R[0]="2083"; T[0]="Computer now integral to northern downs dairy"; A[0]="By ... Editor"; Dn[0]="20071024"; Dt[0]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[0]="a26a46a92"; B1[0]="      Dairy farmers are embracing the use of computers to better manage their enterprise thanks to an innovative learning program developed by Subtropical "; B2[0]="Dairy with support from FarmBis... "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]="      Dairy farmers are embracing the use of computers to better manage their enterprise thanks to an innovative learning program developed by Subtropical "; S2[0]=" Dairy with support from FarmBis.
      A mobile computer training room has now delivered 27 customised courses across all dairy regions in Queensland "; S3[0]=" and northern NSW.
      Northern Downs dairy farmer Gae Vonhoff has been an enthusiastic participant in courses on the spreadsheet program Excel and "; S4[0]=" Quicken accounting.
      A laptop computer is now an integral tool in the successful running of a 200 cow dairy with husband Lindsay "; S5[0]=" at Kaimkillenbun.
      'The training was brilliant and I would recommend it to anyone.
      Having the FarmBis subsidy available really "; S6[0]=" made the courses affordable.
      It was the difference between participating and not,' Mrs Vonhoff said.
      The targeted learning "; S7[0]=" has been delivered through Subtropical Dairy, a Dairy Australia regional development program.
      Queensland farmers participating have had the cost of their "; S8[0]=" learning supported by FarmBis, a joint Commonwealth-State training program.
      Producers in the State are eligible for a 65 percent FarmBis subsidy on "; S9[0]=" the cost of the training.
      The program material has been developed by the course co-presenters, Di Gresham, website manager and Gympie dairy "; S10[0]=" farmer and Ray Murphy, a Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) farm business management specialist based in Toowoomba.
      Mrs Gresham has "; S11[0]=" been leading the industry in adoption of computer technology and manages an extensive dairy industry website (DairyInfo.biz), on behalf of Subtropical Dairy.
      "; S12[0]=" She said the program aimed to make producers comfortable with computing and introduce the wide range of benefits to everyday farm management.
      "; S13[0]=" 'There are time and cost savings to be made using computer technology as an aid to best practice management,' Mrs Gresham said.
      "; S14[0]=" Accounting course participants get files customised for a dairy enterprise which they can download into a proprietary software program on their own computers.
    "; S15[0]="   Spreadsheet training also includes a range of useful formulas on a USB drive for downloading.
      'There are just so many uses "; S16[0]=" for spreadsheets from budgeting to herd management, ration formulation, tracking fertiliser applications and managing employee details.' 'It is a real eye opener for many farmers "; S17[0]=" just how useful they can be in the every day running of their business,' Mrs Gresham said.
      Mrs Vonhoff has used her "; S18[0]=" training to integrate cow records for herd management, downloading data from electronic ear tags into her laptop.
      With mating information fed in, "; S19[0]=" an Excel spreadsheet is used to calculate predicted calving dates.
      'It has been so much simpler to manage all the herd information "; S20[0]=" from reproduction and dry cows to keeping track of births and deaths.
      Entering medications is a great help with QA compliance,' Mrs "; S21[0]=" Vonhoff said.
      She now uses Quicken to keep detailed records of feed inputs including by products.
      'Fine tuning costs "; S22[0]=" helps our financial bottom line,' Mrs Vonhoff said.
      With years of difficult seasons they have adapted to the challenge of dryland farming, "; S23[0]=" growing their own hay and silage which is supplemented with bought in grain.
      'We have had some rain this year and conditions "; S24[0]=" are not too bad at the moment,'' she said... "; R[1]="2082"; T[1]="Dairy farmers take to innovative computer training"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20071024"; Dt[1]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[1]="a26a46a92"; B1[1]="      Dairy farmers are embracing the use of computers to better manage their enterprise thanks to an innovative learning program developed by Subtropical "; B2[1]="Dairy with support from FarmBis... "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]="      Dairy farmers are embracing the use of computers to better manage their enterprise thanks to an innovative learning program developed by Subtropical "; S2[1]=" Dairy with support from FarmBis.
      A mobile computer training room has now delivered 27 customised courses across all dairy regions in northern "; S3[1]=" NSW and Queensland.
      Courses have ranged from use of the internet and email management to accounting and the use of spreadsheets.
  "; S4[1]="     The targeted learning has been delivered from The Atherton Tableland to Coffs Harbour by the Subtropical Dairy Program, a Dairy Australia regional development "; S5[1]=" program.
      More workshops are planned, including Monto in the North Burnett in October.
      Queensland farmers participating have had "; S6[1]=" the cost of their learning supported by FarmBis, a joint Commonwealth-State training program.
      Producers in the State are eligible for a 65 "; S7[1]=" percent FarmBis subsidy on the cost of the training.
      The program material has been developed by the course co-presenters, Di Gresham, website "; S8[1]=" manager and dairy farmer and Ray Murphy a Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) farm business management specialist based in Toowoomba.
      "; S9[1]=" Mrs Gresham with her husband Ray milks 300 cows on their family enterprise south of Gympie.
      She has been leading the industry "; S10[1]=" in adoption of computer technology and manages an extensive dairy industry website (DairyInfo.biz), on behalf of Subtropical Dairy.
      She said the program "; S11[1]=" aimed to make producers comfortable with computing and introduce the wide range of benefits to everyday farm management.
      'There are time and "; S12[1]=" cost savings to be made using computer technology as an aid to best practice management,' Mrs Gresham said.
      Accounting course participants get "; S13[1]=" files customised for a dairy enterprise which they can download into a proprietary software program on their own computers.
      Spreadsheet training also "; S14[1]=" includes a range of useful formulas on a USB drive for downloading.
      'There are just so many uses for spreadsheets from budgeting "; S15[1]=" to herd management, ration formulation, tracking fertiliser applications and managing employee details.' 'It is a real eye opener for many farmers just how useful they "; S16[1]=" can be in the every day running of their business,' Mrs Gresham said.
      Michelle Bunter has been an enthusiastic participant in all "; S17[1]=" the training programs.
      Mrs Bunter and her husband Mark milk 220 cows on their farm at Cedar Pocket, east of Gympie.
  "; S18[1]="     She juggles farm life and raising three children with study towards a Diploma of Business.
      She has accessed FarmBis support "; S19[1]=" to complete study units towards her diploma as well as for the specialist dairy training courses.
      'It has been really helpful to "; S20[1]=" make the training affordable when our dairy income is under so much pressure.
      I have always been open to on-going learning, Mrs "; S21[1]=" Bunter said.
      The training helped her fully computerise the farm business accounts and the lodgement of Business Activity Statements.
      "; S22[1]=" 'We've been able to analyse our business costs in much greater detail and pinpoint areas where savings can be made.
      'When you "; S23[1]=" have no control over the price received for milk, every dollar we can shave off our expenses is really important to our bottom line,' Mrs "; S24[1]=" Bunter said... "; R[2]="1641"; T[2]="Doctors Googling medical answers"; A[2]="By ... Editor"; Dn[2]="20061111"; Dt[2]="Saturday 11 November 2006"; Acats[2]="a09a46"; B1[2]="      They juggle more than two million facts in their heads and are expected to retrieve them on demand, piecing together symptoms like "; B2[2]="a diagnostic puzzle.
      But these days, when doctors have exhausted their medical knowledge, they Google for answers... "; B3[2]=" "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]="      They juggle more than two million facts in their heads and are expected to retrieve them on demand, piecing together symptoms like "; S2[2]=" a diagnostic puzzle.
      But these days, when doctors have exhausted their medical knowledge, they Google for answers.
      Australian research "; S3[2]=" has revealed the internet search engine - with access to three billion medical articles - can be a valuable tool in helping doctors diagnose rare "; S4[2]=" or unusual cases.
      Using 26 difficult diagnostic cases published in the New England Journal of Medicine, doctors from Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital "; S5[2]=" Googled three to five symptoms from each case.
      In 15 cases (58 per cent) the most prominently displayed search results accurately matched "; S6[2]=" diagnoses for unusual conditions such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Cushing syndrome and encephalitis.
      The study, by Dr Hanwi Tang and Dr Jennifer Ng, "; S7[2]=" published in this week's British Medical Journal, was prompted by an experience Dr Tang had with a patient whose father had used Google to accurately "; S8[2]=" diagnose a rare type of thrombosis.
      Dr Tang said while the internet was helpful, any results should be followed up with thorough "; S9[2]=" diagnostic tests.
      'I don't think the internet replaces doctors at all and I don't think that it would be advisable to be "; S10[2]=" using the internet for every patient they see,' he said.
      'It's only when they are stumped and they don't know what's wrong "; S11[2]=" with the patient - then it's certainly worthwhile having a check.' AMA president Dr Mukesh Haikerwal said the internet should be used with caution.
  "; S12[2]="     'There are many parts of medicine where we need to look, see, feel touch, all the senses are an important part of not "; S13[2]=" just diagnosis but management.
      You can't empathise with someone over an internet line when things are grim - people need some physical "; S14[2]=" reassurance often.' The internet is also fuelling a rise in self-diagnosis, with health experts alarmed at the number of tests for diseases being bought online... "; R[3]="1480"; T[3]="Fresh concerns raised about 3G technology in rural areas"; A[3]="By ... Editor"; Dn[3]="20061006"; Dt[3]="Friday 6 October 2006"; Acats[3]="a46"; B1[3]="      New concerns have been raised about the future of mobile phone services in rural Australia, once the current CDMA network is phased "; B2[3]="out... "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]="      New concerns have been raised about the future of mobile phone services in rural Australia, once the current CDMA network is phased "; S2[3]=" out.
      Deputy PM Mark Vaile has warned Telstra he will not accept any deterioration in services, once so-called 3G technology replaces the "; S3[3]=" current system.
      The system was to provide broadband Internet and other technology but Telstra says initially, the network might not be that "; S4[3]=" advanced.
      Telecommunications analyst Paul Budde says the 3G system will only be able to provide voice calls.
      'If you "; S5[3]=" want to use the broadband services and video-based services, you need a lot of spectrum and we've been saying that all the time, that Telstra "; S6[3]=" basically has said 'no, no we can do that in the 3G space' and obviously they've now come to the conclusion that that's not possible "; S7[3]=" and you actually do need a better service,' he said... "; R[4]="1448"; T[4]="Tourism goes broadband"; A[4]="By ... Editor"; Dn[4]="20060927"; Dt[4]="Wednesday 27 September 2006"; Acats[4]="a44a46"; B1[4]="      Online tours and other offerings help promoters make timely pitches for the world's destinations... "; B2[4]=" "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]="      Online tours and other offerings help promoters make timely pitches for the world's destinations The same Internet that's making so much of "; S2[4]=" the world just a virtual click away is revolutionizing the way the US tourism industry entices people to come visit in person.
      "; S3[4]=" Marketers who not long ago waited for prospective tourists to send in postcards to get a glossy brochure have pushed into dramatically more timely promotional "; S4[4]=" tactics, like video clips, live webcam feeds, and downloadable video tours.
      From Philadelphia to Oregon, US destinations are offering advanced tools for "; S5[4]=" planning and generating a detailed itinerary that can be downloaded to a hand-held computer.
      This summer, Tourism Massachusetts, a nonprofit group that "; S6[4]=" markets to international visitors, began rolling out the first 15 of a planned 50 two-minute videos promoting venues like Cape Cod and the Berkshires.
