R[0]="1291"; T[0]="Salt tolerant wheat developed"; A[0]="By ... Editor"; Dn[0]="20030110"; Dt[0]="Friday 10 January 2003"; Acats[0]="a22a43a55a81a93"; B1[0]="      Genes from a canola-related plant have helped a fledgling WA company develop the world s first genetically modified salt-tolerant wheat.... "; B2[0]=" "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]="      Genes from a canola-related plant have helped a fledgling WA company develop the world's first genetically modified salt-tolerant wheat.
      "; S2[0]=" Grain Biotech Australia chief Ian Edwards told the West Australian that the new wheat, which will grow in salinity almost half that of seawater, could "; S3[0]=" be ready for limited field tests by June next year.
      Regulatory approvals could take five years.
      He said the "; S4[0]=" grain was the same as other wheats but could give farmers with WA's 1.2 million hectares of saline farm land a profitable option to use "; S5[0]=" with salt remediation.
      It was developed in laboratories at Murdoch.
      Gold particles coated with the DNA were shot into "; S6[0]=" embryos extracted from green wheat grains.
      The embryos were raised on sterile gel and grown in pots into mature plants.
    "; S7[0]="   Dr Edwards started breeding wheat 37 years ago in the former Rhodesia.
      He later became worldwide director of field crops for "; S8[0]=" international seed giant Pioneer Hi-Bred in the United States before taking early retirement in 1998 when he moved to Perth to launch Grain Biotech Australia.
"; S9[0]="       Investors in the company, which has a Perth staff of 16, include farmers, investors with links to agriculture and grower bodies, including "; S10[0]=" the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Council of Grain Grower Organisations.
      It has an annual budget of $2 million and "; S11[0]=" has already established a name in genetic technology as one of five finalists in last year's World Technology Network awards.
      The company "; S12[0]=" will launch two new conventionally-bred wheat varieties suitable for WA conditions and another for the Eastern States later this year when field demonstration plots are "; S13[0]=" ready.
      All its wheat varieties are resistant to fungal rust, including stripe rust, which hit crops in WA for the first time "; S14[0]=" last year.
      Dr Edwards said he based the company in Perth because wheat was Australia's biggest crop and WA produced 40 per "; S15[0]=" cent... "; R[1]="1256"; T[1]="Biotechnology Innovation Fund: Apply now"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20021219"; Dt[1]="Thursday 19 December 2002"; Acats[1]="a55"; B1[1]="      Round four of the Federal Government s $40 million Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF) was today declared open for applications from innovative Australian "; B2[1]="companies and individuals... "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]="      Round four of the Federal Government's $40 million Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF) was today declared open for applications from innovative Australian companies "; S2[1]=" and individuals.
      Federal Industry Minister, Ian Macfarlane, has called for applications while congratulating one of the program's latest success stories.
    "; S3[1]="   Queensland company, ToxiTech Pty Ltd, has developed a prototype for a real-time testing kit for contaminated water and seafood.
      'The diversity "; S4[1]=" of research projects under this program is a real eye-opener.
      There's a company using protein from snake venom to stem surgical bleeding, "; S5[1]=" another is developing a vaccine for the prevention of Type 1 diabetes in children and, one of my favourites, is the use of tiny DNA "; S6[1]=" segments in inks and dyes to protect against counterfeiting of products,' said Mr Macfarlane.
      This is a highly competitive program, since May "; S7[1]=" 2001 219 companies have applied for funding through three BIF funding rounds.
      94 projects were selected and they've received grants totalling more "; S8[1]=" than $21 million.
      One of those companies was Toxitech which was awarded $165,000 for work on development of a diagnostic kit for "; S9[1]=" algal toxins in seafood and drinking water.
      The 'real-time' testing kit will help prevent illness and death among seafood eaters and water "; S10[1]=" drinkers as well as reducing the risk to seafood producers, farmers and water supply authorities.
      'Toxitech is another example of the outstanding "; S11[1]=" work being done by Australia's young biotechnology companies and which, with the help of BIF, will meet the gap between research and commercialisation,' said Mr "; S12[1]=" Macfarlane.
      'BIF is a key plank in the Commonwealth's National Biotechnology Strategy which has been in place for two years.
    "; S13[1]="   A series of consultations held throughout Australia earlier this year provided some valuable feedback on the Strategy and its programs.' 'We're responding to that "; S14[1]=" feedback by concentrating on effective public awareness strategies, development of commercialisation and business skills, and improved coordination at all levels of government and industry,' he "; S15[1]=" said.
      BIF application details at www.ausindustry.gov.au and close on February 12... "; R[2]="1227"; T[2]="Award for In Vitro Soil"; A[2]="By ... Editor"; Dn[2]="20021212"; Dt[2]="Thursday 12 December 2002"; Acats[2]="a03a53a55"; B1[2]="      A researcher with the Department of Agriculture has won a prestigious StateWest Achievement Award for his work in developing world-first breakthrough technology "; B2[2]="in plant propagation... "; B3[2]=" "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]="      A researcher with the Department of Agriculture has won a prestigious StateWest Achievement Award for his work in developing world-first breakthrough technology "; S2[2]=" in plant propagation.
      Researcher Chris Newell won an individual award for the development of In Vitro Soil, which provided a solution to "; S3[2]=" a problem that had perplexed scientists throughout the world for 30 years.
      The StateWest Achievement Awards recognise Western Australian State, Commonwealth and "; S4[2]=" Local public sector employees and the organisations they represent for outstanding service to the community, outstanding initiative demonstrated in job role, significant efficiency/productivity improvements and/or "; S5[2]=" exceptional performance in job role.
      The Department of Agriculture gained attention from the world's plant scientists in April 2002 with the launch "; S6[2]=" of the world's first In Vitro Soil (IVS) system.
      Mr Newell spent three years developing IVS that combines plant tissue culture techniques "; S7[2]=" with traditional nursery practices to overcome root strike problems, particularly in woody plants.
      Department Director General Graeme Robertson said the StateWest Achievement "; S8[2]=" Award recognised Mr Newell's efforts over a three year period that included testing and demonstrating an outstanding initiative, significant efficiency and productivity improvement and an "; S9[2]=" exceptional overall job performance.
      Dr Robertson said the IVS technique has proven so successful that it is predicted to revolutionise plant tissue "; S10[2]=" culture propagation in Western Australia, and throughout the world.
      Mr Newell also won the award for Best New Innovation of the Year "; S11[2]=" in the 2002 at the Nursery and Garden Industry WA Awards for Excellence.
      He received an Innovation Award from the Department of "; S12[2]=" Agriculture earlier this month and was highly commended at this year's Premiers Awards for Excellence in the Public Sector.
      In addition, the "; S13[2]=" communications strategy for the launch of the new technology won this year's Rural Media Association Award for the Best Communication Campaign... "; R[3]="1226"; T[3]="Rural Innovation on showin Tasmania"; A[3]="By ... Editor"; Dn[3]="20021212"; Dt[3]="Thursday 12 December 2002"; Acats[3]="a55"; B1[3]="      The rich resource of the innovative skills of Tasmania s farmers, fishers and food producers has been put on display for all "; B2[3]="markets to see with the inaugural Webster Growth Awards, Primary Industries, Water and Environment Minister Bryan Green said today... "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]="      The rich resource of the innovative skills of Tasmania's farmers, fishers and food producers has been put on display for all markets "; S2[3]=" to see with the inaugural Webster Growth Awards, Primary Industries, Water and Environment Minister Bryan Green said today.
      Announcing three category and "; S3[3]=" the overall winner of the industry awards, Mr Green said the greatest achievement of the awards was seeing on display the wealth of talent in "; S4[3]=" the State's primary industries.
      'The success of the Webster Growth Awards also identifies the key to the successful growth of our agricultural "; S5[3]=" industries in Tasmania,' he said.
      'That is the rural sector working together with private industry and government to develop and promote the "; S6[3]=" value of our industry to local and international markets.' Mr Green said the winners of the awards were: · Agricultural production: Jerry and Clare Holder, "; S7[3]=" of Woodlea Nursery · Food and Beverage Processing: Tim and Julie Barbour, of Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company · Aquaculture and Seafishing: Col, Sue, Peter and "; S8[3]=" Hayden Dyke, of Oyster Bay Oysters.
      · Overall Winner: Col, Sue, Peter and Hayden Dyke, of Oyster Bay Oysters.
      "; S9[3]=" 'The winners, as well as the finalists and other entrants, were of a very high calibre who demonstrated how they are using planning, quality, innovation, "; S10[3]=" marketing and training to grow their industries,' Mr Green said.
      'At the same time they showed a willingness to also focus on "; S11[3]=" the growth of our primary industry sector as a whole by contributing time and effort to industry bodies and being prepared to share information within "; S12[3]=" the sector.
      'When the judges visited these firms on site they found even more encouraging signs for our industry with quality systems "; S13[3]=" embraced, a genuine concern for the environment, a commitment to training and safety and a vision for the future.' Mr Green said the entrants in "; S14[3]=" the competition also showed how family business can survive and thrive alongside larger corporate businesses with good planning and innovative ideas.
      'There "; S15[3]=" is recognition by people coming into the State of the wonderful climatic advantages we have, how easy it is to do business here and how "; S16[3]=" supportive communities can be for someone seen to be 'having a go'.
      'This year's entrants already show that we have the people "; S17[3]=" and the businesses we need to take advantage of the policies the government is putting in place.
      'In recognising the award winners, "; S18[3]=" it's also important we recognise the importance of private industry as well and the important role Webster Ltd has played in working with the Department "; S19[3]=" to foster the showcasing of these companies through the awards.'.. "; R[4]="1195"; T[4]="New rural enterprises are seminar focus"; A[4]="By ... Editor"; Dn[4]="20021210"; Dt[4]="Tuesday 10 December 2002"; Acats[4]="a55"; B1[4]="      The Queensland Department of Primary Industries plans to open the window to a variety of potential new rural enterprises at a day-long "; B2[4]="seminar and bus trip on the eastern Downs on December 18... "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]="      The Queensland Department of Primary Industries plans to 'open the window' to a variety of potential new rural enterprises at a day-long "; S2[4]=" seminar and bus trip on the eastern Downs on December 18.
      Program organisers Graham Wilson and Margaret Cruickshank of the Toowoomba DPI "; S3[4]=" said that during the day local rural entrepreneurs would discuss specific opportunities including cut flowers, mohair, organic, direct food marketing for niche food producers and "; S4[4]=" small manufacturing.
      A range of key people in new rural industries would speak at the DPI seminar, aimed at encouraging people to "; S5[4]=" actively seek and research viable new rural opportunities.
      As well, another speaker would be Joan White of Texas, who was looking for "; S6[4]=" established producers to join her in supplying niche food markets.
      Mrs Cruickshank said those people who were seeking information and ideas about "; S7[4]=" the potential of new rural enterprises would get most out of the day.
      'We've been asked by a number of people to "; S8[4]=" open the window of opportunity, and that's what we'll be doing.
      'In discussion with clients we have organised the bus trip and "; S9[4]=" seminar to raise people awareness about alternate opportunities and the means to thoroughly investigate the potential viability of new ideas,' she said.
      "; S10[4]=" She said the bus trip would be to Aussie Cut Flowers at Crows Nest, which was exporting flowers to Japan and looking for more suppliers.' "; S11[4]=" Mrs Cruickshank said the sessions would close with a discussion offering participants the opportunity to join a network of people focussing on finding and researching "; S12[4]=" new rural business opportunities.
      The program is free of charge.
      For more information and to register telephone 07 46881200... "; R[5]="1173"; T[5]="Unique method for extracting protein"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20021129"; Dt[5]="Friday 29 November 2002"; Acats[5]="a55"; B1[5]="      A small Brisbane biotech company is set to become a big player on the international research stage with its development of a "; B2[5]="unique method for extracting protein to be used in pharmaceutical products... "; B3[5]=" "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]="      A small Brisbane biotech company is set to become a big player on the international research stage with its development of a "; S2[5]=" unique method for extracting protein to be used in pharmaceutical products.
      Queensland Bioprocessing Technology (QBT) has developed a process of extracting collagen "; S3[5]=" and gelatin from animal sources to produce high-quality, disease-free and natural products.
      These proteins are particularly sought-after in the pharmaceutical sector.
  "; S4[5]="     Federal Industry Minister, Ian Macfarlane, today congratulated QBT on the break-through and opened the company's new premises in Kedron.
      The "; S5[5]=" company has been assisted by a $250,000 Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF) grant from the Federal Government.
      'For a young and small company, "; S6[5]=" QBT is poised to have a major impact on the global pharmaceutical market.
      The estimated market value for novel proteins is in "; S7[5]=" excess of $US1.2 billion a year,' said Mr Macfarlane.
      QBT started as one-person operation in 2000, it now employs seven staff and "; S8[5]=" has attracted tremendous international interest in a range of its protein products.
      The process it has developed is a leading-edge method of "; S9[5]=" extracting the protein in its natural form so that it is not harmed or degraded.
      The result is a high, or pharmaceutical, "; S10[5]=" grade protein product.
      'Australia has a strong and healthy biotech industry.
      Almost half of the local industry is dedicated "; S11[5]=" to human health research and QBT is another example of our expertise being not just recognised but sought after, in an international arena,' said Mr "; S12[5]=" Macfarlane.
      'The BIF program is one of the Federal Government's helping hands - helping companies with the cost of proving the value "; S13[5]=" of their ideas and technologies,' he said.
      QBT's $250,000 BIF grant was administered by the Government's business unit, AusIndustry, as part of "; S14[5]=" a $40 million strategy to promote Australian advancement in biotechnology.
      'Since the start of the BIF program in May last year, 94 "; S15[5]=" companies have received grants totalling $21 million,' said Mr Macfarlane... "; R[6]="1153"; T[6]="Grape seed health product on your shelves soon"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20021122"; Dt[6]="Friday 22 November 2002"; Acats[6]="a13a55"; B1[6]="      A Barossa Valley company is poised to take its locally produced grapeseed extract and turn the idea into a reality in supermarkets "; B2[6]="around the world... "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]="      A Barossa Valley company is poised to take its locally produced grapeseed extract and turn the idea into a reality in supermarkets "; S2[6]=" around the world.
      Backed by CSIRO clinical trials that found the product when served in yoghurt increases the ability of blood vessels "; S3[6]=" to relax, Tarac Technologies says Vinlife could be added to a range of foods for heart benefits.
      Vinlife is sourced from by-products "; S4[6]=" of winemaking and is high in anti-oxidants, which are known for their ability to reduce cholesterol, and improves circulation.
      CSIRO trials conducted "; S5[6]=" by Dr Peter Clifton show people who eat foods containing the grapeseed extract improve the ability of their arteries to expand in response to a "; S6[6]=" need for greater blood flow.
      'The end result could be improved circulation and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease,' he told the Adelaide "; S7[6]=" Advertiser yesterday.
      'Cardiovascular disease remains the major cause of death in Australia.
      'Diet is often part of the problem, "; S8[6]=" but .
      .
      .
      it can be part of the solution.' Tarac Technology managing director Grahame "; S9[6]=" Tonkin said Vinlife held enormous export potential.
      Industry Minister Ian McFarlane, who recently toured Tarac Technologies at its Nuriootpa headquarters, said he "; S10[6]=" was impressed by the product's potential... "; R[7]="1138"; T[7]="New bush foods range to benefit indigenous communities"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20021121"; Dt[7]="Thursday 21 November 2002"; Acats[7]="a55a78"; B1[7]="      A new range of food products using ingredients grown by indigenous communities will go on sale in Coles stores throughout Australia from "; B2[7]="today... "; B3[7]=" "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]="      A new range of food products using ingredients grown by indigenous communities will go on sale in Coles stores throughout Australia from "; S2[7]=" today.
