AG in FOCUS Summer 2012-13

In this issue

Incorporating research and development news from:

Investing in grain market opportunities

Breeding resistance to crop pests

Boost to northern irrigation projects

AG in F CUSSummer 2012

Future food opportunity

Department ofAgriculture and Food

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A4 Ag in Focus FT 8310_Layout 1 7/12/11 11:40 AM Page 1

Opportunity to capture markets 4

Growing the northern regions 5

Positioning for export success 6

Overcoming constraints to boost yields 7

Technology opens door to more food 7

Protecting crops from exotic threats 8

Biosecurity crucial to food security 8

Hooking up the beef supply chain 9

Looking after land and water assets 10

Building up farm businesses 11

Educating China about Aussie wheat quality 12

New tool tracks performance of sheep flock 14

Breeding for pea weevil resistance a reality 16

WA growers confident despite fluctuating seasons 18

Overcoming repellence in non-wetting soils 20

Objective breeding all the rage 22

Unlocking the phosphorus puzzle 24

Practical solutions to seed contamination 26

3AG in Focus Summer 2012 www.kondiningroup.com.au

AG in Focus WA is a partnership publication between Kondinin Group and WA’s leading agricultural research bodies and industry experts. A unique publication, AG in Focus WA delivers the latest research and innovations that are of most relevance to agriculture, with the aim of helping you improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of your farming operation.

What is AG in Focus WA

Contents

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Department of Agriculture and Food, WAMain office: 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth WA 6151Mailing address: Locked Bag 4, Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983P: (08) 9368 3333 F: (08) 9474 2405E: [email protected]: www.agric.wa.gov.au

AG in F CUS

Our cover: The Burton family are using farm management workshops to secure the future of their business.Photo: DAFWA

DISCLAIMER: This publication is for information purposes only. The publisher and its agents or employees shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of reliance on any of the contents hereof, whether such loss or damage arises from the negligence or misrepresentation or any act or omission of the publisher or its agents.

The opinions expressed in AG in FOCUS are not necessarily those of Kondinin Information Services. © Kondinin Information Services 2011. All material appearing in AG in FOCUS is the subject of copyright owned by Kondinin Group and is protected under the Australian Copyright Act (1968), international copyright and trademark law. No portion may be reproduced or duplicated by any process without the prior written permission of Kondinin Group.

AG in Focus WA is published by Kondinin GroupMailing address: PO Box 78, Leederville WA 6902P: (08) 6316 1355 F: (08) 6263 9177E: [email protected]: www.kondiningroup.com.au

Corrigin Farm Improvement GroupAnita StoneSecretaryPO Box 2, Corrigin WA 6375E: [email protected] W: www.cfig.asn.au

Evergreen FarmingErin GorterExecutive OfficerPO Box 231, Kojonup WA 6395P: (08) 9833 7524W: www.evergreen.asn.au

Facey GroupFelicity AstburyExecutive OfficerPO Box 129, Wickepin WA 6370P: (08) 9888 1223F: (08) 9888 1295W: www.faceygroup.asn.au

Fitzgerald Biosphere GroupPO Box 49, Jerramungup WA 6337P: (08) 9835 1127F: (08) 9835 1329W: www.fbg.org.au

Liebe GroupChris O’CallaghanExecutive OfficerPO Box 340, Dalwallinu WA 6609P: (08) 9661 0570F: (08) 9661 0575W: www.liebegroup.asn.au

Mingenew-Irwin GroupJane BradleyExecutive OfficerPO Box 6, Mingenew WA 6522P: (08) 9928 1645F: (08) 9928 1540W: www.mingenew-irwin.asn.au

North East Farming FuturesChris WheatcroftExecutive OfficerPO Box 478, Geraldton WA 6531P: (08) 9971 1471F: (08) 9971 1284W: www.neffgroup.com.au

Ravensthorpe AgriculturalInitiative NetworkRodger WalkerProject OfficerPO Box 292,Ravensthorpe WA 6346P: (08) 9838 1018F: (08) 9838 1635

SEPWANiki CurtisExecutive OfficerPO Box 365, Esperance WA 6450P: (08) 9083 1125W: www.sepwa.org.au

Southern DIRTErin GorterExecutive OfficerM: 0429 833 752E: [email protected]

WA No TillageFarmers AssociationDavid MinkeyExecutive OfficerMO82, UWA,35 Stirling Highway,Crawley WA 6009P: (08) 6488 1647W: www.wantfa.com.au

West Midlands GroupAnne WilkinsExecutive OfficerPO Box 100,Dandaragan WA 6507P: (08) 9651 4008F: (08) 9651 4107W: www.wmgroup.org.au

Grower Group Contacts


Western Australia’s agriculture and food sector is poised to capitalise on an insatiable demand for food in Asia.

opportunity to capture markets

DAFWA: Future opportunity

4 AG in Focus Summer 2012 www.kondiningroup.com.au

At a glance:• A rising Asian population with

increasing affluence is dramatically increasing demand for food.

• DAFWA is collaborating with partners throughout the supply chain to develop WA as a consistent supplier of high quality agricultural products to the middle income market.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is adjusting its activities throughout the food supply chain to assist rural businesses to capture market opportunities in a competitive global environment.

While the magnitude of this growth is documented in the Federal Government’s recent Australia in the Asian Century White Paper, the department has been pursuing these opportunities for several years.

Director General Rob Delane said although WA agricultural products were highly regarded and the State was well placed logistically to supply Asian customers, there were several complexities and constraints to be addressed.

“It is important that suppliers understand target markets and what their needs are in order to provide products they need,” Mr Delane said.

“Each market has its own idiosyncrasies. There is no one package that fits all and we need to be market driven. Because we are a relatively high cost producer we need to be selective, develop niche markets where we have a competitive edge and focus on high end products that provide the best return.”

Target marketsMr Delane said as a producer of premium

quality, safe foods, WA would have to target more discerning markets.

“Our great advantage is to compete on quality and the integrity of our products and supply chain targeting the middle class,” he said.

“The challenge for industry and the department is to work together to develop supply chains that provide appropriate high

returns flowing from the consistent delivery of safe, quality food consistently.

“To achieve that the department as an economic development agency will continue to adjust its strategies so that we can maximise the support we provide to supply chain businesses.”

This approach is reflected in the department’s investment in the recently launched Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC), alongside the Grains Research and Development Corporation (see story on page 6).

The department is also working with the horticultural sector to capture market opportunities in Asia.

“One key project aims to assess the production capability of horticulture in the southern region and marry that up with market intelligence to target export markets,” Mr Delane said.

RelationshipsThe department’s trade and development

staff are working with current and potential exporters to build market intelligence and a better understanding of market requirements.

The department has officers in WA trade offices in Indonesia and China, working directly with government and potential customers and liaising with the State’s 10 other trade offices, while also collaborating with its federal counterpart and Austrade.

“Relationships are extremely important to Asian businesses,” Mr Delane said.

“State support is also valued in markets such as Singapore and China, so there have been several delegations by the department and the State Government to support and encourage trade.”

Along with a rising middle class, analysis by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) shows this market’s diet is also becoming more Westernised.