  "; S7[4]="     The technology, at website USAMass.tv, lets officials put television-quality video in front of millions of potential tourists at one-tenth the cost of European "; S8[4]=" television infomercials.
      A bubbly British host adds an international feel.
      ``It's a very different and compelling new form of "; S9[4]=" communication to get our story in front of potential international visitors, and as a high-tech state, we should be marketing ourselves in a high-tech fashion,' "; S10[4]=" said Bill MacDougall, president of Tourism Massachusetts.
      With only light promotion of the site in a handful of countries like Italy and "; S11[4]=" Argentina, more than 75,000 visitors have tuned in so far.
      To sponsors' surprise, the top source of hits is China.
    "; S12[4]="   Each 2 1/2- to 3-minute segment costs about $10,000 to produce and host online, and officials have found that they can afford to produce "; S13[4]=" many of the next 35 segments in high definition.
      Coming soon, MacDougall hopes, are ways to make the clips available for download "; S14[4]=" to video-capable portable entertainment devices like the iPod and the seatback televisions of airlines like JetBlue that fly to Logan International Airport.
      "; S15[4]=" It's not just for fun.
      In Massachusetts and dozens of other states, tourism has become a crucial business.
      Bay "; S16[4]=" State tourism officials estimate that as many as 125,300 jobs across the state depend on tourism.
      In 2004, the last year with "; S17[4]=" full records, more than 31 million visitors spent $12.5 billion and paid $808 million in state and local taxes, according to the Massachusetts Office of "; S18[4]=" Travel and Tourism.
      With more than 48 million US homes with high-speed Internet connections, downloadable and interactive web video is far more "; S19[4]=" feasible and, officials say, necessary.
      Concierge.com, a travel website associated with Conde Nast traveler, earlier this month began offering a six-minute look "; S20[4]=" at 24 hours in the life of New York City, with time-lapse photographs showing daybreak over the city and Central Park and late-night bustle in "; S21[4]=" Times Square.
      This week the site is adding a similar look at Miami, followed in coming weeks by virtual days in London "; S22[4]=" and Paris The chamber of commerce for a Colorado resort, AspenChamber.org, recently began offering virtual tours of a half-dozen attractions there.
      ``As "; S23[4]=" visitors have become more tech savvy, using online tools to make vacation decisions, we saw a need for creating a method to explore town without "; S24[4]=" even being here,' said Lisa Weiss, marketing director for the Aspen chamber.
      Another take on the same idea is tours through the "; S25[4]=" eyes of average residents.
      At VisitPA.com, Pennsylvania officials offer 14 local tours designed and narrated by regular-guy hosts like Pittsburgh limousine driver "; S26[4]=" Calvin ``CJ' Jackson, who urges visitors to check out museums and a famous pot-pie restaurant, and Erie barber Mike Pelusso, a fan of the Lake "; S27[4]=" Erie shore.
      (Some better-known Pennsylvanians, like Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, also offer their personal-favorite tours.) Similarly, GoHawaii.com began offering a travel "; S28[4]=" guide this fall with 300 photos taken by native Hawaiians, selected from more than 8,000 submissions.
      Research showed that ``visitors appreciate knowing "; S29[4]=" what residents like to experience,' said Jay Talwar, vice president of marketing for the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.
      Tourism promoters around "; S30[4]=" the country are also finding a host of ways to use Internet technology to not only help potential visitors learn about local attractions, but to "; R[5]="1258"; T[5]="20,000 sheep up for sale online"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20060810"; Dt[5]="Thursday 10 August 2006"; Acats[5]="a08a25a46"; B1[5]="      The sheep market is strong, with more than 20,000 sheep up for sale on the Internet in Queensland.... "; B2[5]=" "; B3[5]=" "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]="      The sheep market is strong, with more than 20,000 sheep up for sale on the Internet in Queensland.
      That "; S2[5]=" is three times the usual number.
      Richard Murray from Landmark at Longreach says most of the sheep offered on Auctions Plus come "; S3[5]=" from properties in western Queensland.
      He says graziers are capitalising on strong demand for young ewes from central New South Wales, although "; S4[5]=" abattoir-ready sheep are dominating the market.
      'With the processor sheep, usually from mid August the prices tend to ease back a bit, "; S5[5]=" so naturally people are trying to get their sheep onto the market before then,' he said.
      'It also fits in with the "; S6[5]=" shearings, most of the shearings are done and they're sort of six to eight weeks off the board now, which is an ideal time to "; S7[5]=" be selling the sheep.'.. "; R[6]="1249"; T[6]="Online System to Monitor Herd Health"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20060805"; Dt[6]="Saturday 5 August 2006"; Acats[6]="a27a46a93"; B1[6]="      Remote-area cattle producers are being urged to use a new web-based tool to help them compile histories of their herd's health status "; B2[6]="and to diagnose suspicious diseases... "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]="      Remote-area cattle producers are being urged to use a new web-based tool to help them compile histories of their herd's health status "; S2[6]=" and to diagnose suspicious diseases.
      Access to the Bovine Syndromic Surveillance System (BOSSS) website is free and contains information on many endemic "; S3[6]=" and exotic diseases of cattle as well as educational material on disease signs and techniques for conducting post mortems and taking samples.
      "; S4[6]=" BOSSS is being supported throughout Australia by an institutional alliance that includes state departments of primary industries and the Australian Biosecurity CRC for Emerging "; S5[6]=" Infectious Diseases.
      Producer bodies have also indicated their support for the system.
      The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries "; S6[6]=" (DPI&F) general manager of animal biosecurity Ron Glanville said BOSSS will help remote area producers to be more effective in defending the nation against disease "; S7[6]=" and pest risks.
      'In remote areas this expert system will allow producers to be better informed when describing the disease symptoms to "; S8[6]=" a veterinarian located elsewhere.
      'The website also acts as a confidential database to help animal health authorities to study disease trends that "; S9[6]=" are reported via the BOSSS website and this information is vital when managing biosecurity threats,' he said.
      'DPI&F Biosecurity veterinary and research "; S10[6]=" staff can use the data inputted by graziers to monitor trends across the entire state or from interstate.
      'This is done on "; S11[6]=" a confidential basis without linking the results of monitoring and evaluation to any individual property or producer,' he said.
      The BOSSS website "; S12[6]=" also provides access to disease distribution maps, a disease symptom picture library and a post mortem guide that will assist producers in collecting information.
  "; S13[6]="     This information is then analysed and compared with that stored in the BOSSS database to arrive at a tentative diagnosis.
      "; S14[6]=" Links to experts such as veterinarians and an online discussion forum allow cattle owners to email other producers or experts to seek advice and opinion.
"; S15[6]="       Dr Glanville stressed that producers should still 'Look, Check, and Ask a Vet' or DPI&F Biosecurity inspector when the find unusual symptoms "; S16[6]=" of disease or pest.
      To register as a BOSSS user or find out more about the system, producers can call the DPI&F "; S17[6]=" Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 or talk to their regional DPI&F Biosecurity inspector or veterinarian... "; R[7]="1203"; T[7]="Website to track drought impact"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20060730"; Dt[7]="Sunday 30 July 2006"; Acats[7]="a35a46a89"; B1[7]="      The Federal Government has unveiled its plan to make it easier for farmers to apply for drought relief.... "; B2[7]=" "; B3[7]=" "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]="      The Federal Government has unveiled its plan to make it easier for farmers to apply for drought relief.
      The "; S2[7]=" national agricultural monitoring system is a website which will track how major agricultural regions are performing.
      While state governments could take weeks "; S3[7]=" or months to collate drought information under the old application process, John Sims from the Bureau of Rural Sciences says the new system will take "; S4[7]=" minutes.
      'There's information on rainfall, there's information on how that rainfall affects pasture and crop growth, and how that translates into impact "; S5[7]=" on say farm financial performance over the last couple of years,' he said.
      Initially the system covers dryland and broadacre farming regions, "; S6[7]=" and it will be expanded to irrigated and intensive agriculture during the next 12 months... "; R[8]="1174"; T[8]="Internet helps farmers recruit backpackers"; A[8]="By ... Editor"; Dn[8]="20060721"; Dt[8]="Friday 21 July 2006"; Acats[8]="a06a46"; B1[8]="      Video conference technology is helping job agencies tap into the backpacker market in Australia's far north-west.... "; B2[8]=" "; B3[8]=" "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]="      Video conference technology is helping job agencies tap into the backpacker market in Australia's far north-west.
      One company has "; S2[8]=" set up remote facilities in Broome, Western Australia, interviewing travelling workers over the Internet and then employing them to work in the farm sector.
  "; S3[8]="     One of the regions looking for workers is the east Kimberley, which looks set to have a bumper mango harvest.
      "; S4[8]=" Grower Lachlan Dobson doubts local labour will meet demand.
      'There's guesstimates going around at the moment that Kununurra mango production might be "; S5[8]=" up around 400,000 trays,' he said.
      'I think last year we were less than 100,000 trays so you're talking about four times "; S6[8]=" the amount of workers that we're going to need this year, than what we had last year.'.. "; R[9]="1112"; T[9]="Magnetic memory' chip unveiled"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20060714"; Dt[9]="Friday 14 July 2006"; Acats[9]="a46"; B1[9]="      A microchip which can store information like a hard drive has been unveiled by US company Freescale.... "; B2[9]=" "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]="      A microchip which can store information like a hard drive has been unveiled by US company Freescale.
      The "; S2[9]=" chip, called magnetoresistive random-access memory (Mram), maintains data by relying on magnetic properties rather than an electrical charge.
      One analyst told "; S3[9]=" the Associated Press news agency that the chip was the most significant development in computer memory for a decade.
      Mram chips "; S4[9]=" could find their way into many different electronic devices.
      The benefit of Mram chips is that they will hold information after "; S5[9]=" power has been switched off.
      Freescale has been producing the four-megabit Mram chips at an Arizona factory for two months to "; S6[9]=" build up levels of stock.
      A number of chip makers have been pursuing the technology for a decade or more, including "; S7[9]=" IBM, but Freescale is the first company to offer a chip with practical usage for many of today's electronic devices.
      'This "; S8[9]=" is the most significant memory introduction in this decade,' said Will Strauss, an analyst with research firm Forward Concepts.
      'This is "; S9[9]=" radically new technology.
      People have been dabbling in this for years, but nobody has been able to make it in volume.' "; S10[9]=" Unlike flash memory, which also can keep data without power, Mram has faster read and write speeds and does not degrade over time.
    "; S11[9]="   Ram chips in most electronic devices, such as PCs, lose data when their power is switched off.
      Currently flash "; S12[9]=" memory is used in portable devices such as MP3 players and for portable storage in the form of small cards that are used in cameras.
"; S13[9]="       Mram chips could one day be used in PCs to store an operating system, allowing computers to start up faster when "; S14[9]=" switched on.
      Bob Merritt, an analyst with Semico Research, said memory chip manufacturers were seeking technology that will be faster, smaller, "; S15[9]=" cheaper and retain data when the power is off.
      'The older memory technologies are awkward to work with in a mobile "; S16[9]=" computing environment,' Mr Merritt said.
      'This is a significant step forward and absolutely critical for moving into the smaller forms that "; S17[9]=" consumers and industry want.' Freescale has been working on the technology for nearly a decade, said Saied Tehrani, who runs the Austin-based company's Mram "; S18[9]=" programme.
