmBis.
      To contact Mr Durham phone 0428 103 043.
      'The courses subsidised under "; S5[21]=" the FarmBis program which is funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments are many and varied, so I would encourage primary producers who have been "; S6[21]=" thinking about formalising their skills, or learning new ones, to give us a call so we can match a course to your training needs,' Mr "; S7[21]=" Durham said.
      'Whether it is skills to improve the farm's bookkeeping, to natural resource management or computer skills, there are courses available.
"; S8[21]="       'Even those primary producers who have bad memories of their school days shouldn't fear, because adult learning is about providing new information "; S9[21]=" and skills at a pace that suits you, not necessarily behind a desk, reading text books and sitting exams.' Mr Durham said the FarmBis program "; S10[21]=" had also recognised the difficulty of people living in rural and remote areas getting to their courses, and had subsidies for accommodation and childcare.
  "; S11[21]="     'If a group of producers get together and want to do courses together, we can organise trainers to come to the group and "; S12[21]=" deliver customised training that suits your industry and region.
      Training subsidies are available and we want to make sure primary producers know "; S13[21]=" what is on offer,' Mr Durham said... "; R[22]="2085"; T[22]="Horse flu eradication plan is working"; A[22]="By ... Editor"; Dn[22]="20071024"; Dt[22]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[22]="a31"; B1[22]="      Continued cooperation from horse owners and horse industry workers in south east Queensland will help ensure that the equine influenza eradication strategy "; B2[22]="works... "; B3[22]=" "; B4[22]=" "; B5[22]=" "; S1[22]="      Continued cooperation from horse owners and horse industry workers in south east Queensland will help ensure that the equine influenza eradication strategy "; S2[22]=" works.
      Biosecurity Queensland's Chief Veterinary Officer Ron Glanville said Queensland's plan, which has been endorsed nationally, has successfully contained the disease within "; S3[22]=" the Red Zone.
      But continued vigilance is necessary in order to achieve the plan's goal of eradication.
      A "; S4[22]=" key component of the science-based eradication strategy is building a 10 km wide buffer zone around areas of high concentration of the disease, and vaccinating "; S5[22]=" horses in the buffer zone.
      Dr Glanville said the eradication strategy was based on the pre-existing plan for this disease, in "; S6[22]=" the Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN).
      The implementation is supervised by the joint Chief Veterinary Officers from each state.
      "; S7[22]=" 'At this stage, control measures are on track in Queensland and eradication remains a realistic goal,' Dr Glanville said.
      'The overall "; S8[22]=" strategy is to contain the disease within the known infected areas and limit its spread until the epidemic burns itself out.' Dr Glanville said "; S9[22]=" that if the restrictions were adhered to by all horse owners, and people follow recommended decontamination and biosecurity procedures, the disease should die out.
  "; S10[22]="     The strategy for the eradication of equine influenza is based on a combination of: ' rigorous movement restrictions ' strategic vaccination, in "; S11[22]=" particular creation of a buffer zone around the south-east and ' promoting good biosecurity practices.
      This strategy is part of "; S12[22]=" an agreed national emergency response plan.
      Two equine influenza zones remain declared for Queensland: ' the Red Zone (South East Queensland) has "; S13[22]=" stringent movement restrictions in place to minimise the risk of spread of the disease, with permits required for all horse movements, and ' the "; S14[22]=" Green Zone (the rest of Queensland) where movement of horses can occur under most conditions.
      A strategic vaccination program began in Queensland "; S15[22]=" on Saturday 29 September 2007.
      All horses in the buffer zone will be vaccinated and microchipped for identification.
      "; S16[22]=" The National Management Group, consisting of the most senior officers from primary industries departments around Australia, is overseeing the response.
      It has "; S17[22]=" also agreed to use vaccination to protect high value, at-risk horse populations within the red zone.
      However, vaccine supplies are limited "; S18[22]=" and a strict prioritisation process is being applied according to national guidelines.
      Blanket vaccination of all horses in the Red Zone "; S19[22]=" is not supported because widespread vaccination would mask the disease and prevent the goal of eradication being achieved.
      Vaccination: ' provides "; S20[22]=" significant immunity within 14 days of the first of two injections ' a booster dose after five months will provide protection for about one "; S21[22]=" year in total ' can be used safely on foals, pregnant mares, lactating mares and older horses, but not on sick or high risk "; S22[22]=" horses such as those that have had severe pneumonia... "; R[23]="2084"; T[23]="Lantana field days a must for FNQ landholders"; A[23]="By ... Editor"; Dn[23]="20071024"; Dt[23]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[23]="a85"; B1[23]="      Lantana is one of the scourges of the Australian bush, and Far North Queensland landholders wanting to know more about the latest "; B2[23]="control methods will have the opportunity at field days to be held in November... "; B3[23]=" "; B4[23]=" "; B5[23]=" "; S1[23]="      Lantana is one of the scourges of the Australian bush, and Far North Queensland landholders wanting to know more about the latest "; S2[23]=" control methods will have the opportunity at field days to be held in November.
      Lantana was first introduced in to Australia as "; S3[23]=" an ornamental bush more than 160 years ago and has since taken over more than 4 million hectares of the Australian landscape.
      "; S4[23]=" It costs Queensland graziers an estimated $70.8 million each year in lost production and has a dramatic impact on natural ecosystems, where it smothers native "; S5[23]=" plant species and reduces biodiversity.
      Lantana grows as dense, impenetrable thickets, and will quickly take up residence in areas that have been "; S6[23]=" overgrazed or cleared.
      It particularly favours land adjacent to water courses.
      Declared a Weed of National Significance (WoNS), "; S7[23]=" lantana is the focus of a national management strategy ensuring coordinated action between states and agencies and the development of best practice management strategies.
  "; S8[23]="     The upcoming field days will showcase best practice management trials and provide landholders with the opportunity to find out more about the Lantana "; S9[23]=" WoNS project.
      Also present will be representatives from local government, herbicide companies and local contractors.
      Department of Primary Industries "; S10[23]=" and Fisheries' Biosecurity Queensland lantana expert, Dr Daniel Stock, encouraged landholders to attend the field day.
      'Lantana is a weed that almost "; S11[23]=" every landholder along the Queensland east coast needs to deal with at one point or another - such is the invasive nature of the plant.
"; S12[23]="       'We invite everyone with an interest in controlling this menace to come along and speak to experts about the latest successful control "; S13[23]=" programs that have been developed.' Field days will be held at Malanda on Tuesday November 13, 10am-3pm; Glen Ruth Station, Wednesday November 14, 11am-3pm and "; S14[23]=" Abergowrie.. "; R[24]="2083"; T[24]="Computer now integral to northern downs dairy"; A[24]="By ... Editor"; Dn[24]="20071024"; Dt[24]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[24]="a26a46a92"; B1[24]="      Dairy farmers are embracing the use of computers to better manage their enterprise thanks to an innovative learning program developed by Subtropical "; B2[24]="Dairy with support from FarmBis... "; B3[24]=" "; B4[24]=" "; B5[24]=" "; S1[24]="      Dairy farmers are embracing the use of computers to better manage their enterprise thanks to an innovative learning program developed by Subtropical "; S2[24]=" Dairy with support from FarmBis.
      A mobile computer training room has now delivered 27 customised courses across all dairy regions in Queensland "; S3[24]=" and northern NSW.
      Northern Downs dairy farmer Gae Vonhoff has been an enthusiastic participant in courses on the spreadsheet program Excel and "; S4[24]=" Quicken accounting.
      A laptop computer is now an integral tool in the successful running of a 200 cow dairy with husband Lindsay "; S5[24]=" at Kaimkillenbun.
      'The training was brilliant and I would recommend it to anyone.
      Having the FarmBis subsidy available really "; S6[24]=" made the courses affordable.
      It was the difference between participating and not,' Mrs Vonhoff said.
      The targeted learning "; S7[24]=" has been delivered through Subtropical Dairy, a Dairy Australia regional development program.
      Queensland farmers participating have had the cost of their "; S8[24]=" learning supported by FarmBis, a joint Commonwealth-State training program.
      Producers in the State are eligible for a 65 percent FarmBis subsidy on "; S9[24]=" the cost of the training.
