R[0]="1707"; T[0]="Flexi-Coil Announces New Dealer Appointments across Australia"; A[0]="By ... Editor"; Dn[0]="20061127"; Dt[0]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[0]="a01"; B1[0]="      Flexi-Coil has announced the appointment of over 50 dedicated dealers across Australia to sell and service their industry-leading tillage and seeding products.... "; B2[0]=" "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]="      Flexi-Coil has announced the appointment of over 50 dedicated dealers across Australia to sell and service their industry-leading tillage and seeding products.
"; S2[0]="       Flexi-Coil Sales and Marketing Manager, Steve Mulder, says the selected dealerships are committed to making the line their number one seeding and "; S3[0]=" tillage focus, ensuring expert advice and quality customer support.
      'Their level of commitment to Flexi-Coil made them the right choice for us.
"; S4[0]="       We have chosen dealerships with the resources and people to contribute to the ongoing success of this very highly regarded brand.' "; S5[0]=" The appointment of the new dealerships coincides with a renewed commitment by Flexi-Coil to produce innovative products.
      'Over the years we have "; S6[0]=" earned a solid reputation for innovation.
      The introduction in 1997 of the variable rate air cart, set the standard for this technology, "; S7[0]=" and while our competitors have tried to emulate it with the rise of prescription farming, no-one does it as well as Flexi-Coil.
      "; S8[0]=" We're continuing that commitment to innovation with various new products about to come on the market, including a new air drill, hydraulic tynes and the "; S9[0]=" next generation of electronics to name a few.' Steve says Flexi-Coil develops products that help farmers get the most from their land and their crops.
"; S10[0]="       'What makes the Flexi-Coil product superior is its great adaptability for different farming systems.
      Farmers can configure the row "; S11[0]=" spacing to suit their particular soil and moisture conditions and ensure accurate seed placement.
      They can single and double shoot and easily "; S12[0]=" calibrate and adjust seed and fertiliser rates for maximum return.
      They can control air velocity to ensure the gentle placement of seed "; S13[0]=" and fertiliser and when combined with our flexible cultivator bar, farmers can seed at the right depth for the conditions, with simple, single-point depth control.
"; S14[0]="       The bottom line is that we make it easy for farmers to control what goes into the ground, and where.' In addition "; S15[0]=" to offering accuracy and versatility that is second-to-none, Flexi-Coil products are manufactured to high standards for robustness and durability.
      'Our products are "; S16[0]=" manufactured in a state-of-the-art facility in Saskatoon, Canada from which they emerge with a high quality finish.
      As well, our hallmark flexible "; S17[0]=" frame design not only helps with seed placement but minimises frame fatigue, resulting in longer implement life, reduced maintenance and lower overall cost of ownership,' "; S18[0]=" Steve says.
      Staff at Flexi-Coil dealerships will receive extensive ongoing product training to ensure they are best placed to understand and address "; S19[0]=" their customers' needs.
      'We recognise it's the people who are a dealer's most valuable resource and our dealerships will have staff accredited "; S20[0]=" to sell and service the products.
      'We'll also be ensuring excellent after sales service.
      After sales service support "; S21[0]=" is critical to a successful seeding operation, and enables customers make the most of the seeding window.
      We understand the critical nature "; S22[0]=" of timing, to ensure you make the most of available soil moisture and maximise crop yields,' Steve said.
      As well as ensuring "; S23[0]=" their dealers are experts on the products, Flexi-Coil plans to help customers learn how to get the most out of their equipment.
      "; S24[0]=" Dealers will be running customer clinics for new and repeat buyers.
      The clinics will show owners and operators how to properly calibrate "; S25[0]=" the equipment and offer some tips on operating the equipment effectively, including the techniques for successfully applying variable rates.
      The course will "; S26[0]=" also cover basic product maintenance.
      Customers interested in attending a customer clinic before 2007 seeding should contact their nearest Flexi-Coil dealer... "; R[1]="1706"; T[1]="Lower Grape harvest yield forecast for 2007,"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20061127"; Dt[1]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[1]="a13"; B1[1]="      The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation is forecasting one and possibly two seasons of lower than average grape yields which could result "; B2[1]="in an earlier than anticipated draw-down of wine stocks to desirable levels... "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]="      The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation is forecasting one and possibly two seasons of lower than average grape yields which could result "; S2[1]=" in an earlier than anticipated draw-down of wine stocks to desirable levels.
      At this time last year, it was forecast that a "; S3[1]=" balance between wine supply and demand may not be achieved until 2009-10, based on then current yield trends.
      The Corporation's latest estimate "; S4[1]=" of oversupply (as at June 2006) is now 460 million litres above ideal stock levels.
      The Corporation's Manager, Information and Analysis, Lawrie "; S5[1]=" Stanford, today told the Wine Industry Outlook Conference in Perth that the impact of frost damage, low rainfall, lower water allocations and reduced fruitfulness from "; S6[1]=" smaller bunch sizes meant there was a strong prospect of a low yielding season in 2007.
      'Based on experience over the past "; S7[1]=" 20 years, and the prospect of 2007 being an extreme season, a scenario of a 20% yield reduction is a realistic starting point to assess "; S8[1]=" the impact,' he said.
      'This would provide for a 2007 harvest of about 1.56 million tonnes, compared with a potential 1.94 million "; S9[1]=" tones in an average season.' Mr Stanford said it was likely the impact of the recent frost damage in some cooler-climate regions would still be "; S10[1]=" felt in 2008, and unlikely that even normal winter rains would sufficiently replenish water reserves to a allow a return to full water allocations.
  "; S11[1]="     'There is, therefore, prospect of another low yielding season in 2008, which could see further draw-downs of stock to a balanced position as "; S12[1]=" early as 2008-09 if export sales continue as forecast,' he said.
      However, he stressed that current plantings had the capacity to meet "; S13[1]=" projected wine demand over the next five years, despite a likely increase in demand from both the domestic and overseas markets.
      The "; S14[1]=" varietal mix may change in response to evolving consumer tastes.
      'While low rates of planting over the past six years are expected "; S15[1]=" to result in only marginal increase in production over the projection period, the ability to draw-down on stocks and greater production through precision vineyard management "; S16[1]=" and higher extraction rates should allow supply to satisfy demand,' he said.
      'However, the imbalance between inland and cooler-climate production bases is "; S17[1]=" likely to continue.
      Cooler climate production remains high, relative to the market opportunity.' Lower-yielding seasons are likely to provide some relief from "; S18[1]=" recent downward pressure on wine prices, although this is expected to be limited by the reality of global competition.
      The Corporation forecasts "; S19[1]=" that export demand will rise by 33% (to 980 million litres) and domestic demand by 2% (504 million litres) by 2010-11.
      Australia "; S20[1]=" will remain the single biggest market, although overseas sales will account for 85% of projected growth.
      Growth rates for exports by volume "; S21[1]=" are expected to be considerably lower in the future than in the recent past as the industry enters a period of consolidation and measured growth.
"; S22[1]="       'While the rate of growth was 18% in 2000-01, it would be 9% in 2006-07 or, after taking into account seasonal influences, "; S23[1]=" 6%; and then 5% in 2010-11.
      As recently as last financial year, the rate was 11%,' Mr Stanford said.
      "; S24[1]=" 'Apart from seasonal factors, there are a number of reasons for this forecast, including increased competition from other wine producing countries and constrained profitability due "; S25[1]=" to consolidation in the grocery retail sector and continued global oversupply of wine.' 'It also has to be kept in mind that we are growing "; S26[1]=" from a larger base, so percentage growth is harder to maintain.' While the UK is expected to still be the largest buyer of Australian wine "; S27[1]=" in 2010-11, the US is predicted to be the main driver of new demand, with a growth rate of 7% over the next five years.
"; S28[1]="       Canada and the emerging market in China also are forecast to be important contributors.
      Growth opportunities in Australia's main "; S29[1]=" current markets appear to be at the mid or 'premium' price points and, at lower volumes, at the higher price points.
      By "; S30[1]=" contrast, the potential to take market share from competitors appears most likely at lower price points - primarily the 'popular premium' category.
      "; R[2]="1705"; T[2]="Grain Flashes"; A[2]="By ... Editor"; Dn[2]="20061127"; Dt[2]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[2]="a22"; B1[2]="      Grain Flashes... "; B2[2]=" "; B3[2]=" "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]="      Grain Flashes SEED OF LIGHT: Research and communication efforts to raise awareness about climate change and its impact on farming have seen "; S2[2]=" South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) scientist Dr Peter Hayman receive the Grains Research and Development Corporation's (GRDC) prestigious Seed of Light Award this "; S3[2]=" month.
      GRDC Southern Regional Panel chairman David Shannon said Dr Hayman had played a vital role in the GRDC's Managing Climate Variability "; S4[2]=" Program and highlighting the importance of climate change to growers.
      For more information contact Helen Weldon on (02) 6272 5525.
    "; S5[2]="   NVT RESULTS: The first results from the 2006 National Variety Trials (NVT) have been made available to growers.
      NVT is an "; S6[2]=" initiative of the GRDC in response to growers' need for independent evaluation of the performance of new grain varieties.
      NVT manager Alan "; S7[2]=" Bedggood said data from canola trials in northern New South Wales were now on-line at www.nvtonline.com.au, only two weeks after the trials were harvested.
  "; S8[2]="     For more information contact Jo Curkpatrick on 0419 882 608.
      DROUGHT ADVICE: Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) will next month hold "; S9[2]=" information sessions for farmers and advisers on dealing with the financial ramifications of drought.
      Topics delivered by a series of experts "; S10[2]=" at Birchip (December 19) and Horsham (December 20) will cover leasing and share farming, financial projections, what the farm is worth, superannuation and support services.
"; S11[2]="       Grains research by the BCG is supported by growers and the Australian Government through the GRDC.
      For more information "; S12[2]=" contact the BCG office on (03) 5492 2787.
      REAPING REWARDS: Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF) Inc's Reaping Rewards program, supported by growers and "; S13[2]=" the Australian Government through the GRDC, has developed tools enabling farmers to undertake whole-farm business planning and will hold a series of workshops introducing growers "; S14[2]=" to the concept.
      Workshops featuring the CSIRO's David Roget and Applied Economic Solutions' Mike Krause will be held at Lameroo (SA) on "; S15[2]=" December 12, Loxton (SA) and Mildura (VIC) on December 13, and Ouyen (VIC) on December 14.
      For more information contact Jacqui Doyle "; S16[2]=" on (03) 5021 9101... "; R[3]="1704"; T[3]="Freixenet makes wine for Japanese food"; A[3]="By ... Editor"; Dn[3]="20061127"; Dt[3]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[3]="a13"; B1[3]="      Freixenet's Japanese winemaker has developed a wine purely for Japanese food.... "; B2[3]=" "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]="      Freixenet's Japanese winemaker has developed a wine purely for Japanese food.
      Winemaker Yoko Sato, who has been based at "; S2[3]=" the giant Spanish producer's headquarters in Penedes for the last seven years, made sushi an intrinsic part of the blending process.
      "; S3[3]=" 'I always had sushi on the table when blending,' she told decanter.com.
      'It is a struggle to find the best wine match "; S4[3]=" to go with rice, as it has a sweetness.
      Japanese food consists of many different tastes in one dish.' Oroyo - Spanish "; S5[3]=" for a basket which is used to transport goods over a river - is made of Airen, Macabeo and Moscatel.
      The 2005 "; S6[3]=" is the first vintage in the UK, the 2004 in the US.
      180,000 bottles have been produced, rising to 200,000 for the "; S7[3]=" 2006 vintage.
      It is 'has gone down very well in the US,' a Freixenet spokeswoman said.
      In the "; S8[3]=" UK it is being sold mostly on-trade, and is on the wine list at London Japanese restaurant Ubon at £29.
      Sato "; S9[3]=" said the particular challenge with Japanese food is the fact that it has evolved without a wine culture.
      Instead beer, sake or "; S10[3]=" green tea is traditionally drunk at meals.
      'I kept those drinks in mind but didn't try to reproduce their tastes in "; S11[3]=" the the blend,' she said.
      'The balance was the big challenge.
      Too acid and it crashed with the rice, "; S12[3]=" too green and it created a bitterness.
      Verdejo didn't work for that reason.' Next on the list 'might be a rosé', "; S13[3]=" Sato said, addding that she would like to use some traditional northeastern Spanish varietals like Trepat and Bobal, maybe with Garnacha or Monastrell... "; R[4]="1703"; T[4]="Jacob's Creek goes fully screwcap"; A[4]="By ... Editor"; Dn[4]="20061127"; Dt[4]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[4]="a13"; B1[4]="      Jacob's Creek is to put its entire UK range under screw-cap, including its flagship Johann Shiraz Cabernet.... "; B2[4]=" "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]="      Jacob's Creek is to put its entire UK range under screw-cap, including its flagship Johann Shiraz Cabernet.
      The Heritage "; S2[4]=" range, including the Centenery Hill Shiraz and St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet, all priced at up to £25 a bottle, will also be switched to screwcap.
"; S3[4]="       The highly-regarded Johann sells for £40.
      As of November, these will all be switched from natural to synthetic "; S4[4]=" stoppers.
      The Johann is currently on the 2001 vintage so it will not be seen under screwcap for a few years.
  "; S5[4]="     Adrian Atkinson of Pernod Ricard UK, which owns Jacob's Creek, said that the decision was in response to the 'concurrent demands of "; S6[4]=" retailers, consumers and the Jacob's Creek winemaking team.' 'Consumers increasingly associate screw cap wines with quality', Atkinson said.
      A recent "; S7[4]=" poll conducted on behalf of Pernod Ricard suggested increasing consumer confidence in screw-cap wine.
      68% of those asked said they were 'quite "; S8[4]=" likely' or 'very likely' to buy wine under screw-cap within the next three months.
      Jacob's Creek is the top-selling Australian wine "; S9[4]=" brand in the UK, with a 13.3% market volume share... "; R[5]="1702"; T[5]="Prickly invader to be removed"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20061127"; Dt[5]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[5]="a85"; B1[5]="      A vigilant Lesmurdie resident has stopped the spread of an exotic spiny tree from South Africa, which has the potential to devastate "; B2[5]="agriculture and the environment... "; B3[5]=" "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]="      A vigilant Lesmurdie resident has stopped the spread of an exotic spiny tree from South Africa, which has the potential to devastate "; S2[5]=" agriculture and the environment.
