A NEW climate tool is changing farming practices in South-West WA and providing researchers with a different approach to tackling Australia’s 30 year drought.

EIGHT University of Western Australia (UWA) postgraduate students presented diverse PhD research projects at The UWA Institute of Agriculture ‘Frontiers in Agriculture Postgraduate Showcase 2010’, proving to an audience of farmers, academics, scientists, industry and government representatives that agriculture’s future is in very capable hands.

WITH over 45 years of farming experience, Ray Harrington has invented the Harrington Seed Destructor to potentially save Australian agriculture billions in its fight against herbicide resistance.

THE development of the Harrington Seed Destructor (HSD), which processes and pulverises common weeds, is a story of scientific trial and error coming together with serendipitous relationships.

WITH increasing population placing food high on the global agenda, WA researchers are at the forefront of sustainable, profitable, high-yield agriculture.

IN the past 10 years 38 agricultural science graduates have successfully completed fourth year honours research projects with The University of Western Australia (UWA) based Western Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (WAHRI).

AS the major managers of turfgrass in suburban Perth, local government authorities are under increasing pressure to reduce water use and improve water use efficiency, while still providing and maintaining quality community recreational and sports facilities.

FOR his contribution to herbicide resistance research, pioneering plant scientist UWA Winthrop Professor Stephen Powles is the recipient of the 2010 Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Western Region Seed of Light award.

PERTH-based agricultural biotechnology company NemGenix has finalised a Federal Government grant this month under the “Climate Ready” funding program, to develop drought resistant sugarcane – the world’s leading biofuel crop.

A RECENT reunion of 1972 agricultural science graduates from The University of Western Australia (UWA) revealed the diversity of career paths taken.

MELILOTUS siculus is shaping up as the new plant that will make salt-affected land a more productive part of the farm – a productive legume that produces high quality feed and fixates nitrogen to enhance compliment grasses.

BY increasing levels of organic carbon (OC) in soil farmers may be able to benefit from emissions trading schemes to offset greenhouse gas emissions, as well as improve soil fertility.

THE results from research by WA’s Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) have contributed to development of international Montreal Process criteria for sustainable forest management and reduced soil disturbance during timber harvesting in southwest WA.

A SHEEP farm in WA’s wheatbelt region has been selected as the site for a unique salinity containment study being carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) in conjunction with Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management.

ROOT systems are notoriously difficult to study because they are hidden from view in the soil. At UWA, a three dimensional root architecture model called ROOTMAP is helping unveil the truth beneath the surface.

PERTH-based agricultural biotechnology company Nemgenix is waging war on parasitic worms by developing groundbreaking technology to create nematode-resistant crops.

Last year's National Science Week saw the message of science delivered to WA’s wheat belt and wine growing regions by…ninjas?