      The program material has been developed by the course co-presenters, Di Gresham, website manager and Gympie dairy "; S10[24]=" farmer and Ray Murphy, a Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) farm business management specialist based in Toowoomba.
      Mrs Gresham has "; S11[24]=" been leading the industry in adoption of computer technology and manages an extensive dairy industry website (DairyInfo.biz), on behalf of Subtropical Dairy.
      "; S12[24]=" She said the program aimed to make producers comfortable with computing and introduce the wide range of benefits to everyday farm management.
      "; S13[24]=" 'There are time and cost savings to be made using computer technology as an aid to best practice management,' Mrs Gresham said.
      "; S14[24]=" Accounting course participants get files customised for a dairy enterprise which they can download into a proprietary software program on their own computers.
    "; S15[24]="   Spreadsheet training also includes a range of useful formulas on a USB drive for downloading.
      'There are just so many uses "; S16[24]=" for spreadsheets from budgeting to herd management, ration formulation, tracking fertiliser applications and managing employee details.' 'It is a real eye opener for many farmers "; S17[24]=" just how useful they can be in the every day running of their business,' Mrs Gresham said.
      Mrs Vonhoff has used her "; S18[24]=" training to integrate cow records for herd management, downloading data from electronic ear tags into her laptop.
      With mating information fed in, "; S19[24]=" an Excel spreadsheet is used to calculate predicted calving dates.
      'It has been so much simpler to manage all the herd information "; S20[24]=" from reproduction and dry cows to keeping track of births and deaths.
      Entering medications is a great help with QA compliance,' Mrs "; S21[24]=" Vonhoff said.
      She now uses Quicken to keep detailed records of feed inputs including by products.
      'Fine tuning costs "; S22[24]=" helps our financial bottom line,' Mrs Vonhoff said.
      With years of difficult seasons they have adapted to the challenge of dryland farming, "; S23[24]=" growing their own hay and silage which is supplemented with bought in grain.
      'We have had some rain this year and conditions "; S24[24]=" are not too bad at the moment,'' she said... "; R[25]="2082"; T[25]="Dairy farmers take to innovative computer training"; A[25]="By ... Editor"; Dn[25]="20071024"; Dt[25]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[25]="a26a46a92"; B1[25]="      Dairy farmers are embracing the use of computers to better manage their enterprise thanks to an innovative learning program developed by Subtropical "; B2[25]="Dairy with support from FarmBis... "; B3[25]=" "; B4[25]=" "; B5[25]=" "; S1[25]="      Dairy farmers are embracing the use of computers to better manage their enterprise thanks to an innovative learning program developed by Subtropical "; S2[25]=" Dairy with support from FarmBis.
      A mobile computer training room has now delivered 27 customised courses across all dairy regions in northern "; S3[25]=" NSW and Queensland.
      Courses have ranged from use of the internet and email management to accounting and the use of spreadsheets.
  "; S4[25]="     The targeted learning has been delivered from The Atherton Tableland to Coffs Harbour by the Subtropical Dairy Program, a Dairy Australia regional development "; S5[25]=" program.
      More workshops are planned, including Monto in the North Burnett in October.
      Queensland farmers participating have had "; S6[25]=" the cost of their learning supported by FarmBis, a joint Commonwealth-State training program.
      Producers in the State are eligible for a 65 "; S7[25]=" percent FarmBis subsidy on the cost of the training.
      The program material has been developed by the course co-presenters, Di Gresham, website "; S8[25]=" manager and dairy farmer and Ray Murphy a Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) farm business management specialist based in Toowoomba.
      "; S9[25]=" Mrs Gresham with her husband Ray milks 300 cows on their family enterprise south of Gympie.
      She has been leading the industry "; S10[25]=" in adoption of computer technology and manages an extensive dairy industry website (DairyInfo.biz), on behalf of Subtropical Dairy.
      She said the program "; S11[25]=" aimed to make producers comfortable with computing and introduce the wide range of benefits to everyday farm management.
      'There are time and "; S12[25]=" cost savings to be made using computer technology as an aid to best practice management,' Mrs Gresham said.
      Accounting course participants get "; S13[25]=" files customised for a dairy enterprise which they can download into a proprietary software program on their own computers.
      Spreadsheet training also "; S14[25]=" includes a range of useful formulas on a USB drive for downloading.
      'There are just so many uses for spreadsheets from budgeting "; S15[25]=" to herd management, ration formulation, tracking fertiliser applications and managing employee details.' 'It is a real eye opener for many farmers just how useful they "; S16[25]=" can be in the every day running of their business,' Mrs Gresham said.
      Michelle Bunter has been an enthusiastic participant in all "; S17[25]=" the training programs.
      Mrs Bunter and her husband Mark milk 220 cows on their farm at Cedar Pocket, east of Gympie.
  "; S18[25]="     She juggles farm life and raising three children with study towards a Diploma of Business.
      She has accessed FarmBis support "; S19[25]=" to complete study units towards her diploma as well as for the specialist dairy training courses.
      'It has been really helpful to "; S20[25]=" make the training affordable when our dairy income is under so much pressure.
      I have always been open to on-going learning, Mrs "; S21[25]=" Bunter said.
      The training helped her fully computerise the farm business accounts and the lodgement of Business Activity Statements.
      "; S22[25]=" 'We've been able to analyse our business costs in much greater detail and pinpoint areas where savings can be made.
      'When you "; S23[25]=" have no control over the price received for milk, every dollar we can shave off our expenses is really important to our bottom line,' Mrs "; S24[25]=" Bunter said... "; R[26]="2081"; T[26]="SA Govt announces $24m water rebate scheme"; A[26]="By ... Editor"; Dn[26]="20071024"; Dt[26]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[26]="a05a40"; B1[26]="      South Australian householders will be encouraged to take advantage of a series of rebates as part of a new State Government scheme "; B2[26]="to help conserve the state's water supplies... "; B3[26]=" "; B4[26]=" "; B5[26]=" "; S1[26]="      South Australian householders will be encouraged to take advantage of a series of rebates as part of a new State Government scheme "; S2[26]=" to help conserve the state's water supplies.
      Premier Mike Rann and Water Security Minister Karlene Maywald stood on the banks of the "; S3[26]=" Murray River to make the announcement.
      Mr Rann says $24 million in rebates will be available to people who install water-saving devices.
"; S4[26]="       The Government is increasing the rebate for low-flow shower heads to t$30, offering $50 for every $150 spent on water-efficient garden products "; S5[26]=" and incentives for dual-flush toilets and water-smart washing machines.
      From next year, discounted home water audits will also be available.
    "; S6[26]="   Ms Maywald says the package brings South Australia into line with other states and is forecast to save five billion litres a year by "; S7[26]=" 2010.
      Mr Rann says the incentive scheme aims to save about five billion litres of water over the next three years.
  "; S8[26]="     'The incentives include for instance $100 for home water audits to look at how a household can reduce water and energy consumption, up "; S9[26]=" to $200 for rebates for new washing machines with four star ratings and also up to $150 for dual flush toilet rebates,' he said... "; R[27]="2080"; T[27]="Bugs unleashed in the fight against lantana"; A[27]="By ... Editor"; Dn[27]="20071024"; Dt[27]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[27]="a85"; B1[27]="      Biosecurity Queensland has unleashed small bugs to try to control the invasive weed, lantana.... "; B2[27]=" "; B3[27]=" "; B4[27]=" "; B5[27]=" "; S1[27]="      Biosecurity Queensland has unleashed small bugs to try to control the invasive weed, lantana.
      The woody shrub was brought "; S2[27]=" into Australia as an ornamental plant, but it's now estimated to cost Australia's grazing industry more than $100 million a year in lost production.
  "; S3[27]="     National Lantana co-ordinator Kym Johnson is hoping the new biological control agent will have an impact.
      'The scientific name is "; S4[27]=" ophiomyia camarae, but they're sometimes known as the herringbone leaf mining fly and the reason for that is, they lay their eggs on the underside "; S5[27]=" of lantana leaves and the larvae get out into the leaf and actually eat their way through the centre of the leaf causing this herringbone "; S6[27]=" markings on the leaf and what that does is it just puts the plant under a lot of stress,' she says... "; R[28]="2079"; T[28]="Honeybees may not be unwelcome tourists after all"; A[28]="By ... Editor"; Dn[28]="20071024"; Dt[28]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[28]="a31"; B1[28]="      A top US Agriculture Department researcher says Australian honeybees may not be the source of a virus that's killing US bee colonies.... "; B2[28]=" "; B3[28]=" "; B4[28]=" "; B5[28]=" "; S1[28]="      A top US Agriculture Department researcher says Australian honeybees may not be the source of a virus that's killing US bee colonies.
