Senior Library Books
Resource Key
LEVEL 1
brief, basic information laid out in an easy-to-read format. May use informal language. (Includes most news articles)
LEVEL 2
provides additional background information and further reading. Introduces some subject-specific language.
LEVEL 3
lengthy, detailed information. Frequently uses technical/subject-specific language. (Includes most analytical articles)
Climate Change: The Big Picture
- Garnaut, R. (2011). Final report released. Retrieved from http://www.garnautreview.org.au/In November 2010, Ross Garnaut was commissioned by the Australian Government to provide an independent update to his 2008 Climate Change Review. He is also an independent expert adviser to the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee. The Garnaut Climate Change Review—Update 2011 released a series of papers in February and March 2011 addressing developments across a range of areas including: climate change science and impacts; international mitigation progress; carbon pricing; land; innovation; and the electricity sector.
Linked Databases
- Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre Plus This link opens in a new windowThis resource provides the largest collection of full text from leading regional and international newspapers and periodicals, full-text reference books, tens of thousands of full-text biographies, and a collection of images containing more than one million photos, maps, and flags.
- West Australian Digital Archive This link opens in a new windowThe West Australia Archive Digital Editions provides full text searching of past issues of the West Australian. Each issue is searchable the day after publication.
Introduction
"With climate change ... the outlook [for global food production and prices] is more complex, and problematic. World agricultural production will be affected adversely by warming, by more variable weather, and by more intense severe weather events. That will raise global food prices. The price increases in themselves would help Australian incomes. But Australian food production would be affected more than food production in most other countries, and most Australian farmers would be battling to maintain the production that would allow them to take advantage of higher prices.
The 21st century is likely to provide large opportunities for Australian farmers if there is effective global mitigation. It is likely to be deeply problematic without effective global mitigation. The Australian rural economy has an immense interest in the success of global mitigation."
(Garnaut, 2011, p. 135)
Classification of Agriculture
Extensive agriculture
Extensive agriculture generally refers to the production of crops and animals across expansive areas of land. Extensive agriculture covers grain, sugar cane, cotton, sheep and wool, dairy, beef cattle, and goat production.
Extensive livestock: beef cattle (stations), sheep and some dairy
Extensive cropping: cereals, oilseeds and grain legumes
Intensive agriculture
Intensive agriculture refers to the production of crops and animals in concentrated areas of land. Intensive agriculture covers feedlot cattle, pigs and poultry production, and intensive growing of crops.
Intensive livestock: Feedlots, pigs, poultry and some dairy
Intensive cropping: Horticulture, viticulture, agroforestry/farm forestry
(Primary Skills Victoria, 2009)
Agriculture Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2014). Agricultural commodities, Australia, 2013-14. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/7121.0
- National Farmers' Federation. (2015). Major commodities. Retrieved from http://www.nff.org.au/commodities.htmlThe NFF is committed to providing fully sourced and attributed data based on up-to-date, independent and authoritative information. We provide a fast reference to top-of-mind facts and figures on Australia’s leading agricultural commodities, namely: Beef, Cotton, Dairy, Dried Fruits, Goats, Grains, Rice, Sheep Meat, Sugar and Wool.
Agricultural Activities in South West Region
Department of Agriculture and Food. (2015). Buy west eat best. Retrieved from http://www.buywesteatbest.org.au/buy-west-eat-best#.VbZJHrf8_25
- Cornish, R. (2014, November 6). Western Australia's fertile farmland and forest giants. Retrieved from http://www.australiaunlimited.com/food/western-australia-s-fertile-farmland-and-forest-giantsDown in Western Australia’s Southern Forests region is a patchwork landscape of ancient forests, rich pastures, ordered vineyards and clean, clear waters of the coast. Discusses South-West horticulture pursuits.