Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
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EPBC 2010/5491: Weaber Plain Development Project Compliance Report - 1st May 2023 to 30th April 2024
No full textThe Weaber Plain Development Project (Goomig Project) was approved on 13 September 2011. The approval reference is EPBC 2010/5491 (the Approval).
The Goomig Project comprises irrigated farmland, associated infrastructure, and a buffer area on the Weaber Plain located about 30km north-northeast of Kununurra in Western Australia. Figure 1 shows the location and layout of the Goomig Project and interface with other projects including the Knox Creek Plain Irrigation Development (EPBC 2014/7143), Sorby Hills Silver Lead Zinc mining project, and Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) Stage 1 \u27Cave Springs\u27 farms.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is the Goomig Project proponent. Kimberley Agriculture Investment Pty Ltd (KAI) has tenure of the Goomig Project farmlands, except Lots 15 and 16 which are owned by the Yawoorroong Miriuwung Gajerrong Yirrgeb Noong Dawang Aboriginal Corporation (MG Corporation). MG Corporation has the right under Ord Final Agreement Indigenous Land Use Agreement to acquire the buffer area in freehold.
This document reports on compliance with the conditions set out in the Approval for the period 1 May 2023 to 30 April 2024, as required by condition 3 of the Approval
Localised and tree total crop loads influence trunk growth, return fruit set, yield, and fruit quality in apples
No full textLocalised fruit thinning strategies must be investigated to improve precision crop load management in narrow-canopy, multileader apple trees. This study aimed to determine the effects of within-leader and tree total crop load on leaders’ and trunk’s growth, fruit set, yield, and fruit quality in ‘Ruby Matilda’ apples (marketed as Pink Lady®) over three years. Different crop loads were imposed on two leaders (primary and secondary) of bi-axis trees. Leader and trunk relative growth rate, return fruit set, yield, and fruit quality parameters at harvest were measured. High within-leader crop loads led to a significant increase in yield and reductions in trunk growth, return fruit set, and deterioration of fruit quality parameters except for flesh firmness and starch index. Similar trends were observed in whole-tree relationships. High crop load in secondary leaders had moderate negative effects on trunk growth, yield, and fruit mass of primary leaders; it only marginally affected their return fruit set and had no significant effect (p \u3e 0.05) on their fruit quality. A crop load of 6.8 fruit no. cm−2 of leader cross-sectional area was estimated to achieve a relatively consistent return fruit set within the same leader. At a whole-tree level, a similar crop load (6.9 fruit no. cm−2 of trunk cross-sectional area) produced a consistent return fruit set despite its higher variability. These crop loads produced high yields (120 and 111 t ha−1, respectively) and good quality fruit. Using individual leaders as management units is recommended to simplify operations and reduce variability
Increasing wheat proteins sustainably by rotation with forage legumes
No full textWheat proteins provide around 20% of all human dietary protein, but their end-use qualities are determined by the form and quantity of nitrogen in the endosperm. In the developed world, there is a heavy reliance in grain production on nitrogen supplied from synthetic fertilisers, and this fertiliser can contribute up to 50% of the on-farm emissions of greenhouse gasses in agriculture. However, despite increasing rates of application of synthetic nitrogen to cereals, wheat grain protein levels, in developed nations, have been frequently failing to reach the premium grade required by the bread-making market. Here, for the first time, we report that biological nitrogen fixation from a new generation of hardseeded annual forage legumes, when grown in rotation with cereal crops, can replace fertiliser N without compromising grain protein. The forage legumes were grown in rotation with Triticum aestivum, and compared with rotations that included a fallow, or a cereal crop at three rainfed sites in Western Australia with differing soil types for 2–4 years. The wheat received low, medium and high rates of urea to indicate if forage legumes can provide sufficient nitrogen for sustainable wheat production. At all sites and years studied, we discovered that cereal grains produced following a year of forage legumes had significantly higher protein levels than when grown as part of a continuous cereal rotation. These results were achieved in combination with a reduction in on-farm emissions (by over 200 kg/ha of CO2) without compromising yield as indicated by emissions accounting. Including appropriate forage legumes in farming systems allows production of low emission intensity grain proteins in dryland farming
Improved whole-farm planning for mixed-enterprise systems in Australia using a four-stage Stochastic Model with Recourse
No full textFarm management occurs against a backdrop of weather-year variation. In Australian mixed enterprise farming systems, how important is it for farm optimisation models to capture this variation and the management tactics matched to that variation? This study compares two whole farm optimisation models of an Australian mixed enterprise farming system. One model represents weather-year variation and the short-term tactical management responses tailored to the unfolding weather-year conditions. The other model is a traditional deterministic steady state model that employs the key assumption that every year is an expected weather-year. Both models require the farm manager to select a profit-maximising suite of enterprises and activities relevant to either the expected weather-year or the suite of weather-years that typify weather-year variation where the farm is located. Comparison of the models’ results reveals key differences in farm strategy, farm tactics and farm profit. The model that includes tactics aligned to the weather-year variation reveals that tactical decision-making increases expected farm profit by about 18 per cent
Ecological risk assessment for the Western Australian offshore crustacean resource.
