Summer 2010-2011 in F CUSmultimedia.aspermont.com/web_files/AGIF-WA_SUM 2010-11.pdf · AG in FOCUS Summer 2010–2011 3 Department of Agriculture and Food Rob Delane l Director General

Department ofAgriculture and Food

In this issue

Incorporating research and development news from:

What a girl — the ewe of the future

Do you know your true yield potential?

Western Australian barley lifts the bar

AG in F CUSSummer 2010-2011

Saudi shipment fuels fresh optimism

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1AG in FOCUS Spring 2010 www.farmingahead.com.au

Corrigin Farm Improvement GroupSandy Turton RepresentativePO Box 2, Corrigin WA 6375

P: (08) 9063 2203F: (08) 9063 2005W: www.cfi g.asn.au

Evergreen FarmingJohn Duff Executive Offi cerPO Box 645, Belmont WA 6984

P: (08) 6272 4545F: (08) 6272 4555W: www.evergreen.asn.au

Facey GroupFelicity Astbury Executive Offi cerPO Box 129, Wickepin WA 6370

P: (08) 9888 1223F: (08) 9888 1295W: www.faceygroup.asn.au

Fitzgerald Biosphere GroupPO Box 49, Jerramungup WA 6337

P: (08) 9835 1127F: (08) 9835 1329W: www.fbg.org.au

Liebe GroupChris O’Callaghan Executive Offi cerPO Box 90, Wubin WA 6612

P: (08) 9664 2030F: (08) 9664 2040W: www.liebegroup.asn.au

Mingenew-Irwin GroupRachel Bagshaw Executive Offi cerPO Box 6, Mingenew WA 6522

P: (08) 9928 1645F: (08) 9928 1540W: www.mingenew-irwin.asn.au

North East Farming FuturesChris Wheatcroft Executive Offi cerPO Box 151, Morawa WA 6623

P: (08) 9971 1471F: (08) 9971 1284W: www.neffgroup.com.au

Ravensthorpe Agricultural Initiative NetworkRodger Walker Project Offi cerPO Box 292, Ravensthorpe WA 6346

P: (08) 9838 1018F: (08) 9838 1635

Saltland Pastures AssociationLinda Vernon Program ManagerPO Box 47, Trayning WA 6488

M: 0427 902 126W: crcsalinity.com.au/spa

SEPWAGemma Walker Executive Offi cerPO Box 365, Esperance WA 6450

P: (08) 9083 1134W: www.sepwa.org.au

WA No Tillage Farmers AssociationDavid Minkey Executive Offi cerMO82, UWA, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009

P: (08) 6488 1647F: (08) 6488 7466W: www.wantfa.com.au

West Midlands GroupBronwyn Fox Executive Offi cerPO Box 100, Dandaragan WA 6507

P: (08) 9651 4008F: (08) 9651 4107W: www.wmgroup.org.au

Southern DIRTErin Gorter Executive Offi cer

M: 0429 833 752E: [email protected]

Grower Group Contacts

AG in Focus is a partnership publication between Kondinin Group and WA’s leading agricultural research bodies and industry experts. A unique publication, AG in Focus delivers the latest research and innovations that are of most relevance to agriculture, with the aim of helping you improve the productivity, profi tability and sustainability of your farming operation.

AG in Focus is published by Kondinin Group

Mailing address PO Box 1107 Bentley DC Bentley WA 6983

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W: www.farmingahead.com.au; www.kondiningroup.com.au

What is AG in Focus

Contents

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12Department of Agriculture and Food, WAMain offi ce 3 Baron-Hay Court South Perth WA 6151Mailing address Locked Bag 4 Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983P: (08) 9368 3333 F: (08) 9474 2405E: [email protected]: www.agric.wa.gov.au

AG in F CUS

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This publication is for information purposes only. The publisher and its agents or employees shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of reliance on any of the contents hereof, whether such loss or damage arises from the negligence or misrepresentation or any act or omission of the publisher or its agents.

The opinions expressed in AG in FOCUS are not necessarily those of Kondinin Information Services. © Kondinin Information Services 2010. All material appearing in AG in FOCUS is the subject of copyright owned by Kondinin Group and is protected under the Australian Copyright Act (1968), international copyright and trademark law. No portion may be reproduced or duplicated by any process without the prior written permission of Kondinin Group. The Kondinin Group brand is licensed to Kondinin Information Services Pty Ltd from Grain Growers Association.

2011 brings exciting innovation and practical help 3

Indigenous landholders on path to success 5

NEAR Strategy provides pathway to resilience 6

Drought creates change for the better 7

Restaurant gets vocal about eating local 8

Fat depth a component of the Future Ewe 9

Varietal options for a late break 10

Reach your yield potential with My Crop 11

Trade development key to export growth 12

New market brings hope toSalmon Gums farmers 13

Global research gets underway 14

Making more from malting barley 17

Smart fert choices crucial this season 18

Group effort continues 20

Sowing for frost risk — a balancing act 22

Analytical Research Laboratories

3AG in FOCUS Summer 2010–2011 www.farmingahead.com.au


Rob Delane l Director General

Department of Agriculture and Food

2011 will be a year that tests the resilience of the State’s producers and rural communities as they work to rebuild their businesses following one of the driest seasons on record.

DAFWA: Looking to 2011

2011 brings exciting innovation and practical help

During the coming months, the Department of Agriculture and Food will provide ongoing support in coordinating the State Government’s response to minimise the impacts of the extreme dry conditions and to ensuring the most practical assistance is available to affected rural communities.

The department is also administering the Government’s $5 million State Dry Season Assistance Scheme and is liaising closely with 100 shires to implement measures available under the scheme including community grants. On the ground, our offi cers are working with producers and landholders to advise on issues including feed budgeting, animal welfare, on-farm water management and erosion risks. We will be emphasising the need for management decisions to take into account the risk.

Drought policy reform is high on the agenda again this year and the department is coordinating the joint Commonwealth/State Government’s drought pilot in Western Australia. We will also be expanding our efforts through the North East Agricultural Region (NEAR) Strategy.

Priorities for 2011The department has undergone a

signifi cant renewal program during the past 12 months, with a new executive team, new organisational structure and refocussed priorities to help industry respond to opportunities and deliver more profi t and job creation, and build resilience across the entire agriculture and food sector.

The department’s priorities will be increasingly driven by the needs of industry, which are identifi ed through the Plans

to Support Industry Development for grains, horticulture, food and livestock industries. These plans will be continually reviewed and updated to ensure the department is responsive to new challenges and opportunities in the sector.

Major focus on grains During 2011, there will be a strong grains

focus on progressing the Bridging the Yield Gap program, which aims to increase yields in better-than-average seasons in the higher rainfall zones, and the Pathways to Resilience program, to build resilience and optimise productivity in low- to medium- rainfall zones. This program will include examining risk management strategies for potential new farming systems and models for farm viability. It also incorporates the New Genes for New Environments projects at Merredin and Katanning where there will be a major commercial focus on attracting international technology providers to develop new genetically-modifi ed crop technologies suited to the Western Australian environment.

The department will continue to play a leading role in implementing the national Grains Research, Development and Extension strategy, and under Pulse Breeding Australia is leading the Australian lupin breeding program. A new albus lupin is anticipated for release during 2011.

There will also be a focus on delivering innovative solutions for growers with greater emphasis on lower-risk strategies and effi cient input use. We will continue to have a strong regional focus on integrated pest management and quality improvement. This year will also see a strong emphasis on delivering to growers tools that help to identify soil and biological constraints on farm, so that better decisions on where to spend the dollars to get the best return on investment can be made.

A strong focus for 2011 is to improve seasonal forecasting including linking this information to season-to-date rainfall and yield outlooks across the grainbelt. Opportunities to improve our communication of climate information and risk management options through the National Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative will be important.

Food development and diversifi cationTwo major areas of focus during 2011 will

be the Growing the North and Future Horticulture projects. The goal of Growing the North is to signifi cantly increase the economic contribution of irrigated agriculture in the north of WA. Here the department is strengthening its work in support of the Ord Stage 2 development and other northern irrigation prospects with expanded groundwater and soil investigations to underpin expansion.

In other parts of the State, we will be investigating new groundwater resources and assessing their suitability for agricultural industries – targeting medium- to high-rainfall areas for development of horticulture, feedlots and downstream processing.

Photo: DAFWA

AG in FOCUS Summer 2010–2011 www.farmingahead.com.au4

DAFWA: Looking to 2011

Future Horticulture aims to meet WA’s fresh fruit and vegetable needs and export potential toward 2050. This project will give priority to providing for the production of healthy, fresh horticultural food products, through securing the required land and water resources.

Domestic food market development activities are also a priority, aiming to stimulate consumer interest in locally grown and processed foods and provide food manufacturers with viable opportunities to respond to this demand. Committed activities include the Buy West Eat Best program, the IGA Local Favourites food stands, the Paths to Market seminars, regional food branding/distribution collaborations and organic market development.

On the export front, the department will work with industry to identify and capture new market and trade opportunities on the back of major successes, such as the export of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia and the promotion of WA wine to China.