      The products, called Outback Spirit, have been developed following consumer trials to determine the most popular flavours and styles.
    "; S3[7]="   They include bush tomato sauce, mango and native mint chutney and lemon myrtle dressing.
      Part proceeds from the range of sauces "; S4[7]=" and condiments will go to an Indigenous Food Fund to help sustain and grow the indigenous communities that produce the bush ingredients.
      "; S5[7]=" Outback Spirit will be launched today in Alice Springs by the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Clare Martin... "; R[8]="1096"; T[8]="Low Rainfall Tree Improvement Project"; A[8]="By ... Editor"; Dn[8]="20021108"; Dt[8]="Friday 8 November 2002"; Acats[8]="a39a55"; B1[8]="      The Australian Low Rainfall Tree Improvement Group (ALRTIG) is a cooperative of State and Commonwealth Government research organisation partners, whose aim is "; B2[8]="to produce and provide high quality genetic resources for selected hardwoods, softwoods and oil yielding mallee eucalypts suited to the 400-600 mm rainfall zone of "; B3[8]="southern Australia... "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]="      The Australian Low Rainfall Tree Improvement Group (ALRTIG) is a cooperative of State and Commonwealth Government research organisation partners, whose aim is "; S2[8]=" to produce and provide high quality genetic resources for selected hardwoods, softwoods and oil yielding mallee eucalypts suited to the 400-600 mm rainfall zone of "; S3[8]=" southern Australia.
      The focus is on species that can produce valuable forest products.
      Commercial viability is seen to be "; S4[8]=" the key to widespread adoption of farm forestry, and achievement of the environmental benefits that it can provide.
      ALRTIG has selected nine "; S5[8]=" 'key species' from many that are adapted to low rainfall environments in southern Australia, on the basis of their good performance across a wide range "; S6[8]=" of sites, and their ability to produce a commercial product (timber or leaf oil).
      ALRTIG's three working modules cover hardwoods, softwoods and "; S7[8]=" short-rotation woody crops.
      ALRTIG have recently completed a series of tree improvement strategies for the key species.
      This strategy "; S8[8]=" is for mallee eucalypts, which are the focus of the short-rotation woody crops module.
      This strategy outlines a process that will test "; S9[8]=" two mallee species (Eucalyptus horistes and E.
      polybractea) which produce commercially proven products, across a wide range of sites in the target "; S10[8]=" planting area of southern Australia.
      This type of study is termed a genotype by environment study.
      The study is "; S11[8]=" being conducted across five sites and involves a number of genetically improved and unimproved families of each species.
      The study will show "; S12[8]=" the relative suitability of the genetic material to sites in southern Australia's low rainfall zone.
      The paper gives detail of the overall "; S13[8]=" strategy, trial procedure, materials, methods and execution... "; R[9]="1081"; T[9]="Western Queensland horticulture opportunities explored"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20021106"; Dt[9]="Wednesday 6 November 2002"; Acats[9]="a17a18a55"; B1[9]="      Eight western Queensland producers recently travelled to the Northern Territory and Western Australia to investigate opportunities for potential horticulture development in western "; B2[9]="Queensland... "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]="      Eight western Queensland producers recently travelled to the Northern Territory and Western Australia to investigate opportunities for potential horticulture development in western "; S2[9]=" Queensland.
      Department of Primary Industries trade development officer, Morgan Gronold, Barcaldine, who led the July 28 - August 4 delegation said that "; S3[9]=" the trip gave western Queensland producers from Barcaldine to Cunnamulla an insight into cropping options in semi-arid environments.
      Mr Gronold said the "; S4[9]=" group was able to explore both research and commercial production options ranging from hydroponic lettuce in Alice Springs, table grapes at Ti Tree, to melons, "; S5[9]=" vegetables and sandalwood in Kununurra.
      'The trip was a wonderful eye opener to the possibilities and opportunities for some of these products "; S6[9]=" to be produced in our area.
      Some areas visited receive less rainfall, have less fertile soil and produce poorer quality ground water "; S7[9]=" than much of western Queensland,' Mr Gronold said.
      It is hoped that this would be the first of a number of trips "; S8[9]=" for western Queensland producers and communities to investigate such opportunities.
      Mr Gronold said DPI's next step would be to initiate linkages and "; S9[9]=" alliances with other Queensland horticulture producers and marketing groups.
      'Positive preliminary discussions have been held with Peter Robson from Ausfood, a horticultural "; S10[9]=" marketing co-operative.
      Mr Robson and a number of Ausfood growers will travel to western Queensland in the next few months to discuss "; S11[9]=" horticulture development,' Mr Gronold said.
      The meetings aimed to disseminate information on horticultural products with a market demand that could be grown "; S12[9]=" successfully in the region.
      There was also an objective to foster alliances between western Queensland producers and Ausfood... "; R[10]="1034"; T[10]="New wheat variety Wedgetail gives farmers new option"; A[10]="By ... Editor"; Dn[10]="20021023"; Dt[10]="Wednesday 23 October 2002"; Acats[10]="a22a55a81"; B1[10]="      A wheat variety bred by NSW Agriculture at its Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute will provide southern NSW farmers with a new high "; B2[10]="yielding variety that is especially suited to early sowing... "; B3[10]=" "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]="      A wheat variety bred by NSW Agriculture at its Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute will provide southern NSW farmers with a new high "; S2[10]=" yielding variety that is especially suited to early sowing.
      Wedgetail was released at Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute's 110 year anniversary celebrations today "; S3[10]=" and has been welcomed by grain growers as an early sowing variety that produces prime hard quality grain - an option not currently available in "; S4[10]=" other wheat varieties.
      The new variety is expected to make a big impact on the wheat industry, particularly in southern NSW, according "; S5[10]=" to NSW Agriculture plant breeder Dr Peter Martin.
      'Wedgetail is a high yielding variety and results from field evaluations across southern NSW "; S6[10]=" show that Wedgetail yields about four per cent higher than Rosella,' Dr Martin said.
      'Enhanced tolerance to acid soils is another important "; S7[10]=" feature of this variety.' Dr Martin said Wedgetail also had significant disease resistance traits including resistance to Septoria Tritici Blotch and rust.
      "; S8[10]=" 'Wedgetail's ability to produce prime hard quality in the southern NSW and Australian hard in northern NSW mean it has a lot to offer Australia's "; S9[10]=" wheat export industry,' Dr Martin said.
      'Grain will be in demand from export markets that require high quality prime hard.' Murray Rogers, "; S10[10]=" chairman of the NSW Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Western Australia and Queensland Department of Primary Industries plant breeding joint venture company, Enterprise Grains Australia, released "; S11[10]=" Wedgetail.
      AWB Seeds is the commercialising agent for Wedgetail... "; R[11]="1033"; T[11]="Kaspa field pea a boon for Australian pulse industry"; A[11]="By ... Editor"; Dn[11]="20021023"; Dt[11]="Wednesday 23 October 2002"; Acats[11]="a19a55a81"; B1[11]="      NSW Agriculture Executive Director, Research Advisory and Education Helen Scott-Orr today released a new field pea variety, Kaspa, during Wagga Wagga Agricultural "; B2[11]="Institute s 110 year anniversary celebrations... "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]="      NSW Agriculture Executive Director, Research Advisory and Education Helen Scott-Orr today released a new field pea variety, Kaspa, during Wagga Wagga Agricultural "; S2[11]=" Institute's 110 year anniversary celebrations.
      Ms Scott-Orr said Kaspa is the first Australian-bred field pea variety with true pod shatter resistance.
  "; S3[11]="     'Pod shattering resistance is a very significant and valuable characteristic that will help overcome a major problem for field pea growers,' Ms Scott-Orr "; S4[11]=" said.
      'Evaluations carried out by NSW Agriculture have shown that Kaspa is well adapted to the southern NSW environment and has the "; S5[11]=" highest long-term experimental yields of all field pea varieties in this region.
      'Kasp yields 18 per cent higher than Dundale, 10 per "; S6[11]=" cent higher than Excell and similar to Parafield.
      Kaspa also boasts high resistance to downy mildew.
      'This new field "; S7[11]=" pea is a product of the Australian Coordinated Field Pea Improvement Program of which NSW Agriculture is a partner.
      'Extensive evaluation of "; S8[11]=" the variety was carried out by NSW Agriculture's Dr Eric Armstrong and the pulse crop team at Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute.
      'The "; S9[11]=" initial cross that produced Kaspa was made at the Victorian Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Horsham.
      'Kaspa is a semi-leafless, dun type field "; S10[11]=" pea with excellent early season vigor, medium plant height and unique pink flowers.
      It is quite different to the traditional Australian dun "; S11[11]=" field pea.' Ms Scott-Orr said Kaspa is a late flowering variety, flowering about five days later than Parafield and 10 days later than Excell.
  "; S12[11]="     'However, pod development is very rapid so that its maturity is similar to other varities,' she said.
      'Kaspa produces a "; S13[11]=" unique red-brown dun type seed that is uniform in size.
      This makes it different to the traditional Australian dun type field pea "; S14[11]=" and better suited to milling.' Seed will be available for sowing in 2003 from AWB Seeds... "; R[12]="954"; T[12]="Cheap desalination idea"; A[12]="By ... Editor"; Dn[12]="20020916"; Dt[12]="Monday 16 September 2002"; Acats[12]="a40a43a55"; B1[12]="      A Perth inventor has designed a desalination plant he believes could supply Perth s water needs at 21¢ a kilolitre - less "; B2[12]="than the cost of water from bores in the Yarragadee aquifer... "; B3[12]=" "; B4[12]=" "; B5[12]=" "; S1[12]="      A Perth inventor has designed a desalination plant he believes could supply Perth's water needs at 21¢ a kilolitre - less than "; S2[12]=" the cost of water from bores in the Yarragadee aquifer.
      John Carmona estimates a 30- gigalitres-a-year unit would cost $3 million to "; S3[12]=" build.
      The prototype, which stands 1.5m high and looks more like a spaceship than a desalinator, has an estimated capacity of 10 "; S4[12]=" litres a minute.
      But Mr Carmona also plans a one-gigalitre-a-day model 65m high which could supply Perth's total consumption.
      "; S5[12]=" He has applied for patents to the technology which he says is based on heating the salt water in pans, boosting its evaporation with a "; S6[12]=" vacuum created in the chamber and then collecting the condensation inside the conical stainless-steel vessel.
      Mr Carmona said he had sold interest "; S7[12]=" in the desalinator to an American oil company spanning the world except for Australasia, India and China.
      But he wanted to keep "; S8[12]=" the technology in Australian hands.
      Water Corporation engineer Gary Crisp told the West Australian that without seeing the desalinator, it appeared to "; S9[12]=" use similar technology to thermal desalination plants in the Middle East.
      But the estimates of capital cost and power consumption for the "; S10[12]=" Aqua Vapour plant were much less.
      A desalinator costing a tenth of an existing Saudi Arabian plant and operating at a quarter "; S11[12]=" of the cost would appear unlikely, Mr Crisp said.
      If it proves to be as cheap as claimed there may also be "; S12[12]=" opportunities to use it on-farm.
      It could be used to lower local groundwater levels whilst turning saline waste ground water into a "; S13[12]=" new water source... "; R[13]="940"; T[13]="Hand-held wool fibre measuring device"; A[13]="By ... Editor"; Dn[13]="20020913"; Dt[13]="Friday 13 September 2002"; Acats[13]="a25a55a93"; B1[13]="      It looks like a hair dryer, has the same technology as a range-finding missile and can measure a Merino for fibre diameter "; B2[13]="in less time than it takes to squirt it with drench... "; B3[13]=" "; B4[13]=" "; B5[13]=" "; S1[13]="      It looks like a hair dryer, has the same technology as a range-finding missile and can measure a Merino for fibre diameter "; S2[13]=" in less time than it takes to squirt it with drench.
      Within eight weeks Australian producers will have access to the industries "; S3[13]=" first hand-held testing device, thanks to the combined efforts of a Gold Coast defence company and its major shareholder, a woolgrower from Blackall in Queensland.
"; S4[13]="       The system, patented under the name Wool View 20/20 Micron-0-Meter, is expected to be commercially available by the end of October and "; S5[13]=" will sell for about $6000.
      That makes it dramatically cheaper than competing on-farm fibre measurement systems, including the Sirolan Fleecescan which retails "; S6[13]=" for about $120,000 per unit and the OFDA 2000 which sells for about $70,000.
      And perhaps most surprising of all, the device "; S7[13]=" has been developed in complete isolation from Australian Wool Innovation Ltd (AWI), the wool research company which has made the quest for a hand-held fleece "; S8[13]=" testing device a central plank of its strategy.
      A working prototype of the Wool View 20/20 will be unveiled at the Westech "; S9[13]=" field days at Barcaldine, Queensland, next week.
      The company behind the innovation, Microdyne, is a division of Laserdyne, a Gold Coast engineering "; S10[13]=" company more accustomed to designing laser guidance systems for high-tech machines of war than value-adding systems for the Merino industry.
      The handpiece, "; S11[13]=" which is attached by a cord to a portable, briefcase-sized computer, uses a digital optical microscope to measure fibres, allowing wool to be tested on "; S12[13]=" the sheep's back.
      Microdyne chief engineer, John Kavanagh, said the greatest challenge was not developing the hardware but creating a software program "; S13[13]=" able to translate digital images of staples into accurate micron measurements.
      The technology is still far from precise.
      Engineers "; S14[13]=" conceded it is only accurate to within one micron of a certified laboratory test.
      But Mr Chandler said the lack of precise "; S15[13]=" correlation to a certified test was of little consequence.
      'As a sheep cocky, the exact micron on farm is not important.
  "; S16[13]="     With this device 1 can still rank my sheep from finest to broadest, and assemble my clip into micron-specific lines,' he said.
  "; S17[13]="     Brisbane-based wool broker, Mike Bowden, of Bowden Wool, who assisted Microdyne engineers in the technical aspects of wool measurement, said the machine would "; S18[13]=" put on-farm fleece testing within the reach of every producer.
      The Wool View 20/20 provides fibre diameter measurements and a histogram (frequency "; S19[13]=" graph) of micron variation which in turn provides standard deviation and comfort factor measurements... "; R[14]="893"; T[14]="Partial root drying saves water"; A[14]="By ... Editor"; Dn[14]="20020904"; Dt[14]="Wednesday 4 September 2002"; Acats[14]="a40a55"; B1[14]="      A new irrigation system invented by plant scientists could halve agricultural water use while supplying us with tastier fruit and vegetables.
  "; B2[14]="    Partial root drying is gaining popularity across Europe and has already been commercialised on grapes in Australia... "; B3[14]=" "; B4[14]=" "; B5[14]=" "; S1[14]="      A new irrigation system invented by plant scientists could halve agricultural water use while supplying us with tastier fruit and vegetables.
  "; S2[14]="     Partial root drying is gaining popularity across Europe and has already been commercialised on grapes in Australia.
      The UK scientists "; S3[14]=" behind the scheme have now set up a European consortium to test root drying on vegetables, fruit, cotton and even garden shrubs.
      "; S4[14]=" Agricultural development in Southern Australia has long been limited by the capacity of the Murray-Darling river, the main water supplier for the region's vineyards.
  "; S5[14]="     Five years ago, scientists from the Australian research organisation CSIRO experimented on vines, splitting their roots between wet and dry soil in an "; S6[14]=" attempt to restrict water consumption and leaf formation.
      The results were exceptional.
      With only half the roots irrigated at "; S7[14]=" any one time, with no reduction in yield, water use efficiency doubled and the grapes improved in flavour and colour.
