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The increasing prevalence of anthelmintic (drench) resistance in gastrointestinal parasite populations is decreasing the profitability of the Australian sheep industry. Refugia management can delay its development by not exposing a proportion of the worm population to chemical control. A dynamic-optimisation model is used to assess the economic value of refugia for management of the worm species Teladorsagia circumcincta and macrocyclic lactone drenches in an application to Western Australian sheep flocks. A low rate of refugia (2 per cent) is most profitable under standard circumstances because it slows the development of resistance, but also reduces the proportion of the flock not exposed to chemical control. Frequent drench application should remain the primary method of control. However, its efficacy should be preserved through refugia management, rather than greatly reducing treatment frequency.

In Australia, Bos taurus cattle breeds produce high quality meat, superior in taste and tenderness characteristics. Nevertheless, these breeds do not thrive in the Northern Australian environment. Stem cell transplant techniques could improve northern beef cattle breeding programs by facilitating crossbreeding via natural service. Focus groups were used in this study to explore consumer reaction to reproduction technologies and the implications for buying intentions. Findings suggested that consumers may react negatively to unconventional breeding technologies but the degree of this aversion is contingent upon how the technology is described. These findings are relevant for preparation of choice modeling surveys.

The increasing prevalence of anthelmintic (drench) resistance in gastrointestinal parasite populations is decreasing the profitability of the sheep industry in Western Australia (WA). A strategy, referred to as refugia management, has the potential to delay the development of resistant parasites by not exposing a proportion of the worm population to chemical control. A dynamic bioeconomic model is used to assess the economic value of refugia for management of the worm species Teladorsagia circumcincta and Macrocyclic Lactone drenches in Western Australian sheep flocks. A low rate of refugia (2 per cent) is most profitable under standard circumstances because it slows the development of resistance, but also reduces the cost accruing to production losses that arise from maintaining a proportion of the worm population in refugia. The optimal drenching strategy is to drench heavily early in the time horizon to minimise worm populations in subsequent years. This study highlights the optimality of minimising production losses by maintaining high levels of consistent control.

Using a bio-economic model, H2OBeef, that includes traditionally considered parameters associated with running a beef feedlot but also incorporates aspects associated with water, changes that can alter water consumption and or price are examined. The results indicate that when water does not incur a cost, the net benefits of the feedlot used as the example in this paper, are in excess of one million dollars (Australian) over a 20 year period. However, with the inclusion of reasonable water costs ($1.20 to around $1.90/kL) and/or slight changes in water use within the feedlot, due to temperature changes from Greenhouse effects, the net benefits can fall to zero. Although water makes up a relatively small proportion of the total feedlot cost, if changes to water demand, supply and/or policy drive up price, then water can play a significant part in determining the economic viability of a feedlot.

If genetically modified (GM) canola varieties are to be released for commercial cultivation in Australia, the Australian canola supply chain would have to consider segregation options if it wishes to continue marketing non-GM canola and comply with worldwide labelling requirements. The feasibility of segregation and cost effectiveness of three possible segregation methods is investigated in this paper. In considering each of these methods the increase in total grain handling cost due to segregation is expected to be between 5 and 9 per cent. Such an increase is comparable with segregation costs reported in Canadian literature.

Despite approval being given by the Gene Technology Regulator to plant genetically modified (GM) canola varieties in Australia, the question as to whether farmers would be prepared to grow GM canola is still being explored. The purpose of this paper is to establish not only if producers would grow GM canola in south Western Australia but how they make this decision. Results from a survey aimed at canola producers found that adoption of GM canola will ultimately depend upon price premiums for non-GM canola and personal risk likely to be incurred by growers.

The Gene Technology Regulator's approval of Bayer CropScience's genetically modified (GM) canola variety, InVigor, and Monsanto's Roundup Ready, means that the commercial planting of Australia's first GM food crop is imminent. Under such circumstances, for Australia to continue marketing non-GM canola and comply with worldwide labelling requirements segregation must be implemented. This study investigates the cost effectiveness of three possible segregation methods. In considering each of these methods the increase in total grain handling cost due to segregation is expected to be between 5 and 9 per cent, or $1.35/tonne and $2.70/tonne. Such an increase is comparable with segregation costs reported in current Canadian literature.

With increasing choices in technologies, decision makers responsible for allocating resources in plant breeding programs can benefit from using bioeconomic models. This paper illustrates how such a model works when doubled haploid technology is incorporated into a hypothetical lupin breeding program. The results derived from the model are presented in terms of seed prices required to achieve an 8% return on research. Doubled haploid technology will be used in a breeding program providing the price for seed produced using this technology is less than the seed market price and the estimated price for seed produced using alternative technologies.

Canola may be marketed as oilseed, oil or meal. Supply and demand of each of the commodities is influenced by, physical factors associated with land and weather, substitute commodity competition, land-use competition, production indirectly associated with canola such as that within the livestock industry and the effects of technology and more specifically plant breeding. Furthermore, domestic agricultural and international trade policies, standard of living, and political stability of countries involved in the canola market together with exchange rates will also affect supply and demand for canola products. The implications of genetically modified canola also need to be understood along with each of the aforementioned factors and their relationship with each other to help predict the future for this crop. This paper provides such an overview and explains how Western Australia fits into the market.

Using the contingent valuation method farmers in the high rainfall region of Western Australia were asked to value the information that they used to reduce risk associated with wool prices. To ascertain whether these values were both valid and reliable they were combined with additional data collected from the questionnaires and incorporated into profit functions so that farmers' attitudes towards risk could be estimated. These risk attitudes may be deemed reliable and valid providing they correspond to those estimated by other researchers. Results showed that the farmers' risk aversion coefficients were comparable to those estimated in the Australian literature. Therefore it may be argued that these farmers were able to nominate valid and reliable valuations for the information that they used.