Pastoral or rangelands reform and diversifi cation is another key activity for the year ahead. The department will work with other agencies to streamline the advice and support available for lessees wishing to diversify their operations under existing pastoral tenure – essentially creating a ‘one stop shop’.

Supporting our livestock industriesThis year the department will collaborate

with industry partners along the entire livestock supply chain, focusing on where our activities can achieve maximum impact and economic benefi t. To support this supply chain approach, a new Supply Chain Analysis Unit will monitor fl ock and herd changes and advise on where intervention by government or business might deliver the highest returns.

For the beef program, this also means responding to the Western Australian Beef Council priorities, with a clear emphasis on creating a more competitive and resilient

beef supply chain through communications, addressing supply issues, benchmarking and expanding exports.

Sheep industry activity during 2011 is targeting sheep meat through the new Lamb Supply and Quality project. We will also establish a Sheep Leadership Council and work with industry leaders to stabilise fl ock numbers and support industry to capitalise on new and emerging sheep markets. At the same time, the department is continuing to lead the national Wool Research, Development and Extension strategy with Australian Wool Innovation.

Livestock biosecurity remains a key activity, making a crucial contribution to industry productivity and market access; and ensuring we maintain an effective emergency and preparedness animal disease response capacity.

The pig industry will be supported through development with industry partners of the WA Pork Innovation Hub at Medina, which will be a key centre in the national Pork Research, Development and Extension strategy, and we will assist the dairy industry along the supply chain to establish a mid- and long-term economic development strategy.

The department will also take a lead role and work across agencies to assist in cutting red tape and to plan for appropriate land access for future livestock developments.

Managing agricultural resources During 2011 implementing the State

Barrier Fence and Wild Dog initiative will be important. Local communities, with assistance from the department, will construct the Yilgarn and Esperance sections of fence to wild dog standard. We are also working with biosecurity groups to employ eight extra doggers to improve the management of wild dogs.

Improvements to biosecurity are ongoing with the completion of regulations under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act, establishment of new Regional Biosecurity Groups, and working with the Biosecurity Council on the WA Biosecurity Strategy.

A revitalised program, that better aligns with industry needs, will be developed and implemented during 2011 to assess the risks and opportunities associated with the agricultural use of soil and water resources.

Work will continue on reducing off-site impacts of nutrients from agriculture through improved nutrient-use effi ciency. Soil risk management will focus on wind erosion risk and management in response to the seasonal conditions but will also continue to support industry programs addressing soil acidity and non-wetting soils. The coming year will also include a review of the department’s approach to salinity.

Investment in community NRM action will be a priority for the State NRM Program with the State Government allocating $10 million to the program during 2010–2011 to address land, water and biodiversity issues.

The department’s activities are extensive and while they cannot all be listed here, they are targeted to achieve the best results for the agriculture and food industries and the WA community.

Further information on the full range of projects is available on the department’s website www.agric.wa.gov.au

Contact Rob DelaneP: (08) 9368 3236

Rob Delane, Director General

Photo: DAFWA

Photo: Ben White


Section: Slug

Mark Chiemewiski l Manager, Indigenous Agriculture


Indigenous landholders on path to success

DAFWA: Indigenous Landholder Service

At a glanceWalitj Mia Mia Farm’s ultimate goal • of self-suffi ciency is getting closer with guidance from the Department of Agriculture and Food’s Indigenous Landholder Service.

DAFWA’s Southern Agricultural • Indigenous Landholder Service (SAILS) has provided technical support and advice to the Walitj Aboriginal Corporation and its members to help build a profi table farming enterprise.

The farm’s success has enabled the • Walitj people to reconnect with their traditional land, preserve the group’s heritage and culture and generate social benefi ts.

The department’s efforts to rebuild indigenous properties throughout the State were acknowledged recently, when its Indigenous Landholder Service won the overall Premier’s Award, and the Revitalising the Regions catergory.

The Indigenous Landholder Service operates from fi ve locations across the State, improving the lives of more than 3000 aboriginal people on 70 properties spanning fi ve million hectares.

Walitj Mia Mia Farm (pronounced Wah-litch My-ah My-ah) is a property focused on helping aboriginal people reconnect with their land, all while improving the property’s land and water resources, exploring fi nancial opportunities and contributing to the economy.

The Walitj Aboriginal Corporation, a group of about 60 people from the Colbung family, engaged the Southern Agricultural

Indigenous Landholder Service (SAILS) two years ago.

In doing so, the Corporation committed to the SAILS program to develop their agricultural production management and business operating systems, as well as to improve natural resource management on the 600ha property at Redmond.

SAILS project manager Kelly Flugge said the group’s initial aim was to generate the social benefi ts associated with re-establishing the families’ connection with their traditional land.

“Part of that vision was economic sustainability. Without that, the social and cultural benefi ts are not possible,” Mr Flugge said.

Like many ILS participants, the Walitj people had become displaced from work in the agriculture industry in recent generations and did not have the skills or knowledge to operate a farm.

During the past two years SAILS has established a close relationship with the community and coordinated training and support, as well as implemented a strict corporate governance process that includes business and environmental plans.

Mr Flugge said the group had embraced the challenge to rebuild the property and it was now considered one of the fi nest in the district.

“Even before SAILS came on board, the Corporation secured a loan to make improvements to infrastructure and purchase stock, which it has paid back of its own accord,” he said.

“The property now has a 1000-head sheep fl ock made up of Merino and Dohne ewes and Poll Dorset rams as well as a small herd of Angus cattle and a 160ha bluegum plantation.”

As part of the Plant for the Planet initiative and with the support of Mt Romance Australia, the Department of Indigenous Affairs, South Coast NRM and the Forest Products Commission, the group has also planted thousands of trees to redress environmental damage.

SAILS has also been instrumental in exploring and cultivating alternative enterprises for the Walitj Mia Mia Farm.

With the assistance of Mt Romance Australia, the property’s boronia planting, originally sown to arrest waterlogging on the property, has attracted the interest of the world’s leading perfumers.

SAILS has hosted delegations of international representatives who talk with the Walitj people about the potential to supply perfume and cosmeticmanufacturers. It has also fostered an opportunity for the group to supply local restaurants and food processors with bush tucker.

The original goal, to generate social benefi ts from reconnecting with their traditional land, has been realised.

Training has empowered many participants to fi nd employment in the region and in mining, while family members in need of support are encouraged to stay on the farm with their relatives and receive care and guidance.

Mr Flugge said as the Walitj people’s involvement with SAILS passed its second year, the group was getting closer to its ultimate goal of self suffi ciency.

“It’s all about delivering on the group’s vision,” he said.

“If you can create the right environment, and have dedicated capable individuals, then anything is possible.”

Contact Kelly FluggeP: (08) 9892 8407E: kelvin.fl [email protected]

Photo: DAFWA


The success of the Walitj Mia Mia Farm, north west of Albany, is testimony to the achievements of the Department of Agriculture and Food’s Indigenous Landholder Service. The farm is the Indigenous Land Corporation’s (ILC) fi rst aboriginal-managed farm on the South Coast.

Oscar Colbung (left) Chair Walitj Aboriginal Corporation, Bob Colbung, Mick Colbung and Ian Rose, DAFWA.

THE PREMIER’S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGEMENT



NEAR Strategy provides pathway to resilience

At a glanceThe NEAR Strategy is changing the • cultural perception of drought to a proactive ‘hands-up’ response.

The strategy has united farmers, • industry and communities from Kalbarri to Dalwallinu to improve land use and business management in order to build long-term resilience.

The department is working with a • range of stakeholders on innovative projects to improve environmental sustainability and business viability.

The North Eastern Agriculture Region (NEAR) Strategy won the Managing the Environment category in the recent Premier’s Award for its role in revolutionising drought management.

The NEAR Strategy evolved out of the 2006–2007 droughts, prompting demand for a long-term strategy for sustainable land-use and business management.

The strategy has united farmers, industry and the community to improve the resilience of about 7000 people on 589 properties across three million hectares.

Department regional director Mike Bowley said the NEAR Strategy’s mission was to achieve sustainable, profi table land management in an increasingly uncertain and changing business and climatic environment.

“Drought can have a devastating impact on the environment. Rather than short-term fi xes, the NEAR Strategy takes an integrated, holistic approach to protect and improve natural resources,” he said.

“It’s all about empowering landholders with the skills, tools and knowledge to improve land use and business management to minimise the impact of a dry season and speed up the recovery.”

Key activities include:

• examining the application and delivery of the Yield Prophet® online crop production model;

• improving farm viability and farmer resilience;

• identifying appropriate land uses for various soil types;

• marrying appropriate property management with off-farm income opportunities;

• investigating new and innovative production and business systems; and

• facilitating adoption of new tools, information and technology.

Yield Profi t® Mr Bowley said Planfarm consultants

were working closely with the department on several projects, including testing the Yield Prophet® crop production model, which helps farmers understand the range of possible yield outcomes at any point during the season.

“This online tool has proven to be very useful, especially for making decisions mid-season about nitrogen applications,” he said.

