Farming Ahead: CSIRO and related articles from 2007

Farming Ahead magazine regularly features CSIRO and related research for the agricultural sector. This is a list of articles published in the magazine throughout 2007.

Science for tomorrow: developments

This article from Farming Ahead contains four stories on biorefineries, greenhouse gases, biological control and aluminium tolerance in crops. (1 page)

Great Barrier Reef catchment systems: exploring land management options to protect the Reef

This Water for a Healthy project is supporting the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan by developing tools which will allow decision-makers to look at the social, economic and environmental implications of different policy and management interventions.

Rabbits on the back foot – but naturally they’re fighting back

Australian rabbits have had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at them over the years. Myxomatosis knocked them about but they bounced back. The same with rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) or the calicivirus.

Dr Lingling Gao: studying aphid resistance

Dr Lingling Gao uses the model plant system, Medicago truncatula, to analyse how plants respond to insects and to help identify ways to improve insect resistance in plants.

Management and control of bridal creeper

CSIRO scientists have spearheaded the bridal creeper biological control program in Australia through the introduction, monitoring and redistribution of three agents to help control and manage the spread of this environmental weed.

Farm management

CSIRO conducts farming research throughout Australia, working with producers and farming groups to trial and evaluate new ideas and techniques.

Wood borers infest timber and furniture

There are many types of wood borer in Australia.  We have compiled information about those which are most often found in timber in houses and furniture.

Scientists preparing for future disease challenges

New and emerging animal diseases, Australia’s equine influenza (EI) outbreak and the fact that 75 per cent of emerging human diseases originated in animals, are among the hot topics for discussion at the 13th International World Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (WAVLD) Symposium in Melbourne this week.

Facing Africa's food security challenges

Increasing the productivity of Africa’s agricultural systems is one of the most significant challenges facing global agriculture. CSIRO is working with African scientists and institutions to help African’s develop long term solutions.

Research aims to reduce spread of deadly horse virus (Podcast 31 Mar 2009)

CSIRO scientists have made a major breakthrough in better understanding how the deadly Hendra virus (HeV) can transmit from infected horses to people and other horses. (6:20)

Environmentally friendly insecticides

By targetting the chemistry of the insects own hormones, CSIRO is developing a new class of insecticide that is pest-specific and produces no harmful side-effects.

Sustainable Communities Initiative in Victoria: Bass Coast Shire report

This 52-page report documents CSIRO's research findings from the Bass Coast Shire project as part of the Moving Forward Update initiative, funded by Regional Development Victoria.

Dr Danny Llewellyn: leading cotton biotechnology

Dr Danny Llewellyn specialises in cotton biotechnology research. He has played an important role in developing the insect and herbicide tolerant, genetically modified cotton varieties which currently dominate the cotton industry.

Termites get the vibe on what tastes good (Podcast 26 Mar 2007)

Dr Ra Inta explains how termites are able to distinguish between two different foods, without seeing, tasting or touching them, in this six-minute podcast. (6:29)

Dr Dan Metcalfe: managing weeds in tropical rainforests

Dr Dan Metcalfe's research on plant distribution and regeneration aims to help understand and manage weed impacts on Australia's wet tropics ecosystems.

CSIRO Pyrotron ignites bushfire research

CSIRO has built a bushfire wind tunnel to research how bushfires spread and improve the safety and fire-fighting capabilities of Australian communities.

AAHL Biosecurity Microscopy Facility: microscopy facilities under biocontainment

The Australian Government is funding expansion of Geelong's internationally recognised Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL), including development of a specialist microscopy service within the microbiologically secure environment.

Conference on Bushfire Modelling and Fire Danger Ratings Systems: Proceedings

Conference on Bushfire Modelling and Fire Danger Ratings Systems: Proceedings collects papers delivered by leading scientists and managers during a 1988 conference in Canberra.

Science for tomorrow: New developments

This article from Farming Ahead contains four stories on bushfire research, design and management of plantings for greenhouse mitigation, the use of local seed in revegetation and indigenous values guiding water research in the north. (1 page)

Fire-generated wind

Bushfires are often associated with high winds - but does a bushfire generate its own wind?

Climate change impacts on fire weather

The combined frequencies of days with very high and extreme Forest Fire Danger Index ratings are likely to increase.

Rooting out Pythium and its allies

This three-page article from Farming Ahead details CSIRO research on the fungal disease Pythium, with the aim of providing the foundations for the development of new methods to help control and ultimately prevent the disease.

Closing in on aphid resistance

In the search for effective, broad-spectrum resistance to aphids in a range of legume crops, CSIRO researchers are trying to isolate major aphid resistance genes and identify the key genes that are activated when the plant recognises an aphid attack.

Evolution of flying bat clue to cancer and viruses

The genes of long-living and virus resistant bats may provide clues to the future treatment and prevention of infectious diseases and cancer in people, researchers have found.