R[0]="53";

T[0]="Promising CQ cereal harvest underway";

A[0]="By ... Editor";

Dn[0]="20060222";

Dt[0]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[0]="a02a24a66";

B1[0]="      Central Queensland s winter crop cereal grain harvest is well underway and despite a dry seasonal finish, overall yield and quality are ";

B2[0]="generally quite good... ";

B3[0]=" ";

B4[0]=" ";

B5[0]=" ";

S1[0]="      Central Queensland's winter crop cereal grain harvest is well underway and despite a dry seasonal finish, overall yield and quality are generally ";

S2[0]=" quite good.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries principal technical officer Peter Keys said Central Highlands and Dawson-Callide growers were expected to ";

S3[0]=" harvest in excess of 300,000 tonnes of wheat this year.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Keys said crops in the southern Central Highlands region across to ";

S4[0]=" Bauhinia Downs were averaging 2.5 tonnes per hectare whereas those north of Emerald and in the Callide Valley were yielding around 1 tonne/ha.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S5[0]=" &nbsp; 'Up to 60 per cent of this wheat is grading Prime Hard and to date screenings have been quite low,' Mr Keys said.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S6[0]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We would expect the percentage of screenings to increase as the harvesting of the later planted crops gets underway as the 2005 crop ";

S7[0]=" was subjected to an extremely dry finish,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Theodore district cereal crops were favoured with one of the best winter seasons ";

S8[0]=" on record and the yield from a 100ha Mackay variety barley stand at DPI&F's Brigalow Research Station has reflected the excellent growing conditions.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S9[0]=" &nbsp; DPI&F Brigalow Research Station manager Tony Barnes said the barley crop was planted in early May immediately following a summer grain sorghum crop harvested ";

S10[0]=" in late March.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We had a full soil moisture profile so the cultivation was fertilised with 90kg/ha of urea and 20kg/ha of ";

S11[0]=" Starter Z and the barley was planted at 55kg/ha on 50cm row spacings,' Mr Barnes said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The barley received a record 100mm ";

S12[0]=" of June in-crop rain and has performed well,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Theodore district harvesting contractor Fred Lister said the barley crop was one ";

S13[0]=" of his first contracts for the 2005 winter season.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Lister will work the Dawson Valley cereal harvest before heading south with ";

S14[0]=" his John Deere 9500 harvester equipped with a 9.15m front.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Barnes said that when harvesting got underway on September 29, the ";

S15[0]=" research station's barley yield was averaging close to 3t/ha.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Our intention is to retain about 150 tonnes in our-on-farm silos for a ";

S16[0]=" planned Meat and Livestock Australia funded feedlot trial and sell the balance.' Mr Barnes said the heavy barley stubble would also be baled for use ";

S17[0]=" in the feedlot ration mix.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A local baling contractor would make the 350kg large square bales that were ideal for the feedlot ";

S18[0]=" operation.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Barnes said he had also planted a winter cereal crop of Wollaroi variety durum wheat.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; This grain ";

S19[0]=" was destined for the feedlot or would be marketed direct to Moura grain depot which was Central region's designated durum wheat receival point... ";

R[1]="52";


T[1]="Patch-grazing seminar wins award for Charters Towers DPI&F officer";

A[1]="By ... Editor";

Dn[1]="20060222";

Dt[1]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[1]="a02a07a27a72";

B1[1]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The search for clues on why cattle overgraze their favourite patches was the subject of an award-winning seminar delivered by a Department ";

B2[1]="of Primary Industries and Fisheries officer from Charters Towers... ";

B3[1]=" ";

B4[1]=" ";

B5[1]=" ";

S1[1]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The search for clues on why cattle overgraze their favourite patches was the subject of an award-winning seminar delivered by a Department ";

S2[1]=" of Primary Industries and Fisheries officer from Charters Towers.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Technical officer Chris Holloway recently delivered what was judged the best seminar at ";

S3[1]=" the CSIRO's Davies Laboratory PhD Student Seminar Day.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; His talk on ' Hierarchy, distribution and spatial utilisation of patches by cattle in ";

S4[1]=" a semi-arid tropical savanna' centred on a quirk of beef cattle to graze on certain patches.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Cattle tend to graze more heavily ";

S5[1]=" on some areas than others, but what we don't know is why,' Mr Holloway said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We are not sure if it is ";

S6[1]=" habit, grass species, palatability, nutritional value or the soil type.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'This is a real problem in northern Australia because patch grazing often ";

S7[1]=" leads to the creation of bare areas.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; This reduces the productive potential of some of the best areas in a paddock and ";

S8[1]=" can lead to serious soil erosion and a decline in water quality ' Mr Holloway said CSIRO had recognised this as a problem in the ";

S9[1]=" 1980s and carried out some small experiments.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Both DPI&F and CSIRO are continuing experiments today, this time using computer and satellite technology ";

S10[1]=" unavailable 20 years ago.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; As part of his project Mr Holloway is using high-resolution satellite imagery to map areas at Wambiana station ";

S11[1]=" south of Charters Towers to determine if a pattern is occurring.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Wambiana station is the site of a major long-term DPI&F grazing ";

S12[1]=" trial where different grazing strategies are being compared.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Holloway is a PhD student at James Cook University and has been based ";

S13[1]=" at DPI&F in Charters Towers for more than three years.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; His DPI&F supervisor, principal scientist Dr Peter O'Reagain, is pleased with Mr ";

S14[1]=" Holloway's success at the CSIRO seminar day.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Chris's project is an important part of the Wambiana trial because it seeks to understand ";