      He said Freescale already had customers, but he declined to name any... "; R[10]="997"; T[10]="Is VoIP Vital?"; A[10]="By ... Editor"; Dn[10]="20060628"; Dt[10]="Wednesday 28 June 2006"; Acats[10]="a46"; B1[10]="      VoIP, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, is the latest technology for phone conversations, letting you call from your high speed "; B2[10]="Web connection and your computer... "; B3[10]=" "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]="      VoIP, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, is the latest technology for phone conversations, letting you call from your high speed "; S2[10]=" Web connection and your computer.
      The VoIP is used to convert your voice signal so that it can travel across your online "; S3[10]=" connection and then convert back to standard phone signal so you can talk to the person at the other end.
      With VoIP "; S4[10]=" you can have a telephone conversation that mimics those you've had for decades.
      When you use your phone to make the VoIP "; S5[10]=" enabled call it sounds just like it always did - dial tone as ever - and you call just as you always did - dialing "; S6[10]=" the number.
      You might also be able, depending on your provider, to make that call right from your computer with the use "; S7[10]=" of some cheap mic or your everyday ordinary phone.
      There are two different approaches to the accomplishment of a VoIP enabled phone "; S8[10]=" call.
      An adapter installed and connected directly to your Internet connection is one way.
      If you do it this "; S9[10]=" you, the phone carrier you use sends the call to a VoIP provider.
      Then the phone call routs over the Internet to "; S10[10]=" the phone company at the other end - the one used by the recipient of your call.
      Or, you can simply take "; S11[10]=" your favorite headset, costly or cheap - it doesn't matter - and combine it with a microphone and plug right into your computer.
    "; S12[10]="   When you do it this way you type the phone number on your keyboard and let the cable modem do the dialing for you.
"; S13[10]="       All you need to set up VoIP is speed on the Web - broadband, DSL or local area network.
      "; S14[10]=" Without this you'll need an adaptor to attach to your phone.
      You can also choose to hook up a standard microphone into "; S15[10]=" your PC or laptop.
      There is no standard VoIP service price.
      Each provider has its own charge.
    "; S16[10]="   Some may even let you call other of its providers for free.
      Your VoIP provider may also offer you an area "; S17[10]=" code of your own at no long distance charge.
      If you choose an area code elsewhere than your local one those calls, "; S18[10]=" just as your home area calls, will be free of charges for long distance.
      The only problem, of course, would be if "; S19[10]=" most of your callers are local.
      This could leave them with long distance charges to call you.
      Just be "; S20[10]=" careful which area code you choose, with consideration for your consistent callers.
      The choices in VoIP charge options could be those that "; S21[10]=" charge for long distance as you're used to with your local carrier and long distance carrier and those that offer you a monthly rate for "; S22[10]=" a chosen set of minutes to call anywhere you like.
      The VoIP provider you select is the determinant for whom you can "; S23[10]=" call.
      You might make calls to others who are that provider's clients as well, or you might dial anywhere in the world "; S24[10]=" to anyone you'd like.
      You could just as easily call a call phone as a home or business phone.
      "; S25[10]=" Conference calls are a possibility as well.
      What's nice about VoIP is that you're the only one that needs to set up "; S26[10]=" the system.
      Your recipient needs to do nothing but answer her or his phone.
      VoIP is digital, unlike the "; S27[10]=" standard landline, and so there are services and features that you can't get with a conventional telephone.
      If your Internet connection is "; S28[10]=" broadband then you can save yourself the expense of an additional phone line for calls.
      VoIP is advantageous because it can save "; S29[10]=" you the cost of a landline and with the right provider can save you long distance charges.
      Some disadvantages of VoIP are "; S30[10]=" that you may not be able to call out during a power or cable outage, and you may not have a direct 911 connection.
  "; R[11]="963"; T[11]="Broadband for the Bush Moves Forward"; A[11]="By ... Editor"; Dn[11]="20060621"; Dt[11]="Wednesday 21 June 2006"; Acats[11]="a46"; B1[11]="      The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) today welcomed the announcement of the 'Call for Expressions of Interest' for the $878 million component of "; B2[11]="the Australian Government's $1.1 billion telecommunications 'Connect Australia' program... "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]="      The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) today welcomed the announcement of the 'Call for Expressions of Interest' for the $878 million component of "; S2[11]=" the Australian Government's $1.1 billion telecommunications 'Connect Australia' program.
      'This is great news for farmers and rural communities who do not currently "; S3[11]=" enjoy the opportunities provided by quality, affordable broadband internet services,' NFF President, Peter Corish said.
      'NFF has lobbied long and hard for "; S4[11]=" timely outcomes from government telecommunications 'future proofing' initiatives and we view today's 'Call for Expressions of Interest' (EOI) as the start of the long-awaited process "; S5[11]=" to deliver competitive metro-comparable broadband 'Outcomes in the Paddock'.
      'Access to reliable, affordable telecommunications is essential for farmers to do business and "; S6[11]=" continue to contribute more than 23% of Australia's exports and support approximately 12% of our GDP and over 1.6 million Australian jobs.
      "; S7[11]=" 'NFF has played a significant role in delivering the $2 billion 'future proofing fund' and the $1.1 billion 'Connect Australia' program.
      'NFF "; S8[11]=" sought and received written guarantees from the government on a range of telecommunications service adequacy measures including regular reviews, improved network reliability programs and Customer "; S9[11]=" Service Guarantee requirements.
      'The telecommunications 'under-served' areas of rural and regional Australia are hungry for program outcomes that remove current service inequities "; S10[11]=" for voice and internet services and rely on Australian Government guarantees and a competitive marketplace to deliver ubiquitous quality services using a range of technologies.
"; S11[11]="       'NFF encourages the telecommunications market to take the opportunity to respond to the EOI process and deliver services that will make a "; S12[11]=" difference to farmers and rural communities now and into the future.' NFF looks forward to other announcements in the near future on a number of "; S13[11]=" other initiatives arising from the 2002 Regional Telecommunications Inquiry... "; R[12]="911"; T[12]="Telcos urged to express interest for bush broadband"; A[12]="By ... Editor"; Dn[12]="20060613"; Dt[12]="Tuesday 13 June 2006"; Acats[12]="a04a05a46"; B1[12]="      The Federal Government has called for expressions of interest from telecommunications companies who can provide broadband Internet services to regional areas.... "; B2[12]=" "; B3[12]=" "; B4[12]=" "; B5[12]=" "; S1[12]="      The Federal Government has called for expressions of interest from telecommunications companies who can provide broadband Internet services to regional areas.
  "; S2[12]="     The $1.1 billion Connect Australia package aims to improve services outside the capital cities.
      Industry analyst Paul Budde says telcos "; S3[12]=" should not be competing for business, but allocated a region to ensure wider coverage.
      'People in regional Australia should not have to "; S4[12]=" pay more for that sort of service than people in metropolitan areas, this is infrastructure this is not luxury, everybody needs it, and therefore it "; S5[12]=" has to be treated as such,' he said.
      'I think it is absolutely important that every company that is going to participate "; S6[12]=" in this Connect Australia fund puts their map on the table because the last thing that we want is that we get overbuilt or we "; S7[12]=" get competing systems.'.. "; R[13]="877"; T[13]="Coonan's $3.1bn bush broadband plan"; A[13]="By ... Editor"; Dn[13]="20060609"; Dt[13]="Friday 9 June 2006"; Acats[13]="a46a47"; B1[13]="      The federal Government will target two or three large-scale broadband projects with funding of up to $3.1 billion as it grapples with "; B2[13]="ways of bring high-speed internet access to rural and regional Australia... "; B3[13]=" "; B4[13]=" "; B5[13]=" "; S1[13]="      The federal Government will target two or three large-scale broadband projects with funding of up to $3.1 billion as it grapples with "; S2[13]=" ways of bring high-speed internet access to rural and regional Australia.
      The push raises the prospect that Telstra will face renewed competition "; S3[13]=" in the bush as the Government prepares to sell all or part of its stake in the company for up to $24 billion.
    "; S4[13]="   'Industry collaboration, consortiums and partnerships that can support such large-scale projects would certainly be encouraged but are not mandatory,' Communications Minister Helen Coonan said "; S5[13]=" in Wagga Wagga yesterday as she called for expressions of interest in the fund.
      But Senator Coonan denied that giving hundreds of "; S6[13]=" millions of dollars to Telstra's rivals would have any effect on the price the Government might receive for its stake in Telstra.
      "; S7[13]=" Telstra, which banked 60 per cent of the $157.8 million higher bandwidth incentive scheme, will be eligible to gain funds under the scheme.
    "; S8[13]="   The telco giant was initially unsure about whether it would participate in Broadband Connect but is now believed to have a group in its "; S9[13]=" Countrywide division working on a detailed bid.
      'I don't think it will affect T3,' Senator Coonan said.
      'The decision "; S10[13]=" on who gets funding won't be made until the end of the year.' The Government must make a decision on the timing and shape of "; S11[13]=" the Telstra sale in the next month or so.
      In a deal with the National Party to have legislation for the Telstra "; S12[13]=" sale passed last year, the Government agreed to set aside $3.1 billion for regional telecommunications.
      Of that, $1.1 billion will be made "; S13[13]=" available from July next year.
      The bulk of this, $878 million, is for Broadband Connect.
      In front of the "; S14[13]=" queue for the funding is regional pay-TV company Austar, which will target a grant of up to $300 million for its AUS alliance with telcos "; S15[13]=" Soul and Unwired.
      The group has banded together in a bid to deploy broadband wireless networks across regional Australia using technology known "; S16[13]=" as wi-max.
      Austar has already committed $50 million of its shareholders funds to install wi-max in 27 large regional centres.
    "; S17[13]="   'It (will) cost $50 million to pass 750,000 homes and $300 million to pass the next 750,000,' Austar chief executive John Porter said.
  "; S18[13]="     The company yesterday launched its first regional service in Wagga Wagga and will launch a second trial network in Queensland before building out "; S19[13]=" its network by the end of next year.
      Less certain of success is a group of seven fixed-line players - led by "; S20[13]=" Optus, AAPT, Powertel and Macquarie Telecom - which is investigating a fibre-optic network but is still in the very early stages of developing a plan.
"; S21[13]="       The Government will initially hand out up to $800 million in capital grants for a range of projects in its $1.1 billion "; S22[13]=" regional broadband fund.
      The Government has also set aside a $2billion fund for so-called future-proofing of regional telecommunications.
      The "; S23[13]=" original $1 billion Networking the Nation project, funded by the sale of the first two tranches of Telstra, resulted in precious little long-term benefit.
  "; S24[13]="     Its administration was slammed by a National Audit Office report, and a number of businesses funded by the project have since gone bust... "; R[14]="786"; T[14]="Problems predicted for rural network"; A[14]="By ... Editor"; Dn[14]="20060601"; Dt[14]="Thursday 1 June 2006"; Acats[14]="a46"; B1[14]="      Country people have been told what many already know - they will probably experience problems when Telstra launches its new $1billion mobile "; B2[14]="network in 2008... "; B3[14]=" "; B4[14]=" "; B5[14]=" "; S1[14]="      Country people have been told what many already know - they will probably experience problems when Telstra launches its new $1billion mobile "; S2[14]=" network in 2008.
      While it was doing everything it could to avoid problems, the company told a Senate hearing yesterday it could "; S3[14]=" not run two networks side by side for more than six months.
      This prompted Nationals senator Fiona Nash to call for tougher "; S4[14]=" licensing conditions that would only allow Telstra to shut down the CDMA network once its replacement had achieved equivalent coverage.
      'It is "; S5[14]=" certainly something that should be considered,' Senator Nash said.