      Further tests "; S8[14]=" in the field, where vines were irrigated on alternate sides over a three-week cycle, proved equally promising.
      The idea behind partial root "; S9[14]=" drying (PRD) stemmed from earlier work on apple trees carried out at Lancaster University.
      Bill Davies, a plant scientist from the Biology "; S10[14]=" Department, experimented with root splitting to explore chemical signalling between roots and shoots.
      Roots were divided between two containers, one of which "; S11[14]=" was dried out while the other remained well watered.
      Roots experiencing the dry soil were found to release abscisic acid, a stress "; S12[14]=" hormone that signals the plant to inhibit leaf growth.
      As a result, the plant's stomata remained partially closed, new leaves were suppressed, "; S13[14]=" and sugars were redirected to the fruit.
      The success with both apples and grapes spurred Prof Davies and a colleague, Mark Bacon, "; S14[14]=" to form the consortium IRRISPLIT, funded by the European Commission.
      The consortium, made up of scientists from Cyprus, Turkey, Portugal and the "; S15[14]=" UK, is now testing the irrigation system on olives, citrus fruits, tomatoes, aubergines, raspberries and cotton.
      So far, tomato plants have been "; S16[14]=" found to respond similarly to grapes, with a reduction in vegetation and tastier fruit.
      Raspberries have also been successfully grown at half "; S17[14]=" the normal watering rate.
      Turkish cotton trials have furnished yet more encouraging results.
      Turkish scientists from Cukurova University, Adana, "; S18[14]=" developed two methods of irrigation to match the needs of wealthy and poor farmers alike.
      Cotton crops were irrigated with either a "; S19[14]=" system of alternating pumps or the traditional practice of furrows and ridges, with alternate furrows being filled with water between crops grown on ridges.
  "; S20[14]="     Preliminary results have shown PRD to generate a doubling in water efficiency for similar yields.
      Scientists were also delighted to "; S21[14]=" find a shortened ripening time for the cotton bolls.
      For conventionally grown Turkish crops it is a battle to collect the cotton "; S22[14]=" before the rainy season begins.
      The PRD irrigated crops generated less foliage, hence less shading and the bolls ripened faster under the "; S23[14]=" hot sun.
      Thus the harvest was ready three weeks before the rain.
      Unlike regulated deficit irrigation, which is used "; S24[14]=" widely to reduce agricultural water use and tends to stress the plant to the point of reduced quality and yield, PRD continues to meet the "; S25[14]=" plant's needs, allowing it to regulate its own water status.
      Professor Davies is optimistic about the long-term impacts of the research.
  "; S26[14]="     'PRD is a low-tech way of manipulating crop yield and can be applied to many systems.
      In an ecological context, "; S27[14]=" given that 70% of water goes to agriculture, PRD has significant social consequences.' Dr Bacon uses PRD on his home-grown tomatoes.
      'You "; S28[14]=" can see the difference between conventionally grown and PRD grown tomatoes.
      As for shrubs, you can control the shape of the plant "; S29[14]=" quite effectively.
      Several national nurseries are already experimenting with PRD on hardy ornamentals.'.. "; R[15]="875"; T[15]="Stevia, a new crop - could replace imported chemical sweeteners"; A[15]="By ... Editor"; Dn[15]="20020829"; Dt[15]="Thursday 29 August 2002"; Acats[15]="a55a81"; B1[15]="      Stevia is a plant with carbohydrate-based compounds that are 200-300 sweeter than sugar.
      A study supported by the Rural "; B2[15]="Research and Development Corporation aims to investigate its potential as a replacement for chemical sweeteners... "; B3[15]=" "; B4[15]=" "; B5[15]=" "; S1[15]="      Stevia is a plant with carbohydrate-based compounds that are 200-300 sweeter than sugar.
      A study supported by the Rural "; S2[15]=" Research and Development Corporation aims to investigate its potential as a replacement for chemical sweeteners.
      Steviosides, can be extracted and used as "; S3[15]=" alternative sweeteners to sugars, of particular benefit to diabetics and those wishing to reduce sugar intake for health reasons.
      A review of "; S4[15]=" current literature, and visits to Japan and China were undertaken to determine the likely benefits or otherwise of establishing a stevia industry in Australia.
  "; S5[15]="     While steviosides are not currently permitted as food additives in Australia, they are in China, Japan, Taiwan and Korea.
      During "; S6[15]=" discussions with potential stakeholders in a stevia industry, it was determined to address the requirements by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ - formerly ANZFA) "; S7[15]=" for registration of stevia for use in the food industry, and to determine the economic feasibility of growing and processing stevia within Australia.
    "; S8[15]="   These two sets of activity, which will be supported by industry, university and RIRDC funding, will draw heavily upon the literature review prepared, the "; S9[15]=" contacts made during the overseas trips and on the reports that support use of steviosides in the aforementioned countries... "; R[16]="858"; T[16]="Carbon farming: A New Cash Crop?"; A[16]="By ... Editor"; Dn[16]="20020828"; Dt[16]="Wednesday 28 August 2002"; Acats[16]="a42a55"; B1[16]="      For many farmers struggling to make a living with conventional crops, a new cash crop may be on the horizon: pure carbon "; B2[16]="for its own sake... "; B3[16]=" "; B4[16]=" "; B5[16]=" "; S1[16]="      For many farmers struggling to make a living with conventional crops, a new cash crop may be on the horizon: pure carbon "; S2[16]=" for its own sake.
      Although it can't be used to feed animals or make vegetable oil, 'farming' carbon could provide extra income "; S3[16]=" for farmers and provide significant environmental benefits.
      A $15 million project being carried out by 10 US universities in the Midwest has "; S4[16]=" the goal of encouraging farmers to use methods, including 'no-till' farming, that keep carbon in the soil rather than releasing it to the atmosphere as "; S5[16]=" carbon dioxide gas.
      Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases considered a culprit in global warming.
      Widespread carbon "; S6[16]=" 'sequestration' by farmers could reduce the expected increase in carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent per year, according to leaders of the project, called CASMGS "; S7[16]=" (Consortium for Agricultural Soils Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases).
      And many agricultural experts expect that a private market will develop in 'carbon credits,' "; S8[16]=" meaning farmers who sequester carbon could sell their credits to industrial companies that emit high levels of the gas.
      This could be "; S9[16]=" done now on a voluntary basis to help companies 'green' their image.
      If Congress or state legislatures pass carbon caps, the credits "; S10[16]=" could be sold to corporations that are above the legal limit.
      A similar market in sulfur dioxide credits already exists.
    "; S11[16]="   Estimates vary on how lucrative the credits would actually be and how soon a private market for carbon credits might develop.
      "; S12[16]=" CASMGS leaders say the value of credits could be anywhere from $4 to $30 an acre.
      'There are a lot of questions "; S13[16]=" about how this would proceed, like, 'What is the value of carbon? What would the length of the contracts be? What happens if it doesn't "; S14[16]=" work out for the farmer? Could they get out of their contract?' ' CASMGS director Charles Rice, a professor of soil microbiology at Kansas State "; S15[16]=" University told the Washington Post.
      Other methods of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, including increasing efficiency in automobiles and industry and developing cleaner "; S16[16]=" energy sources, such as solar and wind, have been discussed more widely than agricultural sequestration.
      But the possibilities of no-till agriculture are "; S17[16]=" becoming more widely recognized.
      'Unless the government puts hard caps on CO2, it won't be a hard market,' said John Kimble, a "; S18[16]=" USDA research scientist who has been working on carbon sequestration techniques for several years.
      'If they do, the market will develop.
  "; S19[16]="     It's already something that's starting to happen at the state level.' In the more immediate future, farmers may benefit from government incentives for "; S20[16]=" carbon sequestration and practices, such as no-till, that trap carbon.
      Carbon sequestration has been discussed as one of the conservation credits offered "; S21[16]=" under the recently passed farm bill, according to Bill Richards, a farmer for almost 50 years and head of the soil conservation service under President "; S22[16]=" George H.W.
      Bush.
      'Carbon sequestration not only takes carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, but it increases the fertility "; S23[16]=" of the soil,' Richards said.
      'It's a win-win situation.' Carbon sequestration means delaying the decomposition of the organic matter left over from "; S24[16]=" crops after the harvest.
      As plants grow, they take carbon dioxide from the air, use the carbon to form their organic tissue "; S25[16]=" and release the oxygen into the atmosphere -- the process known as photosynthesis.
      When the plants die, their woody and leafy material "; S26[16]=" containing the carbon lie in the soil.
      As these tissues decompose, or break down through microbial activity, the carbon combines with oxygen "; S27[16]=" from the air and forms carbon dioxide gas.
      The practice of tilling, which was started with wooden plows in the early 1800s "; S28[16]=" and is carried out with high-tech plowing machinery today, vastly hastens decomposition, because it turns over and aerates the soil, stimulating microbial activity.
    "; S29[16]="   Although some might think tilling is a necessary step in planting new crops, crops can be planted amidst the residue of last year's harvest.
"; S30[16]="       No-till farming has other benefits for the farmer.
      It increases the overall health of the soil, reducing water runoff "; R[17]="849"; T[17]="New radical radial sawmill technique"; A[17]="By ... Editor"; Dn[17]="20020828"; Dt[17]="Wednesday 28 August 2002"; Acats[17]="a39a55"; B1[17]="      A revolutionary way of sawing timber has been developed by Mr Andrew Knorr has developed over the past 10 to 15 years "; B2[17]="at his Radcon plant in Yarram, South Gippsland.
      The radial sawing method allows greater use of the timber in a log, particularly "; B3[17]="smaller logs, thereby reducing the amount of waste and the number of trees needed to produce a certain amount of timber... "; B4[17]=" "; B5[17]=" "; S1[17]="      A revolutionary way of sawing timber has been developed by Mr Andrew Knorr has developed over the past 10 to 15 years "; S2[17]=" at his Radcon plant in Yarram, South Gippsland.
      The radial sawing method allows greater use of the timber in a log, particularly "; S3[17]=" smaller logs, thereby reducing the amount of waste and the number of trees needed to produce a certain amount of timber.
      Radial "; S4[17]=" sawing is better suited to plantation timber than conventional sawing methods.
      Mr Knorr told the Age that radial sawing works with the "; S5[17]=" natural biology of the tree.
      A log is sawn into wedge pieces in the same way that people cut a cake.
  "; S6[17]="     'If you have a log in a garden, as it dries, it naturally gets wedges forming,' he said.
      'You work "; S7[17]=" with the growth stress in the log.
      The timber is more stable and the recovery higher.' Mr Knorr says conventional sawmilling ignores "; S8[17]=" those natural principles and gets lower-quality timber out of smaller logs.
      Any sawing technique will get a greater recovery rate in big "; S9[17]=" logs, but radial comes into its own with logs under 400 millimetres in diameter.
      'Radial is an extremely efficient way to turn "; S10[17]=" a round log into a flat surface,' Mr Knorr said.
      'It would produce twice as much deck from a log as a "; S11[17]=" conventional mill.' With radial technology, the log is sawn into wedges by being rotated after each cut.
      Each wedge piece is then "; S12[17]=" cut by a second saw, creating pieces of different widths.
      Some may be used as weatherboards, others as flooring, decking or cladding.
"; S13[17]="       The thinnest piece - what was at the centre of the log - is being used to make a stronger garden lattice "; S14[17]=" that Mr Knorr has developed.
      The style that most characterises radial timber is what Mr Knorr calls 'wonky' weatherboards.
      "; S15[17]=" The boards have a striking appearance, and they have been used in the Eltham library and the TAFE Forestech Centre at Lakes Entrance.
    "; S16[17]="   Other buildings that have used radial timber are the Uluru cultural centre, houses at the Dinner Plain alpine resort, the Woolamai Surf Club and "; S17[17]=" the new Churchill Island visitors centre.
      Radcon is an unlisted public company with about 140 small shareholders.
      Mr Knorr "; S18[17]=" has always regarded the Yarram mill as a pilot plant to show off the radial technology.
      The company also has a selling "; S19[17]=" yard in Clayton.
      'We would like to see local industry use it,' he said.
      'The technology is proven at "; S20[17]=" the product level.' However, Mr Knorr said many local companies already had much money tied up in conventional mills.
      'Also, many don't "; S21[17]=" know what we are doing,' he said.
      According to a Radcon director, Chris McEvoy, an advantage of radial sawing is that it "; S22[17]=" is a consistent, repeatable process.
      There is less emphasis on the skill of individual sawyers, creating the possibility of setting up regionally "; S23[17]=" based radial saw mills to turn out similar products that could be marketed together.
      The higher timber recovery rate means that less "; S24[17]=" timber is needed for a radial mill, which can be smaller than conventional units.
      The Yarram plant has a licence for about "; S25[17]=" 3000 cubic metres of native hardwood.
      Exporting the technology is also a future growth area.
      Patents have been taken "; S26[17]=" out on the technology, which Mr Knorr is certain is not used anywhere else.
      The emerging market is plantations.
      "; S27[17]=" Mr McEvoy says South Africa and many South American countries are more advanced in growing plantation eucalypts than Australia is.
      'Worldwide, little "; S28[17]=" has been done on processing plantation sawlogs,' he said.
      'Plantation timber has all the problems with small diameter logs - they are "; S29[17]=" more unstable.
      'Plantation is designed to grow fast and there is much tension inside the tree.
      When they cut "; S30[17]=" the sawlog down, if it is not sawn properly, it will split.'.. "; R[18]="828"; T[18]="Young innovators recognised: AFFA Awards"; A[18]="By ... Editor"; Dn[18]="20020823"; Dt[18]="Friday 23 August 2002"; Acats[18]="a53a55"; B1[18]="      Seventeen young Australians will receive up to $8,000 each as winners of the 2002 AFFA Science and Innovation Awards for Young People, "; B2[18]="the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Warren Truss, announced today... "; B3[18]=" "; B4[18]=" "; B5[18]=" "; S1[18]="      Seventeen young Australians will receive up to $8,000 each as winners of the 2002 AFFA Science and Innovation Awards for Young People, "; S2[18]=" the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Warren Truss, announced today.
      'The successful projects include studying ants to get an indication "; S3[18]=" of landscape health; turning environmental degradation into cash; using biological controls to make cotton cropping feasible in northern Australia and revolutionising wine quality,' Mr Truss "; S4[18]=" said.
      'To ensure the benefits of these projects are shared far and wide, the participants will make the results available to a "; S5[18]=" range of industry, government and tertiary institutions.
      The award winners will also have the opportunity to tap into new networks and share "; S6[18]=" their ideas with others working in their particular fields of expertise.' Mr Truss said the awards, now in their second year, have proven very popular "; S7[18]=" among young people working in Australia's science and agriculture sectors.
      'I understand the selection panel had a tough job determining the winners,' "; S8[18]=" he said.
      'Seven State winners, and ten others sponsored by Australia's rural R&D corporations, were ultimately successful.' Mr Truss commended the nine "; S9[18]=" rural R&D organisations that participated in this year's awards.
      'Their support demonstrates a strong commitment to the young scientists working or studying "; S10[18]=" in Australia's rural industries.
      It is vital that we encourage young Australians wishing to undertake innovative research - in the laboratory or "; S11[18]=" on the farm - that will help boost the competitiveness of our rural industries and the long-term viability of our regional communities.' Mr Truss urged "; S12[18]=" eligible people to consider applying next year.
