Stand density management in rainforest plantations

Trees in plantations established for timber production are usually grown at a sufficiently high density that canopy closure occurs within a relatively short time after planting. The trees then shade and outcompete most herbs, shrubs or grasses growing at the site. The closer the spacing (i.e. the greater the density) the faster this will occur. Subsequently, as the trees grow larger, this between-species competition is replaced by within-species competition. If unmanaged, this competition can reduce the commercial productivity of the plantation. Thus, there are two management dilemmas. One is knowing the best initial planting density. The second is knowing how to management the subsequent between-tree competition in order to optimize overall plantation timber productivity. In this chapter we consider initial spacing and thinning for high value timber trees grown in single and mixed species plantations. From growth studies in stands of different ages recommendations are proposed for managing both types of plantations where the primary objective is timber production. It seems that many rainforest species will require more space to achieve optimal growth than most eucalypts and conifers. On the other hand many rainforest species do not have strong apical dominance. Care will be needed to balance these two attributes.

The importance of considering social issues in reforestation schemes

This paper reports the results of a survey of north Queensland landholder attitudes with respect to a number of issues relating to participation in forestry. The survey explored the reasons why landholders plant trees, perceived obstacles to greater farm forestry, and attitudes to tree planting programs such as the Community Rainforest Reforestation Program (CRRP) and Private Joint Venture Scheme (PJVS). The results of the survey are discussed in the context of possible policy prescriptions that can be made at local, state and federal government levels to facilitate greater tree planting in the region. Many of the problems faced by local landholders are shared by landholders in other parts of Australia and throughout the world. This survey can thus serve as a case study, providing information on a number of issues concerning small-scale forestry policies that are of general relevance to the development of farm forestry programs.

Economic issues and lessons arising from the community rainforest reforestation program

A large number of socio-economic research projects have been conducted in north Queensland which have drawn on observations from, or been otherwise inspired by, the Community Rainforest Reforestation Program (CRRP). The research may be considered under the headings of financial performance of farm-grown timber, externalities (or environmental values), impediments to tree planting on farms, analysis of the timber supply chain including timber marketing, and facilitation of forest industry development. This paper summarises a variety of insights generated by the research, on small-scale forestry based on native tree species and on policy measures which may be adopted to promote tree growing on farms in tropical north Queensland.

Farming Systems: Beyond Production Technologies for Dairy RD&E

The challenge of Research, Development and Extension (R,D&E) is to apply agricultural science to serve the real needs of production systems. The ideal is to have community partnerships involving a variety of stakeholders with equal representation, and a sharing in the design of R, D&E actions. R,D&E policy in Australia is stressing the participation of industry in new projects. The Dairy Research and Development Corporation (DRDC) in Australia, and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation for Dairy (Embrapa Dairy), have developed initiatives to identify priorities for R,D&E design with participation of the industry. However, weaknesses in the methods have been identified. The present study describes the results of a strategy to involve a broader range of stakeholders in the identification of regional dairy industry needs. The findings show that overall communication, finance and marketing as the three major priorities of three study regions, meaning that primary needs for the industry are not in production technologies. This is an apparent contradiction with what some stakeholders considered valuable for dairy farms, which are pasture, genetics and nutrition technologies. The results reflect the large amount of research activity into production technology, and the relative success of R,D&E. However, it is necessary to consider issues beyond production technologies before developing R,D&E projects or presenting technologies.

The impact of arms production on the South African manufacturing industry

The 1977 UN arms embargo was one of the main factors which led South Africa to establish a largely self sufficient import-substituting arms industry capable of meeting the apartheid state's demand for sophisticated weaponry. While macroeconomic studies suggest that high military spending had a damaging effect on economic growth, no studies have investigated the disaggregated impact of military expenditure on industrial development. This paper applies panel data methods to the Industrial Development Corporation's Sectoral Database in order to analyse the level effects of military spending.

Cape Breton Provides Pointers for the Adjustment Programs Required by the Decline of the Old Economy (Working Paper 14)

The Cape Breton Development Corporation need not, should not, be dying in the way it is. “Devco” has been widely represented as a failure dragged out too long. In fact it had for a time considerable success in a role too difficult to be often attempted. The main failure was in the political will to stick to its purpose. This commentary is in three parts. The first, major section discusses the purpose of Devco and the policies that served the purpose quite well but were maintained for little more than a decade. It suggests that the benefits would have been greater if Devco had been started earlier in the period of postwar prosperity. The second section comments on the enfeeblement of Devco in the 1980s. The removal of its development function also weakened, and has eventually led to the abandonment of, Devco’s social purpose in the operation of coal mining. Third, a short epilogue pointing out that, while the Cape Breton case is extreme, there will be increasing need to moderate the socially disruptive consequences of accelerating economic change. There are lessons from the Devco experience: the longer remedial action is delayed, the more difficult and expensive it becomes, and the more necessary for its effectiveness is a steady political will.

CottonInfo Extending Research

There are many ways in which research messages and findings can be extended to the expansive cotton community. As everyone learns differently it is crucial that information is delivered in a variety of ways to meet the various learning needs of the CottonInfo team’s broad audience. In addition different cotton production areas often require targeted information to address specific challenges. Successful implementation of innovative research outcomes typically relies on a history of cultivated communication between the researcher and the end-user, the grower. The CottonInfo team, supported by a joint venture between Cotton Seed Distributors, Cotton Research Development Corporation, Cotton Australia and other collaborative partners, represents a unique model of extension in Australian agriculture. Industry research is extended via regionally based Regional Development Officers backed by support from Technical Specialists. The 2015 Cotton Irrigation Technology Tour is one example of a successful CottonInfo capacity building activity. This tour took seven CRDC funded irrigation-specific researchers to Emerald, Moree and Nevertire to showcase their research and technologies. These events provided irrigators and consultants with the opportunity to hear first-hand from researchers about their technologies and how they could be applied onfarm. This tour was an example of how the CottonInfo team can connect growers and researchers, not only to provide an avenue for growers to learn about the latest irrigation research, but for researchers to receive feedback about their current and future irrigation research.

Optimised wheat root architecture for increased yield and yield stability in the face of a changing climate.

This project provided information, selection techniques and strategies to facilitate the development of high-yielding, stay-green wheat varieties for Australian growers through: a) Improved understanding of the relationships between seminal root traits and other root- and shoot-related traits in determining high-yielding, stay-green phenotypes. b). Molecular markers and rapid phenotypic screening methods that allow selection in breeding programs and identification of genetic regions controlling favourable traits. c). Identification of traits leading to high-yielding, stay-green phenotypes for particular target populations of environments using computer simulation studies.

An Investigation of the Impacts of Ponded Pastures on Barramundi and Other Finfish Populations in Tropical Coastal Wetlands

Objectives: 1) To document the extent of ponded pastures and other pondage systems in and adjacent to coastal wetlands on the central coast of Queensland. 2) To assess the movement, growth and survival of barramundi in ponded pastures. 3) To assess the utilisation by barramundi of ponded pastures and wetlands dominated by exotic grass species. 4) To identify appropriate wetland management strategies for facilitating barramundi movement and survival in ponded pastures and other pondage systems. 5) To document the species composition of finfish populations and their relative abundance in ponded pastures.