Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
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Opportunities using EID – Tahara Case Study
No full textStarting from 2025, Electronic Identification (EID) will become mandatory in Western Australia. This requirement might cause some farmers to focus solely on the increased costs, potentially overlooking the opportunities these systems can bring to their farms. Clayton South, who manages his property ‘Tahara’ near Wagin in the Great Southern region of WA, operates a farm with approximately 4,000 Dohne ewes. They started using EID in 2014
Developing a controlled traffic (tramline) farming system
No full textControlled traffic farming (CTF) is a farming system built on permanent wheel tracks where the crop zone and traffic lanes are permanently separated. It can improve profitability and sustainability.
Implements for seeding, spraying, spreading and harvesting have a particular span, or multiple of it, and all wheel tracks are confined to specific traffic lanes.
CTF increases profit by more yield, better grain quality, improved operation timeliness, and reduced costs. The environment can improve, with less nutrient leaching, less water erosion, better water infiltration, and less greenhouse gas emission. Implementation needs a clear, long-term plan, and prioritisation of soil health.
Another term that is commonly used for controlled traffic farming is ‘tramline farming’. Controlled traffic farming and tramline farming have been used interchangeably in Australia. Worldwide, ‘controlled traffic farming’ is the more broadly used term for a system with permanent traffic lanes. In Europe, ‘Tramlining’ refers to seasonal wheel tracks that are commonly used for spraying and usually replaced each year
2025 Western Australian Crop Sowing Guide
No full textThe 2025 Western Australian Crop Sowing Guide has been compiled by officers of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. It provides information to support variety decisions for each of the major crops for the upcoming season.https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/bulletins/1297/thumbnail.jp
The impact of changing joining rates on the Western Australian sheep flock
No full textGiven the poor seasonal conditions and low prices experienced in 2023/24, the Western Australian (WA) sheep industry is experiencing a period of very poor industry sentiment often compared to that seen in the 1990’s following the collapse of the wool reserve price scheme.
These difficult times mean producers have had to make production decisions for their businesses which may have flow on effects for the entire state flock. One commonly discussed option by industry and consultants was to join less ewes to reduce the feed burden on farm and help mitigate losses due to low prices. This computer modelling aimed to investigate the impact of reduced joining rates on the WA flock over three years
Phosphorus buffering determines how soil properties and rainfall influence wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield response to phosphorus fertiliser
No full textContext Current decision support systems (DSS) for phosphorus (P) fertiliser were developed using data from historical cropping systems. An understanding of how soil properties and rainfall influence wheat (Triticum aestivum) response to P fertiliser in current systems is required to optimise P management. Aims The aims of this study were to: (1) assess the soil properties that have the greatest influence on relative yield; (2) examine how rainfall conditions influence relative yield; and (3) examine whether there were interactive effects between rainfall and soil properties on relative yield. Methods Forty P rate-response field experiments were completed in Western Australia. Regression tree modelling, soil test calibration curves and the sliding window approach were used to examine relationships between soil properties or rainfall and relative yield. Key results Phosphorus buffering index (PBI) was important for determining the factors that influence relative yield. For sites with PBI 0–10 cm \u3c56 (n = 30), regression tree modelling showed rainfall before sowing and soil pHCa were important factors (R2 = 0.59). For sites where PBI \u3e56 (n = 10), relative yield was closely related to plant-available P at 0–10 cm and the r-value for the calibration curve was 0.95. Conclusions Rainfall and soil pHCa influence wheat response to P where PBI \u3c56 is attributed to an accumulation of soil P after decades of fertiliser applications and the availability of stored soil P to crops. Implications Pre-sowing rainfall should be included in DSS so that grain producers can make informed, tactical decisions about P fertiliser applications for wheat at sowing
Regional Price Index 2023
No full textThe 2023 Regional Price Index (RPI) is the eleventh State Government Index contrasting the cost of a common basket of goods and services at a number of regional locations to the Perth metropolitan region. The RPI is used as the basis for the construction of the public sector district allowance, and by the private sector when considering remuneration packages for remotely located staff.
The RPI provides an insight into differences in regional consumer costs. The 2023 RPI basket of 185 goods and services was priced in 39 regional centres around Western Australia.
The 2023 RPI results show that, overall, prices are more expensive than Perth in all regions except for the Mid West and South West. Prices were highest in the Pilbara region, followed by the Kimberley and Gascoyne.