Planfarm consultant Cameron Weeks said Yield Prophet® was particularly good at putting a value on soil moisture, which was really useful during a dry season. But he said it could be very specifi c to soil type, so was best used as a guide across a wider area.

Local grower groups participate by providing monitoring sites, from which the information is disseminated to other farmers.

ResiliencePlanfarm has also contributed information

to another NEAR Strategy project to identify what makes farmers more resilient. A farmer survey provided an interesting insight into attitudes and motivations.

“We looked at things like farmers’ attitudes to risk and farming, their decision-making processes, where they get

Mike Bowley l Regional director, Northern Agriculture Region


Map: DAFWA

Farming businesses in the Northern Agriculture Region are becoming more resilient, with the support of an award-winning initiative led by the Department of Agriculture and Food.

DAFWA: Managing drought



DAFWA: Managing drought

Brad and Raylene are drought survivors.

The successive droughts of 2006–2007 impacted severely on their property, ‘Kalinya’, at Balla, 30 kilometres east of Binnu and north of Yuna.

As a result, they radically changed their farming operations to become more resilient and build in long-term sustainability.

Brad said the Viability of Farming in the North East Agricultural Region report was a revelation and motivated him to implement change.

The document was prepared by consultants Planfarm at the request of the Department of Agriculture and Food and became the basis for the NEAR Strategy.

For a self-confessed stockman it was hard for Brad to decide to get out of sheep but four years on, it was the best decision he could have made.

“We were compromising our whole operation for the stock,” Brad said.

“With sheep out of the system, it has made things a whole lot simpler and the bottom line is better too.”

With that has come the increased use of chemical fallow, where potential lupin paddocks are sprayed out if the season goes too late.

Last year 900 hectares, about a fi fth of the property, was fallowed.

“We had a phenomenal result last year,” Brad said.

“Fallowing a paddock is not a silver bullet and it is expensive to do, but the benefi ts you see in weed control and improved soil nutrition in the following year’s crop make it well worth it.”

Through his consultants Planfarm, Brad has also been trialling the Yield Prophet® crop decision-making tool.

“We’ve used it for two years now,” he said.

“It’s a tool that helps us to analyse information based on historical rainfall, temperature, soil type, rainfall to date and so on. We can quite quickly generate potential scenarios to look at what happens when we adjust fertiliser

Drought creates change for the better

inputs. It gives real dollar values and outcomes and that gives you a bit more confi dence when throwing everything into the decision-making melting pot.”

But during the long term Brad thinks the tool would be better delivered through grower groups, like his Northern Agriculture Group, so it can be more open and accessible.

Brad said he hadn’t looked back since the droughts, when the property received about one third of its average annual rainfall of 295mm.

“The quicker you realise you’re in trouble, the quicker you can pull everything back and tighten the belt. If you can get past that, you can put the tough years behind you and then the quicker the recovery,” he said.

“You can make a few subtle changes and it will be OK. It is not always as disastrous as it fi rst looks.”

Brad Burns and his children, Luke, (left) now 14, Emily, 17, and Tom, 9, in an eroded paddock at Christmas 2008. The majority of the paddock has since been rejuvenated as a result of a cereal–fallow rotation.

Case study

Farmers: Brad and Raylene Burns

Location: ‘Kalinya’, at Balla, 30 kilometres east of Binnu and north of Yuna

Property size: 5600ha (2900ha arable)

Average cereals yield: 1.7t/ha

Annual rainfall: 295mm


information from and business planning approaches,” Mr Weeks said.

The department is now analysing the information to identify what is behind improved business management and resilience.

Another NEAR Strategy/CSIRO project is examining suitable farming systems to mitigate the impact of drought and climate variability.

The work is looking at fallow and dry seeding strategies as well as examining the effect that varying input levels have on productivity. It will give consultants and farmers greater options and direction to manage seasonal variability.

The NEAR Strategy has been so successful, it has been used as a model for the Federal Government’s $23 million Drought Pilot

project and the department’s Pathways to Resilience initiative.

Contact Mike BowleyP: (08) 9956 8514E: [email protected]


Stuart Clarke l Director food industry development


Restaurant gets vocal about eating local

At a glanceBuy West Eat Best is a State of origin • food labelling and promotion program, established and managed by the Department of Agriculture and Food.

Buy West Eat Best now has more than • 100 members, including large supermarkets, small retailers, growers, manufacturers and restaurants.

Participants are required to • demonstrate the main ingredient in their product is grown, farmed, fi shed or processed in Western Australia.

Buy West Eat Best has increased • consumer awareness of and demand for WA food products, while also encouraging large retailers to actively source and promote local produce.

Jus Burgers is the fi rst restaurant partner of the Buy West Eat Best initiative, which was a fi nalist in the 2010 Premier’s Awards Developing the economy category.

Self confessed ‘foodie’, chef and director Justin Bell said Buy West Eat Best had the ‘right fi t’ with the Jus Burgers’ philosophy of delivering fresh, real, honest food.

“It’s the right thing to do, keeping the supply chain local, helping each other and reducing our carbon footprint,” Mr Bell said.

“I’d rather not get my produce from the eastern states, in a cryovac pack after three days on the road, when I can get it delivered door-to-door the same day so we can make our burgers fresh every day.”

Mr Bell, who still works in the restaurant‘s kitchens with his wife Donna, said he had no problem sourcing fresh local produce.

“Jus Burgers really showcases what our suppliers do,” he said. “My cast of stunning suppliers delivers what I want, when I want and I’ve had no problems with consistency or quality.”

The father of two young children is proud of his relationship with his suppliers, most of whom are also Buy West Eat Best partners, and is a great ambassador for the initiative.

“If there is any way I can encourage other local suppliers to do the right thing and jump on board I’ll do it,” he said.

The green Buy West Eat Best logo is prominently displayed on the Jus Burgers menus in its restaurants in Leederville and Subiaco, while a new store will open this month in Northbridge and another in Fremantle during March.

Mr Bell said he had received tremendous feedback from his customers.

“Our customers know that when they buy a burger at JBs they are giving back to WA and supporting the supply chain,” he said.

“People see buying local as good value for money and that’s got to be good for everyone.”

Department of Agriculture and Food acting Director of Food Industry Development Stuart Clarke said the Buy West Eat Best program offered WA suppliers the opportunity to really connect with local consumers.

“This program helps bridge the gap between local suppliers and the parochial WA consumers who are seeking their products,” Mr Clarke said

He said the Government would continue to back the program, with funding set aside in 2011 and 2012 to support the program’s marketing campaigns.

“These funds and the marketing expertise the program employs provide suppliers an excellent opportunity to leverage their marketing spend and gain access to high impact, collective marketing activities.”

“The department is currently working with the industry members to further enhance the program through joint venture marketing activities, dedicated supermarket campaigns and greater involvement by members in the management of the brand.”

More information about Buy West Eat Best visit www.buywesteatbest.org.au and for Jus Burgers www.jusburgers.com.au

Contact Stuart ClarkeP: (08) 9368 3199E: [email protected]

Photos: DAFWA


The funky, award-winning Perth restaurant Jus Burgers embodies a passion for local ingredients as a partner of the Buy West Eat Best food labelling and promotion program, established by the Department of Agriculture and Food.

DAFWA: End users


Buy West Eat Best partner Justin Bell from Jus Burgers.


DAFWA: Sheep fertility

Fat depth a component of the Future Ewe

At a glanceThe Merino ewe plays a crucial role in • increasing fl ock size and determining the production potential of her progeny.

Yearling ewes with high Australian • Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) for high fat depth can produce more lambs during some years.

Research is continuing to produce a • more resilient, highly productive Merino ewe to accelerate the rebuilding of the State’s sheep fl ock.

It is well known the condition and fertility of the ewe is critical in determining the fl ock’s production potential.

Research offi cer Mark Ferguson and his colleagues have been examining how the condition score of the ewe affects both its reproduction potential and the performance of its progeny and how these responses are infl uenced by the genetics of ewes.

Mr Ferguson used data from the Kojonup nucleus fl ock of WA production group Merinotech (WA), which included more than 4845 records collected from 1999–2009.

The research examined the correlation between breeding values for fatness of yearlings and the number of lambs born per ewe mated, and how this impacted on the profi tability of the sheep enterprise.

“Fat plays an essential role in the reproductive process and suffi cient fat reserves are necessary for animals to ovulate and successfully reproduce,” Mr Ferguson said.

The analysis revealed Merino ewes with higher fat depth or fatness at yearling age (YFAT) produced more lambs than those based on leaner ewes in two out of 10 years. During the other eight years the relationship was insignfi ciant (see Figure 1.)

“The strong correlations during 2001 and 2009 resulted in 15–25 extra lambs born per

100 ewes mated per millimetre of fat depth, whereas during 2004 there was virtually no impact of YFAT on ewe reproduction,” Mr Ferguson said.

The data was then modelled to determine the difference of improved fatness on farm profi tability.