      To qualify, applicants must be aged between 18 and 35, and provide an outline of "; S13[18]=" a scientific or research-based project that can be completed within twelve-months... "; R[19]="770"; T[19]="Solar household cuts greenhouse gases to the bone"; A[19]="By ... Editor"; Dn[19]="20020814"; Dt[19]="Wednesday 14 August 2002"; Acats[19]="a36a55a94"; B1[19]="      The Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Dr David Kemp today praised a suburban family as a great example of Australians helping "; B2[19]="to cut our national greenhouse gas emissions through everyday lifestyle choices... "; B3[19]=" "; B4[19]=" "; B5[19]=" "; S1[19]="      The Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Dr David Kemp today praised a suburban family as a great example of Australians helping "; S2[19]=" to cut our national greenhouse gas emissions through everyday lifestyle choices.
      The McQuire family live in a 1929 weatherboard house located in "; S3[19]=" the inner Melbourne suburb of West Brunswick, the first solar powered house in Victoria to be connected to a commercial electricity grid.
      "; S4[19]=" (The first nationally was in Coolum in south-eastern Queensland.) 'The house features extensive solar panelling on the roof which generates electricity for hot water, the "; S5[19]=" fridge, washing machine, TV, stereo and other household appliances.
      The family uses gas for heating and cooking,' Dr Kemp said.
    "; S6[19]="   'Because of their choices, this household of two adults and two children aged seven and eleven consistently generates more electricity than they use and "; S7[19]=" receive credits from their power company rather than energy bills.' Dr Kemp was speaking at a media tour of the energy-efficient house to mark the "; S8[19]=" launch of Australia's first National Kilowatt Count, a three-week project to explore the use of energy in households across the country, which will raise awareness "; S9[19]=" of how individuals can contribute to the national reduction of greenhouse emissions.
      'Households generate one-fifth of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions - "; S10[19]=" mainly through the many simple everyday activities that make up our daily lives,' Dr Kemp said.
      'The McQuire's house is the perfect "; S11[19]=" symbol for the National Kilowatt Count because it utilises household efficiencies including compact fluorescent lamps, ceiling insulation, cold water for washes, a front loading washer "; S12[19]=" and an efficient showerhead.
      Stuart works from home and Wendy rides a bike to work.
      'Stuart McQuire conducted an "; S13[19]=" energy audit several years ago and found that the household was producing 10 tonnes of greenhouse gas per annum.
      Because of their "; S14[19]=" choices, they have reduced that by 90% to one tonne per annum.
      'Our message is that an average family, without extensive solar "; S15[19]=" paneling, can not only save on greenhouse gas emissions, but can also save hundreds of dollars a year by cutting energy bills and consumption of "; S16[19]=" products and services such as paper, water and waste disposal,' Dr Kemp said.
      The National Kilowatt Count is the national project for "; S17[19]=" Science Week 2002, conducted by the Australian Greenhouse Office in conjunction with CSIRO Education.
      From 12 to 31 August, those interested can "; S18[19]=" participate by completing the household energy use questionnaire on the special website at www.kilowattcount.gov.au or by calling 1300 130 606.
      The results "; S19[19]=" of the questionnaire will be added to a national database to produce a snapshot of household energy use across Australia.
      Materials available "; S20[19]=" through the National Kilowatt Count include a schools kit for classrooms around the country with a teacher's guide, example activities, special comic books, posters, a "; S21[19]=" copy of the survey form and a CD version of the Australian Greenhouse Calculator.
      Schools around the country will work with resources "; S22[19]=" such as the 'Global Warming, Cool It!' home guide to reducing energy costs and greenhouse gases and the 'Understanding Greenhouse Gases- Frequently Asked Questions' booklet, "; S23[19]=" and will have the chance of winning a valuable computer prize in the National Kilowatt Count schools competition.
      CSIRO Double Helix Club "; S24[19]=" events will be run around the country and will include tours of energy efficient buildings and hands-on energy experiments.
      'The National Kilowatt "; S25[19]=" Count project will give householders lots of energy efficiency tips and methods of saving energy.
      I encourage all Australians to take part "; S26[19]=" in the National Kilowatt Count over the next three weeks.
      The environment is everybody's business and through cutting our greenhouse gas emissions, "; S27[19]=" we not only contribute to Australia's future, but can perhaps save some money along the way as well,' Dr Kemp said... "; R[20]="764"; T[20]="Potato And Vegetable Research Day"; A[20]="By ... Editor"; Dn[20]="20020814"; Dt[20]="Wednesday 14 August 2002"; Acats[20]="a17a55a69"; B1[20]="      Tasmania s potato and vegetable research effort will be under public scrutiny this week.
      The fifth annual presentation day "; B2[20]="of the Potato and Vegetable Agricultural Research and Advisory Committees (ARACs) will examine the latest developments in the State s $170 million potato and vegetable "; B3[20]="industries... "; B4[20]=" "; B5[20]=" "; S1[20]="      Tasmania's potato and vegetable research effort will be under public scrutiny this week.
      The fifth annual presentation day of "; S2[20]=" the Potato and Vegetable Agricultural Research and Advisory Committees (ARACs) will examine the latest developments in the State's $170 million potato and vegetable industries.
  "; S3[20]="     The committee's executive officer, Michael Hart, says it provides an opportunity for these industries to publicly demonstrate their value and go-ahead approach on "; S4[20]=" adopting new technologies.
      'In the past few years, many advances in technology have been adopted by the vegetable industry.
      "; S5[20]=" 'There has been a significant increase in the number of centre pivots in the Midlands and North east, and even North west growing areas as "; S6[20]=" well as a greater understanding and uptake of irrigation monitoring and scheduling practices in all areas.
      'Work is also being done on "; S7[20]=" crop nutrition and disease management, with a greater understanding of these issues having the potential to increase productivity and efficiency,' Mr Hart said.
    "; S8[20]="   Some of the topics presented on the day include: · Sustainable vegetable farming systems · Management of Diamond back moth · Effect of cropping "; S9[20]=" on black cracking clays · Potato physiological age and tuber initiation.
      The presentation day will be held at the Devonport Entertainment and "; S10[20]=" Convention Centre from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm on Wednesday, August 14.
      The event is open to all R & D providers, "; S11[20]=" industry participants and people interested in the Tasmanian vegetable and potato industries.
      Mr Hart said the Research and Advisory Committee's work was "; S12[20]=" industry-driven with four main functions: · Identifying and prioritising industry issues.
      · Advising R & D providers and co-ordinating concept development proposals.
"; S13[20]="       · Reviewing concept development proposals and notifying R & D providers and external funding bodies of projects endorsed as meeting industry priorities.
"; S14[20]="       · Providing a forum for consultation and liaison between the potato industry and research, development and extension providers.
      The "; S15[20]=" Tasmanian vegetable industry is valued at around $170 million a year, of which potatoes account for close to half the total value... "; R[21]="720"; T[21]="New Patent - Edible packaging from dairy protein"; A[21]="By ... Editor"; Dn[21]="20020806"; Dt[21]="Tuesday 6 August 2002"; Acats[21]="a26a55"; B1[21]="      A scientist at the US Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has received a patent for her method to turn a milk protein into "; B2[21]="water-resistant films that could be used to coat or package foods... "; B3[21]=" "; B4[21]=" "; B5[21]=" "; S1[21]="      A scientist at the US Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has received a patent for her method to turn a milk protein into "; S2[21]=" water-resistant films that could be used to coat or package foods.
      The method removes the protein casein from milk by using carbon "; S3[21]=" dioxide under high pressure.
      Casein, which solidifies when milk is acidified, is the chief ingredient in cheese.
      It is "; S4[21]=" also used as a food supplement and as an ingredient in nonfood products including adhesives, finishing materials for paper and textiles, and paints.
    "; S5[21]="   According to ARS, until now it has been difficult to obtain films, fibres and moulded materials with acceptable mechanical properties from casein because moisture "; S6[21]=" can dissolve casein.
      The new extraction method takes advantage of casein's natural structure to form water-resisting films or coatings, according to Peggy "; S7[21]=" Tomasula, the method's inventor.
      Tomasula is a chemical engineer at the ARS Eastern Regional Research Center in Pennsylvania.
      Films "; S8[21]=" act as stand-alone sheets, while coatings are thinner and adhere directly to the product.
      Both can act as a barrier to outside "; S9[21]=" substances while protecting a product from damage or contamination.
      The new material remains intact when exposed to water, unlike water-soluble, protein-based films "; S10[21]=" patented in the past.
      The film can lock in moisture, according to Tomasula.
      Edible coatings might be used to "; S11[21]=" coat dairy food products such as cheese, or could be used as part of a laminate in packaging for cottage cheese or yoghurt.
    "; S12[21]="   Flavourings, vitamins or minerals could be added to the coating to enhance the flavour and reinforce nutrition.
      The method could also "; S13[21]=" be used to develop biodegradable packaging materials from casein.
      Casein may also be combined with plasticisers to soften and improve the flexibility "; S14[21]=" of casein-containing, non-food materials.
      In pilot plant studies, US researchers are further evaluating the method's potential.
      The patent is "; S15[21]=" available for licensing, and ARS is seeking commercial partners.
      ARS is the US Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency... "; R[22]="710"; T[22]="Strong UK demand for QLD natural food products"; A[22]="By ... Editor"; Dn[22]="20020805"; Dt[22]="Monday 5 August 2002"; Acats[22]="a08a55a78"; B1[22]="      Excellent opportunities exist for Queensland businesses looking at exporting specialist natural food products into the United Kingdom, Department of Primary Industries market "; B2[22]="research has shown.
      Noel Cheeseman, DPI Rural Market Development senior marketing officer, said demand was growing rapidly for nutraceuticals, functional foods and "; B3[22]="organic foods... "; B4[22]=" "; B5[22]=" "; S1[22]="      Excellent opportunities exist for Queensland businesses looking at exporting specialist natural food products into the United Kingdom, Department of Primary Industries market "; S2[22]=" research has shown.
      Noel Cheeseman, DPI Rural Market Development senior marketing officer, said demand was growing rapidly for nutraceuticals, functional foods and "; S3[22]=" organic foods.
      'The market for natural products which includes nutraceuticals such as vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements and functional foods including mainstream "; S4[22]=" grocery food items with added nutrients such as pro-biotics and calcium and organic products, is growing rapidly in the UK,' he said.
      "; S5[22]=" 'Strong growth has occurred in the past five years in product segments such as vegetarian meals, meat and dairy substitutes, herbal teas, sports nutrition supplements "; S6[22]=" and herbal and botanical supplements.' Mr Cheeseman spent six weeks in the UK researching the markets and said there was a high degree of market "; S7[22]=" segmentation by retailers in the UK.
      'This means Queensland specialist food manufactures wanting to break into this market needed to access detailed "; S8[22]=" market research as part of their evaluation of exporting their existing or potential product,' he said.
      Available information includes an overview of "; S9[22]=" the UK natural products sector, where it has been and where it is going as well as detailed information about many of the key players "; S10[22]=" in that industry, from importer to retailer.
      More detailed and targeted reports, including a detailed database of relevant UK contacts are available "; S11[22]=" to interested companies.
      This information is available on a fee-for-service basis from the Department's Rural Market Development staff.
      'This "; S12[22]=" service provides a useful launching point for interested parties who may then choose to access other services offered by the Department of State Development, Austrade "; S13[22]=" and specialist consultants in the United Kingdom,' Mr Cheeseman said.
      'While there are opportunities, there are also the usual pitfalls, including possible "; S14[22]=" changes to EU legislation that will severely restrict the type of nutraceutical products that can be sold in the European Union, including the UK.' In "; S15[22]=" conjunction with the Department of State Development, the DPI is proposing to run information sessions for businesses interested in exporting specialist natural products into the "; S16[22]=" UK and France.
      Details on these sessions is available by calling Noel Cheeseman on 07 3239 3535... "; R[23]="670"; T[23]="Pineapple flicker wins invention competition"; A[23]="By ... Editor"; Dn[23]="20020726"; Dt[23]="Friday 26 July 2002"; Acats[23]="a18a55"; B1[23]="      A device that boosts farm efficiency and reduces costs by separating the tops from pineapples during harvesting won first prize in an "; B2[23]="inventors competition at the recent Glasshouse Mountains Annual Pineapple Industry Field Day... "; B3[23]=" "; B4[23]=" "; B5[23]=" "; S1[23]="      A device that boosts farm efficiency and reduces costs by separating the tops from pineapples during harvesting won first prize in an "; S2[23]=" inventors competition at the recent Glasshouse Mountains Annual Pineapple Industry Field Day.
      Competition organiser, Simon Newett from the Department of Primary Industries' "; S3[23]=" Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences, said Mungar (Maryborough district) pineapple grower Russell Collins' 'flicker' invention was a worthy winner of the inaugural competition.
  "; S4[23]="     'The flicker is a hydraulic powered wheel with plastic fingers that removes the tops but not the fruit from a harvesting boom.' 'The "; S5[23]=" tops are deposited along the headland rows for easy collection for planting therefore saving time and labour costs.
      They can then be "; S6[23]=" planted elsewhere before harvesting is complete.' Mr Newett said the flicker was relatively inexpensive, could be readily built by most producers and was adjustable to "; S7[23]=" suit picking conditions and the size of fruit.
      Mr Collins was presented with a trophy and a cheque for $2000 by Todd "; S8[23]=" Parker from Favco which sponsored the inventors competition.
      Spokesman for the judges, Col Scott from Golden Circle Ltd said it was often "; S9[23]=" the simplest devices that had the greatest impact.
      The second prize of $500 was awarded to Grant Sherriff from Yeppoon for his "; S10[23]=" boom-mounted guillotine which removed pineapple tops while third prize of $300 went to Glasshouse Mountains producer Phil Davies for his pineapple top remover.
    "; S11[23]="   Mr Newett said second and third place getters had developed their inventions out of the need to retain planting material from new fresh fruit "; S12[23]=" eating hybrids and to remove the tops cleanly to ensure adequate fruit shelf-life.
      'Entries received points for innovation, design, ease of adoption, "; S13[23]=" likely impact by the pineapple industry, and also for the quality and clarity of their presentation at the competition.' 'Russell Collins presented his invention particularly "; S14[23]=" well during the day, displaying the device itself, a poster containing photographs and explanations and a video showing it in operation.' Mr Newett said the "; S15[23]=" inventions attracted keen interest from other growers and he expected many more entries in next year's competition.
      He said the annual field "; S16[23]=" day allowed pineapple growers, industry leaders and researchers to catch up with the latest information on industry developments, research and development, market trends and enabled "; S17[23]=" growers to network with each other... "; R[24]="631"; T[24]="Corn-based plastics for Laptops"; A[24]="By ... Editor"; Dn[24]="20020719"; Dt[24]="Friday 19 July 2002"; Acats[24]="a46a55a74"; B1[24]="      Fujitsu and Sony have devised a way of using biodegradable plastics in their high-tech gear.
      According to the New "; B2[24]="York Times, Sony are set to reintroduce the Walkman tape player, with 90 percent of its casing made from vegetable-based plastic... "; B3[24]=" "; B4[24]=" "; B5[24]=" "; S1[24]="      Fujitsu and Sony have devised a way of using biodegradable plastics in their high-tech gear.
      According to the New "; S2[24]=" York Times, Sony are set to reintroduce the Walkman tape player, with 90 percent of its casing made from vegetable-based plastic.
      Fujitsu "; S3[24]=" plans to use the same plastic in the shell of its Biblo laptop computers starting in 2004.
      The green ingredient in this "; S4[24]=" plastic is polylactic acid, a corn-based polymer.
      Fujitsu experimented with the substance in industrial tape in 1996 but could not produce it "; S5[24]=" cheaply.
      Two years ago, Cargill Dow, a joint venture of the Dow Chemical Company and the commodities processor Cargill Inc., came up "; S6[24]=" with a cheaper version that is as strong as the plastic in most consumer electronics.
      The plastic disintegrates in just a few "; S7[24]=" months, with the speed depending on the soil composition, temperature and the extent to which the plastics are exposed to air.
