R[0]="1491"; T[0]="Overcoming the trace element deficiencies of no-till cultivation"; A[0]="By ... Editor"; Dn[0]="20030220"; Dt[0]="Thursday 20 February 2003"; Acats[0]="a02a03a72"; B1[0]=" There could be a solution on the horizon to overcoming the growing problem of nutrient deficiency in paddocks that have been subject "; B2[0]="to long term no tillage cultivation... "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]=" There could be a solution on the horizon to overcoming the growing problem of nutrient deficiency in paddocks that have been subject "; S2[0]=" to long term no tillage cultivation.
With more than 60 per cent of crops in WA now using no or minimum tillage "; S3[0]=" techniques, there is heightening concern about crop yields suffering due to a lack of copper, phosphorous and zinc after seven to 10 years of limited "; S4[0]=" cultivation.
Department of Agriculture plant nutrition research officers Ross Brennan and Dr Mike Bolland are about to embark on the third and "; S5[0]=" final year of a research project, funded by the Department of Agriculture and the Grains Research and Development Corporation, which aims to arrest the problem.
"; S6[0]=" Phosphorous, copper and zinc are immobile elements in the soil, so the soil needs to be cultivated to mix the elements through "; S7[0]=" the soil.
This enables the roots to intercept and take up the elements as they grow through moist soil, as plant roots "; S8[0]=" can only take up nutrient elements from moist soil.
Mr Brennan said these trace elements are usually applied as fertiliser by drilling "; S9[0]=" the fertiliser with the seed while sowing, but with less soil disturbance and wider row spacings, plants are having greater difficulty accessing the nutrients.
"; S10[0]=" But he said preliminary results of the trials undertaken at Newdegate, Avondale, Esperance, Merredin and in the Midwest show that changing the fertiliser "; S11[0]=" placement could be a solution.
'Our research indicates that by deep banding fertiliser about five to eight centimetres below the seed, the "; S12[0]=" roots are better able to intercept and access the trace elements they need,' Mr Brennan said.
'By placing the fertiliser underneath the "; S13[0]=" seed, where the soil remains moist for longer, increases the likelihood that roots will intercept the elements in moist soil and take them up.' Another "; S14[0]=" option is to cultivate the top 10 centimetres of soil every five to seven years to mix the trace elements up in the soil and "; S15[0]=" make them more accessible to plant roots.
'The soil can be cultivated like this when lime needs to be applied to ameliorate "; S16[0]=" soil acidity,' Mr Brennan said.
'Lime is poorly soluble and needs to be incorporated into the soil to work best.
"; S17[0]=" In addition, the cultivation also helps to reduce weeds and disease.' Trials using liquid phosphorous, zinc and copper have sometimes shown promising results, however "; S18[0]=" more field experiments need to be done to assess the role of liquid instead of granular fertilisers in WA.
Mr Brennan said "; S19[0]=" the past two consecutive dry years had made it difficult to clarify results from the trials and he hoped that this year would be more "; S20[0]=" forgiving and help to produce more definitive recommendations.
This and other issues will be discussed at the regional Crop Updates at Lake "; S21[0]=" Grace and Varley, both on Wednesday, 26 February, and at Jerramungup on Thursday, March 13.
For further information about the Agribusiness Crop "; S22[0]=" Update Conference, on Wednesday and Thursday, 19 and 20 February, and the regional Crop Updates series contact local Department of Agriculture offices... "; R[1]="1488"; T[1]="Where do wide rows help boost lupin productivity?"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20030220"; Dt[1]="Thursday 20 February 2003"; Acats[1]="a02a72"; B1[1]=" The latest research into the impact of spacing on lupin crops has confirmed the benefits of wide rows for lupins.... "; B2[1]=" "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]=" The latest research into the impact of spacing on lupin crops has confirmed the benefits of wide rows for lupins.
"; S2[1]=" Department of Agriculture research officer Bob French and Geoff Fosbery from Farm Focus Consultants gave a joint presentation on latest findings at this year's "; S3[1]=" Crop Updates in Perth.
They presented results from two trials done jointly with WANTFA and the Department of Agriculture, one at Mingenew "; S4[1]=" and one at Meckering.
Mr Fosbery said the study emphasised the need to establish high plant densities irrespective of row spacing to "; S5[1]=" get best yields, and suggested that lupins in wide rows have most yield advantage when the yield potential was low.
He said "; S6[1]=" lupins sown in rows 75 cm apart yielded well at both Mingenew and Meckering.
Results of water use and water stress measurements "; S7[1]=" made on a trial at Merredin were also presented.
Dr French said the research showed that lupins in wide rows conserve soil "; S8[1]=" water in the inter-row area for use later in the season, and they develop water stress more slowly than lupins in narrow rows.
"; S9[1]=" 'At Merredin lupins sown in 25 cm and 50 cm rows yielded the same, but lupins in 100 cm rows yielded less,' he said.
"; S10[1]=" 'How row spacing affects yield and what the ideal spacing is depends on the environment where the lupins are grown.
"; S11[1]=" While there are few situations where lupins in 50 cm rows won't yield as well as those in 25 cm rows, the response to "; S12[1]=" wider row spacings is variable.
' Dr French said lupins grown in widely spaced rows intercepted less solar radiation and so grew "; S13[1]=" more slowly than those in narrow rows to begin with.
They therefore needed to grow for longer, or more quickly, at the "; S14[1]=" end of the season to compensate.
He said rows wider than 50 cm were therefore most likely to yield well where there "; S15[1]=" was good subsoil moisture and a naturally long growing season, such as medium and high rainfall environments and in southern lupin growing areas.
"; S16[1]=" Dr French said more research would be necessary in order to predict where lupin yields would actually increase with wider rows... "; R[2]="1471"; T[2]="New tree-farming package for WA"; A[2]="By ... Editor"; Dn[2]="20030219"; Dt[2]="Wednesday 19 February 2003"; Acats[2]="a02a39a72"; B1[2]=" Premier Geoff Gallop has launched a new commercial tree-farming package that will put more money into farmers pockets while delivering major environmental "; B2[2]="outcomes for the State... "; B3[2]=" "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]=" Premier Geoff Gallop has launched a new commercial tree-farming package that will put more money into farmers' pockets while delivering major environmental "; S2[2]=" outcomes for the State.
Farmers will be paid more to integrate tree crops on cleared farmland in designated medium rainfall areas from "; S3[2]=" Moora to Esperance under the package being offered by the Forest Products Commission.
'In order to build our plantation program, farmers need "; S4[2]=" money to convert land to trees; they need to know those trees will be managed properly, that markets exist or are being developed and that "; S5[2]=" the trees will help them tackle environmental problems,' Dr Gallop said.
'The payment has, in some instances, doubled on last year and "; S6[2]=" depends on soil type, haulage distance and size of area planted, set at a minimum of 20ha.' Prices per hectare, depending on soil type, haulage "; S7[2]=" distance and size of area planted, range from $75 to $500 per hectare in the Mid-West and Esperance cells; $350 to $1,200 per hectare in "; S8[2]=" the catchment headwaters for eucalypt sawlogs; and in the South Coast cell centred around Albany, Mt Barker and Kojonup, $125 to $500 per hectare.
"; S9[2]=" In the previous year, the highest price for land in all areas except the catchment was $275 per hectare.
Land "; S10[2]=" for the eucalypt sawlogs was higher and increased during the year to about today's rate.
Dr Gallop said the package would benefit "; S11[2]=" the wider community by helping to combat salinity, control wind and water erosion, improve water quality, generate renewable energy, contribute to biodiversity and provide shelter "; S12[2]=" for stock.
'The Government is taking the initiative in identifying areas suitable for commercial trees in areas of the State that are "; S13[2]=" most affected by salinity and water logging,' the Premier said.
'Through absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, plantations also make a major "; S14[2]=" contribution to reducing the greenhouse effect.
'This package will also help develop alternative new timber supplies required as a result of the "; S15[2]=" Government's decision to protect all old growth forests and encourage new industries to establish in regional areas.' Dr Gallop announced the package today following a "; S16[2]=" regional Cabinet meeting held in Collie, one of the many regional areas earmarked for future plantation growth.
Forestry Minister Kim Chance said "; S17[2]=" a new option had been included in this package to suit the requirements of the lower rainfall areas of the Collie catchment where the emphasis "; S18[2]=" is on continued agricultural production while targeting management of the water table.
'The FPC is continuing to liaise with farmers in the "; S19[2]=" catchment regarding tree planting options and arrangements,' Mr Chance said.
