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Program 3 - continued
3.4 RiceObjective: To improve the profitability and sustainability of the Australian rice industry.
Expenditure in 2000/2001: $2,830,376
Compared with 1999/2000: $2,900,012Some Key Performance Indicators
R&D Plan for the Rice Industry Program 1996 – 2001. Adopted by Board Resolution No. 30-1995-15
- Rate of release of new varieties.
- More uniform crop establishment.
- Use of rice growth model in grower decision support systems.
- Level of grower adoption of nutritional management strategies.
- Level of pest, weed, and disease in commercial rice crops.
- Rice water use performance.
- Adoption rate of new technology and changes in farmer practices.
- Degree of achievement of industry receival requirements.
- Customer satisfaction and stable long-term trading relationships.
Background
The Australian rice industry is primarily based in the Murrumbidgee and Murray valleys of southern New South Wales, where some 2500 family farms produce between 1 and 1.7 million tonnes of paddy a year. It is one of the most productive and efficient rice industries in the world, with yields averaging 9.2 tonnes per hectare. The industry has a farmgate gross value of production of around $300 million and earns more than $500 million in exports (mostly of value-added rice in small branded packs) to more than fifty destinations.
As well as the research projects outlined in this plan the RIRDC Rice R&D Program is also a major partner in the CRC for Sustainable Rice Production, providing $0.5m per year for seven years. This CRC has an extensive research program which covers: sustainability of natural resources in rice-based cropping systems; sustainable production systems; genetic improvement for sustainable production; product and process development; and education, skills development and technology transfer. Details of progress with the CRC research are reported in detail elsewhere and are not specifically included in this report. The RIRDC program has been adapted to complement and collaborate with the CRC program.
Strategies
This sub-program has its own five-year R&D plan, which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/ricr&d.html Provide varieties that result in increased efficiency at the farm level, meet customer requirements and maintain pure seed quality. Improve crop establishment, agronomy/physiology, nutrition and protection from weeds and diseases. Improve the sustainability of the rice farming system. Develop world best practice technologies for harvesting, handling, milling and processing rice. Foster and achieve innovation, both on and off farm. Key outputs in 2000/2001
Research Manager: Dr Jeff Davis
- Released the first stage of a new guide to quality rice production in southeastern Australia.
- Three advance new breeding lines have been progressed to the near release stage.
- Early work on rice cold induced sterility completed and passed on to the CRC.
- Released significant results on rice nutrition including update of maNage rice, which provides guides to improved fertiliser use by growers.
- Provided information on the effectiveness of several new herbicides and how they can be more effectively included in an integrated weed management program for the industry.
- Continued an extensive program of technology transfer via release of the annual RiceCheck production guidelines and organisation of hundreds of grower meetings at five critical stages of the production cycle.
- Support for a range of human capital development activities for both research and grower groups.
Phone: (02) 6272 4152 Fax: (02) 6272 5877 Email: jeffd@rirdc.gov.au
RICE SUB-ACCOUNT ACTUAL 1999/2000($) 2000/2001 ($) Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance Publications in 2000/2001
01/40 Herbicide resistance in the rice-growing regions of southern Australia 01/38 Application of molecular markers to rice breeding in Australia 01/39 Weed Control in Rice Crops 01/42 Quality Rice for north Asia 00/183 Bloodworm and earthworm control in rice 00/90 Rice Research in Progress 2000
3.5 HorsesObjective: Assist in developing the Australian horse industry and enhancing its export potential.
Expenditure in 2000/2001: $653,985
Compared with 1999/2000: $683,551Some Key Performance Indicators
R&D Plan for the Equine Industry 1996–2001. Adopted by Board Resolution No. 37-1996-5
- Information technology transfer using a variety of media.
- Advice available on causes and approaches to management of respiratory diseases that are important to the export/import activities of the horse industry.
- Database and feeding information available on horse feed ingredients.
- Information available on more scientific approaches to training and fitness in athletic horses.
- Resource available to the industry to deal with transport related problems in horses.
- Consolidated publications on training and learning in the horse industry.
Background
The horse industry is one of Australia’s biggest industries and is worth more than $8 billion a year. There are more than 1.2 million horses used for racing, equestrian sports, and recreation and there is a large breeding industry, with Australia producing the second highest number of thoroughbred foals in the world, after the United States.
In 1995, RIRDC appointed an Equine Research and Development Advisory Committee to oversee a R&D program, following agreement by the then Australian Conference of Principal Racing Clubs (now the Australian Racing Board) to provide significant financial support. The Committee oversees the investment of government and industry funds in equine R&D projects.
Since the commencement of the program, additional annual financial support has been received from the Australian Harness Racing Council, the Equestrian Federation of Australia, the Australian Stock Horse Society, the Australian Quarter Horse Association, the Australian Equine Veterinary Association and the Australian Thoroughbred Breeders Club. The Committee has worked closely with the Australian Horse Industry Council in promoting and integrating the R&D program to meet the needs of the horse industry. The Five Year R&D Horse Industry Plan is reviewed annually by the key stakeholders, and a major review was undertaken in November 2000 involving all sectors of the horse industry and researchers. This review led to the development of the new Five Year R&D Plan for the horse industry, 2001-2005.