It showed that under scenarios where there was a large positive infl uence of YFAT on the number of lambs born (NLB), a one millimetre increase in YFAT would result in an increase in farm profi t of up to 25 per cent or $44,000 (based on a lamb carcase price of $3.44 per kilogram.)

“The economic analysis revealed increasing the reproductive rate of ewes was more valuable for fl ocks that produced more prime lambs,” Mr Ferguson said.

“The study also found there was no effect of YFAT on carcase value.”

Mr Ferguson and his team are now working on unlocking the secret infl uencing the correlation between YFAT and NLB.

“Historical pasture production and rainfall data has not been helpful in identifying a common theme between the

sensitivity of the relationships between YFAT and NLB during different years,” he said.

“It is possible that the higher responses were the result of poorer nutritional environments during those years. If that is the case, selection for higher fatness, up to a threshold in low nutritional environments, could be advocated to enhance reproduction, whereas in better environments selection to maintain or reduce fatness may be preferred.”

This research is a key component of the department’s pursuit of the Future Ewe – an animal that is fertile at 7–8 months, weans heavy twins, has carcase appeal and is resilient to restricted nutrition.

The Future Ewe will also be wrinkle and dag free, worm resistant, horn free, have less locks and higher-quality wool.

“The development of the Future Ewe is centred on ensuring the genetic potential of the ewe fl ock is well matched to markets, production systems and the environment,” Mr Ferguson said.

“We are getting close to a blueprint for the Future Ewe that will produce sheep that are easy care, productive and profi table.”

Contact Mark FergusonP: (08) 9368 3524E: [email protected]

Mark Ferguson l Research offi cer


Photo: Catriona Nicholls


Research by the Department of Agriculture and Food is edging closer to developing the Future Ewe — a dam that produces more with less.

FIGURE 1 Impact of yearling fat depth (YFAT) ASBV of ewes on the percentage of ewes that did not get pregnant or gave birth to a single or twin lamb during 2004 and 2009

Source: DAFWA

0

2010

4030

506070

Did not get pregnantTwinsSingle

Perc

enta

ge o

f ew

es (

%)

YFAT ASBV of ewes (mm)

2004 2009

–1.5 –1.0 –0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.50

2010

4030

506070

Perc

enta

ge o

f ew

es (

%)

YFAT ASBV of ewes (mm)–1.5 –1.0 –0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5


Section: Slug

Varietal options for a late break

At a glanceThe value of short growing-season • wheat varieties is being evaluated to understand if they are more economical than barley during a season with a late break.

Interim trials at Mullewa and • Mingenew during 2010 revealed in some situations varieties, such as Zippy, could positively infl uence productivity.

Stored-subsoil moisture prior to • sowing had a positive impact on yield at the Mullewa site but not at the Mingenew due, in part, to soil type and rainfall interactions.

Quick-maturing varieties can be highly productive during seasons with a late break. This is the preliminary fi nding coming after the fi rst year of trials in the North East Agricultural Region (NEAR).

The trials carried out at Mullewa and Mingenew during 2010 sought answers to important questions, such as “can early-maturing varieties, such as Zippy, be a risk-reduction tool in late break situations?” and “how important is stored soil moisture to crop production and quality?”.

Late opening rains and dry fi nishing conditions across many parts of Western Australia have generated interest and discussion about the merits of newer quick-maturing varieties.

Previous research has found such varieties to be uneconomical during good seasons and when faced with a late break growers have traditionally opted to sow quick-maturing barley varieties, rather than fast-growing wheat varieties.

What varieties are most effective?The focus of these trials has been to see

which varieties provide stubble cover for reduced erosion risk plus a return on investment through the production of

quality grain particularly when wheat prices are high. Ultimately the research will provide growers with the information to make decisions to improve the economic resilience of their businesses.

The trials compared wheat varieties Zippy, Westonia, Wyalkatchem, Magenta and Yagan barley. Zippy wheat is one of the earliest-maturing wheat varieties available and during 2009 phenology trials at Geraldton, Zippy fl owered fi ve, seven and 10 days earlier than Westonia when sown on May 15, June 2 and June 22 respectively.

Simulating a late breakTo simulate a late break, areas of both

trials were ‘tarped’ to exclude autumn and early winter rain and at Mullewa 72 millimetres of rain was recorded between March and June. When the tarp was removed and the trial seeded during early July, the crop received 91mm of rain between July and August.

Harvest results from the Mullewa site appear to show some varietal difference (Table 1), with the very early-maturing varieties, Zippy and Yagan, yielding between 1–1.2 tonnes per hectare, the early–mid- maturing varieties Westonia and Wyalkatchem yielding between 0.7–0.8t/ha and Magenta yielding only 0.4t/ha. Grain quality results were not available at the time of print but they would be critical to understanding the economic performance of these varieties.

At Mingenew 169mm of rain was recorded between March and June, and was also excluded from areas of the trial via tarps. After the tarp was removed and the trial

Photo: Liz Rowlands

seeded during early July, the crop received only 64mm of rain between July and August, and no rain during September. In contrast to the Mullewa trial, crop yields from the Mingenew sandplain soil showed little difference between the varieties and averaged only about 0.6t/ha (see Table 2).

The worth of winter rainTo assess the infl uence of winter rain on

extremely late-sown wheat production, the trials were repeated in an ‘untarped’ area adjacent to the ‘tarped’ trials. While direct comparisons between the trials are not statistically valid, the yields at Mullewa on the loamy earth were similar for all varieties in the ‘tarped’ and ‘untarped’ trial and the 72mm of rainfall excluded did appear to have an impact on crop productivity.

In contrast, on the sandplain site at Mingenew, crop yields were lower in the untarped area where rain was not excluded. The 169mm of rain before seeding did not benefi t the crop, which is unusual. However, during the season, the varieties in the untarped area appeared to have less vigour and there was a greater disease load.

The contrasting results from the Mingenew and Mullewa sites, which were both sown into wheat stubble, will have been infl uenced by soil type and rainfall interactions. A repeat of the trials is planned for 2011.

Contact Christine Zaicou-KuneschP: (08) 9956 8549E: [email protected]


Christine Zaicou-Kunesch l Research Offi cer


The value of quick-maturing wheat varieties during seasons with a late break is under investigation in the Northern East Agricultural Region (NEAR).

TABLE 1 Mullewa trial*

Variety Yield t/ha at Mullewa(with rain excluded until seeding)

Magenta 0.4

Westonia 0.8

Wyalkatchem 0.7

Yagan barley 1.0

Zippy 1.2

*Grain yield of four wheat varieties and one barley variety sown on July 7, 2010 at Mullewa following the exclusion of rain between December 2009 and June 2010.

TABLE 2 Mingenew trial*

Variety Yield t/ha at Mingenew (with rain excluded until seeding)

Magenta 0.66

Westonia 0.72

Wyalkatchem 0.50

Yagan barley 0.65

Zippy 0.56

*Grain yield of four wheat varieties and one barley variety sown on the July 7, 2010 following the exclusion of rain between December 2009 and June 2010 at Mingenew.

DAFWA: Sowing strategies


Section: Slug

Reach your yield potential with My Crop

At a glanceA new electronic diagnostic tool, • My Crop, aims to help grain growers and consultants diagnose and manage agronomic problems.

My Crop• includes a factual and visual library of all possible soil and paddock, pest and disease, and yield constraints.

A large component of • My Crop will be a series of crop diagnostic tools to identify in-crop pests and diseases. Wheat Problem Diagnosis will fi rst become available while barley, canola, and pulses will later be developed.

Developed by the Department of Agriculture and Food, the My Crop website will help growers make decisions at three levels: soil and paddock, pest and disease and yield.

My Crop is a diagnostic database detailing every possible production constraint. Department of Agriculture and Food project manager Ben Curtis said My Crop was well on its way to helping growers identify limitations keeping their crop from realising its full yield potential.

“The main component of My Crop is an electronic crop diagnostic tool to identify in-crop pests and diseases and provide factual information to help control these issues,” Mr Curtis said.

My Crop, and the fi rst component of the program, Crop Diagnostics, will be offi cially launched at the 2011 Crop Updates during

February. Other components, soil and paddock diagnosis and yield diagnosis, are currently being developed and will be available during July 2011.

“The department is working with a soil group to categorise a range of soil types relevant to cropping across Western Australia,” Mr Curtis said.

“We are also developing the software to include crop types other than wheat. Barley, canola and pulses will all be available by the end of 2011.”

“Eventually growers will be able to determine the complete yield potential of a crop by fi rst using the yield diagnostic tool, followed by paddock and soil diagnosis and then in-crop pest and disease diagnosis.”

Pest and disease detectiveThe department’s Doug Sawkins has

developed the fi rst in a series of crop diagnostic tools, Wheat Problem Diagnosis, which is available on the My Crop website.

“Wheat Problem Diagnosis was developed using Lucid software and is a logical and easy way for growers to diagnose pest and disease problems in their wheat crop,” Mr Sawkins said.

“Particularly useful features are the fact sheets and clear images to aid diagnosis.”

“The Wheat Problem Diagnosis tool fi rst asks the user about crop stage, and then lists a series of questions relating to paddock, plant and soil clues that are relevant to that stage of growth. The user can select none or

as many of the questions depending on available information,” Mr Sawkins said.

