Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
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Options for fox control
No full textFoxes can cause significant losses to some agricultural producers, and they prey on many native animals. The best option is to control foxes before they become a problem. This factsheet explains the available options fox control and when these options should be use
Potential economic impact of grapevine Phylloxera (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae) on Western Australian winegrapes
No full textGrapevine phylloxera Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae) has been present in Australia for almost 150 years but has not spread to south-west Western Australia, in part due to the relative isolation of the region. Recent improvements in tourist access, with interstate flights now arriving at Busselton Margaret River Airport, raise concerns about potential phylloxera introductions via wine tourism. In this paper, we simulate the potential economic impact on the Western Australian winegrape industry following a hypothetical arrival event in the Margaret River wine region. We use soil texture maps to assess the suitability of winegrape-growing areas to phylloxera establishment and construct a model to predict the likely cost and revenue implications of replanting vines to resistant rootstock as they become infested. Our results suggest that if strict quarantine measures to limit spread are not implemented, a phylloxera incursion could affect 60%–70% of vines and cause cumulative losses of AUD150–290 million over a 50-year period. This is equivalent to a 3%–6% annual contraction of winegrape production
Status of the Western Australian pastoral rangelands 2024: Total vegetative cover, cover risk and pasture condition
No full textThe Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) 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 (this 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 full report is based on remotely sensed vegetation cover data, rainfall data, livestock data and station-level rangeland condition assessment (RCA) data available in November 2024. Data is presented for 23 land conservation districts (LCD) across the pastoral rangelands. Individual LCDs are grouped into Kimberley, Pilbara, Upper Southern Rangelands and Lower Southern Rangelands regions.
Total cover in June–August 2024 was strongly influenced by rainfall in the preceding 1 to 2 years. The risk of the total cover of a key pasture or vegetation functional group falling to or remaining at below-average or very much below-average levels was high or very high in 11 LCDs, which is less than the estimate of 17 LCDs in the 2023 annual report.
Station-level assessment of pasture condition and erosion – using rangeland condition assessment (RCA) – was resumed in 2016 after ceasing in 2009. The RCA data collected since 2016 suggest that pasture condition remains generally worse in the Southern Rangelands compared to the Northern Rangelands. RCA data show that on a regional basis, average changes in the pasture condition were non-significant in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Lower Southern Rangelands, while pasture condition improved in the Upper Southern Rangelands
Field pea: crop management and production
No full textThe field pea agronomic package available to growers is one offering simplicity and reliability. Producing high yielding field pea crops is now limited more by seasonality and rainfall rather than technology and genetics. With new varieties and agronomy package field pea is a profitable break crop option
Challenges in modelling the impact of frost and heat stress on the yield of cool-season annual grain crops
No full textFrost and heat events at critical growth stages could cause large yield losses. These temperature extremes are increasing in frequency and intensity due to climate change in many parts of the broadacre cropping regions globally, presenting challenges to food production. For cool-season grain-growing regions, where summers are already too hot, heat and frost risks can limit adaptation options. Capturing these stresses in crop models accurately is increasingly important for evaluating the timing, severity, and yield consequences of extreme events. However, most existing process-based models were not designed to simulate short-duration temperature extremes, limiting their ability to assess climate risk and inform adaptation to frost and heat. Yield responses to heat and frost are associated with pollen sterility, grain abortion, accelerated senescence, and grain filling. Six challenges limit current modelling approaches: (1) inadequate spatial and temporal resolution of extreme events, (2) threshold-based and non-linear crop responses, (3) interactions between phenology and management, (4) cumulative and interacting stress effects across development stages, (5) limited representation of genotype-specific sensitivities, and (6) reliance on daily temperature data. Addressing these challenges requires improved use of sub-daily climate data, incorporation of physiological damage mechanisms, and enhanced crop- and genotype-specific parameterisation. These developments are critical for improving crop yield predictions under extreme temperatures in the context of climate change
Hordeum I genome unlocks adaptive evolution and genetic potential for crop improvement