'The package has been designed to give a realistic land value to "; S20[2]=" those areas that offer specific benefits in terms of environmental return, site productivity and proximity to existing or potential industries and markets.
"; S21[2]=" 'In co-operation with farmers and investors, we will be planting maritime pine in the Mid-West; maritime pine and sandalwood in the Great Southern and Esperance "; S22[2]=" regions in rainfall zones above 400mm; and eucalypt sawlogs concentrating on the catchments of Kent, Warren/Tone and Collie, where plantings will also help to achieve "; S23[2]=" drinking quality water.' Last year, in the Kent and Warren Tone catchments, more than 500ha of eucalypt sawlogs were successfully planted.
Under "; S24[2]=" a sharefarm agreement between the farmer and the FPC or its investor, the FPC establishes, manages, harvests and markets the tree crop.
"; S25[2]=" In return for providing the land the farmer receives cash payments and a share of the timber harvest profit.
This year there "; S26[2]=" are also new options of taking a share in carbon revenue, in most cases, and greater integration of trees with agriculture.
'Large-scale "; S27[2]=" tree planting has already proved successful in Western Australia, with blue gum plantations in the higher rainfall zones of the State,' Dr Gallop said.
"; S28[2]=" 'Today we are focussing on the next stage of development in the WA plantation industry in the lower and medium rainfall zones.
"; S29[2]=" 'If regions plant the right trees, and the right quantities of trees, they will develop economies of scale that increase their chances of "; S30[2]=" attracting investment in processing facilities.'.. "; R[3]="1466"; T[3]="Low cost aerial imagery of Peanuts and other crops"; A[3]="By ... Editor"; Dn[3]="20030218"; Dt[3]="Tuesday 18 February 2003"; Acats[3]="a02a72"; B1[3]=" The Department of Primary Industries is developing a streamlined camera housing to use as part of a simple, low-cost near infrared, photographic "; B2[3]="technique which is allowing accurate aerial assessment of growing crops... "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]=" The Department of Primary Industries is developing a streamlined camera housing to use as part of a simple, low-cost near infrared, photographic "; S2[3]=" technique which is allowing accurate aerial assessment of growing crops.
DPI principal scientist, Dr Graeme Wright, Kingaroy, originally installed a standard, $5000 "; S3[3]=" digital camera fitted with an infra-red lens into a light aircraft which was able to identify high and low yielding areas in peanut fields.
"; S4[3]=" 'The camera system also helped us to identify stressed areas having high aflatoxin risk and faulty pivot irrigation systems which show uneven water "; S5[3]=" distribution on irrigated peanut farms in cropping regions in southern Queensland.' Dr Wright and Kingaroy Research Station maintenance officer David Osborne are now developing a "; S6[3]=" purpose built streamlined camera housing mounted in the door of a Cessna 185 aircraft operated by Pratt Air Services in Kingaroy.
The "; S7[3]=" new fibreglass housing will enable the pilot and camera operator to see the target area directly underneath the aircraft.
Dr Wright said "; S8[3]=" the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, CASA, was in the process of approving the housing construction.
'In effect we are able to go "; S9[3]=" to any Cessna 185 aircraft and take off and replace the passenger side door with the custom fit camera housing simply by taking out the "; S10[3]=" door hinge pins.' He said.
Dr Wright said that the DPI peanut research team has been working in close collaboration with aerial "; S11[3]=" operator, Tony Pratt, to develop the system.
In test flights around Kingaroy, the camera system, which was originally mounted in an open "; S12[3]=" window, has proved to be almost as good as more professional video aerial imagery systems, which cost nearly 10 to 20 times more.
"; S13[3]=" The new streamlined camera housing will allow more accurate and better quality images to be taken.
'Once the digital images have "; S14[3]=" been collected, we are able to use image processing software to colour enhance the images for interpretation by farmers and agronomists.' Dr Wright said.
"; S15[3]=" He said images on other crops has also been secured in recent months, with successful test flights on wheat on the Darling Downs, "; S16[3]=" bananas in the Tully region of North Queensland and sugar cane in the Childers region in southern Queensland.
Considerable interest in potential "; S17[3]=" applications of the camera system has been shown by researchers, consultants and farmers.
Dr Wright said that the DPI research initiative builds "; S18[3]=" on work carried under the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) supported Yield Gap and Aflatoxin Management projects conducted over the past few years.
"; S19[3]=" 'The remote sensing imagery offers farmers a unique and low cost technique for visualising the enormous variability, which typifies a lot of cropping "; S20[3]=" area in the Burnett and other regions.' 'By identifying the location and extent of these problem areas in farmers' crops, specific management strategies may be "; S21[3]=" targeted to overcome these constraints.' Dr Wright said... "; R[4]="1403"; T[4]="Study tour to investigate NZ farming systems"; A[4]="By ... Editor"; Dn[4]="20030207"; Dt[4]="Friday 7 February 2003"; Acats[4]="a02a63a72"; B1[4]=" The Department of Agriculture is leading a farmer s tour to New Zealand to examine ideas on possible farming system alternatives and "; B2[4]="climatic modelling that could fast track farm system evolution... "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]=" The Department of Agriculture is leading a farmer's tour to New Zealand to examine ideas on possible farming system alternatives and climatic "; S2[4]=" modelling that could fast track farm system evolution.
Tour leader Kira Buttler said the week-long visit to the South Island was a "; S3[4]=" farmer initiative born out of the Condingup WoolPro meetings facilitated by the Department.
'The group wanted to see the results first hand.
"; S4[4]=" A New Zealand group of Prime Lamb farmers took on climate modelling, and now they are reporting yield increases of up to "; S5[4]=" 250 percent, plus a greater variety of crops being grown,' Miss Buttler said.
'The New Zealand farmers collect climatic information and undertake "; S6[4]=" extensive soil texture and fertility testing from within the paddock and use this information to grow the right crop on the right part of the "; S7[4]=" farm.
They fence to the micro-climates that they identify, and manage their farms differently in these areas,' she said.
"; S8[4]=" Ms Buttler believes the value of the tour to WA agriculture will be widespread as the farmers involved are from Esperance through to Kojonup.
"; S9[4]=" She said WA farmers need to see the New Zealand approach in operation in order to challenge their thinking about what was possible "; S10[4]=" within their current farming systems 'The climate modelling that will be visited shows that intensification and diversification has brought prosperity to the farmers and rural "; S11[4]=" communities involved.
It has increased employment and meant healthier country towns,' Ms Buttler said.
'The farmer cooperatives provide a "; S12[4]=" new way of thinking about agricultural products and the trading power that a group has over an individual,' she said.
The Grains "; S13[4]=" Research and Development Corporation is supporting the tour by providing funding for a tour leader to accompany the farmers.
The group departs "; S14[4]=" on February 22 and returns March 1... "; R[5]="1373"; T[5]="Grants promote sustainable future for Victorian rural areas"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20030130"; Dt[5]="Thursday 30 January 2003"; Acats[5]="a02a65a72"; B1[5]=" Creating a sustainable future for rural areas is the focus of the latest round of grant under the Bracks Government s Area "; B2[5]="Improvement Program, the Minister for Planning, Mary Delahunty announced today... "; B3[5]=" "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]=" Creating a sustainable future for rural areas is the focus of the latest round of grant under the Bracks Government's Area Improvement "; S2[5]=" Program, the Minister for Planning, Mary Delahunty announced today.
Ms Delahunty said under the program's second round, the Shires of Southern Grampians, "; S3[5]=" Cardinia, Golden Plains and Hepburn would share in $260,000 to develop sustainable solutions to land-use planning and infrastructure challenges.
'The Area Improvement "; S4[5]=" Program is about developing locally supported solutions that respond to environmental, social and economic change in rural communities,' she said.
'Working in "; S5[5]=" three stages, this program will enable the identification of issues, the development of potential solutions, and finally the on-ground implementation of the solutions.
"; S6[5]=" 'Through this program, local communities will be directly involved in resolving issues that affect them.
Not suprisingly, water management issues featured "; S7[5]=" strongly in the applications.' Funding in the Hepburn Shire would be used to address the impact on lower catchments of the large number of groundwater "; S8[5]=" bores sunk on private properties in the region, she said.
'Residential and tourist growth over the past decade - particularly in Daylesford "; S9[5]=" and Hepburn Springs - has led to higher levels of groundwater being used for domestic and commercial purposes,' she said.
