Purpose

To reduce the impacts of feral animals and weeds on crop production.

Components targeted:                           Pests, weeds and diseases; Weeds.

Components that may be affected:        Biodiversity conservation.

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Some characteristics of sustainable management practices were investigated by Cary et al. (2002). The results are presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Characteristics of sustainable management practices as assessed by Cary et al. (2002).

Sustainable practice	Geographic applicability	Relative advantage	Risk	Complexity	Compatibility	Trialability	Observability
(Ideal rating)	(high)	(high)	(low)	(low)	(high)	(high)	(high)
Animal pest or weed control to control land degradation	high	medium	medium	medium	medium - high	medium	medium
Pest and disease control in pastures	medium	medium - high(locality)	medium	medium	medium - high	medium - low	medium
Use of integrated pest management (reducing pesticide use)	low	medium - low	medium - high	high	medium	medium - low	medium - low

• Geographic applicability—refers to relative appropriateness of a practice, in terms of whether it is effective or adapted to only specific localities or, more universally, across many localities.
• Relative advantage—relates to the financial advantage or other convenience or personal advantage to the farm business or the adopter.
• Risk—refers to uncertainty about likely benefits or costs associated with a sustainable practice, the effectiveness of the practice, when the benefits might be realised and the social acceptability of the practice.
• Complexity—implies that a practice comprises more than one or two simple elements and that its elements interact with each other and, in sometimes complicated ways, with elements of the farming system into which it is to be incorporated.
• Compatibility—refers to the extent to which a practice fits in with existing farm practices, knowledge or social practice.
• Trialability—where practices can be implemented on a small or pilot scale, decisions can be more easily made about the value of a new practice without the risks associated with full implementation.
• Observability—practices where the impact or advantage is easily observable or the outcome quickly realised are more likely to be adopted.

Indicator

Percentage of farmers controlling feral animal or weeds.

Results

The ABARE 2001-02 Resource Management Survey estimated that 50 per cent of broadacre and dairy industry farms in the wheat/sheep zone considered weed infestation a significant problem, an estimated 83 per cent of farms found that weed infestation impacted on management, production, returns or costs, 78 per cent of farms made changes in 2001-02 in their land management practices due to weed infestation, 34 per cent took measures to control feral animals and weeds and 14 per cent showed signs of weed infestation in 2001-02 (ABARE 2002). The survey is carried out intermittently and may be repeated in the future (Nelson et al. 2004). Additional survey data from reserach and development corporations and grower groups may be available.

Table 2. Estimated percentage of farms where the operator is aware/takes measures to combat degradation problems

^{Source- ABARE 2001-02 Resource Management Survey.} 

^{Note: RSE = Relative standard error; Population (farms) = 38502,  Sample (farms) = 579}

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VARIABLE	DESCRIPTION
Population	Estimated number of broadacre and dairy industry farms in the selected category with an EVAO greater than $22 500.
Sample	Number of broadacre and dairy industry farms that responded to questions in the 2001-02 Resource Management supplementary in the selected category.
Significant problem - weed infestation(c)	Was 'weeds resulting in land degradation' a significant problem during 2001-02 (includes woody weeds and excludes more easily controlled weeds)
Impacted on business - weed infestation(d)	'Weeds resulting in land degradation' impacted on management, production, returns or costs
Made changes - weed infestation(d)	Changed land management practices on farm because of weed infestation
Changes - control feral animal or weeds(e)	Took measures to control feral animal or weeds to address degradation
Cost of works in 2001-02 - control of animal pests and weeds	Cost of management control of animal pests or weeds primarily for control/prevention of land degradation in 2001-02
Signs of - weed infestation	Any signs of weeds resulting in land degradation on farm during 2001-02 (includes woody weeds and excludes more easily controlled weeds)

 

References

ABARE (2002) 2001-02 Resource Management Survey: Data Package 2001-02. Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Canberra. Website - http://www.abareconomics.com/ame/lrm2/lrmalt.asp. Accessed 14/05/2007.

Cary, J. Webb, T. and Barr, N. (2002) Understanding landholders capacity to change to sustainable practices: Insights about practice adoption and social capacity for change. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra, p. 17.

Nelson, R., Alexander, F., Elliston, L. and Blias, A. (2004) 2001-02 Resource Management Survey:Natural Resource Management on Australian Farms report. Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Canberra. Website- http://abareonlineshop.com/PdfFiles/PC12675.pdf. Accessed 18/08/2008.