No full textIn December 2022, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) convened an ecological risk assessment (ERA) of the fisheries that access the Offshore Crustacean Resource (Resource).
The Western Australian commercial fisheries that access the Resource are the West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean Managed Fishery, South Coast Crustacean Managed Fishery and West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery. Due to the predominantly offshore distribution of the Resource, there is only minor recreational and customary access of this Resource related to harvesting of southern rock lobster on the south coast.
The ERA considered the potential ecological impacts of harvesting the Resource. The assessment focused on evaluating the impact of the commercial fishing sector on all relevant retained and bycatch species, endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species, habitats and the broader environment.
A broad range of stakeholders were invited to participate in the ERA workshop, including representatives of the commercial, recreational, customary and aquaculture fishing sectors, State and Commonwealth Government agencies, the conservation sector, universities and DPIRD staff including fisheries management, research, compliance and biosecurity personnel.
Risk scores were determined based on available scientific information and expert knowledge. The assessment conforms to the AS/NZS ISO 31000 risk management standard, and to the methodology adopted by DPIRD which uses a consequence-likelihood analysis for estimating risk.
Forty three ecological components were scored for risk. The majority (34) of components were evaluated as low or negligible risks, which do not require any specific control measures. Four components were evaluated as medium risks, which were assessed as acceptable under the current monitoring and control measures already in place.
There were four high risks and one severe risk, which all related to stocks of the primary target species. These stocks had been formally assessed by DPIRD prior to this ERA and the pre-existing risk scores from those assessments were adopted in this ERA. Management changes have already been implemented that are expected to reduce the risk for each stock to an acceptable level.
It is recommended that all risks be reviewed in five years
Soil Quality: 9 Gravel Soil
No full textThe Soil Quality ebook series is a resource for farmers, agricultural professionals and students. Experts from their fields share current knowledge and best practice techniques in interactive layers of information, allowing readers to choose the level of detail they require.
Book 9 Gravel Soil explains characteristics and impact of ironstone gravel particles on soil processes and function important to broadacre agriculture. Providing a detailed understanding of the role and functioning of gravel particles, this publication covers the implications for a range of agricultural management practices supported by current research results and case studies.https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/sq_ebooks/1008/thumbnail.jp
Consumption of shark products: The interface of sustainability, trade (mis)labelling, human health and human rights
No full textSharks and rays evolved 450 million years ago, during the Late Ordovician Period. However, during the modern Anthropocene, shark populations have declined at considerable rates, and recent global assessments indicate about one in three species is threatened with extinction. A notable reason for this elevated extinction risk is overfishing linked to increased demand for shark fins and other products. Here, we review multiple dimensions of consuming shark products, ranging from stock sustainability, product (mis)labelling and trade, the human health implications of consuming shark products, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and slavery and labour abuses in the fishing industry. We conclude that traceability and increased transparency in seafood supply chains is essential to overcome obstacles to consumption of sustainable, ethical and healthy shark products. We also provide a decision tree outlining steps in consumer choice that would foster such consumption. Our aim is to provide a holistic view on issues concerning the consumption of shark products that will help policymakers, the public, management and law enforcement agencies to advocate for ecologically- and ethically sustainable consumption of shark products and thereby empower the general public to make informed decisions on which shark products they consume
Observations of the association by early-juvenile western rock lobster Panulirus cygnus George, 1962 with seagrass assemblages (Decapoda: Achelata: Palinuridae)