S15[1]=" the key processes that determine why animals select or avoid certain areas,' Dr O'Reagain said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The information from his trial will be ";

S16[1]=" of great assistance in developing guidelines for sustainable pasture management in the north.'.. ";

R[2]="44";

T[2]="Protein Plus to boost Atherton dairy viability";

A[2]="By ... Editor";

Dn[2]="20060222";

Dt[2]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";


Acats[2]="a02a06a26a66";

B1[2]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Protein Plus, a successful dairy industry project designed to lift milk protein concentration is working with Grow Malanda - Profit through Protein ";

B2[2]="to help rebuild Atherton Tablelands dairy business viability... ";

B3[2]=" ";

B4[2]=" ";

B5[2]=" ";

S1[2]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Protein Plus, a successful dairy industry project designed to lift milk protein concentration is working with 'Grow Malanda - Profit through Protein' ";

S2[2]=" to help rebuild Atherton Tablelands' dairy business viability.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Protein Plus national project leader Glen Chopping said ";

S3[2]=" Grow Malanda was a business plan initiative of the farmer-owned dairy processing cooperative Dairy Farmers Cooperative working in partnership with the Atherton Tablelands Sustainable Regions ";

S4[2]=" Program.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dairy farmers were contributing through their milk levy to Dairy Australia and DPI&F was providing much of the technological support for ";

S5[2]=" the project.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Chopping said Protein Plus was launched two years ago to provide some 1400 milk suppliers within the sub-tropical dairy ";

S6[2]=" region from Kempsey (NSW) to North Queensland and dairy farmers from Western Australia with the management skills to boost milk protein composition and then collect ";

S7[2]=" factory bonus payment benefits.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dairying has been regarded as a cornerstone of the social and economic fabric of the Atherton Tablelands but ";

S8[2]=" since industry deregulation, dairy suppliers have fallen from 183 farms in June 2000 to just 104 farms today.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Milk production has declined ";

S9[2]=" by more than 20 per cent to just 94 million litres a year placing increased pressure on industry viability based on critical mass and economies ";

S10[2]=" of scale.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Chopping said Grow Malanda would incorporate the DPI&F led Protein Plus workshop presentations into the farm development stream of ";

S11[2]=" the project that will provide higher quality milk proteins to the new Malanda milk protein extraction facilities.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The project aims to significantly ";

S12[2]=" increase Tableland farm income from new milk payment incentives connected to improved protein and from increased milk production.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Chopping said the ";

S13[2]=" first of the planned two-day Protein Plus workshop courses would be held at Malanda on November 2-3 with a goal to lift milk protein from ";

S14[2]=" 3.1 per cent to 3.25 per cent by 2008-09.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Milk protein levels in dairy herds reliant on tropical pastures are historically lower ";

S15[2]=" than those in southern climates,' Mr Chopping said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Reduced pasture fertiliser inputs and lower concentrate supplementation aimed at farm survival post-deregulation have ";

S16[2]=" impacted negatively on milk protein.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The time is right to reassess such management strategies in view of changed processor pricing incentives.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S17[2]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; 'It is proposed that when the national Protein Plus project concludes in 2006, it will be rolled into a Nutrition Plus project for ";

S18[2]=" the ensuing three years,' Mr Chopping said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Nutrition Plus will continue to target higher milk protein and fat composition by promoting improved ";

S19[2]=" herd nutrition at the farm and dairy adviser level.' Mr Chopping said Grow Malanda through Dairy Farmers Cooperative and collaborating partners would invest $9.82 million ";

S20[2]=" over a two year period with a federal government commitment through the Sustainable Regions Program of $1.5 million as co-investment funding for the next.. ";

R[3]="41";

T[3]="New soft wheat beats rust";

A[3]="By ... Editor";

Dn[3]="20060222";

Dt[3]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";


Acats[3]="a02a22a55a81a93";

B1[3]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Western Australia s soft wheat growers have access to a new high-yielding, rust resistant variety following the release today of the Department ";

B2[3]="of Agriculture s latest Australian Soft club wheat - Bullaring.. ";

B3[3]=" ";

B4[3]=" ";

B5[3]=" ";

S1[3]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Western Australia's soft wheat growers have access to a new high-yielding, rust resistant variety following the release today of the Department of ";

S2[3]=" Agriculture's latest Australian Soft club wheat - Bullaring Department Director General Ian Longson unveiled the new soft wheat at an industry launch at the Dowerin ";

S3[3]=" Field Days.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Longson said Bullaring together with EGA 2248 last year and EGA Jitarning were expected to boost the State's soft ";

S4[3]=" wheat industry by offering varieties with competitive yields.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He said Bullaring was a high yielding soft wheat, suitable for all traditional soft ";

S5[3]=" wheat growing areas.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It out-yielded Tincurrin and Datatine and is slightly lower yielding than EGA 2248.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'A key feature ";

S6[3]=" of Bullaring is its resistance to the three rusts and septoria tritici blotch.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It has the best combination of disease resistances among ";

S7[3]=" Australian soft varieties,' Mr Longson said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Bullaring has resistance to stem rust and WA races of leaf rust which is similar to ";

S8[3]=" Datatine, EGA Jitarning and Harrismith .<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Bullaring also has moderate resistance to septoria tritici blotch and an intermediate reaction to stripe rust,'Mr ";

S9[3]=" Longson said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'This disease resistance profile will allow the variety to be grown for the soft wheat grade without any restrictions.' Mr ";

S10[3]=" Longson said Bullaring was a white-chaffed, awned, mid-season, semi-dwarf club wheat.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The new variety has better grain size and lower screenings than ";

