Producers reminded to ensure their stock brand and PIC are current
Livestock producers are reminded that to own and move or trade livestock, a valid brand and property identification code (PIC) are required to avoid delays at saleyards and processors.
Producers who do not renew their brand on time are automatically deregistered, meaning they are unable to sell or move stock legally.
Importance of a current brand and PIC
Recently, several consignments of stock have been delivered to saleyards and abattoirs where the brands and PIC were not current.
These stock cannot be moved or sold until the brand is renewed, creating considerable delay and inconvenience for both the owner and the saleyard or processor.
All livestock owners are required to register with the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA).
The stock owner register enables the traceability and biosecurity of Western Australia’s livestock industries and supports our ability to export livestock and livestock products, which were valued at $2 billion in 2015-16.
When someone registers to own livestock in WA, the department issues them with a stock brand and PIC.
The brand is used to identify the animals and the PIC is used to identify the property on which the animals are kept.
Check the National PIC Register
Every PIC is published on the National PIC Register and is used by the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program to accredit producers to use the commercially required suite of National Vendor Declarations (NVDs).
If a producer has not paid the renewal fee for their livestock registration with the department before it expires, their PIC will be deregistered.
This means they cannot use an NVD and the PIC will not be recognised by saleyard and abattoir operators.
The LPA NVD waybill is an industry-driven initiative to assure Australia’s domestic and export markets of the safety of Australian beef, lamb and goat meat.
Commercial buyers will not purchase stock from producers without LPA accreditation.
Animals belonging to producers who have not renewed their registration and who do not hold a valid PIC cannot be processed until the PIC has been reactivated and the traceability of stock confirmed.
The department sends out a re-registration letter to all producers five weeks before their brand and PIC are due to expire. This allows time for producers to return the form with payment for the PIC to be renewed.
Producers need to be aware that following deregistration the brand renewal process is not instant and once payment is made to the department and the PIC renewed, the producer is required to contact LPA and request their PIC be reinstated on the accredited list.
To check the expiry date of a PIC, producers can enter the code in ‘Search by PIC’ at the Stock Brands Enquiry webpage.
This also provides an opportunity to ensure all properties are correctly listed for your PIC. Adding or removing a property to a registration at any time is free of charge.
To check LPA accreditation contact 1800 683 111.
For more information contact Peter Gray, Registrar of Stock and Apiaries, South Perth, on +61 (0)8 9368 3551.
Stubble grazing over summer - tips and tricks
Stubbles are the major feed source for sheep during the summer-autumn period.
There are some general principles for managing livestock grazing stubbles.
Observe carefully
The feed value of stubbles is hard to estimate so there is no substitute for actually going into the paddock and observing the animals, the amount of grain on the ground, the amount of green regrowth and the amount of bare, potentially eroding land.
The grain on the ground and the green and dry regrowth (grasses, legumes and weeds) are the most energy dense components of the stubble. These energy sources will determine how long sheep can graze stubble before they start to lose weight.
For hoggets and older sheep, regular condition scoring of 25 animals per mob is the most accurate way to monitor livestock grazing stubbles.
For weaners, it is preferable to weigh a sample of the mob, as this will give earlier warning than condition scoring of declining body weights. For a weaner, a decline of one condition score (6-7 kg) can be critical.
Observe frequently
Check stubble paddocks and the stock on them at least weekly.
Stubble grazing is not a matter of “set and forget” for some predetermined period.
That practice can lead to numerous problems, including low conception rates, poor lamb survival, slow weaner growth (or deaths), assorted poisonings, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, or soil erosion.
When animals are on stubbles, you cannot relax: their welfare is always your responsibility.
The grain matters most
The amount of grain on the ground can be measured using a quadrat, tossed repeatedly across the paddock at random, each time counting the grain within it.
Alternatively, for cereals and lupins, you can get a rough but quicker estimate by counting the grain within the square made standing with your feet at right angles, heels together. This area is ~ 0.1m2.