"; S2[28]="       National Program Leader for Bees and Pollination, Kevin Hackett, says his agency is within weeks of making a recommendation to USDA's Animal "; S3[28]=" and Plant Health Inspection Service on whether to ban imports of Australian honeybees.
      But Hackett says there is so far no firm "; S4[28]=" evidence the Australian bees are the source of a virus, suspected of destroying a quarter of US beehives last winter.
      'We're looking "; S5[28]=" into seeing when the virus occurred in the United States,' he says.
      'At this point, we could just as well assume that "; S6[28]=" it came from the US to other countries, as other countries to the US.' Mr Hackett says there is today an association between the virus "; S7[28]=" and so-called Colony Collapse Disorder.
      Other countries importing the bees, including Canada, have not had the disease.
      Nor, has "; S8[28]=" Australia... "; R[29]="2078"; T[29]="High fuel prices drive up wool demand"; A[29]="By ... Editor"; Dn[29]="20071024"; Dt[29]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[29]="a25"; B1[29]="      It has been a strong week for the wool market, with closed an average 3.9 per cent higher than last week.... "; B2[29]=" "; B3[29]=" "; B4[29]=" "; B5[29]=" "; S1[29]="      It has been a strong week for the wool market, with closed an average 3.9 per cent higher than last week.
  "; S2[29]="     The drought has tightened production, but demand continues to grow.
      Inverell-based wool marketer Phil Goddard believes the high cost of "; S3[29]=" fuel overseas is forcing people to switch off their central heating and wear more wool.
      'That demand for that particular product is "; S4[29]=" brought about mainly due to central heating,' he says.
      'The cost of central heating, particularly in America, China and all over Europe "; S5[29]=" is getting much more expensive, and therefore you have a swinging back to a wearable product to warm the body'... "; R[30]="2077"; T[30]="Drought hits dairy products"; A[30]="By ... Editor"; Dn[30]="20071024"; Dt[30]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[30]="a26a89"; B1[30]="      Australian shoppers could soon be buying imported cream, butter and cheese if the drought continues in dairy producing areas.... "; B2[30]=" "; B3[30]=" "; B4[30]=" "; B5[30]=" "; S1[30]="      Australian shoppers could soon be buying imported cream, butter and cheese if the drought continues in dairy producing areas.
      "; S2[30]=" But those imports are also going to cost a lot more, with prices jumping up to 30 per cent in the past week because of "; S3[30]=" global shortages.
      Cheese specialist Will Studd says the current high milk prices aren't making much difference to producers, and shoppers could be "; S4[30]=" surprised at what's left on the shelves by Christmas.
      'It's quite hard to find cheddar at the moment, and of course that "; S5[30]=" was made last year, so it's not looking good for making any cheddar at all in any volume for this year,' he says.
    "; S6[30]="   'And then you start to look into things like butter, and that's very, very difficult to get, most of its coming in from New "; S7[30]=" Zealand now.
      'And certainly with cream, depending on the season this year, that's not looking too hot either that's getting very hard "; S8[30]=" to get as well.'.. "; R[31]="2076"; T[31]="Growers told to manage paraquat use to avoid resistant ryegrass"; A[31]="By ... Editor"; Dn[31]="20070823"; Dt[31]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[31]="a03a72a85"; B1[31]="      Leading weeds researcher Dr Chris Preston has warned that growers risk the development of paraquat resistance in annual ryegrass if the herbicide "; B2[31]="is not used correctly... "; B3[31]=" "; B4[31]=" "; B5[31]=" "; S1[31]="      Leading weeds researcher Dr Chris Preston has warned that growers risk the development of paraquat resistance in annual ryegrass if the herbicide "; S2[31]=" is not used correctly.
     
      * Leading researcher warns paraquat resistance may develop in annual ryegrass
    "; S3[31]="   * Populations of paraquat-resistant ryegrass found recently in South Africa
      * Growers must correctly use paraquat and apply at recommended "; S4[31]=" rates Dr Preston, of the CRC for Australian Weed Management, spoke at the recent Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Updates at Eudunda and Lameroo "; S5[31]=" and urged growers to correctly use paraquat if targeting annual ryegrass.
      Dr Preston said populations of paraquat-resistant annual ryegrass had been found "; S6[31]=" recently in South Africa.
      In examining this paraquat-resistant annual ryegrass, Dr Preston found that low rates of about 500ml per hectare "; S7[31]=" would select for resistance, whereas higher rates of 1.3L per hectare and above were much less likely to do so.
      'Paraquat "; S8[31]=" is unusual in this respect,' Dr Preston said.
      'Usually we expect high rates to select for resistance faster than low rates, but "; S9[31]=" occasionally with some herbicides and some weeds the situation can be reversed.
      'It is likely resistance evolved in South Africa because growers "; S10[31]=" there were using paraquat to treat big plants that were past tillering.
      Paraquat is not as effective a treatment on such large "; S11[31]=" plants.' Dr Preston said although there had been no reports of paraquat-resistant annual ryegrass in Australia, growers should be aware that this was a problem "; S12[31]=" waiting to happen.
      'Paraquat resistance could be coming to Australian ryegrass so management strategies must be put in place,' he said.
  "; S13[31]="     'Correct use of paraquat in southern Australian cropping systems will increase the life of the chemical.' Dr Preston said the double-knock strategy, an "; S14[31]=" application of glyphosate followed by a paraquat-based herbicide, could aid the development of resistance if not used correctly.
      'Growers who are dropping "; S15[31]=" the rate of the paraquat part of the double knock risk selection for paraquat resistance,' he said.
      'Growers shouldn't back-off on the "; S16[31]=" rates, especially the rate of paraquat.' Dr Preston recommended growers use the double knock wisely to increase the life of paraquat.
      'The "; S17[31]=" best strategy may not be to use the double knock every year with low rates of paraquat,' he said.
      'It may be "; S18[31]=" better used to tackle the worst weedy paddocks and at the recommended rates.' During his GRDC Updates presentation, Dr Preston gave growers information on the "; S19[31]=" latest resistance developments including the emergence of resistance to 2,4-D and Group B herbicides in Indian hedge mustard.
      'In the past "; S20[31]=" year we have confirmed 2,4-D resistance in a population of Indian hedge mustard from South Australia,' he said.
      'This population is also "; S21[31]=" resistant to Group B herbicides and to other Group I herbicides, which is worrying as Group I herbicides are often used to control Group B-resistant "; S22[31]=" broadleaf weeds.' Dr Preston urged growers to follow best practice weed management to reduce the incidence of resistance.
      'Weed management in intensive "; S23[31]=" cropping should be a multi-year management plan and growers must keep abreast of emerging resistance issues,' he said... "; R[32]="2075"; T[32]="Livestock virtually fenced in"; A[32]="By ... Editor"; Dn[32]="20070823"; Dt[32]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[32]="a25a26a27a93"; B1[32]="      A virtual fence for livestock that allows better use of pasture, protects the environment and reduces labour, is being developed by the "; B2[32]="CSIRO Food Futures Flagship using satellite technology... "; B3[32]=" "; B4[32]=" "; B5[32]=" "; S1[32]="      A virtual fence for livestock that allows better use of pasture, protects the environment and reduces labour, is being developed by the "; S2[32]=" CSIRO Food Futures Flagship using satellite technology.
      The project is focussed on developing an animal-friendly virtual fencing system for cattle that enables "; S3[32]=" the animals to be confined without using fixed fences.
      At this stage in the development of what is designed to be a "; S4[32]=" commercial product, the research team has developed a prototype system and successfully demonstrated its use on a herd of cattle.
      CSIRO's Dr "; S5[32]=" Andrew Fisher said the system works in a similar way to a conventional electric fence for livestock, except that the fence is invisible.
    "; S6[32]="   It is a major improvement on existing virtual fencing approaches.