S11[3]=" other club wheats Datatine and Tincurrin, but smaller grain size and higher screening than the non club varieties EGA 2248 A and EGA Jitarning.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S12[3]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; Grain protein content is similar to Datatine.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Bullaring is eligible for receival into the AWB Australian Soft class.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S13[3]=" &nbsp; It has superior flour yield and colour pigment to Datatine and Tincurrin, and has performed well in end product testing,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S14[3]=" &nbsp; Bullaring was bred by Department of Agriculture plant breeder Robyn McLean and the WA wheat breeding team.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The variety is protected ";

S15[3]=" by Plant Breeders Rights and is subject to a Crop Improvement Royalty... ";

R[4]="30";

T[4]="Western Australian growers keen for new milling oat";

A[4]="By ... Editor";

Dn[4]="20060222";

Dt[4]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[4]="a02a08a24a81";

B1[4]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Department of Agriculture has released the first provisional milling quality dwarf oat for Western Australian growers..... ";

B2[4]=" ";

B3[4]=" ";

B4[4]=" ";


B5[4]=" ";

S1[4]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Department of Agriculture has released the first provisional milling quality dwarf oat for Western Australian growers.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Department Director ";

S2[4]=" General Ian Longson said the new Kojonup oat would be widely sought after by growers if it achieved milling grade or as a high quality ";

S3[4]=" on-farm feed variety.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kojonup is expected to perform best in Agzones 2, 3 and 6 taking in all the major oat production ";

S4[4]=" areas.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Kojonup delivers a similar overall yield to dwarf oat varieties Dalyup and Wandering , but has significantly better milling quality.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S5[4]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; It out-yields current tall milling oat varieties by 15-20 per cent,' Mr Longson said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Compared to other milling varieties tested ";

S6[4]=" in the quality evaluation program, Kojonup has an excellent milling performance as it is easily dehulled and has a lower groat breakage than current milling ";

S7[4]=" varieties including Carrolup , Mortlock, Coomallo , Hotham and Pallinup .' Mr Longson said based on its performance in laboratory milling tests, Kojonup was being ";

S8[4]=" released as a provisional milling oat variety.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Milling tests would be conducted on Kojonup in late 2005/early 2006 to determine a final ";

S9[4]=" classification.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kojonup is of similar height to Dalyup with excellent straw strength and shedding resistance.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; On average Kojonup flowers ";

S10[4]=" five days earlier than Dalyup, with similar maturity to Carrolup.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kojonup also has a large seed size, high groat percentage, good hectolitre ";

S11[4]=" weight, good grain brightness and low screenings.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It is resistant to leaf rust in Western Australia.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Longson said ";

S12[4]=" Kojonup's high grain quality would also make it an excellent feed oat variety.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He said the high groat percentage, high digestibility and ";

S13[4]=" metabolisable energy, lower Beta-Glucan and lower hull lignin made Kojonup a better feed option compared with other dwarf varieties including Dalyup and Wandering.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S14[4]=" &nbsp; Mr Longson said Kojonup was likely to be the last line bred by Robyn McLean and the Department's oat breeding team, as new work ";

S15[4]=" was coordinated through the national Oat Breeding Program.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He commended Dr McLean on behalf of WA growers for her leadership in this ";

S16[4]=" area over many years.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The variety is protected by Plant Breeders Rights and is subject to a Crop Improvement Royalty... ";

R[5]="29";

T[5]="MLA lamb survey shows fewer lambs in 2005-06";

A[5]="By ... Editor";

Dn[5]="20060222";

Dt[5]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[5]="a02a25";

B1[5]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lamb supply is set to decline slightly over the coming year as producers continue to rebuild their flocks while still confronting the ";

B2[5]="drought, according to the 2005 MLA Lamb Survey released today... ";

B3[5]=" ";

B4[5]=" ";

B5[5]=" ";

S1[5]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lamb supply is set to decline slightly over the coming year as producers continue to rebuild their flocks while still confronting the ";

S2[5]=" drought, according to the 2005 MLA Lamb Survey released today.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; MLA market analyst Garry McAlister said the expected 4 per cent fall ";

S3[5]=" in new season lamb production is a result of lower ewe joinings and declines in marking rates, most notably for first and second cross lambs.<BR> ";


S4[5]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The estimated number of lambs on hand at 30 June 2005 increased slightly on the previous year to be up 1 per ";

S5[5]=" cent to 29.1 million, however approximately 1 million of these lambs were carried over this year as producers chased the expected high winter prices,' Mr ";

S6[5]=" McAlister said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The survey also showed that the number of ewes joined to produce lambs was estimated to have dropped by 2 ";

S7[5]=" per cent to 45.7 million head in the year to autumn 2005.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Victoria was the only state to post a significant increase ";

S8[5]=" in joined ewes - up 8 per cent, from 9.8 million to 10.6 million.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lamb markings are expected to fall by 1.6 ";

S9[5]=" million to 38.3 million this year, with the implied national marking percentage expected to decline significantly to 83.8 per cent, down from 85.7 per cent ";

S10[5]=" last season.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The supply of new season lambs is expected to decline by 4 per cent, to 17.2 million, due to a ";

S11[5]=" further decline in second cross turnoff, and despite another increase in Merino lamb turnoff.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'This is the first year we asked lamb ";

S12[5]=" producers to provide an indication of their supplementary feeding systems for lamb and respondents indicated that 32 per cent of all lambs expected to be ";

S13[5]=" sold between autumn 2005 and autumn 2006 are likely to be fed hay or grain supplements, while lambs finished in feedlots are estimated to account ";