      The suspect tree was reported to the Department of Agriculture and Food and identified as the Acacia "; S3[5]=" karroo, or Karroo thorn.
      The tree will be removed and the stump treated to prevent regrowth.
      Department invasive species "; S4[5]=" manager Damian Collopy said in Western Australia all non-Australian Acacia species were declared weeds, and were eradicated whenever they are found.
      "; S5[5]=" 'The African acacia species are suited to the WA climate, however pose a serious threat,' he said.
      'The Karroo thorn looks "; S6[5]=" like a wattle, but has distinctive whitish thorns, in pairs, in a V shape.
      'If the Karroo thorn was to become "; S7[5]=" established in WA, it would invade rangelands and open grassland and form dense, thorny thickets.
      'These thickets then prevent people and animals "; S8[5]=" from moving about freely, and would compete strongly with the local flora.' Mr Collopy said already in Western Australia mesquite and prickly acacia had "; S9[5]=" established in the north, and if Karroo thorn was allowed to spread, it would have a devastating effect on the southern half of the state.
"; S10[5]="       'A single tree could lead to a massive thicket in just a few years, with many years of follow-up control needed after "; S11[5]=" its removal to control the following seedlings,' he said.
      'It is important that members of the community are vigilant and report any "; S12[5]=" suspect or unusual plants, not just the Karroo thorn, to the Department.
      'Strong community surveillance greatly assists in preventing exotic pests and "; S13[5]=" diseases becoming established in WA.' Anyone who thinks they have this plant growing in their garden or have seen it growing elsewhere, should contact "; S14[5]=" the Department's Pest and Disease Information Service on 1800 084 881... "; R[6]="1701"; T[6]="Managing fruit fly on the PNG frontline"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20061127"; Dt[6]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[6]="a86"; B1[6]="      The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is keeping an eye on what has the potential to become a billion dollar pest "; B2[6]="for Australia's horticulture industry - fruit fly from Papua New Guinea... "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]="      The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is keeping an eye on what has the potential to become a billion dollar pest "; S2[6]=" for Australia's horticulture industry - fruit fly from Papua New Guinea.
      Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) affects around $1 billion of horticultural products "; S3[6]=" traded interstate as well as $370 million worth of exports, however QFF is only one species.
      DPI horticultural scientist, Andrew Jessup, an "; S4[6]=" internationally known researcher on fruit flies, recently led a study tour which will help in developing strategies for managing PNG fruit fly.
      "; S5[6]=" Mr Jessup said Papua New Guinea has many different species of fruit fly, and some of these could significantly affect market access for Australia's horticultural "; S6[6]=" crops should they successfully cross the Torres Strait.
      'Learning more about the control of these fruit flies will prove invaluable if they "; S7[6]=" do reach Australia.' Mr Jessup was accompanied on the tour by Professor Andrew Beattie, an entomologist from the University of Western Sydney.
      "; S8[6]=" Professor Beattie specialises in the use of spray oils to control insect pests.
      The project, funded in conjunction with the Australian Centre "; S9[6]=" for International Agricultural Research, aims to help farmers in PNG manage the pests.
      This will reduce the risk of the pest spreading "; S10[6]=" to Australia.
      The researchers visited a number of areas within Papua New Guinea as well as Rabaul, an island in New Britain "; S11[6]=" to the north-west.
      According to Mr Jessup, 'many of the villagers are subsistence farmers who rely on trading their crops at local "; S12[6]=" markets to earn a little cash.
      Unfortunately, fruit flies can make up to 75% of the crop unsaleable.' The project involves testing "; S13[6]=" a number of control methods and demonstrating the effectiveness to local farmers.
      'We are working with local Department of Agriculture staff to "; S14[6]=" set up trials in orchards and vegetable plots' said Mr Jessup.
      'They are really enthusiastic about the project and very willing to "; S15[6]=" help'.
      A series of workshops are planned for next year.
      These will help the farmers to control the pests "; S16[6]=" as well as communicate research results... "; R[7]="1700"; T[7]="Organic spelt field day at Yanco"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20061127"; Dt[7]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[7]="a81"; B1[7]="      Spelt varieties from a research project which aims to lift the yield and quality of the ancient wheat will be highlighted at "; B2[7]="a field day in Yanco next month... "; B3[7]=" "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]="      Spelt varieties from a research project which aims to lift the yield and quality of the ancient wheat will be highlighted at "; S2[7]=" a field day in Yanco next month.
      The field day at the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Yanco Agricultural Institute (YAI) "; S3[7]=" organic site will take place on Thursday December 7 from 9.30 am until lunchtime.
      NSW DPI organic farming liaison officer, Robyn Neeson, "; S4[7]=" said farmers from throughout the wheat growing areas of NSW, Victoria and Queensland were expected to travel to the Riverina to inspect 63 spelt varieties "; S5[7]=" in the YAI evaluation trial.
      'Growing consumer demand for spelt and spelt products, bread, pasta and breakfast cereals, has seen a premium "; S6[7]=" paid for organic spelt,' Ms Neeson said.
      'In fact demand is currently outstripping local supply and we hope to boost local spelt "; S7[7]=" production by identifying which lines will produce the highest yield and deliver the grain quality required by processors.' NSW DPI senior research scientists, David Luckett "; S8[7]=" and Jeff Evans, will present up-to-date results from the trial with NSW DPI organic farming technical assistant, Ester van Meeuwin, outlining some of the facts "; S9[7]=" and fallacies surrounding spelt.
      The field day program also features the Victorian DPI's findings on weed management in organic cereal production and "; S10[7]=" Alan Druce's first-hand experiences growing organic spelt on his property 'Green Grove'.
      Buckwheat Enterprises' Geoff Brown from Parkes has been enlisted to "; S11[7]=" offer insights into markets for spelt and other speciality grains.
      A representative from George Weston Technologies will be on-hand to discuss and "; S12[7]=" answer grower questions about the quality requirements for spelt processing.
      The cost of the field day is $15, which covers an organic "; S13[7]=" morning tea and lunch supplied by Buronga Organics, Cootamundra.
      Funded by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and Biological Farmers of "; S14[7]=" Australia, the EH Graham Centre (NSW DPI in collaboration with Charles Sturt University) 56 spelt lines are growing under irrigation on certified organic land at "; S15[7]=" YAI - an extra seven in the glasshouse.
      Growers intending to attend the organic spelt field day should RSVP to Robyn Neeson, "; S16[7]=" ph (02) 6951 2735 by Friday December 1... "; R[8]="1699"; T[8]="Warm weather sparks fruit fly warning"; A[8]="By ... Editor"; Dn[8]="20061127"; Dt[8]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[8]="a18a86"; B1[8]="      The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) today issued a warning to motorists travelling into the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone (FFEZ) this "; B2[8]="summer: Leave fruit behind... "; B3[8]=" "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]="      The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) today issued a warning to motorists travelling into the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone (FFEZ) this "; S2[8]=" summer: Leave fruit behind.
      The high-risk period for fruit fly outbreaks is from late spring through to early autumn when warmer temperatures "; S3[8]=" occur creating an ideal environment for fruit fly activity.
      TriState Fruit Fly Co-ordinator Bernie Dominiak today said that motorists who ignore roadside "; S4[8]=" signs advising them to eat or dispose of fruit face a minimum $200 on-the-spot-fine at random mobile roadside blocks.
      'Motorists should plan "; S5[8]=" ahead to either eat or dispose of fresh fruit before entering the exclusion zone,' Mr Dominiak said.
      'This includes the Murrumbidgee Irrigation "; S6[8]=" Area, Murray Valley, Goulburn Valley, Sunraysia and the Riverland.
      'People travelling from Queensland or the NSW north coast where fruit fly is "; S7[8]=" endemic pose a high risk of bringing fruit fly infested fruit into FFEZ.
      'Fruit from these areas may look fine but fruit "; S8[8]=" fly eggs or maggots are sometimes too small to be seen by naked eye.' Mr Dominiak said travellers could unwittingly spread fruit fly into the "; S9[8]=" valuable fruit production areas of NSW, Victoria and South Australia.
      'All types of maturing or ripe fruit, such as stone fruit, citrus, "; S10[8]=" loquats and quinces, as well as some vegetables including tomatoes, capsicum and avocados, are hosts of fruit fly,' he said.
      'Any fresh "; S11[8]=" fruit accidentally brought into the FFEZ should be immediately destroyed.
      'This can be done by placing the fruit in a thick plastic "; S12[8]=" bag, tying the top, and leaving in the sun for a few days before disposing with normal garbage.'.. "; R[9]="1698"; T[9]="Consumer information an invaluable commodity for NQ beef industry"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20061127"; Dt[9]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[9]="a27"; B1[9]="      The latest information on trends in consumer behaviour now and into the future is an important resource for beef producers, according to "; B2[9]="the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries... "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]="      The latest information on trends in consumer behaviour now and into the future is an important resource for beef producers, according to "; S2[9]=" the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
      'Having an understanding of what is driving consumer purchasing patterns and what areas of future "; S3[9]=" demand are evolving allows our beef producers, processors and retailers to make decisions regarding the directions they want to take their business,' DPI&F trade and "; S4[9]=" marketing officer Vic O'Keefe said.
      Mr O'Keefe is part of the DPI&F's Value in Beef project team.
      The Value "; S5[9]=" in Beef project is a new initiative where DPI&F scientists, extension, trade and marketing staff work with beef producers, and others in the region's beef "; S6[9]=" supply chains, Meat and Livestock Australia and other research organisations to progress the concept of producing premium quality, grass-fed beef for domestic and export markets.
"; S7[9]="       'One of our aims under the Value in Beef project is to provide beef producers and other members of the northern beef "; S8[9]=" supply chain with information that allows them to carve their own niche and create durable markets for their products.
      'Consumer information, such "; S9[9]=" as what is driving demand and purchasing behaviours, is a vital link in the chain for a successful North Queensland beef industry.' Mr O'Keefe said "; S10[9]=" Australian consumers were starting to make more informed decisions about the products they chose to eat, and were looking for the 'story behind the product, "; S11[9]=" such as if it was sourced from the savannah or the fertile volcanic soils of the highlands.
      The demand for non-commodity or "; S12[9]=" alternative foods is growing'.
      'Having said that there is a substantial proportion of the consuming public who are price sensitive, and will "; S13[9]=" purchase budget beef cuts regardless.
      'But there are also evolving segments of the market, including those with higher disposable incomes who are "; S14[9]=" looking at purchasing their beef and the story behind it so they can tell their dinner party guests where it came from and create a "; S15[9]=" conversation around it.' The Value in Beef project is holding a forum for all members of the beef supply chain in Townsville on November 28.
"; S16[9]="       For more information, contact the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 and ask to speak to a Value in Beef "; S17[9]=" team member... "; R[10]="1697"; T[10]="Mackay growers ready for smut challenge"; A[10]="By ... Editor"; Dn[10]="20061127"; Dt[10]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[10]="a20"; B1[10]="      Farleigh district canegrower Michael Deguara's 'business as usual' approach to the detection of smut in the Mackay region typifies the stance many "; B2[10]="growers have adopted for the management of this disease... "; B3[10]=" "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]="      Farleigh district canegrower Michael Deguara's 'business as usual' approach to the detection of smut in the Mackay region typifies the stance many "; S2[10]=" growers have adopted for the management of this disease.
      Mr Deguara said smut was going to show up in out district sooner "; S3[10]=" or later.
      'Like most cane growing regions in the world who have successfully overcome the smut problem, we will do the same,' "; S4[10]=" Mr Deguara said.
      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries senior extension agronomist John Hughes, a member of the Mackay-based FutureCane project team, "; S5[10]=" said the resilience and cooperation that exists between growers coupled with sound, practical agronomic management practices will minimise the impact of this disease in the "; S6[10]=" region.
      Mr Hughes said healthy interagency collaboration between the DPI&F, BSES and MAPS (Mackay Area Productivity Services) will continue to deliver a "; S7[10]=" consistent message to all cane growers to address the disease issue.
      'There will be an undoubted quiet acceptance of the industry-endorsed smut "; S8[10]=" management protocols being adapted by BSES and MAPS for the Central Region and feedback from growers points to a united objective to overcome the smut "; S9[10]=" threat,' Mr Hughes said.
      'The FutureCane team will fully support the integration and delivery of the regionally adapted smut management protocols,' he "; S10[10]=" said.
      Mr Hughes said there were already more than 120 regional growers progressing the Integrated Farming Systems management objectives being promoted by "; S11[10]=" the FutureCane team and BSES extension staff giving them a sound basis to implement the recommended farming practices,' Mr Hughes said.
      'Incorporating "; S12[10]=" the introduction of smut resistant sugar cane varieties into a farming system that already acknowledges the need for stringent farm hygiene and use of rotational "; S13[10]=" cropping strategies to reduce soil-borne diseases is practical and achievable.
      'Twelve years of targeted soil health research recommendations thanks to the findings "; S14[10]=" of the Sugar Yield Decline Joint venture project team have identified the long-term impacts of sugar monoculture across a range of productivity issues,' Mr Hughes.
"; S15[10]="       'Through the collaborative work of the DPI&F, BSES and MAPS, this research knowledge has contributed greatly to the development of an integrated "; S16[10]=" farming system ensuring Queensland has an environmentally and economically sustainable sugar industry.' Mr Hughes was confident that cane growers would take on board the voluntary "; S17[10]=" smut protocol management recommendations, incorporate the requirements into their farming practices and focus on objectives for a productive and profitable future... "; R[11]="1696"; T[11]="Auto-calf feeder delivers benefits"; A[11]="By ... Editor"; Dn[11]="20061127"; Dt[11]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[11]="a26a27"; B1[11]="      An $18,000 investment in a hi-tech automatic calf feeder has delivered on the Clews family's management objective to improve efficiency by saving "; B2[11]="time and labour... "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]="      An $18,000 investment in a hi-tech automatic calf feeder has delivered on the Clews family's management objective to improve efficiency by saving "; S2[11]=" time and labour.