Canola stubble is an exception to the rule that it’s the residual grain that matters most for stock. The best part of canola stubble for stock is green leaf, on standing stems or seedling regrowth. So, for the best return from canola stubble, graze it early, while there is still green leaf present.
Stubble quality and safety can’t be assumed
The quality of grain in stubble is a variable that shouldn’t be assumed.
Test results on harvested grain on delivery are certainly important for the cropping enterprise; however, for the animals which will graze the stubbles, those tests provide only part (the protein level) of the information required.
Stubble quality mainly relates to energy content, although the protein content is also important for young animals and breeders.
If growing conditions included frost, severe water deficit, waterlogging or disease, grain quality can be affected in unpredictable ways.
Rainfall after harvest also may affect the overall stubble value, including the grain, causing more rapid deterioration and fungal growth (beware lupinosis).
Toxic plants that may germinate or regrow in stubbles following summer rain include caltrop, heliotrope, Gastrolobium or poison species, Duboisia hopwoodii or pituri, and Lythrum hyssopifolia or lesser loosestrife.
Slender ice plant is an unusual toxic plant in that it is most toxic and palatable when it is dead and dry in summer. It is often found in medium-heavy soils, including cereal paddocks.
Not all new summer weed growth is poisonous though, and some plants are usually safe and possibly nutritious, such as wireweed, various native grasses and melons.
Supplementation, especially on cereal stubbles, will help stock
Additional feed from chaff cart heaps, or from grain or pellets in self feeders, lick feeders or trail-fed, will prolong the stubble grazing period.
Pellets or grain (especially lupins or peas) supplemented to sheep on cereal stubbles will usually improve weight gains and potentially conception rates or lamb survival.
Hay can be useful for adult dry stock but it is usually of little value to improve performance of young animals and breeders on stubbles.
Mineral-vitamin licks and loose mixes can be useful
Cereal stubbles are likely to provide inadequate sodium, calcium and probably magnesium.
Depending on farm location some trace elements may be beneficial also, but beware of copper supplementation without veterinary advice.
If protein in the stubble is low, it’s better to supplement with a legume grain or high protein pellets rather than a urea-fortified lick.
Vitamins E and A are often inadequate in summer-autumn stubbles and can be supplemented in mixes/blocks or other ways (talk to your vet).
The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia has a range of information on stubble grazing at its Grazing stubbles and dry pasture webpage.
For more information contacts Roy Butler, Veterinary Officer, Merredin on +61 (0)8 9081 3111, 0427 197 242 or Danny Roberts, Veterinary Officer, Albany on +61 (0)8 9892 8535, 0429 084 710.
Grower Group R&D Grant Program closing soon
The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) is encouraging WA-based agribusinesses to apply for the Grower Group R&D Grant Program before it closes on 10 February 2017.
The grant forms part of the Agriculture Sciences R&D Fund, managed by DAFWA with Royalties for Regions investment.
The Grower Groups R&D Grants Program awarded $6.7 million to 16 grower groups across Western Australia in its inaugural round – view successful projects from round 1 here. Please note Round 2 is open to applicants who were successful in Round 1.
In Round 2, up to $10.5 million is available with individual grant amounts between $20 000 and $500 000.
Expressions of interest opened on Monday 5 December 2016 and close on Friday 10 February 2017.
Eligible applicants include WA-based, incorporated grower groups and not-for profit, farmer-driven organisations with an Australian Business Number (ABN).
While commercial companies, non-agricultural not-for profits and public sector research institutions are not eligible to apply in their own right, their participation as a project partner/collaborator is strongly encouraged.
Projects must be completed before 31 March 2019.
Essential grant information, including submission guidelines and eligibility criteria is available on DAFWA’s Grower Groups R&D Grants Program webpage.
Round 2 Expressions of interest from eligible organisations must be submitted online using the SmartyGrants program.
For more information email Agriculture Sciences R&D Fund.
Prevent antibiotic resistance in animals and people
The Australian livestock industry can attain a potential marketing advantage if we can demonstrate that our food animals are mostly free of resistance to critically important antibiotics.