'Pumping "; S10[5]=" large volumes of groundwater in recharge areas has a negative effect on water quality, affecting other ecosystems within the catchment such as wetlands, springs, rivers "; S11[5]=" and lakes.
'This project will seek to find methods of using groundwater sustainably so that it is available for use by "; S12[5]=" future generations.' Ms Delahunty said the Southern Grampians Shire developed a strong proposal for funding to develop a strategy to reduce the amount of pollutants "; S13[5]=" flowing into the Grange Burn catchment and Lake Hamilton, which regularly experiences outbreaks of blue-green algae.
'Farming practices around Hamilton, urban run-off "; S14[5]=" such as litter, detergents, cigarette butts and oils � all contribute to poor water quality in the catchment.
This not only leads "; S15[5]=" to lake closures for recreational use, it also affects tourism and the economic prosperity of the town,' she said.
'This project will "; S16[5]=" enhance the waterways of the district as key regional assets.
Local solutions will be developed and the community will be educated about "; S17[5]=" the causes of poor water quality and how to prevent pollutants from entering waterways.' Ms Delahunty said the Golden Plains Shire Council would identify strategic "; S18[5]=" locations within the Shire for the development of intensive animal husbandry such as pig and poultry processing.
'Residential development has encroached onto "; S19[5]=" traditional farming land, causing industry players to relocate to remote locations which are more acceptable to the broader community,' she said.
'This "; S20[5]=" project is a long-term strategy to bring the appropriate infrastructure, such as reticulated water and power, to these rural sites, so that animal industries can "; S21[5]=" invest with confidence in the region.' Ms Delahunty said the Cardinia Shire Council would work with the Gembrook community to develop more sustainable farming practices "; S22[5]=" in the wake of a decline in potato farming in the region.
'In the past the rich soils of Gembrook yielded large "; S23[5]=" volumes of potatoes, providing a strong economic base for the township.
Chemical overuse and plant disease has led to the decline of "; S24[5]=" this particular farming activity, and landholders lack the finances to develop alternative crops,' she said.
'This project aims to help the farming "; S25[5]=" community identify viable alternative crops to develop using sustainable methods, while maintaining the rural character of Gembrook.' Ms Delahunty said applications would be invited for "; S26[5]=" the program's third funding round later in 2003... "; R[6]="1269"; T[6]="Managing wind erosion"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20030107"; Dt[6]="Tuesday 7 January 2003"; Acats[6]="a67a72"; B1[6]=" Ploughing paddocks is not a wise management practice for the prevention of wind erosion this summer and autumn.... "; B2[6]=" "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]=" Ploughing paddocks is not a wise management practice for the prevention of wind erosion this summer and autumn.
The "; S2[6]=" Department of Agriculture has received a number of enquiries from farmers asking about the best options for soil management following the strong winds in December.
"; S3[6]=" Department wind erosion research officer, Paul Findlater acknowledged that there was not a great deal that farmers could do at this stage, "; S4[6]=" except prevent stock from roaming over the property and dislodging more soil.
He said if the soil was undisturbed, a weak crust "; S5[6]=" could form and provide some limited protection.
He said while ploughing might provide temporary relief on some soils, it left the soil "; S6[6]=" more vulnerable to the ravages of wind and was definitely not recommended.
The Department has developed a map of shires where crop "; S7[6]=" stubbles are below the levels required to prevent wind erosion.
Mr Findlater used estimates based on last season�s wheat and lupin yields.
"; S8[6]=" From this, a straw yield was estimated, which was then converted to a percentage cover of stubbles.
The map "; S9[6]=" illustrates the wind erosion risk in wheatbelt shires.
'On the basis of cereal and lupin stubbles, Dalwallinu, Bruce Rock and Corrigin are "; S10[6]=" the most vulnerable, while Perenjori, Koorda, Mt Marshall, Mukinbudin, Yilgarn and Westonia are also at risk,' he said.
'750 kg/ha of cereal "; S11[6]=" stubble, or 1500 kg/ha of lupin stubble is required to give the critical 50 per cent percentage ground cover.
Where stubble cover "; S12[6]=" is below 50 per cent, soil loss by wind erosion was likely.' 'Good crop establishment, pasture regeneration and stock management in the winter of 2003 "; S13[6]=" are all necessary to avoid the current wind erosion risk carrying forward into the summer of 2003 � 2004 and beyond,' he said.
"; S14[6]=" 'Fortunately, most farmers were already planning carefully for the 2003 season.'.. "; R[7]="1253"; T[7]="Watch out for Stubble Trouble"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20021218"; Dt[7]="Wednesday 18 December 2002"; Acats[7]="a25a72"; B1[7]=" The amount of grain for sheep feed in stubble paddocks has been significantly reduced over the past five to 10 years due "; B2[7]="to improved harvesting efficiencies.
The Department of Agriculture is alerting farmers that it is highly unlikely sheep would gain weight after six "; B3[7]="weeks in any stubble... "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]=" The amount of grain for sheep feed in stubble paddocks has been significantly reduced over the past five to 10 years due "; S2[7]=" to improved harvesting efficiencies.
The Department of Agriculture is alerting farmers that it is highly unlikely sheep would gain weight after six "; S3[7]=" weeks in any stubble.
Department veterinary officer Roy Butler said farmers could no longer expect up to three months grazing from many "; S4[7]=" stubbles, which in the past have provide good feed for this length of time.
'Machinery design has become much more efficient in "; S5[7]=" the last few years.
Modern machines spill very little grain, resulting in less nutritious material in stubbles for stock,' Dr Butler said.
"; S6[7]=" 'This year, with the poor season, it may be only three weeks' grazing in some cases,' he said.
'Even "; S7[7]=" immediately after harvest some paddocks do not contain sufficient feed to maintain sheep, especially young animals.
Therefore, it is important to assess "; S8[7]=" the potential value before putting sheep in.' Dr Butler said the severe dry conditions in many areas made understanding the value of stubbles more important "; S9[7]=" than ever.
He said it was important to weigh, or at least condition score, sheep on stubbles regularly (preferably every three weeks) "; S10[7]=" to determine when they needed to be shifted or provided with supplementary feed.
'Paddocks should not be grazed after the amount of "; S11[7]=" groundcover declines to 50 per cent or less, because the paddocks are then susceptible to erosion and degradation,' he added.
'It is "; S12[7]=" commonly believed that older sheep use low quality stubble material more efficiently than young sheep, but this is not true.
The reason "; S13[7]=" that adult dry sheep seem to do better on stubbles is because they have seven or eight times more body fat and energy reserves than "; S14[7]=" young sheep.
'A 25 kilogram weaner has only one kilogram of body fat as an energy store, and can survive for less "; S15[7]=" than 10 days on this energy.
They must be watched closely if stubbles are the only feed source.' A simple method to "; S16[7]=" measure the grain available in stubble is to use a 0.1 metre square (such as a Hoegrass� square).
The number of grains "; S17[7]=" in a square can be averaged from 20 counts done on a line across the stubble paddock at right angles to the harvester runs.
"; S18[7]=" On average 100 kilograms of grain per hectare equals about 28 grains of wheat and oats per square and lower numbers for other "; S19[7]=" grains.
Young sheep should be removed from stubbles when grain falls to 50 kg/ha.
'The yield of grain harvested "; S20[7]=" from a paddock bears no reliable relationship to the subsequent value of the stubble for stock feed,' Dr Butler said.
Barley is "; S21[7]=" the most useful cereal stubble and farmers often comment that sheep do better on barley stubbles than on other cereal stubbles.
A "; S22[7]=" new Farmnote (No.74/2002) providing grazing guidelines on stubbles is now available from Department of Agriculture offices and on the website at www.agric.wa.gov.au.. "; R[8]="1124"; T[8]="Victorian land use unsustainable"; A[8]="By ... Editor"; Dn[8]="20021119"; Dt[8]="Tuesday 19 November 2002"; Acats[8]="a02a42a65a72"; B1[8]=" At least 40 per cent of Victoria s farming land will be unusable by 2050 unless there is revolutionary change in agricultural "; B2[8]="practices, the State Government has been warned... "; B3[8]=" "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]=" At least 40 per cent of Victoria's farming land will be unusable by 2050 unless there is revolutionary change in agricultural practices, "; S2[8]=" the State Government has been warned.
In a grim assessment, the Victorian Catchment Management Council predicts that best practice in farming will "; S3[8]=" not save large parts of the state from environmental degradation, which will eventually force many farmers off the land.
