June 2007 issue - Science and Research Updates

PEST CONTROL | Redfin perch poses problems
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is preparing for battle with redfin perch after its recent discovery at new sites in the upper Lachlan, Abercrombie and Wollondilly river catchments in the central ranges of NSW.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/redfin-perch

FISHERIES SCIENCE | Threatened fish successfully bred and released
NSW Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) staff have released more than 400 small rare native fish, the southern pygmy perch, earlier this month into a creek in the Upper Lachlan catchment, east of Boorowa.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/threatened-fish-released

FISHERIES SCIENCE | Special abalone recovery group to be established
The total allowable commercial catch (TACC) for abalone will be reduced for the coming season and a Special Abalone Recovery Group will be established to re-build stocks in NSW.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/abalone-recovery-group

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | Graham Centre develops closer ties with Indonesian agricultural scientists
Twenty-two high ranking Indonesian agricultural scientists visited the E H Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation at Wagga Wagga last week to identify opportunities for collaborative projects in agricultural research and extension.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/indonesian-visit

SALINITY | Deep rooting eucalypts defy water shortage
Eucalypts planted a decade ago in one metre deep soil on an outcropping sandstone ridge on the Liverpool Plains have survived, but where were they getting their water?
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/eucalypts-near-quirindi

ECONOMICS | Investing in salt land pastures - does it pay?
A recent study by NSW Department of Primary Industries’ economists shows a farm business investment in sowing salt land pastures to combat salinity can provide a positive return.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/salt-land-pastures

HORTICULTURE | Golden tea tree seed worth every cent
It's worth three-times its weight in gold, but that hasn’t stopped tea tree producers lining up to get their hands on some.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/tea-trees-gold

HORTICULTURE | Helping citrus growers in Pakistan and Australia
Australian knowledge and expertise is being used to increase citrus production in Pakistan, with direct benefits for Australian growers.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/citrus-in-pakistan

HORTICULTURE | Australian research goes hi-tech
Australian citrus research has taken on a new dimension, employing state of the art camera technology at Dareton research station to calculate the sweetness and dry-matter of citrus fruit.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/sweetness-head-cam

SALINITY | Where on farms to grow trees
More work will be done to confirm the best locations to plant trees in the agricultural landscape to reduce dryland salinity.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/where-to-grow-trees

VERTEBRATE PESTS | Research to repel wild dogs
A new project in the north of the State has united farmers, state and local government in a bid to develop an effective wild dog management program.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/repel-wild-dogs

AQUACULTURE | QX-resistant oysters live up to expectations
Latest research trials with QX-resistant oysters in the Hawkesbury River offer great hope to an industry devastated by the disease just two years ago.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/qx-resistant-oysters

SALINITY | Sustainable grazing on saline land
Team members behind the award winning Sustainable Grazing on Saline Land (SGSL) project are putting together a dossier of extension information to summarise their research.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/sgsl-project-products

HORTICULTURE | $4 million to bolster horticulture research on Central Coast
The NSW Government has announced that $4 million has been set aside this financial year to develop a new horticulture research centre at Somersby on the Central Coast.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/horticulture-research

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | NSW DPI researchers win Environment Day Award
Efforts by NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) scientists to address the pressing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have been recognised in World Environment Day Awards for 2007.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/environment-day-award

MINERAL RESOURCES | Exploration survey to highlight NSW petroleum potential
A $1.48m seismic survey highlighting the petroleum potential in New South Wales is now underway in the State’s Northwest Slopes and Hunter regions.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/petroleum-potential

CROP AND PASTURE PRODUCTION | Call for industrial hemp trial hosts
NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) today launched its annual call for expressions of interest from members of the public wishing to conduct industrial hemp trials next spring and summer.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/june-2007/hemp-trial