While most other keying-out processes require answering questions sequentially, the crop diagnostic tool works by selecting as many symptoms or clues of the crop problem as possible displayed under the key headings. The potential crop problem is narrowed down as the user selects more symptoms.

“A paddock often has a number of problems, and may even have several problems in the same area. As well, a combination of factors can contribute to a plant symptom,” Mr Sawkins said.

“Paddock clues are valuable for differentiating between problems that have similar plant symptoms. Because the Wheat Problem Diagnosis tool is visual, users can observe and compare symptoms across a number of possible problems.”

Both farmers and consultants can use the software. The speed at which a diagnosis is reached varies with agronomic experience.

“It will be particularly useful for consultants and teachers for training,” Mr Sawkins said.

Wheat Problem Diagnosis will be available online and also on CD for use in fi eld where there is no internet service.

“It can also be adapted for use on a hand hand-held personal device like an iPhone or iPad,” Mr Sawkins said.

Contact Ben CurtisP: (08) 9083 1105E: [email protected]

Ben Curtis l Development offi cer


Photo: DAFWA


Farmers can be their own crop doctor with a new online diagnostic decision-making tool, My Crop. Growers and consultants can use the software to better understand and manage crop constraints and to ultimately maximise yield.

DAFWA: Decision tools

Senior development offi cer Doug Sawkins works through some online crop diagnostics with Muresk students.


Simon Johnson l Director, Trade development


Trade development key to export growth

At a glanceRecent gains have been made in • WA’s grains sector to capture new markets in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

There is growing export potential for • WA agriculture products in the Middle East, greater China and other Asian countries.

The Department of Agriculture and • Food is working to facilitate these trade opportunities.

The Department of Agriculture and Food works closely with industry, buyers and allies, like WA Trade offi ces, to develop new market opportunities in these emerging economies and traditional export destinations, like Japan, Korea and other mature markets.

Grains opportunitiesDepartment grain industry executive

director Peter Metcalfe said during recent months, the department had helped boost the export potential of WA wheat, enabling a landmark shipment to Saudi Arabia – the fi rst in more than 20 years.

The exchange was the result of months of discussions and visitations between Agriculture and Food Minister Terry

Redman, the department and the Saudi government.

“With the support of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the CBH Group and industry, the department was able to demonstrate that WA wheat could satisfy the Saudi’s specifi cations for bread making and fl at breads,” Mr Metcalfe said.

“The Saudi market is now using WA wheat and the feedback is that they are happy with the performance and functionality of the wheat from the Esperance port zone.”

The department and the Minister have also been cultivating an opportunity for WA wheat in the Indonesian bread market.

A delegation from the country’s largest fl our miller, Bogasari Flour Mills, recently visited WA at the Minister’s invitation to create a mutual understanding of how WA’s wheat quality grades can be used to meet Indonesia’s needs.

With average annual fl our consumption at 16 kilograms per head in Indonesia, an extra one kilogram equates to 230,000 tonnes of wheat per annum, representing excellent potential for WA.

Department offi cers continue to liaise with the Indonesian buyers and the local food industry on how to supply WA wheat that is suitable for Indonesian bread and baking markets.

The department is focused on working with industry and buyers to identify and capture these market opportunities.

Intergrated approach

Department trade director Simon Johnson says the department also provides market research and surveillance, builds relationships, provides technical and economic support, participates in trade events and promotions and works to remove impediments to market access.

Mr Johnson said with up to 80 per cent of WA agriculture products exported, worth $4.8 billion per annum, it was important to continually encourage new markets if the rural sector was to fulfi ll its true potential.

“If we are going to grow and develop our agricultural sector we have to expand and develop overseas linkages,” he said.

“We have to continually improve to remain internationally competitive. That means taking an integrated approach by working throughout the supply chain to capture and maintain emerging, new and traditional markets for WA agriculture.

Photo: DAFWA

Research offi cer Dr Larisa Cato (third from left) with a delegation of technical experts from the Bogasari Flour Mills test bread made from WA wheat as part of a department endeavour to facilitate a trade opportunity to supply the market with suitable WA grain.


With the State’s enviable proximity to the emerging economies of South East Asia, China and the Middle East, there is great potential to expand Western Australia’s agriculture exports and capture new market opportunities.

DAFWA: New grain markets


Location, location“The State’s proximity to the fast

growing Middle Eastern market and growing markets in China and Asia, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, present a great opportunity for WA.”

The Middle East has a rapidly-growing population of 600 million and, as a net importer of agriculture product, already purchases $1 billion (2009–2010) worth of

agriculture product from WA. China is currently WA’s largest agri-food, fi bre and fi sheries importer, worth $820 million per year (2009–2010). WA exports to South East Asia have increased by more than 49 per cent during the past three years and are now worth $1.2 billion (2009–2010).

“By being proactive, we will be able to open up new markets to provide WA growers with better marketing options,” Mr Johnson said.

Contacts Simon Johnson P: (08) 9368 3175E: [email protected]

Peter MetcalfeP: (08) 9368 3163E: [email protected]

Case study

Farmers: Chris and Rory Graham, ‘Gorya Valley’

Location: Salmon Gums, 110km north of Esperance

Property size: 11,000ha, 7700ha arable (3900ha wheat, 2500ha barley, 1500ha other)

Average cereals yield: 1.4t/ha

Annual rainfall: 350mm

Chris and Rory Graham,

The emergence of a new market for Western Australian wheat in Saudi Arabia has given the Graham family at Salmon Gums hope for a better future.

During 2010 grain from the Grahams’ property, loaded at Esperance port, was included in the

fi rst wheat shipment to the kingdom for 20 years.

Rory Graham said WA’s south coast was well placed to supply this exciting new market.

“The lower-yielding areas, like Salmon Gums, also produce higher protein levels. This year the crops are averaging about 16–17 per cent protein,” he said.

“Because no noodle wheat varieties are grown or received in the Esperance Port Zone, the hard wheat varieties produced in the region have no contamination with softer noodle varieties.

“Australian growers produce clean, dry wheat with low screenings and good fl our extraction, making it top quality grain to blend with wheat from other countries.”

Rory is so buoyed by the new opportunity, he plans to modify his 2011 cropping program.

New market brings hope to Salmon Gums farmers“We’re seeing a premium for

Australian Hard Wheat at the moment, which has not been the trend during recent years,” he said.

“If it continues, I’m thinking of getting a new hard wheat variety to grow to hopefully tap into this market.”

Rory said he would like grains industry players to work more closely together to nurture new market opportunities for grain.

“For us, it seems to be getting harder and harder to make money out of cropping,” he said.

“That’s why it’s so important our industry continues to develop more markets like Saudi.

This is the only way I can see that we have a future and my three sons have a reason to take over.”

Photo: DAFWA

Salmon Gums farmers Beau (left), Monty, Rory, Christine and Digby Graham are excited about the prospect of a new market for WA wheat in Saudi Arabia.

DAFWA: New grain markets

John Pluske l Research Institute Director (Animal Research)

The UWA Institute of Agriculture

Global research gets underwayMurdoch University

At a glanceMurdoch University will be part of the • largest ever rhizobial genome-sequencing project, which will involve 30 scientists from 15 countries, and provide twice as much sequence information than that of the human genome sequencing project.

Funding awarded by the Australian • Research Council’s Linkage Project will see Murdoch University take part in an international project to better understand post-weaning pig nutrition.

Considering a career in animal, crop • and/or plant science? Contact [email protected]

Improving symbiotic nitrogen fi xation will be benefi cial for agricultural management and the environment. The soil bacteria, Rhizobia, form a symbiotic relationship with legumes including peas, beans or clovers. The result is that the atmospheric nitrogen, fi xed inside roots nodules, can contribute about 65 per cent of the nitrogen currently used in agricultural production and hence reduce the need for fertiliser and the fossil fuels required to produce it.

Dr Wayne Reeve from the Centre for Rhizobium Studies (CRS) at Murdoch University and Dr Nikos Kyrpides Head of the Microbial Program at the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) in the United States will lead a joint two-year project to completely decipher the genetic code for 100 different rhizobial strains. The project will cost about $10 million.

The CRS team will work with Dr Reeve and 30 scientists from 15 countries to sequence the genomes of rhizobia selected from distinct geographical regions across the globe.

Dr Reeve said the amount of sequence information generated from this project would be twice that of the human genome sequencing project and the largest ever rhizobial genome-sequencing project.

“This is an exciting project in that it is the fi rst large-scale attempt to unravel the complexities of how genetics and environmental factors infl uence the successful relationship that rhizobia and legume crops and pastures have.”

The CRS team at Murdoch University consists of Dr Wayne Reeve, Prof John Howieson, Assoc. Prof Graham O’Hara, Assoc Prof Matt Bellgard, Dr Ravi Tiwari, Dr Lambert Brau and Dr Vanessa Melino.

Improving pig productivity and dietPiglets are set to get a helping hand after

they leave mum thanks to a new collaborative project between Murdoch University and other world-leading research bodies.