S14[5]=" for 9 per cent of all lambs sold,' Mr McAlister said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The ongoing structural changes in the industry mean that ewes now ";

S15[5]=" account for more of the flock than ever before.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Further expansion of the prime lamb industry is now dependant on an end ";

S16[5]=" to the prolonged drought and producer mating decisions for the predominately Merino-based breeding flock.' Copies of the 2005 MLA Lamb Survey are available from Meat ";

S17[5]=" & Livestock Australia by calling (02) 9463 9163... ";

R[6]="24";

T[6]="Durum draws accolades but uptake slow";

A[6]="By ... Editor";

Dn[6]="20060222";

Dt[6]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[6]="a02a22a81";

B1[6]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Central Queensland-grown durum wheat consistently grades A1 quality, attracts on average a $25 per tonne premium, yields well and has been given ";

B2[6]="the thumbs up by discerning Italian importers... ";

B3[6]=" ";

B4[6]=" ";

B5[6]=" ";

S1[6]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Central Queensland-grown durum wheat consistently grades A1 quality, attracts on average a $25 per tonne premium, yields well and has been given ";

S2[6]=" the thumbs up by discerning Italian importers.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Now industry plant breeders have a trialled a new durum line to be commercially released ";

S3[6]=" in 2007 that has either equalled or bettered the yield performance of the highly regarded Kennedy variety prime hard bread wheat in Central Queensland.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S4[6]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; So why isn't there a growing durum wheat industry in Central Queensland? Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries principal technical officer Peter Keys ";

S5[6]=" recently coordinated a Central Queensland farm walk series to enable growers to inspect wheat, durum wheat and barley varietal trials on cooperators' properties at Theodore, ";

S6[6]=" Bauhinia Downs, Comet and Duaringa.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Keys said durum was a specialty wheat used to produce semolina flour for manufacturing pasta and ";


S7[6]=" spaghetti.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It has been widely promoted as an alternative Central Queensland cereal crop with excellent standability, quick maturity and was relatively disease ";

S8[6]=" free.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Growers were able to inspect a 657 hectare Wollaroi variety commercial durum crop at Bruce Donovan and family's Duaringa Station on ";

S9[6]=" September 1.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Simon Donovan said the durum crop was planted in late May on a full soil moisture profile and received 75mm ";

S10[6]=" of well-timed in-crop rain to set up a potential 5.3 tonnes/ha yield in early October.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Donovans also planted 670ha to Kennedy ";

S11[6]=" and 486ha to Lang variety prime hard wheats and both paddocks were set for bumper yields planted on 45cm rows with a Multiplanter using zero ";

S12[6]=" till management.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Addressing regional growers at the farm walks was Tamworth-based national durum wheat plant breeder Dr Ray Hare who said there ";

S13[6]=" was Australia-wide grower interest in durum wheat production.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr Hare said that in the past six years, the national plant breeding program ";

S14[6]=" had identified a number of durum lines that performed exceptionally well under Central Queensland's sub-tropical climatic conditions.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Wollaroi durum wheat variety has ";

S15[6]=" emerged as northern Australia's top commercial performer returning high yields of premium quality grain,' Dr Hare said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Unfortunately, establishment of a reliable ";

S16[6]=" regional durum wheat industry has been thwarted by a combination of drought, domestic freight costs, grain depot segregation, storage and handling issues coupled with the ";

S17[6]=" high cost and scarcity of export grain ships to transport grain for human consumption,' Dr Hare said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr Hare, accompanied by NSW ";

S18[6]=" DPI technical officer David Gulliford and Australian Durum Industry development officer Josh Gordon, said development of a regional durum wheat industry would require an annual ";

S19[6]=" commitment of 50,000t to make up a shipload through Gladstone grain export terminal.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Alternatively, an initial 10,000t hatch consignment could kick start ";

S20[6]=" exports.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Half of Australia's current durum wheat production is exported and 90 per cent of all exports go to Italy where our.. ";

R[7]="21";

T[7]="MLA committed to spending additional levy funds effectively";

A[7]="By ... Editor";

Dn[7]="20060222";

Dt[7]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[7]="a02a27";

B1[7]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Meat & Livestock Australia will start work immediately on bolstering beef marketing programs here and overseas, following the announcement today by the ";

B2[7]="Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Peter McGauran that the cattle transaction levy will be increased to $5 per head on 1 January 2006... ";

B3[7]=" ";

B4[7]=" ";

B5[7]=" ";

S1[7]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Meat & Livestock Australia will start work immediately on bolstering beef marketing programs here and overseas, following the announcement today by the ";

S2[7]=" Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Peter McGauran that the cattle transaction levy will be increased to $5 per head on 1 January 2006.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S3[7]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; MLA Chairman David Crombie said the decision was welcomed, but stressed that the real work is yet to begin and that MLA is ";

S4[7]=" committed to ensuring additional levy funds will be spent effectively.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'MLA is responsible for spending this additional money wisely, and we are ";

S5[7]=" committed to ensuring that the funds raised through an increase in the cattle transaction levy will be directed to marketing programs that get results,' Mr ";

S6[7]=" Crombie said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Australia's cattle producers made the decision to increase the levy and MLA now has a huge responsibility to ensure their ";


S7[7]=" decision to increase the levy was the right one.' Mr Crombie also acknowledged Minister McGauran's comments on the number of cattle producers who took part ";

S8[7]=" in the Beef Ballot.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'While the voter turnout was the greatest ever seen on this type of issue, we obviously would have ";

S9[7]=" wanted a larger participation rate.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; However, MLA is working with other industry groups to find ways to ensure greater producer participation on ";

