R[0]="2087"; T[0]="New DPI&F hybrids yield a-maizing results for Tablelands"; A[0]="By ... Editor"; Dn[0]="20071024"; Dt[0]="Wednesday 24 October 2007"; Acats[0]="a74a81"; B1[0]=" Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries' maize-hybrid trials on the Atherton Tablelands promise higher yields and greater resistance to disease.... "; B2[0]=" "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]=" Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries' maize-hybrid trials on the Atherton Tablelands promise higher yields and greater resistance to disease.
"; S2[0]=" Two varieties in particular, AT2 and KSC 2077, have performed extremely well and have the potential to increase the profitability of the Tablelands' $6 "; S3[0]=" million dollar maize grain industry.
DPI&F senior plant breeder Ian Martin said AT2, which is due for commercial release in the "; S4[0]=" 2007-2008 season, had produced an average of 9.3 per cent more grain than the popular district hybrid AT1.
'The grain quality of "; S5[0]=" AT2 is good, similar to AT1,' he said.
'It retained its healthy green leaf well into the grain-fill phase when high yields "; S6[0]=" can be determined, making it a good prospect for silage and green-chop production ideal for cattle feed.
'At the same time, it "; S7[0]=" demonstrated almost complete resistance to Polysora (tropical) rust disease.' But more impressive was the performance of another DPI&F hybrid KSC 2077: 'Average grain production over "; S8[0]=" the two trials was 17.5 per cent more than that recorded by AT1,' Mr Martin said.
At the test site on Ray "; S9[0]=" DeMarzi's farm in Atherton, KSC 2077 produced slightly more than 10 tonnes a hectare.
'At the other site (at DPI&F's Kairi Research "; S10[0]=" Station) it achieved 4.85 t/ha, giving it a 1.04 t/ha advantage over AT1 - and this was despite the late planting and water stress,' Mr "; S11[0]=" Martin said.
'On the downside KSC 2077 did not retain green leaf as long as AT1 or AT2, suggesting it is better "; S12[0]=" for grain production than for silage.
'Grain quality was not as good as AT1, but it was adequate.
'But "; S13[0]=" its resistance to banded leaf and sheath spot (Rhizoctonia) was superior to AT1.
Resistance to Polysora rust was similar to AT1.' He "; S14[0]=" said KSC 2077 would undergo a second season of evaluation this summer.
It would be released in commercial quantities for the 2008-2009 "; S15[0]=" season, if its continued performance warranted it.
'Initial seed increase of its 'parents' has already started at Kairi Research Station,' Mr Martin "; S16[0]=" said.
These findings were derived from the field testing of 120 experimental maize hybrids on the Atherton Tablelands during the 2006-2007 summer "; S17[0]=" season.
Varieties included 18 from private seed companies and the remainder from the department's maize breeding program at Kairi Research Station.
"; S18[0]=" The varieties tested at the DeMarzi farm were planted at the start of 2007.
This trial experienced favourable growing conditions "; S19[0]=" despite heavy rain in February.
Planting densities were between 60,000 and 65,000 a hectare.
DAP fertiliser at about 150kg "; S20[0]=" a hectare was applied at planting and urea was side-dressed at about 300kg a hectare.
The second trial at Kairi was planted "; S21[0]=" some six weeks later.
Moisture stress during grain fill reduced grain yields, particularly for later maturing hybrids.
The Grains "; S22[0]=" Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has been a financial supporter and valuable partner in DPI&F's maize breeding work for about 13 years... "; R[1]="2057"; T[1]="Major grain loss expected as farmers wait for rain"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20070823"; Dt[1]="Thursday 23 August 2007"; Acats[1]="a22a57a74a79a82"; B1[1]=" Concern for the nation's grain crops is on the rise, with regions across the north and west of the country desperately in "; B2[1]="need of rain... "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]=" Concern for the nation's grain crops is on the rise, with regions across the north and west of the country desperately in "; S2[1]=" need of rain.
As the drought in Western Australia continues to take hold, large parts of northern New South Wales and Queensland "; S3[1]=" are getting drier by the day, with predictions that millions of tonnes would be wiped off the national wheat harvest.
Grains analyst "; S4[1]=" Lloyd George says frost and a lack of rain is putting a large proportion of crops in danger.
'There was always a "; S5[1]=" bunch of risk in this just because of how dry the sub-soil was,' he said.
'It's essentially been around about 45 days "; S6[1]=" plus since northern New South Wales [or] Queensland has really had any rain of significance.