'The continue-as-we-are scenario "; S4[8]=" will not ensure a long-term economic and environmental future for agriculture in Victoria,' says the council's report on land use.
Christine Forster, "; S5[8]=" the council's chairwoman, said the 40 per cent loss of farming land was a conservative estimate because it was based only on the effect of "; S6[8]=" soil salinity and acidity.
In the next 20 years up to 55 per cent of farmers could leave the land as it "; S7[8]=" becomes less profitable, the report predicts.
In a bid to slow down land degradation, the Federal Government yesterday discussed a proposal to "; S8[8]=" offer assistance to farmers if they stop growing high water usage crops such as rice and cotton.
The Federal Government's adjustment package "; S9[8]=" would be on top of compensation payments to farmers who lose water rights under a new policy designed to reduce water use.
"; S10[8]=" The issue of who pays for the compensation will be a contentious topic at next month's meeting of premiers with the Prime Minister.
"; S11[8]=" The Federal Government is insisting that the states should pay farmers compensation for losing water rights, while the states argue they cannot shoulder the "; S12[8]=" full burden.
Ms Forster, herself a farmer, said people on the land needed to find other sources of income.
"; S13[8]=" The catchment management council, which is Victoria's top advisory body on land and water management, recommends that one of these future incomes should be in "; S14[8]=" 'environmental services', where urban people pay rural people for the upkeep of the environment.
The council predicts that by 2020 the provision "; S15[8]=" of public and privately funded 'ecosystem services' will be a major land use across the state.
'It (will be) the newest form "; S16[8]=" of primary production, underpinning the social and economic health of the state,' the report says.
An example of such a scheme is "; S17[8]=" Victoria's Bush Tender Auction Trial, where landowners enter into contracts with the government to protect remnant vegetation.
Some of the state's catchment "; S18[8]=" management authorities are already exploring ways of trading ecosystem services on private land.
'Rural people are bearing the brunt of this environmental "; S19[8]=" degradation,' Ms Forster said.
'There are no rewards for farmers doing the right thing.
Farmers can have environmental management "; S20[8]=" systems but there isn't an extra dollar in your pocket.' The council also recommends that land use should match the land's capability... "; R[9]="1055"; T[9]="What motivates farmers to adopt sustainable management practices?"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20021031"; Dt[9]="Thursday 31 October 2002"; Acats[9]="a72"; B1[9]=" A new report by the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS) provides our clearest understanding yet of what motivates Australian farmers and landholders "; B2[9]="to adopt more sustainable management practices... "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]=" A new report by the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS) provides our clearest understanding yet of what motivates Australian farmers and landholders "; S2[9]=" to adopt more sustainable management practices.
BRS Executive Director Dr Peter O'Brien said the report, Understanding Landholders' Capacity to Change to Sustainable "; S3[9]=" Practices, will help government and industry develop more relevant policies and better plan for the future.
'Like most Australians, farmers are keen "; S4[9]=" to do the right thing by the environment,' Dr O'Brien said.
'This report, however, has found that the reasons they adopt more "; S5[9]=" sustainable management practices are quite complex and pragmatic.
'The main reasons include weighing up the potential risks, the long-term financial security of "; S6[9]=" their farm business, programs that have been successfully tested, as well as programs that are simple, practical and have local relevance.
'Perhaps "; S7[9]=" the report's most crucial finding is that, for many farmers at least, being 'green' is not enough.
'The key, therefore, to boosting "; S8[9]=" sustainability in Australian agriculture is to provide landholders with incentives that better reflect their needs and circumstances.' Dr O'Brien said that ongoing structural change in "; S9[9]=" Australian agriculture, such as the growing number of hobby farms and rural residential sub-divisions, means that government policies and programs must be flexible enough to "; S10[9]=" deliver different outcomes using different approaches.
'Australia's farmers represent a diverse range of interests and concerns - one size definitely does "; S11[9]=" not fit all,' he said.
Understanding Landholders' Capacity to Change to Sustainable Practices was produced for the National Land and Water Resources "; S12[9]=" Audit and Land & Water Australia.
It is part of a wider body of work by the Bureau's Social Sciences area... "; R[10]="960"; T[10]="Funding boost for long term study of grazing strategies"; A[10]="By ... Editor"; Dn[10]="20020917"; Dt[10]="Tuesday 17 September 2002"; Acats[10]="a02a27a72"; B1[10]=" A Queensland Department of Primary Industries research trial developing grazing strategies to keep north Australia s beef industry both profitable and sustainable "; B2[10]="has received a $360,000 funding boost from Meat and Livestock Australia... "; B3[10]=" "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]=" A Queensland Department of Primary Industries research trial developing grazing strategies to keep north Australia's beef industry both profitable and sustainable has "; S2[10]=" received a $360,000 funding boost from Meat and Livestock Australia.
The project, which had formerly been funded through Natural Heritage Trust funds, "; S3[10]=" was being conducted by the DPI's Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences at Wambiana Station near Charters Towers.
The large-scale trial was "; S4[10]=" investigating the ability of different grazing strategies to cope with rainfall variability.
The funding was timely given the drought conditions being experienced "; S5[10]=" in the state and predictions of a looming El Nino for the coming wet season.
Strategies being tested at the 1000 hectare "; S6[10]=" Wambiana trial included conventional systems like light and heavy stocking and rotational spelling.
The project was also testing more futuristic strategies such "; S7[10]=" as using climate forecasting as an aid to adjust stock numbers to avoid the detrimental effects of drought.
Since starting in 1998, "; S8[10]=" the project has collected detailed data on how the different grazing strategies affected animal production, economics, pasture condition, soil loss and biodiversity.
"; S9[10]=" According to project leader, Dr Peter O'Reagain, the Wambiana trial was an important component in developing sustainable and viable grazing strategies for the multi-million dollar "; S10[10]=" northern grazing industry.
Dr O'Reagain said graziers were under increasing pressure to be more sustainable, particularly because of the adverse effects that "; S11[10]=" poor management had on issues like water quality.
Current management practices generally coped very poorly with seasonal rainfall variability.
"; S12[10]=" 'Some graziers tend to overstock while others hold on to animals for far too long when conditions get dry,' Dr O'Reagain said.
"; S13[10]=" 'The net result is that pastures get seriously overgrazed in dry years leading to a loss of productivity and soil erosion.
People "; S14[10]=" also lose a lot of money on drought feeding trying to keep poor-conditioned animals alive that no one wants to buy.
'We "; S15[10]=" have known for a very long time that we have the most variable climate on earth.
We just have to get a "; S16[10]=" lot smarter in the way we handle that variability.
If we don't, we will quickly learn that you can't have an economic "; S17[10]=" grazing industry without healthy pastures.
We also have to improve our resource management if we are going to maintain our image as "; S18[10]=" providers of clean green beef for the international market.' The $360,000 funding boost from the Meat and Livestock Australia would ensure that the trial was "; S19[10]=" kept going for at least the next four years.
However, the researchers were hopeful that support down the track would keep the "; S20[10]=" project going for at least 10 or 15 years.
Senior technical officer for the project, John Bushell, said this type of longevity "; S21[10]=" was needed because climate was a factor that operated in cycles of five to 10 years or even longer.
'Obviously, to ensure "; S22[10]=" that the results are meaningful, we need to run the project through a full range of climatic conditions and these are only experienced over relatively "; S23[10]=" long cycles,' Mr Bushell said.
Dr O'Reagain said an advisory committee comprising graziers from across the Dalrymple Shire maintained the relevance of "; S24[10]=" the trial to the beef industry.
'The committee has been involved since the very start of the trial in 1997 and played "; S25[10]=" an important part in planning the project.
They continue to play a critical role in advising us on management issues such as "; S26[10]=" burning and supplementation,' he said.
'We believe they are vital to ensuring that the project produces results which are relevant to the "; S27[10]=" grazing industry.
The project has also enjoyed strong support from graziers in general and the North Queensland Beef Research Committee in particular.
"; S28[10]=" 'Competition for the MLA funds was very intense and I believe that it was the producer support that clinched the funding that "; S29[10]=" was needed to keep the project going.
' We are indebted to the advisory committee and the NQBRC for their help and "; S30[10]=" support.