      The Rossmoya district dairying enterprise operated by Ray and Ailsa Clews and their sons, Aaron and Michael and daughter "; S3[11]=" Zoe, is currently milking 240 cows using an intensive pad and paddock feeding system where time is a valuable resource.
      The Clews "; S4[11]=" family installed the dual De Laval CF150 auto calf feeding system in May this year.
      When operating at the maximum 50 calf "; S5[11]=" capacity, a task that previously took one person four hours a day to complete can now be done in just 30-40 minutes.
      "; S6[11]=" Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries senior dairy extension manager at Rockhampton, Glen Chopping, said the transition to the automatic calf feeding system "; S7[11]=" ensured that each animal was receiving optimum nutrition thanks to the electronic recording system.
      'Because each calf has been fitted with an "; S8[11]=" electronic ear tag that activates a computer, every time the animal accesses the milk and grain distribution stalls, daily consumption is automatically recorded,' Mr Chopping "; S9[11]=" said.
      The technology alerts the Clews family to any individual calves that are not feeding enabling them to quickly address any potential "; S10[11]=" animal health issues.
      Michael Clews said a calf can be in the automatic feeding system from 42 to 50 days.
    "; S11[11]="   Reject milk including colostrum milk is directed from the 15-a-side double up herringbone dairy to a 1000 litre capacity refrigerated stainless steel milk vat.
"; S12[11]="       This holding tank has been placed adjacent to a now-disused piggery shed that has been converted to house the calf crop and "; S13[11]=" the two automatic feeders.
      In early November, 150L a day was being pumped to the vat to feed 23 calves housed in "; S14[11]=" the shed with adjoining yard access.
      As the milk is pumped on demand to the feeding stalls, it is warmed to 38 "; S15[11]=" degrees through a hot water heat exchange system.
      'Our 18 per cent protein grain concentrate comprises steam-flaked sorghum, canola meal and mineral "; S16[11]=" supplements prepared on-site with a 1 tonne mixer,' Mr Clews said.
      'The computerised system has three targeted milk and grain concentrate consumption "; S17[11]=" triggers that monitor each calf through to weaning.
      'The calf starts on a daily access of 3L of milk and 0.2kg of "; S18[11]=" grain for the first 10 days.
      'After 10 days, individual animals can access 5L of milk and ad-lib grain for the next "; S19[11]=" 39 days.
      'All calves are weaned over a final 11 day period.
      'If a calf consumes 2kg of grain "; S20[11]=" within 48 hours at any stage of the feeding program, it will be automatically weaned off the milk,' Mr Clews said.
      Mr "; S21[11]=" Clews said there were two inbuilt scanners that activated the milk flow metering device and the grain distributor that released 100mg at a time.
  "; S22[11]="     When a calf left grain uneaten in the dispenser, the intake was attributed to the next animal using the stall.
      "; S23[11]=" Mr Clews said the grain release was capped at 2kg/day and when weaned off the milk, the calf moved onto the next grow-out phase with "; S24[11]=" access to a self-feeder in a yard.
      Mr Clews said the automatic calf feeding system was meeting their labour-saving expectations.
    "; S25[11]="   Hygiene was important and the calf shed had to be cleaned out every two to three days to prevent a build up of flies.
"; S26[11]="       The shed was sprayed for fly control to prevent any outbreak of scours and impacts on dehorned calves.
      Plans "; S27[11]=" were in hand to install fly wire screens to alleviate the problem in the former piggery complex... "; R[12]="1695"; T[12]="Queensland wine an eye-opener"; A[12]="By ... Editor"; Dn[12]="20061127"; Dt[12]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[12]="a13"; B1[12]="      Connoisseurs take note, Queensland is bubbling with great wine.... "; B2[12]=" "; B3[12]=" "; B4[12]=" "; B5[12]=" "; S1[12]="      Connoisseurs take note, Queensland is bubbling with great wine.
      That's the word from The Queensland Wine Awards, where some "; S2[12]=" of the toughest critics put to test the best the state had to offer yesterday, and came up smiling.
      Organiser Ian McLeod "; S3[12]=" said the event, sponsored by The Courier-Mail, Sofitel and the State Government, was geared entirely to local winemakers and proved the Smart State was serious "; S4[12]=" about producing a good drop.
      'The overall hit rate for medals was higher and the overall quality was good,' he said of "; S5[12]=" the judges' verdict.
      Mr McLeod said consumers were starting to look farther afield than Australia's traditional wine-producing regions but added: 'I think "; S6[12]=" there is a bit of prejudice and people are not prepared to have a taste.' He said all the judged wines were masked so the "; S7[12]=" producer remained anonymous.
      'If Queensland wines were served up to our inner city wine lovers masked - because it's so easy to "; S8[12]=" look at a label and go 'I don't like that' - they'd probably say, 'Oh, it's not too bad after all',' Mr McLeod said.
  "; S9[12]="     The winners will be announced tonight at a gala awards ceremony at Sofitel Brisbane... "; R[13]="1694"; T[13]="SA wine talent wins"; A[13]="By ... Editor"; Dn[13]="20061127"; Dt[13]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[13]="a13"; B1[13]="      Two South Australian winemakers have taken the top titles at the national young winemaker awards presented in Sydney last night.... "; B2[13]=" "; B3[13]=" "; B4[13]=" "; B5[13]=" "; S1[13]="      Two South Australian winemakers have taken the top titles at the national young winemaker awards presented in Sydney last night.
    "; S2[13]="   The Wine Society Young Winemaker of the Year for 2006 went to Emma Wood, who is employed at Seppelt's Great Western winery in Victoria.
"; S3[13]="       The Adelaide-born winemaker graduated from Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1998 and joined Southcorp's graduate winemaking program in 1999.
      The "; S4[13]=" Wine Society Members' Choice Award for 2006 went to Justin Coates, of the Step Road Winery at Langhorne Creek, SA... "; R[14]="1693"; T[14]="Drought reduces wine glut"; A[14]="By ... Editor"; Dn[14]="20061127"; Dt[14]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[14]="a13"; B1[14]="      West Australian-based wine group Evans & Tate is expecting double digit growth in revenue this year as it claws its way back "; B2[14]="from a $64 million loss in 2005-06 as the drought helps to cut excess wine stock... "; B3[14]=" "; B4[14]=" "; B5[14]=" "; S1[14]="      West Australian-based wine group Evans & Tate is expecting double digit growth in revenue this year as it claws its way back "; S2[14]=" from a $64 million loss in 2005-06 as the drought helps to cut excess wine stock.
      Managing director Martin Johnson said the "; S3[14]=" drought, along with the frost and hail that hit Yarra Valley growers in Victoria, was reducing the wine glut that has rocked profitability amongst Australian "; S4[14]=" wine producers.
      The drought would also help put an end to price discounting as excess wine supply dried up.
      "; S5[14]=" 'I think we will see great things in Australia,' Mr Johnson said.
      'We will see improving profitability and margins improve - it "; S6[14]=" will happen as oversupply starts to wind down and the discounting ends.' He told shareholders at the annual general meeting that trading conditions were difficult.
"; S7[14]="       Evans & Tate would reduce its dependence on the UK market where good margins were difficult to achieve and focus on the "; S8[14]=" American and Canadian markets, which were showing positive growth trends in the premium wine sector.
      'Although trading conditions continue to be difficult, "; S9[14]=" we expect to grow revenue in double digits and break even in the EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) line this year,' Mr Johnson said.
"; S10[14]="       He said the key to the company's future was the successful restructure of its balance sheet to reduce interest-bearing debt to sustainable "; S11[14]=" levels.
      In the long term, Mr Johnson said, EBIT targets will be set at 15 per cent of revenue.
      "; S12[14]=" The board did not escape some hard questions from shareholders who have seen the price of shares slump from around $1.12 at the start of "; S13[14]=" 2005 to 16.5 cents today.
      Chairman John Hopkins said in a reply to a question that it had the support of the "; S14[14]=" ANZ Bank, a key stakeholder in the company.
      He was also questioned on the change of auditors from KPMG to PKF.
  "; S15[14]="     Mr Hopkins said the Evans & Tate tendered the audit work this year and KPMG decided not to put in a bid... "; R[15]="1692"; T[15]="Far north Qld fruit wines in demand"; A[15]="By ... Editor"; Dn[15]="20061127"; Dt[15]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[15]="a13"; B1[15]="      The makers of tropical fruit wines in far north Queensland say they are struggling to keep up with demand.... "; B2[15]=" "; B3[15]=" "; B4[15]=" "; B5[15]=" "; S1[15]="      The makers of tropical fruit wines in far north Queensland say they are struggling to keep up with demand.
      "; S2[15]=" The wines are made from fruit including passionfruit, native tropical berries, bananas, lychees, rambutans and black sapotes.
      Tony Woodall from the Tropical "; S3[15]=" North Queensland Wineries Association says the region has become the world's leading commercial fruit wine producer.
      'Some of the fruits are quite "; S4[15]=" bland like grapes and don't make a particularly nice wine,' he said.
      'Not saying grapes don't, they do of course.
    "; S5[15]="   'Other fruits like lychee and mangoes, jaboticaba and others make wonderful wines and the flavour of the fruit goes through the fermenting process into "; S6[15]=" the wine itself so the wine ends up finishing tasting really nice.'.. "; R[16]="1691"; T[16]="Top drops go down well with National Wine Show judges"; A[16]="By ... Editor"; Dn[16]="20061127"; Dt[16]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[16]="a13"; B1[16]="      The 2004 and 2005 vintages have proved popular with the judges at this week's National Wine Show in Canberra.... "; B2[16]=" "; B3[16]=" "; B4[16]=" "; B5[16]=" "; S1[16]="      The 2004 and 2005 vintages have proved popular with the judges at this week's National Wine Show in Canberra.
      "; S2[16]=" Only premium wines that have won other awards can enter, with the main awards going to wines from Margaret River, the Hunter Valley and the "; S3[16]=" Yarra Valley.
      Chairman of judges James Halliday says top drops are cheap because of the wine glut.
      '2004, 2005, "; S4[16]=" 2006 which are the three vintages which have brought the oversupply issue right onto the front page, happened to have been three very good vintages,' "; S5[16]=" he said.
      'So if you're going to have too much wine it's rather a good thing to have too much good "; S6[16]=" wine, or very good wine, rather than too much bad wine.' Meanwhile drought, frost damage and lower water allocations are drawing down Australia's wine stock "; S7[16]=" glut faster than anticipated.
      The wine industry has revised down its estimates for next season from 900-million litres to 460-million litres.
  "; S8[16]="     Predictions for another extreme drought season next year are expected to bring yields down by 20 per cent.
      Lawrie Stanford "; S9[16]=" from the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation says the excess stocks are certainly dropping and that is good news.
      'The latest estimate "; S10[16]=" that the industry has is that stocks above a desirable level would rate at something like 460 million litres,' he said.
      'The "; S11[16]=" stock holdings are at my estimates in 2005-06 2.5 billion litres and 460 litres of those are above what an ideal level would be.'.. "; R[17]="1690"; T[17]="Irrigators discuss compensation with Premier"; A[17]="By ... Editor"; Dn[17]="20061127"; Dt[17]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[17]="a07a40a89"; B1[17]="      New South Wales farmers have met with Premier Morris Iemma to ask for compensation for their cut water allocations.... "; B2[17]=" "; B3[17]=" "; B4[17]=" "; B5[17]=" "; S1[17]="      New South Wales farmers have met with Premier Morris Iemma to ask for compensation for their cut water allocations.
      "; S2[17]=" The Government has slashed carry over water allocations for Murray River irrigators by half.
      What water is available will only be given "; S3[17]=" to customers near the major supply channels to reduce evaporation.
      Chairman of Southern Riverina Irrigators Ted Hatty says the Government has not "; S4[17]=" offered any immediate help.
      'The Premier has said that he will look at what he can do, he said we're talking weeks "; S5[17]=" not months, so I suppose that was a positive,' he said.
      'He was not for compensation issues, he just basically said he's "; S6[17]=" looking at what he can do, so at least they are considering options I suppose, but we really need some action as soon as possible.'.. "; R[18]="1689"; T[18]="Govt contributes to WA carbon trial"; A[18]="By ... Editor"; Dn[18]="20061127"; Dt[18]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[18]="a36a94"; B1[18]="      The Federal Government will contribute $60 million towards the world's biggest carbon capture and storage trial in Western Australia.... "; B2[18]=" "; B3[18]=" "; B4[18]=" "; B5[18]=" "; S1[18]="      The Federal Government will contribute $60 million towards the world's biggest carbon capture and storage trial in Western Australia.
      "; S2[18]=" The money will go to the Gorgon natural gas project off the Pilbara coast, which is still waiting for the final go ahead.
    "; S3[18]="   If it proceeds, 125 million tonnes of excess carbon dioxide will be liquefied and buried 2.5 kilometres under the sea bed in saline aquifers "; S4[18]=" .
      Environment Minister Ian Campbell says it is imperative the project gets off the ground.
      'The Gorgon project, being "; S5[18]=" the biggest one of its type anywhere in the world, in fact bigger than all of the other projects in the rest of the world "; S6[18]=" put together, will help us demonstrate that it can be done safely, that you can put in place a regulatory environment around it, put the "; S7[18]=" risk management techniques around it,' Senator Campbell said.
      'You can't exaggerate how important this project is to the future of the world "; S8[18]=" in terms of addressing climate change.'.. "; R[19]="1688"; T[19]="Legislation blocks grasslands clearing"; A[19]="By ... Editor"; Dn[19]="20061127"; Dt[19]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[19]="a02a42a72"; B1[19]="      After three years of wrangling, Tasmania has passed legislation to protect remnant grasslands from land clearing.... "; B2[19]=" "; B3[19]=" "; B4[19]=" "; B5[19]=" "; S1[19]="      After three years of wrangling, Tasmania has passed legislation to protect remnant grasslands from land clearing.
      The controversial legislation "; S2[19]=" was only passed yesterday in Tasmania's Upper House after a number of modifications were made to the Bill.
      Tasmania was obliged under "; S3[19]=" a federal agreement signed in 2003 to protect non-forest native vegetation.
      President of the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, Roger Swain, says "; S4[19]=" the legislation is restrictive but at least provides certainty.