      'The boundaries are drawn entirely by GPS and exist only as "; S7[32]=" a line on a computer,' Dr Fisher said 'There are no wires or fixed transmitters used at all.
      Importantly, what we're developing, "; S8[32]=" achieves the same result as a conventional fence but without the need for posts and wire.' The system employs electronic collars which emit a sound "; S9[32]=" to warn the cattle when they are approaching a virtual boundary line.
      Conducted strictly in line with animal welfare requirements, the virtual "; S10[32]=" fencing project involves collaboration - under the umbrella of the Food Futures Flagship - between CSIRO Livestock Industries in Armidale and the CSIRO ICT Centre "; S11[32]=" in Brisbane.
      'Importantly, what we're developing, achieves the same result as a conventional fence but without the need for posts and wire.' "; S12[32]=" Research team member, CSIRO Livestock Industries' Dr Caroline Lee, said the collars contain advanced software to identify when a cow is near a fence line "; S13[32]=" and which signal should be emitted.
      'Signal timing and duration are based on the behaviour of the cow, and the animals can "; S14[32]=" learn about a virtual fence for the first time in less than an hour and avoid the fence boundary,' Dr Lee said.
      "; S15[32]=" 'The cattle learn, by associating the sound signal with their behaviour of approaching the virtual fence boundary which is programmed into the collars.' The scientists "; S16[32]=" conducted measurements, overseen by an independent animal welfare expert, which show the animals are not unduly stressed by the virtual fence.
      According "; S17[32]=" to CSIRO ICT Centre researcher, Dr Tim Wark, once the boundary is set, the sensor-based system is fully automated and self-sufficient.
      It "; S18[32]=" also enables farmers to continuously monitor where their cattle are located.
      'Although there is still some work to be done in areas "; S19[32]=" such as smart-power management before the system is commercially viable, we can envisage a farm of the future where farmers can fence their property from "; S20[32]=" the comfort of their homesteads,' Dr Wark said... "; R[33]="2074"; T[33]="Evans and Tate wine producer in trouble"; A[33]="By ... Editor"; Dn[33]="20070823"; Dt[33]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[33]="a13"; B1[33]="      Evans & Tate, Australia's sixth largest producer has called in the administrators.... "; B2[33]=" "; B3[33]=" "; B4[33]=" "; B5[33]=" "; S1[33]="      Evans & Tate, Australia's sixth largest producer has called in the administrators.
      It is the end of an "; S2[33]=" 18-month struggle for survival yesterday for the embattled wine company, which owes US$100m (£40.3m) to its bank ANZ.
      Evans & Tate "; S3[33]=" appeared to have secured its future when it reached agreement on a restructuring with an investor group which included ANZ.
      However, "; S4[33]=" on 17 August this investor group told Evans & Tate it was 'not satisfied with the results, and that they reserved their rights to terminate…after "; S5[33]=" Friday 24 August'.
      Evans & Tate was also told that 25% of its shareholders would not support the restructuring plan.
  "; S6[33]="     This caused ANZ to refuse to give any further financial support leaving the board no further options.
      The company has "; S7[33]=" around 160 employees.
      Evans & Tate has appointed Ferrier Hodgson as administrator.
      ANZ has appointed McGrath Nicol as "; S8[33]=" receivers and managers, to look after its interests as a secured creditor... "; R[34]="2073"; T[34]="MLA forecast: Lamb outlook remains bright"; A[34]="By ... Editor"; Dn[34]="20070823"; Dt[34]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[34]="a25a57"; B1[34]="      Strong demand for lamb both in Australia and around the world, combined with the prospect of an end to the drought is "; B2[34]="set to push up returns for lamb producers, according to the latest forecasts from Meat & Livestock Australia... "; B3[34]=" "; B4[34]=" "; B5[34]=" "; S1[34]="      Strong demand for lamb both in Australia and around the world, combined with the prospect of an end to the drought is "; S2[34]=" set to push up returns for lamb producers, according to the latest forecasts from Meat & Livestock Australia.
      Releasing the mid-year update "; S3[34]=" to its 2007 Sheep Industry Projections today, MLA has reported that domestic and overseas consumers continue to look to Australia to supply the steady growth "; S4[34]=" in global demand for lamb.
      MLA's chief market analyst Peter Weeks said that although demand for lamb remains strong, Australian lamb supplies "; S5[34]=" are set to fall significantly over the remainder of 2007 through to spring 2008 as a consequence of the poor breeding season.
      "; S6[34]=" 'The best winter rains for many years across lamb producing regions in eastern Australia have improved seasonal conditions significantly, providing the confidence for producers to "; S7[34]=" start rebuilding sheep flocks,' Mr Weeks said.
      'This rebuilding will ultimately lead to a drop in numbers on the market which should "; S8[34]=" push up prices in the short term and the only thing likely to prevent prices from exceeding the record levels set in 2003 is the "; S9[34]=" high Australian dollar.
      'While further follow-up rains are needed across almost all areas, particularly in south-west WA, the outlook for the second "; S10[34]=" half of 2007 and into 2008 is vastly improved from 12 months earlier.' The largest price increases are likely to be in the lighter lamb "; S11[34]=" categories, which were the hardest hit by the recent drought.
      Lighter lamb supplies are expected to be reduced substantially, with the improvement "; S12[34]=" in seasonal conditions and increased grain supplies enabling producers to finish lambs to heavier weights.
      A forecast increase in the proportion of "; S13[34]=" heavier lambs offered in 2007-08 should be matched by strong demand, helping prices for this category to also average above 2006-07 prices.
      "; S14[34]=" With rising demand offset by lower Australian lamb supply and higher prices, total lamb exports are expected to ease back 2 percent in 2008, to "; S15[34]=" 146,000 tonnes.
      However, the forecast increase in the number of heavier lambs will suit the US export market, with shipments to the "; S16[34]=" US forecast to increase 2.4 percent, to 42,500 tonnes in 2008.
      After two years of strong expansion Australian lamb exports to Japan "; S17[34]=" are forecast to decline by 16 percent in 2007, to 10,000 tonnes.
      However, with demand expected to stabilise and the A$ to "; S18[34]=" fall modestly against the yen through 2008, lamb exports to Japan in 2008 are forecast to remain steady at around 10,000 tonnes.
      "; S19[34]=" Mr Weeks said that farm income will have been low, or even negative, for many lamb specialists in 2006-07, however this situation should turn around "; S20[34]=" if the drought breaks.
      'Lamb producer incomes have been low because the drought really impacted on the condition and price of lambs "; S21[34]=" sold and there were high expenditures on feed, agistment, water and other drought-related costs.
      However, producer incomes should return to historically high "; S22[34]=" levels once the drought breaks, assisted by better lamb quality, higher prices and lower costs,' Mr Weeks said.
      Providing the drought breaks, "; S23[34]=" the strong positive sentiment among the industry is expected to see lamb production grow steadily beyond 2008, allowing for expansion in both domestic consumption and "; S24[34]=" export volumes.
      The expansion is likely to be slower than anticipated prior to the severe 2006-07 drought, because of the depletion of "; S25[34]=" the core Merino breeding flock.
      As a result of the five-year drought the Australian sheep flock has been severely depleted and is "; S26[34]=" at its lowest level in 80 years.
      The national sheep flock has declined by an estimated 23 million head or 21 percent "; S27[34]=" in the last six years, from 111 million head in June 2001 to an estimated 88 million in June 2007.
      Mutton production "; S28[34]=" is forecast to fall significantly during the second half of 2007, which is expected to see both exports and domestic usage decline.
      "; S29[34]=" Tighter supplies of sheep will see mutton prices increase and remain at historically high levels through the medium term, especially if seasonal condition remains favourable.
"; S30[34]="       Mutton exports are forecast to decline 18 percent in 2007, to 133,000 tonnes, with shipments in the second half of the year "; R[35]="2072"; T[35]="New report reaffirms importance of red meat in diet"; A[35]="By ... Editor"; Dn[35]="20070823"; Dt[35]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[35]="a09"; B1[35]="      Although every Australian cattle, sheep and goat producer already knew it, a new scientific report released today has confirmed the importance of "; B2[35]="red meat in a healthy balanced diet... "; B3[35]=" "; B4[35]=" "; B5[35]=" "; S1[35]="      Although every Australian cattle, sheep and goat producer already knew it, a new scientific report released today has confirmed the importance of "; S2[35]=" red meat in a healthy balanced diet.