“As the middle class becomes more affluent, refrigeration is becoming more common – generating demand for meat, dairy and semi-processed food. Carbohydrate demand is also changing from rice to wheat-based products, such as bread, cake and biscuits,” Mr Delane said.

GLOBAL FUTURE FOOD FORECASTS • 2050globalpopulation9.1billion (Australia 35.9 million)

• Demandforfoodwillbe77percent higher in 2050 than in 2007

• Foodconsumptionisforecastto increase by 68 per cent between 2000-2050

• Asia’spopulationwillincreaseby more than one billion by 2050, including 400 million additional people in India and 63 million in China

• Asia’smiddleclassisanticipatedto increase by more than 2.5 billion people by 2030 and will account for about 60 per cent of global middle class consumption

• By2050climatechangehasthe potential to constrain Australian wheat production to 13 per cent below the baseline, beef by 19 per cent and dairy production by 18 per cent

• Australiastandstocapturean additional A$0.7-1.7 trillion respectively in agricultural exports between now and 2050 from the Asian region

Sources: Food and Agriculture Organisation; Federal Treasury, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; NFF Farm Facts: 2012; Australia in the Asian Centre White Paper; ANZ Greener Pastures report.

Rob Delane l Director General

“The department has been collaborating with Indonesian businesses for some years to target the baking market, while also supporting beef businesses to capture increasing demand for protein.”

Mr Delane said it was important for the department to evolve and target investments to assist the State’s agriculture and food sector to realise the potential before it from the growth and diversification of Asian markets.

“A great opportunity is emerging to secure a progressive, innovative and profitable future for Western Australian agriculture,” Mr Delane said.

“By fully understanding the situation and taking action now, the sector will be equipped to harness this opportunity and build on it for the long-term.”

contact Rob DelaneDirector GeneralP: (08) 9368 3333E: [email protected]

The Kimberley Agricultural Investment (KAI) company will develop 13,400 hectares into irrigated farmland, as part of the Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project.

KAI will invest up to $700 million to establish a sugar industry to annually produce four million tonnes of cane and 500,000 tonnes of export sugar crystal.

The company has worked with the Australian industry to develop farming models and indicated it would offer sub-leasing and share-farming

Growing the northern regions


Western Australia’s vast north is one of the few regions in the world with untapped land and water resources suitable for mosaic agricultural production.

At a glance:• The Growing the North initiative

seeks to greatly increase the value of irrigated agricultural production in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne.

• Recent Royalties for Regions funding has enabled two major new economic development projects to commence, assessing the region's land and water resource capabilities.

• The projects aim to identify new irrigated agriculture opportunities linked to innovative marketing for the north.

The Department of Agriculture and Food’s Growing the North initiative is focussed on expanding agricultural production in the Kimberley, Gascoyne and Pilbara.

Irrigated Agriculture Innovation Director Geoff Strickland said the north offered great potential to satisfy food demand from nearby emerging Asian markets.

“There is potential to grow seasonal commodities to meet gaps in the domestic and export markets. But first we need to understand just what the north is capable of, what the constraints are and which markets are worth targeting,” Mr Strickland said.

Gascoyne Food BowlThe Gascoyne Food Bowl project will

develop new water and soil resources to potentially double horticultural production from Carnarvon, while complementing flood mitigation works and creating a more reliable water supply for irrigators.

A scoping study is already underway, backed by $25 million of Royalties for Regions funding, as well as resources from the Department of Water and the Department of Regional Development and Lands.

Aerial surveying, using electro magnetics to provide detailed soil and water profiles, will begin next year to identify water resources to underpin reliable production growth.

“We hope to identify 400 to 800 hectares of suitable land from this project, which could double the current horticultural production from Carnarvon,” Mr Strickland said.

The second phase of the project involves drilling work to confirm the aerial results, with the third phase drilling production bores to connect new water resources to existing infrastructure.

Kimberley projectsThe Economic Water Opportunities

project in the Kimberley focuses on the La Grange district south of Broome, with a secondary study of the Cockatoo sands

areas, close to the Ord Stage 2 expansion project.

The $5 million Royalties for Regions funding will identify precincts for future irrigation development within the La Grange water allocation region, south of Broome.

“We know there are 50 gigalitres of groundwater allocated there already, but we need a detailed understanding of the water and the long-term recharge values to maintain economic and environmental sustainability,” Mr Strickland said.

Another $1.3 million of Royalties for Regions funding has been directed to the Cockatoo sands in the Ord expansion region to examine alternatives to the Ord’s traditional black cracking clay soils.

“Sandy soils are excellent for drip irrigation but we need to work out the capacity of these light soils in terms of quality, depth and farmability,” Mr Strickland said.

“This project is underway now and work is progressing well on an initial 5,000 to 6,000 hectares.”

A range of related issues will be part of the scope, such as Native Title, pastoral lease tenure, zoning, transport linkages, investment support, environmental sustainability and right through to identifying market opportunities.

“The ultimate aim is to identify future irrigation precincts in that region by an inclusive process that recognises the aspirations of pastoralists and traditional owners, while protecting the unique cultural and environmental values of the region,” Mr Strickland said.

The department also plans to work in the future with mining companies in the Pilbara to identify the potential to reuse water from mine sites to cultivate crops and stock feed.

contact Geoff strickland Director, Irrigated Agriculture and DiversificationP: (08) 9194 1400 E: [email protected]

Geoff strickland l Director

partnerships with Australian growers on up to 20 per cent of the new farmland.

The expansion has been made possible by an investment of $311 million of Royalties for Regions funding into the Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project to deliver a new 31 kilometre long main irrigation supply channel and supporting infrastructure.

An estimated 1,700 hectares of land in the Ord West Bank area will also be available for other producers and crops, to provide up to 25 new, locally run farms, ensuring agricultural diversity.


Opportunity on the Ord

The first water flows into the Goomig Dawang channel at the opening of the Ord Expansion Project in November, watched by workers from the Moonamang Joint Venture.

DAFWA: Northern future

Section: Slug

AG in Focus Summer 2012 www.kondiningroup.com.au6

Robert sewell l AEGIC chairman

At a glance:• AEGIC is investing in programs that

span the supply chain to cultivate market opportunities for Australian grain.

• Emerging markets in Asia and the Middle East are generating increased demand for wheat flour to make noodles and baked products.

• AEGIC is pursuing ‘pre-competitive’ strategies to secure emerging markets.

The changing marketplace was one of the main drivers behind the formation of the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC), officially launched in November.

The $85 million initiative, backed by the Western Australian Government, the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Department of Agriculture and Food, has integrated research programs to target market opportunities (see graphic).

changing demandInaugural chairman, Wongan Hills

grower and former Grain Pool of WA chairman, Robert Sewell, said AEGIC was working to position Australian grains to satisfy growing and changing demand from consumers in Asia and the Middle East.

Mr Sewell said while Australian grain was sold to these markets to make noodles and flat bread, diets in both regions were becoming more varied, generating demand for different wheat types.

“We need to make sure we are well aware of the requirements of the marketplace and develop grain varieties and processes that customers want,” he said.

“By taking an integrated plate to paddock approach, AEGIC will be able to harness the best the Australian grains industry has to offer – across scientific, economic and marketing fields – to establish Australia as a preferred grains supplier in an extremely competitive global environment.”