However, we owe the biggest 'Thank you' to the Lyons family of Wambiana, for their unflagging support and encouragement for the "; R[11]="857"; T[11]="Regional Matters: An Atlas of Regional Victoria"; A[11]="By ... Editor"; Dn[11]="20020828"; Dt[11]="Wednesday 28 August 2002"; Acats[11]="a04a48a51a72"; B1[11]=" Rural and regional Victoria is exporting record amounts of wine, nuts and processed fruit, has more hospital beds per capita than Melbourne "; B2[11]="but needs improved transport links and more accountants, chefs, metal fitters and hairdressers... "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]=" Rural and regional Victoria is exporting record amounts of wine, nuts and processed fruit, has more hospital beds per capita than Melbourne "; S2[11]=" but needs improved transport links and more accountants, chefs, metal fitters and hairdressers.
These are just some of the facts contained in "; S3[11]=" the Regional Matters: An Atlas of Regional Victoria released yesterday in Shepparton by the Minister for State and Regional Development, John Brumby.
"; S4[11]=" Mr Brumby said the Atlas - together with information gathered during a series of rural and regional forums across Victoria - would be an important "; S5[11]=" tool for developing future government policy.
The Atlas looks at seven key themes - population, jobs and industry, housing, road and rail "; S6[11]=" transport, health services, education and water resources - and their impact on rural and regional communities.
'Instead of looking at the State "; S7[11]=" town by town, the Atlas looks at rural and regional Victoria issue by issue, giving us a comprehensive record of how the 1.3 million people, "; S8[11]=" who live and work outside Melbourne, are faring,' Mr Brumby said.
'It will be a valuable resource for all levels of government "; S9[11]=" when planning for service provision, improved transport links and better health and education facilities for rural and regional Victoria.' He said the Atlas highlighted the "; S10[11]=" major economic contribution country Victoria made to Australia's exports, with rural exports such as food and mining growing from $8.7 billion in 1998-99 to $11.6 "; S11[11]=" billion in 2000-01.
'Since 1999, there has been significant growth in the export of horticultural goods from Victoria, including nuts, processed fruit "; S12[11]=" and wine.
In 2000-01 this reached almost $600 million,' he said.
'Overall, the population in rural and regional Victoria "; S13[11]=" is continuing to grow at 0.9 per cent a year, with growth centred on the coast, in regional centres, near metropolitan regions, and in areas "; S14[11]=" of irrigated agriculture.' The Atlas also shows: � Tourism is a major contributor to the Victorian economy - skiing alone was estimated to have contributed "; S15[11]=" $130 million and 3500 full time jobs to the economy in 2000; � Municipalities such as Wodonga, Bass Coast, Surf Coast, Greater Geelong, Golden Plains, "; S16[11]=" Hepburn, Moira, Murrindindi and Alpine are experiencing significant building approvals; � Residents in rural and regional Victoria are more likely to take advantage of training "; S17[11]=" and further education opportunities than their metropolitan counterparts; � The number of people aged 70 years and over in country Victoria is projected to rise "; S18[11]=" from the 1996 level of 123,000 to around 229,700 in 2021; � For the period April 1998 to September 2001, Orbost, Lakes Entrance, Swan Hill "; S19[11]=" and Echuca had the highest average monthly prices for unleaded petrol.
Centres closer to Melbourne, including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Wonthaggi had "; S20[11]=" the lowest; � There is a shortage of skilled workers in rural and regional communities, including accountants, chefs, metal fitters, machinists, hairdressers, speech pathologists, urban "; S21[11]=" and regional planners and motor mechanics.
� Many parts of rural and regional Victoria are attractive to industry due to strong primary "; S22[11]=" bases, cheap land and the availability of transport and power; and � Food exports from Victoria increased by $1.5 billion (31 per cent) to reach "; S23[11]=" a record high of almost $6.3 billion in 2000-01.
While the Atlas highlights many of the gains country Victoria has made, it "; S24[11]=" also details challenges including an ageing population, improved transport infrastructure, and effectively maintaining natural resources.
'Many of these challenges require action by "; S25[11]=" all three tiers of government in partnership with local communities and cannot be resolved overnight,' Mr Brumby said.
The Atlas will be "; S26[11]=" available at www.information.vic.gov.au/resources Gippsland is provided as a good example of what information the atlas provides.
The Gippsland region of Victoria stretches "; S27[11]=" from Melbourne in the west to Mallacoota in the east and is home to around 227,000 people, or 4.9% of the State's population.
"; S28[11]=" Population � Strong population growth has occurred in coastal areas of Gippsland.
The municipality of Bass Coast recorded the fastest rate "; S29[11]=" of population growth in regional Victoria between 1996 and 2001.
� The Latrobe Valley experienced population loss at the beginning of the "; S30[11]=" 1990s as a result of restructuring of the utilities sector and recession.
Improved economic conditions in Victoria have since stemmed the loss "; R[12]="595"; T[12]="Tramline farming on show"; A[12]="By ... Editor"; Dn[12]="20020716"; Dt[12]="Tuesday 16 July 2002"; Acats[12]="a02a22a72"; B1[12]=" The latest developments in tramline farming will be outlined at a series of field days to be jointly presented next month by "; B2[12]="the Department of Agriculture, GRDC, WANTFA and the Kondinin Group... "; B3[12]=" "; B4[12]=" "; B5[12]=" "; S1[12]=" The latest developments in tramline farming will be outlined at a series of field days to be jointly presented next month by "; S2[12]=" the Department of Agriculture, GRDC, WANTFA and the Kondinin Group.
The series, from Tuesday 6 August to Thursday 8 August, will examine "; S3[12]=" the benefits for farming systems of accurate machinery operation on defined pathways.
Department of Agriculture senior research officer Paul Blackwell said new "; S4[12]=" guidance technologies provided many opportunities for farmers to manage machinery soil compaction, inter-row weed control, seed and fertiliser placement within and between seasons and stubble "; S5[12]=" management.
'Input costs can be reduced through eliminating overlaps and applying crop protection products to rows of crop only.
"; S6[12]=" There may also be future opportunities to sow into previous furrows and make better use of little rainfall in dry seasons' Dr.Blackwell said.
"; S7[12]=" The series will begin on 6 August at 8:00am at the Hyden Hall with a day of technical information, informal discussions and field walks "; S8[12]=" on a wide range of topics including soil conservation, track matching, machinery modifications, fertiliser placement and inter-row shield spraying.
The cost of "; S9[12]=" $33 (inc.
GST) for early bird registration (before 26 July) will cover bus hire, morning and afternoon teas and lunch.
"; S10[12]=" There will also be a dinner at 7pm for an additional $31.50.
Registrations can be lodged with the Department of Agriculture "; S11[12]=" in Geraldton on +61 8 9956 8555.
Accommodation has been reserved at the Hyden Motel for the Monday and Tuesday nights.
"; S12[12]=" This should be booked and paid for individually.
On 7 August a field day will be held from 9am to "; S13[12]=" midday at Owen Brownley's property at Lake King.
The program will examine row spacing for canola and beans, inter-row weed control, reduced "; S14[12]=" crop protection product use on wide rows, 3m track matching and matching the header to other machinery.
To register contact Bill Crabtree "; S15[12]=" on +61 8 9622 3395 or Owen Brownley on +61 8 9838 0010 On 8 August field walks and presentations will be held at Darren "; S16[12]=" Baum's property at Wellstead/Ongerup from 9:30am.
The focus will be on tramlining in higher rainfall areas with smaller paddocks and more obstacles "; S17[12]=" rather than the larger scale wheatbelt systems... "; R[13]="530"; T[13]="Growing Peanut crops monitored by aerial survey"; A[13]="By ... Editor"; Dn[13]="20020702"; Dt[13]="Tuesday 2 July 2002"; Acats[13]="a02a17a18a55a72"; B1[13]=" A simple, low-cost near infrared, photographic technique developed by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, is allowing accurate aerial assessment of growing "; B2[13]="crops... "; B3[13]=" "; B4[13]=" "; B5[13]=" "; S1[13]=" A simple, low-cost near infrared, photographic technique developed by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, is allowing accurate aerial assessment of growing "; S2[13]=" crops.
Principal Scientist from the Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences, Dr Graeme Wright, Kingaroy, has installed a standard, $5000 digital camera "; S3[13]=" 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[13]=" '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[13]=" irrigators in cropping regions in southern Queensland.' Dr Wright said.
He said that the DPI peanut research team has been working in "; S6[13]=" close collaboration with aerial operator, Tony Pratt, to develop the system.
After a number of test flights around Kingaroy, the DPI camera "; S7[13]=" 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[13]=" nearly 10 to 20 times more.