Funding of $290,000 has been granted to fi nd precise estimates of the amount of amino acid pigs need in the period after weaned. Findings will also contribute to an increased effi ciency of nutrient use and enhance the welfare of pigs following the weaning process.

To carry out the three-year project Murdoch University will team up with researchers from the University of Guelph (Canada), and the University of Copenhagen (Denmark). The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Evonik Degussa GmbH (a world-leading manufacturer and suppliers of essential amino acids for livestock) and Nutreco Nederland N.V. (a global leader in feed manufacturing and animal nutrition) will also contribute funding to the project which is a part of the Australian Research Council for Linkage projects

The research will focus on immunonutrition, which is a novel concept to overcome gastrointestinal-tract mucosal damage in pigs after weaning. With the global trend for a reduction in the use of in-feed antibiotics for production, the search for alternative means to prevent gastrointestinal tract damage in young pigs is extremely relevant.

Murdoch University’s Professor John Pluske said to be sustainable Australia’s pork industry needed to balance enhanced productivity with lower production, while all the time, improving the overall health and welfare of pigs.

“The project will increase our understanding of the relationships between amino acid nutrition and the immune function in a young pig.”

Research will start during 2011, and will involve the training of a PhD scholar.

Professor David Doepel, (Acting) Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research, said the Australian Research Council Linkage grant awarded to Prof Pluske and his colleagues underpinned the strengths Murdoch University had in animal research.

Prof Pluske is delighted to have an opportunity to work with internationally-renowned researchers on a project that will benefi t the Australian pig industry as well as provide an exciting opportunity for postgraduate research.

Science degrees‚ animal, crop, plant

If you are considering a science degree that focuses on animals, crops and/or plants please contact Prof John Pluske (Animal Science) or Professor John Howieson (Crops and Plants Sciences).

Contact Professor John PluskeResearch Institute Director (Animal Research)P: (08) 9360 2102E: [email protected]

Or

Contact Professor John HowiesonResearch Institute Director (Crop and Plants Research)P: (08) 9360 2231E: [email protected]

Murdoch University continues its international reach with new global collaborative research projects exploring the potential of legumes to cut fossil-fuel use and to better understand the post-weaning nutritional needs of pigs.post-weaning nutritional needs of pigs.

Murdoch: Pigs and plants


South Australia and Western Australia - Seeds Manager 0437 011 907 or visit: www.viterra.com.au

Varieties 2011

Yallara Oats

Premium milling grain quality oat

Suited to growing in low - medium / high rainfall zones

Resistant to Stem and Leaf Rust

Fleet BarleyFleet barley is one of the most broadly adapted highest

yielding feed varieties across all WA Agzones

NVT and CVT trials highlight the excellent yield potential and

physical grain quality of Fleet

Recommended replacement for varieties such as Mundah

Good disease resistance profile

Bogong TriticaleBogong Triticale is an early-mid maturing, spring type, full

awned grain variety

High yield potential across a wide range of environments

Strong straw with good resistance to lodging

High Test Weight, Plump Grain, Low Screenings

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Making it easier to search and compare training courses on o� er in Australian agriculture

Visit www.agtrainingservices.com.auor call GrainGrowers on 1800 620 519

This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under FarmReady, part of Australia’s Farming Future.

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With hundreds of courses and training opportunities on o� er in the agriculture sector at any one time, make sure you visit www.agtrainingservices.com.au to work out what’s right for you.


Making more from malting barley

At a glanceTo be commercially available barley • varieties must undergo a rigorous testing and accreditation process.

For many years Stirling dominated • the WA malting barley scene and is now complemented by Gairdner, Baudin and Hamelin.

Baudin has proven to be a stand-out • performer and is now regarded as one of Australia’s best malting varieties.

CBH and WA barley breeders are • working closely with processors to ensure WA’s malting barley varieties can reach their full potential in the marketplace.

Barley is an important part of Australian farming systems, averaging 6.6 million tonnes per annum and ranking as the second largest winter crop after wheat.

Although Australian production is about fi ve per cent of total world barley production, barley exports from Australia account for about 30–35 per cent of the world malting barley market and 20 per cent of the world’s feed barley market.

Malting barley is required to be variety-specifi c when traded, in order for malting houses to achieve uniformity, production effi ciency, uniqueness, and consistency in quality. As a result, for a new variety to be accepted by the market, it is subject to a rigorous testing and accreditation process to ensure it meets the industry standard and customer requirements. In Australia this process is managed by Barley Australia following recommendations from the Malting and Brewing Industry Barley Technical Committee (MBIBTC) following a minimum of two years of commercial malting and pilot brewing tests.

The history of malting barleys in WAThe variety of malting barley grown

in WA has changed over the years (see Figure 1).

For many years Stirling, released during 1982, dominated the malting barley scene.

As a result of the introduction of Gairdner (1998), Baudin (2003) and Hamelin (2004), the quality of Australian barley is now on par with the best in the world.

Among those varieties, Baudin is a stand-out contributor. Since its release, following a planned and committed promotion in which CBH Grain played a leading role, it has become one of the most popular Australian malting barley varieties. It is now highly sought-after by customers and is a benchmark variety representing the new quality standard of malting barley from Australia. Vlamingh and Buloke were accredited during 2006 and 2008 respectively, and are now accepted by the market.

The long path to recognitionAlthough new varieties play a critical role

in enhancing the competitiveness of Australian barley in the world market, it takes time, sometime years, and a dedicated effort after accreditation to gain commercial acceptance by end users. Many modern malting houses have large plants with a batch size of up to a few hundred tonnes. They need to have a full understanding of how a variety performs under their conditions and any potential technical issues that may be faced. This will enable them to develop specifi c programs before they are technically confi dent to commit to commercial production. In addition, they also need to gain acceptance from their customers for any new products they offer.

Before deregulation, the process of bringing a new variety to the world market was mainly managed by leading malting

barley marketers, such as CBH Grain. Through their marketing network, technical relationship and know-how, and commercial commitment and interest, the marketers have proven to be the essential link for new varieties to be accepted by the world market. Under a deregulated environment both in marketing and in breeding, close working relationships and dialogue between marketers, breeders and other industry partners will continue to help bring new malting barley varieties to the marketplace. and contribute the success of the Australian malting barley industry.

Contact Dr Anyou Liu Manager Barley Quality and Technical MarketingCBH GrainP: (08) 9216 6068E: [email protected]

Dr Anyou Liu l Manager Barley Quality and Technical Marketing

CBH Grain

Photo: CBH Grain

CBH Grain is working with stakeholders along the supply chain to ensure Western Australian barley varieties remain some of the most sought after in the world.

Western Australian barley customers, accompanied by CBH Grain staff, visit the fi eld crop of a new barley variety.

CBH Grain barley quality and technical manager Dr Anyou Liu, grower Roger Newman and Inter Grain barley breeder, Dr Reg Lance, inspect a new barley line under commercial evaluation.

Photo: CBH Grain

FIGURE 1 Major malting barley varieties grown in Western Australia since 2001

0

20

40

60

80

100

Feed Stirling Schooner HamelinGairdner Baudin Vlamingh Buloke

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

_est

Rela

tive

plan

ting

area

(%)

Feed

Stirling

Schoone

Hamelin

Gairdner

Baudin

Vlamingh

Buloke

Source: CBH Grain

CBH Grain: Barley


Section: Slug

FIGURE 1 NUlogic soil model example input and output (recommended rates of nutrients) for wheat*

Smart fert choices crucial this season

At a glanceCSBP’s NUlogic soil model helps • growers understand the relationship between fertiliser rate and yield response.

The model considers many factors • to match nutrient demand with supply and then apply the relevant economics.

NUlogic displays by how much the • gross margin (and economic optimum yield) would change if, for example, a different target yield is selected.

Only through correct soil sampling, testing and result interpretation can growers make an informed decision about where to allocate valuable fertiliser dollars. Optimisation of cereal and canola profi tability with a more effi cient nutrient use has always been a key driver in the NUlogic fertiliser recommendation models. However, a sensitivity analysis can also help in allocating limited funds to balance nitrogen and phosphorus input in a way that maximises profi tability under those constraints.

Nutrient recommendations in NUlogicThe NUlogic soil model has been

developed in a transparent and logical manner using yield response curves to fertiliser application rates under current management practices. Best of all, the model is locally calibrated from fi eld trials in Western Australia.

The NUlogic model is an important part of CSBP’s Fertcare approval in delivering sound agronomic advice.

The model considers many factors to match nutrient demand with supply and

Dr Andreas Neuhaus l Agronomic analyst

CSBP Ltd.

Photo: CSBPFor many growers the end result of 2010 will see them approach 2011 with a lower-than-expected cash fl ow. To help ease the squeeze CSBP is reminding growers of the importance of correct soil sampling, testing and result interpretation in order to make the most effi cient fertiliser decisions.