      'I will be raising the issue with the minister to discuss the possibility "; S6[14]=" of (imposing a licensing condition).' A spokeswoman for Communication Minister Helen Coonan did not rule out the possibility.
      Telstra has previously given "; S7[14]=" assurances its 3G coverage in regional Australia would be at least as good as the existing CDMA network.
      'My point about the "; S8[14]=" licence condition is that if Telstra are so sure that they are going to be able to do coverage equivalent to or better than (the "; S9[14]=" CDMA network), then a licence condition shouldn't be a problem for them,' Senator Nash said.
      'I don't feel that comfortable when Telstra "; S10[14]=" says, 'Just trust us'.
      I think we need to be a bit more careful than that and to have some things in "; S11[14]=" place so that regional people aren't disadvantaged.' Nationals MP Paul Neville, who heads the influential backbench committee on communications, said Telstra chief executive Sol Trujillo "; S12[14]=" had personally assured the party that the 3G network would have equivalent coverage in regional Australia.
      'That's an understanding that Sol Trujillo "; S13[14]=" gave the National party when he met them,' Mr Neville said.
      'I'm sure that Telstra could have no objection to that licensing "; S14[14]=" condition, because Mr Trujillo gave that understanding to the Nationals.' At the Senate hearing, Telstra wireless technology chief Max Jennings said Telstra had charged Ericsson "; S15[14]=" with stretching the distance that base stations can send signals from 70km to 200km.
      At the moment, calls will only reach 100km, "; S16[14]=" Mr Jennings said.
      PBL executive chairman James Packer yesterday added his voice to calls for faster internet services either from existing players "; S17[14]=" such as Telstra, or from new entrants.
      'Australia's position in this area is embarrassing,' Mr Packer told a Ninemsn digital marketing conference "; S18[14]=" in Sydney.
      'We need faster broadband to be competitive with the rest of the world,' he said.
      'Australia needs "; S19[14]=" government policy and regulatory certainty to encourage the provision of unmetered fast broadband whether by the incumbents and or by other providers.' Mr Packer said "; S20[14]=" capped download broadband plans offered in Australia were 'very unusual' compared with other countries and 'huge consumer demand for online video' was dependent on improvements "; S21[14]=" to the existing infrastructure.
      He said more than 2 million video streams a month were being downloaded from Ninemsn... "; R[15]="759"; T[15]="Joint trials of low cost aerial crop imaging system"; A[15]="By ... Editor"; Dn[15]="20060526"; Dt[15]="Friday 26 May 2006"; Acats[15]="a24a46a72a92"; B1[15]="      The Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries are jointly testing a new aerial imaging "; B2[15]="system for crop monitoring that uses digital and thermal infrared cameras... "; B3[15]=" "; B4[15]=" "; B5[15]=" "; S1[15]="      The Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries are jointly testing a new aerial imaging "; S2[15]=" system for crop monitoring that uses digital and thermal infrared cameras.
      A DPI&F principal scientist, Graeme Wright of Kingaroy, said he "; S3[15]=" had been investigating low cost options to capture infrared aerial images as part of on-going research into the application of remote sensing technologies to improve "; S4[15]=" yield, quality, and profitability in peanuts.
      'Although it's still early days, the remote sensing techniques show considerable promise and potentially offer a "; S5[15]=" timely method for growers to identify and manage problems causing crop variations, including disease, aflatoxin, nutrient stress and poor irrigation efficiency,' Dr Wright said.
  "; S6[15]="     'We have recently tested our digital video camera system in a Jabiru light aircraft that has significantly lowered our imaging operating costs,' he "; S7[15]=" said.
      Dr Wright said the new system was manufactured by DPI&F maintenance officer Dave Osborne, and consisted of a custom-made door in "; S8[15]=" which cameras were mounted to achieve a clear view of the ground.
      'This new platform means that infra-red imagery will potentially be "; S9[15]=" far more affordable for peanut growers, with imaging costs now expected to be a few dollars per hectare,' he said.
      Dr Wright "; S10[15]=" said the DPI&F researchers were working with other groups, and were recently visited by Victorian DPI scientist Garry O'Leary, who was keen to test their "; S11[15]=" remote sensing cameras in the new Jabiru aerial platform.
      'The Victorian DPI cameras consist of a high resolution multi-band digital camera and "; S12[15]=" a thermal infra-red camera that allow crop temperature to be assessed remotely, similar to the techniques used in military applications.' Dr Wright said Dr O'Leary "; S13[15]=" was impressed with the simplicity and low operating cost of the DPI&F aerial platform, and was keen to test it under southern Australian conditions.
  "; S14[15]="     The high cost of operating the Victorian aerial imaging system had restricted the remote sensing research program there, and meant that only limited "; S15[15]=" imagery could be acquired during the crop season.
      'Dr O'Leary's visit was also invaluable for DPI&F researchers by allowing them to test "; S16[15]=" the Victorian DPI high resolution cameras under Queensland conditions.
      'We were able to get an idea of how these cameras compare to "; S17[15]=" the DPI&F imaging system,' Dr Wright said.
      He said the collaborative visit was part of a Grains Research and Development Corporation-funded "; S18[15]=" initiative on precision agriculture, involving both the Victorian and Queensland departments.
      'It's also part of the Victorian State initiative, Our rural "; S19[15]=" landscape, which studies the spatial management of nitrogen in wheat crops,' he said... "; R[16]="534"; T[16]="Nation's libraries at your fingertips"; A[16]="By ... Editor"; Dn[16]="20060227"; Dt[16]="Monday 27 February 2006"; Acats[16]="a46a53"; B1[16]="      Australian's will be able to look up library books online and order pages to be emailed to them, under a sweeping revamp "; B2[16]="of access to public libraries... "; B3[16]=" "; B4[16]=" "; B5[16]=" "; S1[16]="      Australian's will be able to look up library books online and order pages to be emailed to them, under a sweeping revamp "; S2[16]=" of access to public libraries.
      The new program, to be launched today by Communications Minister Helen Coonan, will open up access to "; S3[16]=" 40 million items from 800 libraries across Australia.
      From today, people will be able to log-on to a central website, and "; S4[16]=" use a search engine similar to Google, to find what resources are available on a given topic.
      The book can either "; S5[16]=" be sent out on loan by post, or selected pages photocopied or emailed.
      It is part of a scheme to make "; S6[16]=" libraries more accessible to the community, particularly those in rural and remote areas.
      Director-general of the National Library Jan Fullerton said "; S7[16]=" it was an Australian first.
      'Libraries have continually been at the forefront of technology to improve the way people find the "; S8[16]=" information they need,' she said.
      'It puts the individual looking for the information in charge of their search, rather than a "; S9[16]=" librarian.' The new service will cover all collections including books, journals, newspapers, magazines, pictures and manuscripts.
      Assistant director-general Tony Boston "; S10[16]=" said there were more than 600,000 items that were available instantly online.
      'Libraries are increasingly digitising their collections, and there's about "; S11[16]=" 600,000 items that you have access to straight away including unique material, pictures, historical photographs and rare historical maps,' he said.
      "; S12[16]=" 'For other things, it would take a few days to get .
      .
      .
      sent out.
"; S13[16]="       'Making this service freely available is an important step.
      You can use it from Broome to Davenport, to "; S14[16]=" find out which libraries hold a particular item.
      Through your library you can borrow a copy of a book, have it photocopied "; S15[16]=" or emailed, up to 10 per cent of the content, or buy it through our website.' The email option would cost $13 per 50 "; S16[16]=" pages sent.
      Copyright laws dictate that only 10 per cent of a published work can be copied.
      Mr "; S17[16]=" Boston said that common use of Internet search engines had empowered people in searching for their own information, and had led to the model for "; S18[16]=" this new service.
      'We've tried to emulate the internet search engines like Google, where you can search and then narrow in "; S19[16]=" on your search,' he said.
      Access to the new search engine is available through the National Library of Australia's website at "; S20[16]=" www.nla.gov.au/librariesaustralia.. "; R[17]="523"; T[17]="Young Gun lamb producers boost marketing skills with EDGEnetwork"; A[17]="By ... Editor"; Dn[17]="20060224"; Dt[17]="Friday 24 February 2006"; Acats[17]="a25a46a92"; B1[17]="      A group of enthusiastic young prime lamb producers are fresh back from an EDGEnetwork workshop in Robe where they learnt about farm "; B2[17]="business marketing... "; B3[17]=" "; B4[17]=" "; B5[17]=" "; S1[17]="      A group of enthusiastic young prime lamb producers are fresh back from an EDGEnetwork workshop in Robe where they learnt about farm "; S2[17]=" business marketing.
      The South East Prime Lamb Young Achievers (SEPLYA) group recently spent two days in Robe with their partners and families, "; S3[17]=" attending an EDGEnetwork Understanding Marketing workshop.
      The SEPLYA group began in 2003 and now comprises about 30 mixed-enterprise producers (men and women) "; S4[17]=" predominantly aged up to 35 years from the south-east of SA and the border regions of western Victoria.
      Coordinator Penny Roberts said "; S5[17]=" once a year the group had a social learning weekend away, which members attended with their families.
      This year they took the "; S6[17]=" opportunity to focus on a timely lamb industry issue.
      Under the direction of specialist deliverer Ken Solly, producers learnt about the marketing "; S7[17]=" process through practical sessions and group discussions and began to develop marketing strategies for their own livestock businesses.
      The sessions were "; S8[17]=" complimented by presentations from guest speakers Stephen Edwards and Sue Wheal.
      Mr Edwards, Meat & Livestock Australia's business development manager for the "; S9[17]=" Northern Territory and South Australia, spoke about MLA's domestic marketing strategy while Mrs Wheal, of branded lamb company Limestone Coast Lamb, discussed the marketing challenges "; S10[17]=" and solutions they had experienced within their supply chain.
      Stewarts Range sheep and beef producer Mark Buckett said the comprehensive workshop gave "; S11[17]=" him a good insight into the basics of marketing, which he'd previously considered a 'tricky subject'.
      As a result Mr Buckett said "; S12[17]=" he planned to further explore the role of genetics and quality assurance within his business.
      'It's all about knowing our product "; S13[17]=" better and being able to meet the needs of the customer at a profit.
      I'll be looking at areas in our business "; S14[17]=" that I can change to make that happen,' Mr Buckett said.
      Other participants found the marketing analysis undertaken at the local supermarket "; S15[17]=" and role-play in appointing a marketing manager to be both challenging and useful.
      The EDGEnetwork is a national training program that, through "; S16[17]=" practical workshop sessions and learning opportunities, helps farming families and businesses develop the skills and knowledge needed to manage their livestock enterprises more profitably and "; S17[17]=" sustainably.
      The EDGEnetwork is facilitated by private agribusiness consultancy Solly Business Services (SBS) in SA.
      The one-day Understanding Marketing "; S18[17]=" workshop - one of many EDGEnetwork workshops being offered by SBS this year - is tailored to suit the needs of red meat producers in "; S19[17]=" SA's southern region and is delivered by qualified staff with vast field experience in the livestock sector.
      The EDGEnetwork is an initiative "; S20[17]=" of Meat & Livestock Australia and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.
