Ecology and management of Australian weeds

Integrated weed management research by CSIRO Entomology is helping control some of the introduced plant species that have become weeds in Australia.

Thrips (Thysanoptera)

Thrips are often little known by most people, but some species are considered major agricultural pests.

Dr Sukumar Chakraborty: fighting wheat disease

Dr Sukumar Chakraborty researches wheat diseases including head blight and crown rot.

Tackling pests: it’s neighbour joining neighbour

This article from Farming Ahead discusses how the results of a CSIRO study into silverleaf whitefly control have broad implications for cost-effective strategies across a spread of farming environments. (3 pages)

Going viral: CSIRO vs Contagion (Podcast 28 Oct 2011)

A reference to research undertaken by CSIRO's 'bat pack' team in Hollywood's latest disaster flick Contagion highlights the role CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) would play in a real-world version of the pandemic. (11:12)

Eye-in-the-sky helps pinpoint prickly problem

CSIRO research on a tool to track the spread of the devastating weed prickly acacia across Australia’s northern grasslands is described in this article from Farming Ahead. (3 pages)

Pollinator decline not reducing crop yields just yet

The well-documented worldwide decline in the number of bees and other pollinators is not, at this stage, limiting global crop yields, according to the results of an international study published in the latest edition of the respected science journal, Current Biology.

Mesquite biocontrol with the leaf-tier, Evippe sp. #1

This fact sheet describes research on Evippe sp. #1, a leaf tying-moth from Argentina that was released in Australia as a biological control on the introduced invasive weeds species mesquite.

White-tailed spider

White-tailed spiders are common in urban environments and are often found wandering houses at night in search of prey. Their bite has been implicated in tissue ulceration; however there has been little evidence to substantiate such claims.

CSIRO opens rapid response animal disease centre

The Federal Minister for Industry, Innovation, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, officially opened CSIRO Livestock Industries’ Diagnostic Emergency Response Laboratory (DERL) at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong today.

The Burning Country: managing land and biodiversity on Cape York Peninsula’s tropical savannas

This collaboration between traditional owners, government, non-government organisations, researchers and community groups is examining the complex interactions between fire and biodiversity in tropical savannas of Cape York Peninsula.

GRDC National Invertebrate Pest Initiative Annual Workshop

This report details information from the GRDC National Invertebrate Pest Initiative workshop held on climate change and integrated pest management, November 2007. (25 pages)

Dr Paul Caplat: ecological models, from theory to management

Dr Paul Caplat uses ecological models to help develop controls for the spread of invasive trees in New Zealand and Australia.

Fire, fragmentation and conservation in the western wheat belt

Researchers with CSIRO and Western Australia’s Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) are studying the impact of fire and fragmentation on regional plant diversity.

Science for tomorrow: New developments

This extract from Farming Ahead contains four stories on rainfall decline, Fusarium, the 'Cottonscope' and sustainable crops. (1 page)

CSIRO scientist wins award to work with NASA

Dr Brent McInnes from CSIRO Exploration & Mining in Perth has received the Fulbright Business/Industry (Coral Sea) Award.

Securing Australia from invasive species (Podcast 13 Oct 2008)

Discover how Chinese scientist Dr YongLin Ren has been working to safely and effectively control stored grain pests in Australia. Dr Ren talks about his work in this special Mandarin edition of CSIROpod. (9:24)

Science for tomorrow: developments

This article from Farming Ahead contains stories on decoding the Eucalyptus genome, on a new initiative to improve the management of invertebrate pests, on boosting cattle weaning rates and on an improved tea tree variety for oil production. (1 page)

Livestock Horizons: Australian Animal Health Laboratory Science Update 2011

This two-page newsletter highlights the vital role CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory plays in protecting Australia against animal diseases.

Dr Tim Heard: researching biocontrol of tropical weeds

Dr Tim Heard is researching invasive plants that have become weeds in tropical Australia by investigating potential biological control agents in their native range.

Vaccine arrives to boost the frontline fight against Hendra virus

An international collaborative partnership has developed a vaccine to combat one of Australia’s most lethal viruses.

Bats host viruses dangerous to humans (Podcast 16 Feb 2007)

Dr Linfa Wang from CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory discusses bats and what makes them such an efficient carrier of viruses, in this five-minute podcast. (5:23)

Farming Ahead: CSIRO and related articles from 2009

Farming Ahead magazine regularly features CSIRO's research for the agricultural sector. This is a list of CSIRO articles published in the magazine throughout 2009.

Australia’s ocean research ship open to Sydneysiders

The Marine National Facility’s Research Vessel, Southern Surveyor, will be open to the public for guided tours at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney, from 2-20 September.

Dr Matt Plucinski: bushfire suppression and management

Dr Matt Plucinski is a research scientist with the CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems Bushfire Dynamics and Applications group.  His primary research interest is bushfire suppression, including the use of aerial suppression.