The recent World Antibiotic Awareness Week was an initiative of the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health as part of their efforts to protect the effectiveness of antimicrobials in the face of rapidly increasing resistance in serious and life-threatening pathogens.
What is antimicrobial resistance?
Antimicrobials are medicines, including antibiotics, which are used to prevent and treat bacterial infections.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when bacteria change to protect themselves from an antibiotic.
Bacteria, not humans or animals, become resistant to the antimicrobial.
The bacteria are then no longer sensitive to that medicine.
As a result, standard antimicrobial treatments become ineffective and infectious diseases are harder to treat.
What causes antimicrobial resistance?
AMR can develop from the use of antimicrobial drugs in humans, animals (pets and food-producing animals) or plants.
It is the overuse or improper use of antimicrobials that makes the development and spread of resistance much more likely.
This is because if an antimicrobial is only present at levels that do not kill or prevent the growth of bacteria, bacteria can continue to multiply and grow.
This can happen when we do not complete a course of drugs or miss doses or take unnecessary antibiotics for viral infections against which they are not effective.
With each multiplication, there is an increased chance that some of the bugs will adapt their genetic make-up, making them resistant.
In the case of bacteria it is true to say that what does not kill them only makes them stronger!
You can prevent antimicrobial resistance by:
- Ensuring that antibiotics given to animals are only used to control or treat infectious disease under veterinary supervision.
- Vaccinating animals to reduce the need for antibiotics.
- Promoting and applying good agriculture practices throughout the supply chain.
- Adopting sustainable systems with improved hygiene, biosecurity and stress-free handling of animals.
For more information on chemical use in livestock visit the Veterinary chemical users webpage or contact Faheem Noor, South Perth on +61 (0)8 9368 3459.
Topsoil slotting - an opportunity if deep ripping in 2017
Topsoil slotting is a technique being developed to move topsoil and other soil amendments down the soil profile into the subsoil while deep ripping.
Topsoil inclusion plates are bolted behind the deep ripping tine at a suitable depth to run at the base of the topsoil, approximately 100-150mm below the soil surface.
The plates hold the slot open to allow the topsoil down the slot.
Benefits
While topsoil slotting aids incorporation of soil ameliorants such as lime and gypsum their original purpose was to help incorporate organic matter to help stabilise deep ripped soils.
Ripping responses in yellow sands and heavier, sodic soils and morrell soils, that can naturally self-settle under wetting and drying, can last longer with organic matter at depth.
Organic matter in the topsoil and new root growth and microbial activity can help minimise soil collapse and hardening.
The hardening is due to ‘effective stress’ from water menisci between soil particles and aggregates and clay dispersion.
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) and Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) funded trials in 2015 that showed a benefit of 1.0 to 1.7 tonne/hectare (t/ha) at four of six trial sites using inclusion plates in various soil types.
The ripping for these trials was done with dry topsoil, moist subsoil and a shallow leading tine configuration on the ripper to rip to 500mm or deeper.
Five trials across the state in 2015 highlighted several other benefits that could help farmers manage dry seasons:
- Creating ‘underground topsoil’ that remains moist and functioning for crop and pasture nutrition when the ‘upper topsoil’ has dried out in the growing season. This done without soil inversion or mixing and preserving sufficient anchored stubble to minimise the risk of wind erosion.
- Encouraging very vigorous crop and pasture root growth below the surface to increase the amount of root that can supply water rapidly to flowering heads on very hot winter and spring afternoons and help minimise the loss of grains and grain size from heat shock.
- Immobilising some toxic aluminium ions by mixing in humic and fulvic acid from the soil organic matter. The result of chelation where metal ions are locked up in ring structures of these complex organic molecules derived from the decomposition of plant materials. This may be sufficient on dune sands and deep white sands which contain little clay and are acid. Extra immobilisation may be needed from gypsum, in the short term and pH increase by carbonates for the long term.