Mr Sewell said AEGIC’s company structure gave the organisation the ability to collaborate more closely and commercially with partners and clients to transform scientific gains into business opportunities.

“We want to cultivate and build relationships with the private sector to extend the benefits of all the work that the department and other collaborators have done,” he said.

Pre-competitive focusMr Sewell said AEGIC’s pre-competitive

focus would lay the foundations for trade opportunities in an increasingly tight marketplace.

“The US and Canada have been very active in this area so our challenge is to provide training, facilities and support that clearly demonstrate and promote the attributes of Australian grain ahead of our competitors,” he said.

“Alongside these efforts, AEGIC is working through its business and scientific programs to make sure that new varieties meet the needs of emerging markets.”

These markets are currently experiencing exceptional growth.

The Federal Government’s recent Australia in the Asian Century White Paper notes Asia’s middle class is expected to increase by more than 2.5 billion people by 2030 and account for about 60 per cent of global middleclass consumption.

To demonstrate this potential demand, department analysis has shown just a one kilogram per capita increase in flour consumption in Indonesia equates to an extra 230,000 tonnes of wheat required.

collaborationMr Sewell said it would be important for

the grains exporting states to work together to satisfy such immense demand.

“We need to stop looking at state-based organisations and collaborate as a national body, working together for the benefit of the Australian export grains industry,” he said.

“Together with industry and other agencies, AEGIC will create a better way of doing business to deliver distinct advantages to the Australian grains industry for the long-term.”

For more information about AEGIC visit aegic.org

Positioning for export success

DAFWA: Future grains

Inaugural AEGIC chairman Robert Sewell says emerging market opportunities for Australian grain will be secured by implementing ‘pre-competitive’ strategies.

AEGIC programs • EconomicAnalysis

• StrategicMarketIntelligenceandDevelopment

• GrainQualityGenetics

• GrainProcessingandProductFunctionality

• IndustryResourceCentre

• QualityTestingServices

• GrainStorageandProductIntegrity

• BreedingTechnologyandEducationResource Centre


Australia’s new national grains centre for excellence is focused on capturing a share of emerging markets by pre-empting changing diets and demand in Asia and the Middle East.

Section: Slug


The Managed Environment Facility in Merredin is working to increase wheat quality and yields across the country - boosting crop productivity and global food supplies.

At a glance:• Research at the Managed

Environment Facility (MEF) at Merredin is evaluating new genetics to develop improved grain varieties to boost crop productivity.

• Trials at the MEF are focused on improving performance in harsh and favourable years.

• A trial this year indicates that an early rigour trait can positively affect dry seeding establishment.

The research at the Merredin MEF is focused on both overcoming production constraints, as well as stabilising wheat yields to produce more grain and grain of a higher quality.

A joint venture between the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Grains Research and Development Corporation, the MEF is part of a national approach to assist growers in both high and low rainfall areas improve their profitability.

It is one of three national centres evaluating the potential of different genetic traits and uncovering how they might boost

productivity and performance across the country.

constraints and opportunitiesDepartment research officer Ben Biddulph

said investigations at the MEF were currently focused on a number of areas including drought tolerance, yield potential and early season vigour.

Dr Biddulph said there was a common misperception that the MEF only helped advance yields of wheat varieties during drought conditions and stressed that work in higher rainfall years was just as important.

“Our research is important because it will help provide the genetic basis to stabilise yields in drying environments as well as maximise productivity in a good season,” he said.

“We also use real time modelling to design our irrigation schedule to represent a range of season types in any one year.

“The MEF aims to provide a realistic sampling of season types that occur in the Merredin environment so we can measure the performance of traits under all conditions they are likely to experience there.”

TrialsIn addition to increasing yields, research at

the MEF is also aiming to improve the physical

quality of wheat, including grain size, test weight and basic grading quality.

Collaborative work with Paul Telfer at Australian Grain Technologies is also examining water and heat constraints and the link between the two during terminal stress.

“We will see if different varieties do well under heat compared with water stress, compared with both factors combined,” Dr Biddulph said.

While most trials at the MEF focus on terminal stress, department researcher Bob French is examining how early vigour correlates with crop establishment after dry seeding.

Dr French said some of the lines in the trial showed promising results.

“Varieties with higher vigour, sourced from collaborating researchers at CSIRO, were more resilient under severe water deficit following establishment and better able to recover when conditions improved,” he said.

“We have just completed harvest. The full results will be available early next year.”

contact Dr Ben BiddulphResearch Officer P: (08) 9368 3431E: [email protected]

overcoming constraints to boost yields

DAFWA: Future grains


Genetic modification (GM) technology is one tool that has the potential to boost yields, quality and crop performance — especially where land and water constraints exist.

The State Government, through the Department of Agriculture and Food, has invested $9 million in providing support for this technology, including two dedicated sitesforGMtrialsandresearchforusebyboth the public and private sectors.

The Department of Agriculture and Food recently opened the second of its New Genes for New Environments facilities at KatanningtocomplementitsMerredinsitewhich opened in 2010.

The identical facilities include scientific laboratories, certified by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, and five hectares of trial area under netting and enclosed by a 1.8 metre high fence.

SeniordevelopmentofficerRosalieMcCauleysaid the location of the sites in the southern and central wheatbelt was purposeful.

“Having two sites will enable researchers to compare trial results in different production environments,”DrMcCauleysaid.

“The environment at the Katanning site also has the potential to trial a wider range of crops.”

There has already been interest from the grains breeding sector in the Katanning site,

while the CSIRO is harvesting its second cropofGMwheatatMerredin,lookingatalternative nutrient use efficiency and starch composition.

DrMcCauleysaidGMtechnologyhadanimportant role to play in the future of agricultural production.

“Sometimes you want a trait in a plant that can’tbeachievedthroughconventionalbreeding,” she said.

“GMhasthepotentialtoprovidenewvarieties that both meet end-user requirements and deliver productivity gains to growers, while minimising the impact of crop production on natural resource assets.”

Technology opens door to more food

At a glance:• The risk and impact of plant and

animal pests and diseases on food security is rising as the world’s population and global trade increase.

• A shared global biosecurity strategy is required to protect global food production now and into the future.

A collaborative global effort to safeguard food production will be imperative to feed a global population of 9.1 billion by 2050.

Department of Agriculture and Food Biosecurity Director Shashi Sharma told the recent State Biosecurity conference that as demand for food grows, so do the risks of pests and diseases to the agriculture and food sector.

Increasing international travel and trade are fuelling the risk of plant and animal pests and diseases, while the effect of climate change is influencing the distribution of pests and presence of disease bearing vectors.

Dr Sharma said good biosecurity not only protected production but was also fundamental to market access.

“The plant industry, the source of food and feed worldwide, is facing an increasing number of pest outbreaks that significantly affect food production and availability,” he said.

Exotic pests already cost an estimated $1.4 trillion per year worldwide, while about 70,000 pest species damage agricultural crops.

Combined with contracting chemical control options and expansion curtailed by limited land and water resources, protecting food production from biosecurity risks will be crucial to appease food security.

Dr Sharma said a food security mission built on well developed strategies to produce, protect and provide food was a necessity for sustainable food security for both current and future generations.