      More than 10,000 producers across Australia have taken part in "; S21[17]=" an EDGEnetwork workshop since the program began more than five years ago... "; R[18]="521"; T[18]="Prepare for dry months with EDGEnetwork"; A[18]="By ... Editor"; Dn[18]="20060224"; Dt[18]="Friday 24 February 2006"; Acats[18]="a46a89a92"; B1[18]="      Beef producers can explore sustainable, cost-effective techniques for managing their feed and grazing programs in the approaching dry months at upcoming EDGEnetwork "; B2[18]="workshops in southern Queensland... "; B3[18]=" "; B4[18]=" "; B5[18]=" "; S1[18]="      Beef producers can explore sustainable, cost-effective techniques for managing their feed and grazing programs in the approaching dry months at upcoming EDGEnetwork "; S2[18]=" workshops in southern Queensland.
      EDGEnetwork's Grazing Land Management (GLM) workshop has been scheduled for March 14-16 at Gayndah, while a Nutrition "; S3[18]=" EDGE workshop is planned for April 4-6 at Millmerran.
      The EDGEnetwork is a national training program that, through practical workshop sessions and "; S4[18]=" learning opportunities, helps farming families and businesses improve the skills and knowledge needed to manage their livestock enterprises more profitably and sustainably.
      "; S5[18]=" The three-day Nutrition and GLM workshops have been tailored to suit the needs of beef and sheep producers in Queensland and are delivered by qualified "; S6[18]=" local staff with vast field experience in the livestock industry.
      Toowoomba beef producer Kim Stewart-Gray recently attended a Nutrition workshop in "; S7[18]=" Stanthorpe and said he was now eager to attend GLM.
      Mr Stewart-Gray said the workshop had given him the tools needed to "; S8[18]=" make real changes to his livestock management.
      He said knowing how to estimate feed on offer and match it to the requirements "; S9[18]=" of his cattle would definitely cut costs within his operation.
      'It's given us a daily management plan for our business and "; S10[18]=" the manual we received has become our bible.
      It's been a real defining event for us,' Mr Stewart-Gray said.
      "; S11[18]=" The hands-on workshops are designed to give producers an in-depth, practical understanding of either ruminant nutrition or sustainable management of grazing lands so they can "; S12[18]=" maximise returns within their own business.
      Guided by industry experts, the small workshop groups take part in practical sessions, farm walks, "; S13[18]=" group discussions and other activities where members expand their expertise, learn new skills, become motivated by other producers and access fresh, innovative information.
    "; S14[18]="   The Nutrition workshop covers the ruminant digestive system, pasture growth and quality, grazing management and animal performance, mineral nutrition and how to manage "; S15[18]=" nutritional deficiencies.
      The GLM workshop explores the grazing ecosystem, how to manage grazing, fire, sown or restored pastures and weeds, the tree/grass "; S16[18]=" balance, as well as developing a management plan.
      A valuable part of both workshops is the ongoing consultation available to participants after "; S17[18]=" the course has finished.
      The EDGEnetwork GLM and Nutrition workshops are suitable for any decision-maker, family member or employee within the livestock "; S18[18]=" industry.
      Those interested in more information or registering should contact Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries representatives Roger Sneath (Nutrition) on "; S19[18]=" (07) 4669 0808, or Col Paton (GLM), on (07) 4161 3726.
      All EDGEnetwork workshops have been developed jointly by producers, "; S20[18]=" trainers and scientists and are continuously updated to incorporate the latest research and development.
      Completing an EDGEnetwork workshop will help producers make "; S21[18]=" more informed decisions, gain greater control over variables, and improve the profitability of their farm business.
      The EDGEnetwork is an initiative of "; S22[18]=" Meat & Livestock Australia and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries... "; R[19]="483"; T[19]="Testing nitrogen application to increase crop yield"; A[19]="By ... Editor"; Dn[19]="20060222"; Dt[19]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[19]="a03a24a46"; B1[19]="      Using yield forecasting systems with nitrogen decision tools increases the chances of matching fertiliser to yield potential according to Department of Agriculture "; B2[19]="development officer Jeremy Lemon... "; B3[19]=" "; B4[19]=" "; B5[19]=" "; S1[19]="      Using yield forecasting systems with nitrogen decision tools increases the chances of matching fertiliser to yield potential according to Department of Agriculture "; S2[19]=" development officer Jeremy Lemon.
      Mr Lemon said field trials conducted over the past three seasons demonstrated that delaying nitrogen decisions to key "; S3[19]=" times in the growing season reduced the risk of too much or too little nitrogen fertiliser being applied.
      The trials, conducted to "; S4[19]=" address grower concerns about declining protein levels in wheat, and the future marketability of WA grain, will be discussed at this month's Agribusiness Crop Updates, "; S5[19]=" supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
      'Wheat protein levels have shown a declining trend over the past 10 years due "; S6[19]=" to less frequent legume rotations, higher crop legume yields removing fixed nitrogen and higher cereal yields,' Mr Lemon said.
      'Higher cereal yields "; S7[19]=" have not always been matched with adequate fertiliser nitrogen.
      'In low legume cropping systems, a much higher proportion of the cereal's nitrogen "; S8[19]=" requirements come from fertiliser and the cost of nitrogen fertilizer is increasing.
      At up to $80 per hectare, nitrogen inputs account for "; S9[19]=" us much as 25 per cent of total crop input costs.
      'This is why it is important to determine how much is "; S10[19]=" needed and when it should be applied.' Mr Lemon said with the varied seasonal conditions across the State, farmers needed to defer nitrogen application and "; S11[19]=" use available tools to select best likely rates.
      'To achieve potential yield and maintain protein in low rainfall zones, farmers need to "; S12[19]=" respond to high yielding seasonal conditions by applying additional nitrogen fertilizer,' he said.
      'Similarly, growers in medium and higher rainfall areas need "; S13[19]=" to delay nitrogen application to reduce the risk of nitrogen losses from water logging and leaching, and ensure the crop has good yield potential.' Mr "; S14[19]=" Lemon said nitrogen could be applied to cereal crops at any stage up to booting if later rainfall was likely to wash the fertiliser into "; S15[19]=" the root zone.
      'If seasonal conditions deteriorate after late nitrogen application, there is less yield loss and no increase in screenings from "; S16[19]=" booting nitrogen application compared to tillering application,' he said.
      Agribusiness Crop Updates are being held in Perth on 16-17 February.
    "; S17[19]="   Mr Lemon will also be presenting at the Esperance Crop Updates on 10 March... "; R[20]="482"; T[20]="New tool for prediciting potassium needs"; A[20]="By ... Editor"; Dn[20]="20060222"; Dt[20]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[20]="a03a24a46a92"; B1[20]="      The Department of Agriculture has developed a new method for grain growers to help predict potassium application needs for different seasonal situations..... "; B2[20]=" "; B3[20]=" "; B4[20]=" "; B5[20]=" "; S1[20]="      The Department of Agriculture has developed a new method for grain growers to help predict potassium application needs for different seasonal situations.
"; S2[20]="       The Potassium in Agricultural Systems Model (KASM), on show at the Department's Agribusiness Crop Updates this month, is a decision-support tool to "; S3[20]=" determine if growers need to apply potassium and if so, how much and how often.
      Department researcher Bill Bowden said the KASM "; S4[20]=" model was flexible and allowed users to address these potassium needs over a range of soil types, crops, rotations, yield potentials and rainfall zones.
  "; S5[20]="     'KASM simulates soil water, soil chemistry and root and shoot growth on a weekly basis,' Dr Bowden said.
      'It provides "; S6[20]=" a visual presentation for an individual situation, where the user can then determine the yield and profit consequences of different rates or timing of potassium "; S7[20]=" application.
      'KASM does not deliver recommended rates or strategies, but provides users with a framework for determining the best strategy for their "; S8[20]=" individual situation.' Dr Bowden said KASM could generate three types of output which were displayed graphically - short term analysis, animation and long term analysis.
"; S9[20]="       'In both the short-term and long-term analysis, growers can also compare two situations against the same initial data,' he said.
    "; S10[20]="   KASM is a weekly time-step, one dimensional soil-plant model developed in Microsoft Excel.
      It has been designed as a tool for "; S11[20]=" individual recommendations, group education and developing extension material.
      Further information on KASM will be available at the Agribusiness Crop Updates on February "; S12[20]=" 16-17, supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
      For more information on dates and venues for Regional Crop Updates visit www.agric.wa.gov.au/cropupdates.. "; R[21]="442"; T[21]="Blue Rocket Shoots for the Stars with $9 million Project"; A[21]="By ... Editor"; Dn[21]="20060222"; Dt[21]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[21]="a06a45a46a69"; B1[21]="      With the help of the Tasmanian Government Hobart digital animation company Blue Rocket Productions is planning to start production this year on "; B2[21]="a $9 million animated TV series... "; B3[21]=" "; B4[21]=" "; B5[21]=" "; S1[21]="      With the help of the Tasmanian Government Hobart digital animation company Blue Rocket Productions is planning to start production this year on "; S2[21]=" a $9 million animated TV series.
      Minister for Economic Development Lara Giddings said Blue Rocket has secured a significant interest from the "; S3[21]=" Nine Network for the 26 half hour animated series Pixel Pinkie.
      'Pixel Pinkie is an animated series based around a pre-teen girl "; S4[21]=" who discovers a genie - Pixel Pinkie - in her mobile phone and embarks on a series of adventures with Pinkie's help.
      "; S5[21]=" 'Aimed at the female 7-11, or 'tweenie', global television market, the project focuses on the traditional coming-of-age themes with story lines ranging from the "; S6[21]=" arrival of Pixel Pinkie, to typical schoolgirl preoccupations about image, fitting in and parents.
      'If financed, this will be the largest film "; S7[21]=" or television production ever made in Tasmania.
      'This is a very exciting project for Blue Rocket and for the entire Tasmanian screen "; S8[21]=" and television industry, with a minimum of $4 million to be spent in the State and employment for over 40 Tasmanians over the life of "; S9[21]=" the project.' 'The professional development and training opportunities for Tasmania are enormous,' Ms Giddings said.
      'The State Government, through Screen Tasmania, has "; S10[21]=" made an offer of investment of $500,000 to Blue Rocket Productions, subject to the company raising the remaining finance on the $9+ million budget.
  "; S11[21]="     'The interest from the Nine Network is also subject to the project being fully financed.
      'The offer of investment "; S12[21]=" from Screen Tasmania will help Blue Rocket secure further investment from the Film Finance Corporation.
      'Blue Rocket is joining with Monaco-based company "; S13[21]=" Daro Film Distribution and Toronto-based producer and distributor, Canamedia, to raise the remaining finance.
      'With assistance from Screen Tasmania and Daro, Blue "; S14[21]=" Rocket will immediately start production on a promotional trailer.
      'The trailer will be shown at MIP TV - the world's biggest TV "; S15[21]=" production marketplace - in Cannes, France in April 2006, to help secure the remaining finance.'.. "; R[22]="441"; T[22]="Blog wine Stormhoek doubles sales"; A[22]="By ... Decanter.com"; Dn[22]="20060222"; Dt[22]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[22]="a13a46"; B1[22]="      South African producer Stormhoek has doubled sales of its wine with a campaign directed at the blogging community..... "; B2[22]=" "; B3[22]=" "; B4[22]=" "; B5[22]=" "; S1[22]="      South African producer Stormhoek has doubled sales of its wine with a campaign directed at the blogging community.
      Blogging "; S2[22]=" - the posting of personal internet diaries or 'weblogs' - is one of the biggest growth areas on the internet.
      Estimates vary: "; S3[22]=" the New York Times and USA Today reckon there are about 10m blogs, while other sources put the figure at three times that.What is in "; S4[22]=" no doubt is that vast numbers of people post and read blogs, and Stormhoek decided to exploit this by offering bloggers a personalised free bottle "; S5[22]=" to taste and comment on.
