The shared water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin (Part 1)
This 29-page report is the first of a two-part series which outlines the major water characteristics of the Murray-Darling Basin and evaluates the relative importance of different sources and uses of water and criteria for establishing research priorities.
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Community groups and land managers are being urged to renew their efforts to control one of southern Australia’s worst environmental weeds, bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides).
Science for tomorrow: new developments
This article from Farming Ahead contains four stories on a ‘trigenomic’ chromosome to help in breeding disease resistant wheat, a new soybean variety to help cane growers, technology uptake by graziers and safeguards against the livestock disease, capripox. (1 page)
Warming could change SA’s weed pests
Hotter temperatures and reduced rainfall in South Australia due to climate change could prompt a period of ‘weed change’ across the state, according to a new report from CSIRO.
Bushfires cloud air pollution problem
Scientists believe more bushfires generated by rising temperatures and lower rainfall will lead to lower air quality over a greater number of days in Australia, particularly in the south-east.
Indian Ocean temperature link to bushfires
The weather conditions that lead to Victoria’s past two major bushfires may be linked to lower than normal sea-surface temperatures in the eastern Indian Ocean, according to researchers from CSIRO’s Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship.
Aussie ravens ruled out as West Nile virus indicators
Scientists at CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria have found that birds are unlikely to be used as part of an ‘early warning’ system designed to alert health authorities to the presence of the deadly West Nile virus in Australia.
Improving wheat yields for global food security
With the world’s population set to reach 8.9 billion by 2050, CSIRO scientists are hunting down and exploiting a number of wheat’s key genetic traits in a bid to substantially boost its grain yield.
Family planning for wild radish
New research into the increasingly herbicide-tolerant wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) has revealed increased potential for two ‘contraceptive’ approaches to controlling the noxious weed.
Science for tomorrow: New developments
This article from Farming Ahead contains four stories on tiger prawn breeding, water resources in forests, models to enhance water planning and linking drought to El Nino. (1 page)
Unlocking the ways insects survive without air
CSIRO research shows that grain insects capable of surviving incredibly low levels of oxygen for up to 20 days, reduce their metabolic need for oxygen and compensate by breathing significantly more regularly.
Armidale, NSW (FD McMaster Laboratory)
Research at FD McMaster Laboratory develops tools for breeders of sheep and cattle to optimise profitability, livestock welfare and on-farm decision support systems, resulting in more efficient animals and better management practices.
CSIRO’s FD McMaster Laboratory conducts research to optimise profitability, livestock welfare and on-farm decision support systems.
Biological control of Cape tulips
The pasture weeds, Cape tulips, are considered suitable targets for biological control because there are few close relatives among Australian native species and no related crops.
Australian National Fish Collection
The Australian National Fish Collection, based at CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Hobart, is a comprehensive and internationally-renowned biodiversity reference and research facility.
Science for tomorrow
This one-page extract from Farming Ahead contains four stories about CSIRO research on improving bovine fertility, making better use of saline land, controlling blackberry and the development of new pest-specific insecticides.