“Developing countries urgently need to implement proper biosecurity strategies to safeguard their food chain from pest risks, while accommodating trade,” he said.

“They must maintain and enhance investment in biosecurity preparedness and implement strategies to minimise downstream food waste.”

All these biosecurity imperatives are embodied by the department’s biosecurity investments in risk assessment, diagnostics, surveillance, export certification, laboratory testing, regulation, policy and training.

contact Dr shashi sharmaDirector, BiosecurityP: (08) 9368 3717E: [email protected]


Protecting crops from exotic threats


Pre-emptive breeding research is underway, to help protect Australian grain crop from exotic pests and diseases that could threaten production and Australia’s access to international markets.

Department of Agriculture and Food senior researcher Michael Francki is working on pre-breeding processes to introduce traits that have tolerance to priority pests and diseases into new cereal varieties.

Wheat stem sawfly, hessian fly, karnal bunt and sun pest had been identified as the top pests and pathogens that could threaten Australian cereal crops.

Dr Francki has been collaborating with United States researchers to learn more about the gains they have made with resistance breeding and to source germplasm for Australian breeding programs.

Supported by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr Francki recently spent three months at the University of Nebraska, where significant advances have been made with wheat stem sawfly resistance.

“There is still more research that needs to be done and the challenge is to develop good resistance to stem sawfly without a yield penalty,” he said.

Dr Francki said climate variability was also having an impact on pest and disease emergence, as these threats adapted to changing weather conditions.

“For example, wheat stem sawfly wasn’t a significant pest five to 10 years ago, but now it has spread through Nebraska and is moving east,” he said.

“Hessian fly is present everywhere in the world, besides Australia and Japan, so there is certainly a risk it could enter Australia.

“If we take an international collaborative approach and work with partners who have a great understanding of the mechanisms of resistance to exotic pests and diseases and how to breed for them, we can develop new varieties that are equipped to withstand these threats in Australia.”

Biosecurity crucial to food security

DAFWA: Biosecurity future

DAFWA senior researcher Dr Michael Francki in a field of winter wheat in West Lafayette, Indiana, in the United States, where he has been sourcing germplasm to help breed new, disease and pest resistant grain varieties in Australia.

The new Beef Supply Chain Program aims to capture new market opportunities for WA beef.


The State’s beef industry has embarked on a program to investigate and pursue new market opportunities and supply chain arrangements.

Dr Kevin chennell l Executive Director


DAFWA: Future beef

At a glance:• A new collaborative industry program

aims to increase the growth and value of the WA beef industry.

• The Beef Supply Chain Program seeks to overcome constraints to capture new market opportunities.

• Two specific projects are being initiated, one for the northern and one for the southern WA beef industries.

• Supply chain industry stakeholder involvement, innovation and communication will be critical to the success of the program.

The three year Beef Supply Chain Program, launched last month, aims to increase the value of the industry and stimulate growth and new linkages in both the north and south of the State.

The program is a collaborative partnership between the WA Beef Council, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Department of Agriculture and Food.

It is the culmination of 18 months of industry consultation and analysis, which has identified potential opportunities for WA beef that will now be further developed and road-tested.

WA Beef Council Chairman Tony Hiscock said historically the WA beef industry had a strong focus on the domestic market for boxed beef and a reliance on the Indonesian market for live exports from the northern herd.

Mr Hiscock said an examination of options had found there was potential to

develop export market opportunities for boxed beef and to provide other options for northern cattle.

“Great progress has been made in the domestic beef market in recent years with investments by the major supermarkets looking to source WA meat for WA consumers,” he said.

“Now is the time to look at our export markets and new linkages.”

Two key market opportunities will be investigated, one for the north and one for the south.

Department Livestock Executive Director Kevin Chennell said each opportunity would be backed by pilot activities, once commercial partners were identified and brought into the projects.

“The pilot production lines will be small scale but will test whether these market options can be developed commercially and more broadly for the WA beef industry,” Dr Chennell said.

NorthernThe Northern Market Diversification

project will examine the potential to grain-finish northern cattle in the south to meet Meat Standards Australia (MSA) requirements.

A pilot activity is being established to test the scenario commercially.

The partners will provide technical support and economic analysis to assist northern producers to better understand the opportunities.

Activities, such as workshops on meeting market specifications and understanding the MSA system, will also be implemented.

Dr Chennell said while this pathway would initially target the domestic market during the traditional winter low-supply period, the

analysis would also assess the potential for growing export market opportunities.

“The reduction in Indonesian cattle exports has sent a clear message that new supply chain linkages and other market options for our northern cattle need to be found,” he said.

“The Northern Market Diversification project will help to provide alternative market opportunities for producers, as well as value add to their business.”

southernThe southern project will investigate

whether there is potential to pursue a high quality, hormone free beef product that could suit high value markets, such as the European Union.

It will examine the opportunities thoroughly, including demand, market requirements and the industry’s capacity to satisfy them.

“Both the projects will work to build capacity, capability and confidence, by first proving then delivering a sustainable supply of products for new markets,” Mr Hiscock said.

MLA general manager client innovation services Christine Pitt said the program would stimulate innovation in the supply chain.

“MLA will use a range of expert resources to support the success of the program’s implementation,” Dr Pitt said.

“This new collaborative partnership will enable these targeted projects to leverage maximum impact for the WA industry.”

contact Dr Kevin chennellExecutive Director, Livestock IndustriesP: (08) 9368 3554E: [email protected]

Hooking up the beef supply chain


Looking after land and water assets


Responsible management of the State’s land and water assets will be essential for the Western Australian agriculture and food sector to respond to global demand for food.

At a glance: • Sustainable agricultural management

will be crucial for WA to meet future food demand.

• DAFWA is working with stakeholders to protect and improve the productive capacity of soil and water resources to increase food production.

WA has the potential to reap enormous economic benefits from impending growth in agriculture and food production.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is committed to working with stakeholders to ensure that agricultural development in response to this demand is sustainable.

Agricultural Resources Risk Management Executive Director John Ruprecht said sustaining the State’s agricultural soil and water quality was imperative to ensure continued production for generations to come.

Mr Ruprecht said the adoption of new practices would also enhance the sustainable, productive capacity of these resources.

“The department has been working with farmers for many years to properly manage their soil and water resources sustainably,” he said

“The development of new agriculture industries throughout the State will also be dependent on the responsible management of natural resource assets.”

Mr Ruprecht said proper resource assessment and monitoring was a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture.

“A key component of the department’s work involves identifying where agriculture may pose a risk to resources and implementing risk management strategies

to ensure their continued sustainability and profitability,” he said.

Resource assessment and monitoring has in the past included projects such as the wind erosion roadside surveys, ongoing rangeland resource inventories and condition monitoring, as well as the monitoring of groundwater bores.

Report cardAn important new initiative in agricultural

resource management is the development of a Sustainable Natural Resource Report Card.

This report will provide a health check on the current condition and trends of the natural resources we use for farming and suggest practical measures to deal with any issues affecting the sustainable use of these resources.

“The Report Card will be used to develop priorities for action and to provide a baseline for subsequent assessments to see how we are tracking,” Mr Ruprecht said.