      'What's actually happened here is that there have been regulations put in place "; S5[19]=" that will have some restriction on the way farmers can actually operate their businesses and from that point of view, you would not be happy "; S6[19]=" about it,' Mr Swain said... "; R[20]="1687"; T[20]="Stronger quarantine conditions for imported prawns recommended"; A[20]="By ... Editor"; Dn[20]="20061127"; Dt[20]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[20]="a34"; B1[20]="      Biosecurity Australia has recommended tougher quarantine restrictions on prawn imports, which could effectively end the trade.... "; B2[20]=" "; B3[20]=" "; B4[20]=" "; B5[20]=" "; S1[20]="      Biosecurity Australia has recommended tougher quarantine restrictions on prawn imports, which could effectively end the trade.
      The domestic industry "; S2[20]=" has called for an end to imports due to disease concerns, although importers oppose any tougher restrictions.
      Federal Fisheries Minister Eric Abetz "; S3[20]=" says if the draft recommendations are adopted, most of the countries which currently send prawns to Australia will not be able to prove they are "; S4[20]=" free of disease.
      'I doubt at this stage that there would be any countries which would be able to satisfy this requirement "; S5[20]=" but there may well be countries that do have a prawn farming industry or a wild catch fishery that is disease free and in those "; S6[20]=" circumstances they would be allowed to import into Australia,' Mr Abetz said... "; R[21]="1686"; T[21]="Merino prices plummet"; A[21]="By ... Editor"; Dn[21]="20061127"; Dt[21]="Monday 27 November 2006"; Acats[21]="a25"; B1[21]="      Prices for top merino sheep have plummeted at the annual Yass circuit sale, in New South Wales, once a stronghold for fine "; B2[21]="and superfine wool... "; B3[21]=" "; B4[21]=" "; B5[21]=" "; S1[21]="      Prices for top merino sheep have plummeted at the annual Yass circuit sale, in New South Wales, once a stronghold for fine "; S2[21]=" and superfine wool.
      With a larger offering than last year, merino sheep and cross bred lambs are being offloaded as the drought "; S3[21]=" bites deeper, with ewes being passed in for $1.50 each.
      The average price for Roseville ewes of the Merryville line was $10, "; S4[21]=" down from a height of $70 in previous years.
      Richard Buckmaster says the low prices will hurt farmers.
      'It's "; S5[21]=" very disappointing.
      I know we've got bad seasons and everything but I think this is the worst we've had in 17 years "; S6[21]=" of circuit sales,' Mr Buckmaster said.
      In general, the wool market has eased this week, falling 2 per cent at sales in "; S7[21]=" Sydney, Fremantle and Melbourne.
      The eastern market indicator (EMI) fell 18 cents, to finish the week at 826 cents a kilogram.
  "; S8[21]="     But prices are still well above their levels of six weeks ago, with the EMI 105 cents higher... "; R[22]="1685"; T[22]="Northcliffe dairy farmer wins top Telstra honour"; A[22]="By ... Editor"; Dn[22]="20061123"; Dt[22]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[22]="a26"; B1[22]="      Suzanne Daubney has been awarded the Australian Government Business Innovation Award at the 2006 Telstra Western Australian Business Women's Awards luncheon held "; B2[22]="at the Hyatt Regency this week... "; B3[22]=" "; B4[22]=" "; B5[22]=" "; S1[22]="      Suzanne Daubney has been awarded the Australian Government Business Innovation Award at the 2006 Telstra Western Australian Business Women's Awards luncheon held "; S2[22]=" at the Hyatt Regency this week.
      She was presented with her award by Senator Judith Adams, Senator for Western Australia.
    "; S3[22]="   Suzanne is the Managing Director of Bannister Downs Dairy.
      Following a downturn in the West Australian dairy industry, Suzanne investigated ways "; S4[22]=" to integrate her family's dairy farm to offer quality produce direct to the consumer.
      Starting Bannister Downs Dairy in 2004, Suzanne has "; S5[22]=" established a fresh milk business that employs 13 people, and processes and distributes products five days a week within WA.
      Bannister Downs "; S6[22]=" Dairy also uses innovative sustainable packaging, which has resulted in a noticeable reduction of plastic carton waste.
      In 2005 Bannister Downs Dairy "; S7[22]=" won Best Full Cream Milk at the Perth Royal Show.
      The winner of the prestigious 2006 Telstra Western Australian Business Woman of "; S8[22]=" the Year title was Barbara Etter, Assistant Commissioner of WA Police, who also won the Hudson Community and Government Award.
      Other successful "; S9[22]=" category winners in the 2006 Western Australian Business Women's Awards were: o Westpac Business Owner Award (for owners with a 50 percent share or more "; S10[22]=" in a business, with responsibility for key management decision making): o Heather Jones - Owner & Director, Success Transport Pty Ltd, Bassendean o Zaffyre International "; S11[22]=" Private and Corporate Sector Award (for employees in the private and corporate sector or owners with less than a 50 percent share of a business): "; S12[22]=" o Michelle Rhodes - Director, 360 Environmental Pty Ltd, West Perth o Hudson Community and Government Award (for employees of government departments, statutory bodies and "; S13[22]=" not-for-profit organisations): o Barbara Etter - Assistant Commissioner of WA Police, East Perth o Panasonic Young Women's Award (for all entrants in one of the "; S14[22]=" categories listed above, who will be aged 30 years or under as at 5 June 2006): o Bronwen Parsons - National Operations Manager, Choice Future "; S15[22]=" Planning Pty Ltd, Osborne Park.. "; R[23]="1684"; T[23]="Strong global demand good news for Aussie red meat industry"; A[23]="By ... Editor"; Dn[23]="20061123"; Dt[23]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[23]="a25a27"; B1[23]="      Strong global demand for Australian beef and lamb is the driver behind a positive outlook for the red meat industry, according to "; B2[23]="Meat & Livestock Australia's Chief Market Analyst Peter Weeks... "; B3[23]=" "; B4[23]=" "; B5[23]=" "; S1[23]="      Strong global demand for Australian beef and lamb is the driver behind a positive outlook for the red meat industry, according to "; S2[23]=" Meat & Livestock Australia's Chief Market Analyst Peter Weeks.
      Speaking today at the MLA producer forum in Adelaide Mr Weeks said that "; S3[23]=" despite the severe drought covering most of Australia's livestock production areas the Australian livestock industry was still managing to produce near-record amounts of beef and "; S4[23]=" lamb.
      'Production levels for both beef and lamb are currently near the highest on record and the overall sales value of Australian "; S5[23]=" beef and lamb continues to increase,' Mr Weeks said.
      'Although we've seen a drought-induced slide in the last month or so, cattle "; S6[23]=" and sheep prices are still at historically high levels.
      'Global demand for lamb has never been stronger, with the value of lamb "; S7[23]=" exports rising a further 12 per cent last year to a record $782 million.
      'The global beef market is now worth nearly "; S8[23]=" $11 billion, which is being driven by very strong growth in the domestic market, and increased demand from the US saw goat meat exports grow "; S9[23]=" by $11.6 million last year.
      Mr Weeks said the strong performance of the industry had been achieved amid a very challenging trading "; S10[23]=" environment.
      'The Australian dollar has appreciated by 50 percent since 2001 and in the past six months the US has gained re-entry "; S11[23]=" into two of our most important beef markets - Japan and Korea,' Mr Weeks said.
      'Consumption of beef in North Asia has "; S12[23]=" dropped 360,000 tonnes since 2001, so our challenge is not only to regain this lost consumption by rebuilding confidence in red meat, but to grow "; S13[23]=" that demand and compete strongly for the largest slice of that bigger pie.
      'We are also now seeing increased competition from low "; S14[23]=" cost, low priced red meat exporters like China and South America.
      Brazil's beef exports last year of over a million tonnes made "; S15[23]=" it the largest beef exporter in the world.' Mr Weeks said that the Australian lamb industry was performing strongly, with export volumes to all key "; S16[23]=" markets showing continued growth.
      'Demand for lamb remains strong domestically and in export markets, with the US and Japan showing particularly strong "; S17[23]=" growth.
      The main challenge facing the lamb industry will be to expand supply of consistent quality product as these markets continue to "; S18[23]=" grow,' Mr Weeks said.
      Mr Weeks said that Australia's ability to respond to the strong and growing global demand for red meat "; S19[23]=" is likely to be limited by the worsening drought.
      'Despite progress made in managing drought, the severity and duration of the current "; S20[23]=" dry threatens to cut cattle herds and sheep flocks over the coming year and lower supply, at least in the short term,' Mr Weeks said.
"; S21[23]="       'The drought has also led to higher slaughter rates, lower branding and lambing rates, an increased use of grain and supplementary feeding "; S22[23]=" and overall an increased cost of feeding livestock.'.. "; R[24]="1683"; T[24]="Consumers want safety and integrity in North Asia"; A[24]="By ... Editor"; Dn[24]="20061123"; Dt[24]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[24]="a25a27"; B1[24]="      Effective marketing and the ability to back up the safety of your product go hand-in-hand when it comes to selling Australian red "; B2[24]="meat in North Asia... "; B3[24]=" "; B4[24]=" "; B5[24]=" "; S1[24]="      Effective marketing and the ability to back up the safety of your product go hand-in-hand when it comes to selling Australian red "; S2[24]=" meat in North Asia.
      This was the message from MLA's Korea regional manager Glen Feist at today's producer forum in Adelaide.
  "; S3[24]="     Mr Feist said that although it was important to have strong brand awareness in North Asian markets, having in place transparent and accountable "; S4[24]=" food safety and quality systems was the real key to building consumer trust and loyalty in Australian red meat.
      'Food safety and "; S5[24]=" integrity of product is a top priority of North Asian consumers and the key to successfully marketing red meat in the Japanese and Korean markets "; S6[24]=" has been our ability to back up safety and quality assurances,' Mr Feist said.
      'We really do lead the world when it "; S7[24]=" comes to food safety and quality systems.
      Proactively introducing systems and programs such as NLIS, NVDs and LPA that deliver upon consumer "; S8[24]=" demands for transparency and accountability has helped enormously in the building of our brands in North Asia.' Mr Feist said research has shown that food "; S9[24]=" safety is the biggest determiner of food buying decisions throughout most of Asia.
      'An AC Nielsen survey has shown that of the "; S10[24]=" seven most prominent factors that influence the beef purchasing decisions of Japanese consumers, all but one have something to do with perceptions of meat safety, "; S11[24]=" quality, health status and traceability,' Mr Feist said.
      'In the same survey, the price of beef ranked as the 20th most important "; S12[24]=" factor in buying beef.' Mr Feist said that a combination of effective marketing and the absence of the US - Australia's biggest competitor - from "; S13[24]=" the Japanese and Korean markets had seen Australian exports to both Japan and Korea grow by 45 per cent and 71 per cent respectively last "; S14[24]=" year.
      'These are significant gains for Australia, but the spectre of BSE and the perception of food safety have shaken consumer confidence "; S15[24]=" in beef,' Mr Feist said.
      'This has implications for all countries supplying beef to Japan and Korea, who must rebuild confidence among "; S16[24]=" Japanese and Korean consumers to get them back to beef and away from fish, chicken and pork protein sources.' Mr Feist said that several years "; S17[24]=" of brand development was getting results, with MLA's beef brand in Korea, 'Hoju Chungjung Woo' (which translated means 'Aussie beef clean and safe') being voted "; S18[24]=" brand of the year for two years running.
      'Australian beef now appears in 582 retail shops in Korea and customers now look "; S19[24]=" for the packs with the Australian brand on it,' Mr Feist said.
      'The increasing awareness of our brand and the absence of "; S20[24]=" the US have seen an increase in the value of the Korean market for Australia from $208 million in 2000-01 to $662 million this year.
"; S21[24]="       'In Japan, with an average of 99 percent awareness of the Aussie Beef brand, the value of beef exports to Japan has "; S22[24]=" expanded from $1.7 billion in 2000-2001 to $2.35 billion this year.'.. "; R[25]="1682"; T[25]="Good storage paramount as grain gains value"; A[25]="By ... Editor"; Dn[25]="20061123"; Dt[25]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[25]="a22a72"; B1[25]="      An inevitable consequence of drought in Australia is that with lower production comes better prices for those crops that can be reaped, "; B2[25]="and a key element used by many growers to maximise the value of harvested grain is on-farm storage... "; B3[25]=" "; B4[25]=" "; B5[25]=" "; S1[25]="      An inevitable consequence of drought in Australia is that with lower production comes better prices for those crops that can be reaped, "; S2[25]=" and a key element used by many growers to maximise the value of harvested grain is on-farm storage.
      However there is a "; S3[25]=" big risk that grain stored on the farm can drop in quality if it's not looked after properly.
      This not only makes "; S4[25]=" investment in on-farm storage expensive and potentially wasteful for individual farmers, but it also has implications for the grains industry as a whole.
    "; S5[25]="   Good planning, maintaining quality with end-users' requirements in mind, thoroughness and using chemicals properly with the right application and safety equipment are the keys "; S6[25]=" to successful and cost-effective grain storage on the farm according to the Victorian Department of Primary Industries' (DPI) Peter Botta.
      Peter has "; S7[25]=" been in considerable demand as a speaker at GRDC Updates and his message to growers has consistently been to first ascertain the quality requirements of "; S8[25]=" the market they expect to supply, and then to plan to meet those requirements.
      The most important requirement - regardless of the "; S9[25]=" market, usually - is for grain that is free of insects and chemical residues.
      As a general rule, on-farm storage should be "; S10[25]=" sited on concrete slabs to aid cleaning, hygiene and maintenance.
      It should have all-weather access and easy in-loading and out-loading.
    "; S11[25]="   Prior to putting grain in storage, a little preparation is in order.
      All grain handling, storage and harvesting equipment should be "; S12[25]=" thoroughly cleaned - this is best done with a structural treatment using an approved chemical, ensuring that the label and safety procedures are followed and "; S13[25]=" the right equipment is used.
      Any old or spilled grain around the storage area should be removed and disposed of.
    "; S14[25]="   Peter says that a degree of sealed storage in the system is necessary to meet end-user requirements, as it allows stored grain to be "; S15[25]=" correctly treated with the residue-free fumigant phosphine.
      Prior to using sealed storage, growers should do a pressure test to ensure the seals "; S16[25]=" are gas-tight - if they're not, they should be replaced.