Consistent with the 2021 RPI, the region with the highest food category index for the 2023 RPI was the Kimberley, and the two regions with prices lower than Perth were the South West and Peel. The cost of food items compared to 2021 increased in Perth and in all regions, largely due to rising inflation. The 2023 RPI, compared to 2021, showed a reduction in this category across all regions.
In the Pilbara, housing was particularly high, with health and personal care also high, and all other categories higher than Perth prices.
In the Kimberley and Gascoyne regions, housing was high, with prices also higher than Perth in all other categories. In the Goldfields-Esperance region, health and personal care, transport and education and recreation were above Perth prices but lower than the regional index for these categories in 2021.
The Mid West and the South West regions were both lower overall than Perth, with all categories only slightly higher or slightly lower costs than Perth. The Peel region was also very close to Perth prices across all categories.
The Wheatbelt had lower housing prices than Perth, with the highest category being cigarettes, alcohol and tobacco, though this was lower than the regional index in 2021. In the Great Southern region, housing was the highest category, with transport and education and recreation also higher than Perth.
A more detailed breakdown, contrasting the eight commodity groups across regions, is available in the maps.https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/rd_statistics/1010/thumbnail.jp
Validation of critical soil-test phosphorus values from the Better Fertiliser Decisions for Pastures meta-analysis
No full textContext Historical application of phosphorus (P) fertilisers has enabled grazing agriculture in south-west Western Australia but has led to excessive soil P levels that pose a eutrophication risk. However, adoption of critical soil-test P values for pastures determined from the Better Fertiliser Decisions for Pastures (BFDP) meta-analysis of historical Australian trials has been poor because of perceived lack of relevance to the soils and contemporary pasture species in the region. Aims We aimed to validate critical Colwell P values from the BFDP project for soils and contemporary pasture species of south-west Western Australia. Methods Fifty P-rate response trials were performed with contemporary pasture species, and the results compared with BFDP. Key results Trial results were consistent with BFDP and fell within 95% prediction intervals of response calibrations of Colwell P and relative yield pairs for different P buffering index (PBI) ranges. Soils with PBI 8% (±4%), consistent with a 5% response expected for Colwell P levels supporting 95% relative yield. Application of nitrogen, potassium and sulfur significantly increased yield while increasing basal cover of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and reducing that of clover (Trifolium spp.) in the sward. Response calibration coefficients and critical Colwell P values before and after addition of the trial data to BFDP showed a strong correlation (r2 \u3e0.99), although critical values were slightly lower for lower soil PBI. Conclusions Critical Colwell P values from BFDP are relevant and applicable to soils and contemporary pasture species of south-west Western Australia. Implications Agronomic advice and application of P should be based on interpretation of Colwell P values, with P applied only when levels are below the critical value. Pasture composition should also be considered when interpreting Colwell P values. This approach minimises risks of P loss and improves economic outcomes for growers
Agricultural groundcover update April 2024
No full textIn April, over 12% (1,876,000 ha) of the arable farmland in the south-west of Western Australia had less than 50% vegetative groundcover, which is inadequate to prevent wind erosion. Northern grainbelt had the highest risk of wind erosion and over 26% of this farmland had inadequate groundcover, predominantly found on landscapes known for sandy soils. About 1.5% (238,900 ha) of arable land had a high to very high risk of wind erosion because groundcover was less than 30%
Panel Discussion - ESG and Market Access - charting sustainable market pathways
No full textThis panel will feature one of our local leading producers, industry leaders and experts in agribusiness, carbon and energy transition and retail and value chains as they share stories and tackle tough questions about the pursuit of a greener marketplace. They will discuss strategies to meet market and consumer demands and expectations, prepare for energy and climate risk and transition, and navigate the complexities of balancing plastic packaging, food waste and carbon miles.
Panellist Larissa Taylor, Savoir Consulting, Director Tristan Kitchener, Kitchener Partners, Director Doriana Mangili, Sweeter Banana Co-Operative, Business Manager Cath Oates, Wine Australia, Deputy Chair
Facilitator Meri Fatin, WA Climate Leaders, Conveno
Canola – essentials for growing a successful crop
No full textEnsuring the basics of canola agronomy are followed can minimise the financial risk of growing canola, which can be higher than other crops due to high input costs, particularly seed and fertiliser