Crops

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development continues to support the growth and international competitiveness of all crop industries in Western Australia.

With a 2400 kilometre span from its tropical north to its temperate south, WA supports a broad range of cropping industries from rain-fed winter cereals through to irrigated horticultural crops.

In the 2012/13 year the WA cropping industries exported a total of $3.9 billion which comprised: $3.1 billion of cereals, $859 million of pulses, pastures and oilseeds, $142 million of horticultural crops. The major contributors to these exports were wheat ($2.7 billion), canola ($756 million), barley ($377 million), lupins ($42 million), carrots at $48 million, oats ($12 million), and strawberries at $5.5 million.

Articles

  • Although originating in Burgundy, the Gamay wine grape variety is best known from the Beaujolais region in France.

  • Lagrein originates from Italy and is known for its production of medium-bodied table wines that show intense colour, good body with rich berry characters.

  • There is a general perception that pre-fermentative cold maceration or ‘cold soak’ improves colour, enhances fruit characters and provides complexity to red wines.

  • The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has developed resources on the availability and characteristics of clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Shiraz and

  • Since 1981 the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has been distributing a quarterly newsletter for the Western Australian wine industry.

  • The performance of alternative variety wine grapes is continuing to be evaluated with a new trial block established near Wokalup within the Geographe wine region.

  • Barbera is an old Italian wine variety that has consistently performed well in trials in Manjimup, Western Australia with wines viewed favourably by wine judges and consumers.

  • The Viticulture spray guide provides information for the management of pests and diseases applicable for both wine and table grape vineyards within Western Australia.  The bulletin lists over 500 a

  • Durif grapevines were evaluated for fruit and wine production in Manjimup from 2007 to 2010. Ripening conditions were challenging with bunches displaying diseases.

  • The Furmint and Kadarka varieties of wine grapes were identified by the wine industry as having potential for future development of premium Western Australian wine and were planted for evaluation i