S10[7]=" any future issues that require their input,' Mr Crombie said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; MLA Managing Director Mark Spurr said there were a number of key ";

S11[7]=" areas where the additional levy funds would be spent and that the success of these marketing programs would be continually monitored to ensure their effectiveness.<BR> ";

S12[7]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'In partnership with industry we aim to establish a bigger and stronger presence for beef in the domestic market, with expanded nutrition ";

S13[7]=" promotion, new beef meal promotion and new product activity to boost annual beef consumption,' Mr Spurr said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We will also work with ";

S14[7]=" industry to maintain our current strong position in Japan and Korea to counter the return of the US to these key markets.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S15[7]=" We will do this through supporting industry in consolidating existing trade partnerships and developing new brands and new business, as well as further strengthening the ";

S16[7]=" existing Aussie Beef and Hoju Chungjung Woo brands.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We will work with live exporters to develop live cattle exports into Indonesia and ";

S17[7]=" consolidating the live trade into the Philippines and Malaysia.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; We will also be putting marketing programs in place that will help the ";

S18[7]=" live cattle trade compete against low-priced beef from South America and India.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'MLA will implement marketing programs in the other key Asian ";

S19[7]=" regions that will recover volumes and improve growth prospects for Australian beef.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; These programs will include positioning Australian beef in the emerging ";

S20[7]=" China market and our goal is to work with industry to expand consumption volumes to this market.'.. ";

R[8]="17";

T[8]="Study spells out coastal grazing guidelines";

A[8]="By ... Editor";

Dn[8]="20060222";

Dt[8]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[8]="a02a42";

B1[8]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A thirteen year grazing study to establish guidelines for managing Queensland s coastal native black spear grass pasture has confirmed that exceeding ";

B2[8]="a stocking rate of four hectares per steer is not environmentally sustainable... ";

B3[8]=" ";

B4[8]=" ";

B5[8]=" ";

S1[8]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A thirteen year grazing study to establish guidelines for managing Queensland's coastal native black spear grass pasture has confirmed that exceeding a ";

S2[8]=" stocking rate of four hectares per steer is not environmentally sustainable.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries principal scientist Dr David Orr ";

S3[8]=" said all data from the long term Galloway Plains grazing study (1988-2001) in the Calliope district had now been fully documented and evaluated.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S4[8]=" &nbsp; 'Our evidence clearly indicates continuous grazing that exceeds 30 per cent pasture utilisation even where the black spear grass has been over sown by ";

S5[8]=" Seca stylo legume ultimately results in lower animal productivity and land degradation,' Dr Orr said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr Orr concedes that the grazing study ";

S6[8]=" outcome would probably draw some criticism from coastal grazing communities that have always stocked their country above the recommended 4ha/steer but the practical research findings ";


S7[8]=" cannot be denied.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'At a heavy stocking rate of 2ha/steer, there was some surviving black spear grass but it was in the ";

S8[8]=" order of a one plant for every square metre and continuing to decline.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Not only had the pasture yield fallen dramatically, there ";

S9[8]=" was an increased percentage of undesirable and less productive plant species such as woodland love grass and these inferior grasses were also under grazing pressure.<BR> ";

S10[8]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Continuous heavy stocking led to increased soil loss and an actual deterioration in the soil surface function.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Our research ";

S11[8]=" measured an increase in rain run-off, a loss of soil nutrients, less water infiltration and limited grass recruitment,' Dr Orr said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr ";

S12[8]=" Orr said that in the trial paddocks where Seca stylo was initially planted at a rate of 1kg/ha, the legume population had increased to 75 ";

S13[8]=" plants/sq m.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; This boosted animal liveweight gain performance but it was essential to manage the pasture to maintain a 50:50 grass to ";

S14[8]=" legume balance.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Animal performance from the recommended 4ha/steer stocking rate on the legume augmented black spear grass pasture attained an average 175kg/head/year.<BR> ";

S15[8]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'When we further reduced the stocking rate to 8ha/steer on native pasture, the trial still recorded a long term economically acceptable 150kg/head/year ";

S16[8]=" liveweight gain,' Dr Orr said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'By increasing the stocking rate to 2ha/steer, the average annual gain for the entire 13-year period was ";

S17[8]=" 110kg/hd/yr which certainly reflected a higher earning capacity.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The reality was that at the end of the 13 years, the steers were ";

S18[8]=" actually achieving far less than 110kg/hd/yr.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'While practising heavy stocking can make more money per hectare during the initial years, the short ";

S19[8]=" term profiteering creates a host of negative long term environmental issues and the animal productivity is definitely unsustainable,' Dr Orr said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Funded ";

S20[8]=" by Meat and Livestock Australia, the 400ha Galloway Plains grazing study has delivered valuable guidelines for managing black spear grass pastures.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr.. ";

R[9]="16";

T[9]="Feedlot growth lifts barley feed grain demand";

A[9]="By ... Editor";

Dn[9]="20060222";

Dt[9]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[9]="a02a24a27";

B1[9]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Central Queensland s expanding cattle feedlot industry has created a strong regional market for barley feed grain and gives growers a valuable ";

B2[9]="winter crop rotation option... ";

B3[9]=" ";

B4[9]=" ";

B5[9]=" ";

S1[9]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Central Queensland's expanding cattle feedlot industry has created a strong regional market for barley feed grain and gives growers a valuable winter ";

S2[9]=" crop rotation option.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Kym McIntyre, a specialist barley development extension officer at Warwick district's Hermitage Research ";

