Automatic cluster removers (ACRs) are a popular device used for reducing labour requirements and improving conditions for workers and cows in the milking shed. An economic analysis was conducted on a range of milking sheds and herd sizes to determine whether the costs associated with the...

There is a wide variety of approaches to whole farm models (WFMs) including purely biophysical models as well as models that combine biological and financial elements. Our study was motivated by the notion that researchers may benefit from guidelines on the choices they must make about modelling...

New perennial pasture grazing systems have been developed for livestock production in the high rainfall zone of southern Australia. These systems provide producers in south west Victoria with the opportunity to increase stocking rate per hectare compared to current practice. A partial discounted...

High temperatures, rain and high winds (at great intensity at times) have led to scientists and producers exploring options that enable greater control over the effects of weather on primary industries. In this study the suitability of an Italian pergola trellising system (the pergola) for table...

This paper describes the development and application of a dynamic financial appraisal software model, known as the Financial Planner for Macadamia. This whole farm financial model for macadamia farming integrates both the investment and financing decisions of project appraisal into a single...

Limited availability of irrigation water has placed pressure on farmers and water authorities to improve the efficiency of their operations. ‗Modernisation‘ of irrigation infrastructure systems is occurring throughout Australia in order to improve system delivery efficiency and...

Irrigation re-use systems are a common way of improving water use efficiency on irrigated dairy farms in the Macalister Irrigation District. A partial budget analysis of installing a range of irrigation re-use systems on an existing dairy farm was conducted using a case study approach. Two...

The natural, technological, economic, political and social environment in which farmers farm constantly changes. History has lessons about change in agriculture and about farmers coping with change, though the future is unknowable and thus always surprising. The implication for farm operation is...

In this paper it is argued that solving problems in farm management involves applying an appropriate balance of disciplinary knowledge. More specifically, farm management decision-making is about making choices, and the discipline of choice is economics. Thus economics is the core discipline of...

Farm systems in Australia are open systems. The financial openness of farm systems has implications for managing farms and, thus, implications for analysing farm management decisions and farm performance. In elaborating on this theme, capital investment in agriculture is considered and key ideas...