'Once the digital images have been collected, we have been able to adapt widely available image "; S9[13]=" 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[13]=" Red photographs with Global Information Systems (GIS) data to make pre-harvest crop estimates and precision agriculture recommendations.' Dr Wright said.
He said "; S11[13]=" 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[13]=" have been conducted over the past few years.
'The remote sensing imagery offers farmers a unique and low cost technique for visualising "; S13[13]=" 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[13]=" areas in farmers' crops, specific management strategies may be targeted to overcome these constraints.' Dr Wright said... "; R[14]="494"; T[14]="UK farming under new pressure due to environmental damage"; A[14]="By ... Editor"; Dn[14]="20020621"; Dt[14]="Friday 21 June 2002"; Acats[14]="a42a61a72"; B1[14]=" Farming is said to cost the environment �1.2bn a year Farmers are warning the growing problems affecting Britain s farming industry will "; B2[14]="force thousands to leave the land... "; B3[14]=" "; B4[14]=" "; B5[14]=" "; S1[14]=" Farming is said to cost the environment �1.2bn a year Farmers are warning the growing problems affecting Britain's farming industry will force "; S2[14]=" thousands to leave the land.
The National Farmers' Union (NFU) says the government must act now or low incomes, job losses and "; S3[14]=" poor prices will lead to a new crisis in agriculture.
The warning comes on the day an Environmental Agency report shows taxpayers "; S4[14]=" are having to pay millions of pounds each year to rectify damage caused to the environment by farmers.
It says soil erosion, "; S5[14]=" which adds to flooding, and pollution of rivers by fertilisers and farm waste could all be avoided if the government did more to encourage better "; S6[14]=" farming practices.
Calls have been made to the Treasury for an extra �500m to be spent on UK farming in the next "; S7[14]=" three years, to make it more competitive.
But the Environment Agency said taxpayers could save that amount annually if farmers took better "; S8[14]=" care of the environment they worked in.
The agency report estimates the annual costs of farming to the environment amount to �1.2bn, "; S9[14]=" offset by benefits of up to �0.9m.
In the short term, it is estimated �331m could be saved per year by adopting "; S10[14]=" simple techniques.
In the long term, savings could amount to about �525m a year, the report says.
Environment Agency "; S11[14]=" president, Baroness Young, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme 27% of all serious water pollution was from farming.
She said: 'We are "; S12[14]=" working with the NFU firstly to get an environmental management standard for farmers that will help them take these low-cost and no-cost steps.
"; S13[14]=" 'Secondly to persuade government that more money needs to go into agri-environmental schemes that will support farmers taking these practical measures to reduce their "; S14[14]=" impact on the environment.' But NFU president Ben Gill, speaking on the same programme, said the figure of �525m was 'nebulous' because great improvements had "; S15[14]=" already been made, with 95% of all rivers a fair or good chemical quality.
He added: 'That's an enormous step forward from "; S16[14]=" where we were ten years ago.' He demanded more government money for environmental schemes.
Mr Gill will release figures on what is "; S17[14]=" described as 'farming's on-going crisis' later on Tuesday.
In April a leading agricultural expert told the BBC the industry would be facing "; S18[14]=" ruin if �500m was not ploughed in by the government - fast.
Sir Donald Curry said funding was crucial to implement much-needed "; S19[14]=" changes to farming in the wake of last year's foot-and-mouth outbreak.
His report said �500m over three years would be needed for "; S20[14]=" this reform which included shifting from intensive food production towards projects to protect the environment... "; R[15]="355"; T[15]="Holistic farm management"; A[15]="By ... Editor"; Dn[15]="20020509"; Dt[15]="Thursday 9 May 2002"; Acats[15]="a72"; B1[15]=" Planned grazing as part of an holistic management practice has reaped rewards for farmers in the Dandaragan area.... "; B2[15]=" "; B3[15]=" "; B4[15]=" "; B5[15]=" "; S1[15]=" Planned grazing as part of an holistic management practice has reaped rewards for farmers in the Dandaragan area.
The "; S2[15]=" Department of Agriculture said farmers using planned grazing had reported increased grass production and density, a greater diversity of pasture species and more perennials appearing "; S3[15]=" in the system.
Department Woolpro adviser Tim Wiley said the aim of planned grazing was to manage stock using a planning chart "; S4[15]=" for the growing season and a chart for the non-growing season.
'Grazing planning uses the principles of feed budgeting, plant recovery, paddock "; S5[15]=" numbers and stock numbers to promote soil and pasture health and preventing erosion,' Mr Wiley said.
'This involves moving large mobs through "; S6[15]=" small paddocks at planned intervals usually every three to four days.' He said planned grazing was only one of the tools of holistic management, which "; S7[15]=" considered financial, environmental, social and personal goals as part of the decision-making process.
Dandaragan Holistic Management Woolpro group member David Cook began "; S8[15]=" planned grazing on his farm, 18 months ago, and the benefits were apparent after only one growing season.
Mr Cook said paddocks "; S9[15]=" varied in size, but to ensure longer pasture recovery and the maximisation of animal impact, subdivision down to 15 hectares was ideal.
"; S10[15]=" 'Pastures are annual based, but the plan is to introduce perennial species to provide more feed quantity and quality during summer and autumn,' Mr Cook "; S11[15]=" said.
'Cheap electric fencing and innovative mobile water troughs are aiding in the subdivision process.
'Stock are trained to "; S12[15]=" move more efficiently with the use of a whistle through lift up gates.
I lift up the fence, blow the whistle and "; S13[15]=" the cattle move through quickly onto fresh feed.' With only two large herds comprising 750 cows and calves and 200 cattle, most of the property "; S14[15]=" was left resting, increasing the biodiversity of pasture species and the number of perennials in the system, which maximised pasture production.
Mr "; S15[15]=" Cook's other property was also being run in a single cell with one large herd of cows and calves.
'The impact of "; S16[15]=" livestock in a small concentrated area for short periods of time breaks up the soil surface allowing aeration and water flow and buries organic matter "; S17[15]=" to feed the soil,' Mr Cook said.
Mr Cook said erosion was not a problem because stock grazed more evenly leaving good "; S18[15]=" ground cover.
He said this was beneficial for soil life because it protected against high summer soil temperatures that could damage soil "; S19[15]=" micro-organisms... "; R[16]="302"; T[16]="LANDSCAN is a new insight into paddocks"; A[16]="By ... Editor"; Dn[16]="20020501"; Dt[16]="Wednesday 1 May 2002"; Acats[16]="a02a46a72a92"; B1[16]=" NSW Agriculture is offering a new tool for landholders who want to enhance their land management capabilities to maximise the productivity and "; B2[16]="sustainability of the farm enterprise... "; B3[16]=" "; B4[16]=" "; B5[16]=" "; S1[16]=" NSW Agriculture is offering a new tool for landholders who want to enhance their land management capabilities to maximise the productivity and "; S2[16]=" sustainability of the farm enterprise.
The LANDSCAN course is designed to help farmers interpret soil tests in relation to the physical features "; S3[16]=" of the landscape, enabling them to make the best use of individual paddocks on their properties.
NSW Agriculture agronomist, Bruce Clements said "; S4[16]=" the course was developed in response to the landscape itself.
'We realised the landscape was telling a significant story which wasn't revealed "; S5[16]=" by soil tests,' he said.
'I'm often given soil test results over the phone and it's difficult to make any sort of "; S6[16]=" worthwhile recommendation with that information alone.
'The type of enterprise, soil depth, paddock history, aspect, existing pasture species and weeds are important "; S7[16]=" factors which need to be considered when making paddock management and development decisions,' Mr Clements said.
'LANDSCAN brings all this information together "; S8[16]=" and gives landholders the skills to pick those areas where they can maximise production and those where they need to manage for sustainability.' It's a "; S9[16]=" practical course based on soil test information and observation run over five half-day sessions, with a full day for the sixth and final session.
"; S10[16]=" Using set criteria, landholders assess paddocks and learn how to use soils tests more effectively.
LANDSCAN, a FarmBis accredited course, "; S11[16]=" is run at a cost of $166 to rural landholders.
Second generation Rydal grazier, Matthew Ryan said the course had very positive "; S12[16]=" benefits.
'We always knew that some sections of the paddock were better than others and now we've got a solid basis to "; S13[16]=" know why they're better,' he said.
Mr Ryan said the course also gave him the chance to learn from his fellow participants.
"; S14[16]=" 'They see things that you don't see and they ask questions that you may not ask, so you get other people's points "; S15[16]=" of view about your own land and you learn from that,' he said.