S3[9]=" Station, offered Central region grain growers more good news at a round of recent cereal trial inspections at Theodore, Bauhinia Downs, Comet and Duaringa.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S4[9]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; Ms McIntyre said well performed barley selections such as Mackay variety could out yield Hartog variety wheat by 10 per cent in most ";

S5[9]=" Central Queensland growing seasons to record average yields of 3 tonnes per hectare.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The even more exciting news is that the DPI&F ";

S6[9]=" barley improvement program has produced a new variety that was officially named Grout when launched at Toowoomba's AgShow on September 6,' Ms McIntyre said.<BR> &nbsp; ";


S7[9]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Named after the well-known late Queensland and Australian wicketkeeper Wally Grout, the new release is ideally suited to Central Queensland.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S8[9]=" In trials throughout the region during the past four years, it has consistently averaged 3t/ha.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We can now give Queensland growers a ";

S9[9]=" quick maturity barley line with a large grain size that is easy to process through a roller mill to meet feedlot industry requirements.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S10[9]=" &nbsp; 'Most barley lines do not like hot weather at grain fill stage or a dry finish and for that reason, Central Queensland growers should ";

S11[9]=" stick to the quick maturing varieties,' Ms McIntyre said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ms McIntyre said Central Highlands barley growers expect to harvest 7000 tonnes this ";

S12[9]=" year with Australian Agricultural Company's Comet district Goonoo feedlot being a major buyer.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Research into assessing optimum stockfeed grain has shown that ";

S13[9]=" barley can be a better economic proposition than sorghum as it requires a lower level of processing.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Grain feeding trials from Montana ";

S14[9]=" University also indicate that barley can achieve the same animal production performance as maize,' Ms McIntyre said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ms McIntyre said growing barley ";

S15[9]=" for local feedlot markets cut growers' freight costs and could value add to rural communities.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Australian Lot Feeders Association (ALFA) surveys indicate ";

S16[9]=" that half of the nation's cattle currently in feedlots are in Queensland .<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Their research also showed that for every feedlot employee, ";

S17[9]=" there are a further three jobs created in the broader community beef industry service chain.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ms McIntyre said Grout barley marketing rights ";

S18[9]=" had been awarded by tender to AWB Seeds in May this year.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Seed production increase was now underway and commercial stocks would ";

S19[9]=" be available next winter.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; There would be seed produced in Central Queensland with the aim of making seed available at a reasonable ";

S20[9]=" cost.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ms McIntyre said there would be an end point royalty applicable to Grout.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; She called on growers to.. ";

R[10]="10";

T[10]="Wheat stripe rust now at Biloela";

A[10]="By ... Editor";

Dn[10]="20060222";

Dt[10]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[10]="a02a03a22a33";

B1[10]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The wind-borne wheat fungal disease - stripe rust - has now been identified in a wheat crop at Biloela after it was ";

B2[10]="found for the first time in Central Queensland in late August this year at Bauhinia Downs... ";

B3[10]=" ";

B4[10]=" ";

B5[10]=" ";

S1[10]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The wind-borne wheat fungal disease - stripe rust - has now been identified in a wheat crop at Biloela after it was ";

S2[10]=" found for the first time in Central Queensland in late August this year at Bauhinia Downs.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries ";

S3[10]=" development extension agronomist Rod Collins and principal technical officer Peter Keys said Dawson-Callide and Central Highlands grain growers should thoroughly check their maturing wheat crops ";

S4[10]=" for any signs of stripe rust.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Collins said it was highly unlikely that the late season appearance of stripe rust in ";

S5[10]=" Central Queensland would have any impact on crop yields this year.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'It is important for growers to be on the alert and ";

S6[10]=" if stripe rust is present, they should seek advice relating to the management of the disease to minimise any carryover infection risk into next year's ";


S7[10]=" wheat crop,' Mr Collins said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Stripe rust is endemic throughout many of the southern wheat growing areas in Australia due to favourable ";

S8[10]=" weather conditions and the carryover of rust on volunteer wheat plants growing through the summer,' Mr Collins said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Keys said the ";

S9[10]=" stripe rust making its appearance in Central region was likely to be a strain known as the WA pathotype which has been more damaging on ";

S10[10]=" currently planted varieties in southern areas than the previously identified rust strains.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Crops planted late in the season are most likely to ";

S11[10]=" suffer symptoms of stripe rust although genetic resistance will mean that infection late the crop development is unlikely to cause yield penalties in Central Queensland ";

S12[10]=" crops,' Mr Keys said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Most Central Queensland crops were planted early enough in the season so there is unlikely to be any ";

S13[10]=" significant effect in most paddocks,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Central region growers who find evidence of stripe rust this year should consider using varieties ";

S14[10]=" with optimum resistance when they plant their 2006 wheat crop.' Mr Keys said they should also ensure there were no wheat plants surviving through the ";

S15[10]=" summer fallow period to infect next year's crop.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Plant breeding research is on track to develop new varietal lines with stripe rust ";

S16[10]=" resistance to the WA pathotype but growers need to remain vigilant,' Mr Keys said... ";

R[11]="8";

T[11]="DPI&F announces NLIS (Sheep) policy for Queensland";

A[11]="By ... Editor";

Dn[11]="20060222";

Dt[11]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[11]="a02a25";

B1[11]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) has released the policy for the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for the sheep ";

B2[11]="(wool and lamb) industries... ";

B3[11]=" ";

B4[11]=" ";

B5[11]=" ";

S1[11]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) has released the policy for the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for the sheep ";

S2[11]=" (wool and lamb) industries.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; DPI&F general manager of animal biosecurity Ron Glanville said that although the regulations for NLIS (Sheep) have been ";

