Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
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Western Australia’s Primary Industries: 2023-24 Economic Overview
No full textThe Western Australia’s Primary Industries: 2023-24 Economic Overview (WAPIEO) has been developed by DPIRD. The WAPIEO has a production and trade focus and provides a single source for consistent statistics and insights into observed industry trends. The WAPIEO is based primarily on 2023-24 economic indicators from the Department of Treasury and Finance, DPIRD data, and statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), in line with the release cycle dates of final ABS data. All values are in Australian dollars. ABS provides production value data in 2 formats - local value (farm gate) and gross value (value at first point of sale). ABS is revising its methodology for collecting data on the value of agricultural production. ABS have provided local value of production data for a number of commodities for 2022-23 and 2023-24. The WAPIEO report uses the gross value of agricultural production as a measure of value. For industries where the ABS have only reported local values, DPIRD have analysed the relationship between local and gross values over a 5-year period to derive a standard coefficient. DPIRD have assumed that this relationship will be maintained for 2023-24 financial year and have calculated gross values estimates accordingly. As a result, figures in the report may differ from future ABS data releases. This report includes DPIRD derived gross value of production (GVP) estimates for the following sections: cereals, canola, lupins and other pulses and meat and livestock for the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24. For all industries, other than Horticulture, the data reported in the production value graphs is drawn from the ABS, Grain Industry of Western Australia (GIWA) and Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics (ABARES) data sets. Where data is missing, DPIRD has made informed estimates of the value of production. Horticultural statistics are drawn from multiple sources, including the ABS, the Agricultural Produce Commission, Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook, and various industry sources. Export and import data is from the ABS monthly International Merchandise Trade subscription, with DPIRD analysis. Further trade data is sourced from the ABS in customised data reports. These figures are used in the respective commodity export and import graphs. Export values in this edition of the WAPIEO differ slightly from previous editions. This is due to DPIRD reviewing and revising some agrifood export codes for accuracy and consistency (See key terms for detailed definition). Import data, compiled from the ABS, define imports into Western Australia as goods from overseas entering the state by sea or air, excluding those transported by road or from other states, regardless of their final destination (See key terms for detailed definition). This report includes publicly available data on forestry exports only. Please note that for some graphs and tables, the figures and percentages presented do not always add to the total and/or 100% due to rounding
Tissue sampling and analysis for high rainfall pastures in Western Australia
No full textTissue testing helps identify nutrient deficiencies that impact plant health. In high rainfall areas ( \u3e 600 mm), pastures are highly productive and have greater demand for both macro- and micronutrients. Micronutrient status is best assessed through plant tissue, as soil levels are difficult to measure accurately.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommends tissue testing to assess the effectiveness of fertiliser and soil testing programs, and diagnose emerging macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies that could cause production losses
Soil re-engineering in Western Australia, Part I: a novel approach for rapid and lasting improvement of soil physical and chemical properties
No full textContext
Soil acidity, high soil strength, and poor subsoil structure are major constraints to crop productivity in coarse-textured and texture-contrast soils of southern Australia. These interacting limitations restrict root growth, reduce access to subsoil water and nutrients, and constrain yield potential in water-limited environments. While deep tillage and surface liming have been used to address individual constraints, their benefits are often short-lived and insufficient to overcome multiple subsoil limitations simultaneously. Aims
This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of soil profile re-engineering on soil physical, chemical, and hydrological properties, and to determine the persistence of these changes over four cropping seasons at two contrasting sites in Western Australia. Methods
In May 2021, four soil re-engineering treatments were established at Bolgart (deep sand) and Meenar (loamy duplex): untreated control; deep loosening with lime; deep loosening with lime and clay; and deep loosening with lime, clay, and compost – all applied between 0 and 80 cm depth. Soil properties including soil strength, bulk density, volumetric water content, pHCa, soil organic carbon (SOC), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were measured at establishment, three months post-treatment, and 4 years later (2024). Key results
At both sites and sampling times, untreated soils had subsoil strength exceeding the critical 2.5 MPa threshold for root growth below 10-cm depth. All soil re-engineering treatments significantly decreased soil strength to well below this threshold and maintained these improvements over 4 years, despite partial recompaction. Soil strength increases between 2021 and 2024 were substantially smaller than typically reported following strategic tillage alone. At Bolgart, treatments incorporating clay and compost increased soil water storage in the 0–80 cm profile by up to 25 mm relative to the control, whereas at Meenar, greater water retention in the untreated subsoil reflected limited root access rather than improved water availability. Lime incorporation increased subsoil pHCa by 1.5–1.7 units – an order of magnitude greater than surface liming – raising pHCa above critical thresholds at 10–70 cm depth and maintaining these improvements over 4 years. Incorporation of compost and clay resulted in marked increases in SOC and CEC, improving soil buffering capacity, stabilising soil physical condition, and reducing the likelihood of re-acidification. Conclusions
Soil profile re-engineering produced rapid, substantial, and persistent improvements in subsoil physical, chemical, and hydrological properties, with benefits maintained for at least four cropping seasons across contrasting soil types. Implications
These findings demonstrate that soil re-engineering can overcome multiple interacting subsoil constraints simultaneously and provide a mechanistic basis for the large yield and water-use efficiency gains reported in Part II of this series. With the development of cost-effective machinery, soil re-engineering offers a promising pathway to sustainably increase productivity in water-limited, constraint-prone cropping systems
Micronutrients (trace elements) for high rainfall pastures in Western Australia