Top soil slotting may also provide an opportunity to establishing ‘zonal tillage’ system with rips and slots spaced at about 600-700mm spacing (approx. 2-3 crop row spacings) that gives short term and longer term water supplies from the subsoil to crops and pastures trying to survive heat stress after sufficient previous rain.
An added benefit of using wider row spacing is being able to rip more country in one season and achieve a similar benefit to doing smaller areas with narrower tine spacing.
This theory was explored in a trial at Binnu in 2016 with 500mm and 1m row spacing.
Results will be presented in a paper from Research Updates in Perth in February 2017.
Setting up plates on the ripper
The key design features of the topsoil inclusion plates for the research trials were:
- a rear taper (a tear drop appearance from above) to reduce cohesion of moist and sticky soil
- bolt to help hold plates apart
- lower plate cut-out to avoid fouling rear frame
- multiple holes for depth adjustability.
The plates must be set at a depth to run at the base of the topsoil usually about 100mm.
Topsoil slotting plates do add draft to the deep ripper therefore optimal ripping width is about 4-6m (a half or a third the width of the seeder), particularly if ripping below 400mm.
Alternatively to rip at 12.2m/40ft options include use less tines, reduce plate depth, run plates on only half the tines each season or pre-rip shallow then come back in and rip deeper with plates.
A risk of using inclusion plates on less tines is that you may see a striping effect in the crop.
A hydraulic cage or heavy rubber tyre roller pulled after the ripper is essential to firm the surfaces and smooth any ridges or break up soil clods particularly in heavier soil types like grey clays or red loams.
On-farm observations
In 2016 more than 50 rippers were fitted with topsoil slotting plates. The following are some observations and adaptions made by growers and manufacturers running plates:
- Topsoil plates made of mild steel can wear quickly particularly in fine sands after about 200ha of ripping. To alleviate this problem growers have welded sacrificial steel on the outside leading edge of the plate, or made plates from hardox steel. The hardox plates showed little wear after 400ha of ripping in sand at Ogilvie. The wear is soil type dependent. Finer sands will often wear more quickly. Use experience with tine wear as a guide for suitable material/coatings.
- If the soil is too wet, smearing can occur on the edges of the slot and wet soil can stick to the plates. Inverting the plates in moist soil conditions can also help reduce soil sticking and allow more topsoil to drop down the slot. Testing this theory at Brady Green’s at Nabawa also found that at slow speeds more topsoil falls down the slot and faster speeds more mixing occurs (Figure 1). Longer plates at normal speeds should have the same effect as reduced speed.
- The between furrow ridging left by plates is worse in moist soil conditions and a coil packer is not heavy enough to smooth the ridges.
- Taper the plates slightly towards the back to help with soil flow and sticking on the plate face.
- If the soil is moist reducing plate depth can mean more plates can be fitted to a wider ripper so it can be pulled and get the benefits of soil falling down and as the soil slot stays open longer before collapsing.
- The soil after deeper ripping with or without plates is very soft and can cause problems with plant establishment due to poor depth control or bogging of the bar wheels or press wheels depending on the bar design. Some growers found reducing the tyre pressure in the bar wheels and locking the castor wheels helped reduce the bogging.
- The bolt holding the plates apart can increase stubble blockages. It is possible to run the plates without the bolts however they can help hold the plates apart if there are passing rocks.
Observations suggest topsoil slotting works best when the topsoil is dry and the subsoil is moist, therefore it may be an opportunistic method of renovating soils given conditions at the time of ripping.
Further development of topsoil slotting plate design and understanding of the effects is required.
Acknowledgements
DAFWA’s GRDC funded project DAW00243 “Minimising the effect of compaction on crop yield”.
Co-author Dr Paul Blackwell, Research Officer, DAFWA (retired). We wish to thank Paul for his significant contribution to soil research in Australia for more than 25 years.
For more information contact Bindi Isbister, Development Officer, Geraldton on +61(0)8 9956 8532 or Wayne Parker, Research Officer, Geraldton on +61 (0)8 9956 8511.