Strategies
This sub-program has its own five-year R&D plan, which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/equiRD1.html
- Decreasing the wastage in the Australian horse industry associated with injury and disease.
- Investing in biotechnology that will be of lasting benefit to the horse industry.
- Ensuring the transfer of the latest R&D information in appropriate formats to the horse industry.
- Finding mechanisms for optimising and determining fitness and reducing training-related diseases and injuries.
- Investing in postgraduate training to supply the expertise for the long-term benefit of the horse industry
- Maintaining and expanding the infrastructure needed for research and development to be undertaken by Australian research providers.
Key outputs in 2000/2001
Publications in 2000/2001 Completion of a major study to develop an economic model for the horse industry in Australia which showed that the contribution to GDP of the horse industry is $6.3 billion, and with volunteer labour also included, the total contribution reaches almost $8 billion. Continued support for equine research and development projects across Australia, with 21 projects currently being undertaken, covering infectious diseases, reproduction, nutrition, athletic injuries, drug development, communication, lameness and working surfaces. Further developed the Internet website that contains invaluable information about the equine R&D program, indexed articles of all previously published material in the RIRDC Equine Research News, the Five Year Equine R&D Plan and information on the Equine R&D Advisory Committee. Also maintained the electronic mail lists horsesci and austhorse. Reviewed in November 2000, with the assistance of major horse organisations and researchers, the Five Year Strategic Plan for Equine R&D. This review enabled identification of key strategies for 2000/2001 and a new Five Year Horse Plan for research and development. Conducted a workshop on genetics and new technologies available to the horse industry, which could assist selection of superior animals and identify genetic diseases. Held the Sixth Annual RIRDC–Vetsearch Equine Research Awards in conjunction with the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast. The award for Major Industry Contribution went to Mr Bob Charley of the Australian Racing Board and the awards for Equine Researcher of the Year and Equine Research Student of the Year were presented respectively to the late Professor Daria Love of the University of Sydney and Dr Steven Holloway of the University of Melbourne. Continued the quarterly RIRDC Equine Research News as a major vehicle for disseminating information about the Equine R&D program, bringing the latest research information to the horse industry in a user-friendly format. The newsletter is distributed to more than 10,000 people in the horse industry and an electronic version is made available free of charge to all horse organisations to distribute to their members. It is estimated that the information reaches more than 100,000 people involved with horses.
01/83 The Horse Industry – Contributing to the Australian economy 01/77 Horse Research in Progress 2001 00/151 Health and performance of pony club horses 00/146 Role of viruses in respiratory disease 00/91 Horses Research in Progress 2000
HORSES SUB-ACCOUNT ACTUAL 1998/1999($) 2000/2001 ($) Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance Research Manager: Prof. Reuben Rose
Phone: (02) 9351 6935 Fax: (02) 9660 1548 Email: rjrose@camden.usyd.edu.au
3.6 Fodder CropsObjective: To facilitate the development of a sustainable and profitable Australian fodder industry.
Expenditure in 2000/2001: $239,128
Compared with 1999/2000: $174,677Some Key Performance Indicators
R&D Plan for the Fodder Industry Program. 1998–2002. Adopted by Board Resolution No. 41-1997-3
- Identify key market opportunities.
- Rate of release of new fodder varieties.
- Rate of adoption of practices for nutrient, pest and disease management.
- Development and implementation of improved quality standards by the industry.
- Improved industry communications.
Background
Fodder is defined as the wide range of crop and pasture species that are grown, harvested and lightly processed to facilitate both on-farm use and domestic and export trade. The fodder industry is large with an estimated 20,000 producers on 46,000 properties across all States producing between 5 and 6 million tonnes of hay and around 2 million tonnes of silage per year. This production is traded as a wide range of fodder including lucerne, clover, pasture, cereal and others. The gross value of production at the farm gate is estimated to be about $900 million a year, which represents a 50% increase over the past 10 years. About 25-30% of fodder production is traded off-farm and this share has increased substantially during the last few years.
Fodder production is concentrated in Victoria and New South Wales, although Western Australia and South Australia are the major exporting states. The largest domestic market users are the dairy industry (40%), horse industry (25%) and feedlot industry (20%) and others (15%). In recent times there has been a growing trend for the dairy industry to rely more on off-farm purchases with recent estimates suggesting that more than 55% of fodder is purchased off-farm.
The animal feeds industry in East Asia is estimated to be valued at US$10 billion, and it is perceived that a large untapped demand will enable the industry to develop many new opportunities. The fodder industry has been taking advantage of this market with exports increasing significantly in recent years to around 500,000 tonnes. The largest market is current cereal hay into Japan but other markets such as Korea and the Middle East are growing.