'Without rain in the next two to "; S7[1]=" three weeks up there, we're really talking significant yield losses.'.. "; R[2]="1969"; T[2]="Production of grains to rebound"; A[2]="By ... Editor"; Dn[2]="20070308"; Dt[2]="Thursday 8 March 2007"; Acats[2]="a22a57a74a79"; B1[2]=" The fortunes of Australia's grain farmers may be turning, with crop production set to rebound from the worst drought in 100 years.... "; B2[2]=" "; B3[2]=" "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]=" The fortunes of Australia's grain farmers may be turning, with crop production set to rebound from the worst drought in 100 years.
"; S2[2]=" Assuming an expected return to average seasonal conditions will eventuate, as tipped by the Bureau of Meteorology, total winter crop production will "; S3[2]=" be 38.4 million tonnes in 2007-08.
This is an increase of 22.7 million tonnes from this year's drought-ravaged winter harvest - when "; S4[2]=" crop production dropped by 60 per cent, to the lowest since 1994-1995.
The figures, released in the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and "; S5[2]=" Resource Economics's March report at its Outlook conference yesterday, show that the areas sown to wheat and barley will increase by 17 per cent, and "; S6[2]=" canola crops will rise by 10 per cent, next financial year.
Rhonda Treadwell, manager of ABARE's farm surveys, said grain producers had "; S7[2]=" been hardest hit by the drought.
And with plans to plant bumper crops in the coming months, costs including fertiliser may push "; S8[2]=" many further into the red.
'Grain farm incomes are going down to about $7000 per farm on average - that's the lowest "; S9[2]=" grain-farm cash income that we've measured in 30 years, and it's the biggest drop of any of (the farming sectors),' Ms Treadwell said.
"; S10[2]=" 'Half the grain growers are looking at the prospect of negative farm cash income this year.' The Bureau of Meteorology last month declared the "; S11[2]=" El Nino over, with Australia moving to 'normal' conditions.
'This of course doesn't mean that the drought has broken,' the bureau's chief "; S12[2]=" scientist, Neville Smith, said.
'It just might mean that we have at least a reasonable expectation of rains.' More than two-thirds of "; S13[2]=" agricultural land in Australia is currently drought-declared, including 95 per cent of Victoria.
Speaking at the conference, Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran said "; S14[2]=" for farmers to be able to earn an income in one of the driest and hottest years on record was 'no mean feat'.
"; S15[2]=" 'After 12 years of dry and drought there should hardly be a farmer left standing,' he said.
'Our industry should be "; S16[2]=" decimated and the land left barren.
The fact that none of this has come to pass is evidence of incredible improvements in "; S17[2]=" our farming practices and land management over the last decade.' Victorian Farmers Federation president Simon Ramsay said Victorian and NSW grain producers were among the "; S18[2]=" hardest hit by the current drought.
He said while the crop projections gave him some heart, he was being cautiously optimistic about "; S19[2]=" the long road ahead.
'The El Nino pattern is certainly breaking up … ' Mr Ramsay said.
'(But) until "; S20[2]=" we get a really substantial autumn break, people will still be a little bit nervous about how the season will pan out.' The boost in "; S21[2]=" wheat production is also set to ramp up the value of wheat exports by 21 per cent to $3.8 billion... "; R[3]="1426"; T[3]="$700m cut in SA grain crop value"; A[3]="By ... Editor"; Dn[3]="20060921"; Dt[3]="Thursday 21 September 2006"; Acats[3]="a22a74a79a81a82"; B1[3]=" The escalating drought is estimated to have wiped close to $700 million from the value of South Australia's grain crop compared to "; B2[3]="last year... "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]=" The escalating drought is estimated to have wiped close to $700 million from the value of South Australia's grain crop compared to "; S2[3]=" last year.
The loss has coincided with warnings of severe social problems in regional South Australia as the drought hits hard.
"; S3[3]=" SA Farmers Federation grains council president Brett Roberts said employees were already being put off in service industries and from some farms.
"; S4[3]=" 'The saddest thing I see from this is the social consequences,' he said.
'Rural towns and businesses in them that "; S5[3]=" rely on the rural economy will be badly hurt.' Mr Roberts said that country towns and their whole social infrastructure, including sporting clubs, were often "; S6[3]=" a neglected consequence of drought.
He said some people were already seeking work in the mining industry and that there was no "; S7[3]=" way they would return to farming when they had left.