Key issues to be reported on include soil acidity, wind erosion, water erosion, soil carbon, salinity, soil compaction, water repellence, nutrient impact and inland acid groundwater.

Resource enhancementMr Ruprecht said the WA agriculture and

food sector faced a number of constraints to productivity but a wealth of tools and information was available to assist farmers to address issues, such as soil acidity and salinity.

The department’s Whole Farm Nutrient Mapping project, funded through the State Natural Resource Management Program, aims to improve grazier fertiliser use efficiency by improved soil testing.

“Better fertiliser management will help address soil acidity to improve pasture

productivity, while also reducing the downstream impacts of fertiliser runoff like algal blooms,” Mr Ruprecht said.

Another important project is the department’s More Dollars per Drop pilot, which aims to increase water use efficiency to increase production.

sustainable development Backed by $78.2 million in Royalties for

Regions funding, the department is collaborating with the Department of Water and the Department of Regional Development and Lands to identify and develop new agricultural regions throughout the State.

Mr Ruprecht said understanding of the soil and water resources underpinning these projects would be essential for ongoing productivity.

“A number of surveys are underway to better understand the quality and quantity of soils and groundwater in these areas, their potential for agriculture and also to better manage any risks that agriculture may pose to these resources,” he said.

“This will provide us with valuable information from which to make planning and resource decisions to maximise long-term sustainable agricultural production.”

The initiatives include agricultural expansion in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne as well as studies around Perth and Myalup to identify possible new horticultural precincts.

contact John Ruprecht Executive Director, Agricultural Resource Risk ManagementP: (08) 9368 3743E: [email protected]

John Ruprecht l Executive Director

DAFWA: Future sustainability


Andy and Helen Burton, with sons Toby (2) and Mitchell (4), take a stroll at their Ravensthorpe property, which they expanded after completing the PPP workshop.

Kerrine Blenkinsop l Senior Policy Officer

At a glance:• DAFWA is investing in training to help

build viable and resilient rural businesses that are able to respond to increasing demand for food.

• The DAFWA Plan, Prepare and Prosper workshops are being extended, while new training programs, such as PPP Refresher and Planning for Profit, are being added.

Department of Agriculture and Food analysis has found Australian rural businesses experience greater seasonal and economic volatility than those in competing countries.

The department is leading the nation in providing training and support to help rural businesses tackle this challenge by building resilience and the capacity to grow.

A key initiative is the continuation of the Plan, Prepare and Prosper (PPP) workshop, which was part of the WA Pilot of Drought Reform Measures that are now being incorporated into a new national support package.

The free, five day PPP workshop is tailored to provide participants with the skills and confidence to improve their long-term financial viability.

Nearly 1000 farm businesses – more than 2000 people – have participated in the workshop across the State over the past two years.

According to an analysis of surveys conducted by the department, participants’ drought preparedness has risen from 62 to 90 per cent, with confidence in future viability increasing from 77 to 92 per cent.

A one day refresher course is now available, which incorporates material on negotiation

skills and calculating return on investment in response to participant feedback.

New courseA new one day Planning for Profit workshop

will commence in February 2013 concentrating more on the financial aspects of rural/farm businesses and understanding profit drivers.

While there is no prerequisite for the workshop, it is ideal for those who have previously participated in the PPP workshops.

For further details or to participate in any of

the free workshops during 2012-13, visit

workshops.agric.wa.gov.au or freecall

1800 198 231.

contact Kerrine Blenkinsop

Senior Policy Officer

P: (08) 9368 4019

E: [email protected]


Sustainable and profitable rural businesses will be essential if Western Australia is to capture projected trade demand.

DAFWA: Future profitability

Building up farm businesses

Property Profile Farmers: Andy and Helen Burton

Location: Oldfields, 25km east of Ravensthorpe

Property size: 800ha, lease 400ha

Average annual rainfall: 400mm

2012 growing season rainfall: 180mm

Enterprises: wheat, barley, Merino and Merino/White Suffolk cross

TheDepartmentofAgricultureandFood’sPlan, Prepare and Prosper (PPP) workshops have helped the Burton family to build a strong future for their young family.

Andy and Helen Burton participated in the workshop in 2010 at a time when they were looking to expand. Two years later they are about to take possession of 800 hectares to help realise their plans.

MrBurtonsaidthePPPworkshopsandthe refresher course gave him and his wife greater confidence to go ahead with the investment.

“The strategic plan provided us with a clear direction,” he said.

“It helped to put in a timeline to make sure we got things done. In a sense, the plan made our goals appear more achievable and it has made us more accountable.”

The PPP workshops culminate in a strategicplanforeachparticipant’sbusiness.

For the Burtons this included provision to improve their stock watering system and grain storage as well as the purchase of lick feeders to better manage their ewes to target high value sales over summer.

MrsBurtonsaidwritingthestrategicplanwas a very worthwhile exercise.

“It was great to step outside of the business and look at it from the outside

in, rather than working in the business,” she said.

“Through the process of writing the strategic plan we now have a shared vision and goals. It was a great opportunity to work through our future together. We now have a clear direction and the plan assists us to achieve our goals.”

The couple recently completed the refresher course in Katanning to review and further develop their strategic plan.

“Deeply analysing your business really gets youthinkingaboutwhetheryou’redoingitfor the love of farming or the business and whether the situation is going to work for thefuture,”MrBurtonsaid.

Planning to prosper


MARKETS: Wheat quality

Educating china about Aussie wheat quality

At a glance:• The premium Chinese noodle market

is a significant export opportunity for local growers.

• China is becoming a bigger grain buyer globally and a new project hopes to educate the Chinese about Australian wheat grades and high quality food production

The project, led by Grain Growers Limited (GrainGrowers), aims to optimise the use of Australian wheat in the production of premium Chinese noodles and other food products.

“Studies conducted under the project found that, in all cases, the higher the proportion of Australian wheat blended with Chinese wheat, the better the quality of Chinese noodles and bread,” GrainGrowers technical services general manager and project leader Ken Quail said.

He said a Chinese flour mill involved in the project had started importing small quantities of Australian wheat under China’s quota system. The system allows direct imports of up to one million tonnes of wheat annually.

“The general manager of the mill, which specialises in noodle flour production, said that noodles made from Australian wheat were the best he’d tasted.

“The mill has the potential to import significant quantities of wheat in the future and as a market leader is likely to influence the purchasing of other companies.

“NSW growers who attended a seminar in February 2012 organised through the project have made valuable contacts and are working with another Chinese mill to supply wheat.

“Initial trade deals under the project have sourced grain from Australia’s eastern cropping areas, but there is good potential for some high quality wheat types to be sourced from WA.”

Wheat specificationsDr Quail said the Australian Wheat for

China research project aimed to encourage Australian wheat exports to China by developing and communicating knowledge about Australian wheat specifications for the production of premium wheat products in China.

“The knowledge being developed is being communicated to major Australian wheat exporters, China’s biggest food company COFCO and the State Administration of Grain (ASAG), which is responsible for setting grain standards in China,” he said.

“To develop the information the project established a collaborative research program involving these organisations to understand what happens when Australian wheat is blended with Chinese wheat for the production of high value noodles, breads and traditional Chinese steamed bread.”

opportunistic buyerDr Quail said China was historically only

an opportunistic buyer of Australian wheat, typically buying when world prices were low and storing the wheat for up to five years before it was used.