      Fujitsu "; S8[24]=" has begun using the corn-based plastic in bits of its laptop computers but says more flammability tests will be needed before it can become the "; S9[24]=" chief material.
      The degradable plastic is produced with less petroleum, and emits no dioxin when it is burned or buried.
    "; S10[24]="   Ultimately it is expected to make up the entire housing, making sorting and disassembling the machine easier.
      That is an important "; S11[24]=" cost savings for Fujitsu, which under Japanese law must collect and recycle its computers.
      The computer's environmentally friendly imprimatur may also win "; S12[24]=" it more contracts from Japan's government, which has a mandate to buy environmentally friendly products... "; R[25]="622"; T[25]="Foot and mouth study supports vaccination"; A[25]="By ... Editor"; Dn[25]="20020718"; Dt[25]="Thursday 18 July 2002"; Acats[25]="a09a27a33a55"; B1[25]="      Vaccination should be a key part of tackling any future foot and mouth disease outbreak in the UK, says a new Royal "; B2[25]="Society report on the scientific issues underpinning the disastrous 2001 epidemic... "; B3[25]=" "; B4[25]=" "; B5[25]=" "; S1[25]="      Vaccination should be a key part of tackling any future foot and mouth disease outbreak in the UK, says a new Royal "; S2[25]=" Society report on the scientific issues underpinning the disastrous 2001 epidemic.
      The recommendation will please the critics who were horrified at the "; S3[25]=" UK government's decision to stamp out the epidemic through slaughter alone.
      Six million animals were killed and an estimated £6 billion was "; S4[25]=" spent on the slaughter, compensation and clean-up work.
      'There are now no insuperable problems with vaccination, whether technical, scientific, trade or cultural,' "; S5[25]=" Brian Follett, the biologist who chaired the report panel, told New Scientist.
      Much of the pressure to resist vaccination came from the "; S6[25]=" National Farmers Union, which pointed out that exports to FMD-free countries would take longer to resume if animals were vaccinated.
      This is "; S7[25]=" because it has been difficult to tell apart animals that have had the disease and those that have been vaccinated.
      But the "; S8[25]=" Royal Society report argues that tests that make that distinction exist, and are now undergoing evaluation.
      Furthermore, an international agreement in May "; S9[25]=" has cut the delay in the resuming of exports following vaccination from nine to six months.
      The delay following a slaughter-only policy "; S10[25]=" is three months.
      Commenting on the new report, Stephen Rossedes, head of the NFU's food health and science department, said that the "; S11[25]=" union backs the use of vaccination as an option, 'subject to the development of better vaccines and validation of the distinguishing tests'.
      "; S12[25]=" Tony Little, a vice president of the British Veterinary Association, says that vaccination could play a role.
      But he doubts it would "; S13[25]=" have helped in 2001 because 'by the time the first infection was diagnosed in Essex, the virus had spread to 57 premises in 16 counties.' "; S14[25]=" The Royal Society report only backs vaccination as an emergency containment measure during an outbreak, not for mass protection of national herds.
      "; S15[25]=" 'We conclude we should continue as a nation to be disease-free without routine vaccination,' says Follett.
      But the ultimate goal should be "; S16[25]=" to develop a vaccine that can be given routinely and the UK itself should spearhead an international programme to develop it, says the report.
  "; S17[25]="     Existing vaccines only protect livestock for six months, but the 'ideal' vaccine should protect for life against all seven major strains of FMD.
"; S18[25]="       It will take at least 10 years to develop... "; R[26]="607"; T[26]="Bush tucker a hit overseas"; A[26]="By ... Editor"; Dn[26]="20020717"; Dt[26]="Wednesday 17 July 2002"; Acats[26]="a55a78"; B1[26]="      Australian native foods but they don t appear on our supermarket shelves, but they do in London or Singapore.... "; B2[26]=" "; B3[26]=" "; B4[26]=" "; B5[26]=" "; S1[26]="      Australian native foods but they don't appear on our supermarket shelves, but they do in London or Singapore.
      Indeed "; S2[26]=" the British, despite their reputation for conservative palates, now consume 10 times more Australian native produce than we eat at home.
      They "; S3[26]=" even have a factory in Glasgow that processes ingredients such as our bush tomato, desert lime, lemon myrtle, mountain pepper and wattle seed into a "; S4[26]=" range of convenience foods marketed as Australian and offered in supermarkets across the country next to Italian pasta sauces and Asian stir-fry paste.
    "; S5[26]="   This did not come about because we pursued the market, it came about because the British food industry,wanting something different, pursued us.
    "; S6[26]="   Last week a delegation from Singapore was in Adelaide doing the same.
      They were representatives of a supermarket chain, seeking to "; S7[26]=" increase the range on sale there of what we have popularly called 'bush tucker'.
      And it seems those proudest of national tastebuds, "; S8[26]=" the French, are not far behind in their curiosity about what might be the last gastronomic frontier.
      But not us.
    "; S9[26]="   Juleigh Robbins is a Melbourne businesswoman who knows better than most the obstacles to getting native foods accepted at home.
      She "; S10[26]=" and her husband Ian, both chefs by trade, have been running a business supplying fresh and processed native foods since 1987.
      Most "; S11[26]=" of their raw materials are sourced from Aboriginal communities.
      In their small Braeside factory, they produce a wide range of sauces and "; S12[26]=" packaged dry ingredients that are only now making their way into Australian supermarkets.
      'Part of the problem is the settler mentality.
  "; S13[26]="     We have been here 200 years and most of us know about as much about native food as when the first Europeans arrived.
"; S14[26]="       They suffered severe malnutrition and yet there was all this food around them.
      Many of them took the attitude "; S15[26]=" they would rather starve than eat blackfella food.' She told the Age.
      While starvation is less likely today, Rod Short, who owns "; S16[26]=" the Flamin' Bull restaurants in Melbourne and Warragul, has found a similar attitude to indigenous food.
      The restaurants, largely staffed by Aborigines, "; S17[26]=" offer an almost entirely native-inspired menu, which - as well as the more common kangaroo and emu - also offer more challenging dishes such as "; S18[26]=" possum and wallaby culled from Tasmania.
      'We find international tourists go to great trouble to seek us out and can't get enough "; S19[26]=" of our food, but getting it accepted by locals is hard work.
      I'm not sure of the reason, it might be that "; S20[26]=" Australians still find it too confronting facing Aborigines and Aboriginal food.' Prophets are said to have little chance being recognised in their own land.
  "; S21[26]="     In Australia this appears the case for many things home-grown.
      Are we faced with a rerun of the macadamia nut "; S22[26]=" debacle, where we ignored the nut until the Americans commercialised it? Then there was Aboriginal art that had to wait for acclaim from foreign collectors, "; S23[26]=" or the early days of the Australian wine industry, where we declined to embrace the local product until it was applauded overseas.
      "; S24[26]=" Some native foods are already applauded without us being aware of it.
      What is sold as spinach in Spain, Portugal and some "; S25[26]=" US states, is an Australian native known as Warragul Greens, but try buying it at the local greengrocer or supermarket.
      In Africa, "; S26[26]=" Australian acacias - admired for their ability to grow and fruit in drought - are being grown for their seed, which is harvested as an "; S27[26]=" important source of protein.
      This ability to survive drought is one of the attractions of Australian plants for scientists faced with a "; S28[26]=" future world of overpopulation and greenhouse-induced warming.
      It is believed the Israelis are trying to work out ways of commercialising one of "; S29[26]=" our desert fruits, the quandong, that produces prolifically and tastes vaguely like a peach.
      There are hundreds of other candidates, but one "; S30[26]=" dilemma for those seeking to promote them is taste.
      One approach is to facilitate acceptance by offering foods and spices with flavours "; R[27]="564"; T[27]="Really tiny horses"; A[27]="By ... Editor"; Dn[27]="20020710"; Dt[27]="Wednesday 10 July 2002"; Acats[27]="a31a55"; B1[27]="      At Paradise Ranch in Arcadia, Florida, a 12-inch (30cm) horse was has been born.... "; B2[27]=" "; B3[27]=" "; B4[27]=" "; B5[27]=" "; S1[27]="      At Paradise Ranch in Arcadia, Florida, a 12-inch (30cm) horse was has been born.
      Ranch owner Kristy Wurtele predicts "; S2[27]=" this foal just might come in under the current Guinness world record holder, a 21-inch horse.
      Miniature horses are not ponies, but "; S3[27]=" scaled-down, perfectly proportioned horses that were originally bred for the children of royalty about 400 years ago.
      They grow to a maximum "; S4[27]=" of 34 inches - or, in the words of American Miniature Horse Association literature, 'no bigger than a large dog.' According to the Alvarado, Texas-based "; S5[27]=" association, which has 140,000 miniature horses in its registry, they were introduced to America in the late 1800s.
      Today people enjoy showing "; S6[27]=" and breeding miniature horses as a hobby and business, says Jennifer Zehnder, the association's marketing director.
      'A lot of older individuals turn "; S7[27]=" to miniature horses in retirement,' Zehnder said.
      'They're about a tenth of what a larger horse will cost you in expenses.' Riding "; S8[27]=" miniature horses is not practical because of their size, but people do teach them to pull carts and jump while being led in a halter.
"; S9[27]="       Champion miniature horses can bring in big bucks.
      In May, a yearling miniature filly brought $80,000 at an Indiana "; S10[27]=" auction, and a 20-year-old stallion fetched $72,000 in Ocala, Fla.
      But it is fame that Islands Sheeza Survivor - Weewon for short "; S11[27]=" - has attracted so far in her short, eventful life.
      Sorrel-colored Weewon, her fur still fuzzy and thick, weighs about 25 pounds "; S12[27]=" now and stands nearly 16 inches.
      'You look like one of those funny stuffed animals you put on the bed,' Wurtele said, "; S13[27]=" picking up Weewon like a puppy.
      Wurtele believes Weewon will top out somewhere around 19 inches.
      'Just like all "; S14[27]=" babies, they grow really fast,' she said, noting that 90 percent of their growth is during the first year.
      Zehnder says a "; S15[27]=" miniature horse as small as 12 inches at birth is not all that uncommon, but Wurtele believes Weewon is exceptional since she was an upside-down "; S16[27]=" breech birth.
      Weewon's mother, Islands St.
      Lucia, had been in labor for 25 minutes, and the situation was getting "; S17[27]=" desperate.
      'The reality is, if a foal has not been born within 20 minutes of the onset of labor the prospects for "; S18[27]=" a live birth rapidly diminish,' Wurtele said.
      After trying to reposition the foal with the help of a family friend, Wurtele said "; S19[27]=" her focus turned to saving the mare's life, fearing at this point that the foal was already lost.
      When she was able "; S20[27]=" to extract the foal, she wasn't breathing.
      'I thumped her on the chest, breathed in one nostril, pushed on the chest,' Wurtele "; S21[27]=" said.
      'I did that three times, and she gasped for breath and it was like, 'Hello!' And all she wanted to do "; S22[27]=" is eat.' Wurtele now has 70 animals on the farm, ranging from pygmy goats to American bobtail cats, both of which she also breeds.
  "; S23[27]="     But it is miniature horses that have held her fancy for most of her life.
      Today Wurtele has a herd "; S24[27]=" of 45... "; R[28]="558"; T[28]="Plastic water catchment for SA"; A[28]="By ... Editor"; Dn[28]="20020709"; Dt[28]="Tuesday 9 July 2002"; Acats[28]="a40a55a68"; B1[28]="      What is believed to be South Australia s first large-scale dam catchment scheme using plastic has been installed on Boston Island, off "; B2[28]="Port Lincoln... "; B3[28]=" "; B4[28]=" "; B5[28]=" "; S1[28]="      What is believed to be South Australia's first large-scale dam catchment scheme using plastic has been installed on Boston Island, off Port "; S2[28]=" Lincoln.
      The city's mayor and owner of the island, Peter Davis, has installed 2,500 square metres of plastic to catch rainfall and "; S3[28]=" channel it into a dam.
      Mr Davis told the ABC that while it is not uncommon to line dams with plastic.
  "; S4[28]="     This is believed to be the first time in the state and possibly Australia where it has been used to provide a "; S5[28]=" catchment area.
      He says artificially enhancing a catchment region could become the 'way of the future' for areas with troubled water supplies.
"; S6[28]="       The runoff in dray areas is so low that the plastic liner is needed to increase the inflow to the dam... "; R[29]="541"; T[29]="Using hydroponics to ensure green feed supplies"; A[29]="By ... Editor"; Dn[29]="20020708"; Dt[29]="Monday 8 July 2002"; Acats[29]="a32a55"; B1[29]="      Green feed when you want it all year-round could add a new dimension to the pastoral industry, enabling stock to be finished "; B2[29]="or at least maintained under the bite of drought... "; B3[29]=" "; B4[29]=" "; B5[29]=" "; S1[29]="      Green feed when you want it all year-round could add a new dimension to the pastoral industry, enabling stock to be finished "; S2[29]=" or at least maintained under the bite of drought.
      The idea of hydroponic low-cost grass production is not new.
      "; S3[29]=" But pastoralist Tim D'Arcy in conjunction with business partners Mike Biggs and Gary Crabb have gone a step further and built a fully automatic green-house-like "; S4[29]=" grass production system which has a unique watering system... "; R[30]="530"; T[30]="Growing Peanut crops monitored by aerial survey"; A[30]="By ... Editor"; Dn[30]="20020702"; Dt[30]="Tuesday 2 July 2002"; Acats[30]="a02a17a18a55a72"; B1[30]="      A simple, low-cost near infrared, photographic technique developed by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, is allowing accurate aerial assessment of growing "; B2[30]="crops... "; B3[30]=" "; B4[30]=" "; B5[30]=" "; S1[30]="      A simple, low-cost near infrared, photographic technique developed by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, is allowing accurate aerial assessment of growing "; S2[30]=" crops.
      Principal Scientist from the Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences, Dr Graeme Wright, Kingaroy, has installed a standard, $5000 digital camera "; S3[30]=" fitted with an infra-red lens into a light aircraft and has been able to identify high and low yielding areas in peanut fields.
    "; S4[30]="   'The camera and lens system have also helped us to identify stressed areas having high aflatoxin risk and faulty water distribution by centre pivot "; S5[30]=" irrigators in cropping regions in southern Queensland.' Dr Wright said.
      He said that the DPI peanut research team has been working in "; S6[30]=" close collaboration with aerial operator, Tony Pratt, to develop the system.
      After a number of test flights around Kingaroy, the DPI camera "; S7[30]=" system mounted in an open window of the aircraft has proven to be almost as good as more professional video aerial imagery systems, which cost "; S8[30]=" nearly 10 to 20 times more.
      'Once the digital images have been collected, we have been able to adapt widely available image "; S9[30]=" processing software to colour enhance the images for interpretation by farmers and agronomists.' 'In the near future we believe we can link the Near Infra "; S10[30]=" Red photographs with Global Information Systems (GIS) data to make pre-harvest crop estimates and precision agriculture recommendations.' Dr Wright said.
      He said "; S11[30]=" that the DPI research initiative builds on work carried under the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) supported Yield Gap and Aflatoxin Management projects which "; S12[30]=" have been conducted over the past few years.