'The bad thing about this year is we've got such high cost "; S8[3]=" structures compared to the past,' he said.
'A big issue now is that if we get a heap of hot weather, the "; S9[3]=" grain we do harvest may suffer quality problems.
We've got to tough it out and have another go next year.' Mr Roberts "; S10[3]=" said the grain crop was decreasing by the day as the generally warm weather continued across the state.
Even some reliable cropping "; S11[3]=" areas in the Mid North and on Yorke Peninsula were looking at total crop failures, he warned.
His comments follow new estimates "; S12[3]=" that the state's grain crop will reach only four million tonnes and is already at a level comparable with the 2002 crop of 3.9 million "; S13[3]=" tonnes.
The new estimate by Primary Industries and Resources SA this week is a huge downgrade from 4.7 million tonnes at the "; S14[3]=" start of September and 6.7 million tonnes at the start of August.
The forecast comes with a report warning that the Australian "; S15[3]=" grain crop will reach just 26 million tonnes this year, down 36 per cent from 2005-06... "; R[4]="1401"; T[4]="Total winter crop production in WA down 41%: ABARE"; A[4]="By ... Editor"; Dn[4]="20060921"; Dt[4]="Thursday 21 September 2006"; Acats[4]="a22a24a57a74a79a82"; B1[4]=" Total winter crop production in WA will be down 41 per cent for the 2006-07 year due to a below average winter "; B2[4]="rainfall and the resultant poor stat to the cropping season, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics... "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]=" Total winter crop production in WA will be down 41 per cent for the 2006-07 year due to a below average winter "; S2[4]=" rainfall and the resultant poor stat to the cropping season, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

"; S3[4]=" * Rainfall in the winter months was below average across the grains belt of Western Australia.
However, conditions in "; S4[4]=" the southern and central regions have been better than in the northern districts.
Given that crops were generally sown late, a favorable "; S5[4]=" spring will be critical for crops in all regions to reach their current potential.
In early September, good rainfall was received across "; S6[4]=" the majority of the grains belt, which improved crop conditions.

* The poor start to the winter "; S7[4]=" cropping season in the state is estimated to have resulted in a 30 per cent reduction in the area sown to winter crops.
"; S8[4]=" The area sown is likely to have been lower in all regions.
However, the largest decline is expected in the northern "; S9[4]=" part of the grains belt.
Reflecting the poor start to the season and continued dry conditions, total winter crop production is forecast "; S10[4]=" to be 8.4 million tonnes in 2006-07, compared with 14.3 million tonnes in the previous season.

* "; S11[4]=" Wheat production in 2006-07 is forecast to decline by around 3.7 million tonnes from the 2005-06 crop.
Reflecting the poor start to "; S12[4]=" the season, continued dry conditions and the variability between regions, yields are forecast to be below the long term average.
Wheat yields "; S13[4]=" in Western Australia are forecast to be 1.45 tonnes per hectare, a 20 per cent decline from yields achieved in 2005-06.
"; S14[4]="
* The area planted to barley in Western Australia is estimated to have fallen by 18 per cent in 2006-07 compared "; S15[4]=" with the previous season.
This is the lowest area sown to barley in Western Australia in the past five years.
"; S16[4]=" Barley yields are forecast to be below the long term average and production is forecast to decline by 886 000 tonnes in 2006-07.
"; S17[4]="
* Canola yields in Western Australia are forecast to be 0.63 tonnes per hectare compared with a ten "; S18[4]=" year average of 1.10 tonnes per hectare.
The area sown to canola is estimated to have declined by 9 per cent, reflecting "; S19[4]=" the continued dry conditions.
It is forecast that 251 000 tonnes of canola will be produced in Western Australia in 2006-07, 60 "; S20[4]=" per cent less than in the previous season.

* The area planted to lupins in Western Australia "; S21[4]=" is estimated to have declined by 46 per cent and production is forecast to be 77 per cent lower at 210 000 tonnes in 2006-07.
"; S22[4]=" This is the lowest production of lupins in Western Australia for over two decades.
Australia's farmers can expect to "; S23[4]=" suffer major yield downgrades for both winter and summer crops, the government forecaster said in a report released today.
Drought is ravaging "; S24[4]=" agriculture across the country, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics says.
'The total area sown to winter crops in Australia "; S25[4]=" is estimated to be down by 15 per cent at around 18.6 million hectares in 2006/07,' the ABARE forecast says.