      Around 100 bottles of the Stormhoek Shiraz 2004 and Sauvignon Blanc 2005 - which both retail at "; S6[22]=" the £5-£6 mark - were sent out via blogger Hugh Macleod and his website gabingvoid.com in May 2005, in Europe only.
      The "; S7[22]=" result, says Stormhoek spokesman Nick Dymoke Marr, is that the wine now has a 19% share of the over-£5 South African wine market, and sales "; S8[22]=" went from 50,000 cases in 2004 to 100,000 last year.
      The popularity of the brand has also earned it listings in Sainsburys, "; S9[22]=" Asda, Oddbins, Majestic, Waitrose and Somerfield.
      'The campaign has allowed us to go to the trade with an interesting perspective,' Dymoke Marr "; S10[22]=" told decanter.com.
      The experiment will be rolled out to the US in February.
      It has also come to the "; S11[22]=" notice of Robert Scoble of Microsoft's internal innovations division, after arch-blogger Macleod cannily namechecked Scoble.
      This prompted a reply from the Microsoft "; S12[22]=" staffer, meaning that Stormhoek's blog campaign is now associated in bloggers' minds with Microsoft, which has done nothing to harm its cause.
      "; S13[22]=" The campaign has now moved on, with Stormhoek canvassing the views of bloggers on everything from bottle colour to label design.
      'We "; S14[22]=" have had over 100 suggestions,' Dymoke Marr said.
      Finally, a press release says, Stormhoek has become the wine of choice for what "; S15[22]=" it calls the 'London digerati', with Microsoft requesting it to be served at a 'geek dinner' in London in December... "; R[23]="407"; T[23]="Marketing Research: Individual Words"; A[23]="By ... James D. Brausch"; Dn[23]="20060222"; Dt[23]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[23]="a04a05a08a46a53"; B1[23]="      We all know that phrases like Who else wants to know in a headline can improve our sales.
      Have "; B2[23]="you ever thought about the individual words and their impact on your profitability?.. "; B3[23]=" "; B4[23]=" "; B5[23]=" "; S1[23]="      We all know that phrases like 'Who else wants to know' in a headline can improve our sales.
      Have "; S2[23]=" you ever thought about the individual words and their impact on your profitability? I recently performed a statistical analysis on several thousand ads while looking "; S3[23]=" at individual words and profitability.
      The first task was to determine the profitability of each ad being analyzed.
      This "; S4[23]=" was done using the age-old mailorder marketing method.
      Basically, if you see an advertisement month after month and year after year, it "; S5[23]=" is probably profitable.
      If you see an ad only once or twice and then it changes or disappears completely, the advertisement was "; S6[23]=" probably not very profitable.
      The next task was to simply look for the occurrence of a list of words in each ad "; S7[23]=" while noting whether the ad was profitable or not.
      The results were tallied and lots of words were removed from the list "; S8[23]=" because there simply wasn't sufficient data to come up with a statistically significant result.
      I won't bore you with the rest of "; S9[23]=" the details.
      Here is a list of some of the words found much more often in profitable ads than in ads that "; S10[23]=" didn't produce a profit.
      accessories, an, best, blue, buy, by, causes, cheap, discount, discover, easily, fast, find, guaranteed, has, improve, increase, lower, "; S11[23]=" more, nationwide, near, need, of, on, one, order, payments, powered, pricing, rates, reduce, stop, superb, the, view, what, with.
      Here is a "; S12[23]=" list of the words found much more often in ads that were NOT profitable.
      affordable, after, and, as, at, before, better, help, "; S13[23]=" here, how, else, excellent, experience, for, led, listings, loan, method, money, mortgage, naturally, now, options, photos, search, secret, secrets, sell, step, to, try, unlimited, us, "; S14[23]=" who, you, your.
      Now keep in mind that correlation can not prove causality.
      This research isn't saying that all "; S15[23]=" ads that use the word 'excellent' are doomed to being unprofitable.
      However, it is saying that a statistically significant percentage of ads "; S16[23]=" that use the word 'cheap' are profitable and a majority of those that use the word 'affordable' are not profitable.
      If your "; S17[23]=" ad copy currently uses the word 'affordable' (a word from the 'bad' list above) and you change that word to 'cheap' (a word from the "; S18[23]=" 'good' list above), will your profitability increase? There are no guarantees.
      There are an unlimited number of factors that could impact that "; S19[23]=" result.
      Not ALL ads that use the word 'cheap' were profitable.
      Not ALL ads that use the word 'affordable' "; S20[23]=" were unprofitable.
      However, the use of the word 'cheap' instead of 'affordable' is more likely to improve your profitability... "; R[24]="400"; T[24]="Only seven days to go until Linux.conf.au"; A[24]="By ... Editor"; Dn[24]="20060222"; Dt[24]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[24]="a46a92"; B1[24]="      In one week, over three hundred Free and Open Source Software (F/OSS) developers and users will gather in the university town of "; B2[24]="Dunedin, New Zealand for linux.conf.au 2006 - the premier Free and Open Source Conference in the southern hemisphere... "; B3[24]=" "; B4[24]=" "; B5[24]=" "; S1[24]="      In one week, over three hundred Free and Open Source Software (F/OSS) developers and users will gather in the university town of "; S2[24]=" Dunedin, New Zealand for linux.conf.au 2006 - the premier Free and Open Source Conference in the southern hemisphere.
      Attracting such Free and "; S3[24]=" Open Source Software luminaries as Jon 'maddog' Hall of Linux International and Mark Shuttleworth founder of Canonical and the Ubuntu distribution, this years conference is "; S4[24]=" shaping up to be another feather in the cap of Linux Australia and the volunteer organisers of linux.conf.au.
      'The move to New "; S5[24]=" Zealand has allowed the conference to reach a whole new audience.' said Linux Australia vice president, Pia Waugh.
      'Mike Beattie and the "; S6[24]=" rest of the team have worked hard to produce a conference that will help showcase the New Zealand Free and Open Source Software community as "; S7[24]=" well as allow the attendees to hear from some of the most influential international speakers.' As well as Jon 'maddog' Hall and Mark Shuttleworth, the "; S8[24]=" conference and associated mini-conferences boast an impressive array of speakers including PHP founder Rasmus Lerdorf, Bdale Garbie (HP CTO for Open Source and Linux) Paul "; S9[24]=" 'Rusty' Russell, Theodore Tso, Marc Merlin and more.
      There is also a great set of mini-conferences covering a broad range of topics "; S10[24]=" including Open Source in education, system administration, embedded systems, and digital arts.
      'The linux.conf.au 2006 volunteer organising team have spent the last "; S11[24]=" year in preparation for next week's conference,' said Mike Beattie, lead organiser.
      'We can't wait to see you all in Dunedin, for "; S12[24]=" the best linux.conf.au yet!' For more details about the conference check out http://linux.conf.au.
      There are still a limited number of places available.
"; S13[24]="       Linux.conf.au is Australia's annual technical conference focusing on Linux and open source software.
      Now in its eigth year, linux.conf.au "; S14[24]=" is regarded as one of the premier global Linux and open souce software technical events and attracts many international open source software developers and users.
"; S15[24]="       This year's linux.conf.au will be held for the first time at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand from January 23 "; S16[24]=" to 28.
      For more information visit http://linux.conf.au.. "; R[25]="355"; T[25]="Cheaper Internet for bush"; A[25]="By ... Editor"; Dn[25]="20060222"; Dt[25]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[25]="a04a46a47"; B1[25]="      Country Queenslanders will have access to cheaper and faster broadband Internet connections after energy retailer Ergon confirmed it will compete with Telstra "; B2[25]="in the broadband market... "; B3[25]=" "; B4[25]=" "; B5[25]=" "; S1[25]="      Country Queenslanders will have access to cheaper and faster broadband Internet connections after energy retailer Ergon confirmed it will compete with Telstra "; S2[25]=" in the broadband market.
      Ergon Energy said yesterday that its telecommunication arm, Nexium Telecommunications, had struck a deal which will see an "; S3[25]=" Internet service provider deliver broadband connections.
      Ergon claimed the connections would cost as little as $25 a month and operate at speeds "; S4[25]=" of up to 80 times basic ADSL speeds in Brisbane.
      The new service, which is scheduled to begin next month, is regarded "; S5[25]=" as a landmark in breaking Telstra's monopoly on public Internet infrastructure in Queensland.
      The scheme will see the Internet transmitted from Brisbane "; S6[25]=" through fibre-optic cable owned by the power companies.
      The service will offer broadband to regional users at little more than some city "; S7[25]=" dial-up rates and will begin in Townsville.
      Nexium Telecommunications general manager Andrew Deme said the power companies had enough fibre-optic capacity to "; S8[25]=" supply the entire Internet needs of nine Queensland regional centres.
      They were Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Maryborough, Gladstone, Dalby and Bundaberg.
"; S9[25]="       National Party Senator Barnaby Joyce yesterday said some of the proceeds from the sale of Telstra should be diverted to enable the "; S10[25]=" power companies' Internet network to be extended to rural Australia.
      'As soon as we get another platform out there, we're going to "; S11[25]=" have true competition,' Senator Joyce said.
      The deal involving Townsville will see Internet speeds 10 to 10,000 times faster than current rural "; S12[25]=" Internet speeds delivered.
      Nexium, acting for Ergon Energy, Powerlink and other consortium members, sells its Internet bandwidth wholesale to broadband company Uecomm.
"; S13[25]="       Uecomm in turn is onselling the bandwidth to Internet service providers - companies that deal directly with the public.
      "; S14[25]=" In Townsville, service provider Regional Internet Australia is already taking pre-registrations.
      RIA chief executive Warren Thomson said RIA had shopped around "; S15[25]=" and 'weeded out' less acceptable wholesale deals before settling on the power companies' solution.
      He said the only Telstra involvement in "; S16[25]=" the rollout was in 'the last mile' where the ADSL2+ Internet went through a Telstra exchange into residents' homes.
      RIA said it "; S17[25]=" was providing equipment to ensure fast speeds were sustained through the copper wire network.
      Ergon Energy's decision to roll out fibre-optic cable "; S18[25]=" initially was directed at boosting the electricity network's reliability by providing new power monitoring systems.
      But Mr Deme said the bandwidth left "; S19[25]=" over had provided enough spare capacity to connect entire towns and cities.
      Nexium and an alliance between BHP Billiton and Mitsubishi already "; S20[25]=" had achieved high-speed broadband links between 14 Bowen Basin mine.. "; R[26]="299"; T[26]="Better communication improves profitability for farmers"; A[26]="By ... Editor"; Dn[26]="20060222"; Dt[26]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[26]="a02a20a46a47a72"; B1[26]="      Tully cane farming families and partnerships will have the opportunity to learn how to maximise the benefits of planning and decision-making through "; B2[26]="better communication... "; B3[26]=" "; B4[26]=" "; B5[26]=" "; S1[26]="      Tully cane farming families and partnerships will have the opportunity to learn how to maximise the benefits of planning and decision-making through "; S2[26]=" better communication.
      Too often members of a family business assume that all is well when in reality there is some underlying dissatisfaction.
"; S3[26]="       Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries FutureCane project is hosting a workshop in Tully this month to help farmers use communication to "; S4[26]=" make the most of their business prospects.
      FutureCane business development officer Terry Reid said the workshop, entitled Improving profitability through communication, aimed "; S5[26]=" to help farmers tackle such difficult issues as talking with wives, brothers, sons, daughters and husbands about planning for the future and making significant changes "; S6[26]=" in their business.