“Its (China) purchase of Australian wheat has largely been low protein Australian Standard White (ASW) at the lower priced end of the market,” he said.

“But with increasing wealth and a demand for high quality food, China is set to become a regular importer of higher quality wheat.

“The Australian Wheat for China project seeks to understand how Australia can best benefit from development of the Chinese wheat market.”

Dr Quail said events conducted under the project had led directly to the new marketing opportunities between Australia and Chinese flour millers.

He said wheat sourced under the new project were high protein APH (Australian Prime Hard) and hard varieties and not the noodle varieties Western Australian growers had long supplied to Japanese and Korean markets.

The Australian Wheat for China project is continuing until June 2013.

contact Ken Quail GrainGrowersP: (02) 9888 9600

Significant Chinese interest in understanding Australian wheat grades for manufacturing food have resulted from research funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

Section: Slug


Recording the performance of Australian sheep has been made quicker and easier following the development of a new mob-based walk over weighing system.

New tool tracks performance of sheep flock

At a glance:• A new walk-over-weighing system

aims to provide accurate and easily accessed data of mob liveweights.

• Monitoring the liveweight of sheep is important for grazing management decisions.

• Weight change as well as absolute average weight of a flock has implications for reproductive performance and animal health.

An initiative of the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC), the prototype system developed by Rinstrum Smart Weighing Solutions is a simple yet effective design, both highly accurate and able to integrate with existing performance recording systems.

“The Rinstrum design is an outstanding find for the sheep industry,” Sheep CRC chief executive James Rowe said.

“Rinstrum are weighing specialists and they have been able to develop the prototype system using off the shelf parts, removing the need for investment in complex software systems and ensuring rapid commercialisation of the new systems.

“The data download system is excellent, and through its computer interface it will be relatively easy to convert the weight data to meaningful reports via the Sheep CRC’s Weigh Matrix program.”

Weighing the futureRinstrum managing director Darren

Pearson said that following further

refinement of the prototype, the product would retail to sheep producers for between $2000 and $3000 per unit.

“Rinstrum is a global leader in the design and manufacture of industrial weighing systems, and we are now applying our skills to specialist agricultural applications,” Mr Pearson said.

“We’re delighted the Sheep CRC has selected our walk-over-weighing prototype, which we believe will deliver sheep producers time and labour savings as it can provide accurate and an easily accessed data of mob liveweights.

“Our system also has scope for incorporation of RFID data collection and the company is open to including this feature if required in the future.”

Operating as part of the federal Department of Innovation Industry Science and Research’s CRC program, the Sheep CRC is a collaboration of industry, government and the commercial sector.

It is working to increase the productivity and profitability of the industry through adoption of new technologies in both the meat and wool supply chains.

In May this year the Sheep CRC called for expressions of interest for the development and commercialisation of an integrated walk-over-weighing system for sheep, with $10,000 to be provided towards the manufacture and marketing of the best prototype judged on cost, accuracy, robustness, energy demand, data storage and ease of use.

Technology driving innovationProfessor Rowe said the initiative to

encourage new entrants to walk-over-weighing followed on from Sheep CRC research which

demonstrated that mob-based walk-over technology could greatly assist management decisions in a sheep enterprise.

“Monitoring the liveweight of sheep is important for grazing management and decisions on supplementary nutrition,” he said.

“Weight change as well as absolute average weight of a flock of sheep has implications for reproductive performance, accurately meeting market specifications and for animal health and welfare.

“Conventional weighing, or measuring the condition score, requires that sheep are brought into yards and requires labour as well as disturbing the sheep’s natural behaviour, resulting in time off feed, low level stress and loss of production.

“Walk-over-weighing makes use of the natural behaviour of sheep walking to watering points, between paddocks or to access feed supplements.

The new system not only collects weight data, but saves labour and facilitates more regular monitoring of weight change.”

Rinstrum is currently working with the Sheep CRC to fine tune the prototype at Orange in NSW.

It is anticipated that the new sheep weighing system will be available for purchase early in 2013.

For more information visit www.sheepcrc.org.au or Rinstrum Smart Weighing Solutions at www.rinstrum.com

contact Professor James RoweSheep CRCP: (02) 6773 1317E: [email protected]

LIVESTOCK: Weighing sheep


Farmers around the world are a step closer to eliminating the chemical spraying of field peas for the destructive pea weevil, thanks to research by agricultural scientists from the University of Western Australia.

Breeding for pea weevil resistance a reality

At a glance...• WA scientists have spent several years

trying to isolate pea weevil-resistant genes to create more commercially successful field pea varieties that don't require pesticides.

• New research has developed a reliable and cheaper method to screen field pea varieties on a large scale.

• Scientists have identified pea weevil-resistant genes within wild field pea varieties and introduced the genes to cultivated field peas using traditional breeding methods.

The pea weevil, which affects crops grown in warmer climates, is the most damaging insect threat to field pea production.

They burrow into pods that are still growing and hollow out peas by the time they are harvested or during storage.

Weevil damage is impossible to detect until the next generation of beetles emerges post-harvest, by which time crop yields and quality have been significantly affected.

So far the only way to control pea weevils is to spray crops with insecticides or fumigate the harvested seeds — an expensive, environmentally unfriendly and only partially effective practice.

It’s in the genesCrop scientists have spent years trying to

isolate pea weevil-resistant genes to create stronger field pea varieties that don't need pesticide protection.

Previously they have had to rely on a time-consuming and impractical screening process, which slowed attempts to breed better field peas.

In a research leap that will benefit field pea growers across the globe, a team including Associate Professor Guijun Yan, from the UWA School of Plant Biology and Institute of Agriculture, has developed a quick, reliable and cheaper method to screen field pea varieties on a large scale.

The breakthrough has enabled UWA researchers to identify pea weevil-resistant genes within wild field pea varieties and begin introducing the genes to cultivated field peas via traditional breeding methods.

Field peas are one of the world's oldest domesticated crops dating back to the Stone Age and are a major food source for humans and animals globally.

Australia alone produces 400,000 tonnes of field peas annually for export and local consumption.

More researchAssociate Professor Yan said more work

needed to be done, but the discovery meant farmers could have access to pea weevil-resistant pea varieties within 5-7 years.

“We have moved forward,” he said.

“We have developed a technique to screen the identified gene and been able to bring it back to the cultivated pea.

“The work now needs to continue but it's a very good discovery.

“It will lead to the elimination of pee weevil insecticides, enable farmers to increased their pea yields and provide consumers with better quality peas.”

The previous method of screening for resistant lines of field pea (glasshouse bioassay) meant only about 30 plants, with 20 seeds per plant, could be screened in a day.

The new method, which involves separating pea weevil infested and non-infested seeds by density in a solution of caesium chloride, means up to 400 plants, regardless of the number of seeds, can be screened in a day.

The four-year study was funded by the Australian Research Council and published in the journal Crop and Pasture Science.

contact Guijun YanAssociate Professor UWA School of Plant Biology and Institute of AgricultureP: (08) 6488 1240

CROPPING: Field peas

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Growers surveyed over six years by the Liebe Group are optimistic about their future and have a high adoption level for key soil health and precision agriculture strategies.

