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    Factors underpinning improved productivity in the WA wheat industry

    20358_downloaded_stream_346.pdf (82.08Kb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Murray-Prior, Roy
    Rola-Rubzen, Maria Fay
    Martin, L.
    Sirisena, W.
    Date
    2007
    Type
    Conference Paper
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Murray-Prior, Roy and Rola-Rubzen, M. F. and Martin, L.D. and Sirisena, W.M.. 2007. : Factors underpinning improved productivity in the WA wheat industry, in O'Reilly, S. and Keane, M. and Enright, P. (ed), 16th International Farm Management Congress: A vibrant rural economy the challenge for balance, 15th-20th July 2007. Cork, Ireland: International Farm Management Association.
    Source Conference
    16th International Farm Management Congress: A vibrant rural economy the challenge for balance
    Additional URLs
    http://www.ifmaonline.org/pdf/congress/07MurrayPrior-etal.pdf
    http://www.ifmaonline.org/pages/con_articles.php?article=5
    Faculty
    Department of Agribusiness
    Division of Resources and Environment
    Muresk Institute
    School
    Agribusiness
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/21888
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Wheat yields in the Western Australian wheat industry have risen by about 3.9 percent per year over a period of 20 years. This has coincided with a decline in growing season rainfall over the grain belt. However, in the last few years yields have been highly variable because of fluctuations in rainfall and because two of the three driest years in the last 70 years have occurred during the last five years. Farm managers, consultants, researchers and research funders need to understand the key drivers of improvements in productivity. Researchers from the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia have conducted intensive research on wheat varieties and management practices needed to achieve high wheat yields. These have been combined into recommendations known as High Yield Packages (HYPs) for the regions of the state. The question addressed in this paper is which elements of these packages have been important and what other factors may have contributed to the improvements in productivity.Using graphical, statistical and regression analysis of benchmark data from PlanFarm Consulting group for 1995 to 2004, supported by in-depth qualitative analysis of 40 case study farmers, and a random telephone survey of 100 farmers, key factors associated with yield increases were investigated. The evidence suggests farmers have increased their water use efficiency since 1995 and that improvements in productivity are associated with nitrogen and phosphorous use, herbicide use, higher seeding rates and management performance. There is also qualitative evidence to suggest that the widespread adoption of one pass operations or no-tillage systems has been an important complementary factor.

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