      Growers should aim to store grain at less than 12% moisture content "; S17[25]=" and at 25°C or less.
      This reduces the chance of moulding or heat building up in the silo environment, and will limit "; S18[25]=" insect activity.
      High temperatures can also rapidly break down protectants, making them ineffective in controlling insects.
      Growers may also "; S19[25]=" consider having aeration as part of their storage system to manage temperatures and quality, but should keep in mind that aeration alone won't protect grain "; S20[25]=" from insects.
      Once the silos are full, growers have a range of treatment options but again, end-user requirements should be their guide.
"; S21[25]="       Generally, grain that is to be stored for more than six weeks should be treated with a protectant or fumigated.
    "; S22[25]="   In unsealed storage, contact protectants must be used.
      If properly used they can provide effective protection for up to six months "; S23[25]=" (dependent on temperature and moisture content).
      When using them growers should strictly follow withholding periods and keep a record of the treatment "; S24[25]=" to ensure end-user requirements are met.
      Phosphine still remains a relatively inexpensive and effective fumigant for use on farm (and on a "; S25[25]=" larger scale by the bulk handling companies), but it must only be used in gas-tight sealed storage.
      It simply doesn't work in "; S26[25]=" unsealed storage, because to be effective phosphine must be kept at a lethal concentration for at least seven days to kill insects, their larvae and "; S27[25]=" their eggs.
      Sub-lethal doses may kill some adult insects but won't kill their young and can promote selection of resistant insects.
  "; S28[25]="     A major problem on the grains industry's horizon is that some stored grain pests are starting to exhibit resistance to phosphine, which cannot "; S29[25]=" be easily or cheaply replaced.
      Peter also warns growers that the right safety equipment must be used when applying phosphine - he "; S30[25]=" says there are a lot of growers who do not even have the right equipment and this is a problem from both legal and personal "; R[26]="1681"; T[26]="Red meat industry up to the challenge"; A[26]="By ... Editor"; Dn[26]="20061123"; Dt[26]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[26]="a08a10a25a27"; B1[26]="      Meat & Livestock Australia Chairman Don Heatley today acknowledged the arrival of a number of challenges that have long been forecast for "; B2[26]="the red meat industry... "; B3[26]=" "; B4[26]=" "; B5[26]=" "; S1[26]="      Meat & Livestock Australia Chairman Don Heatley today acknowledged the arrival of a number of challenges that have long been forecast for "; S2[26]=" the red meat industry.
      In his Chairman's address at the MLA Annual General Meeting in Adelaide Mr Heatley applauded livestock producers for "; S3[26]=" their foresight and hard work in preparing the Australian industry to meet these challenges.
      Mr Heatley said that in the face of "; S4[26]=" prolonged drought, more demanding consumers and increasing competition from other red meat exporting countries it was vital the industry remained positive about the future.
  "; S5[26]="     'Our industry is in a strong and fortunate position with domestic and global demand for beef, lamb and goat still very strong,' Mr "; S6[26]=" Heatley said.
      Mr Heatley also made a call for the industry to remain focussed amid the challenges and stressed that there was "; S7[26]=" an enormous amount to be positive about.
      'We owe it to ourselves and everyone involved in our industry to speak proudly about "; S8[26]=" the position we are in,' Mr Heatley said.
      'The industry is in good shape, we should be proud of it, and I "; S9[26]=" am confident that we can keep ahead of our rivals and can successfully respond to the challenges the industry faces.' In his address at the "; S10[26]=" AGM, MLA Managing Director David Palmer outlined the main highlights for the industry and MLA over the past 12 months including the continued growth in "; S11[26]=" expenditure on red meat and livestock.
      'Domestic expenditure on beef grew by a further 6.5 percent to $6.4 billion while lamb rose "; S12[26]=" a further 4.5 percent to $1.78 billion,' Mr Palmer said.
      'These are impressive results achieved through a number of industry programs including "; S13[26]=" the 'foundation food' campaign which featured actor Sam Neill.
      'Recognising the importance of growing community expectations in the areas of animal welfare "; S14[26]=" and environmental sustainability, MLA partnered with RSPCA and a range of industry bodies across all sectors to produce and distribute over 90,000 copies of the "; S15[26]=" 'Fit to Load' guide for best practice in animal transport.' Mr Palmer said MLA had developed a number of practical tools and extension materials to "; S16[26]=" help livestock producers boost on-farm productivity and profitability.
      'One great example is the Rainfall and Pasture Growth Outlook Tool, which is an "; S17[26]=" online resource that enables producers to assess rainfall patterns, climatic conditions and potential pasture growth for the coming season,' Mr Palmer said.
      "; S18[26]=" 'During the year over 18,000 producers attended MLA Prime Time, EDGEnetwork, Grain and Graze and More Beef from Pastures field days, seminars and workshops.' MLA "; S19[26]=" also launched Frontier magazine which showcases on-farm applications of R&D outcomes for northern production systems.
      Mr Palmer also detailed the financial performance "; S20[26]=" of MLA during 2005-06 in his address, of which the key points included: - An increase in revenue of $14.4 million in 2005-06 to a "; S21[26]=" total of $156.6 million.
      - Producer levy income of $82 million - up $10 million on the year before due to the "; S22[26]=" beef levy increase and increased cattle transactions.
      - 45 percent of MLA's income was non levy income.
      Total non "; S23[26]=" levy income was $70.3 million, with $40.3 million coming from the Federal Government.
      - Expenditure in 2006-06 totalled $158.6 million, an increase "; S24[26]=" of $19 million on the year before... "; R[27]="1680"; T[27]="Peter Hayman wins GRDC Seed of Light Award"; A[27]="By ... Editor"; Dn[27]="20061123"; Dt[27]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[27]="a22a24a53a93"; B1[27]="      Dr Peter Hayman's leading role in helping the Australian grains industry manage the risk of climate change was recognised today when he "; B2[27]="became the latest recipient of the Grains Research and Development Corporation's (GRDC) Seed of Light Award... "; B3[27]=" "; B4[27]=" "; B5[27]=" "; S1[27]="      Dr Peter Hayman's leading role in helping the Australian grains industry manage the risk of climate change was recognised today when he "; S2[27]=" became the latest recipient of the Grains Research and Development Corporation's (GRDC) Seed of Light Award.
      Principal scientist for climate applications with "; S3[27]=" the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), Dr Hayman had made a significant contribution to climate change awareness in southern Australia according to GRDC "; S4[27]=" Southern Regional Panel chair David Shannon.
      'Every year since 1999 the GRDC has presented the Seed of Light Award to recognise excellence "; S5[27]=" in grains research and development communications,' Mr Shannon said.
      'Dr Hayman has played a vital role in raising awareness in the grains "; S6[27]=" industry about climate change.
      He has been working with growers, scientists and the industry to communicate the findings and outcomes of the "; S7[27]=" GRDC's Managing Climate Variability Program, and to develop communication efforts between the program's four climate risk projects.
      'This work has included the "; S8[27]=" development of tools for farmers to manage the impact of climate variability in south-eastern Australia.
      The climate has always been the number "; S9[27]=" one factor affecting grain production, and Dr Hayman has played a vital role in helping us to understand it better.
      'He is "; S10[27]=" a highly effective communicator and producers in Australia's southern grains region, along with the scientific community and beyond, have welcomed his insights into the climate.
"; S11[27]="       His work also extends to the viticultural and natural resource management sectors, with his expertise covering the assessment and management of climate "; S12[27]=" risk in agricultural systems, agronomy and decision analysis.' Mr Shannon gave the Seed of Light Award to Dr Hayman at a surprise presentation at the "; S13[27]=" Waite campus of the University of Adelaide this afternoon.
      'Research plays a vital role in improving grain production and sustainability, and one "; S14[27]=" of the most important aspects of research is to communicate outcomes in a way that accelerates the adoption of better varieties and better practices by "; S15[27]=" producers,' he said.
      'Dr Hayman's work is a stellar example of this effort and he is a worthy recipient of the GRDC "; S16[27]=" Seed of Light Award... "; R[28]="1679"; T[28]="Revolutionising How the World's Farmers Grow Rice"; A[28]="By ... Editor"; Dn[28]="20061123"; Dt[28]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[28]="a23"; B1[28]="      A scientist from James Cook University (JCU) in northern Queensland is revolutionising how the world's farmers grow rice.... "; B2[28]=" "; B3[28]=" "; B4[28]=" "; B5[28]=" "; S1[28]="      A scientist from James Cook University (JCU) in northern Queensland is revolutionising how the world's farmers grow rice.
      Professor "; S2[28]=" of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jim Burnell is working with a team of scientists to increase rice productivity and to help alleviate a food shortage "; S3[28]=" in tropical regions across the globe.
      Back in 1987 Professor Burnell suggested that a limited number of genes found in sugar cane "; S4[28]=" and maize be transferred into rice.
      It was hoped that rice plants would be capable of fixing carbon dioxide into sugars at "; S5[28]=" efficient rates similar to those found in the other two crops.
      'I realised that perhaps photosynthetic pathways could be manipulated by genetic "; S6[28]=" means to increase plant productivity in crop plants,' Professor Burnell said.
      'Since then we have obtained results from transgenic rice plants that "; S7[28]=" indicate that by inserting four foreign genes into rice we can redirect the flow of carbon in the photosynthetic pathway.
      'We found "; S8[28]=" that rice photosynthesises in a manner similar to sugar cane.
      This means that it is possible for rice productivity to be increased "; S9[28]=" in tropical regions.' The findings will go a long way in helping to alleviate a food shortage in tropical regions.
      "; S10[28]=" This is especially helpful for some countries in Asia where rice is the dominant staple food, accounting for more than 70 percent of an individual's "; S11[28]=" caloric intake.
      'At a time when large amounts of funding is being targeted towards medical research and keeping people alive longer, we "; S12[28]=" must also continue research into increasing our ability to feed people,' Professor Burnell said.
      'The C4 rice project offers a very timely "; S13[28]=" opportunity to address world food shortages in many countries.
      'In addition to this, it will also reduce the pressure on land resources.
"; S14[28]="       'The important inputs in rice production are land, labour, water and fertiliser, but in many of these tropical regions, the amount "; S15[28]=" of arable land is decreasing.' Professor Burnell's team at JCU is now working with scientists in laboratories in the US (Harvard, Washington State), Canada, the "; S16[28]=" United Kingdom (Oxford and Cambridge), Germany and Japan.
      They have set up a worldwide consortium and will spend the next three to "; S17[28]=" four years testing two alternate systems in an attempt to maximise the effect of transforming rice plants with a cassette of foreign genes.
    "; S18[28]="   'The two different approaches involve a biochemical approach in addition to an anatomical approach,' Professor Burnell said.
      'One is "; S19[28]=" investigating the activity of introduced enzymes, while the latter approach is targeted towards increasing the number of leaf veins present in the leaves of rice "; S20[28]=" plants.
      'To be involved in a worldwide collaborative research program that uses some of my early ideas together with developing technologies and "; S21[28]=" training a new cohort of plant scientists in undeveloped countries, is a once in a lifetime opportunity.'.. "; R[29]="1678"; T[29]="Avoiding problems with Bee swarms"; A[29]="By ... Editor"; Dn[29]="20061123"; Dt[29]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[29]="a31"; B1[29]="      With the weather warming up, the Department of Agriculture and Food has some advice to the public to avoid trouble with bees.
"; B2[29]="      Department senior apiculturist Bill Trend said the warmer spring temperatures were bringing out bee swarms as the bees departed their old colonies "; B3[29]="and set out to establish a new colony or nest... "; B4[29]=" "; B5[29]=" "; S1[29]="      With the weather warming up, the Department of Agriculture and Food has some advice to the public to avoid trouble with bees.
"; S2[29]="       Department senior apiculturist Bill Trend said the warmer spring temperatures were bringing out bee swarms as the bees departed their old colonies "; S3[29]=" and set out to establish a new colony or nest.
      'Seeing a large number of bees swarming near one's home may seem "; S4[29]=" scary but in fact there is little to be scared about and some simple steps will avoid trouble,' he said.
      Mr Trend "; S5[29]=" said honeybees were normally docile during swarming and did not sting if left alone.
      'The typical pattern for bees swarming in residential "; S6[29]=" areas was for them to alight in trees or shrubs near the house, under the eaves of the house or to attempt to gain access "; S7[29]=" to the cavity wall of the house to form a new nest,' he said.
      'When confronted with a swarm on the property, "; S8[29]=" homeowners and their children and pets should stay inside for about half an hour.
      This gives the bees time to settle.
  "; S9[29]="     'Do not hose the swarm with water, throw stones at it, smoke the bees or try to get the swarm to move as "; S10[29]=" these actions may cause the bees to sting in defence.
      'Unsettled bees are then much more difficult to remove by the beekeeper "; S11[29]=" or pest control operator when they arrive on the premises.' Mr Trend said because bees required water to cool the hive, they were particularly attracted "; S12[29]=" to water as temperatures began to rise.
      This increases the chance of being stung near leaking taps, swimming pools, or after a "; S13[29]=" lawn has been watered.
      'To avoid bee activity around lawns it is best to water lawns early in the morning so they "; S14[29]=" are dry during the day.' 'If people were aggravated by bees they should avoid sudden movement or swatting them.
      Instead, walk away "; S15[29]=" quietly with the head bowed and cover your face with your hands.' Petroleum products such as kerosene or petrol and garden sprays, paint thinners and "; S16[29]=" hair lacquer irritate bees and may excite them to sting.
      The vibrations from lawn mowers and chainsaws may also excite the "; S17[29]=" bees so these operators need to avoid bee activity as best they can.
      If stung, the sting should be removed quickly, "; S18[29]=" pressing down hard with a finger nail on the skin and scraping the sting out, rather than pulling it.
      Pulling the sting "; S19[29]=" squeezes more poison out of the sack, increasing the severity of any reaction to the venom.
      The affected area should be "; S20[29]=" washed with cool water to remove any poison on the skin and to soothe the pain.
      People who have an allergy to "; S21[29]=" bee stings should avoid contact with bees and keep appropriate medication at hand.
      The Department of Agriculture and Food does not "; S22[29]=" remove swarms or exterminate nests of bees.
      These services are carried out by licensed pest control operators, or beekeepers listed in the "; S23[29]=" telephone directory.