'It's a great insight into your own backyard.' For "; S16[16]=" relative new comers to the land, LANDSCAN has distinct advantages.
LANDSCAN participant, Ross Curnow, left Sydney fives years ago to farm land "; S17[16]=" near Rydal.
'We wish something similar was available when we first came to the district and had to develop a farm plan,' "; S18[16]=" he said.
'Now the LANDSCAN course has shown us just how much better the plan can be made.' LANDSCAN is already proving "; S19[16]=" popular in the Central and Southern Tablelands and will soon be available to farmers on the Northern Tablelands and South Coast... "; R[17]="300"; T[17]="Positive Rural Futures conference at Charleville"; A[17]="By ... Editor"; Dn[17]="20020501"; Dt[17]="Wednesday 1 May 2002"; Acats[17]="a02a08a09a57a66a72"; B1[17]=" Youth development, new ways for community and government to interact and ecotourism opportunities are all topics to be addressed at the Charleville "; B2[17]="Positive Rural Futures (PRF) Conference, May 9-11... "; B3[17]=" "; B4[17]=" "; B5[17]=" "; S1[17]=" Youth development, new ways for community and government to interact and ecotourism opportunities are all topics to be addressed at the Charleville "; S2[17]=" Positive Rural Futures (PRF) Conference, May 9-11.
Hosted by the Department of Primary Industries and the Office of Rural Communities in partnership "; S3[17]=" with Education Queensland and the people of Murweh Shire, the 2002 PRF Conference aims to provide opportunities for communities to promote environmental sustainability; stimulate economic "; S4[17]=" development and employment; foster enterprise; improve education and training opportunities; and develop ecotourism.
Janet Stone, general manager of the Office of Rural "; S5[17]=" Communities, said the 2002 PRF Conference Committee was delighted to invite Leon Sharpe from the Heartland Center for Leadership Development in the United States and "; S6[17]=" director of the South Australian Museum, Tim Flannery, as the keynote speakers for the event.
'The three-day program will include a pre "; S7[17]=" conference workshop on the Thursday, which will target problem-solving in rural communities, and then two days full of interesting presentations by speakers from all over "; S8[17]=" Australia and from the United States,' she said.
One of the highlights of the Saturday, May 11 program will be the 9:45am "; S9[17]=" presentation by Carole Mules, a senior innovation and development specialist from DPI Brisbane, titles 'Building social capital: a Queensland perspective'.
'Currently completing "; S10[17]=" a Masters in Sustainable Agriculture, which focuses on decision making in the future, Carole's background is in building the capacity of individuals and communities through "; S11[17]=" the Building Rural Leaders Program and a range of other programs in diverse rural and urban communities,' Ms Stone said.
'Carole has "; S12[17]=" contributed to advancing Aboriginal reconciliation with her work in the Department of Primary Industries.
Other bridging social capital work has included working "; S13[17]=" with Armenian and Turkish women and Vietnamese boat people.' For further information about the conference, contact Liz Dalley on (07) 3239 3300, or link to "; S14[17]=" the DPI Web Site on www.dpi.qld.gov.au/community... "; R[18]="284"; T[18]="LANDSCAN is a new insight into paddocks"; A[18]="By ... Editor"; Dn[18]="20020416"; Dt[18]="Tuesday 16 April 2002"; Acats[18]="a02a72"; B1[18]=" NSW Agriculture is offering a new tool for landholders who want to enhance their land management capabilities to maximise the productivity and "; B2[18]="sustainability of the farm enterprise... "; B3[18]=" "; B4[18]=" "; B5[18]=" "; S1[18]=" NSW Agriculture is offering a new tool for landholders who want to enhance their land management capabilities to maximise the productivity and "; S2[18]=" sustainability of the farm enterprise.
The LANDSCAN course is designed to help farmers interpret soil tests in relation to the physical features "; S3[18]=" of the landscape, enabling them to make the best use of individual paddocks on their properties.
NSW Agriculture agronomist, Bruce Clements said "; S4[18]=" the course was developed in response to the landscape itself.
'We realised the landscape was telling a significant story which wasn't revealed "; S5[18]=" by soil tests,' he said.
'I'm often given soil test results over the phone and it's difficult to make any sort of "; S6[18]=" worthwhile recommendation with that information alone.
'The type of enterprise, soil depth, paddock history, aspect, existing pasture species and weeds are important "; S7[18]=" factors which need to be considered when making paddock management and development decisions,' Mr Clements said.
'LANDSCAN brings all this information together "; S8[18]=" and gives landholders the skills to pick those areas where they can maximise production and those where they need to manage for sustainability.' It's a "; S9[18]=" practical course based on soil test information and observation run over five half-day sessions, with a full day for the sixth and final session.
"; S10[18]=" Using set criteria, landholders assess paddocks and learn how to use soils tests more effectively.
LANDSCAN, a FarmBis accredited course, "; S11[18]=" is run at a cost of $166 to rural landholders.
Second generation Rydal grazier, Matthew Ryan said the course had very positive "; S12[18]=" benefits.
'We always knew that some sections of the paddock were better than others and now we've got a solid basis to "; S13[18]=" know why they're better,' he said.
Mr Ryan said the course also gave him the chance to learn from his fellow participants.
"; S14[18]=" 'They see things that you don't see and they ask questions that you may not ask, so you get other people's points "; S15[18]=" of view about your own land and you learn from that,' he said.
'It's a great insight into your own backyard.' For "; S16[18]=" relative new comers to the land, LANDSCAN has distinct advantages.
LANDSCAN participant, Ross Curnow, left Sydney fives years ago to farm land "; S17[18]=" near Rydal.
'We wish something similar was available when we first came to the district and had to develop a farm plan,' "; S18[18]=" he said.
'Now the LANDSCAN course has shown us just how much better the plan can be made.' LANDSCAN is already proving "; S19[18]=" popular in the Central and Southern Tablelands and will soon be available to farmers on the Northern Tablelands and South Coast... "; R[19]="266"; T[19]="Sheep, a viable option in WA s wheatbelt"; A[19]="By ... Editor"; Dn[19]="20020416"; Dt[19]="Tuesday 16 April 2002"; Acats[19]="a02a22a28a67a72"; B1[19]=" An increasing trend back into sheep has led to the establishment of two new Woolpro groups in the Wheatbelt.... "; B2[19]=" "; B3[19]=" "; B4[19]=" "; B5[19]=" "; S1[19]=" An increasing trend back into sheep has led to the establishment of two new Woolpro groups in the Wheatbelt.
"; S2[19]=" Department of Agriculture development officer Emma Giumelli said more than 30 producers in the Kukerin and Kulin region had recently formed Woolpro groups.
"; S3[19]=" Ms Giumelli said the profitability of sheep and problems with weed resistance had made pasture/crop rotations a more attractive and viable option in wheatbelt "; S4[19]=" areas.
'My role as development officer, working with the Woolpro groups, is to provide producers with access to resources, specialists and funding "; S5[19]=" and to help producers organise events and trials,' said Ms Giumelli.
'Woolpro will be working with the Freebairn Progress Group at Kulin "; S6[19]=" to enhance their skills with finishing lambs, nutrition, feedlots and breed comparisons for wool and meat production,' she said.
The new Kukerin "; S7[19]=" Woolpro group will focus on pasture establishment, production and management, with plans to experiment with new varieties in the 2002 season.
Kukerin "; S8[19]=" Woolpro member Ross Ditchburn said he joined to share ideas with the group and to access department expertise to improve his whole sheep enterprise.
"; S9[19]=" 'I hope to gain a better understanding of the nutritional needs of sheep and be able to assess pasture for nutritional value.
"; S10[19]=" I hope to be able to convert this knowledge into greater dollar returns,' Mr Ditchburn said.
Ms Giumelli said Woolpro "; S11[19]=" offers producers the opportunity to learn from each other and compare results in a social and friendly environment.
Woolpro and Topcrop joined "; S12[19]=" forces so technical information on pasture varieties, management and assessment as well as sheep management and nutrition could be combined with the latest information on "; S13[19]=" crops.
