September 2006 issue - Science and Research Updates

CLIMATE CHANGE | Primary industries need to adapt
Primary industries need to face the fact that climate change is occurring – and develop strategies to adapt, according to the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/september-2006/facing-up-to-climate-change

CLIMATE CHANGE | NSW Government invests $2.5 million in climate research
The State Government will invest $2.5 million in climate research in an effort to shed light on the management of climate change for the State’s primary industries and the environment.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/september-2006/nsw-govt-invests-in-climate-research

PLANT PROTECTION | Town 'oases' support fruit flies
A study on the presence of the Queensland fruit fly in regional NSW has supported the current strategy of focusing control measures on towns.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/september-2006/town-oases-support-fruit-flies

PLANT PROTECTION | All stops out to curb wheat virus
All stops are out now that researchers from NSW DPI, University of Melbourne and the private sector have united to curb the devastating wheat streak mosaic virus.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/september-2006/curb-wheat-virus

STATISTICS | Solving the big breeding puzzles
Some of the big puzzles in animal and plant breeding are being solved courtesy of a statistical package known as ASReml, developed by NSW DPI. ASReml is used by 235 organisations from 35 countries, including CSIRO and Monsanto.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/september-2006/solving-big-breeding-puzzles

RECYCLING | Aquatic compost OK
Quality compost can be produced from aquatic weeds, safe to use and beneficial for farmland, according to Australia’s first large-scale scientific trial of the risks associated with recycling noxious weed material.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/september-2006/aquatic-compost-ok

MEAT PRODUCTS | Profits from beef research put to the test
The benefits of producing beef which scores highly for traits such as marbling, tenderness and meat yield is to be assessed with the help of three large meat processing works in NSW and Queensland.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/september-2006/profits-from-beef-research-put-to-test

WASTE MANAGEMENT | Recycled organics key to mine site revegetation
Planting trees on former mine sites is easier said than done, according to NSW DPI forestry scientist, Dr Georgina Kelly, who is investigating the use of recycled organics to replenish soils.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/september-2006/recycled-organics-mine-site-revegetation

ECONOMICS | New weeds research centre promises huge returns
Spending money on research into weeds pays off handsomely in the long term, especially if channelled through a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC).
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/september-2006/weeds-research-centre-huge-returns