Farming Systems in the Central West of NSW: An Economic Analysis

The objectives of this report have been to describe important farming systems in the Central West of NSW, to gain some insights into current financial performance and to examine in more detail the role of pastures in these farming systems at a time when the profitability of wool growing has been low relative to grain growing. While farms and farming systems vary considerably across the region, a majority can be broadly grouped into a mixed livestock and cropping category. Although there is also significant variability within this category, two representative farms and farming systems were developed for the region with the assistance from a small group of farmers and extension staff from NSW Agriculture. One represents the farms and farming systems east of Condobolin and the other represents the farms and farming systems to the west of Condobolin. Whole-farm budget models have been developed for each to provide a description of the farms in this region and an indication of their current profitability. They are useful to give an indication of how farm income might be altered by the introduction of some new technology, a new enterprise such a pulse crop, or an alternative management practice. This report presents some examples of their application but importantly it has provided a template for the development of additional whole-farm budgets for alternative farming systems in this and other regions. Using the whole-farm budget representing farms east of Condobolin, and a linear programming model, PRISM Condobolin, this report shows that the optimal length of pasture is fairly insensitive to changing market signals for both cropping and livestock commodities. It also shows that although length of pasture is insensitive, the optimal mix of enterprises does change, highlighting the importance of considering the interactions between enterprises in whole-farm analysis.Industrial Organization, Production Economics,

Embodying Wisdom: Pastoral Proverbs for Reflective Practice

This reflection on practice has grown out of the fact that for some time now I have been trying to figure out how to be a wise old man. For many years I have thought about the question found in the middle of the book of Job, “Where shall wisdom be found?” Recently I discovered one answer to that question that I had never considered. Wisdom may be found not only in reflection upon actual events of ministry, but also in the sayings about practice designed to inform that ministry. Certainly, the essence of the so-called clinical method of learning is its focus on particular ministry events of particular persons, but from those events there emerge repeated themes and repeatedsayings for interpreting them. The sayings are not rules for practice. They are challenges to stop and think—to reflect—before you act or speak in order to develop your own particular wisdom and authority for ministry

Pastoral Care: An Essential Guide

Reviewed by Rabia Terri Harri

The Weldon Amendment: The Ongoing Restrictions on a Woman\u27s Right to Choose

Under the Weldon Amendment, a “physician or other health care professional, a hospital, a provider-sponsored organization, a health maintenance organization, a health insurance plan, or any other kind of health care facility” may refuse abortions, counseling, or referrals, even in cases of rape, incest, or medical emergency

Crushed Stone in Indiana

During the field seasons of 1947 and 1948, two field parties of the Division of Geology, Indiana Department of Conservation, examined, sampled and mapped the quarries that are producing crushed stone in Indiana. Although the purpose of the survey was to study only active quarries, some inactive ones which seemed likely to resume operations were studied