No full textThe fishery of the western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus George, 1962, is Australia’s most valuable wild-caught single-species fishery. Recruitment in some regions of the fishery was observed to be significantly lower than expected after the 2010/2011 West Australian marine heatwave that caused extensive disturbance of dominant coastal habitats. This event generated interest in the study of the factors influencing survival and recruitment of post-larval benthic P. cygnus after settlement. The habitat associations of the highly cryptic post-settlement early-juveniles were previously unknown, with only anecdotal observations of individuals within limestone crevices in nearshore habitats. Our study used early-juveniles derived from ongoing monitoring of puerulus settlement to examine their habitat association mechanism in mesocosm experiments. Comparison of common nearshore habitat assemblages (bare sand, limestone crevices, and seagrasses (Posidonia and Amphibolis) at varying seagrass densities) found that most early-juveniles associated strongly with Amphibolis assemblages at high stem densities (~2,100 stems m–2). A shift in association between Amphibolis fronds and stems at high stem density to Amphibolis-shaded sand and leaf debris at low stem density indicated active habitat selection by early-juveniles. Habitat choices were tested with the scents of prey items and habitat types within Amphibolis assemblages using Y-maze bioassays. No significant olfactory choices were found, suggesting that habitat associations may be driven by multiple cues. Our study provides new laboratory-based insights into the habitat association of early-juvenile P. cygnus and suggests changes in seagrass assemblage identity and density are likely to be important. Further experimentation is needed to define the cues driving these patterns. The impact of habitat change on recruitment in this important fishery remains unknown and should be an objective of future research
Agricultural groundcover update October 2023
No full textSummary About 98% of the grainbelt had adequate vegetative groundcover (more than 50%) to prevent wind erosion in October 2023. This amount of groundcover is normal at the end of spring and pre-harvest in most areas. There was a larger than average area with 51–60% groundcover, and groundcover in these areas is expected to reduce over summer to below 50%. About 2% of the grainbelt (293,000 ha) had less than 50% groundcover, which is inadequate to prevent wind erosion. Mullewa to Morawa Ag Soil Zone had the highest risk of wind erosion and 8% of this farmland had inadequate groundcover. Less than 0.5% of the grainbelt had a high to very high risk of wind erosion because groundcover levels were less than 30%
Stable dingo population structure and purity over 11 years of lethal management
No full textContext: Interaction between predators and humans is a key driver of human–wildlife conflicts and can underpin management of predator populations. Management of the impacts of dingoes on livestock and native species is a prime example of a persistent and contentious predator management issue with potential impacts on the integrity of dingo populations. To manage the potential impacts of dingoes and their control, it is imperative to understand the effects of control approaches on their populations in the short and long term. Hybridisation of dingoes with domestic dogs also threatens the genetic integrity of pure dingoes. It has been hypothesised that lethal control of dingoes can facilitate hybridisation through disrupting pack social structures leading to increased dingo–domestic dog interactions.
Aims: We aimed to to investigate how dingo population structure and genetic purity have changed, assessing dingo purity, individual relatedness, population clustering and gene flow, particularly across land use types and barrier fences, in the context of ongoing lethal control within the Murchison Regional Vermin Cell area in Western Australia (WA).
Methods: We tested dingo genetic samples from three distinct sampling periods (2009, 2014 and 2020) for changes in population summary statistics and dingo ancestry. Barriers and corridors to gene flow were also examined.
Key results: We identified three genetically distinct populations in the study area, consistent with previous genetic studies in WA. We did not find any evidence of change in dingo purity or population characteristics; however, barrier fencing may be influencing recent gene flow.
Conclusions: The metapopulation of dingoes in the southern rangelands of WA appears to be stable over the 11 years assessed.
Implications: Because we were unable to demonstrate that lethal control has accelerated hybridisation between dingoes and domestic dogs in the study area over the last 11 years, we have no evidence that lethal control to reduce losses to livestock production and for conservation of native wildlife in the southern rangelands of WA is putting dingo purity at risk. Fencing appears to be an effective management tool because there is some evidence it is congruent with reduced gene flow in areas where the fences are well maintained