      The report, titled The Role of Red Meat in Healthy Australian Diets, was compiled by "; S3[35]=" a group of 16 eminent Australian nutrition experts following extensive reviews of the latest science.
      The report was launched today in Sydney "; S4[35]=" by the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing Tony Abbott.
      MLA Managing Director David Palmer said the report underpinned the efforts of "; S5[35]=" Australia's cattle, sheep and goat producers by dispelling any confusion about the links between lean red meat and better health.
      'The release "; S6[35]=" of this report is of huge benefit to Australia's livestock producers because it uses science and fact to demonstrate the benefits of red meat in "; S7[35]=" the diet.
      This report assists in building confidence in the minds of consumers about our already highly regarded product,' Mr Palmer said.
"; S8[35]="       According to Professor Ian Caterson, Boden Professor of Human Nutrition at the University of Sydney, who chaired the expert editorial committee responsible "; S9[35]=" for the report, the findings confirm the important role of red meat in a healthy diet.
      'Australians are increasingly overfed but can "; S10[35]=" be 'undernourished'.
      On the one hand, we are eating too much which leads to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
      "; S11[35]=" While on the other, our poor food choices are putting us at risk of nutritional deficiencies,' Prof Caterson said.
      According to Professor "; S12[35]=" Linda Tapsell, a member of the report's expert editorial committee, red meat is a natural source of essential nutrients and forms an important part of "; S13[35]=" a diet aimed at preventing chronic disease.
      'Lean red meat is unique in that it not only provides iron and zinc "; S14[35]=" in forms that are well absorbed by the body, but it also supplies vitamin B12 and long-chain omega-3s - two nutrients found naturally in only "; S15[35]=" a limited number of foods.
      With so much food to choose from, there is comfort in knowing that lean red meat remains "; S16[35]=" a core food in a healthy Australian cuisine,' Prof Tapsell said.
      The report also states that a diet containing the recommended levels "; S17[35]=" of lean red meat can help maintain a healthy weight, lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol.
      Supported by the Dietitians Association "; S18[35]=" of Australia and the National Heart Foundation of Australia, the report finds consuming lean red meat 3-4 times a week can reduce the risk of "; S19[35]=" key nutrient deficiencies including iron, zinc and vitamin B12 deficiencies, all of which are essential for good health.
      On launching the report "; S20[35]=" Mr Abbott commented on the significance of the publication for the health of all Australians.
      Meat & Livestock Australia first convened an "; S21[35]=" expert editorial committee in 1999 to investigate the role of red meat in a healthy balanced Australian diet, with the first report released in 2001.
"; S22[35]="       The latest report has reviewed the huge volume of scientific studies involving red meat that have been undertaken since 2001 in order "; S23[35]=" to provide the most up-to-date information on the nutritional benefits of red meat... "; R[36]="2071"; T[36]="International buyers take their shopping lists to Ag-Quip"; A[36]="By ... Editor"; Dn[36]="20070823"; Dt[36]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[36]="a54"; B1[36]="      Austrade, the Australian Government's export development agency has brought more than 20 influential buyers from the United States, China and New Caledonia "; B2[36]="to Ag-Quip, the nation's largest agricultural event... "; B3[36]=" "; B4[36]=" "; B5[36]=" "; S1[36]="      Austrade, the Australian Government's export development agency has brought more than 20 influential buyers from the United States, China and New Caledonia "; S2[36]=" to Ag-Quip, the nation's largest agricultural event.
      Austrade's National Agribusiness Manager, Rob Sutton, said rural and regional businesses will have an unprecedented "; S3[36]=" opportunity to increase their profile by networking with the large contingent of international buyers.
      'There are exciting business opportunities for Australian agribusinesses "; S4[36]=" in the US, China, New Caledonia and all over the world.
      The total value of farm production in the US alone is "; S5[36]=" around $315 billion, making it the largest international agricultural market and potentially a large export destination for our agribusinesses,' Mr Sutton said.
      "; S6[36]=" 'Austrade encourages local agribusinesses to consider these potentially lucrative international markets as Australia is consistently developing advanced farming products and services, due largely to "; S7[36]=" Australia's readiness to adopt these technologies and its long term commitment to agricultural research and innovation,' he said.
      Now in its 35th "; S8[36]=" year, Ag-Quip 2007 will run from 21-23 August.
      Held in Gunnedah in northern NSW, this year Ag-Quip will host more than 2,500 "; S9[36]=" businesses displaying their range of farming equipment and services to over 100,000 local and international visitors expected to attend.
      (Austrade's stand is "; S10[36]=" located at C-D/30).
      Austrade's Kansas City-based US Agribusiness specialist, Randall Tosh, will bring an influential group of US buyers, including Tractor Supply "; S11[36]=" - America's biggest farm products and produce retailer which has nearly 700 stores in 37 US States and generates over US$2 billion in sales a "; S12[36]=" year.
      'The US buyers brought to Ag-Quip this year were targeted due to their size, geographic coverage and specific interests.
    "; S13[36]="   Austrade will also host targeted business matching on-site at Ag-Quip to ensure our clients have the best opportunity to discuss their products with the "; S14[36]=" relevant buyer,' Mr Tosh said.
      'This initiative further promotes Australian agribusinesses to the US market and creates greater opportunities for participants who "; S15[36]=" exhibit as part of the Australian Pavilion at World Ag Expo in California, February 2008.
      It's the largest farm show on earth "; S16[36]=" with 1600 exhibitors from 60 countries.
      Over 150,000 visitors are expected to attend, including the major buyers, agents and distributors,' he said.
"; S17[36]="       Following the introduction of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), Austrade established a dedicated Agribusiness team in the United States "; S18[36]=" to assist Australian businesses.
      Austrade has AUSFTA representation in 18 US cities and specialist industry teams in seven other areas.
    "; S19[36]="   Austrade's Beijing Trade Commissioner Paul Sanda and Kuala Lumpur-based Senior Trade Commissioner Peter Kane, will also join Randall Tosh at Ag-Quip on-site to discuss "; S20[36]=" the market conditions and export opportunities available to Australian businesses in their particular markets.
      'Similar reports will also be given on-site live "; S21[36]=" via video conferencing by Austrade's Trade Commissioners including Hanoi/Vietnam-based Patrick Stringer, Moscow-based Dan Tebutt, and Austrade's Tokyo-based Business Development Manager, Naoki Endoh,' Mr Sutton said... "; R[37]="2070"; T[37]="Sea trials for Atlantic salmon gill disease vaccine"; A[37]="By ... Editor"; Dn[37]="20070823"; Dt[37]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[37]="a33a34"; B1[37]="      A vaccine developed to boost the profitability of Tasmania's A$230 million Atlantic salmon industry will be tested at a marine farm south "; B2[37]="of Hobart during spring and summer... "; B3[37]=" "; B4[37]=" "; B5[37]=" "; S1[37]="      A vaccine developed to boost the profitability of Tasmania's A$230 million Atlantic salmon industry will be tested at a marine farm south "; S2[37]=" of Hobart during spring and summer.
      The vaccine targets amoebic gill disease (AGD), a health problem that costs the Tasmanian industry some "; S3[37]=" A$20 million a year in treatment and lost productivity, and is a major constraint to industry expansion.
      'AGD is caused by amoebae "; S4[37]=" that attach to the gills of Atlantic salmon,' says CSIRO scientist, Dr Mathew Cook.
      'The affected fish are safe to eat, but "; S5[37]=" lose condition and must be regularly bathed in fresh water to detach the amoebae.' The sea trial is the third phase of an industry-backed vaccine "; S6[37]=" research project led by CSIRO through the Food Futures Flagship and funded by the Aquafin and Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) and the Fisheries "; S7[37]=" Research and Development Corporation.
      'An effective vaccine would improve fish welfare through summer, reduce or eliminate the need for fresh-water bathing, and "; S8[37]=" potentially improve salmon growth rates, making Tasmanian salmon more cost-competitive in the global market,' Mr Bender says.