S3[11]=" in place for some time, the Queensland NLIS Implementation Committee (QNIC) recently made a number of recommendations to fine tune the system which will operate ";

S4[11]=" on a mandatory basis from 1 January 2006.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; These have now been approved.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Queensland's policy is consistent with the ";

S5[11]=" national NLIS sheep policy and will place Queensland at the fore-front of livestock biosecurity disease response measures.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'This will in-turn enhance our ";

S6[11]=" international reputation with trading partners for sheep meat and wool products,' Mr Glanville said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The phase-in arrangements for Queensland include<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S7[11]=" &nbsp; * The Queensland definition of 'movement of stock' will be 'any movement between two different Property Identification Code (PIC) numbers'.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * ";

S8[11]=" All the PICs of origin for sheep consigned from a property other than that of their property of birth must be noted on the NVD/Waybill.<BR> ";

S9[11]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * Sheep born after 31 December 2005 will require identification with an approved, non-electronic NLIS sheep tag before movement.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S10[11]=" However, they do not require NLIS tags if they are moving directly from the property of birth to slaughter over the hooks in minimum four ";


S11[11]=" deck lots of the same class.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; This phase-in provision will cease on 31 December 2006.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * Sheep born before ";

S12[11]=" 1 January 2006 will not require identification with an NLIS sheep tag during the transition period from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2006 inclusive.<BR> ";

S13[11]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * From 1 January 2007, all sheep moving must have an NLIS tag applied.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S14[11]="  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * Use of the standard year colour codes for tags is recommended.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; However local property colour coding ";

S15[11]=" systems will be optional at the discretion of the owner.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; However, the NLIS sheep tag must bear the PIC and the NLIS ";

S16[11]=" logo on the outer face of the tag.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * Previously printed tags with an approved PIC printed on the tag (but without ";

S17[11]=" the NLIS logo) can be legally used until current stocks are used up.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * There will be no mandatory requirement to use ";

S18[11]=" of 'pink' post breeder tags for movements within Queensland, but again, this is recommended.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * Waybills and NVD/Waybills ";

S19[11]=" documenting movements must be retained on the property for a period of five years.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr.. ";

R[12]="7";

T[12]="Bedstraw confirmed in cereal crops";

A[12]="By ... Editor";

Dn[12]="20060222";

Dt[12]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[12]="a02a22a24a74a85";

B1[12]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The potentially serious weed three-horned bedstraw has been confirmed on two un-related properties in the Central and Great Southern agricultural regions..... ";

B2[12]=" ";

B3[12]=" ";

B4[12]=" ";

B5[12]=" ";

S1[12]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The potentially serious weed three-horned bedstraw has been confirmed on two un-related properties in the Central and Great Southern agricultural regions.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S2[12]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; Targeted surveillance by the Department of Agriculture revealed bedstraw plants scattered over 100 hectares in the Central Agricultural region property in late August.<BR> ";

S3[12]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; This was next to a 2004 barley paddock where bedstraw was found in a harvest sample.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The barley paddock ";

S4[12]=" was quarantined in 2004.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The plants found recently confirmed that the bedstraw seed present in last year's barley sample originated from that ";

S5[12]=" paddock.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Infested paddocks and high risk areas will be placed in quarantine and subjected to an eradication program.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Department ";

S6[12]=" weed scientist Jon Dodd said grain samples collected by Cooperative Bulk Handling during the 2004 harvest from the affected farm and from other farms in ";

S7[12]=" the district indicated that the infestation was limited to just the one property.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr Dodd said Department staff had recently carried out ";

S8[12]=" on-ground surveillance at the known farm and other linked properties now that bedstraw plants were visible in crops and fallow.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; To date ";

S9[12]=" this is the only property in the Central Agricultural region known to have this weed.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Bedstraw plants found during the surveillance have ";

S10[12]=" ranged from seedlings to flowering plants.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; All have a characteristic sticky feel due to their covering of minute hooked bristles.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S11[12]=" &nbsp; Fully grown plants have a straggly, scrambling or climbing habit, with weak, branched square stems that can be up to one metre long,' he ";


S12[12]=" said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; In the Great Southern region, a new infestation of bedstraw was found in an oat crop.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr Dodd ";

S13[12]=" said thorough searching confirmed the weed's presence in about 0.5 hectare of the crop.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The affected area has since been sprayed with ";

S14[12]=" glyphosate.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Grain from the crop is likely to be exported, in order to minimise the risk of spreading bedstraw seeds to other ";

S15[12]=" areas in WA.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The presence of the weed in crop-free areas within the oat crop indicates that it was not introduced with ";

S16[12]=" the seed, but more likely with feed grain that was fed out in the paddock in previous seasons,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'In this ";

S17[12]=" instance, we are conducting trace-back activities to identify the source of the bedstraw seed that infested the crop.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The bedstraw-affected paddock will ";

S18[12]=" be placed in quarantine.' This latest find in the Great Southern appears to be unrelated to the three previous discoveries of this weed in WA.<BR> ";

S19[12]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Three-horned bedstraw is a declared weed in WA (P1, P2 schedule).<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; This classification prohibits the movement of contaminated machinery.<BR> ";

S20[12]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Contaminated produce including livestock and fodder may not be imported and all plants found must be destroyed.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr Dodd.. ";

R[13]="6";

T[13]="Vasse researches greener pastures";

A[13]="By ... Editor";

Dn[13]="20060222";

Dt[13]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[13]="a02a24a67";

B1[13]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Western Australia s dairy industry is set to benefit from a major pasture research project underway at the Department of Agriculture s ";

B2[13]="Vasse Research Centre at Busselton... ";

B3[13]=" ";