Setting common runlines for machinery in a controlled traffic farming (CTF) system
Developing a fully matched Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) system based on wide seeders such as 60ft/18m is a challenge facing many growers.
Due to increasing size in area cropped, limited access to labour and the seeding window for optimal yield is narrowing, there is an unwillingness to reduce seeding width of machinery.
The ideal machinery matching ratio for controlled traffic farming is a 3:1, such as 36.6m sprayer and 12.2m seeder and header.
This is a nice neat fit to match wheel tracks however it is a challenging ratio to match with machinery over 50ft/15.24m, because sprayers over 150ft/45.72m are often not very practical.
Current options for matching machinery to an 18m seeder:
1) 18m header front
These are emerging into the market and can have some associated challenges with swathing, spreading straw and logistics of harvesting higher yielding crops, including distance travelled before unloading and difficulty unloading into a chaser bin from the main wheeltracks.
2) Two 12.2m seeders
This is a neat 3:1 matching ratio and requires two smaller tractors that can provide versatile use for more operations i.e. spreading, chasing.
However for low rainfall areas sourcing tractor drivers can be a challenge. Widening seeding row spacing to increase speed and increasing bin capacity can help achieve similar coverage to a larger seeding bar, although risks of weed infestation at wider row spacing and potential yield penalties need to be considered on a farm-by-farm basis.
3) Compromised 2:1:3 system
This system uses an 18m seeder, 36.6m sprayer and 12.2m header.
There is some overlap required on the edge of the paddock by either the seeder or the sprayer and header to line up the seeding and spraying wheel tracks.
The header lines up on the main wheel-tracks every fourth run.
The compromised system is becoming the preferred option for many growers.
It can achieve 18% wheel track coverage of a paddock.
This is not the 9-12% target of a 3:1 ratio but better than an unmatched system which results in approximately 40% of the paddock wheeled (often higher if duals are considered).
Setting run lines
It is possible to set up common run lines for all machines using appropriate farm precision agriculture software to take the guess work out of which lines to follow when starting each operation in the paddock.
3:1 machinery matching ratio (12m:36m or 40ft:120ft)
For a 3:1 ratio i.e. 12m:36m system all AB lines can be set from the boundary at the appropriate implement width and the wheel tracks will line up (Figure 1).
2:1:3 machinery matching ratio (18m:36.6m:12.2m or 60ft:120ft:40ft)
Overlapping the sprayer and header in a 18m:36.6m:12.2m requires a bit more planning initially.
The choice of machine to overlap comes down to personal preference.
Some farmers opt to overlap the sprayer and header, because the sprayer commonly has section control so there is less excess input cost.
Others will overlap the seeder as the sprayer is in the paddock 4-5 times.
Growers using this system have observed that it doesn’t really take up extra time overlapping machines as paddocks are generally not perfectly square so some overlap is required on the edges.
If overlapping the seeder in a 2:1:3 ratio e.g .18m seeder, 36.6m sprayer, 12.2m header use the first sprayer runline as the main AB line for all machines (Figure 2).
By overlapping the sprayer and header the sprayer will match every second seeder run and the header will have its own wheel tracks in between.
The third seeder runline will be the main AB line that will match the tracks of all machines (Figure 3).
The following method will help set up common run lines in a 60ft: 120ft: 40ft system for overlapping the sprayer and header.
- Create accurate boundaries either by driving the boundary or using a coverage map. Ideally use an RTK 2cm GPS signal however a slightly lower accuracy GPS system such as the RTX Centerpoint (4cm) is proving to be a workable option as long as it is set up correctly. Accurate boundaries are critical as your machine guidance will be working from these surveyed boundaries to steer the outside laps! They are also important for machines fitted with auto-switching and section control seeders switching off on headlands prior to it being seeded.
- Seeder 18m - From the selected edge of the paddock you will need to set a main AB line or master runline (choose a name you will remember). This will be three seeder widths from the boundary. Set the swath width to 36.6m then use it to create the master runline from the boundary.