      'The remote sensing imagery offers farmers a unique and low cost technique for visualising "; S13[30]=" the enormous variability, which typifies a lot of cropping area in the Burnett and other regions.' 'By identifying the location and extent of these problem "; S14[30]=" areas in farmers' crops, specific management strategies may be targeted to overcome these constraints.' Dr Wright said... "; R[31]="477"; T[31]="Biodiesel plans please canola growers"; A[31]="By ... Editor"; Dn[31]="20020614"; Dt[31]="Friday 14 June 2002"; Acats[31]="a36a55a82"; B1[31]="      A local bio-diesel plant could open up a new canola marketing option for farmers and benefit the region, according to three Mid "; B2[31]="West canola growers... "; B3[31]=" "; B4[31]=" "; B5[31]=" "; S1[31]="      A local bio-diesel plant could open up a new canola marketing option for farmers and benefit the region, according to three Mid "; S2[31]=" West canola growers.
      Avon and John Warr and Brady Green were responding to plans by the Mid West Development Commission to use "; S3[31]=" a $17,500 grant from the State Government's Regional Development Scheme to investigate the feasibility of a new local bio-diesel industry.
      According to "; S4[31]=" the commission, markets in Europe are eager to take bio-diesel as an alternative to existing fuel sources.
      'If it opens up another "; S5[31]=" marketing opportunity for farmers, it is good for the (canola) price,' Chapman Valley farmer Brady Green told the West Australian... "; R[32]="397"; T[32]="Smart Ideas Award 2002"; A[32]="By ... Editor"; Dn[32]="20020521"; Dt[32]="Tuesday 21 May 2002"; Acats[32]="a55"; B1[32]="      The Department of Primary Industries hopes to encourage Queensland s closet innovators to air and share their ideas by establishing the inaugural "; B2[32]="Smart Ideas Award.
      The Award is open to any Queenslander with a concept or idea that could enhance one of the State "; B3[32]="s food or fibre industries... "; B4[32]=" "; B5[32]=" "; S1[32]="      The Department of Primary Industries hopes to encourage Queensland's closet innovators to air and share their ideas by establishing the inaugural Smart "; S2[32]=" Ideas Award.
      The Award is open to any Queenslander with a concept or idea that could enhance one of the State's food "; S3[32]=" or fibre industries.
      'The Award aims to help generate ideas that add impetus to innovations that benefit food and fibre industries in "; S4[32]=" Queensland,' said Department of Primary industries' Director-General, Dr Warren Hoey.
      He encourages potential applicants to think outside the (paddock) square.
    "; S5[32]="   'These ideas could come from a variety of fields, including information communication technology, biotechnology, software development or multimedia - to name just a few.' "; S6[32]=" The Smart Ideas Award recipient will receive a $7000 prize package to help them develop their idea and nudge it closer to commercial reality.
  "; S7[32]="     The Smart Ideas Award is one of the latest initiatives of the Queensland Food and Fibre Science and Innovation Council, which was established "; S8[32]=" in 1999 to determine the State's key priorities in relation to investment in food and fibre science, technology and innovation... "; R[33]="389"; T[33]="Potential for forage trees and shrubs in Australia"; A[33]="By ... Editor"; Dn[33]="20020509"; Dt[33]="Thursday 9 May 2002"; Acats[33]="a55a81a84"; B1[33]="      A recent Rural Industries Research Development Corporation study (RIRDC Publication No 02/039) found that there are currently some 200 000 ha of "; B2[33]="cultivated forage trees and shrubs in Australia... "; B3[33]=" "; B4[33]=" "; B5[33]=" "; S1[33]="      A recent Rural Industries Research Development Corporation study (RIRDC Publication No 02/039) found that there are currently some 200 000 ha of "; S2[33]=" cultivated forage trees and shrubs in Australia.
      The vast majority of this area is planted to three species, Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), Tagasaste "; S3[33]=" (Chamaecytisus proliferus) and Saltbush (Atriplex spp.).
      Of this total, an estimated 100 000 ha is planted to Tagasaste in south western and "; S4[33]=" southern Australia, 50 000 ha to Leucaena in the sub-tropical north east, and 50 000 ha to various Atriplex species on salt affected land in "; S5[33]=" Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
      In addition to this, the study identified a small area, estimated to be "; S6[33]=" less than 10 000 ha, planted to other species, predominantly Acacia saligna.
      The area planted to the three main species was found "; S7[33]=" to have increased six-fold over the ten years since the last national survey.
      Over that same period, 101 species from 33 genera "; S8[33]=" were advocated in the literature as having potential as forage trees or shrubs, but no new species were found to have achieved commercial levels of "; S9[33]=" adoption.
      The potential area suited to cultivation of the three main forage trees and shrubs on the basis of soil type and "; S10[33]=" climate is estimated to be 9.3 million ha.
      Of this, 1.3 million ha is considered to be suitable for Tagasaste, 4 million "; S11[33]=" ha for Leucaena and 4 million ha for saltbush.
      Given the fact that these areas are subject to competing land uses and "; S12[33]=" that there are constraints to the adoption of agroforestry systems that generate products solely for on-farm use due to the high initial investment cost, a "; S13[33]=" 20% adoption rate is considered to be a realistic target.
      This would suggest a potential area of some 2 million hectares of "; S14[33]=" these species, representing a ten-fold increase in the area currently planted.
      Due to the small proportion of their total biomass that is "; S15[33]=" edible, their higher establishment costs compared to herbaceous forages, and the delay until they are fully productive, fodder trees and shrubs need to demonstrate a "; S16[33]=" substantial improvement in the quantity, quality and timing of feed supply over conventional sources before they represent commercially viable alternatives.
      A finding "; S17[33]=" of this study is that researchers proposing the development of new fodder trees have rarely compared their feed value to that of conventional pasture or "; S18[33]=" crop stubbles in order to assess their commercial viability.
      Such a commercial advantage has only been clearly demonstrated for two species in "; S19[33]=" Australia, Leucaena and Tagasaste.
      It is recommended that the most cost effective means of achieving an increase in the use of forage "; S20[33]=" trees and shrubs for animal production in Australia is to invest in further development of Leucaena and Tagasaste, the only species with high forage value "; S21[33]=" to have achieved any significant degree of commercial acceptance.
      It is suggested that this investment target three areas of R, D & "; S22[33]=" E with respect to these two species: 1.
      Selection and breeding programs for Leucaena and Tagasaste to overcome the current biological constraints "; S23[33]=" to their wider use, including reducing the levels of anti-nutritive compounds, expanding adaptation to a wider range of soil types, and improving resistance to disease, "; S24[33]=" insects and frost.
      In the case of Leucaena, promising accessions including the F1 hybrid L.
      leucocephala K636 x L.
"; S25[33]="       pallida K748 have been identified and warrant further development.
      In the case of Tagasaste, the industry relies on an "; S26[33]=" extremely narrow genetic base, with all commercial plantings being derived from a few lines introduced over 100 years ago since naturalized.
      2.
"; S27[33]="       On-farm demonstrations to quantify economic benefits of animal production and demonstrate grazing management systems in established stands of Leucaena and Tagasaste.
  "; S28[33]="     Such demonstrations need to be regionally targeted, given that the optimum use of these species varies with region, farm and the class of "; S29[33]=" grazing animal.
      3.
      Research into declining soil pH under stands of Leucaena and strategies to ameliorate this problem.
  "; S30[33]="     4.
      Research into alternative financing arrangements.
      As the commercial lending policy of banks is geared towards annual "; R[34]="374"; T[34]="New wheat variety for steamed buns"; A[34]="By ... Editor"; Dn[34]="20020509"; Dt[34]="Thursday 9 May 2002"; Acats[34]="a22a55a81"; B1[34]="      A new experimental wheat line has been developed specifically for making Chinese steamed buns.
      Commercial evaluation of the wheat "; B2[34]="variety WAWHT2193 ,developed specifically for use in the manufacture of steam buns is underway in the central WA Wheatbelt... "; B3[34]=" "; B4[34]=" "; B5[34]=" "; S1[34]="      A new experimental wheat line has been developed specifically for making Chinese steamed buns.
      Commercial evaluation of the wheat "; S2[34]=" variety WAWHT2193 ,developed specifically for use in the manufacture of steam buns is underway in the central WA Wheatbelt.
      The experimental will "; S3[34]=" this year be trialled in a designated zone.
      Cunderdin grain grower Rodney Rogers took delivery of the new seed this week and "; S4[34]=" is looking to plant after more rains.
      The contracts for the 500-tonne seed trial were completed late last week with the developing "; S5[34]=" partnership of Department of Agriculture, Australian Wheat Board, the Grains Research and Development Corporation and Cooperative Bulk Handling looking to fill a 20,000t contract with "; S6[34]=" a Chinese buyer over two years.
      Mr Rogers told the West Australian that the evaluation had appealed to him because it was "; S7[34]=" a low protein contract so the line would be suited to an area on his property with a history of producing lower-than-average-protein grain... "; R[35]="334"; T[35]="Steamed bread market evaluation"; A[35]="By ... Editor"; Dn[35]="20020501"; Dt[35]="Wednesday 1 May 2002"; Acats[35]="a10a22a55a76"; B1[35]="      The WA Department of Agriculture is seeking the co-operation of wheat growers in growing wheat for a steamed-bread market evaluation.... "; B2[35]=" "; B3[35]=" "; B4[35]=" "; B5[35]=" "; S1[35]="      The WA Department of Agriculture is seeking the co-operation of wheat growers in growing wheat for a steamed-bread market evaluation.
    "; S2[35]="   Department wheat development officer Steve Penny said the commercial evaluation of the breeding line WAWHT2193 by industry over the 2002/03 and 2003/04 seasons was "; S3[35]=" critical to test market requirements for a potential new wheat quality type.
      Mr Penny said the department was working in collaboration with "; S4[35]=" GRDC, the AWB and CBH to examine market suitability for steamed bread.
      'WAWHT2193 was initially identified in 1999, during collaborative work between "; S5[35]=" the department and AWB,' he said.
      'It was further examined through the National Wheat Quality Evaluation Program and found to have very "; S6[35]=" good quality for the steamed bread market.' Dr Iain Barclay, who bred the prototype steamed bread wheat and Mr Richard Williams, Grain Development Manager with "; S7[35]=" AWB Ltd, recognised the need for a commercial evaluation of WAWHT2193 to establish clear quality requirements for breeding and production objectives.
      'Important "; S8[35]=" properties for steamed bread include low to moderate protein wheat and very white flour.
      The industry needs market direction to allow future "; S9[35]=" development of a potential new niche market for the WA wheat industry' Mr Williams said.
      Dr Barclay said that interested growers would "; S10[35]=" find WAWHT2193 was a high yielding line with maturity similar to Arrino.
      In trials over the last three years, it out-yielded Westonia "; S11[35]=" by seven percent in the target production zone and was also resistant to leaf rust.
      'However, this prototype is susceptible to some "; S12[35]=" strains of stem rust (less than Westonia), is prone to sprouting (similar to Brookton) and black point (similar to Eradu)' Dr Barclay said.
    "; S13[35]="   As a result, WAWHT2193 would only be grown under controlled conditions in areas where these risks were more manageable.
      Based on "; S14[35]=" market evaluation through the Fremantle port zone, the most suitable area was east of a line from Calingiri to Pingelly, and bounded on the eastern "; S15[35]=" perimeter by the approximate vicinity of Wongan Hills, Wyalkatchem, Doodlakine and Corrigin.
      Growers interested in participating in the WAWHT2193 contract grain production "; S16[35]=" should contact Mr Penny at the Department of Agriculture in Merredin on 9081 3111 or the AWB offices at Wongan Hills 9671 1755 or Merredin "; S17[35]=" 9041 1462... "; R[36]="332"; T[36]="Proof is in the dough for new wheat varieties"; A[36]="By ... Editor"; Dn[36]="20020501"; Dt[36]="Wednesday 1 May 2002"; Acats[36]="a10a22a55"; B1[36]="      Evidence of the value of 13 years of breeding effort required for a new wheat variety is being reinforced with the performance "; B2[36]="of Department of Primary Industries bred wheat varieties in field conditions and their acceptance by processors and exporters... "; B3[36]=" "; B4[36]=" "; B5[36]=" "; S1[36]="      Evidence of the value of 13 years of breeding effort required for a new wheat variety is being reinforced with the performance "; S2[36]=" of Department of Primary Industries bred wheat varieties in field conditions and their acceptance by processors and exporters.
      DPI Agency for Food "; S3[36]=" and Fibre Sciences principal plant breeder John Sheppard said the varieties Lang and Strzelecki had performed particularly well and were included in the domestic milling "; S4[36]=" market's preferred varieties list.
      Mr Sheppard said the long lead-time was necessary to allow a rigorous selection and assessment process.
    "; S5[36]="   This ensured the highest quality of wheat was released onto the market.
      'In addition to the current essential requirements for high "; S6[36]=" yield, prime hard quality and rust resistance, new varieties will also have resistance to one or more other factors that constrain Queensland wheat production including "; S7[36]=" yellow spot, root lesion nematode, crown rot, black point and sprouting,' he said.
      All these factors were taken into account when new "; S8[36]=" crosses were planned, he said.
      'Part of the solution is careful use of genetics, so that as new varieties are planned, current "; S9[36]=" attributes are retained and new ones introduced,' Mr Sheppard said.
      'While biotechnology is the buzz-word at the moment, our work still uses "; S10[36]=" traditional breeding techniques, supported by some low level biotechnological techniques to help speed up early generation breeding.' Mr Sheppard said despite the use of some "; S11[36]=" exact science, much of breeding was still a numbers game.
      'From the time a new cross which can produce 20,000 F2 selections "; S12[36]=" is made, we progress through a filtering process so that by the time we reach the field trial stage, we have reduced that number to "; S13[36]=" 1500 lines.
      'Further filtering and selection provides lines for regional trials, where about 50 lines are assessed, and from these one or "; S14[36]=" perhaps two varieties are selected for commercial release.' Mr Sheppard said the evaluation process included assessment of agronomic performance, disease resistance and grain quality attributes.
"; S15[36]="       'In addition to producers who require good agronomic performance, millers, bakers, and other food processors demand the highest quality for the production "; S16[36]=" of a wide range of wheat based products, both here in Australia and for export,' he said.
      'Our wheat quality laboratory in "; S17[36]=" Toowoomba assesses breeding lines for various quality aspects including milling and processing quality and end use suitability.
      'A breeding line with one "; S18[36]=" outstanding quality or other attribute may ultimately be rejected because it is weak in one or more other areas.
      'This is a "; S19[36]=" reflection of the increasing emphasis being placed on specific quality attributes by both domestic and international buyers and why the new generation wheats should be "; S20[36]=" seriously considered by growers,' Mr Sheppard said.
      One successful variety developed by the DPI Agency For Food and Fibre Sciences was the "; S21[36]=" intermediate maturity variety, Lang, which became available to growers in 2001.
      Lang possessed good quality and disease resistance attributes with proven yielding "; S22[36]=" capacity in both dryland and irrigated situations.
      'Lang's winning performance in the 2000/01 Royal Agricultural Society's Irrigated Crop Competition where it yielded "; S23[36]=" 7.39 tonnes per hectare demonstrates the flexibility of the variety which was originally bred for dryland conditions,' Mr Sheppard said.
      Strzelecki, an "; S24[36]=" early maturing variety released by the Agency in 2000, had also proven popular with producers and processors.
      'Strzelecki has recorded yields 8 "; S25[36]=" percent higher than Batavia or Sunco in DPI trials and has also demonstrated 65 percent higher yields than Batavia or Sunco when yellow spot is "; S26[36]=" rife,' Mr Sheppard said.
      Both Lang and Strzelecki were among the top varieties of choice for the important domestic milling market because "; S27[36]=" of their specific good quality attributes.
      'With ongoing grower funding support through the GRDC, our aim is to ultimately produce the ideal "; S28[36]=" wheat that will further enhance the good reputation enjoyed by Queensland bred wheat varieties in the domestic and international markets,' Mr Sheppard said.