      More information on bee swarms is available in the Department's Gardennotes number 9, 'Avoid trouble with bees' and number 10, "; S24[29]=" 'Honeybee swarms and nests'.
      The Gardennotes are available from local offices, online at www.agric.wa.gov.au - search by titles or from Department's Pest "; S25[29]=" and Disease Information Service on freecall 1800 084 881... "; R[30]="1677"; T[30]="Industry and Government take stock of Deer in WA"; A[30]="By ... Editor"; Dn[30]="20061123"; Dt[30]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[30]="a31"; B1[30]="      The Department of Agriculture and Food and the Deer Industry Association of Australia (DIAA WA) are urging deer keepers to continue their "; B2[30]="good herd management and return their completed stocktake forms as soon as possible... "; B3[30]=" "; B4[30]=" "; B5[30]=" "; S1[30]="      The Department of Agriculture and Food and the Deer Industry Association of Australia (DIAA WA) are urging deer keepers to continue their "; S2[30]=" good herd management and return their completed stocktake forms as soon as possible.
      Department invasive species project manager Marion Massam said the "; S3[30]=" stocktake was an important way for the Department to update its records on deer farmers and other people keeping deer across the state.
    "; S4[30]="   'The form is very easy to complete and can be returned in the reply-paid envelope provided,' she said.
      'Included with the "; S5[30]=" stocktake is information relating to the Agriculture Protection Board's 2003 decision to continue to allow the private keeping of the two commonly-farmed species (red and "; S6[30]=" fallow deer) while prohibiting all other species.
      'Also included are the upgraded deer keeping conditions designed to reduce the risk of escapes "; S7[30]=" into the wild, as wild deer presents an extreme threat to Western Australia, with the potential to cause damage to agriculture, the environment and public "; S8[30]=" amenity.' Ms Massam said to prevent another feral animal developing widespread populations in the wild, it was very important that wild deer were reported quickly "; S9[30]=" so they could be removed.
      DIAA (WA) President Mark Huisman welcomed the deer stocktake, indicating the generic information gathered covering deer species, "; S10[30]=" numbers and general location within the State would be invaluable for industry marketing and development purposes.
      'The industry has been through some "; S11[30]=" tough times, but things are starting to improve, particularly with an increase in velvet prices.
      Knowledge of the numbers of animals present "; S12[30]=" in the state will help plan a brighter future for the industry,' he said.
      Further information about management of deer, including removal "; S13[30]=" of animals and to report sightings in the wild, contact the Department of Agriculture and Food's Pest and Disease Information Service on freecall 1800 084 "; S14[30]=" 881... "; R[31]="1676"; T[31]="Green Tea served up in Manjimup"; A[31]="By ... Editor"; Dn[31]="20061123"; Dt[31]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[31]="a14"; B1[31]="      The Department of Agriculture and Food and New Opportunities in Australian Horticulture will host a seminar in Manjimup in December to investigate "; B2[31]="developing a green tea industry in WA... "; B3[31]=" "; B4[31]=" "; B5[31]=" "; S1[31]="      The Department of Agriculture and Food and New Opportunities in Australian Horticulture will host a seminar in Manjimup in December to investigate "; S2[31]=" developing a green tea industry in WA.
      Department development office Alec McCarthy said the Department had introduced 10 Japanese varieties of "; S3[31]=" green tea plants to WA through a series of trials currently under evaluation at the Manjimup Horticultural Research Institute.
      'Manjimup was "; S4[31]=" identified by the Japanese as an ideal place for Japanese style green tea production because of its climate, 'clean green' image, fertile soils and good "; S5[31]=" rainfall,' he said.
      'The Department has been conducting trials to improve early growth and production knowledge of tea plants grown under "; S6[31]=" Manjimup conditions.
      'A yield and quality evaluation trial has also commenced to improve budget developments and market identification as well as "; S7[31]=" research on processing of the product.' Mr McCarthy said the Department, in conjunction with the Chemistry Centre, had been carrying out chemical analysis of "; S8[31]=" fresh tea leaves to assist in quality establishment and rapid variety evaluation.
      'The Department has been actively working with other interested "; S9[31]=" parties, including potential overseas investors, to facilitate the development of a green tea industry in Manjimup,' he said.
      'Green tea has "; S10[31]=" an enormous market as a beverage and also offers health benefits due to the levels of anti-oxidants it contains.
      'Green tea "; S11[31]=" will provide an opportunity for growers in the south west to diversify and develop a new export market.' The Green Tea Industry seminar will "; S12[31]=" provide a brief summary of the current industry situation and an outline of opportunities for investment into this new industry - both as a primary "; S13[31]=" producer and in processing.
      The seminar is being held at the Manjimup Horticultural Research Institute from 9am to 3.30pm.
    "; S14[31]="   Morning tea and lunch will be supplied.
      If you would like more information or to register for the seminar contact Kesi "; S15[31]=" Kesavan on kkesavan@agric.wa.gov.au or phone 9777 0120... "; R[32]="1675"; T[32]="Pest busters launch new offensive in Torres Strait"; A[32]="By ... Editor"; Dn[32]="20061123"; Dt[32]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[32]="a86a93"; B1[32]="      Queensland and Commonwealth agencies are again joining forces to stop exotic fruit flies at Australia's doorstep during the coming wet season.... "; B2[32]=" "; B3[32]=" "; B4[32]=" "; B5[32]=" "; S1[32]="      Queensland and Commonwealth agencies are again joining forces to stop exotic fruit flies at Australia's doorstep during the coming wet season.
  "; S2[32]="     Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service will work on the Torres Strait islands of Darnley, Saibai, "; S3[32]=" Dauan and Boigu to set up the front line defences.
      Proactive fruit fly eradication action is taken each year on these islands "; S4[32]=" during the wet season.
      Exotic fruit flies annually blow to these northern islands from Papua New Guinea and forward planning and action "; S5[32]=" can prevent them from establishing in Australian territory.
      'The mainland outbreak of Asian papaya fruit fly in 1995 was a costly incursion "; S6[32]=" for fruit farmers and local communities,' said DPI&F plant health scientist Rebecca Yarrow.
      'It cost $28 million to eradicate the pest, but "; S7[32]=" it was worth it to guarantee the profitability of our primary industries and the economic well-being of Queensland communities.
      'Exotic fruit fly "; S8[32]=" incursions can disrupt interstate and international trade and could mean another costly eradication campaign.
      'The wet season is the danger period when "; S9[32]=" several exotic fruit fly species from Papua New Guinea, including Asian papaya fruit fly are blown into the Torres Strait.
      'The islands "; S10[32]=" can become convenient stepping stones for them and that is why DPI&F and AQIS take the fight right up to them from the outset.' AQIS "; S11[32]=" checks monitoring traps throughout the year in Torres Strait to ensure no exotic fruit flies are present.
      They assist in fruit fly "; S12[32]=" eradication by applying a bait-spray to kill fruit flies on host trees.
      DPI&F complement this eradication work by installing male annihilation blocks.
"; S13[32]="       These are canite blocks soaked in a lure and an insecticide.
      This occurs not only on the four proactively "; S14[32]=" blocked northern islands, but on other islands in the Torres Strait as well as dictated by AQIS's monitoring results.
      'The male fruit "; S15[32]=" flies are attracted to this block from up to 800m away and are quickly killed by the insecticide when they land on it,' Ms Yarrow "; S16[32]=" said.
      'By using this combined approach to eradicate fruit flies on the islands, we can prevent them from establishing in the Torres "; S17[32]=" Strait and reduce the risk of exotic and potentially devastating species from reaching the mainland.'.. "; R[33]="1674"; T[33]="'Smart' farm analysis and management program seeks to boost efficiency and profits"; A[33]="By ... Editor"; Dn[33]="20061123"; Dt[33]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[33]="a02a72"; B1[33]="      A new software program is being road tested by Burnett primary producers to help them stay profitable while running more efficient farm "; B2[33]="operations... "; B3[33]=" "; B4[33]=" "; B5[33]=" "; S1[33]="      A new software program is being road tested by Burnett primary producers to help them stay profitable while running more efficient farm "; S2[33]=" operations.
      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries peanut extension officer Jim Barnes said the 'Smart Peanut' program can measure the economic performance "; S3[33]=" of a farming operation through profitability of every component of the farm business, rather than just returns from a crop or a financial year.
  "; S4[33]="     The program is being put through its paces by a number of Burnett peanut farmers at the invitation of DPI&F researchers and software "; S5[33]=" developers before it is released for commercial use.
      When Smart peanut is deemed fully operational in the next year it could be "; S6[33]=" used by primary producers in cropping or livestock to monitor the impact their management operations have on whole farm viability.
      'Smart Peanut "; S7[33]=" asks farmers to accurately describe their farm business by inputting their own economic data.
      It then uses weather data and changing price "; S8[33]=" structures to look at variability in productivity and income.
      'This data, when combined with the fixed costs of the land, plant and "; S9[33]=" equipment, can provide a clear view of farm profitability and risk.
      'The program allows farmers to assess the impact of possible "; S10[33]=" future management decisions on profitability by running 'what if scenarios.' These can assist in determining farm profitability and operational results of different management decisions,' Mr "; S11[33]=" Barnes said.
      Examples include different approaches to replacing old machinery whether purchasing or leasing, or investing in irrigation infrastructure.
      "; S12[33]=" The software package was introduced to a cross section of peanut growers from north and southeast Queensland late last year.
      Their critical "; S13[33]=" involvement and suggestions led to modifications being made to improve program user-friendliness.
      Mr Barnes said five Burnett growers have been invited to "; S14[33]=" conduct further trials focusing on the detailed farm business analysis capacity of the software.
      'They asked for and attended a second workshop "; S15[33]=" to allow them to input individual farm data to give a personalised assessment of their own farm businesses.
      'Follow up sessions "; S16[33]=" are to be held over the next six months to check the data being entered and to ground truth the accuracy of the package to "; S17[33]=" represent real business structures,' Mr Barnes said.
      This will allow DPI&F to gather feedback on the program's application to farm managers, and "; S18[33]=" if successful, allow its distribution to all growers in the near future... "; R[34]="1673"; T[34]="Turning one man's trash into another's treasure"; A[34]="By ... Editor"; Dn[34]="20061123"; Dt[34]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[34]="a36a42"; B1[34]="      CSIRO has developed an innovative solution to two very different problems confronting two of the biggest industries in the remote community of "; B2[34]="King Island in the Bass Strait - by transforming waste cardboard into an abundant fuel source... "; B3[34]=" "; B4[34]=" "; B5[34]=" "; S1[34]="      CSIRO has developed an innovative solution to two very different problems confronting two of the biggest industries in the remote community of "; S2[34]=" King Island in the Bass Strait - by transforming waste cardboard into an abundant fuel source.
      Finding alternative fuel sources on a "; S3[34]=" small remote island was a big problem for industrial seaweed processor Kelp Industries.
      The company dries seaweed and exports extracts to be "; S4[34]=" used as thickening agents in food and industrial products worldwide.
      Faced with a future shortage of wood, a rising cost of shipping "; S5[34]=" in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and the importance of the island's environmental reputation, Kelp Industries found an ally in the famous King Island Dairy (owned "; S6[34]=" by National Foods).
      Kelp Industries general manager John Hiscock says: 'We had a fuel problem and they had a cardboard problem.
  "; S7[34]="     The dairy had mentioned how much waste cardboard they had that was too expensive to ship back to the mainland, and were wondering "; S8[34]=" how else they could use it on the island.
      'Then I remembered the briquettes made from cardboard I'd seen for sale in "; S9[34]=" a shop somewhere.' The result was an idea to recycle King Island's excess cardboard packaging - about three 400-litre bins a week - into dense "; S10[34]=" briquettes to help fuel the kelp furnaces and drying kilns.
      As an expert in furnaces and coal briquetting, CSIRO Minerals principal research "; S11[34]=" scientist Bob Flann was called to check if the idea was scientifically practical.
      'It was a project from left field with a "; S12[34]=" natty solution, and I really liked the idea that CSIRO could assist the island people in facilitating a good outcome,' Mr Flann says.
    "; S13[34]="   Key scientific elements that CSIRO needed to resolve were the correct density of the cardboard briquettes for use in the furnace, the optimal ratio "; S14[34]=" of cardboard to wood burning to sustain the process, and ash analysis to ensure impurities from the cardboard did not contaminate the drying seaweed.
  "; S15[34]="     Mr Flann's team found that solid briquettes - the size of a housebrick - made from shredded cardboard waste work well in the "; S16[34]=" furnace as a 30 to 50 per cent component of the total fuel mix.
      'It was a project from left field with "; S17[34]=" a natty solution, and I really liked the idea that CSIRO could assist the island people in facilitating a good outcome,' Mr Flann says.
  "; S18[34]="     'It's been a really satisfying project, both technically and in being able to help the community so practically and in two such important "; S19[34]=" ways,' Mr Flann says.
      'There are still financial aspects of the project to be resolved, but it has been a great example "; S20[34]=" of how applied technology developed in the coal industry can assist a remote community.' The plan has been welcomed by the King Island Council, which "; S21[34]=" sees reducing landfill and improving waste recycling as a hot topic for the island, with the old tip full and a new one just opened.
"; S22[34]="       It also supports the council's commitment to sustainability... "; R[35]="1672"; T[35]="Insect pests to have a new foe"; A[35]="By ... Editor"; Dn[35]="20061123"; Dt[35]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[35]="a86"; B1[35]="      A new method for designing insecticides could produce chemicals which are deadly to specific pests yet harmless to other species.... "; B2[35]=" "; B3[35]=" "; B4[35]=" "; B5[35]=" "; S1[35]="      A new method for designing insecticides could produce chemicals which are deadly to specific pests yet harmless to other species.
    "; S2[35]="   20 November 2006 A partnership between CSIRO and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) is on the way to discovering new environmentally-friendly insecticides.
      "; S3[35]=" Safer insecticides targeting sheep blowflies and sheep body lice are being developed to save the wool industry millions of dollars in lost stock, while promoting "; S4[35]=" a clean green image for wool.