      Initiated in June 2002 by "; S9[37]=" Aquafin CRC, the first phase of the project identified genes in the infective amoeba likely to trigger an immune response in the fish.
    "; S10[37]="   Those genes were then used to produce a vaccine.
      In the second phase, laboratory trials conducted in collaboration with the University "; S11[37]=" of Tasmania indicated the vaccine provided a 40 per cent increase in protection against AGD.
      In the sea trial, to begin in "; S12[37]=" late August, three thousand Atlantic salmon will be grown by Huon Aquaculture Company at its Hideaway Bay marine farm in the Huon estuary.
    "; S13[37]="   The salmon were bred by Salmon Enterprises of Tasmania at Wayatinah in the state's Central Highlands and have been electronically tagged for identification.
  "; S14[37]="     Half of the salmon have been vaccinated, and the other half treated with a 'control' injection not containing the vaccine.
      "; S15[37]=" All will be regularly assessed for the presence of gill amoebae during spring and summer.
      Huon Aquaculture Company director, Peter Bender, says "; S16[37]=" the vaccine offers a positive management tool to address one of the industry's major health challenges.
      'An effective vaccine would improve fish "; S17[37]=" welfare through summer, reduce or eliminate the need for fresh-water bathing, and potentially improve salmon growth rates, making Tasmanian salmon more cost-competitive in the global "; S18[37]=" market,' Mr Bender says.
      Dr Cook says the project is unique in attempting to vaccinate against an external parasite in fish.
  "; S19[37]="     He says the focus going forward lies in translating the laboratory results into the field where the infection is very different.
    "; S20[37]="   'In the laboratory, AGD is an acute infection, but in the field it's more chronic,' he says.
      'So we may just "; S21[37]=" have a vaccine that protects against an acute challenge.
      Our real measure of success will be the level of reduction in fresh-water "; S22[37]=" bathing.'.. "; R[38]="2069"; T[38]="Farmers want State Govts to end GM moratoria"; A[38]="By ... Editor"; Dn[38]="20070823"; Dt[38]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[38]="a12"; B1[38]="      State Governments must seize the opportunities gene technology poses for Australia's agricultural production base - both in terms of better and more "; B2[38]="drought-resistant crops, and our long-term economic efficiency and competitiveness on the world stage... "; B3[38]=" "; B4[38]=" "; B5[38]=" "; S1[38]="      StateGovernments must seize the opportunities gene technology poses for Australia's agricultural production base - both in terms of better and more drought-resistant "; S2[38]=" crops, and our long-term economic efficiency and competitiveness on the world stage.
      The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) says Australian farmers have been "; S3[38]=" 'left behind' by an international marketplace that has already embraced GM as a safe and viable science.
      Australian farmers are now being "; S4[38]=" 'held back' from cutting-edge farm techniques, based on out-dated hysteria.
      'What was once a prudent 'wait and see' policy, is no longer "; S5[38]=" viable,' NFF President David Crombie said.
      'The science is in...
      the world has moved on from the traditional and "; S6[38]=" overtly emotional arguments against GM crops.
      'Australia now must play catch up - and do so quickly - to ensure we win "; S7[38]=" a much greater share of world markets, opportunities which until the GM moratoria are scrapped, will continue to pass us by.
      'Farmers "; S8[38]=" must have the opportunity to adopt the method of production best suited to their customers' needs - be that GM, conventional, organic or any combination "; S9[38]=" of these methods… points of differentiation they can pursue to meet marketplace desires.
      'It is the marketplace - both domestic and international "; S10[38]=" - that is demanding the introduction of GM crops.
      The 'status quo' will not do.
      State and Territory Governments "; S11[38]=" must not arbitrarily deny farmers pursuing sensible, scientifically-proven and time-tested methods of production.
      'Australian farmers are well-placed to responsibly harness the enormous "; S12[38]=" opportunities gene technology offers… reducing use of pesticides and herbicides, maximising water efficiency, resilience in adverse growing conditions and boosting production yields.' While pushing for "; S13[38]=" the State moratoria to be lifted, the NFF says the production decisions of one farmer should not unreasonably impinge on the ability of other farmers "; S14[38]=" in meeting the requirements and expectations of the market they chose to meet.
      'As with any new technology, it is vital that "; S15[38]=" producers identify and thoroughly assess potential risks, and implement strategies to appropriately manage them,' Mr Crombie added.
      'The NFF is satisfied appropriate "; S16[38]=" Australian safeguards exist to ensure food safety and the sustained integrity of organic and conventional food production.
      'In fact, Australia's Gene Technology "; S17[38]=" Act 2000 establishes standards regarded as the world's most stringent for assessing GM plants for human and environmental safety.
      'Australia's rigorous gene "; S18[38]=" technology regulatory system, and the careful process required to meet commercialisation, means that, with the exception of cotton and canola, new GM plant varieties are "; S19[38]=" unlikely to be ready for another seven years -highlighting just how far behind Australian farmers are in the world market.
      'The moratoria "; S20[38]=" had their day.
      Uptake of gene technology will result in substantial benefits for Australian farmers, the environment, consumers and Australia's place in "; S21[38]=" the international economy.' For the NFF's submission to State Government GM Moratorium Review Panels, see: Submissions to Government... "; R[39]="2068"; T[39]="Farmers concerned about wind erosion"; A[39]="By ... Editor"; Dn[39]="20070823"; Dt[39]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[39]="a37a72a89a90"; B1[39]="      The impact of wind erosion is topping the list of land degradation concerns among farmers affected by consecutive dry seasons.... "; B2[39]=" "; B3[39]=" "; B4[39]=" "; B5[39]=" "; S1[39]="      The impact of wind erosion is topping the list of land degradation concerns among farmers affected by consecutive dry seasons.
    "; S2[39]="   At this month's Dowerin Field Days, the Department of Agriculture and Food will focus on land degradation hazards and help farmers identify their risks "; S3[39]=" and management options.
      The online mapping and information service 'NRM Info',part of the Shared Land Use Information Platform (SLIP), will also be "; S4[39]=" running.
      The service is a one-stop-shop to help manage land degradation and is available at http://spatial.agric.wa.gov.au/slip/ 'NRM Info' program manager Damian "; S5[39]=" Shepherd said extensive information was available to help land managers, including farmers, regional NRM groups, local government and land use planners, to understand and manage "; S6[39]=" land degradation risks like erosion.
      Mr Shepherd said 'NRM Info' brought together natural resource data, information and mapping products from across State "; S7[39]=" agencies in one place, available online and free to access.
      'It provides information on soils, land degradation hazards, wetlands, coastal, marine and "; S8[39]=" aquatic environments, native vegetation and rare and priority flora and fauna,' Mr Shepherd said.
      'The site is continually being updated and "; S9[39]=" will soon incorporate an even wider range of other NRM information.' Mr Shepherd said 'NRM Info' ensured the most current and reliable information was available "; S10[39]=" to support land management decisions.
      'It allows users to explore what information is relevant to their local area, to interactively run queries "; S11[39]=" and reports on mapped features, and to print customised maps,' he said.
      'Farmers can view, customise and print maps of natural resource "; S12[39]=" information for their local area, including aerial photos, soils, land degradation hazards and native vegetation.' 'NRM Info' is jointly funded by the Australian and Western "; S13[39]=" Australian Governments... "; R[40]="2067"; T[40]="Travel meeting coup for state"; A[40]="By ... Editor"; Dn[40]="20070823"; Dt[40]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[40]="a44"; B1[40]="      South Australia has won the right to host a national eco-tourism conference next year that is expected to attract about 400 national "; B2[40]="and overseas delegates... "; B3[40]=" "; B4[40]=" "; B5[40]=" "; S1[40]="      South Australia has won the right to host a national eco-tourism conference next year that is expected to attract about 400 national "; S2[40]=" and overseas delegates.
      The 2008 National Ecotourism Conference will be hosted by Ecotourism Australia, the peak national body for the eco-tourism industry.
"; S3[40]="       It is expected to generate more than $1 million.
      The state's eco-tourism experiences, which range from swimming with sea "; S4[40]=" lions at Baird Bay to River Murray cruises, will be on show during the conference in November.
      The Adelaide Convention Tourism Authority "; S5[40]=" predicts the event will be worth $690,000 to the SA economy although the wider impact will be higher.
      Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith "; S6[40]=" said eco-tourism was an industry with huge potential.
      'Eco-tourism destinations now attract about 15 per cent of the global tourist market and "; S7[40]=" that number is climbing fast,' she said.
      Dr Lomax-Smith said the Government was committed to marketing SA's credentials as a 'green' holiday "; S8[40]=" destination.
      She said SA was already a leader in ecologically sustainable tourism, with about 15 per cent of the nation's Eco-Certified tourism "; S9[40]=" operators based here.
      'Our 76 Eco-Certified tourism experiences range from swimming with dolphins and cave-diving to wine-tasting and camel safaris through the "; S10[40]=" Outback,' she said.
      'We believe SA offers visitors easily accessible, world-class ecotourism experiences and there is a great opportunity for us to "; S11[40]=" be a leader in this area in the future.' SA's first six-star resort - the nature-based Southern Ocean Lodge at Hanson Bay on Kangaroo Island "; S12[40]=" - is expected to open on March 1... "; R[41]="2066"; T[41]="River system levels still dire"; A[41]="By ... Editor"; Dn[41]="20070823"; Dt[41]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[41]="a40a89"; B1[41]="      Things still look grim for irrigation in the Murray-Darling Basin this summer, with most storages very low.... "; B2[41]=" "; B3[41]=" "; B4[41]=" "; B5[41]=" "; S1[41]="      Things still look grim for irrigation in the Murray-Darling Basin this summer, with most storages very low.
      Burrinjuck Dam "; S2[41]=" on the Murrumbidgee River has climbed to 42 per cent capacity and Hume Dam on the Murray 22, but Copeton Dam on the Gwydir River "; S3[41]=" is just 11, Keepit on the Namoi 7, Burrendong on the Macquarie 13, Wyangala on the Lachlan 17 and Menindee Lakes on the Darling River "; S4[41]=" 4 per cent.
      Irrigators on the Lachlan and Murrumbidgee rivers now have access to 30 per cent of their high-security entitlement this "; S5[41]=" summer but in the Murray Valley farmers can only carry out survival watering of citrus and chardonnay wine grapes.
      Production of the "; S6[41]=" state's main summer irrigated crops of cotton, rice and feed for livestock will be hit hard if good rain doesn't come soon.
      "; S7[41]=" In July the Murray had inflows of 450 gigalitres, which was higher than the 130 gigalitres of July last year, but well below the long-term "; S8[41]=" average of 1190 gigalitres.
      So far this month Murray inflows have been about 190 gigalitres, well above the 97 gigalitres in August "; S9[41]=" 2006, but the long-term average is 1560 gigalitres.
      The Murray Darling Basin Commission's August drought update said: 'Although storages are rising slowly, "; S10[41]=" we still have a long way to go to reach even the level of water availability at this time last year.'.. "; R[42]="2065"; T[42]="NZ wine exports booming"; A[42]="By ... Editor"; Dn[42]="20070823"; Dt[42]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[42]="a13"; B1[42]="      New Zealand is on track to deliver $1 billion in wine exports by 2010, says the Marlborough-based chairman of New Zealand Winegrowers "; B2[42]="Stuart Smith... "; B3[42]=" "; B4[42]=" "; B5[42]=" "; S1[42]="      New Zealand is on track to deliver $1 billion in wine exports by 2010, says the Marlborough-based chairman of New Zealand Winegrowers "; S2[42]=" Stuart Smith.
      New Zealand Winegrowers has just announced a 36 percent jump in exports for the year, bringing overseas revenues to a "; S3[42]=" record $700 million for the sector.
      Mr Smith said the wine industry was meeting projected export increases and would do so in "; S4[42]=" the future.
      'We have surveyed all our members to indicate tonnage processed so we had the export projections - but we have "; S5[42]=" got there a little faster than expected.' Annual figures show domestic sales of wine are now more than $500 million and the 2007 vintage produced "; S6[42]=" a record crop of 205,000 tonnes - up 11 percent on last year.
      In New Zealand's big three destinations the United Kingdom "; S7[42]=" took 36 percent more wine, the United States 27 percent and Australia 47 percent.
      The annual report shows the Marlborough region produced "; S8[42]=" 120,205 tonnes in the last year.
      Mr Smith said in future the Marlborough region would produce larger quantities given a frost affected "; S9[42]=" harvest this year.
      He said the export growth and the robust industry as a whole would bring the benefits of employment and "; S10[42]=" investment to Marlborough.
      The rising dollar had been a limiting factor and remained over valued though it was correcting slowly.
    "; S11[42]="   Mr Smith said the dollar needed to be down around 60 cents but it was also important for exporters that it remained stable.
  "; S12[42]="     'It's been wildly fluctuating.
      It's important for it to be stable as well, say within that 55 to 65 cent "; S13[42]=" band.
      The way the market is now it could be 20 cents either side of that.' Mr Smith said while the amount "; S14[42]=" of wine being exported was important, obviously value was still the key to export success.
      He said the industry had been growing "; S15[42]=" steadily for two decades and was now a major player in the national economy, overtaking wool in the league table of overseas earnings.
    "; S16[42]="   Looking forward, close to 150 million litres of wine will be available for this year's vintage and there were opportunities to extend existing overseas "; S17[42]=" markets and nurture new ones.
      The industry was looking at chalking up $1 billion in exports within three years and expects to "; S18[42]=" hit the $2 billion mark by 2015.
      New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said ability to grow enough grapes to meet "; S19[42]=" the industry export target of $1 billion by 2010 was under constant pressure from difficult resource management law and a shortage of land and water.
"; S20[42]="       Areas where people had not traditionally grown grapes might become an option, he said... "; R[43]="2064"; T[43]="New wheat marketer explains export model"; A[43]="By ... Editor"; Dn[43]="20070823"; Dt[43]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[43]="a08a22"; B1[43]="      The Wheat Export Marketing Alliance will use a new single-desk model... "; B2[43]=" "; B3[43]=" "; B4[43]=" "; B5[43]=" "; S1[43]="      Australia's wheat marketing agency says it will adopt a new business model to sell the grain.
      The Wheat Export "; S2[43]=" Marketing Alliance was formed after the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) had its monopoly export power taken away when a Government inquiry found it had paid "; S3[43]=" kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's former regime.
      Alliance chairman Graham Blight says under the new single desk model the alliance will have "; S4[43]=" bulk export control, but unlike AWB it will work with other agricultural groups.
      'I will accept, as agents, requests from other players "; S5[43]=" in the industry who can come to the single desk and advise them that they have suitable markets overseas that will generate what we expect "; S6[43]=" are really good returns,' he said.
      Mr Blight says the model will be different to the one used by AWB.
    "; S7[43]="   'It's not completely different but yes, it is different,' he said.
      'What it does do is include other players in the "; S8[43]=" industry, as long as they can meet the hurdle of what we expect them to do in a competitive environment.'.. "; R[44]="2063"; T[44]="Report warns against agricultural expansion in northern Australia"; A[44]="By ... Editor"; Dn[44]="20070823"; Dt[44]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[44]="a37a42a72a89"; B1[44]="      Environmental scientists from the Australian National University have launched a report warning against potentially damaging forms of economic development in northern Australia.... "; B2[44]=" "; B3[44]=" "; B4[44]=" "; B5[44]=" "; S1[44]="      Environmental scientists from the Australian National University have launched a report warning against potentially damaging forms of economic development in northern Australia.
"; S2[44]="       As the Federal Government investigates the potential for agricultural expansion in the north, the report calls for a more cautious approach.
  "; S3[44]="     Co-author Brendan Mackey says he hopes the report will be considered by the Government's northern task force.
      'There's agriculture in "; S4[44]=" the north now and there's going to be agriculture in the future, and the extent to which that can or should expand is something we "; S5[44]=" know is being considered by a government task force,' he said.
      'So I think the material in our book is relevant to "; S6[44]=" that question and we'll certainly forward a copy of it to the government task force and we'd be very happy to meet with them and "; S7[44]=" discuss how our finding might be helpful to their deliberations.'.. "; R[45]="2062"; T[45]="Labor accuses McGauran of interfering in GM decision"; A[45]="By ... Editor"; Dn[45]="20070823"; Dt[45]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[45]="a12"; B1[45]="      Labor has accused the Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran of trying to stir up a state and commonwealth stoush on genetically modified "; B2[45]="crops... "; B3[45]=" "; B4[45]=" "; B5[45]=" "; S1[45]="      Labor has accused the Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran of trying to stir up a state and commonwealth stoush on genetically modified "; S2[45]=" crops.