Leading the "; S26[4]=" winter crops is wheat which ABARE says will be down by 14 per cent to 11.1 million hectares.
And the forecast for "; S27[4]=" Australia's summer crops is no better.
'Assuming average spring rainfall, the area sown to summer crops is forecast to decline by around "; S28[4]=" 10 per cent in 2006/07, reflecting the decline in water availability for irrigated crops such as rice and cotton.' The total winter crop is predicted "; S29[4]=" to come in at 26 million tonnes in 2006-07, down 36 per cent from 2005-06.
A wet spring is absolutely necessary for "; S30[4]=" croppers across the country if the wheat harvest is to radically improve on ABARE's predictions.
'Most cropping regions of Australia recorded below "; R[5]="1137"; T[5]="Avoid weed risk with feed grains"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20060718"; Dt[5]="Tuesday 18 July 2006"; Acats[5]="a22a74a79a82a85"; B1[5]=" The Department of Agriculture and Food has urged farmers feeding grains in the present dry period to adopt good biosecurity practices to "; B2[5]="avoid the spread or introduction of weeds... "; B3[5]=" "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]=" The Department of Agriculture and Food has urged farmers feeding grains in the present dry period to adopt good biosecurity practices to "; S2[5]=" avoid the spread or introduction of weeds.
The Manager of DAFWA's invasive species program Damian Collopy said landholders and managers buying in "; S3[5]=" feed grains for stock needed to take precautions to reduce the risk of introducing unwanted weeds.
Weeds of major concern which could "; S4[5]=" be introduced were resistant ryegrass, wild radish and wild turnip.
Mr Collopy said skeleton weed was not a normal contaminant of "; S5[5]=" grain as there were few skeleton weed plants about at harvest time.
In most years flowering and seed set of skeleton weed "; S6[5]=" occurred from mid to late December.
'The seed of skeleton weed is also light and fragile, and is removed from the "; S7[5]=" grain by the harvesting operation.
The seed is mostly non-viable in just a few months.' Mr Collopy said that when seed was "; S8[5]=" purchased, the buyer could request certification of purity from weeds and other contaminants.
' However, feed grains are not certified, which "; S9[5]=" means farmers cannot check to see if any weeds are present as contaminants,' Mr Collopy said.
'Sellers are not required to carry "; S10[5]=" these assurances except in the case of declared weeds.' Mr Collopy said buyers should therefore determine as far as possible, the weed status of the "; S11[5]=" consignment.
Other precautionary measures recommended by the Department included: ' Cleaning before feeding out to minimise the risk of introducing unwanted weeds.
"; S12[5]=" ' For a fee a representative sample can be tested by AGWEST Plant Laboratories to accurately determine the presence of any weed "; S13[5]=" species.
' Feed out on a limited area.
This avoids spreading potential weeds over a wider area, while making "; S14[5]=" it easier to check for the emergence of new weeds.
Mr Collopy said it was always a good farm biosecurity practice to "; S15[5]=" be vigilant for the establishment of new weeds and to control them, and to promptly report new unidentified plants which might have weed potential.
"; S16[5]=" 'This especially applies when new weeds are found in areas where feed grains have been distributed,' Mr Collopy said.
"; R[6]="852"; T[6]="Climate change to cost grain"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20060608"; Dt[6]="Thursday 8 June 2006"; Acats[6]="a22a24a57a74a79a82a89"; B1[6]=" Soaring temperatures and declining rainfalls caused by climate change could wipe a billion dollars a year off Australia's wheat industry within 30 "; B2[6]="years, a study suggests... "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]=" Soaring temperatures and declining rainfalls caused by climate change could wipe a billion dollars a year off Australia's wheat industry within 30 "; S2[6]=" years, a study suggests.
Professor Peter Grace, from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), today said a study of five main wheat-growing "; S3[6]=" areas predicted changes to weather patterns could cause a drop in production of up to 24 per cent.
Prof Grace said atmospheric "; S4[6]=" carbon dioxide levels were predicted to increase significantly in Australia over the next 30 to 50 years, causing temperatures to rise up to 3C and "; S5[6]=" rainfall to drop by about 20 per cent or more.
'Under these conditions, and with the wheat varieties and agronomic practices currently "; S6[6]=" used in Australia, we could expect to see an average decline in wheat yields across the country of 15 per cent, which equates to around "; S7[6]=" a $1 billion in lost income,' Prof Grace said.