WA growers confident despite fluctuating seasons

At a glance:• WA growers are progressive when it

comes to adopting technology and upgrading farming practices.

• The number of producers using yield mapping has increased significantly.

• Growers surveyed said soil sampling is the most important technology for managing yield variability.

The Liebe Group’s ‘technical audit’ of 61 farmers in Western Australia’s northern grainbelt was funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and tracks the adoption of practices relating to management of variation in soil types, yield potential and soil health.

The group’s survey results will help determine research and investment decisions and help evaluate the effectiveness of GRDC supported research, in terms of grower uptake of farm practices.

Participating farm businesses — most from the shires of Dalwallinu, Coorow and Perenjori and with an average property size of 5839 hectares in 2012 — were surveyed every three years since 2006.

Industry pro-activeLiebe Group project coordinator Nadine

Hollamby said the survey showed that technologies such as liming, soil testing, stubble retention and auto-steer had been adopted by virtually all respondents.

“In the case of auto-steer — used by 92 per cent of growers — this adoption has been rapid; on average the farmers had only just used this technology for the first time in 2006,” she said.

“The number of growers using yield mapping has also increased significantly, by 46 per cent in six years.

“The other variation management strategy shown to have a significant increase in its adoption is variable rate technology (VRT), for which the adoption rate has increased over the last three years in particular and now sits at 22 per cent.

“Several farmers indicated that 2012 was the first time they were using VRT.”

Ms Hollamby said adoption of soil management practices was relatively unchanged since 2006 and the take-up rates for liming, minimum tillage and stubble retention were above 95 per cent.

The survey showed growers now had less intention to use zero-tillage and tramlining than they did three years ago, with the adoption rates at just five and seven per cent respectively.

“Some growers adopted these practices in the past, but are now scaling down or no longer using them due to issues such as reduced crop yields and poorer crop establishment in the case of zero-till,” Ms Hollamby said.

Building for the futureThe division of time spent on business

management activities, including field work, farm financing, marketing and planning and the use of farm consultants was unchanged since 2006.

“Almost three-quarters of respondents indicated that they used farm consultants on an ongoing basis for an average of 52 hours per year,” Ms Hollamby said.

“Half of growers’ time is spent on field work.”

Ms Hollamby said 72 per cent of growers surveyed had introduced a new farming

enterprise or management practice over the last three years.

“Auto-steer was mentioned by nine growers as the most beneficial practice they had adopted over the last three years.”

obstaclesFarm economics, followed by rainfall/

climate change, were listed as the main limiting factors for farming in the future.

Ms Hollamby said 70 per cent of growers indicated that soil sampling was the most important technology for managing yield variability on-farm.

“Given growers are making important decisions from soil sampling, the Liebe Group believes more research should be done into ensuring the accuracy of soil tests (for nutrients such as phosphorus) and understanding the implications of different management systems on nutrient cycling,” she said.

“The survey also showed that burning is still a valuable tool to manage weeds and stubble loads and cheap and effective alternatives would need to be developed if the industry wished to move away from this practice.

“Investment in areas such as business skills and office management is also recommended given that growers surveyed spend more than a quarter of their time on business management activities.”

For more information about the survey download the results at www.liebegroup.org.au/technical-audit-of-grower-practices/

contact Nadine Hollamby Liebe GroupP: (08) 9661 0570

CROPPING: Industry confidence


Western Australian trials show that zero-tillage with stubble retention can significantly boost crop yields on non-wetting soils.

overcoming repellence in non-wetting soils

At a glance:• Zero-tillage and stubble retention

improved water infiltration in the studied soils.

• The trials showed that crop yields were usually greater where stubble had been retained instead of burnt.

The results of trials from four years of research funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) at the high rainfall district of Munglinup was the first field study investigating the impact of stubble retention and minimum or zero-tillage practices on non-wetting soils.

CSIRO researcher Margaret Roper said the results confirmed farmer observations that the effects of water repellence on acid, sandy soils “disappeared” under zero-tillage (with discs) and stubble retention – in both wet and dry years.

Yields for canola, barley and wheat were up to double those from the treatment combining cultivation and stubble removal.

Dr Roper said zero-tillage and stubble retention improved water infiltration into the soil, despite the soil itself being made more water repellent due to higher levels of soil carbon.

“We believe this is because under zero-tillage, bio-pores, which are formed by roots and animals in the soil, are preserved and provide pathways for water movement in the soil,” she said.

“Our observations of water infiltration into the soil using blue dye solutions supported this.”

“After a crop is harvested its old root systems and animal pathways continue to conduct water into the soil.”

Root of the problemDr Roper said although the trial used a

zero-tillage system, it was likely the results would be similar for minimum or no-tillage systems, where seeding was done with knife points and there was slightly more soil disturbance.

“In our experiments, crops were seeded with discs on the previous year’s inter-row, resulting in no disturbance of the remnant root systems from the previous year,” she said.

“No-till seeding with knife points in the old inter-row is also unlikely to disturb remnant root systems.

“The results highlight another question about whether it is more beneficial to seed on or close to the previous year’s crop row to best access water conducted down the soil profile by dead roots.

“In choosing which approach to take, growers should consider how much their seeding systems disturb the soil and determine the safest close distance to avoid breaking the continuity of root channels.”

High yieldsDr Roper said the trials showed that crop

yields were usually greater where stubble had been retained instead of burnt.

“Apart from standing stubble possibly acting as a conduit for water infiltration, or reducing soil water evaporation, stubble may also reduce temperatures in the upper layers of soil, meaning water-repellent waxes may be less likely to be deposited onto the surface of soil particles,” she said.

Dr Roper said that while a number of growers in WA’s northern grainbelt were using one-off soil amelioration practices such as spading or mouldboard ploughing on non-wetting soils, many farmers farther south were reluctant to use these techniques.

“Many soils in southern cropping areas include an extensive gravel layer below the soil surface and spading or mouldboard ploughing may pose difficulties,” she said.

“These growers are also nervous about the potential for soil erosion.

“During our trial work we have experienced at least two major erosion events in the last four years, which completely lifted the soil surface.”

contact Margaret RoperCSIROP:(08) 9333 6668

CROPPING: Non-wetting soils

Yields for canola, barley and wheat were up to double those from the treatment combining cultivation and stubble removal.


With commercial ram buyers increasingly demanding objective performance data, Western Australian stud breeder Scott Pickering is embracing the latest in DNA testing to deliver genetically superior sheep.

objective breeding all the rage

At a glance:• More and more breeders are turning to

industry-leading genetics as an estimate of an animal’s true breeding value.

• Based on pedigree and performance recorded information, stud breeders can project how an animal’s progeny will perform for a range of traits.

scott Pickering runs the Pyramid Poll Merino stud as well as the Derella Downs Merino stud at Esperance.

He is utilising all available technology as well as conventional breeding methods to deliver superior rams to his clients.

“Some of our visually outstanding ewes don’t always produce the best progeny, so we’re using all the available technology to take out any risk factors in our selection process,” Mr Pickering said.

“The objective data provided by DNA testing and Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) are excellent guides to performance for particular traits and how our best breeding stock will perform.”