- For the 36.6m sprayer - the first outside lap is a full sprayer width run which is also set from the boundary. For the second spray lap create a 9m offset back towards the boundary which should be compensated for on the boom by the auto section control. This step needs to be done in the paddock then once you have driven these run lines you can re-export them back to your software for duplication. Alternatively, you can import the main AB lines from the farm software and do the 9m shift in the display once they have been imported, but do not move them back to the software.
- Header 12.2m - There are several ways to do this. You could set up headland guidance at the same time then use this for the first two laps and overlay it on to the master AB. This will give you a line with only 3m of crop (the required overlap on the header) and also allows for mis-shaped paddocks. Alternatively, start on the master runlines in the paddock and work back from these, which will leave the 3m (or more) depending on the paddock shape to clean up.
1:3:2 machinery matching ratio (24m:12m:36m or 120ft:40ft:80ft)
In a 24.4m seeder, 12.2m header, 36.4m sprayer system the second run of the seeder sets the main AB line for all machinery (Figure 4).
Once common AB lines are created they can be exported along with paddock boundaries and uploaded in to the guidance screens in the cab of all machines.
This will help minimise compaction and assist collecting good quality data for precision agriculture apps such as yield mapping.
Remember, John Deere and Trimble systems operate different geographic straight line guidance calculation so you must remember this when operating a mixed guidance fleet.
You can record runlines in a John Deere machine to calculate with the Trimble system (non john deere (JD) guidance 2) but not the other way round. To get around this problem some farmers have driven a machine with each system behind the other to set the master AB line in the paddock.
However if the non JD guidance 2 is NOT used AB lines can often be up to 0.5m out in a 1km run therefore using one type of guidance system if possible is preferable.
Acknowledgement: DAFWA’s GRDC funded project DAW243 “Minimising the effect of compaction on crop yield”.
For more information contact Bindi Isbister, Development Officer, Geraldton, on +61 (0)8 9956 8555.
Co-authors of this article were Nigel Metz, South East Premium Wheat Growers Association and Julien Coles, Precision Technology Solutions.
Sheep supply chain approach broadens student knowledge of industry
In the lead up to Australia Day, Katanning’s Kobeelya Conference Centre played host to the inaugural Sheep Meat Value Chain training program.
A select group of more than 25 tertiary trained undergraduates, post graduates and some already in the industry completed an intensive one-week training program in the Great Southern, focused on sheep meat supply chains and markets.
The training program, designed by the Department of Agriculture and Food’s Sheep Industry Business Innovation (SIBI) project and run in partnership with the University of Queensland’s Business School Executive Education, focused on broadening participants’ understanding of the industry, while also encouraging them to pursue career opportunities in the sheep supply chain.
The course was a balance between the theoretical concepts of agrifood supply chain management, delivered and facilitated by Professor Bryceson, as well as an intensive ‘walk-the-chain’ process incorporating field visits and presentations from key industry practitioners and leaders.
Department senior development officer Justin Hardy said that it was inspiring to see the enthusiasm and interest the course generated in the participants and their ability to quickly grasp the whole-of-chain concepts and develop practical and innovative ideas.
Students from five universities, with varied science, agribusiness and other mixed backgrounds indicated that the course more than achieved its aim to increase their understanding of the industry, while also encouraging them to look for career opportunities in the sheep meat supply chain.
Murdoch University post graduate student Steve Connaughton who is investigating DEXA (dual x-ray absorptiometry) imaging technology to predict body composition of lambs along an abattoir chain said he now has a better understanding of the value and importance of his research and where/how it applies across the supply chain. It has also made him more mindful on how he presents results to the sheep industry in the future.
Course participants learnt about all stages of the chain from sheep production (breeding, nutrition), feedlots, trading, retail and live export.
This enabled them to consider a wide range of supply chain issues for both domestic and export of sheep meat including consumer demand and preference, markets, production systems, animal welfare, quality assurance, traceability, pricing, trust, business structures and product development.
The group was treated to an informal talk from Roger Fletcher, owner of Fletcher International abattoirs and gained insights into his vertically integrated business model and the sheep industry in general.