      The workshop presenter, Lyn Sykes, a rural family communication specialist, will conduct the workshop in the Tully Mill Hall "; S7[26]=" on Thursday, November 24, 9am to 3:30pm.
      Issues she will cover include: ' Decision making -where it can go wrong, how to "; S8[26]=" make it better.
      ' Principles of good communication like listening.
      ' Separating family and business issues ' How to "; S9[26]=" maximise family members contributions to the business ' Appreciating different roles within the family ' Increasing income through enhanced communication skills Ms Sykes, who is "; S10[26]=" based in Dubbo, New South Wales, works with producers throughout rural and regional Australia in developing effective communication, especially in relation to the family business.
"; S11[26]="       She is often in demand for her practical, educational and humorous speeches among private and government organisations.
      'Ms Sykes "; S12[26]=" will give you insight and ideas on how to make your family life and business life move together in a positive direction,' Mr Reid said.
"; S13[26]="       'If you are interested in improving the profitability of your farm business or planning the intergenerational transfer of your farm assets and "; S14[26]=" business, then this workshop will be important to you.' Numbers are limited and registration is required to ensure sponsorship through the FarmBis program.
    "; S15[26]="   To secure your place please RSVP by November 21 to Gwen Arcidiacono on 4068 2214 or Tully Canegrowers on 4068 1077.
      "; S16[26]=" Cost of the workshop is $35 per business, conditional on FarmBis Group Training Grant eligibility.
      FutureCane is hosting the workshop in partnership "; S17[26]=" with FarmBis, Tully Canegrowers, FNQ ACC Small Business Answers, Centacare, Relationship Australia and local businesses... "; R[27]="282"; T[27]="Piggery software makes US debut"; A[27]="By ... Editor"; Dn[27]="20060222"; Dt[27]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[27]="a02a29a46a72a92"; B1[27]="      Queensland developed piggery management software is being trialed in the United States to see if it has commercial potential in that country..... "; B2[27]=" "; B3[27]=" "; B4[27]=" "; B5[27]=" "; S1[27]="      Queensland developed piggery management software is being trialed in the United States to see if it has commercial potential in that country.
"; S2[27]="       Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries principal extension officer Peter Cook said several major piggery operators were interested in the Queensland-developed PrimePulse "; S3[27]=" and E-Piggery software.
      He said the US trial involved 100,000 sows, with management changes being implemented to evaluate production responses.
    "; S4[27]="   Mr Cook said during a visit to the US several major piggery operators indicated they were keen to see if the software had benefits "; S5[27]=" not available in locally developed products.
      He said the acceptance of the software in the US would provide opportunities for Australian piggery "; S6[27]=" operators.
      'There could be an opportunity to incorporate US piggery management software and PrimePulse, providing the best of both worlds.
    "; S7[27]="   'The other issue is that overseas sales generate the income that all Australian software developers need to continually improve their products for domestic clients,' "; S8[27]=" he said.
      Mr Cook said he expects the US trials to last about six months and generate a list of development requests "; S9[27]=" next year.
      He said PrimePulse detects and reports changes in pig production data, saving time and effort involved in manually searching and "; S10[27]=" analysing the vast amount of data in production records.
      E-Piggery is a 'what-if' program that sets up a virtual piggery so the "; S11[27]=" user can evaluate the impact of planned changes on production and profitability.
      The DPI&F developed the software with industry input, and it "; S12[27]=" is now available for use in large piggeries and by private consultants throughout Australia, he said... "; R[28]="271"; T[28]="E-trakka: hi-tech fitness aid for horses"; A[28]="By ... Editor"; Dn[28]="20060222"; Dt[28]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[28]="a31a46"; B1[28]="      A RIRDC-initiated invention maximising horse fitness training by measuring heart rate and velocity, using a saddle blanket with embedded heart rate monitor "; B2[28]="and a GPS-based velocity meter, has been voted a weekly winner on the ABC TV show The New Inventors... "; B3[28]=" "; B4[28]=" "; B5[28]=" "; S1[28]="      A RIRDC-initiated invention maximising horse fitness training by measuring heart rate and velocity, using a saddle blanket with embedded heart rate monitor "; S2[28]=" and a GPS-based velocity meter, has been voted a weekly winner on the ABC TV show The New Inventors.
      'RIRDC's investment opened "; S3[28]=" doors, gave credibility and proved to industry E-trakka was a serious proposal,' says inventor Andrew Stuart.
      There was plenty of interest in "; S4[28]=" the idea but no one would financially commit until the results of a RIRDC-funded research project were available to demonstrate the concept worked.
    "; S5[28]="   The result has been a million dollars in investment in the past two years, and returns on that investment are imminent, especially after E-trakka "; S6[28]=" won the night on the ABC TV's The New Inventors show, and the exposure has generated attention prior to a commercial launch in January.
  "; S7[28]="     Further information on E-trakka from the ABC... "; R[29]="244"; T[29]="MacMan Software program receives industry approval"; A[29]="By ... Editor"; Dn[29]="20060222"; Dt[29]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[29]="a18a46a92"; B1[29]="      A software tool which assists macadamia growers increase their productivity and enhance farm sustainability was a key exhibitor at the recent Australian "; B2[29]="Macadamia Conference held at Noosa... "; B3[29]=" "; B4[29]=" "; B5[29]=" "; S1[29]="      A software tool which assists macadamia growers increase their productivity and enhance farm sustainability was a key exhibitor at the recent Australian "; S2[29]=" Macadamia Conference held at Noosa.
      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries senior extension horticulturist Shane Mulo said the MacMan software program has "; S3[29]=" reached a milestone after being purchased by 350 macadamia clients, almost half of Australia's macadamia growers, since the program was first released in 1999.
  "; S4[29]="     'The conference was an opportunity for both new and existing clients to see the new features in the latest version of MacMan, to "; S5[29]=" be officially released in coming weeks.
      'As well as ongoing sales of MacMan to Australian growers the program has been sold internationally "; S6[29]=" to countries including New Zealand, Brazil, South Africa, the USA, China and Malawi.
      'There was significant interest by conference delegates in the "; S7[29]=" next version of MacMan and there was also useful discussion on the new features contained in the updated version,' Mr Mulo said.
      "; S8[29]=" In addition to sales of the MacMan software, DPI&F staff sold copies of the new Macadamia Field Guide and Macadamia Grower's handbooks.
      "; S9[29]=" Mr Mulo said DPI&F and the Australian Macadamia Society are continuing to fine tune and develop the MacMan program to ensure growers continue to get "; S10[29]=" maximum benefit from using it.
      He said the MacMan project is currently in its third stage of development.
      The "; S11[29]=" current major project objectives are to expand the existing best practice group network to enable more growers to analyse and compare their operations and results "; S12[29]=" and maintain and enhance the MacMan farm recording software so that it continues to meet the Australian macadamia industry's needs.
      Mr Mulo "; S13[29]=" said MacMan best practice groups were established to address the key issues affecting the sustainable profitability of Australian macadamia growers.
      He said "; S14[29]=" they provide an ideal opportunity for growers to compare their farm management practices and results with other growers and to analyse where productivity and efficiency "; S15[29]=" improvements can be made in their operations.
      Mr Mulo said most of the participating growers use MacMan to record their operations and "; S16[29]=" results.
      An evaluation of best practice groups found that 90% of participants had made beneficial changes to their farm management practices as "; S17[29]=" a direct result of attending best practice group meetings... "; R[30]="211"; T[30]="Utilities unite for bush net"; A[30]="By ... Editor"; Dn[30]="20060222"; Dt[30]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[30]="a46"; B1[30]="      A massive telecommunications project run by a consortium of Australian electricity utilities is exploring a new way of delivering broadband services to "; B2[30]="regional Australia... "; B3[30]=" "; B4[30]=" "; B5[30]=" "; S1[30]="      A massive telecommunications project run by a consortium of Australian electricity utilities is exploring a new way of delivering broadband services to "; S2[30]=" regional Australia.
      Eleven of the country's electricity utilities have formed a group known as Utilitel, which is investigating ways to increase the "; S3[30]=" value of their infrastructure.
      Fierce competitors in the electricity market, the utilities are looking at sharing ideas - and their fibre cable "; S4[30]=" - to create a network that could one day be offered to, or rival, Telstra's broadband service.
      Independent telecommunications analyst Paul Budde, "; S5[30]=" who is acting as an adviser to Utilitel, yesterday said the group was involved in 45 projects around the country.
      'It "; S6[30]=" is becoming clear that there is an opportunity to benefit everybody in regional Australia who wants broadband,' Mr Budde said.
      He "; S7[30]=" said the network would benefit those internet service providers that were having trouble accessing Telstra's copper network.
      'There is of course an "; S8[30]=" increasing problem in getting access to the Telstra network,' Mr Budde said.
      'You really need some national infrastructure-based competition and Utilitel is "; S9[30]=" going to do this.' He said the group would probably move slowly as it considered which services it could offer.
      'Utilitel "; S10[30]=" is providing a platform for all of the individual utilities to understand what it is all about and learn from each other,' he said.
  "; S11[30]="     'They can then use that knowledge in their local area and start implementing telecommunications network and telecommunications services.
      'I'd "; S12[30]=" prefer to take the slow approach, rather than now having to come up with a model .
      the goal of this is "; S13[30]=" to create more broadband networks in regional Australia.' Greg Story, general manager of electricity provider and Utilitel member ETSA Telecom Adelaide, said the group was "; S14[30]=" formed in 2000.
      'Five years ago we came together and started sharing information in relation to telecommunications,' he said.
      "; S15[30]=" Other members of the group include Aurora Energy, Country Energy, Transgrid, Energy Australia and Western Power... "; R[31]="188"; T[31]="Facts for farmers on new ETSA Utilities web site"; A[31]="By ... Editor"; Dn[31]="20060222"; Dt[31]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[31]="a04a46"; B1[31]="      Farmers and farm contractors concerned about operating near power lines during the current harvest in particular can now get the details of "; B2[31]="safe clearances by logging on to ETSA Utilities new web site... "; B3[31]=" "; B4[31]=" "; B5[31]=" "; S1[31]="      Farmers and farm contractors concerned about operating near power lines during the current harvest in particular can now get the details of "; S2[31]=" safe clearances by logging on to ETSA Utilities' new web site.
      Spokesperson Craig Cock said 'We urge all people operating equipment during "; S3[31]=" the harvest to check out these guidelines even if they think they know what is safe and what is not.
      'Not everybody "; S4[31]=" appreciates that there are safe clearance distances from powerlines and it is vital for operators of machinery to observe these distances if they are to "; S5[31]=" work safely.
      'Not all electricity transmission and distribution lines are the same type or height, and they carry different voltages.
    "; S6[31]="   'For these reasons, a safe working distance around one powerline will not necessarily be safe for another.' Mr Cock said that by logging on "; S7[31]=" to www.etsautilities.com.au and using the prompt ''more information and fact sheets'' they will be able to reach the relevant information.
      Alternatively they "; S8[31]=" can telephone ETSA Utilities on 131 261 or ElectraNet on 1800 243 853.
      Preventing accidential electrocutions during harvest time is the vital "; S9[31]=" message of the 'Look Up and Live' campaign currently underway for ETSA Utilities and ElectraNet.
      Potentially this is the most dangerous time "; S10[31]=" of the year for farmers, their families and employees when heavy equipment is being used to bring in the grain harvest and may be working "; S11[31]=" near powerlines.