Mr Pickering has been fleece weighing and micron testing since 1995, eye muscle scanning since 2005 and using ASBVs since 2008.

He has also regularly exhibited his sheep at events, including the Hamilton SheepVention and the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo.

Through the Genomics Pilot Project being run by the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC), Mr Pickering is this year DNA testing 150 stud ewes plus their progeny to identify the top performing ewes for use in an expanded embryo transfer (ET) program.

Runs on the boardMr Pickering has been involved in Sheep

CRC research projects for more than four years, contributing rams to the Information Nucleus Flock as well as participating in the two previous Genomics Pilot Projects.

With 1400 stud ewes and 600 commercial ewes and selling about 200 rams a year, he is aiming to breed a quick-maturing sheep with long-stapled, elite wools.

His ewe flock averages 19.9 micron, with the adult ewes cutting between 7.5kg and 8kg/head.

His breeding objectives cover a suite of traits and he carefully examines ASBVs and the research breeding values (RBVs) from the Genomics Pilot Projects for fat, weaning weight and fleece weight, with a view to increasing the resilience and productivity of the flock.

“We are trying to breed a plain-bodied, easy-care sheep that can handle the extremes of the environment, but at the end of the day you still have to cut wool to be profitable,” he said.

“We’re focussed on using AI, embryo transfer and DNA technology to maximise the key traits we are looking for and that way we can more rapidly improve the genetic foundation for our entire flock.”

The AI program consists of 1000 ewes per year, with rams selected through visual assessments, ASBVs and the new RBVs.

costs versus benefitsBefore embarking on DNA testing, Mr

Pickering weighed up the labour costs of mothering-up and chose the DNA tests for their accuracy and the additional information it provides about the genetic traits of his sheep.

LIVESTOCK: Genetic breeding

With 1400 stud ewes and 600 commercial ewes and selling about 200 rams a year, he is aiming to breed a quick-maturing sheep with long-stapled, elite wools.

Scott Pickering is using gene-based breeding techniques to improve the performance of his stud.


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LIVESTOCK: Genetic breeding

Mr Pickering plans to use this extra layer of information in conjunction with an electronic identification system to assist in recording flock pedigree and performance.

With both a Poll Merino and Merino flock, access to the horn-poll genomic markers provided by the DNA tests is one of the valuable new pieces of information, which will assist in managing any cross over between his two genetic pools.

“We’ve used Merino rams in our poll stud previously, but now we’ll be able to identify if those animals are carrying the horn gene before we join to help us protect the poll flock,” he said.

objective successMr Pickering sells about 200 rams each

year through both auction and private sale, with about two-thirds from the Poll flock.

ASBVs are provided to buyers on all stud rams.

“It’s amazing the number of people who are now looking for objective data; commercial producers are telling me they want ASBVs and that’s a big change from a few years ago,” Mr Pickering said.

“And it’s something that’s coming from all age groups not just young producers. I’ve had buyers in their 70s asking me for ASBVs for my rams.

“People like using them as a guide to genetic merit and performance.

“They will assess a ram subjectively first and then look to ASBVs for the next layer of information.

“People are demanding these figures and they really appreciate that they’re being provided the information on the

MERINOSELECT website and in our sale catalogue.”

Mr Pickering said strong interest was emerging among stud breeders in data delivered by DNA tests, with many breeders anticipating using the technology once the price of testing falls further.

“The more the technology is trialled and researched the more accurate it will be in predicting performance,” he said.

“This is a huge opportunity for the Merino industry and we should be doing more to support this research because it really is the best thing and going to take the Merino forward in the future.”

For more information on ASBVs and genomic research breeding values is available at www.sheepcrc.org.au

contact Sheep CRCP: (02) 6773 1317E: [email protected]

Mr Pickering said strong interest was emerging among stud breeders in data delivered by the DNA tests, with many breeders anticipating using the technology once the price of testing falls further.


CROPPING:Measuringphosphorus

A new and more accurate method for assessing soil phosphorus (P) availability to crops is to become commercially available in 2013.

At a glance:• Phosphorus fertiliser is a significant

input cost for growers, so it’s important the industry has access to an accurate means of testing levels in soils.

• The new testing system is designed to mimic the action of plant roots, which means it’s a better method of predicting plant P requirements than current methods based on chemical extraction.

Through funding from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the Diffusive Gradients in Thin films (DGT) test has been adapted for use in the grains industry because existing soil testing methods have been shown to be poor predictors of plant available P on certain soil types.

Extensive testing over recent years and trial analysis this year have demonstrated the DGT test offers considerable improvement in predicting soil available P levels on many cropping soils.

GRDC is keen to see the DGT test become the standard phosphorus test Australia-wide and it is already calibrated for wheat, barley, peas, chick peas and canola.

Worth the waitGRDC manager of commercial farm

technologies, Paul Meibusch, said while the DGT test’s adaptation has been almost a decade in the making its commercialisation has been worth the wait.

“Phosphorus fertiliser can be a substantial input cost for grain growers, so it is critical that they have access to an accurate means of testing P levels in their soils,” Mr Meibusch said.

“Soil testing is fundamental in determining the nutrient status of cropping land, but tests available up until now have not always been reliable, especially on certain soil types such as calcareous soils and those which are acidic with high iron or aluminium.

“It is likely some growers have been unnecessarily spending money on applying P when it is not needed and in other cases it is probable growers haven’t applied enough P and soils have become depleted and crops have subsequently suffered.”

How it worksResponsible for the DGT test’s

development is Dr Sean Mason, of the University of Adelaide, who has been working on the project since 2003.

Dr Mason said the DGT test is a plastic device that uses an iron oxide gel as a P sink, which attracts available P through a membrane.

It is deployed on moist soil (100 per cent water-holding capacity) for about 24 hours, after which the device is washed. The amount of P bound to the gel is removed by washing with a solvent and then measured.

The DGT measurement incorporates the initial soil solution P concentration as well as the ability of the soil to resupply the soil solution pool in response to the removal of P.

“It is designed to mimic the action of plant roots so is a better method of predicting plant P requirements than

methods based on chemical extractions such as Colwell-P,” Dr Mason said.

“It is these DGT deployment conditions and the use of an iron-based gel that sets it apart from other common soil P tests.”

In the fieldGrain growers and their advisers are

encouraged to contact their usual laboratory suppliers as soon as possible to ascertain whether they are supplying DGT-P analysis.

Back Paddock Company has been engaged by GRDC to help with the initial commercialisation of the DGT-P test.

Further information about laboratory set-up for the test, interpretation of DGT-P or locating a laboratory offering DGT-P can be gained by contacting Back Paddock Company.

Back Paddock has announced the availability of the DGT test in its SoilMate system for the 2013 winter cropping season and can be contacted via phone on 1800 557 166 or visit www.backpaddock.com.au.

To assist growers with their soil nutrient testing and fertiliser application strategies, GRDC has published the fact sheet Phosphorus Management in the southern cropping region and it contains details about the DGT test.

contact Paul MeibuschGRDCP: (02) 6166 4500

Dr sean MasonUniversity of AdelaideP: (08) 8303 8107

unlocking the phosphorus puzzle

AG in FOCUS Summer 2012-13

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Transcript of AG in FOCUS Summer 2012-13