AG in Focus Victoria - Summer 2012
Our cover: Dr Peter Moate with a cow involved in the study
What is AG in Focus Victoria?
AG in Focus Victoria is a quarterly publication produced by Kondinin Group with support from the Department of Primary Industries. AG in Focus Victoria delivers the latest agricultural research and innovation from across the State. The information aims to help primary producers make better choices to increase productivity and profitability.
Articles:
- AG in Focus Victoria survey
- Fight against smoke taint boosted
- Mapping the Mallee delivers environmental benefits
- Evaporative cooling: a fruit saver?
- Spreading risk to manage climate variability
- Grape by-product cuts dairy emissions by 20 per cent
- Profitability: it’s a numbers game
Research investment driving productivity gains
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Peter Walsh
Welcome to the summer edition of AG in Focus Victoria. For those grain growers who have harvested or will be harvesting, I wish you well at this critical time of year.
In November, I launched a report titled: The Impact of Innovation in the Dairy Industry over the Last 30 Years.
The report demonstrates the pivotal role of research, development and extension and the contribution they have made to the phenomenal productivity gains in the industry since 1980.
The report focuses on dairy, but its findings tell an important story for all food and fibre producing industries.
The report is the result of a joint project undertaken by Dairy Australia and DPI.
It shows that in the last 30 years milk production in Victoria has doubled despite the fact that cow numbers have remained the same and the amount of grazing land used by the dairy industry has fallen by 35 per cent.
Production per hectare has increased by 192 per cent from 2878 litres per hectare on average in 1980 to 8419 litres per hectare in 2010.
Research and development is estimated to have contributed 46 per cent to those productivity gains.
There is now greater feed conversion of pastures and supplementary feeding as well as genetic improvement of dairy cows.
Over the past 30 years there has been in excess of $2 billion invested in research and development in the Australian dairy industry, with 35 per cent of that being targeted at on-farm projects.
There has been a return of $3.30 for every dollar invested in research and development in the dairy industry — a fantastic result for levy payers.
So, what has helped farmers achieve this productivity gain over that time?
First of all, the hard work of dairy families and the appetite of the industry for innovation.
Such gains from research are not exclusive to the dairy industry and have been crucial to the development of the food and fibre industry in Victoria.
There is another great selection of innovation as well as adaptation stories in this edition of AG in Focus Victoria.
I am particularly pleased to be able to report on the progress of the new Centre for Expertise in Smoke Taint Research — a core election commitment by the Coalition Government for which we have allocated $4 million over the next four years.
It’s very important research for the grape and wine industries and great that DPI is able to take the lead nationally on this topic.
This edition of AG in Focus Victoria includes an invitation to provide feedback from its readers.
We want to know what you think about this publication, which type of articles you find useful and what you would like to read more about. Please take a few moments to let us know.
Peter Walsh
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security
News in Brief
Satellites spark water management revolution
DPI scientists are using satellites to provide horticulturists with the most precise picture yet of how much water their crops require to achieve optimal yields.
For the past five years researchers have been utilising satellite data to calculate the water evaporated from almond, grape, citrus, apple, peach, nectarine, pear and apricot crops in Sunraysia and the Goulburn Valley.
They then validated this information with on-farm data taken from measurements of vegetation cover and yield.
The results showed an accurate picture of how much water horticultural crops were using and how much water was needed to achieve optimal yields.
Apple worm could be pest of the past
A predator wasp from Kazakhstan may hold the key to eliminating the Australian apple and pear industry’s most destructive insect pest.
DPI scientists are examining the potential of the Mastrus wasp to wipe out codling moth from Australian pome fruit orchards.
Currently, codling moth costs the industry about $5 million a year in lost production, labour and treatment costs.
Principal research scientist David Williams said if the wasp – currently held in quarantine – is proven to be an effective and safe biological control of codling moth, it could mean dramatic productivity gains and cost-savings for Victorian orchardists.
New brassica seeds a possibility
DPI seed hunter Bob Redden’s recent visit to China could result in a new seed sharing deal.
Dr Redden and molecular plant breeding research leader Michael Materne discussed brassicas with representatives from China’s Institute for Vegetables and Flowers.
“We grow and breed canola type juncea for lower rainfall areas in Australia and are really interested in the Chinese vegetable juncea and also the oleracea vegetables to evaluate them for resistance to blackleg disease and seed shatter resistance,” Dr Redden said.
They now hope to develop a collaborative relationship with China that involves sharing genetic resources.
New pear varieties to improve profit potential
New research by Department of Primary Industries is set to boost the profitability of pear growers, with new varieties and reduced establishment times on the way.
The Victorian Government has committed $240,000 to establish a four hectare orchard block and pear field laboratory at DPI Tatura to test new pear varieties and orchard management systems.
Victorian Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh said the new research may halve the number of years it takes for orchardists to receive a return on their investment.
DPI senior research scientist Ian Goodwin said although Victoria produced 90 per cent of Australia’s pears, they were mainly for the domestic market. “We hope this new research will help the pear industry to again become a major exporter.”