      Chief of CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies, Dr Graeme Woodrow, says: 'A major benefit from this "; S5[35]=" approach to insecticide discovery is that these new chemicals will be designed to kill only the targeted pest insects and leave all other animals unharmed.' "; S6[35]=" The receptor for a hormone which controls moulting in insects, called ecdysone, is targeted by chemicals that mimic the natural hormone.
      These "; S7[35]=" chemicals initiate moulting at an inappropriate time, resulting in death of the insect.
      Each species has a unique receptor, so unique and "; S8[35]=" specific pesticides can be designed for each pest species.
      Once the process of moulting is interfered with, the insect dies.
    "; S9[35]="   The partnership with AWI is employing new molecular tools developed by CSIRO scientists working to aid the discovery of new insecticides for sheep pests.
"; S10[35]="       The integration of synthetic chemistry, molecular biology, fermentation science, protein chemistry and determination of the 3D structure of protein targets can be "; S11[35]=" applied to a wide spectrum of agricultural and animal health situations.
      Finding new, safer insecticides will produce benefits to farmers, the Australian "; S12[35]=" economy and to the environment.
      Speaking today at the annual AusBiotech conference in Sydney, Dr Woodrow, told leaders of the biotechnology industry "; S13[35]=" that there was a clear alignment between the capabilities at CSIRO and the needs of the biotech industry and that together they could deliver a "; S14[35]=" great impact for Australia.
      'The partnership with AWI is employing new molecular tools developed by CSIRO scientists working to aid the discovery "; S15[35]=" of new insecticides for sheep pests.' 'Biotech companies rely critically on innovation to succeed, yet much of that innovation requires capital-intensive infrastructure and multi-disciplinary scientific "; S16[35]=" capabilities.
      Most individual companies do not have these but CSIRO does and this is precisely where CSIRO can help,' Dr Woodrow said.
"; S17[35]="       The technique used to discover the 3D shape of each receptor protein is called structural biology.
      X-rays are passed "; S18[35]=" through crystals of the pure protein and from the data obtained a 3D structure of the molecule is determined.
      A well known "; S19[35]=" human health success story employing this technique is the development of the anti-flu drug Relenza.
      There is an historical link between the "; S20[35]=" development of Relenza and the current discovery program for new insecticides.
      The idea for looking at the ecdysone receptor protein and then "; S21[35]=" designing molecules to mimic the hormone binding to it came from CSIRO's pioneering research on influenza proteins... "; R[36]="1671"; T[36]="Coal penalty needed"; A[36]="By ... Editor"; Dn[36]="20061123"; Dt[36]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[36]="a36a41a89"; B1[36]="      Nuclear power could become a reality in Australia only if coal-fired power stations were forced to pay their way, Professor Ziggy Switkowski "; B2[36]="said yesterday... "; B3[36]=" "; B4[36]=" "; B5[36]=" "; S1[36]="      Nuclear power could become a reality in Australia only if coal-fired power stations were forced to pay their way, Professor Ziggy Switkowski "; S2[36]=" said yesterday.
      The former Telstra chief, who led the inquiry, said atomic energy could not compete with coal and gas-powered electricity generation "; S3[36]=" unless a price was placed on the release of carbon dioxide.
      'Nuclear and other forms of energy like renewables probably can only "; S4[36]=" be competitive if our wonderfully low-cost fossil fuels have a cost that acknowledges their emissions,' he said.
      Queensland relies heavily on black "; S5[36]=" coal to make electricity and it is the state's biggest export commodity.
      The burning of black coal is one of cheapest ways "; S6[36]=" to generate electricity but the report said it was also one of the dirtiest.
      Carbon emissions from black coal used to make "; S7[36]=" electricity were much higher than those from gas and 14 times greater than electricity generated from nuclear reactors.
      The study said that "; S8[36]=" if the cost of releasing one tonne of carbon was priced between $15 and $40, nuclear power would become competitive.
      Dr Switkowski "; S9[36]=" said that, unless Australia decided to put a price on carbon emissions, nuclear energy would remain on the 'proverbial backburner'.
      He said "; S10[36]=" putting a price on carbon could be introduced suddenly or gradually over 20 years.
      But Queensland Premier Premier Peter Beattie said as "; S11[36]=" well as environmental concerns, it cost more to produce electricity from nuclear power compared to using coal.
      Mr Beattie said the suggestion "; S12[36]=" coal-fired power stations would face cost increases was to ensure nuclear power stations could match the price.
      'What this will mean if "; S13[36]=" they do that is everyone will pay more for electricity,' he said.
      Mr Beattie said the Switkowski report failed to identify where "; S14[36]=" the nuclear power plants would be or resolve the equally contentious issue of where the disposable waste would be dumped.
      But the "; S15[36]=" State Government was likely to be powerless to stop the Commonwealth approving nuclear power plants in Queensland.
      Australian Coal Association executive director "; S16[36]=" Mark O'Neill said he was very confident clean coal technologies - into which the industry and governments were currently pouring millions of dollars - would "; S17[36]=" be 'very competitive with the nuclear option for base-load power generation'... "; R[37]="1670"; T[37]="Coal, gas and renewables will have to fill shortfall"; A[37]="By ... Editor"; Dn[37]="20061123"; Dt[37]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[37]="a36a41a42a89"; B1[37]="      Electricity demand will more than double by 2050 but even if 25 nuclear power stations are built by then, nuclear energy will "; B2[37]="still only account for about one-third of total national generating capacity... "; B3[37]=" "; B4[37]=" "; B5[37]=" "; S1[37]="      Electricity demand will more than double by 2050 but even if 25 nuclear power stations are built by then, nuclear energy will "; S2[37]=" still only account for about one-third of total national generating capacity.
      That means coal, natural gas and renewables will still be in "; S3[37]=" the mix to supply consumer demand for most of this century.
      The electricity sector is Australia's biggest contributor to greenhouse-gas emissions.
  "; S4[37]="     It is also one of the country's largest industries, with about 45,000 megawatts of installed capacity and controlling assets valued at $98billion.
  "; S5[37]="     The Energy Supply Association, which represents most electricity producers, said the Switkowski figures roughly matched its own forecasts.
      'Nothing in "; S6[37]=" this report suggests that deep cuts to carbon emissions in this country will be achieved without substantial government subsidies,' association chief executive Brad Page said.
"; S7[37]="       The Switkowski review nominates 25 nuclear generators between 2020 and 2050 as the cheapest way to introducing cost-effective nuclear power into Australia.
"; S8[37]="       But the review also says that in 2030, high greenhouse-emission black coal will account for 51.4 per cent of Australia's electricity generation, "; S9[37]=" with brown coal adding a further 17.4 per cent.
      Natural gas will have risen to 21.8 per cent, while renewables such as "; S10[37]=" hydro, wind, biomass and biogas will account for less than 8.5 per cent of the total.
      The review notes that carbon capture "; S11[37]=" andstorage (CCS), currently the preferred method of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from future coal-fired power stations, 'remains to be proven except in highly specific applications'.
  "; S12[37]="     'Uncertainties remain about the cost ofCCS and its reliability and security overthe long term,' the review says.
      'CCS isbest applied "; S13[37]=" to new plants as it isless effective when retrofitted to existing plants.' Mr Page said the review confirmed that renewables, particularly windpower, were not likely "; S14[37]=" to make a big contribution to the electricity-generation sector for the foreseeable future.
      The review's forecast of long-run nuclear generation costs for "; S15[37]=" Australia - at $40 to $65 a megawatt hour - were in line with ESAA forecasts and were roughly equivalent to the currently estimated costs "; S16[37]=" of applying clean-coal technology.
      But the review implies that nuclear energy will remain a commercially unattractive option for Australia's generation sector.
  "; S17[37]="     'Beyond the costs of production, other features of nuclear power may make it relatively unattractive for Australian investors,' it says.
      "; S18[37]=" The review noted that a single 1000-1600MW plant would be a sizeable investment for existing private generating companies in the Australian market.
      "; S19[37]=" It says private investors usually have less than 4000MW of total generating capacity spread over several units.
      'Private generators ...
    "; S20[37]="   have typically shown a preference for faster lead times and more flexible technologies,' it states... "; R[38]="1669"; T[38]="Uranium boom forecast"; A[38]="By ... Editor"; Dn[38]="20061123"; Dt[38]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[38]="a41"; B1[38]="      Australia is on the cusp of a uranium boom, with predictions that five new mines will be ready to begin operations in "; B2[38]="the next five years... "; B3[38]=" "; B4[38]=" "; B5[38]=" "; S1[38]="      Australia is on the cusp of a uranium boom, with predictions that five new mines will be ready to begin operations in "; S2[38]=" the next five years.
      Minerals Council chief Mitch Hooke said the Switkowski report paved the way for a 'new era' and called "; S3[38]=" on Labor to abandon its 'restrictive' no-new-mines policy.
      But South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy chief executive Phil Sutherland said miners "; S4[38]=" faced hurdles in overcoming the high cost of infrastructure.
      'Even the bigger companies will walk away to countries where the commodity is "; S5[38]=" close to the infrastructure,' he said.
      Mr Sutherland said federal, state and territory governments faced a 'one-in-50-year opportunity' to invest in roads, "; S6[38]=" rail, water and power to facilitate the uranium and minerals boom.
      'I would be surprised if within five years there are not "; S7[38]=" five uranium mines ready to go,' Mr Sutherland said.
      The Switkowski report identifies 14 regions with geology and past discoveries that mark "; S8[38]=" them as highly prospective.
      It says that exploration successes up to 1975 had uncovered 38 per cent of the world's known 'cheap' "; S9[38]=" uranium, which can be mined at less than $US40 ($52) a kilogram.
      But Australia has only 24 per cent of the world's "; S10[38]=" known uranium that can be recovered at up to $US130/kg, and 28 per cent of the uranium at less than $US80/kg.
      The "; S11[38]=" report suggests that exploration would unlock further deposits of this 'mid-cost' uranium.
      It adopts predictions by the federal Government's geology office, Geoscience "; S12[38]=" Australia, that more discoveries will be made.
      'Geoscience Australia estimates that there is a significant potential for the discovery of additional deposits,' "; S13[38]=" the report says.
      'Modern techniques mean that exploration at greater depths is becoming more comprehensive and less costly ...
      "; S14[38]=" Australia has many areas with high or medium uranium mineralisation potential.' The bullish outlook came as private US uranium miner Heathgate, which owns the Beverley "; S15[38]=" uranium mine in South Australia, signed a joint venture to explore a 5277sqkm highly prospective block on the Eyre Peninsula.
      The deal "; S16[38]=" was signed with Adelaide Resources.
      Executive chairman Keith Yates said the land was acquired 10 years ago for its gold and copper "; S17[38]=" potential.
      'Ten years ago you couldn't give uranium away - now we are seeing a uranium exploration boom,' Mr Yates said.
  "; S18[38]="     'There is momentum building for a very serious era of uranium exploration and I'm sure there will be more discoveries.' The joint venture "; S19[38]=" will use Heathgate's latest uranium detection technology on land that was partially explored using inaccurate methods in the early 1980s.
      Mr Yates "; S20[38]=" estimated that up to 50 other companies were exploring for uranium and other minerals in the Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland... "; R[39]="1668"; T[39]="WA farmers condemn daylight saving trial"; A[39]="By ... Editor"; Dn[39]="20061123"; Dt[39]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[39]="a48a67a89"; B1[39]="      The Western Australian Farmers Federation is unhappy with the state's move towards daylight saving.... "; B2[39]=" "; B3[39]=" "; B4[39]=" "; B5[39]=" "; S1[39]="      The Western Australian Farmers Federation is unhappy with the state's move towards daylight saving.
      Legislation for a three-year trial "; S2[39]=" of daylight saving has passed through State Parliament and clocks will be turned forward on December 3.
      The trial will be followed "; S3[39]=" by a referendum on the issue in 2009.
      The WA Nationals and the farmers' federation have condemned the trial, saying the wishes "; S4[39]=" of country residents have been ignored.
      Farmers' federation president Trevor De Landgrafft says his members are disappointed.
      'This sort "; S5[39]=" of thing should have been left to the people, there should have been a referendum,' he said.
      'When the politicians get hold "; S6[39]=" of it they talk about a conscience vote, but we're aware of a lot of browbeating that was going on leading up to this, so "; S7[39]=" at the end of the day this thing was really done along party lines.' However, the business community has welcomed the decision, with the state's "; S8[39]=" chamber of commerce and industry saying it will be good for business.
      The chamber's Deidre Willmot says daylight saving will benefit businesses "; S9[39]=" and the rest of the community.
      'We think that it will give people an opportunity to get used to those routines that "; S10[39]=" they need to introduce in summer, with the changing of the clocks by one hour, and then to go back to the end of summer, "; S11[39]=" exactly like has been happening elsewhere in Australia and indeed around the world for many years,' she said... "; R[40]="1667"; T[40]="Scientists claim new water filter halves purification costs"; A[40]="By ... Editor"; Dn[40]="20061123"; Dt[40]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[40]="a40a42"; B1[40]="      Scientists in Italy say they have developed new ways of filtering water that should halve the cost of purification.... "; B2[40]=" "; B3[40]=" "; B4[40]=" "; B5[40]=" "; S1[40]="      Scientists in Italy say they have developed new ways of filtering water that should halve the cost of purification.
      "; S2[40]=" The water membrane technology is already being used in other countries to recycle waste, make bore water palatable and desalinate salty water.
      "; S3[40]=" Professor Enrico Driolo from the University of Calabria says the membranes, which look like plastic wrap, mirror the natural filtering membranes in our bodies.
  "; S4[40]="     'Just a film that the one you can use for packaging your sandwich sometimes, so this film is able to be selective,' he "; S5[40]=" said.
      'If you put sea water on one side, only water is going across and all the salt, the salt in the "; S6[40]=" water will not pass the film, the membrane.'.. "; R[41]="1666"; T[41]="New tree plantings fail to secure farm biodiversity: research"; A[41]="By ... Editor"; Dn[41]="20061123"; Dt[41]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[41]="a39a42"; B1[41]="      New research says offsetting the clearing of native vegetation with new tree plantings is not an effective way to maintain biodiversity on "; B2[41]="farms... "; B3[41]=" "; B4[41]=" "; B5[41]=" "; S1[41]="      New research says offsetting the clearing of native vegetation with new tree plantings is not an effective way to maintain biodiversity on "; S2[41]=" farms.
