Discover how a national wheat scheme tried to shield farmers from a creeping pest and keep grain moving in wartime Australia.
This first progress report examines the wheat industry in South Australia, focusing on the damage from weevils and the practical steps suggested to combat them. It also presents the scale of the Wheat Scheme’s operations and the balancing act between growers, pools, and overseas markets during a period of shipping strain.
- Learn how inspectors traced weevil problems from ports to country stacks and what methods were considered to protect stored wheat.
- See the factors that drive storage, shipping, and pricing decisions in a government-backed wheat pool.
- Understand the practical challenges of pest control, including heat, drying power, and the limits of different treatment methods.
- Get a sense of how officials weighed costs, risks, and possible outcomes during a critical agricultural era.
Ideal for readers of agricultural policy history, economic history, and early 20th‑century Australia.