      Mr Cock said 'The latest farm equipment is often bigger than ever so farmers with newly- purchased equipment need to "; S12[31]=" be aware that clearances from powerlines which were satisfactory with older, smaller equipment may not be safe this harvest.'.. "; R[32]="176"; T[32]="Australians spend more time online"; A[32]="By ... Editor"; Dn[32]="20060222"; Dt[32]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[32]="a04a46"; B1[32]="      Australians living in urban areas are spending more time online as they flock to fast speed broadband internet services, leaving behind their "; B2[32]="country cousins, a survey has found... "; B3[32]=" "; B4[32]=" "; B5[32]=" "; S1[32]="      Australians living in urban areas are spending more time online as they flock to fast speed broadband internet services, leaving behind their "; S2[32]=" country cousins, a survey has found.
      The Computer Choice magazine survey of 3418 people asked questions about internet habits and found 29 "; S3[32]=" per cent of respondents spent more than 15 hours online, compared with 20 per cent two years ago.
      Five times more people "; S4[32]=" were using a high-speed connection than two years ago, the survey found.
      Broadband users spent the most time on the net, with "; S5[32]=" almost half spending more than two hours a day online compared with 12 per cent of dial up users.
      Although precise figures "; S6[32]=" were not disclosed, people in rural areas had to put up with slow dial up connections because of limited access to broadband, the survey said.
"; S7[32]="       The traditionally more expensive cable connection was also on the rise, according to the survey.
      Sixteen per cent "; S8[32]=" of respondents had a cable connection, compared with 10 per cent in 2003.
      But wireless internet was still yet to take off, "; S9[32]=" with less than one per cent of respondents having used a portable wireless connection.
      Computer Choice editor Georgina Swan said while many "; S10[32]=" people still baulked at the cost of high speed internet, cheaper rates had definitely influenced consumers.
      'Broadband's more affordable, and the "; S11[32]=" number of people with broadband has increased more than 500 per cent in the last two years,' she said... "; R[33]="148"; T[33]="Online tool to help producers predict rainfall and pasture growth"; A[33]="By ... Editor"; Dn[33]="20060222"; Dt[33]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[33]="a02a07a27a46a72a92"; B1[33]="      Meat & Livestock Australia today unveiled a ground-breaking tool to help Australia s southern livestock producers more reliably predict rainfall and pasture "; B2[33]="growth... "; B3[33]=" "; B4[33]=" "; B5[33]=" "; S1[33]="      Meat & Livestock Australia today unveiled a ground-breaking tool to help Australia's southern livestock producers more reliably predict rainfall and pasture growth.
"; S2[33]="       The MLA Rainfall and Pasture Growth Outlook Tool is now available online and was developed by the Australian Government's Bureau of Regional "; S3[33]=" Sciences (BRS) on behalf of MLA.
      MLA Manager, Strategic Science Dr Hutton Oddy said the tool is a key resource for Australia's "; S4[33]=" livestock producers which will enable them to assess rainfall patterns, climatic conditions and potential pasture growth for the coming season.
      'This tool "; S5[33]=" is the first of its kind in Australia and has been designed with Australia's livestock producers in mind.
      Throughout the whole development "; S6[33]=" process we have worked closely with producers to ensure the tool is not only easy to use, but also contains the information they need,' Dr "; S7[33]=" Oddy said.
      'The tool collects rainfall information from over 3,000 weather stations throughout southern Australia and combines this with weather forecasts up "; S8[33]=" to 13 weeks in advance from the Bureau of Meteorology.
      'This means that livestock producers can combine what has happened in the "; S9[33]=" past with predictions of future rainfall to make more informed decisions about such things as calving, weaning and the number and type of stock to "; S10[33]=" be running on the property at a particular time.' The tool has been developed as part of the MLA More Beef from Pastures program, which "; S11[33]=" encourages best practise pasture management in order to produce the optimal amount of beef in the most productive and sustainable way.
      'The "; S12[33]=" key to animal productivity and better beef production is pasture growth, and the things that drive pasture growth are soil moisture and temperature.
    "; S13[33]="   This tool will enable producers to put all of these pieces together, which will ultimately lead to better decisions being made,' Dr Oddy said.
"; S14[33]="       The MLA Rainfall to Pasture Growth Outlook Tool can be accessed online via both the BRS and MLA websites at: ' http://www.brs.gov.au/mlatool/ "; S15[33]=" ' http://www.mla.com.au/growthoutlooktool/.. "; R[34]="124"; T[34]="Australia unveils world s first picture digital radio"; A[34]="By ... Editor"; Dn[34]="20060222"; Dt[34]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[34]="a45a46"; B1[34]="      The Australian commercial radio industry today unveiled the world s first digital radio capable of displaying pictures..... "; B2[34]=" "; B3[34]=" "; B4[34]=" "; B5[34]=" "; S1[34]="      The Australian commercial radio industry today unveiled the world's first digital radio capable of displaying pictures.
      The groundbreaking prototype, "; S2[34]=" called the DAB Picture Radio, will allow consumers to hear radio programs in CD-quality sound, while seeing images of their favourite artist, news reports or "; S3[34]=" weather maps being broadcast on a colour screen.
      The development of the radio is a world first, with the receiver going on "; S4[34]=" display for the first time at the Commercial Radio National Conference in Sydney today.
      Peak industry body Commercial Radio Australia developed the "; S5[34]=" prototype in partnership with Inventec Electronics, a subsidiary of global electronics manufacturer Inventec.
      The receiver was designed so that it could theoretically "; S6[34]=" retail on the mass market for about $400.
      CRA chief executive officer Joan Warner said: 'The Australian industry is thrilled to be "; S7[34]=" leading the world in demonstrating the capabilities of advanced Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) technology.
      But we are only at the tip of "; S8[34]=" the iceberg in terms of what this technology can ultimately deliver to consumers,' she said.
      'Our vision for the future of radio "; S9[34]=" is one where listeners will have an enriched, interactive and multimedia experience with more choice in programs and more control over when they listen.
  "; S10[34]="     For example, if they are interested in a song, listeners could download more information about the artist, browse a station's broadcast website or "; S11[34]=" hit rewind and listen to it again,' Ms Warner said.
      Key features of the sleek new radio include:
    "; S12[34]="   * 320 by 240 pixel backlit colour LCD screen to display pictures or text such as album covers, song titles and lyrics, real time "; S13[34]=" news updates, weather and traffic maps, stock reports, competitions and advertising images.
      * The screen can also be used to display a "; S14[34]=" slide show of selected personal photos.
      * Rewind feature so if you miss something, you can rewind and playback the last five "; S15[34]=" minutes of live radio
      * Record a program segment to SD card and playback on mp3
      * Autotune and "; S16[34]=" select stations by name from a menu.
     
      * 240V to 9V DC external power adapter or C-type "; S17[34]=" alkaline battery.
      While there are no immediate plans to put the prototype into production, further development is planned to deliver future functionality "; S18[34]=" such as the ability to display radio station broadcast websites, animated logos and an electronic program guide.
      The radio was developed with "; S19[34]=" Malaysian-based Inventec Electronics, a subsidiary of Inventec Multimedia & Telecom in Taiwan, a leading manufacturer of personal video recorders, VoIP, and digital televisions.
    "; S20[34]="   The radio industry is conducting digital broadcasting.. "; R[35]="32"; T[35]="Rural Remote and Regional (RRR) Women s Website Launched"; A[35]="By ... Editor"; Dn[35]="20060222"; Dt[35]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[35]="a04a46a49"; B1[35]="      The Rural Remote and Regional Women s Network (RRR) today broadened its reach to rural women with the launching of its new "; B2[35]="website at www.rrr.wa.gov.au... "; B3[35]=" "; B4[35]=" "; B5[35]=" "; S1[35]="      The Rural Remote and Regional Women's Network (RRR) today broadened its reach to rural women with the launching of its new website "; S2[35]=" at www.rrr.wa.gov.au.
      The Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Mr Ian Longson, officially launched the website at the Dowerin GWN Field "; S3[35]=" Days.
      Mr Longson described the site as 'a most informative, attractive and easy to use site giving women an excellent resource to "; S4[35]=" discuss the issues affecting rural WA and provide input to government.' The launch caps a year long initiative committed to providing relevant and up to "; S5[35]=" the minute information to rural, remote and regional women, industries, government and communities.
      Nikki Egginton, Chair of the RRR Network, said www.rrr.wa.gov.au "; S6[35]=" provided a wide range of information on the Network and its activities.
      The interactive forum expands the way in which RRR women "; S7[35]=" can communicate with each other and with government on the issues affecting rural WA.
      The interactive forum features discussion topics, chatrooms, news, "; S8[35]=" events and a photo gallery for members to post their own albums for family and friends.
      'It will be an excellent mechanism "; S9[35]=" for women in rural, remote and regional WA to have greater input into the RRR Network and showcase the contribution they make to their communities "; S10[35]=" and promote opportunities for social interaction and sharing of ideas,' she said.
      'The new interactive forum provides easy access for women to "; S11[35]=" discuss issues and to have their say about the things that are important to them'.
      The RRR Network is supported by the "; S12[35]=" Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to recognise, promote and expand women's contribution to their communities... "; R[36]="14"; T[36]="Online training helps combat workplace harassment"; A[36]="By ... Editor"; Dn[36]="20060222"; Dt[36]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[36]="a04a46a48"; B1[36]="      A new online training program is helping employers combat rising bullying and harassment in the workplace..... "; B2[36]=" "; B3[36]=" "; B4[36]=" "; B5[36]=" "; S1[36]="      A new online training program is helping employers combat rising bullying and harassment in the workplace.
      Leading workers' compensation "; S2[36]=" insurer, CGU, says that unhealthy workplace cultures and leadership behaviours can result in harassment issues that can lead to claims.
      To address "; S3[36]=" this CGU has developed a range of Industrial Relations (IR) training courses with e3 Learning Solutions.
      CGU Safety and Risk Services Product "; S4[36]=" Manager, Gareth Shepherd, said claims for bullying, discrimination and harassment were on the rise with more than 1000 people reporting incidences and making claims
"; S5[36]="       * each year.
      'Claims can result in employers paying large sums of money, and in some cases they can "; S6[36]=" cost more than $100,000 in damages and legal fees,' Gareth said.
      'Traditional IR training meant businesses had to take their people out "; S7[36]=" of the office at significant expense and interruption to the business.' The new online training courses mean businesses and their employees can do crucial training "; S8[36]=" at their own workplace, saving time, costs and helping them meet legal requirements.
      Mr Shepherd said employers should also consider the significant "; S9[36]=" effects resulting from a poorly functioning work environment resulting from discrimination or harassment.
      'Where discrimination or harassment is occurring in the workplace, "; S10[36]=" poor work quality, low productivity and higher staff turnover are likely to follow,' he said.
      e3Learning Executive Director, John Freeman, said having "; S11[36]=" an internet based training system was one important way of reducing the risk of harassment and discrimination in the workplace.
      'The courses "; S12[36]=" are designed as an ongoing resource and reference tool for this complicated and ever changing area of law,' he said.
      The web-based "; S13[36]=" courses include Equal Employment Opportunity in the Workplace for Employees and Managers, and Workplace Bullying and Harassment for Employees and Managers.
      CGU "; S14[36]=" also offers a range of OH&S training courses.
      The courses are available at www.cgu.com.au/safety.
      For more information call CGU "; S15[36]=" Safety and Risk Services on 1300 138 601 or http://cgusafety.e3learning.com.au/... ";