      The Australian National University research suggests it takes up to 300 years for newly-planted vegetation to provide the same food and "; S3[41]=" shelter to animals and birds.
      Ecology Professor David Lindenmayer says the findings show a need to preserve remnant vegetation.
      "; S4[41]=" 'We've found this from our data on the south-west slopes of New South Wales and it's for reptiles, it's for possums and gilders, arboreal marsupials "; S5[41]=" and also for birds,' he said.
      'So we've looked across three very major vertebrate groups and seen some very consistent kinds of "; S6[41]=" outcomes from that research.'.. "; R[42]="1665"; T[42]="Wool bale fetches seasonal record price"; A[42]="By ... Editor"; Dn[42]="20061123"; Dt[42]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[42]="a25"; B1[42]="      A super ultra-fine bale of has fetched a seasonal record of 70,000 cents a kilogram in Victoria.... "; B2[42]=" "; B3[42]=" "; B4[42]=" "; B5[42]=" "; S1[42]="      A super ultra-fine bale of has fetched a seasonal record of 70,000 cents a kilogram in Victoria.
      The 12.4 "; S2[42]=" micron bale is the finest yet produced by Brockville growers Andrew and Annie Gardner, who have a farm at Penshurst, in the western district.
  "; S3[42]="     The same buyer also paid 67,000 cents a kilogram for a 12.5 micron bale from Pyrenees Park in central Victoria.
      "; S4[42]=" Both bales will be processed in Italy... "; R[43]="1664"; T[43]="Drought set to bring live export trade growth"; A[43]="By ... Editor"; Dn[43]="20061123"; Dt[43]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[43]="a08a25"; B1[43]="      The Australian live export trade is tipped to grow because of the drought.... "; B2[43]=" "; B3[43]=" "; B4[43]=" "; B5[43]=" "; S1[43]="      The Australian live export trade is tipped to grow because of the drought.
      Lower prices for sheep and cattle "; S2[43]=" have prompted international markets to step up demand for livestock which fell away after the Cormo Express incident in 2003 and more expensive livestock costs.
"; S3[43]="       Meat and Livestock Australia spokesman Mike Hayward says despite low prices the trade does give producers another alternative during the dry times.
"; S4[43]="       'It was really noticeable in the west when they really got hit with the drought early in the year,' he said.
  "; S5[43]="     'A lot of livestock would have probably died on properties if they hadn't had the live trade.
      'I think you'll "; S6[43]=" see prices over here being so significantly lower you will see that attracting the traders to come in and buy them up for the live "; S7[43]=" trade.'.. "; R[44]="1663"; T[44]="Starlings attack cherry orchards"; A[44]="By ... Editor"; Dn[44]="20061123"; Dt[44]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[44]="a86"; B1[44]="      Cherry orchards in central New South Wales are suffering major bird damage this year.... "; B2[44]=" "; B3[44]=" "; B4[44]=" "; B5[44]=" "; S1[44]="      Cherry orchards in central New South Wales are suffering major bird damage this year.
      Large numbers of starlings are "; S2[44]=" attacking crops much earlier than normal, which growers believe is due to the drought and a lack of food.
      Cherry grower Guy "; S3[44]=" Gaeta says he has never seen so much damage.
      'They are getting to the cherries when they are still green,' he said.
"; S4[44]="       'Whether it is because they are hungry because of the drought.
      'I have never seem them before and everybody "; S5[44]=" in the district is having the same problems.
      They are not eating the cherries, they are just chopping them off.
    "; S6[44]="   'They go to taste them and then they are sour.
      They pull it off the tree and then they go to "; S7[44]=" another one hoping it is a bit sweeter.
      'They just keep on tasting the cherry, they are destroying the cherries because they "; S8[44]=" are still too green.'.. "; R[45]="1662"; T[45]="Vegie growers told to change"; A[45]="By ... Editor"; Dn[45]="20061123"; Dt[45]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[45]="a17"; B1[45]="      Tasmania's vegetable growers have been told to change or be prepared to go out of business.... "; B2[45]=" "; B3[45]=" "; B4[45]=" "; B5[45]=" "; S1[45]="      Tasmania's vegetable growers have been told to change or be prepared to go out of business.
      A strategic plan "; S2[45]=" has been released for the sector, raising a number of areas to be addressed, like improved marketing and better relationships with food processors.
    "; S3[45]="   Consultant Euan Laird, who helped produce the report, says the changes will see some growers leave the industry.
      'Only the strong "; S4[45]=" will survive,' he said.
      'It's a really tough market out there and those that change and adapt, and modify, and meet the "; S5[45]=" demands of consumers will survive so I'll put an estimate that only 50 to 60 per cent of existing growers will survive in the long "; S6[45]=" term and they are going to be those that are adaptable.' Tasmania's growers agree with the plan but most feel the hard work is still "; S7[45]=" ahead.
      'We've got to start somewhere to get the vegetable industry off the ground or to stop it going back into the "; S8[45]=" ground I suppose,' one grower said.
      'I think everything in the plan's exactly how it should be, the points raised are all "; S9[45]=" relevant, the big trick will be who and how are we going to implement it,' another grower said... "; R[46]="1661"; T[46]="Sugar cane smut found on third cane farm"; A[46]="By ... Editor"; Dn[46]="20061123"; Dt[46]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[46]="a20a86"; B1[46]="      A third Mackay cane farm has been found to have sugar cane smut, confirming fears that the fungal disease is widespread.... "; B2[46]=" "; B3[46]=" "; B4[46]=" "; B5[46]=" "; S1[46]="      A third Mackay cane farm has been found to have sugar cane smut, confirming fears that the fungal disease is widespread.
  "; S2[46]="     The disease has been found on a property, 20 kilometres from the original find near Mackay, which had been discovered on Melbourne Cup "; S3[46]=" day.
      Mackay Area Productivity Service spokesman Alan Royal says smut now looks to be well-established in central Queensland.
      'It's "; S4[46]=" very, very sad but it's right across the other side of town and the whips were reasonably advanced but they're certainly not big whips like "; S5[46]=" we've been seeing,' he said.
      'What did frighten me was on the weekend in one row at the initial farm, you know "; S6[46]=" we were seeing whips that were four, five feet long, so it's got a hold there but let's hope we can get on top of "; S7[46]=" it.' Meanwhile sugar cane farmers in Western Australia's Ord Valley are looking for new varieties, because some which were once resistant to cane smut are "; S8[46]=" not any more.
      The disease was first found in WA's north-west in 1998.
      CJ Ord River Sugar spokesman Wayne "; S9[46]=" Paul says 100 varieties have been tried in the past five years but only a handful have shown promise.
      He says smut "; S10[46]=" is also expected to reduce next year's crop.
      'Q95 is probably the worst.
      It's getting a bit of smut "; S11[46]=" now whereas it didn't have earlier on, so that will probably be mostly ploughed out over the next couple of years,' he said.
    "; S12[46]="   'We'll be looking for other varieties, Queensland's obviously going to have to find some smut-resistant varieties so we'll both be in the same boat.'.. "; R[47]="1660"; T[47]="Watchdog calls for accurate labelling of GM imports"; A[47]="By ... Editor"; Dn[47]="20061123"; Dt[47]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[47]="a12"; B1[47]="      Australia's consumer watchdog has called for any genetically modified (GM) imports to be labelled accurately.... "; B2[47]=" "; B3[47]=" "; B4[47]=" "; B5[47]=" "; S1[47]="      Australia's consumer watchdog has called for any genetically modified (GM) imports to be labelled accurately.
      Choice, formerly known as "; S2[47]=" the Australian Consumers Association, has raised the concern amid speculation that a major grain handler is expecting a consignment of GM canola from Canada within "; S3[47]=" the next month.
      Domestic canola supplies are tight this season due to the drought.
      Choice spokeswoman Claire Hughes says "; S4[47]=" consumers will not know they are eating GM canola oil.
      'If we do start to see a large amount of genetically modified "; S5[47]=" canola coming into Australia, if it's going to be processed and used as oil, consumers wouldn't necessarily know if a product they're purchasing has been "; S6[47]=" genetically modified or does contain genetically modified canola oil,' she said.
      'Because our GM labelling laws don't require a product that has "; S7[47]=" been highly refined, those products don't have to be labelled and canola oil is a good example of that.' Federal Minister for Agriculture Peter McGauran "; S8[47]=" says he is aware of the imports, which are intended for use in oil for human consumption and meal for stockfeed.
      He "; S9[47]=" says the consignment has been independently sampled and tested before loading to confirm that only GM lines approved by the Office of the Gene Technology "; S10[47]=" Regulator are allowed in.
      The Minister says GM canola has been assessed as meeting Australia's strict quarantine standards and the canola will "; S11[47]=" be checked on arrival, to ensure there are no contaminants or weedseeds present... "; R[48]="1659"; T[48]="SA Education now a primary industry"; A[48]="By ... Editor"; Dn[48]="20061123"; Dt[48]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[48]="a53a68"; B1[48]="      South Australia's booming international education industry has passed the half billion-dollar mark for the first time, with Adelaide continuing to attract overseas "; B2[48]="students in record numbers... "; B3[48]=" "; B4[48]=" "; B5[48]=" "; S1[48]="      South Australia's booming international education industry has passed the half billion-dollar mark for the first time, with Adelaide continuing to attract overseas "; S2[48]=" students in record numbers.
      Estimates from the Australian Bureau of Statistics for 2005/06 show international students brought $553 million into SA's economy "; S3[48]=" in tuition fees and living expenses, such as accommodation, transport and shopping.
      This is up from $470 million in 2004/05, an "; S4[48]=" increase of almost 18 per cent.
      Further Education Minister Paul Caica said the ABS figures also showed 19,218 overseas students chose "; S5[48]=" Adelaide as their study destination in the first nine months to September this year - a 13.8 per cent increase on the same time last "; S6[48]=" year.
      'And well ahead of the national average rise of 9.5 per cent,' Mr Caica said.
      'It's "; S7[48]=" anticipated that by the end of this year, the number of international students in Adelaide will rise to more than 20,000.' Mr Caica said "; S8[48]=" the state had managed to almost double overseas student numbers in just four years, and had already topped the 2005 total of 18,031 students.
  "; S9[48]="     International education could move from fifth to fourth place in the state's ranking of export goods and services.
      "; S10[48]=" So far this year, Adelaide has also secured 5.4 per cent of the national overseas student market, up from 4.5 per cent in 2003.
  "; S11[48]="     'This puts us on target to capture 9 per cent of the Australian international education market by 2013, in line with the "; S12[48]=" goal set in the South Australian Strategic Plan,' Mr Caica said.
      Out of the international students in SA, 10,638 are at "; S13[48]=" university - a 14 per cent rise over the past year compared to a national average rise of 4.9 per cent.
      "; S14[48]=" Vietnam, India, China and South Korea are the fastest-growing source countries for students, with numbers from those countries rising over the past nine months by "; S15[48]=" 49.8 per cent, 35.9 per cent, 29 per cent, and 27.8 per cent respectively.
      Yan Xiao Xue, 18, from China; Nguyen "; S16[48]=" Thuy Huyen, 18, from Vietnam; Baek Jung Eun, 22, from Korea; and Madhab Raj Bhattarai, 29, from India; said yesterday they had chosen to study "; S17[48]=" in South Australia because of its reputation for great education and affordability.
      'South Australia is very friendly and is known for "; S18[48]=" its good education,' said Ms Nguyen, who will begin school here when her English course at Eynesbury College is completed... "; R[49]="1658"; T[49]="AWBC launches updated Export Market Guide"; A[49]="By ... Editor"; Dn[49]="20061123"; Dt[49]="Thursday 23 November 2006"; Acats[49]="a08a22"; B1[49]="      Australian wine producers and exporters have a powerful new tool to help them take on export markets as diverse as Canada, China, "; B2[49]="the European Union, India, Japan, Russia, Singapore and the USA... "; B3[49]=" "; B4[49]=" "; B5[49]=" "; S1[49]="      Australian wine producers and exporters have a powerful new tool to help them take on export markets as diverse as Canada, China, "; S2[49]=" the European Union, India, Japan, Russia, Singapore and the USA.
      To assist exporters to navigate the maze of wine-importing regulations around the "; S3[49]=" world, the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation today released its new Export Market Guide to provide a comprehensive guide to the market opportunities and regulatory "; S4[49]=" environment of 23 countries.
      AWBC Chief Executive Sam Tolley described the Export Market Guide as a 'must have' reference guide for Australian "; S5[49]=" wine producers and exporters.
      'For the past 18 months, Australian wine exports have remained at $2.8 billion in value despite the fact "; S6[49]=" that our nation is selling ever-increasing volumes of wine, albeit at a lower price per litre.
      The Corporation's new Export Market Guide "; S7[49]=" will assist wine producers and exporters to identify and take advantage of profitable market opportunities around the world and, ultimately, should lead to the growth "; S8[49]=" in value of Australian wine exports,' said Mr Tolley.
      'The Corporation's Export Market Guide is an essential reference tool for wine producers "; S9[49]=" and exporters.' AWBC General Manager, Compliance and Trade, Steve Guy, said the new Export Market Guide was based on the Corporation's former Export Market Grid "; S10[49]=" advisory materials but the new Guide gave much greater coverage of issues relevant to specific markets, including market size and scope, import duties and taxes, "; S11[49]=" labelling regulations and other country-specific export requirements.
      Mr Guy said specific Export Market Guides currently were available for Austria, Belgium-Luxembourg, Canada, China, "; S12[49]=" Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan and Australia's "; S13[49]=" two largest export markets, the UK and the USA.
      'We are currently developing guides for seven more countries - Sweden, Finland, Italy, "; S14[49]=" Thailand, Philippines, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia - and these will be progressively released over the next six months.
      The Corporation has "; S15[49]=" invested considerable time and resources into producing the Export Market Guide and, because it is critical that the information is kept up to date, each "; S16[49]=" specific country guide will be updated on a regular basis to ensure its relevance for exporters.' Licensed wine exporters can gain access to the Export "; S17[49]=" Market Guide for a discounted annual fee of $99 (including GST).
      The non-discounted access fee is $550 a year.
      "; S18[49]=" Orders can be made via the Corporation's website at www.awbc.com.au... ";