No full textMicronutrient deficiencies can result from removal of agricultural products over many years, changes in soil acidity, or from large increases in plant biomass production and export. This page is specific to high rainfall pastures (more than 600mm average annual rainfall) in the south-west of Western Australia.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommends tissue testing to check plant micronutrient nutrient needs
Using preliminary consumer insight to enhance the perceived quality of a new apple cultivar (Malus domestica Borkh. Cv. ANABP 01) with a view to maximizing crop utilisation
No full textThe visual appearance of a new apple cultivar is of foremost importance for consumer attraction and fruit purchase. A new Australian apple (“ANABP 01”) has a unique burgundy colored skin which can range from red to dark burgundy during fruit maturation. This study investigates consumer likability and purchase of “ANABP 01” apples with similar eating quality characteristics with four different skin colors being Red, Light Burgundy (LB), Burgundy (B) and Dark Burgundy (DB). During testing, panelists liked all classes of apple colors, giving high scores for their visual, textural and flavor characteristics. Panelists rated the color of B and DB apples higher than LB apples, however, ranked Red apples the same as DB. However, in the retail market customers chose to purchase darker colored fruit first before lighter colored. Overall “ANABP 01” apples were highly liked by panelists regardless of color. In any one market, color grading technology could segregate retail supply to a narrow color range to maximize retail sales and minimize fruit waste. Fruit not meeting the leading “ANABP 01” brands burgundy color requirement are still of high quality, liked by consumers and could maximize fruit sales and minimize fruit waste if segregated by color
Fisheries Management Paper No. 311: West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean Resource Harvest Strategy
No full textHarvest strategies for Western Australia’s (WA) aquatic resources are formal documents developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, the Department) to support decision-making processes that ensure the outcomes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002a) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2012). Harvest strategies are a key component of all contemporary fishery management systems and a requirement for certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objectives of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA).
This West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean Resource (WCDSCR) Harvest Strategy has been developed and revised in line with the Department’s Harvest Strategy Policy for Aquatic Resources (Department of Fisheries 2015; Fletcher et al. 2016) and is consistent with relevant national harvest strategy policies and guidelines (e.g. Sloan et al. 2014; Department of Agriculture and Water Resources 2018a, b). It establishes the specific set of decision rules that determine the appropriate harvest levels for all sectors to meet the ecological, economic and social objectives established for the resource.
The publication of this Harvest Strategy is intended to make the decision-making considerations and processes for the management of the WCDSCR transparent and provide a basis for informed dialogue on management actions with resource users and other stakeholders (Department of Fisheries 2015).
The Harvest Strategy provides guidance for decision-makers but does not derogate from or limit the exercise of discretion required for independent decision-making by the Minister for Fisheries, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DPIRD, or other delegated decision makers in order to meet the objects of the FRMA
Port Hedland, Town of - BEN sign map – 1 of 1
No full textBeach Emergency Number (BEN) Signage for the Town of Port Hedlandhttps://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/gis_bens/1063/thumbnail.jp
Status of the Western Australian pastoral rangelands 2025 - Total vegetative cover and cover risk
No full textDPIRD monitors and reports on the vegetation condition of pastoral rangelands in Western Australia. Two levels of reporting are provided: every 5 years a full report details the state, trend and risk of decrease of vegetation condition in the pastoral rangelands using information derived from remotely sensed and on-ground data; in the intervening years, short reports are provided based on remotely sensed data (this report).
This report is based on remotely sensed vegetation cover data, rainfall data, livestock data and station-level rangeland condition assessment (RCA) data available in November 2025. Data is presented for 23 land conservation districts (LCDs) across the pastoral rangelands. Individual LCDs are grouped into Kimberley, Pilbara, Upper Southern Rangelands and Lower Southern Rangelands regions.
For each LCD, remotely sensed seasonal total cover and reported stocking rates are used to estimate the risk of vegetation cover decrease for key vegetation monitoring and assessment units (MAUs) or vegetation functional groups (aggregations with similar topography, soils and vegetation types).
Rainfall in the 12 months to November 2025 was generally median or above median across the pastoral rangelands, except for the Gascoyne–Wooramel, Lyndon, West Gascoyne and Shark Bay LCDs, which were below median.
The risk of total vegetation cover declining to low or very low levels is considered low to moderate in the Kimberley, with a significant improvement in cover in the Broome LCD.
Despite generally above median rainfall, and 5-year average stocking rates below the potential carrying capacity, the risk of vegetation cover decline has increased over much of the Pilbara and Southern Rangelands and is now considered high or very high in all LCDs except for the East Pilbara, Kalgoorlie, Nullarbor and Shark Bay LCDs. The risk of one or more vegetation functional groups falling to, or remaining at, below-average or very much below-average levels was high or very high in 15 LCDs, which is an increase on 11 LCDs in 2024, but less than the estimate of 17 LCDs in 2023.
In 2025, the generally median or above rainfall was not sufficient to offset longer-term rainfall deficits and prevent a decline in total cover. It is likely that increased temperatures are affecting the cyclical trends in cover.
Unless rainfall is significantly above average over the 2025–26 wet season and 2026 winter, low levels of vegetation cover and soil water mean that stocking rates in the Southern Rangelands will need to be decreased in line with fodder availability to manage degradation and animal welfare risks
To hold or sell breeding cattle in the rangelands
No full textIn a dry season where feed, water and finances are limited, removing less productive animals as soon as possible is a good option. This will free up feed for more productive animals and help preserve ground cover.
This page provides some of the information and a process for making decisions about holding or selling breeding cattle
Busselton, City of - East BEN sign map - 1 of 2
No full textBEN sign location Busselltonhttps://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/gis_bens/1004/thumbnail.jp