Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
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Innovation - packaging
No full textJoin us for an exciting session with Eduard Alcordo from FP Paradigm, where we\u27ll explore groundbreaking advancements in food and beverage packaging technology. Eduard will provide insights into FP Paradigm\u27s transformational mission and vision, highlighting their commitment to developing breakthrough technology aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuel-based plastics
The Changing Retail & Consumer Landscape
No full textGrocery retailing is facing unprecedented challenges driven by a convergence of factors throughout the value chain. The pandemic spurred innovation and permanently altered consumer behaviours, now dealing with rising inflation and tightening discretionary spending. This presents both challenges and opportunities for retailers, producers and supply chain stakeholders.
Sustainability remains a priority for consumers and retailers, but both are hesitant to bear the associated costs. Effectively communicating sustainability efforts and leveraging retailer networks are crucial to build scale and extend reach to consumers, along with developing economically viable solutions.
Additionally, it\u27s vital to recognize the necessary skills for engaging with retailers effectively, particularly from a sustainability perspective. This includes understanding how to navigate sustainability discussions within retail partnerships and aligning sustainability goals with broader business objectives.
Tristan Kitchener, an ex-retailer and an expert in grocery retailing and consumer trends, offers insights into the future trajectory and growth prospects for retailers and producers. As businesses strive to address consumer pain-points and adapt to evolving retailers standards, those that proactively embrace sustainability initiatives will likely emerge as frontrunners in driving growth
Peel Development Commission
No full textPeel Development Commission boundaryhttps://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/gis_maps/1048/thumbnail.jp
Gascoyne Development Commission
No full textGascoyne Development Commission boundaryhttps://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/gis_maps/1043/thumbnail.jp
Profitable, low-emission nitrogen application strategies in Western Australian dryland cropping
No full textPurpose/Research Question(s):
Our goal is to find highly profitable, lower-emission nitrogen application approaches for dryland farming in Western Australia.
Method(s)
Simulation modelling is used to analyse gross margins and greenhouse gas emissions for nitrogen strategies in various land use sequences across a range of locations in Western Australia\u27s grainbelt.
Findings
The study’s main finding is that there are preferred nitrogen (N) application strategies that consistently achieve high gross margins in crop production yet ensure emissions are relatively low or moderate. A useful strategy for a farmer is to evaluate the ratio of the price of nitrogen and grain and have a goal for N application that maximises the gross margin. While the gains in gross margins and emission reductions from altering N application strategies may appear small at a paddock level, those changes when replicated over the 9 million hectares of crops in the study region, annually deliver significant improvement. Further, when summed over many years of crop production, these seemingly minor improvements can lead to substantial additional profits and emission savings for the agricultural region. The study also concludes that very high or very low N application rates are inferior strategies. The better options are to apply 50 or 75 kg N/crop ha, depending on the farm location, for economic and environmental reasons.
Implications
Choosing nitrogen application strategies that are both highly profitable and which result in lower emissions throughout the study area can lead to significant economic and environmental advantages
Managing crop weeds
No full textIn-crop weed competition causes losses costing around $1 billion per annum for Western Australia. There are effective strategic and tactical options available to manage weed competition that will increase crop yields and profitability.
Weeds with herbicide resistance are an increasing problem in grain cropping enterprises. Integrated weed management (IWM) is a system for managing weeds over the long term and is particularly useful for managing and minimising herbicide resistance.
Growers are advised to adopt integrated weed management (IWM) to reduce the damage caused by herbicide-resistant weeds.
Herbicide resistant weed populations are found throughout all cropping areas of Western Australia. The number of resistant species and areas affected by resistance continues to increase. By understanding the implications and evolutionary processes of herbicide resistance, appropriate weed management strategies can be devised that will minimise the impact and delay the development of further resistance
Fleabane and its management
No full textFlaxleaf and tall fleabane (Conyza spp.) are emerging weeds in Western Australia (WA), germinating in spring and becoming major weeds in summer. Fleabane is now considered an important weed of reduced tillage farming systems.
Historically, fleabane was primarily a weed of roadsides, particularly if the road shoulders were sprayed with glyphosate, leaving bare soil on which the fleabane could germinate and flourish
Lupin root diseases - diagnosis and management
No full textRoot, hypocotyl and stem base diseases can be significant problems in lupin crops, reducing stand density, plant vigour and yield. Root disease is present in nearly all narrow leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) paddocks but in the majority of paddocks has only a small impact on crop development. However, in paddocks where high levels of root rot occurs, plant establishment, seedling vigour and crop yield can be significantly affected.
When a root disease is present in a crop very little can be done to manage it in that cropping season. It is therefore vital that the cause is correctly identified to allow appropriate management to take place before sowing the next lupin crop. Correct identification can be made from symptoms on the root and hypocotyl or stem base of affected plants. Above ground symptoms such as poor emergence, patches in crops, uneven and stunted growth, yellowing of plants and wilting or death under water stress, particularly at flowering and grain fill, can indicate the presence of root disorders. These above ground symptoms are rarely diagnostic as many biotic and abiotic disorders will have similar above ground expression.
This page describes above and below ground symptoms of the common root and hypocotyl diseases occurring in lupins in Western Australia (WA). Management recommendations for each are outlined
Annual ryegrass toxicity in livestock
No full textAnnual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) is a potentially fatal poisoning of livestock after consumption of annual ryegrass infected by the bacterium Rathayibacter toxicus (formerly known as Clavibacter toxicus).
The cycle starts with a migratory nematode called Anguina funesta. These nematodes can travel into the flowering parts of developing ryegrass and colonise them, eventually taking over the seed head to form nematode galls.
ARGT problems can start where the bacterium is also present in the same soil. The bacterium is carried by the nematode as it moves into the developing ryegrass flowering parts. Once inside the plant, the bacterium also develops, often out competing the nematode to take over the seed heads as they develop. The bacterium produces toxins from the end of flowering, through seed set, to seed maturity. Toxicity develops at flowering and seed set.
Infected ryegrass remains toxic even when it has senesced and dried off because it still contains the toxin. Hay made from toxic ryegrass will also be toxic. All grazing animals are susceptible, including horses and pigs