Source: CSBP

* The example is taken from the 2009 season and has no relevance for the coming season due to changes in crop and nutrient prices. Further options to explore these data are given in the top right corner.

then apply the relevant economics. For example, Figure 1 lists input factors specifi c for soil samples on paddock ‘A’ ‘B’ and ‘C’ to arrive at the recommendations for a 2.5 tonne per hectare wheat crop.

Prioritising allocation of insuffi cient fundsSeveral combinations of nitrogen (N) and

phosphorus (P) can produce the same yield, but may result in very different gross

margins. For example, in the Figure 1 scenario, 2.31t/ha could be achieved with 70 kilograms N/ha and 12kg P/ha or with 42kg N/ha and 21kg P/ha (see Figure 2). The associated gross margins are $146/ha and $158/ha respectively. The reasons are twofold. Firstly, the balance of nitrogen and phosphorus has an effect on how well each element is used or converted into yield (see left graph in Figure 2) or protein (see middle

CSBP: Fertiliser decisions


CSBP: Fertiliser decisions

graph in Figure 2). Secondly, both nutrients cost a different amount and thus the economics change the profi tability even though the productivity is the same. In addition, grain protein concentration is different under both scenarios, which also has a bearing on the economics.

The severity of nutrient defi ciency and nutrient prices impacts on allocating insuffi cient funds, because they directly infl uence nutrient effi ciency and gross margins. In the above example, it is not recommended to cut back on nitrogen or phosphorus, because of the risk to produce a very low protein grain. However, if necessary, some saving could come from reducing phosphorus from 18kg/ha to 15–12kg/ha.

While soil test values, rotations and input prices for crop and nutrients are a given fact, the sensitivity analysis in NUlogic can display by how much the gross margin (and economic optimum yield) would change if, for example, a different target yield is selected. The target yield should be realistic and refl ect the grower’s attitude toward risk.

Adjusting nutrient rates to spatial variation

CSBP is trialling a new software tool that will assist growers to place nutrients where they would give the greatest return on the investment. The aim is that their adviser will be in a position to not only suggest optimum rates, but also the best placement for them to increase nutrient use effi ciency and profi ts. Further information is available from your local CSBP area manager.

FIGURE 2 Sensitivity analysis using the NUlogic model

Source: CSBP

Highlighted in red is the economic optimum yield (2.28t/ha), the corresponding protein concentration (9.84%) and gross margin ($158/ha).

NUlogic’s soil and plant testing service has been continually improved and extended over many decades, so that fertiliser recommendations can be made by an accredited NUlogic adviser to maximise the returns from your fertiliser investment.

Contact Dr Andreas Neuhaus – Agronomic AnalystCSBP Ltd.P: (08) 9411 8749

CSBP is trialling a new software tool that will assist growers to place nutrients where they would give the greatest return on the investment.

Photo: CSBP


Section: Slug

Megan Meates l Project offi cer

Grower Group Alliance

Group effort continues

Grower Group Alliance: The future

At a glanceThe Grains Research and • Development Corporation has funded the Grower Group Alliance for a further three years.

Since its inception during 2002, the • GGA has facilitated collaboration between the State’s many grower groups and opened up a raft of new opportunities for those involved.

To help growers with the operational • functions of a grower group the GGA has developed the Grower Group Toolkit.

A strategic advisory made up of • growers, researchers and agribusiness, guides the direction and purpose of the GGA.

In a time when partnerships between grower groups and the wider industry are rapidly increasing, Grower Group Alliance (GGA) staff Susan Hall and Megan Meates will continue the ongoing support in linking Western Australian grower groups in a formal network with research and industry partners and take the project through to 2013.

Project leader Ms Hall said the not-for-profi t farmer-driven organisation would continue to expand the network of its 45 grower groups, enhancing their participation in collaborative projects and improving their effectiveness and effi ciency to provide value to members.

“From feedback from an evaluation of the GGA project, the next phase will also address issues regarding the varying levels of support amongst the different sized groups and focus on a more reactive approach to this support,” she said.

“We are also looking to get back to basics and strengthen the process of engagement and improve communication between all stakeholders, providing a positive and dynamic environment, which is encouraging

involvement and collaboration between all groups and industry bodies.

“The development of the larger network and the use of the project’s critical mass and industry leaders will also be key aspects of the new project.”

Almost all groups and organisations recognised the potential for the GGA to play a signifi cant role in meeting the information and knowledge extension gap across WA agriculture.

Some background knowledge The GGA started during 2002 when

grower groups from various parts of the State recognised the advantages of networks and the benefi ts of actively forming partnerships to maximise opportunities for collaboration.

Since its inception, the project has seen networks of farmer groups share opportunities, and achieve further reaching results than what could be achieved between just one or two groups working in isolation.

The GGA was the fi rst project of its kind in the nation, and its success has encouraged the establishment of similar models in other states.

Grower Group ToolkitThe GGA kick-started its fourth phase,

at it’s Annual Forum during August, by launching the Grower Group Toolkit. The Toolkit was developed following a call from grower groups for a resource to answer any questions to do with the operational matters involved in running a successful group.

“The Toolkit covers a range of issues including funding sources, offi ce bearer roles, meetings, annual report writing and running fi eld days. Essentially it captures the knowledge and information collected by the GGA during the past eight years,” Ms Hall said.

The GGA is provided with direction, advice and feedback through its strategic advisory group:

Project supervisor: UWA Institute of Agriculture Director, Winthrop Professor Kadambot Siddique.

Chair: Clancy Michael, Mingenew farmer.

Members: (farmers) Grayden Lang, Wickepin; Natalie Bowman, Grass Patch; (agribusiness) Eric Nankivell, Farmanco consultant; (research) Dr Michael Robertson, CSIRO, Dr Peter White, DAFWA and Jane Bradley, Mingenew-Irwin Group.

Achievements of the past three years include the development of a number of collaborative projects; the development of the WA node of the Grain & Graze 2 project; an interstate study tour; three annual forums; assisting groups with strategic planning, tours, guest speakers, project development and more.

For more information on the Grower Group Alliance, visit www.gga.org.au.

Contact Megan MeatesP: (08) 6488 3410E: [email protected]

Grower groups across the State will continue to reap the benefi ts of a network after the Grower Group Alliance was recently refunded for a further three years by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

Photo: Grower Group Alliance

GGA project leader Susan Hall, GRDC managing director Peter Reading, GGA strategic advisory group chair and Mingenew farmer Clancy Michael, Holt Rock Group representative Mark Ditchburn and GGA project offi cer Megan Meates at the GGA Annual Forum 2010.

Mike Ashworth of WANTFA discusses the WANTFA trial site with grower group staff at the GGA group staff tour during June 2010.

Photo: Grower Group Alliance

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Kondinin Group

Sowing for frost risk — a balancing act

At a glanceAdjusting sowing times to minimise • frost risk is a balancing act — early sowing can expose crops to frost damage while late sowing can impact on yield due to heat and water stress.

Recent modelling suggests growers • should stick with long-term frost average frost data when making a sowing decision.

Recent research results indicate that producers looking to manage sowing times to minimise the risk of frost damage and maximise crop yields should stick with long-term average frost data.

Frosts around crop fl owering frequently cause large yield losses in wheat in parts of the Western Australia wheatbelt.

Managing frost risk is a balancing act between the crop fl owering too early and possibly suffering frost damage and sowing later (and fl owering later), but yielding less because the crop suffers water and heat stress.

According to frost researcher Imma Farre, Department of Agriculture and Food , WA (DAFWA), to maximise yield potential from early sowing and minimise yield losses from frost, growers need to determine the optimum sowing window with an appropriate cultivar.

“One strategy growers employ is to delay sowing in frost-prone areas, but the cost associated with reduced yield potential from delayed sowing can be greater that the actual cost of frost losses over time,” Imma said

According to Imma, growers across the State currently adopt a range of options to manage frost risk.

“For example, in Wandering the frost risk would be too high for any combination of sowing date and cultivar and therefore many farmers are choosing more frost-tolerant cereals such barley and oats, compared with wheat,”

“In Narrogin, where the frost risk is moderate, the current strategy is to avoid early sowing and to sow wheat only after mid-May.”

“In Cunderdin, where the frost risk is low but the yield decline with sowing date is signifi cant, the current strategy is to sow as early as possible, despite a low frost risk.”

Frost forecastingWith funding from the Grains Research

and Development Corporation (GRDC), Imma and her team tried to determine the potential yield gain from having a frost forecast that could enable growers to:

a. delay sowing (or change cultivars) in seasons with a higher-than-average frost risk

b. sow earlier in years with a lower-than-average frost risk.

“We used the validated APSIM-Wheat model and long-term weather data to defi ne potential yields and potential frost damage for different sowing dates, for three locations, three wheat cultivars and two soil types,” Imma explained.

“The simulation experiments provided information on balancing the yield penalty of delayed sowing and potential frost damage from early sowing.”

In general, the results showed a steep decline of wheat yields with delayed sowing dates, which was larger than the average decline from frost damage (see Table 1).

“This would indicate that a seasonal frost forecast to delay sowing in high frost risk years might only be warranted in severe frost risk areas,” Imma said.

