The Importance of Agriculture in Australia

Australia is a major agricultural producer, and due to its vast size and varying climates, there are many different primary industries, ranging from livestock, cropping and the fishing industry. As well as the jobs and revenue created from these industries there is also the many manufacturers that are supported by agriculture in the supply of necessary equipment, such as tractors, ploughs, fencing tools, fishing boats, shearing gear, bird netting, fertilisers and milking machines. Agriculture also impacts other industries, such as transport and the food and clothing industries.

Dairy

The dairy industry is one of Australia's major rural industries. It is estimated that approximately 40,000 people are employed on dairy farms and in manufacturing plants. Jobs are further created in transport and distribution, and research and development projects. It is a well established industry found in the temperate and some subtropical areas of Australia. The majority of dairy farms are found in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, and are responsible for the supply of milk that goes into the manufacture of many different dairy products such as butter, cream, cheese, yoghurt, powdered milk, ice cream, as well as the milk we drink.

Beef

Another major agricultural industry in Australia the beef industry is extremely diverse, ranging from smaller farms in the south-east of Australia where there are higher stocking rates per acre due to a higher rainfall and more fertile soils, to the large scale cattle stations covering hundreds of thousands of acres. The very first beef cattle arrived in 1788 with the first European Settlers, a total of only 6 head of cattle. This figure has escalated to over 20 million head today. Beef has become one of Australia's successful export industries, with over 60% heading overseas.

Crops

The main crops in Australia include wheat, vegetables, fruit, cotton, sugarcane, barley, canola, oats and rice. Wheat is the largest grain crop in Australia and about 80% of it is exported, which makes Australia the fourth largest exporter after the United States, Canada and the European Union. There are about 25,000 farms in Australia that grow wheat as their major crop. It is milled into flour and used in a diverse range of food products.

Wool

With Australia's relatively mild climate it is suited to sheep and the production of wool. Wool growing properties are found in the north of Queensland, right through New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, around to the mid-north of Western Australia, as well as in Tasmania. Flocks range in numbers from a few hundred to as many as 100,000 or more. There are a variety of breeds found in Australia today with different sheep being used for meat and others being wool producers, although it is the Australian Merino that has had an overwhelming influence on the Australian wool industry. Merinos have very heavy fleeces that produce a fine, high quality wool, a lot of which is exported. Currently there are around 72 million sheep in Australia.

Seafood

Because of Australia's geographical isolation from other continents and its range of climatic zones, the diversity and cleanliness of marine life is excellent, meaning Australia can export a broad range of seafood to the rest of the world. The fishing industry is the fifth most profitable in Australia after beef, wool, wheat and dairy. Australia is also the world's largest producer of abalone and rock lobster.

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Organic And Inorganic Farming

Cattle farming is a great activity, if you have the right land resources and the time to spend to take care of the animals. This is not as easy as it seems, though. Raising cattle needs you, or someone you trust, to tend to your farm to be able to provide for the daily needs of the farm. These include watering, the grass and medicines when the animals get sick. You don't have to actually take a course, but you will have to take the initiative to research on the ways to raise cattle in a healthy way, both for you as caretaker and for the animals.

As you learn more about cattle farming, you will find that there are two basic ways to do it - organic and inorganic. Organic cattle farming is when you do not use anything artificial in order to grow the animals. This means the animals are fed purely with grass and other natural foods. They will not be injected with hormones or other chemicals and will have to conform to specific standards and guidelines set by a government body that is in charge of organic certifications.

On the other hand, inorganic cattle farming involves the use of certain hormones and other chemicals that are injected into the animals to make them grow larger and faster. In particular, artificially produced hormones called rBGH are used to increase milk production. There have been a lot of questions raised regarding the safety of these hormones when these animals and their products are consumed by humans. In answer to this, the USDA and FDA have declared that there is no basis to claims that animals injected with hormones are not fit for human consumption.

There are also other considerations you can make if you're planning to have a cattle farm. For example, you have to decide if you'll raise the animals for dairy purposes or to sell their meet. There will be different requirements, either way you go.

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New Tillage Practice - Delivering Multidimensional Benefits

Strip tillage is the new farming practice that allows the farmers to reduce nitrous oxide to contribute significantly in global mission for reducing global warming. The best part of this new farming practice is that it increases crop production noticeably. The benefits of strip tilling have been proved by numerous researches made throughout the world.

Recently in an experiment, a research team monitored the poorly drained fields of clay pan soil planted with corn after the soybean. One part of this field was 'strip tilled' and a rich dose of nitrogen fertilizer was delivered in the soil. Another part of field was left untilled and nitrogen fertilizer was placed on the surface. The experts found that strip tillage significantly reduced the greenhouse gases emission when compared to that of no-till treated part.

Under strip tillage, field is tilled in strips of approx. one foot wide with 8 to 9 inches depth instead of tilling entire field. As result, crop residues remains on the surface of the field. This farming process needs less fertilizer and less tilling efforts. It reduces soil erosion but conserves soil moisture in the large area of farming field. To get improved results, one needs to focus upon efficient fertilizer use at every stage. More fertilizer doesn't guarantee for more yields. Besides the process, the use of proper tilling equipments is also must. Manufacturers of farming machinery and equipments offer wide range, so that, you can choose the best suitable. As the strip tillage needs less use of fuel driven vehicles, so we save fuel and time both.

Therefore, benefits of strip tilling are multidimensional. It seems simple and less effort involving but it needs continuous monitoring and perfection as is needed in traditional farming.

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An Introduction to Rabbit Farming

Rabbit farming is becoming popular all over the world, especially in third world countries as rabbit is being recognized as a new source of low cost protein, with minimal set up and minimal maintenance costs.

For commercial rabbit production, the business requires a full investigation before entering, and local market conditions will differ from country to country. In some countries rabbit meat is not popular, and therefore finding meat markets (essential for your success) is more difficult than those markets where rabbit meat is popular and well known.

Whilst there are many breeds of rabbit, commercial rabbits for meat production are normally the New Zealand white and the Californian. Apart from China, the major rabbit producing countries are Spain, France and Italy. They use the New Zealand white for its rapid growth and meat yield. There are some breeds that are exclusively bred for their fur, such as the angora rabbit.

As far as rabbit breeding goes, rabbits breed well and quickly. The gestation period of a doe is 32 days and she can produce anything from 5 to 9 kits. A kit is ready for slaughter at 90 days at about 2.8 to 3 kgs in weight. The meat yield is about 50%, so with one doe you can expect final rabbit products of about 7.5 kgs of meat and 5 skins every 1 to 2 months. For rabbit production then, 40 kits per year is the norm, which is equivalent to 60 kgs of meat and 40 skins.

Rabbit feed is a commercial formula for optimum growth. A non pregnant doe will eat 100 gr. a day, but when in lactation, will consume 350 gr. a day.

Rabbit skins are normally stored frozen but can be air dried in hotter climates. Better not to salt because the white fur of a salted rabbit skin can turn brownish during the sea voyage to the main rabbit tanneries in China.

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