Participants also attended a dinner with sheep producers, held at the modern Katanning Saleyards, taste testing their products from various production systems including dry-aged mutton from Moojepin Stud and hogget from saltland pastures in the Cranbrook region.
In an endeavour to draw out the learning, participants worked in groups towards a competitive presentation on the final day. The winning group developed an interactive program to enhance the consumer experience at the supermarket whilst providing useful feedback on quality and preference to the processor and producer.
The SIBI project is made possible by the State Government’s Royalties for Regions investment.
More information on the Sheep Industry Business Innovation project is available from the department website.
Field walk provides glimpse of wine varieties for the future
Wine grape varieties being evaluated as future prospects to meet changing climatic conditions and consumer trends were inspected by 18 Western Australian producers who attended a field walk on 12 January at the WA College of Agriculture, Harvey.
The field walk provided the wine industry with an opportunity to view 22 alternative varieties being evaluated as part of research led by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
The project, funded by Wine Australia, is being carried out in partnership with the Western Australian Vine Improvement Association and WA College of Agriculture - Harvey.
Department lead researcher Richard Fennessy said approximately 80 per cent of Western Australia’s wine grape production comprised of five ‘noble’ French varietals; Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Semillon.
Reliance on a small collection of varietals to sustain the profitability of the WA wine industry while considering challenges such as climate change and market trends for example, poses a potential limitation.
One tool available to growers to ensure continued optimum production while addressing issues such as increasing temperatures, compressed growing seasons and limited water availability is through varietal selection.
The project aims to change the way growers think when considering the varieties that best suit their region.
Mr Fennessy said pairing varieties with climates (current and forecast) has the potential to provide growers with the ability to improve their profitability and sustainability.
The project is looking at Mediterranean varieties which are suited to the WA climate.
Field walks, which allow producers to view production in the vineyard, and wine tastings will be a critical part of determining which varieties are worthwhile candidates for adoption.
There will also be a workshop held later in the year summarising the results.
The research will include the collection of vine performance data, carrying out small lot wine making and undertaking sensory analysis of the select alternative varieties that are currently being grown at the WA Agriculture College - Harvey.
For more information contact Richard Fennessy, Research Officer, Bunbury, on +61 (0)8 9780 6219.
Dr David Hughes international speaker in Western Australia
Western Australian food and beverage supply chain companies will benefit from the expertise of global food and drink industry international speaker Professor David Hughes when he presents in Manjimup and Mandurah.
The Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia’s (DAFWA’s) Food Industry Innovation Project, made possible by the State Government’s Royalties for Regions investment, will host Professor Hughes in Manjimup on Wednesday 8 March and in partnership with The Peel Development Commission in Mandurah on Thursday 9 March 2017.
Professor Hughes is a leader in global food industry developments who will speak on topics including global food industry issues and opportunities, consumer trends, food packaging and production.
He sits on international food organisation boards and is involved in food firms in both United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Western Australia’s climate and high standard of food production offer a unique opportunity to produce and export highly quality premium food products.
With world food trade undergoing significant change and increasing demand from affluent Asian and Middle Eastern countries for safe, premium food products, there is significant opportunity for growth in WA’s agrifood sector.
WA’s agrifood products are valued at $20 billion at retail and export levels and WA’s food manufacturing industry comprises about 1200 businesses.
These figures are set to increase as the global demand for quality products grows.
Professor Hughes’ presentations will be relevant across various sectors including: meat, fish and eggs, dairy, fresh produce, wine, packaged foods, genetics, farm inputs, food and feed ingredients, service sectors such as finance, packaging, IT, advertising and PR, food manufacturers, retailers, food service, farmer-owned businesses, and public sector agencies.
Growers, manufacturers, retailers and food service businesses are encouraged to register their attendance.
For more information and to ensure you don’t miss the opportunity to hear Professor Hughes speak contact Yolandee Jones, Development Officer, Manjimup, on +61 (0)8 9777 0138.