Growers interested in joining Woolpro should contact their local Department of Agriculture... "; R[20]="232"; T[20]="Landholder training days for dung beetle management"; A[20]="By ... Editor"; Dn[20]="20020330"; Dt[20]="Saturday 30 March 2002"; Acats[20]="a72a84"; B1[20]=" Calls are being made for landholder groups and interested individuals in South east Queensland to take part in the current series of "; B2[20]="training days on the monitoring and management of dung beetles on their properties... "; B3[20]=" "; B4[20]=" "; B5[20]=" "; S1[20]=" Calls are being made for landholder groups and interested individuals in South east Queensland to take part in the current series of "; S2[20]=" training days on the monitoring and management of dung beetles on their properties.
Queensland Dung Beetle project leader Graeme Elphinstone said the "; S3[20]=" joint Department of Primary Industries /Agforce/Landcare project which is funded by the Natural Heritage Trust, would complete the initial schedule of training days by Easter.
"; S4[20]=" 'We are now asking for other landholders groups and interested people who have not yet had the chance to attend a training "; S5[20]=" day, to nominate their interest as soon as possible.' Mr Elphinstone said.
He said the first phase of the project involved a "; S6[20]=" statewide survey during 2001/2002 to monitor dung beetle populations using 114 permanent trapping sites, and including fourteen regional sites in South east Queensland.
"; S7[20]=" This has given us a unique snapshot of the Queensland situation.
'The second phase of the project has involved a series "; S8[20]=" of landholder training days held over this summer which have provided landholders with the key information to monitor, identify and better manage for optimum dung "; S9[20]=" beetle populations on their properties.' Mr Elphinstone said.
Members of Agforce, Landcare, Catchment Management, Beef and Dairy groups have taken part in "; S10[20]=" the first round of 15 training days involving 260 landholders in South east Queensland.
'We now want to hear from other landholder "; S11[20]=" groups and individuals in the region who would like to be involved in the training series to indicate their interest in taking part before the "; S12[20]=" project ends in June.' Mr Elphinstone said.
He said the training days held to date have been at Beaudesert, Lockyer Valley, Toogoolawah, "; S13[20]=" Kilcoy, Kumbia, Durong, Mundubbera, Monto, Miriam Vale, Numinbah Valley, Yarraman, Childers, Lower Wonga, Imbil and Maleny.
Mr Elphinstone said issues discussed at "; S14[20]=" the training days include regional beetle population data, beetle lifecycles and biology, identification of the eight commonly established beetles, parasite control and environmental benefits, plus "; S15[20]=" a field excursion to demonstrate on-farm beetle sampling... "; R[21]="231"; T[21]="British farmers to be paid for best practices"; A[21]="By ... Editor"; Dn[21]="20020329"; Dt[21]="Friday 29 March 2002"; Acats[21]="a02a04a37a38a42a72"; B1[21]=" British farmers are to be paid to open their farms to demonstrate the highest standards of animal welfare and green practices.... "; B2[21]=" "; B3[21]=" "; B4[21]=" "; B5[21]=" "; S1[21]=" British farmers are to be paid to open their farms to demonstrate the highest standards of animal welfare and green practices.
"; S2[21]=" These model farms must also be profitable and use the most up-to-date business techniques.
At a farming seminar yesterday, Tony "; S3[21]=" Blair gave the go-ahead for a pilot network to be set up before the end of the year.
The farms will be "; S4[21]=" part of the government strategy to help farmers to increase their incomes and earn higher prices for their produce.
Up to six "; S5[21]=" 'beacon' farms are planned for each region; each will specialise in a sector of agriculture.
They will be chosen by a panel "; S6[21]=" of veterinary, environmental, farming, food and business experts.
The offensive is part of a package designed to revive the country's ailing farm "; S7[21]=" industry.
Among other developments are tough new controls on the import of meat, including the use of dogs to check baggage at "; S8[21]=" airports; more continental-style farm co-operatives; and the creation of a Food Chain Centre to help farmers to increase their profits and to cut out bureaucracy "; S9[21]=" and middlemen in the food chain.
Mr Blair told the Times that reform of the common agriculture policy was inevitable.
"; S10[21]=" He was unable, however, to give the signal for greener farming that was the centrepiece of the recent report on the industry by Sir "; S11[21]=" Don Curry.
The industry overhaul is now unlikely before September.
With the Treasury keen to limit public spending, it "; S12[21]=" is increasingly uncertain whether Margaret Beckett, the Rural Affairs Secretary, will be able to secure the �500 million needed to implement the reforms.
"; S13[21]=" Sir Don, during the meeting with Mr Blair and industry representatives, said bluntly that piecemeal selection of his proposals was not acceptable.
"; S14[21]=" He said later: 'One recommendation is dependent on another and we cannot achieve the refocusing of our industry unless the report is adopted in "; S15[21]=" total.' Environmental groups were also pessimistic that the Treasury would block farming reforms.
The National Trust said: 'The Government's slow progress on "; S16[21]=" farm policy reform risks triggering further review and debate instead of driving forward the momentum for change.'.. "; R[22]="213"; T[22]="Best practises information for cut flower industry"; A[22]="By ... Editor"; Dn[22]="20020325"; Dt[22]="Monday 25 March 2002"; Acats[22]="a02a55a72a75"; B1[22]=" The cut flower industry has promoted its long-term environmental and economic future one step further, cooperating to produce a comprehensive best practises "; B2[22]="information package... "; B3[22]=" "; B4[22]=" "; B5[22]=" "; S1[22]=" The cut flower industry has promoted its long-term environmental and economic future one step further, cooperating to produce a comprehensive 'best practises' "; S2[22]=" information package.
According to NSW Agriculture's Resource Management Liaison Officer, David Mason, consumers and the community want flower growers to 'produce and "; S3[22]=" 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[22]=" an information kit of three full colour posters plus an agnote, deliver the blueprint.
Cut flower industry members and NSW Agriculture have "; S5[22]=" collaborated to give commercial growers practical tips to further improve sustainable farm management and meet environmental obligations.
Already selling well to interstate "; S6[22]=" 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[22]=" windbreaks.
It talks about establishing and managing cropping systems, irrigation, managing run off, fertilisers, integrated pest and disease management, managing pests and "; S8[22]=" diseases, and noise, odour and dust control.
The posters, produced with funding support from the National Heritage Trust, focus on irrigation methods, "; S9[22]=" farm layout and fertiliser use.
The 16-page agnote, listing a wide range of information sources available to flower growers on environmental matters, "; S10[22]=" 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[22]=" says David Mason.
He said the authors of the final work, Glenda Steain and Bettina Gollnow, of NSW Agriculture were 'determined to "; S12[22]=" make the information understandable for everyone - the clear presentation and format achieve this'.
'It is now critical that commercial flower growers "; S13[22]=" and the various government agencies working in environmental management embrace and support the advice given in the guidelines,' says Bettina Gollnow.
Commercial "; S14[22]=" cut flower growers in NSW can obtain complimentary copies of the posters and agnote through Bettina Gollnow, Development Officer (Floriculture), at NSW Agriculture.
"; S15[22]=" The book is available to growers through their industry association or Bettina Gollnow at a discounted price.
Copies are also available "; S16[22]=" through NSW Agriculture's bookshop for $15 each... "; R[23]="110"; T[23]="Award for StreamFlow team"; A[23]="By ... Editor"; Dn[23]="20020220"; Dt[23]="Wednesday 20 February 2002"; Acats[23]="a04a40a72a91"; B1[23]=" The team that developed StreamFlow - the computer CD that uses climate information and historical records to predict the flow of water "; B2[23]="in many Australian rivers and streams - has received national recognition... "; B3[23]=" "; B4[23]=" "; B5[23]=" "; S1[23]=" The team that developed StreamFlow - the computer CD that uses climate information and historical records to predict the flow of water "; S2[23]=" in many Australian rivers and streams - has received national recognition.
The award was made to the Rainman StreamFlow team for its "; S3[23]=" contribution to the 2001 Climate Variability in Agriculture Program (CVAP).
Director of Land & Water Australia Mike Logan presented the award to "; S4[23]=" project team leader Nick Clarkson, of the Department of Primary Industries Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences, Toowoomba.
Land & Water Australia "; S5[23]=" is a national research and development organisation that supports the sustainable management of the nation's natural resources.
The presentation followed the national "; S6[23]=" release of the StreamFlow CD (a supplement to the award-winning computer package Australian Rainman) in Canberra last November.
The CD was produced "; S7[23]=" through a cooperative effort involving the Queensland departments of Primary Industries and Natural Resources and Mines, with financial support from Land & Water Australia.
"; S8[23]=" The University of Melbourne and the Bureau of Meteorology also assisted with the project, and historical records were supplied by water agencies from "; S9[23]=" all Australian states and territories... ";