During the past few years the Australia Fodder Industry Association has developed a case for the introduction of a statutory R&D levy to support a longer-term basis for an R&D program for fodder. This case has been submitted to the Government but a compulsory levy has still to be established. A small sub-set of the industry – the hay exporters – have agreed to introduce a voluntary levy on export hay to demonstrate that the industry is strongly committed to an R&D program. This voluntary levy is still being implemented; it is still early to gauge just what level of funds will be contributed.
Strategies
This sub-program has its own five-year R&D plan, which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/fodder5yr.htm
- Improve Australia’s competitiveness in the development and supply of fodder-based products for the intensive livestock industries in Australia and emerging livestock industries in East Asia.
- Develop varieties of fodder species that better meet existing and potential market requirements for domestic and export customers.
- Provide a clear understanding of and effective control mechanisms for disease, weed, pest and micro-organism impacts on fodder production.
- Ensure Australian-produced fodder in domestic and export markets meets customer expectations for quality in terms of product description and quality attributes, such as metabolisable energy, protein content and level of extraneous matter and residues.
- Ensure early successful adoption of R&D program outcomes.
Key outputs in 2000/2001
Publications in 2000/2001
- Identification of several new fodder legume crop varieties.
- Several new oaten hay varieties progressed to the near release stage.
- Recommendations for the use of microbial inoculants for improved hay preservation.
- A more accurate screening test for monitoring Corynetoxin contamination of fodder so that the industry can integrate this into its quality assurance system.
- Development of an R&D Newsletter for distribution to industry.
01/041 Sulla and other Forage Species for southern Australia 00/122 Atlas of the Australian Fodder Industry 00/134 A Uniform Objective System for Quality Description of Australian Fodder Products 00/92 Fodder Crops Research in Progress Research Manager: Dr Jeff Davis
Phone: (02) 6272 4152 Fax: (02) 6272 5877 Email: jeffd@rirdc.gov.au
3.7 Pasture SeedsObjective: To facilitate the growth of a profitable and sustainable pasture seeds industry based on a reputation for the reliable supply, domestically and internationally, of a range of pasture species.
Expenditure in 2000/2001: $338,398
Compared with 1999/2000: $257,705Some Key Performance Indicators
R&D Plan for the Pasture Seed Industry Program 1996–2001. Adopted by Board Resolution No. 30-1995-15
- Improved domestic and export seed sales.
- Improved information flows to industry.
- Improved range of species for specific environments.
- Improved management strategies to improve the environmental aspects of seed production.
- Implementation of quality assurance systems for industry.
Background
Australia, with its diversity of climate and growing conditions, is able to produce pasture seeds ranging from temperate to subtropical species for domestic use and for export markets. The export value of pasture seeds exceeds $30 million.
Lucerne and clover are the major leviable seed crops. Total production of leviable temperate legume seed currently exceeds 10,000 tonnes. Perennial grasses (phalaris cocksfoot, tall fescue and ryegrass) are grown for seed in all States with Victoria having the greatest production.
Perennial grass seed production is not levied for R&D and thus research projects on perennial grass seeds are dependent on progress being made toward the introduction of these levies.
The main subtropical grasses grown for seed in north-eastern New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory are Rhodes grass, Setaria, panicum, carpet grass and paspalum. While none of the tropical and subtropical pasture species are currently levied, the industry has indicated its support for a levy on these seeds, and industry and RIRDC will continue to pursue this further in 2001. A levy base would provide the scope for an expansion of the research program to include subtropical species.
Strategies
This sub-program has its own five-year R&D plan, which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/pastures.html
- Develop export and import replacement opportunities for Australian pasture seed growers.
- Improve the technical and economic information available to suppliers and users of pasture seed.
- Improve the overall productivity and returns from producing and marketing quality Australian pasture seeds.
- Address environmental issues impacting on all facets of the pasture seeds industry.
- Improve communications within all sectors of the pasture seeds industry.
- Develop systems that support industry quality assurance and self-regulation.
Key outputs in 2000/2001
- Finalisation of a new lucerne seed disease test and incorporation of these in international seed testing protocols.
- Release of several new temperate pasture species that have enhanced exports and provided a range of new rotation and fodder production options for the domestic market.
- Identification of best practice strategies for sub-clover seed production.
- Introduction of regional grower meetings and an R&D Newsletter.
- Held several project-focused seed production field days.
PASTURE SEEDS SUB-ACCOUNT ACTUAL 1999/2000 ($) 2000/2001 ($) Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance Publications in 2000/2001
01/22 A Study of the costs of production of lucerne, medic and clover seeds 00/93 Pasture Seeds Research in Progress 2000 Research Manager: Dr Jeff Davis
Phone: (02) 6272 4152 Fax: (02) 6272 5877 Email: jeffd@rirdc.gov.au
 
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Last updated: 5 October
2001
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