No full textCrop wild relatives (CWRs) are invaluable for crop improvement. Among these, Hordeum I-genome species exhibit exceptional tolerance to alkali and salt stresses. Here we present a chromosome-scale genome assembly of Hordeum brevisubulatum (II, 2n = 2x =14) and genome resequencing of 38 diploid germplasms spanning 7 I-genome species. We reveal that the adaptive evolution of the H. brevisubulatum genome is shaped by structural variations, some of which may contribute to its adaptation to high alkali and salt environments. Evolutionary duplication of the stress sensor-responder module CaBP-NRT2 and the horizontally transferred fungal gene Fhb7 were identified as novel alkaline–saline tolerance mechanisms. We also demonstrate the potential of the Hordeum I genome in crop breeding through the newly synthesized hexaploid Tritordeum (AABBII) with enhanced alkaline–saline tolerance. Our study fills critical gaps in Hordeum genomics and CWR research, advancing introgression of CWR resources into current crops for sustainable agriculture
Bunbury, City of - BEN sign map – 1 of 1
No full textBEN Sign locations Bunbury shirehttps://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/gis_bens/1003/thumbnail.jp
Fisheries Research Report No. 345: Metropolitan monitoring program 2024
No full textOngoing monitoring of recreational fisheries in the Metropolitan zone is essential to ensure the sustainable use of fisheries resources. Surveys of shore- and boat-based recreational fishers within the Metropolitan zone of the West Coast bioregion provide information on human dimensions and catch-per-fisher as well as mean length and weight of key recreationally caught species. For shore-based fishers, estimates of fishing effort, catch and harvest are also presented for key nearshore species. Information in this report is used to support ongoing assessments for key nearshore species and inform the development and evaluation of harvest strategies and other management actions, such as for Australian Herring and Southern Garfish.
A roving creel survey was used to collect data from shore-based fishers between Ocean Reef and Point Peron (30% of coastline within the Metropolitan Zone) from February to June 2024. Estimates of fishing effort and catch therefore align with the spatio-temporal sampling frame of this survey. An access point (boat ramp) survey was used to collect data from boat-based fishers at key boat ramps between Two Rocks and Mandurah from January to July 2024. These data are considered to be representative of the entire Metropolitan zone
Insights into spinifex (Triodia species) pastures and their management
No full textInterviews about various aspects of spinifex pastures were conducted with 21 pastoralists, five Traditional Owners, and seven rangeland scientists from the Pilbara, Kimberley, and central Australia regions. Interviews sought to provide insights into spinifex pastures and covered topics such as plant identification, burning, grazing systems, tree/grass balance and Indigenous uses of spinifex and burning practices; knowledge gaps were also identified.
The interviews made it clear that fire plays a significant role in spinifex pastures and is frequently used to enhance grazing productivity by removing old or moribund spinifex and allowing palatable new growth to replace it. Additionally, fire is used as a tool for wildfire mitigation by creating different-aged fire scars and subsequent variations in fuel levels across the landscape. The amount of non-spinifex material in the diet of grazing animals was also commonly discussed where, after rain, cattle primarily grazed on a non-spinifex diet by selecting the soft fresh growth of annual and perennial grasses and forbs where available.
At the conclusion of each interview, interviewees were asked what additional information they would like regarding spinifex pastures and their management. The most common request was for accurate identification of spinifex species. Interviewees also wanted more information on the nutritional value of spinifex seed heads and leaves; specifically, how nutrient content and digestibility change throughout the year and between fire intervals. Additionally, they expressed interest in comprehensive information on various aspects of spinifex biology, including growth habits, reproduction, response to fire, and the formation of spinifex rings
The potential of feeding young cattle with irrigated crops to manage supply chain challenges in north Australian beef enterprises
No full textThe northern Western Australian (WA) beef industry is characterised by a reduction in dry-season forage quality leading to weight loss in livestock and reduced market readiness. A potential solution is the use of irrigated forage to provide a reliable source of energy and protein to finish cattle before sale. The feasibility of this feeding strategy was simulated using the Crop Livestock Enterprise Model (CLEM) and compared with the baseline of the usual practice of grazing on dry native pasture. Calving oc curs during the wet season and weaning and mustering during the dry season, with a finishing scenario for castrated males (steers) based on feeding irrigated forage during the dry season. The CLEM results showed an improvement in livestock productivity under this scenario, with higher live weight (LW) at sale due to faster weight gain while fed the irrigated forage. Furthermore, selling a higher proportion of animals at an earlier age, could potentially reduce methane emissions (and thereby create a more sustainable system) or there is the possibility of diversifying the market to include animals with higher LW but at an older age. Overall, integrating cattle production with irrigated pasture/forage, presents a significant opportunity to enhance the efficiency of beef production