    "; S29[36]="   'The shift to the new generation wheats such as Lang and Strzelecki is helping this process while at the same time providing growers with "; S30[36]=" varieties that offer a range of agronomic advantages.'.. "; R[37]="326"; T[37]="Blue Smokebush - A new product for Australia s export Cutflower industry"; A[37]="By ... Editor"; Dn[37]="20020501"; Dt[37]="Wednesday 1 May 2002"; Acats[37]="a17a55"; B1[37]="      Successful propagation of the wildflower blue smokebush has opened up an export marketing window for Australia s cut flower industry, particularly for "; B2[37]="the Japanese wedding bouquet and ikebana trade... "; B3[37]=" "; B4[37]=" "; B5[37]=" "; S1[37]="      Successful propagation of the wildflower blue smokebush has opened up an export marketing window for Australia's cut flower industry, particularly for the "; S2[37]=" Japanese wedding bouquet and ikebana trade.
      A report on research funded by the RIRDC's Wildflower & Native Plants Program says the work "; S3[37]=" followed up earlier studies that identifi ed smokebush as having excellent cut fl ower potential.
      Test marketing showed strong demand for blue "; S4[37]=" smokebush with good prices, and the unique Australian native wildflower is used as an alternative to the widely used gypsophila.
      The challenge "; S5[37]=" of the research, by Dr Kevin Seaton of Agriculture Western Australia, was to find the right varieties and to establish reliable methods of propagating and "; S6[37]=" cultivating the wildflower.
      Three species of smokebush, all blue varieties, were eventually selected.
      These were Conospermum eatoniae, Conospermum caeruleum "; S7[37]=" and Conospermum amoenum, which have different forms and a spread of flowering times.
      The work opens the way for a specialist nursery "; S8[37]=" with the capability to develop the necessary infrastructure and implement difficult propagation systems to commercialise production of blue smokebush.
      A farmnote from "; S9[37]=" the WA Department of Agriculture (www.agric.wa.gov.au)covers aspects of site preparation, plant establishment and irrigation methods.
      Growers need to use this information along "; S10[37]=" with a fertiliser program, plant trellising, pruning strategies and suitable postharvest handling practices, adapting the methodology to suit their own farm situation.. "; R[38]="325"; T[38]="New cashew hybrids"; A[38]="By ... Editor"; Dn[38]="20020501"; Dt[38]="Wednesday 1 May 2002"; Acats[38]="a18a55a81"; B1[38]="      To be competitive on world markets,locally grown cashew must be farmed intensively,with low labour inputs.The trees must be high yielding and consistently "; B2[38]="produce nuts of excellent quality... "; B3[38]=" "; B4[38]=" "; B5[38]=" "; S1[38]="      Australia imports $50 million cashew annually.
      Together with a projected increase in world demand, this represents both import replacement "; S2[38]=" and export opportunities for prospective Australian growers.
      To be competitive on world markets,locally grown cashew must be farmed intensively,with low labour inputs.The "; S3[38]=" trees must be high yielding and consistently produce nuts of excellent quality.
      Since the late 1980's RIRDC has been involved in research "; S4[38]=" to provide improved varieties and management technologies to enhance the industry's competitiveness in a growing global market.
      Between 1998 and 2001 some "; S5[38]=" of the most promising hybrids, planted near Darwin and near Cairns in the early 1990s, were intensively assessed and evaluated.
      To meet "; S6[38]=" both productivity and quality targets, these hybrids were assessed in terms of yield, nut size and kernel recovery (the proportion of kernel in the whole "; S7[38]=" nut-in-shell).
      At each site, individual trees high quality yield hybrid families were selected for release to commercial cashew operations.
      "; S8[38]=" Genetic analyses indicated that the traits studied had relatively high heritabilities suggesting considerable scope for further improvement by breeding.
      Eleven new cashew "; S9[38]=" hybrids have been identified for further development by the Australian Industry.
      The productivity of the best 1991 and 1992 hybrids was similar, "; S10[38]=" and in many cases superior, to the best performing selections reported elsewhere.
      Production levels of the new Australian hybrids equate to yields "; S11[38]=" of 2-3 t /ha, compared to a world average yield of 0.5-1.0 t /ha.
      There is still considerable potential for improving these "; S12[38]=" hybrids by breeding... "; R[39]="322"; T[39]="On the menu: new website for Native Foods"; A[39]="By ... Editor"; Dn[39]="20020501"; Dt[39]="Wednesday 1 May 2002"; Acats[39]="a37a55a78a81"; B1[39]="      A new website that supports the development of the Australian Native Food Industry has recently been launched.... "; B2[39]=" "; B3[39]=" "; B4[39]=" "; B5[39]=" "; S1[39]="      A new website that supports the development of the Australian Native Food Industry has recently been launched.
      Developed with "; S2[39]=" the backing of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation,the site (www.nativecrops.com.au/industry) aims to support industry efforts at forming a National representative organisation by 2003.
"; S3[39]="       Currently, the Native Food Industry is organised into regional and crop-specific associations and commercial networks,however the Industry does not yet have a "; S4[39]=" national or umbrella organization to represent the sector as a whole.
      In the past, several unsuccessful attempts have been made by Federal "; S5[39]=" and State government agencies and Industry associations to foster the development of a body that is broadly representative of the Australian Native Food Industry.
  "; S6[39]="     Following a proposal by Australian Native Crop Development Services and with funding by the RIRDC, a website designed to meet these objectives was "; S7[39]=" established in February this year.
      The website is produced for,about,and by the Australian Native Plant Food Industry and is the Industry's national "; S8[39]=" forum for development issues and an information resource for all those interested in the Native Food Industry.
      It provides a profi le "; S9[39]=" of the Industry, covering the main crops and production regions, as well as the associations and cooperatives; processors and marketers; and support services active in "; S10[39]=" the Industry... "; R[40]="308"; T[40]="Johne s disease vaccine"; A[40]="By ... Editor"; Dn[40]="20020501"; Dt[40]="Wednesday 1 May 2002"; Acats[40]="a28a33a55"; B1[40]="      The National Registration Authority (NRA) has registered Gudair .... "; B2[40]=" "; B3[40]=" "; B4[40]=" "; B5[40]=" "; S1[40]="      The National Registration Authority (NRA) has registered Gudair .
      vaccine, removing one of the obstacles to its widespread use "; S2[40]=" by ovine Johne's disease (OJD) affected sheep and goat producers in south-eastern Australia.
      NSW Agriculture's acting program manager, wool and sheepmeats services, "; S3[40]=" Pat Abraham, said today that, combined with good animal management practices, Gudair .
      vaccine will be a valuable tool in reducing the "; S4[40]=" impact of Johne's disease on the businesses of sheep producers.
      'Access to Gudair .
      vaccine will be carefully managed "; S5[40]=" and will be under the control of the Chief Veterinary Officer in each State,' Mr Abraham said.
      'In NSW the vaccine will "; S6[40]=" be initially available only through local Rural Lands Protection Boards.' The registration follows trials conducted by NSW Agriculture with support from Meat and Livestock Australia "; S7[40]=" and CSL Animal Health.
      The trials were undertaken as part of the research program of the National Ovine Johne's Disease Control and "; S8[40]=" Evaluation Program (NOJDP) coordinated by Animal Health Australia with funding from the national sheep industry and the federal government.
      'Trials on three "; S9[40]=" NSW OJD infected sheep properties have confirmed European findings that Gudair .
      vaccine is effective in both reducing mortalities and faecal shedding "; S10[40]=" of the bacteria, thus protecting individual animals and reducing the spread of OJD through the flock,' CSL's Dr Jan Tennent said.
      The "; S11[40]=" NRA, the National Registration Authority for agricultural and veterinary chemicals, has registered Gudair .
      vaccine for the control of Johne's disease and "; S12[40]=" reduction in faecal shedding in sheep.
      It is also registered as an aid in the control of Johne's disease in goats.
  "; S13[40]="     For further information about access to Gudair in NSW contact your NSW Agriculture livestock officer (sheep) or your Rural Lands Protection Board veterinarian.
"; S14[40]="       In other States contact your government vet... "; R[41]="293"; T[41]="New plant tissue technique has higher strike rate"; A[41]="By ... Editor"; Dn[41]="20020501"; Dt[41]="Wednesday 1 May 2002"; Acats[41]="a17a38a55a93"; B1[41]="      In Vitro Soil (IVS) is a new plant tissue culture technique for propagating plants which have been difficult or impossible to produce "; B2[41]="using traditional tissue culture methods... "; B3[41]=" "; B4[41]=" "; B5[41]=" "; S1[41]="      In Vitro Soil (IVS) is a new plant tissue culture technique for propagating plants which have been difficult or impossible to produce "; S2[41]=" using traditional tissue culture methods.
      For the first time in the history of plant tissue culture, IVS addresses the problem of poor "; S3[41]=" root strike on micro-propagated plants and offers a culture strategy that will have wide application not only in WA but in the rest of Australia "; S4[41]=" and the world.
      IVS integrates modern propagation nursery practices with tissue culture techniques.
      Plants with IVS grown root systems "; S5[41]=" acclimatise more easily into the nursery system because they establish normal photosynthetic capacity quickly once they leave the lab.
      Traditional tissue cultured "; S6[41]=" plants really struggle at this point and the results are poor and unpredictable.
      Plant tissue culture is a propagation method based on "; S7[41]=" the principle of selecting elite individual plants from a population and then cloning that individual to capture the genetic benefit of the desirable variation it "; S8[41]=" possesses.
      Selected plants targeted for tissue culture propagation could include specialised specimens.
      This might be a plant that is "; S9[41]=" fast growing, or has high fruit or flower stem numbers, has a high oil content (or some other chemical), possesses a unique or desirable flower "; S10[41]=" colour, a specific flowering time, could be disease resistant or selected for general novelty.
      The process of plant tissue culture has four "; S11[41]=" basic stages · Stock plant selection: where a plant is chosen, prepared and introduced into culture.
      The goal here is to establish "; S12[41]=" healthy plant material in vitro.
      · Stock management: Plant material is encouraged to grow and is repeatedly sub cultured to increase stock "; S13[41]=" volume.
      There are a number of ways to do this.
      The goal is to produce micro-cuttings capable of root "; S14[41]=" strike.
      · Root strike: Micro-cuttings are placed on a media that induces roots to develop and grow.
      The goal "; S15[41]=" of to ensure root development.
      This is where IVS fits in.
      IVS improves root strike and growth on micro-cuttings "; S16[41]=" by forward integrating sterile porous propagation mix into this stage.
      · Nursery establishment: The goal of this stage is the production of "; S17[41]=" healthy tube stock in the nursery that can be used and grown for some purpose.
      For example, this tube-stock cloned from an "; S18[41]=" elite stock plant selection might be used for revegetation, planting out or commercial sale... "; R[42]="292"; T[42]="New plant propagation technique set to boost landcare"; A[42]="By ... Editor"; Dn[42]="20020501"; Dt[42]="Wednesday 1 May 2002"; Acats[42]="a17a38a55"; B1[42]="      A new plant tissue culture propagation technique has been developed in Western Australia and is predicted to revolutionise the use of plants "; B2[42]="for landcare... "; B3[42]=" "; B4[42]=" "; B5[42]=" "; S1[42]="      A new plant tissue culture propagation technique has been developed in Western Australia and is predicted to revolutionise the use of plants "; S2[42]=" for landcare.
      The In Vitro Soil (IVS) system, developed at the Department of Agriculture, WA offers an effective way to propagate a "; S3[42]=" range of woody plants and trees, previously beyond the reach of landcare managers and conservationists.
      Researcher Chris Newell spent two years developing "; S4[42]=" the IVS technique to overcome problems of low root initiation percentages and poor root development in tissue cultured plants.
      IVS has the "; S5[42]=" potential to save some threatened and endangered Australian native plant species.
      'The problem of root strike in woody plants has limited the "; S6[42]=" application of plant tissue culture propagation worldwide, however, many plants and trees once considered 'too hard' can now be propagated, including some Australian plants,' Mr "; S7[42]=" Newell said.
      'IVS has been successfully tested with a wide range of Australian woody ornamentals that are classed as stubborn or weak "; S8[42]=" rooters and has produced exceptional results.' Mr Newell said early indications were that IVS would also work well on tree species.
      'For "; S9[42]=" example, if 20 Jarrah trees, selected for dieback resistance, were cultivated using traditional plant tissue culture propagation techniques, it is possible that up to half "; S10[42]=" of them would not strike roots, limiting their potential use,' Mr Newell said.
      'With IVS, it is anticipated that all 20 could "; S11[42]=" be successfully propagated, which has significant implications for landcare and conservation.' Mr Newell said the objective of any propagation activity, regardless of whether it was "; S12[42]=" for research and development or for commercial application, was the production of hardened-off tube-stock.
      He said IVS offers plant propagators with a "; S13[42]=" plant tissue culture laboratory the opportunity to produce desirable selections in commercial volumes for a variety of reasons including tree farming, forestry, conservation and land "; S14[42]=" management.' 'This means that the selection and production of plants from the bush or other breeding programs is now more likely than ever in the "; S15[42]=" history of plant tissue culture propagation,' Mr Newell said 'These superior selections could then be established in statistically valid assessment trials, planted into seed orchards "; S16[42]=" and plantations or simply conserved in botanical collections.
      'Now a wide range of selections based on conservation values, the rate of growth, "; S17[42]=" a desirable phenotype (shape), disease resistance, or chemical content (for example oil) can be propagated successfully using IVS technology.' IVS has proven to work well "; S18[42]=" with a wide range of Australian plants, including woody plants such as Eucalyptus, and gives consistent and reliable results.
      IVS increases the "; S19[42]=" rate and the final percentage of root strike and also increases the rate of root development by replacing solid agar medium with a sterile propagation "; S20[42]=" mix of peat, sand and perlite.
      Consequently roots that grow in IVS systems are more like naturally occurring root systems compared with "; S21[42]=" roots that grow in traditional agar based systems.
      Agar is a gel devoid of oxygen that is used as propagation medium in "; S22[42]=" traditional tissue lab culture systems.
      IVS has the potential to lower production costs by lowering plant losses, improving material handing rates and "; S23[42]=" shortening times in the propagation area.
      The IVS culture system integrates well with the modern nursery, is readily available and does not "; S24[42]=" require a large amount of expensive retrofitting... "; R[43]="286"; T[43]="New pig feeding system a win for industry and environment"; A[43]="By ... Editor"; Dn[43]="20020429"; Dt[43]="Monday 29 April 2002"; Acats[43]="a29a55"; B1[43]="      A new computerised, liquid feeding system opened at Glasshouse Country Farms near the south east Queensland town of Beerburrum, will help revolutionise "; B2[43]="nutritional management in the Australian pig industry and deliver important environmental benefits, the Federal Agriculture Minister, Warren Truss, said today... "; B3[43]=" "; B4[43]=" "; B5[43]=" "; S1[43]="      A new computerised, liquid feeding system opened at Glasshouse Country Farms near the south east Queensland town of Beerburrum, will help revolutionise "; S2[43]=" nutritional management in the Australian pig industry and deliver important environmental benefits, the Federal Agriculture Minister, Warren Truss, said today.
      Mr Truss "; S3[43]=" said Glasshouse Country Farms managers Gary and Wendy Maguire are among 97 rural business people who have shared in $10.2 million funding under the Federal "; S4[43]=" Coalition Government's Agriculture - Advancing Australia (AAA) - Farm Innovation Program in the last two years.
      'The Maguires received a $115,075 grant "; S5[43]=" under the program last year to put in place a new system that provides their pigs with a liquid feed made from food processing by?products, "; S6[43]=" including the waste from bakeries, dairies and breweries, as well as the waste from the vegetable, starch and sugar processing industries,' Mr Truss said.