'(Climate change) really will impact ...
across all industries where "; S8[6]=" potentially something's being grown.' Prof Grace, research director of QUT's Institute for Sustainable Resources, said climate change would cause crops to grow quicker and lead "; S9[6]=" to the introduction of new pests and diseases.
Advertisement: As rainfall dropped because of climate change, precious water "; S10[6]=" supplies could be diverted from farming to more 'pressing needs' such as human consumption and sanitation, he said.
'This will put pressure "; S11[6]=" on domestic food production and our export markets,' Prof Grace said.
Of the five grain-growing areas examined in the study, those most "; S12[6]=" affected by global warming were the South Australian regions of the Southern Mallee (24 per cent drop in production) and the northern Eyre Peninsula (19 "; S13[6]=" per cent).
The Riverina district in NSW recorded a 12-per-cent reduction, central eastern WA a 10-per-cent drop and the Darling Downs in "; S14[6]=" Queensland 4-per-cent decline.
Prof Grace said there was an urgent need to fully explore farming practices which save water.
"; S15[6]=" Drought resistant crop varieties which already existed in other parts of the world should also be introduced or developed.
'The usual short-term "; S16[6]=" solutions are being put in place when it's a long-term problem with long-term consequences,' he said... "; R[7]="667"; T[7]="Fertility of red scrub soils confirmed"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20060410"; Dt[7]="Monday 10 April 2006"; Acats[7]="a22a74a79a82"; B1[7]=" Central Queensland grain growers know that the red scrub soils grow better crops than the open downs but they want answers so "; B2[7]="they can better manage their soils... "; B3[7]=" "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]=" Central Queensland grain growers know that the red scrub soils grow better crops than the open downs but they want answers so "; S2[7]=" they can better manage their soils.
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries officers working with the Central Queensland Sustainable Farming Systems project "; S3[7]=" organised a March 22 soil pit field day at Peter and Kim Mifsud's property, Wandina, north of Clermont.
The field day which "; S4[7]=" attracted 35 people was to compare the two soil types and explain why they performed differently.
DPI&F extension agronomist Anne Sullivan teamed "; S5[7]=" with Jessica Mowat and Maurie Conway to excavate two 1.5m pits on the red scrub soil and downs soils in response to a research query "; S6[7]=" put to a Kilcummin district workshop by Mr Mifsud last year.
Peter Mifsud farms 5600 hectares and has a mix of open "; S7[7]=" downs and brigalow scrub soils with many paddocks having both soil types which is a management issue.
Ms Sullivan said that prior "; S8[7]=" to the field day soil samples were taken and forwarded for chemical and biological analysis.
The open pits allowed a physical examination "; S9[7]=" of the soil profile and DPI&F senior research scientist Michael Braunack identified the areas of good and poor soil structure within each pit.
"; S10[7]=" 'There was clear evidence of wheel track soil compaction but the cracking nature of the clay soil assisted in the recovery from this structural "; S11[7]=" degradation,' Ms Sullivan said.
DPI&F research scientist Stuart Buck said the soil tests on the open downs soil showed 70 per cent "; S12[7]=" clay content and an effective plant rooting depth of 80cm.
By comparison, the scrub soil had 65 per cent clay content and "; S13[7]=" was 1.2m to 1.4m deep boosting the potential availability of stored soil moisture.
'Our soil tests showed there was 53kg/ha of available "; S14[7]=" plant nitrogen in the downs soil to a depth of 80cm,' Mr Buck said.
'Soil nitrogen availability in the scrub soil to "; S15[7]=" a similar depth of 80cm revealed 105kg/ha of available nitrogen.
'Water and fertility are the key factors driving production so the results "; S16[7]=" clearly demonstrate why the two soil types perform differently,' Mr Buck said.
'Crop yield research indicates that to grow a 2.5 tonnes/ha "; S17[7]=" prime hard wheat crop, there has to be about 100kg/ha of available nitrogen in the soil profile,' he said.
Ms Sullivan said "; S18[7]=" that based on these soil test results, there was scope for Peter Mifsud to save money by reducing his nitrogenous fertiliser application on the red "; S19[7]=" scrub soil.
Another soil fertility indicator showed that the available organic carbon that enables soil nitrates to be mineralised and made available "; S20[7]=" to the plant was significantly higher in the red scrub soil (1.4 per cent) in comparison with the downs soil (0.8 per cent).