“However, a hypothetical new cultivar with 1°C more tolerance to frost would signifi cantly improve yields in the frost-prone region of the Western Australian wheat-belt,” Imma said.

Contact Imma FarreP: (08) 9441 8111E: [email protected]

TABLE 1 Effect of sowing date on fl owering date and grain yields

Wandering (High rainfall)

Narrogin(Medium–high rainfall)

Cunderdin(Medium rainfall)

Late Medium Late Medium Late Medium

Current optimum sowing date May 10 May 25 May 10 May 25 May 10 May 10

Average fl owering date for current sowing Sep 27 Sep 26 Sep 27 Sep 25 Sep 11 Aug 28

Average yield with frost damage 3.2 2.9 4.0 3.7 3.3 2.8

Delayed sowing date due to frost forecast May 25 Jun 9 May 25 Jun 9 May 25 May 25

Average fl owering date for delayed sowing

Oct 10 Oct 8 Oct 10 Oct 8 Sep 26 Sep 13

Average yield using a frost forecast 3.1 3.0 4.0 3.7 3.0 2.6

Average yield with frost tolerant (1°C) cultivar

3.6 3.3 4.2 3.9 3.4 2.9

(Late = late fl owering cultivar; Medium = medium fl owering cultivar).

Frost events are just one of the many challenges growers face each season. Adjusting sowing time to manage frost risk is a double-edged sword with possible yield impacts in a dry fi nish.

Photo: GRDC

GRDC: Frost


In another GRDC-funded project, DAFWA researchers are collaborating with counterparts in south Australia and Queensland to better understand the vagaries of frost across the different environments in each State.

Research offi cer, Dr Ben Biddulph, DAFWA has been managing the National Frost Characterisation site at Cuballing, WA.

“As a team we aim to better understand the complexities of frost in different environments; to determine whether there is genetic variation for frost tolerance in the fi eld, to explore potential genetic and environmental interactions between regions, and to provide a focus on methods” Dr Biddulph said.

“If there is variation — and preliminary results suggest that some genotypes may be more sensitive than others — we can assist breeders to embark on a program to develop varieties less sensitive to frost.”

While frost-tolerant crops are the ultimate goal, in order to get to that distant point we need a better understanding of how different frost events affect different cereals in different environments.

What this project has allowed us to do is to bring together all the existing knowledge we have about frost and to standardise our approaches.”

“This will allow us to get a handle on exactly what this phenomenon is, how it behaves and how various cereal species, and varieties within those species, are impacted by frost events,” Dr Biddulph said.

“It’s not as simple as temperatures plummeting below zero at fl owering causing crop sterilisation — it’s much more complex than that.”

“We now have a standard set of weather stations at each site, specifi cally designed to monitor the conditions experienced at the canopy level during a frost, to help us better understand what is happening during each frost event and to compare the results from three sites.

For the small nationally-coordinated trials, in the interest of a consistent approach, the Queensland and WA researchers have adopted the method used and developed by the University of Adelaide at the Loxton site in SA to screen for frost damage. In parallel, Queensland researchers are

using locally-developed methods, based on more than 30 years of research in Queensland and New South Wales, for more detailed screening and physiology studies.

“Using the standardised meteorological stations we know all the temperature measurements are comparable at each site, so even though frost events occur at different times and each event is different we can now collate the damage and provide a common frame of reference to compare the results.

Results a mixed bagAccording to Dr Biddulph, three

years into the four-year project the results are somewhat of a mixed bag.

“There are some consistencies coming to light between SA and WA” Dr Biddulph said. “Initial indications are that mid-winter conditions are more severe and are more often encountered at the Queensland test site.”

Further analysis of the data will be needed before these indications can be verifi ed.

Seeking out the differencesAccording to Dr Biddulph typical

damage across varieties is hard to describe.

“Every event is different,” he said. “But when we get between 20–70% damage it highlights the differences between varieties.”

Dr Biddulph is quick to remind growers that the silver bullet for a frost-tolerant wheat or barley variety is far from being ‘just around the corner’.

“We still need to confi rm these varietal differences and there are still no confi rmed genetic sources that are less susceptible than the best current cultivars” he said

“While identifying how and why some varieties are less frost susceptible than others may lead to solutions down the track, we now need to screen for and identify germplasm and develop processes to put enough varieties through to make it viable for breeding programs — we need to be able to screen 1000s of varieties a year.”

Dr Biddulph recently received a scholarship from the GRDC to develop pre-screening techniques in

collaboration with CSIRO Plant Industry to identify desirable tolerance traits.

He undertook laboratory experiments at CSIRO Plant Industry in Canberra with principal research scientist Dr Rudy Dolferus, who has worked on identifying heat and drought tolerance traits during pollen development in wheat and rice.

The research examined the chilling or cold tolerance of 10 popular and experimental wheat varieties.

“The aim was to see if we could fi nd a correlation between cold tolerance under artifi cial conditions (1ºC) and frost susceptibility in the fi eld (0.0 to -3.0ºC)”, Dr Biddulph said.

“The results showed that the most cold sensitive variety in the laboratory was also sensitive in fi eld frost events.

“We can now use this information to examine what impact frost and chilling events have on commercial germplasm at the critical plant development periods of pollen development and fl owering.

“In the short term by developing pre-screening methods to identify and characterise commercial germplasm we can give growers more confi dence in their existing varieties.”

“In the longer term we hope to assist breeders in developing new varieties less sensitive to frost.”

The project is supported by the GRDC, DAFWA, the University of Adelaide and the Queensland Alliance for Agricultural and Food Innovation (QAAFI) a joint initiative between the University of Queensland and the Department of Employment and Economic Development and Innovation, Queensland (DEEDI).

National collaboration selects for tolerance

Photo: GRDC

GRDC: Frost

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Community: Diary dates

Save the date

AG in Focus contributors and distribution partners


Date Event Location Contact

Februrary 2011Thursday 10 MIG Trials Review and AGM Mingenew Jane Bradley (08) 9928 1645 E: [email protected]

Monday 14 Liebe Group Trials Reviewand AGM Dalwallinu Chris O’Callaghan (08) 9664 2030 E: [email protected]

Wednesday 16 Kellerberrin Demonstration Group Trial Results Presentation Kellerberrin Angie Roe (08) 9622 5095 E: [email protected]

Thursday 17 SEPWA Integrated Weed Management Workshop Esperance Andrew Storrie (08) 9842 3598 E: [email protected]

Thursday 17 – Friday 18

Liebe Group Building Your Farm Business Workshop #1 Wubin Jemma Counsel 9664 2030 E: [email protected]

Friday 18 SEPWA Integrated Weed Management Workshop Cascade Andrew Storrie (08) 9842 3598 E: [email protected]

Wednesday 23 – Thursday 24

Crop Updates Burswood Keisha Davies (08) 6272 4567 E: [email protected]

Thursday 24 AGI/GIWA Harvest Wrap Breakfast Burswood Keisha Davies (08) 6272 4567 E: [email protected]

March 2011Tuesday 1 West Midlands Group Crop Updates Badgingarra Hellene McTaggart (08) 9651 4008 E: [email protected]

Wednesday 2 Liebe Group Crop Updates Buntine Flora Danielzik (08) 9664 2030 E: [email protected]

Thursday 3 Mingenew-Irwin Group Crop Updates Mingenew Kathryn Fleay (08) 9928 1506 E: [email protected]

Friday 4 DAFWA Geraldton Regional Crop Updates Geraldton Peter Newman (08) 9956 8563 E: [email protected]

Wednesday 9 RAIN/Ravensthorpe Crop Updates Ravensthorpe Rodger Walker (08) 9838 1018 E: [email protected]

Thursday 10 DAFWA Esperance Regional Crop Updates Esperance Brendan Nicholas (08) 9083 1111

Facey Group Trials Presentation Evening Wickepin Felicity Astbury (08) 9888 1223 E: [email protected]

Friday 11 SEPWA Harvest Debrief, AGM and Annual GrainGrowers Dinner

Esperance Gemma Walker (08) 9083 1134 E: [email protected]

Friday 11 – Saturday 12

Wagin Woolorama Wagin Wendy Pederick (08) 9861 1611 E: [email protected]

Thursday 17 WANTFA Conference Perth David Minkey (08) 6488 1647 E: [email protected]

Tuesday 22 – Thursday 24

Agribusiness Training Program Strategic Extension Planning for Impact Course

South Perth Brigette Lacey (08) 9690 2128 E: [email protected]

Monday 28 – Wednesday 30

Agribusiness Training Program Planning for Evaluation Course


April 2011Tuesday 5 – Wednesday 6

Agribusiness Training Program Crop and Pasture Nutrition Course


Thursday 7 Agribusiness Training Program Insect Pest Identification Course


Monday 11 – Tuesday 12

Agribusiness Training Program Adult Learning Course South Perth Brigette Lacey (08) 9690 2128 E: [email protected]

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Documents

Summer 2010-2011 in F CUSmultimedia.aspermont.com/web_files/AGIF-WA_SUM 2010-11.pdf · AG in FOCUS Summer 2010–2011 3 Department of Agriculture and Food Rob Delane l Director General