  "; S7[43]="     'The pigs are fed using a computer controlled pipeline that prevents overfeeding and feed loss, and reduces the risk of pollution.
    "; S8[43]="   It also allows for 'phase type' feeding - a system that balances the feed mix to match specific growth and nutrient needs.
    "; S9[43]="   'The environment benefits because the process makes use of waste and by-products that would otherwise need to be disposed of in landfill and sewerage "; S10[43]=" works.
      As such, it represents a classic 'win-win' situation.
      'While only a handful of Australian farms have adopted technology "; S11[43]=" such as this, the project at Glasshouse will allow others to see the benefits first-hand.' Mr Truss said the Coalition Government's AAA - Farm Innovation "; S12[43]=" Program helps rural businesses in the fishing, farming, food and forestry industries adopt innovative practices, processes, technologies and products.
      'Over the past "; S13[43]=" two years, the successful applicants have represented an excellent mix of industries, including, wool, horticulture, poultry, forestry, crocodile farming, aquaculture, wine, beef and dairy,' Mr "; S14[43]=" Truss said.
      'The latest round, announced last Friday by my Parliamentary Secretary, Senator Judith Troeth, featured 33 successful applicants, including eight from "; S15[43]=" Victoria, four from Queensland, three from South Australia, seven from NSW, five each from Tasmania and Western Australia, and one from the Northern Territory.'.. "; R[44]="278"; T[44]="Gene found that makes tomatoes last longer"; A[44]="By ... Editor"; Dn[44]="20020416"; Dt[44]="Tuesday 16 April 2002"; Acats[44]="a12a17a55"; B1[44]="      Scientists say they have figured out a way to make tomatoes taste fresher and last longer by tinkering with a gene that "; B2[44]="controls ripening... "; B3[44]=" "; B4[44]=" "; B5[44]=" "; S1[44]="      Scientists say they have figured out a way to make tomatoes taste fresher and last longer by tinkering with a gene that "; S2[44]=" controls ripening.
      The researchers, who report their findings in Friday's issue of the journal Science, believe the procedure may also work with "; S3[44]=" strawberries, bananas, bell peppers, melons and other produce.
      'For understanding tomato ripening and eventually taste, this could be the Holy Grail,' said "; S4[44]=" Jim Giovannoni, an Agriculture Department scientist who led the research.
      Gardeners know that tomatoes that ripen on the vine are much tastier "; S5[44]=" than the tomatoes sold in supermarkets.
      That's because farm-grown tomatoes have to be picked before they ripen and develop their flavor.
  "; S6[44]="     To turn them red and restart their ripening, tomatoes are treated with ethylene gas, a natural ripening agent in fruit.
      "; S7[44]=" Giovannoni's team of scientists turned off the ripening gene in the tomato plant, which would allow farmers to leave the tomatoes on the vine for "; S8[44]=" several days longer.
      The tomato would still be firm enough for shipping across the country.
      The tomatoes also would "; S9[44]=" be healthier, because vine-ripened tomatoes have higher levels of lycopene, an antioxidant that has been linked to lower rates of prostate and other cancers.
  "; S10[44]="     This isn't the first time that scientists have genetically engineered a tomato to last longer.
      The Flavr Savr tomato, which "; S11[44]=" was developed through modification of a gene that was thought to cause softening, was approved for sale in 1994 but ran into production and shipping "; S12[44]=" problems and was off the market by 1997.
      The tomatoes were so delicate they were difficult to transport without damage.
    "; S13[44]="   The Flavr Savr tomatoes didn't taste that good because of the variety from which they were developed, said Chris Watkins, a horticulture professor at "; S14[44]=" Cornell University.
      'There was very little flavor to save,' he said.
      Some biotech companies also are doing private research "; S15[44]=" into developing fresher-tasting produce, said Val Giddings, an agricultural specialist with the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
      'Ripening is a complex pathway.
    "; S16[44]="   There are any number of interventions that could have an impact,' Giddings said.
      In the early 1960s, a Cornell scientist discovered "; S17[44]=" how to extend the shelf life of tomatoes by crossing a plant that had a defective ripening gene with plants that were normal.
    "; S18[44]="   Giovannoni's team identified two genes, one that regulates ripening and another that controls floral development.
      The research could speed the breeding "; S19[44]=" of improved varieties of tomatoes, but they are years away from reaching supermarkets.
      New biotech crops must be reviewed by USDA and "; S20[44]=" other federal agencies.
      Scientists from the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Texas A&M University and Jeallots Hill Research Station in Britain "; S21[44]=" also participated in the research... "; R[45]="272"; T[45]="All the info on dual-purpose winter wheats"; A[45]="By ... Editor"; Dn[45]="20020416"; Dt[45]="Tuesday 16 April 2002"; Acats[45]="a22a55"; B1[45]="      NSW Agriculture this week released a new booklet to help producers get the best out of dual purpose winter wheats.... "; B2[45]=" "; B3[45]=" "; B4[45]=" "; B5[45]=" "; S1[45]="      NSW Agriculture this week released a new booklet to help producers get the best out of dual purpose winter wheats.
    "; S2[45]="   'Productive Dual Purpose Winter Wheats' is a comprehensive guide to growing and managing dual purpose winter wheats, an important option for a growing number "; S3[45]=" of producers in many districts, including the tablelands and slopes.
      It is a collaboration of NSW Agriculture, CSIRO and Sydney University authors, "; S4[45]=" with support from the Grains Research and Development Corporation and CRT.
      'Properly managed dual purpose winter wheats are capable of providing several "; S5[45]=" months valuable animal grazing, followed by high crop yields,' NSW Agriculture Executive Director Geoff File said at a joint launch of the booklet today at "; S6[45]=" Coolah and Cooma.
      'Some farmers are achieving gross margin returns of $1,000/ha in reasonable to good years.
      'Expansion of "; S7[45]=" the industry is occurring in many districts as a result of the release of more suitable varieties and a better understanding of the importance of "; S8[45]=" good management.' Mr File said the booklet covers all aspects of management from paddock selection and weed control to sowing rate, crop nutrition and grazing "; S9[45]=" management.
      Early sowing is critical if a dual purpose winter wheat crop is to achieve high winter dry matter production, followed by "; S10[45]=" good grain recovery.
      The booklet provides a table of suggested sowing times for varieties suitable for higher tablelands/Monaro, lower tablelands/upper slopes and "; S11[45]=" slopes districts.
      'Another key consideration is nitrogen,' Mr File said.
      'A crop providing four tonnes/hectare dry matter, sufficient to "; S12[45]=" run 2.5 yearlings/ha for 100 days grazing, and four tonnes/hectare grain would use about 224 kg/ha of nitrogen, far more than the average grain only "; S13[45]=" crop.' Copies of the booklet are available free from offices of NSW Agriculture or CRT branches... "; R[46]="245"; T[46]="Strategies for growing chickpeas and fababeans"; A[46]="By ... Editor"; Dn[46]="20020404"; Dt[46]="Thursday 4 April 2002"; Acats[46]="a02a04a19a55"; B1[46]="      NSW Agriculture has again teamed up with Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Pulse Australia and the pulse industry to produce the latest "; B2[46]="management strategies for chickpeas and fababeans... "; B3[46]=" "; B4[46]=" "; B5[46]=" "; S1[46]="      NSW Agriculture has again teamed up with Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Pulse Australia and the pulse industry to produce the latest "; S2[46]=" management strategies for chickpeas and fababeans.
      Chickpea 2002- Management Strategies for the Northern Region and Faba Bean 2002- Management Strategies for the "; S3[46]=" Northern Region are aimed at helping growers produce profitable chickpea and fababean crops.
      The brochures offer basic best management principles for pulse "; S4[46]=" growers and focus on areas of importance to each crop as well as the basic agronomy.
      First produced to help growers manage "; S5[46]=" Ascochyta Blight in 1999, the chickpea brochure will again play a crucial role in advising growers what actions will be required this year.
    "; S6[46]="   Chickpeas need particular attention paid to preventative disease management, which includes on farm hygiene, paddock selection and fungicides.
      Faba Bean 2002 "; S7[46]=" draws attention to the rotational value of faba beans, the need for intensive insect management and the fungicide strategy.
      There are some "; S8[46]=" aspects of management that are common to both crops, including the focus on early harvest management to minimise the risk of weather damage, splitting and "; S9[46]=" cracking, and loss of quality.
      Paddock selection is vitally important and growers are advised to plant both crops as far away from "; S10[46]=" last year's stubble and possible source of disease inoculum as possible.
      It is also recommended that crops be sown into standing cereal "; S11[46]=" stubble, an integral factor in the reduction of the incidence of virus in crops.
      Copies of the Chickpea 2002 - Management Strategies "; S12[46]=" for the Northern Region and Faba Bean 2002 - Management Strategies for the Northern Region are available from your NSW Agriculture Office or by contacting "; S13[46]=" your local agronomist... "; R[47]="241"; T[47]="Cattle Industry Compensation Act Research Funds"; A[47]="By ... Editor"; Dn[47]="20020402"; Dt[47]="Tuesday 2 April 2002"; Acats[47]="a27a55a93"; B1[47]="      Research and development projects that could benefit the cattle industry may be eligible for support under special provisions of the Cattle Industry "; B2[47]="Compensation Act... "; B3[47]=" "; B4[47]=" "; B5[47]=" "; S1[47]="      Research and development projects that could benefit the cattle industry may be eligible for support under special provisions of the Cattle Industry "; S2[47]=" Compensation Act.
      The Department of Agriculture's Meat and Dairy Program Manager, Renata Paliskis-Bessell said funds were made available each year for research, "; S3[47]=" development and other purposes of benefit to the cattle industry.
      Ms Paliskis-Bessell is Chair of the Research Advisory Committee, which acts on "; S4[47]=" behalf of the Minister, to advise on funding allocations.
      'While the Cattle Industry Compensation Act (CICA) favours projects which may lead to "; S5[47]=" wider industry funding in future, they will consider part funding of larger projects in collaboration with other bodies, or smaller stand alone projects,' Ms Paliskis-Bessell "; S6[47]=" said.
      'Applications for project funds will be considered from individuals, groups or organisations.
      'Applications for funds to a maximum "; S7[47]=" of $50,000 per year, for periods of up to three years, will be considered, with funds available on 1 July each year.' Ms Paliskis-Bessell said "; S8[47]=" applicants should contact the Research Advisory Committee secretary for the 'Conditions of Grants 2002/2003' which would provide details on how to correctly set out an "; S9[47]=" application for funds.
      'Applicants should provide a detailed application containing specific objectives of the project and expected benefits to the cattle industry.
"; S10[47]="       'Successful applicants will be required to submit periodic progress reports which are necessary for funding instalments to be made.' Ms Paliskis-Bessell said "; S11[47]=" project submissions must be received by 30 April and should be sent to the Secretary, CICA Research Advisory Committee at Department of Agriculture, 444 Albany "; S12[47]=" Highway, Albany.
      For further information contact Renata Paliskis-Bessell on (08) 9892 8402 or e-mail rpaliskis@agric.wa.gov.au.. "; R[48]="213"; T[48]="Best practises information for cut flower industry"; A[48]="By ... Editor"; Dn[48]="20020325"; Dt[48]="Monday 25 March 2002"; Acats[48]="a02a55a72a75"; B1[48]="      The cut flower industry has promoted its long-term environmental and economic future one step further, cooperating to produce a comprehensive best practises "; B2[48]="information package... "; B3[48]=" "; B4[48]=" "; B5[48]=" "; S1[48]="      The cut flower industry has promoted its long-term environmental and economic future one step further, cooperating to produce a comprehensive 'best practises' "; S2[48]=" information package.
      According to NSW Agriculture's Resource Management Liaison Officer, David Mason, consumers and the community want flower growers to 'produce and "; S3[48]=" market a high quality product, grown in an environmentally responsible manner.' Mr Mason says a new book, 'Environmental management guidelines for growing cut flowers' , "; S4[48]=" an information kit of three full colour posters plus an agnote, deliver the blueprint.
      Cut flower industry members and NSW Agriculture have "; S5[48]=" collaborated to give commercial growers practical tips to further improve sustainable farm management and meet environmental obligations.
      Already selling well to interstate "; S6[48]=" growers and others outside the Sydney basin, the book gives definitive coverage on setting up a flower farm in NSW, soil management, screen plants and "; S7[48]=" windbreaks.
      It talks about establishing and managing cropping systems, irrigation, managing run off, fertilisers, integrated pest and disease management, managing pests and "; S8[48]=" diseases, and noise, odour and dust control.
      The posters, produced with funding support from the National Heritage Trust, focus on irrigation methods, "; S9[48]=" farm layout and fertiliser use.
      The 16-page agnote, listing a wide range of information sources available to flower growers on environmental matters, "; S10[48]=" is available on the NSW Agriculture website - www.agric.nsw.gov.au 'This important industry annually contributes around $800 million at the retail level to the State's economy,' "; S11[48]=" says David Mason.
      He said the authors of the final work, Glenda Steain and Bettina Gollnow, of NSW Agriculture were 'determined to "; S12[48]=" make the information understandable for everyone - the clear presentation and format achieve this'.
      'It is now critical that commercial flower growers "; S13[48]=" and the various government agencies working in environmental management embrace and support the advice given in the guidelines,' says Bettina Gollnow.
      Commercial "; S14[48]=" cut flower growers in NSW can obtain complimentary copies of the posters and agnote through Bettina Gollnow, Development Officer (Floriculture), at NSW Agriculture.
    "; S15[48]="   The book is available to growers through their industry association or Bettina Gollnow at a discounted price.
      Copies are also available "; S16[48]=" through NSW Agriculture's bookshop for $15 each... "; R[49]="204"; T[49]="Research to improve sweet corn exports"; A[49]="By ... Editor"; Dn[49]="20020319"; Dt[49]="Tuesday 19 March 2002"; Acats[49]="a08a12a55a74a93"; B1[49]="      Research by the Department of Agriculture to overcome pest problems on sweet corn exports from Western Australia to Japan has produced promising "; B2[49]="preliminary results... "; B3[49]=" "; B4[49]=" "; B5[49]=" "; S1[49]="      Research by the Department of Agriculture to overcome pest problems on sweet corn exports from Western Australia to Japan has produced promising "; S2[49]=" preliminary results.
      Department entomologist Francis De Lima said Japan's nil tolerance for live insects on sweet corn imports meant contaminated consignments had "; S3[49]=" to undergo fumigation treatment, using methyl bromide, at the exporters expense.
      'The treatment kills the insects, but it also turns the green "; S4[49]=" leaf sheaths an unattractive brown colour, rendering the corn unsaleable or severely downgraded in price,' Dr De Lima said.
      The research into "; S5[49]=" a post-harvest treatment to ensure no live insects survived on corn shipped to Japan, which began in July 2001, was partly funded by Horticulture Australia "; S6[49]=" using the National Vegetable Growers levy.
      'It had involved researchers exposing the pests including include mites, thrips, aphids and bud worm caterpillars, "; S7[49]=" to a carbon dioxide atmosphere mixed with phosphine gas for varying lengths of time.
      'The preliminary results are very encouraging but the "; S8[49]=" challenge now is to develop a practical treatment program to fit the short interval between picking and air-freighting to overseas markets, which ranges from six "; S9[49]=" to16 hours,' he said.
      Dr De Lima said that previous research had led to WA corn growers using a combined effort of "; S10[49]=" crop inspections and insecticide applications, together with post harvest grading inspections and storage in controlled atmosphere or cold treatment.
      'This had minimised "; S11[49]=" the incidence in consignments arriving in Japan with live insects on the corn, but further improvements were required,' he said... ";