"; S21[7]=" DPI&F senior soil microbiologist Nikki Seymour undertook microbiological analysis of nematode communities to assess fungal and bacterial counts to gauge soil health.
"; S22[7]=" The microbiological tests revealed little difference between the two soil types following the extended fallow enforced by the prolonged 2005-06 drought conditions.
"; S23[7]=" Ms Sullivan said the Mifsuds were now planning to plant a wheat crop in early April following welcome early March rain which "; S24[7]=" had replenished the soil moisture profile.
DPI&F Central region extension officers were planning to hold similar soil pit field days across other "; S25[7]=" farmer groups as part of the Central Queensland Sustainable Farming Systems project.
The planned soil pits to be excavated at Capella, Dysart, "; S26[7]=" Gindie and in the Dawson Callide region would be comparing cropping soils with those sown to butterfly pea and leucaena... "; R[8]="585"; T[8]="EU Approves Pioneer Hi-Bred International's Biotech Maize for Food"; A[8]="By ... Editor"; Dn[8]="20060306"; Dt[8]="Monday 6 March 2006"; Acats[8]="a12a74"; B1[8]=" Decision Paves Way for Imports of 1507 Maize Into the European Union... "; B2[8]=" "; B3[8]=" "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]=" Decision Paves Way for Imports of 1507 Maize Into the European Union.
The EU Commission today announced that it "; S2[8]=" has approved DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International's biotech maize known as 1507, for all food uses.
This decision, along with the November "; S3[8]=" 2005 approval of 1507 maize for import and animal feed use, paves the way for grain and processed products with the 1507 trait to be "; S4[8]=" imported in all 25 EU countries.
1507 maize is resistant to insects that damage maize crops around the world.
"; S5[8]=" 'Today's decision is great news for farmers and for Pioneer,' said Dean Oestreich, president, Pioneer.
'This approval supports expanded choices for farmers "; S6[8]=" and recognizes the safety and value of Pioneer biotech products worldwide.' This authorization follows the positive safety evaluation of 1507 maize by the European "; S7[8]=" Food Safety Authority.
Today's decision is expected to be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities in the coming days.
"; S8[8]=" Planted in several markets including Argentina, Canada and the United States, 1507 maize offers broad in-plant insect protection against the European "; S9[8]=" corn borer, southwestern corn borer, western bean cutworm, black cutworm and fall armyworm.
It also helps reduce pesticide applications and, because it "; S10[8]=" produces more grain on the same land area, it improves farm productivity and profitability -- sustainable agriculture in practice.
'1507 maize "; S11[8]=" can help farmers protect their seed investment by minimizing the risk of insect damage, while maximizing the yield performance of Pioneer's superior seed products,' said "; S12[8]=" Oestreich.
Jointly developed by Pioneer and Dow AgroSciences LLC, and marketed as Herculex(R) I in the United States, maize hybrids with "; S13[8]=" the 1507 trait have already been approved in 12 other countries around the world.
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, "; S14[8]=" is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors.
With headquarters in Des Moines, "; S15[8]=" Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics, crop protection solutions and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries.
DuPont "; S16[8]=" is a science company.
Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier "; S17[8]=" life for people everywhere.
Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets "; S18[8]=" including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel... "; R[9]="556"; T[9]="Grain prices higher in 2006-07"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20060302"; Dt[9]="Thursday 2 March 2006"; Acats[9]="a22a24a57a74a79a82"; B1[9]=" Delegates at the OUTLOOK 2006 conference heard good news for grain and oilseeds producers, with forecast higher prices in the year ahead, "; B2[9]="according to ABARE commodity analyst Leanne Lawrance... "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]=" Delegates at the OUTLOOK 2006 conference heard good news for grain and oilseeds producers, with forecast higher prices in the year ahead, "; S2[9]=" according to ABARE commodity analyst Leanne Lawrance.
'Reduced supplies of grains and oilseeds, combined with strong demand, particularly from intensive livestock industries, "; S3[9]=" is forecast to drive prices higher in 2006-07,' Ms Lawrance told conference delegates.
Barton ACT 2600 Ms Lawrance also spoke of the "; S4[9]=" particular importance of China to the medium term grains outlook.
As dietary habits in China continue to change, the demand for grains "; S5[9]=" and oilseeds by intensive livestock industries will increase.