B4[13]=" ";

B5[13]=" ";

S1[13]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Western Australia's dairy industry is set to benefit from a major pasture research project underway at the Department of Agriculture's Vasse Research ";

S2[13]=" Centre at Busselton.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The new Greener Pastures project will be unveiled to dairy and beef producers at the Vasse Research Centre field ";

S3[13]=" day on 22 September.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Department development officer Bill Russell said the new dairy farm systems project would help farmers make smarter use ";

S4[13]=" of nutrients, especially nitrogen.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Russell said five nitrogen farmlets would look at pasture, milk production and profit responses, and rates of ";

S5[13]=" nitrogen leaching from nitrogen-based fertiliser from 0 to 400 kg/ha.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Two innovation farms, one dry land and one irrigation, will develop and ";

S6[13]=" demonstrate tactics to use nitrogen more profitably while reducing losses,' Mr Russell said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'There will also be three partner farms to demonstrate ";

S7[13]=" low risk options for better nutrient use on commercial farms.' The Greener Pastures project, which commenced in July, is jointly funded by the Department of ";

S8[13]=" Agriculture, Dairy Australia, Western Dairy, CSIRO and the South West Catchments Council.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It also has strong links with DairyCatch, the local dairy ";

S9[13]=" industry resource management program.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Key speakers at the field day include Department researchers David Windsor, Martin Staines and Don Bennett to overview ";

S10[13]=" the project and its focus on nitrogen management.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Fertiliser policy for the Innovation Farms and Nitrogen Farmlets will be covered by Mr ";

S11[13]=" Russell.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Consultant Dario Nandapi and researcher John Lucey will discuss pasture management and the Feeding Pasture for Profit project, while natural resource ";


S12[13]=" management consultant Vicki Staines will look at the links between Greener Pastures and the DairyCatch and Nutrient Smart projects.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Although Greener Pastures ";

S13[13]=" is primarily focused on dairy farms, the project is just as relevant to beef and sheep farmers who are interested in getting more from their ";

S14[13]=" pastures and making smarter use of nutrients,' Mr Russell said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Vasse Research Centre is on Jalbarragup Road, Busselton.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S15[13]=" The field day starts at 10.00 am Further information is available from Bill Russell at the Department's Bunbury office on 9780 6264.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S16[13]=" Bookings should be made with Donna Sykes at Western Dairy on 9525 2663 by 20 September... ";

R[14]="5";

T[14]="Stripe rust threat reappears";

A[14]="By ... Editor";

Dn[14]="20060222";

Dt[14]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[14]="a02a03a22a33";

B1[14]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Stripe rust has been confirmed for the first time this season in susceptible wheat varieties on a property near Miling and in ";

B2[14]="a Department of Agriculture disease nursery trial at Manjimup... ";

B3[14]=" ";

B4[14]=" ";

B5[14]=" ";

S1[14]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Stripe rust has been confirmed for the first time this season in susceptible wheat varieties on a property near Miling and in ";

S2[14]=" a Department of Agriculture disease nursery trial at Manjimup.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Department plant pathologist Geoff Thomas said leaf rust of wheat, barley and oats ";

S3[14]=" had also been confirmed in crops at several sites throughout the wheatbelt over the past two weeks.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Wheat leaf rust was found ";

S4[14]=" at Brookton, barley leaf rust at Gnowangerup, Badgingarra, Mullewa and Moonyoonooka and oat leaf rust at Mount Barker and from Kamballup to Green Range.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S5[14]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Thomas said the stripe rust became apparent as hotspots in susceptible varieties grown close to where stripe rust was present in 2004.<BR> ";

S6[14]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Neither site was protected with a fungicide at seeding.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'As expected, the long dry summer greatly reduced opportunities for ";

S7[14]=" early rust diseases this season due to the lack of significant summer regrowth,' Mr Thomas said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'However, heavy autumn rains through much ";

S8[14]=" of the wheatbelt resulted in extensive cereal regrowth and this potentially provided many sites for rust to build up.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The widespread nature ";

S9[14]=" of these recent rust finds in wheat and barley indicate that infection which started earlier in the year is just becoming visible within crops.' Mr ";

S10[14]=" Thomas said the initial reports should act as a warning for growers to be alert for rust in their crops, particularly in areas close to ";

S11[14]=" where rust had already been identified.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He said active monitoring of crops would help to identify rust early so that fungicides could ";

S12[14]=" be applied before the disease had time to progress and cause large yield losses.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Stripe rust will initially be present as isolated ";

S13[14]=" lesions on a few leaves in the canopy.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; As infection develops, hotspots will become apparent within the crop before infection develops rapidly ";

S14[14]=" throughout the crop,' Mr Thomas said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Factors which increase the rust risk include the use of susceptible varieties, early sown crops, proximity ";

S15[14]=" to early emerged wheat regrowth, presence of stripe rust in 2004, not having used upfront seed dressing or in-furrow fungicides and proximity to other infected ";


S16[14]=" crops this season.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Crops which meet these criteria should be closely monitored for rust.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'While the first finds of ";

S17[14]=" rust are much later this year than in 2004, there is still potential for yield loss, particularly in susceptible varieties, later sown crops or longer ";

S18[14]=" season environments,' Mr Thomas said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Where stripe rust is detected in crops with resistance ratings of 5 or less, they should be ";

S19[14]=" protected as soon as possible with a fungicide spray, including crops yet to reach the flag leaf emergence stage.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; However, trial work ";

S20[14]=" with stripe rust in 2004 showed that spraying a crop after it had finished flowering was not economic.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ' Mr Thomas said.. ";