      Mr McGauran has today released a second Government agency report promoting GM canola.
      He says the Government has "; S3[45]=" a right to advocate on behalf of farmers, and Labor is just sitting on the fence.
      But Opposition Primary Industries spokesman Kerry "; S4[45]=" O'Brien says the Minister should stay out of state decisions.
      'The reality is that the states control their management and picking a "; S5[45]=" fight with the states on an issue where they have fairly clear constitutional responsibility is simply picking a fight for the sake of picking a "; S6[45]=" fight,' he said.
      Submissions for reviews into bans on GM crops in Victoria and South Australian close today... "; R[46]="2061"; T[46]="Australian wool market recovers"; A[46]="By ... Editor"; Dn[46]="20070823"; Dt[46]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[46]="a08a25"; B1[46]="      After a rocky few weeks, the Australian wool market has firmed, with the eastern market indicator up 26 cents, to 925 cents "; B2[46]="a kilogram... "; B3[46]=" "; B4[46]=" "; B5[46]=" "; S1[46]="      After a rocky few weeks, the Australian wool market has firmed, with the eastern market indicator up 26 cents, to 925 cents "; S2[46]=" a kilogram.
      Wool Agency's Andrew Johnston says a drop in the Australian dollar during yesterday's sales, and strong interest from China and "; S3[46]=" Europe, helped the recovery.
      Sales in Western Australia were only held on Wednesday, and Mr Johnston says the market was softer there.
"; S4[46]="       'Fremantle didn't have a sale yesterday, it now has a bit of catching up to do,' he said.
      'I've "; S5[46]=" really got to say the Fremantle market on Wednesday wasn't nearly as good as the east, where the Sydney and Melbourne had about 20 to "; S6[46]=" 30 clean rise for the finer types on Wednesday.
      'Fremantle at best was only 15 clean.'.. "; R[47]="2060"; T[47]="GM cotton paper released for public comment"; A[47]="By ... Editor"; Dn[47]="20070823"; Dt[47]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[47]="a12a15"; B1[47]="      Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance today released a report on the potential for Genetically Modified (GM) Cotton in the Ord River "; B2[47]="Irrigation Area for public comment... "; B3[47]=" "; B4[47]=" "; B5[47]=" "; S1[47]="      Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance today released a report on the potential for Genetically Modified (GM) Cotton in the Ord River "; S2[47]=" Irrigation Area for public comment.
      The Ministerial GM Industry Reference Group prepared the report, and feedback is sought from stakeholders on the "; S3[47]=" future production of GM cotton in the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA).
      The reference group was established in 2005 to identify logistical, "; S4[47]=" agronomic, marketing and other issues relevant to the use of biotechnology in agricultural crops in Western Australia.
      The GM Cotton in the "; S5[47]=" Ord River Irrigation Area is the first of a number of discussion papers being prepared by the Reference Group for comment by the public.
  "; S6[47]="     Mr Chance said the paper provided an overview of current and potential cotton production in Australia as well as the status of global "; S7[47]=" production of GM cotton, including potential markets and prices.
      'An analysis has also been completed on the potential opportunities for growing GM "; S8[47]=" cotton in the Ord including water and chemical requirements, social impact and economic viability,' Mr Chance said.
      'The discussion paper also outlines "; S9[47]=" on-farm management issues and environmental and health considerations.' GM cotton has been growing in trial plots in the ORIA for more than 10 years without "; S10[47]=" any significant problems and yields have been encouraging.
      Currently there is a moratorium on the commercial production of GM crops in WA "; S11[47]=" and the State Government is seeking feedback from the community on allowing GM cotton in the ORIA.
      The public comment period will "; S12[47]=" be open for four weeks from today until 31 August 2007.
      Copies of the report are available from the Department of Agriculture "; S13[47]=" and Food by contacting Richard Williams via email or on (08) 9368 3675 or at GM Cotton in the Ord River Irrigation Area - Discussion "; S14[47]=" Paper.
      Submissions should also be forwarded to Richard Williams, Department of Agriculture and Food, Locked Bag 4 Bentley Mail Centre WA 6983... "; R[48]="2059"; T[48]="Drought is no excuse for neglecting livestock"; A[48]="By ... Editor"; Dn[48]="20070823"; Dt[48]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[48]="a25a26a72a89"; B1[48]="      The RSPCA's laying of almost 100 charges of animal cruelty against a Pilliga cattle producer yesterday has prompted the NSW DPI to "; B2[48]="issue a reminder to the State's livestock owners of their responsibilities when it comes to animal welfare... "; B3[48]=" "; B4[48]=" "; B5[48]=" "; S1[48]="      The RSPCA's laying of almost 100 charges of animal cruelty against a Pilliga cattle producer yesterday has prompted the NSW DPI to "; S2[48]=" issue a reminder to the State's livestock owners of their responsibilities when it comes to animal welfare.
      'There is a strong expectation "; S3[48]=" within society that neglecting the welfare of animals, both big or small, is not acceptable,' NSW DPI's director of animal welfare, Ross Burton said today.
"; S4[48]="       'Nobody is more aware of this than the State's farming community which has worked hard to sustain their livestock through the worst "; S5[48]=" drought on record.
      'In nearly all cases, the State's farmers are to be commended on the manner in which they have cared "; S6[48]=" for their animals.
      'Drought is no excuse for letting the condition of livestock slip to the point that the animals' welfare suffers "; S7[48]=" and they ultimately become a critical case of neglect ...
      and most farmers are aware of this.
      'The truth "; S8[48]=" is the drought has forced many producers to make hard decisions to protect the welfare of their animals, this includes providing adequate amounts of feed "; S9[48]=" and fresh water.
      'Livestock producers have had to decide to either sell their stock or buy fodder in to feed them through "; S10[48]=" the long dry ...
      which can be very expensive.
      'Recent cold and wet weather has placed additional pressure on "; S11[48]=" livestock, with many owners still hand feeding in the hope that they will experience a good spring with plenty of pasture growth.' Mr Burton urged "; S12[48]=" producers interested in drought assistance, including animal welfare support, to contact the NSW DPI drought hotline 1800 814 647.
      'The State Government "; S13[48]=" has a whole range of drought assistance measures to ease the pressure on livestock producers battling the drought,' he said.
      These include: "; S14[48]="
      * Subsidies to transport stock to sale and slaughter, subsidies to transport fodder;
      * A specialist "; S15[48]=" drought counselling service provided by a team of drought support workers;
      * Mental Health Information Service;
    "; S16[48]="   * Drought household assistance, Rural Financial Counsellors;
      * Drought livestock disposal scheme; and
      * "; S17[48]=" A fodder registry... "; R[49]="2058"; T[49]="Farmers tell Senate they are worried about water plan"; A[49]="By ... Editor"; Dn[49]="20070823"; Dt[49]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[49]="a40"; B1[49]="      Farmer groups have told a Senate inquiry they still have concerns with the Prime Minister's $10 billion water plan.... "; B2[49]=" "; B3[49]=" "; B4[49]=" "; B5[49]=" "; S1[49]="      Farmer groups have told a Senate inquiry they still have concerns with the Prime Minister's $10 billion water plan.
      "; S2[49]=" The National and Victorian Farmers Federations now broadly support the water Bill.
      But they are worried previous objections will resurface in the "; S3[49]=" intergovernmental agreement which is still to be signed.
      Concerns include irrigation rights, water pricing and liability for individual farmers if catchment and "; S4[49]=" basin caps are not met.
      Meanwhile state governments have protested against the prospect they will be liable to compensate farmers for water "; S5[49]=" they lose unwillingly.
      South Australian Government representative Rob Freeman says he shares New South Wales' concern.
      'The Prime Minister "; S6[49]=" outlined in his speech on the January 25 that jurisdictions would incur no extra costs,' he said.
      Scientists have also called for "; S7[49]=" amendments including more power for the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to enforce the basin water use caps its to set... ";