Ms Lawrance also flagged other important factors to the outlook for grains and oilseeds, "; S6[9]=" including Brazil's soybean production and the demand from ethanol and biodiesel industries.
Robin Schaefer, from Schaefer Enterprises, gave a first hand account "; S7[9]=" of how the adoption of new technologies such as yield mapping and no-till farming has increased the economic and environmental sustainability of his farming business.
"; S8[9]=" Mr Schaefer spoke of the new technologies such as inter-row sowing and auto steer that he is looking at implementing into his "; S9[9]=" practices to further improve his business.
In addressing the issues of 'staying competitive', Michael Iwaniw, Managing Director of ABB Grain Ltd, said "; S10[9]=" 'our goal in staying competitive is to remain focused on supplying the burgeoning Asian region where future sales potential is immense.' Mr Iwaniw also spoke "; S11[9]=" of the increased competition that has emerged from the former Soviet Union, in world barley trade.
Mr Graham Brookes, PG Economics, United "; S12[9]=" Kingdom, told the conference that the farm income benefits from GM crops was US$4.8 billion worldwide in 2004.
'The introduction of GM "; S13[9]=" crops had reduced the use of pesticides and has led to significant environmental gains,' Mr Brookes told delegates... "; R[10]="216"; T[10]="Grain farmers crushed by transport troubles"; A[10]="By ... Editor"; Dn[10]="20060222"; Dt[10]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[10]="a04a05a22a56a74a79"; B1[10]=" Australia s wheat exporter, AWB Limited, says the grain industry is being crippled by the nation s transport inefficiencies..... "; B2[10]=" "; B3[10]=" "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]=" Australia's wheat exporter, AWB Limited, says the grain industry is being crippled by the nation's transport inefficiencies.
In a "; S2[10]=" submission to a federal parliamentary committee looking into the integration of ports with the rail and road networks, AWB warned: 'Australian grain growers have traditionally "; S3[10]=" enjoyed a substantial freight cost advantage over their North American peers, especially in Asian markets.
This advantage over our competitors is eroding "; S4[10]=" as a result of the state of our national supply-chain infrastructure.' AWB said the state governments' failure to maintain 15 rail branch lines so they "; S5[10]=" could be used efficiently was a key example of infrastructure investment failure.
The AWB's submission was one of more than 100 submitted "; S6[10]=" to the inquiry.
Many called for national planning and far better government co-ordination to improve Australia's infrastructure woes.
Sydney "; S7[10]=" University's transport think-tank, the Warren Centre, recommended changes such as priority road lanes being given to freight during non-peak times and a separate rapid rail "; S8[10]=" network for commuters to free up the existing rail network for freight.
The country's biggest rail freight company, Pacific National, said it "; S9[10]=" was crucial to remove hidden cross-subsidies that allowed heavy road vehicles to undercut rail.
'Governments need to charge the heavier and longer "; S10[10]=" travelling trucks the true cost of the damage they cause to roads,' its submission said.
'Smaller, shorter-distance trucks cross-subsidise the heavier and "; S11[10]=" longer travelling trucks, such as B-doubles.
Trucks as a whole are significantly cross-subsidised by cars in terms of the user charges they "; S12[10]=" pay.' The Australasian Railway Association warned that a shortage of skilled rail labour would pose a big problem in coming years.
At "; S13[10]=" a hearing in Sydney yesterday, the stevedore P&0 said there were no bottlenecks at container wharves, but 60 per cent of ships arriving late last "; S14[10]=" year and queuing off the coast created that perception.
The Australian Council for Infrastructure Development told the inquiry that if Australia's infrastructure "; S15[10]=" was up to scratch, export volumes would be up 2 per cent.
It estimated under-investment in capital stock to be $10 billion "; S16[10]=" for roads and $8 billion for rail.
'The major problem in Australia's infrastructure sector is the failure of the public sector to "; S17[10]=" invest in its own core infrastructure,' it said... "; R[11]="88"; T[11]="GLA announces latest decisions"; A[11]="By ... Editor"; Dn[11]="20060222"; Dt[11]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[11]="a02a07a08a22a24a74a79a82"; B1[11]=" Chairman of the Grain Licensing Authority Colin Mann today announced approval of 125,000 tonnes of feed barley to the Middle East..... "; B2[11]=" "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]=" Chairman of the Grain Licensing Authority Colin Mann today announced decisions which included approval of 125,000 tonnes of feed barley to the "; S2[11]=" Middle East and the declining of a applications to export a further 125,000 tonnes of feed barley to the Middle East.
An "; S3[11]=" application for 60,000 tonnes of malting barley to China and 38,000 tonnes of canola toJapan were also declined.
Mr Mann said licences "; S4[11]=" issued to date will ensure wide competition and marketing options to producers for prescribed grains.
However, volumes granted to 'core markets' of "; S5[11]=" the main licence holder Grain Pool Pty Ltd are now reaching a level that could begin to impact on their marketing strategies and or the "; S6[11]=" State's reputation as a reliable grain exporter.
'All applications to 'core markets' or clearly established customers of the main licence holder will "; S7[11]=" continue to be subjected to very rigorous scrutiny and assessment and new market opportunities will receive priority,' said Mr Mann.
'However, exporters "; S8[11]=" are not denied access to any market because they can also still buy grain for their customers through the Grain Pool Pty Ltd and if "; S9[11]=" it is in the best interests of producers I am sure negotiations can prove positive,' Mr Mann said.
Effectively this provides a "; S10[11]=" power of veto over increased quantities to 'core markets' unless grain exporters can substantiate benefit to producers and the State.
The Grain "; S11[11]=" Licensing Authority will continue to operate within the parameters of the Legislation and base its decisions on the merits of each application and the evidence "; S12[11]=" presented about each market or market segment... "; R[12]="7"; T[12]="Bedstraw confirmed in cereal crops"; A[12]="By ... Editor"; Dn[12]="20060222"; Dt[12]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[12]="a02a22a24a74a85"; B1[12]=" The potentially serious weed three-horned bedstraw has been confirmed on two un-related properties in the Central and Great Southern agricultural regions..... "; B2[12]=" "; B3[12]=" "; B4[12]=" "; B5[12]=" "; S1[12]=" The potentially serious weed three-horned bedstraw has been confirmed on two un-related properties in the Central and Great Southern agricultural regions.
"; S2[12]=" Targeted surveillance by the Department of Agriculture revealed bedstraw plants scattered over 100 hectares in the Central Agricultural region property in late August.
"; S3[12]=" This was next to a 2004 barley paddock where bedstraw was found in a harvest sample.
The barley paddock "; S4[12]=" was quarantined in 2004.
The plants found recently confirmed that the bedstraw seed present in last year's barley sample originated from that "; S5[12]=" paddock.
Infested paddocks and high risk areas will be placed in quarantine and subjected to an eradication program.
Department "; S6[12]=" weed scientist Jon Dodd said grain samples collected by Cooperative Bulk Handling during the 2004 harvest from the affected farm and from other farms in "; S7[12]=" the district indicated that the infestation was limited to just the one property.
Dr Dodd said Department staff had recently carried out "; S8[12]=" on-ground surveillance at the known farm and other linked properties now that bedstraw plants were visible in crops and fallow.
To date "; S9[12]=" this is the only property in the Central Agricultural region known to have this weed.
Bedstraw plants found during the surveillance have "; S10[12]=" ranged from seedlings to flowering plants.
All have a characteristic sticky feel due to their covering of minute hooked bristles.
"; S11[12]=" Fully grown plants have a straggly, scrambling or climbing habit, with weak, branched square stems that can be up to one metre long,' he "; S12[12]=" said.
In the Great Southern region, a new infestation of bedstraw was found in an oat crop.
Dr Dodd "; S13[12]=" said thorough searching confirmed the weed's presence in about 0.5 hectare of the crop.
The affected area has since been sprayed with "; S14[12]=" glyphosate.
Grain from the crop is likely to be exported, in order to minimise the risk of spreading bedstraw seeds to other "; S15[12]=" areas in WA.
'The presence of the weed in crop-free areas within the oat crop indicates that it was not introduced with "; S16[12]=" the seed, but more likely with feed grain that was fed out in the paddock in previous seasons,' he said.
'In this "; S17[12]=" instance, we are conducting trace-back activities to identify the source of the bedstraw seed that infested the crop.
The bedstraw-affected paddock will "; S18[12]=" be placed in quarantine.' This latest find in the Great Southern appears to be unrelated to the three previous discoveries of this weed in WA.
"; S19[12]=" Three-horned bedstraw is a declared weed in WA (P1, P2 schedule).
This classification prohibits the movement of contaminated machinery.
"; S20[12]=" Contaminated produce including livestock and fodder may not be imported and all plants found must be destroyed.
Dr Dodd.. ";