Upper North Farming Systems trials

• To evaluate the suitability of "spot spray" technology to control weeds on farming land in the Upper North.
• To monitor weed control success on "hard to control" summer weeds such as fleabane, onion weed, saltbush type weeds.
• To record the reduction in pesticide and water use using "spot spray" technology compared to conventional spraying.
• To raise awareness amongst the community about the potential benefits of "spot spray" technology.

To demonstrate whether current seeder set ups within the region are capable of successfully sowing canola into heavy stubble.

The Upper North Farming systems group is involved in several Carbon Farming projects, which are trying to identify areas which have the greatest potential for soil carbon sequestration or reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

To demonstrate inter-row pasture options for the low rainfall zone.

The main aims of this demonstration are to:

• Increase farmer knowledge about the N2O emissions made from fertiliser and legumes;  
• Reveal options available to reduce N20 emissions; and
• Provide information about nutrient use efficiency to maximise productivity.

To assess the chemical control options for effective control of onion weed without cultivation.

To implement the findings of previous work conducted on the establishment of native perennial grasses in the Upper North.

To report on outcomes of the Upper North Water Use Efficiency Project.

To demonstrate whether current seeder set ups within the region are capable of successfully sowing wheat into a pasture with no-till. 

The demonstrate issues key to the current GRDC funded Stubble Initiative Project.

Presence of increased seed dormancy in this grass weed species has enabled it to escape pre-sowing control tactics used by the growers. This explains why barley grass is a problematic weed in cereal crops. However, in some locations like Port Germein and Baroota districts, it has now become largely impossible to control in pulse crops. This islikely due to the presence of group A (fop & dim) herbicide resistance. Currently in these locations barley grass control is reliant on growing Clearfield wheat and the use of imidazolinone (group B) herbicides. This management strategy is at high risk of collapsing from the additional development of group B herbicide resistance. Previous studies have shown that resistance to group B herbicides can develop relatively quickly. Presence of large densities and repeated exposure to group B herbicides could rapidly lead to group B resistance in such barley grass populations. The extent of this resistance needs to be understood and effective management strategies to manage resistant barley grass in pulse crops developed.

• To evaluate the suitability of "spot spray" technology to control weeds on farming land in the Upper North.
• To monitor weed control success on "hard to control" summer weeds such as fleabane, onion weed, saltbush type weeds.
• To record the reduction in pesticide and water use using "spot spray" technology compared to conventional spraying.
• To raise awareness amongst the community about the potential benefits of "spot spray" technology.

Tol trial a range of practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon, including:

• 1.Unviable cropping land managed for the introduction and/or increased levels of perennial component in pastures ( 3 sites);
• 2.Implementation of rotational grazing managed pasture for increased levels of cover and biomass (3 sites);
• 3.Degraded land managed for the introduction and/or increased levels of perennial component in pastures (4 sites); and
• 4.Land managed for the introduction and/or increased levels of perennial component in pastures (3 sites).

To record experiences of farmers using rotational grazing on stubbles (putting high numbers of stock on paddocks for short periods of time) suggest that more surface cover remains and less tracking is evident compared to paddocks where a lower stocking density for longer periods is used.

To address the need for a non-cereal crop and pasture options to provide profitable rotational crops, disease breaks and weed control opportunities for cereal production in low rainfall regions of south-eastern Australia.

GRDC has funded a programme to address this issue and one of the projects within this programme is developing an improved understanding and implementation of management practices for brassica and pulse crops, pastures and other options to reduce the risk of crop failure and improve whole farm profitability in low rainfall south-east Australia.

This project is investigating where and how perennials, including fodder shrub species can fit into our farming systems and the benefits they can have on production andsustainability.

The purpose of the trial was to compare growth rates and dry matter production of alternative pastures with traditional medic pastures

In 2012 the UNFS attempted to validate this early work conducted by the CSIRO. Seed of a long season variety Eaglehawk was sourced. This variety is Prime Hard Quality in NSW and so would be AH in SA.The aim was to conduct a time of sowing trial using three varieties at three times of sowing:- an early maturing variety (Axe), mid season maturing (Frame) and late maturing (Eaglehawk). Ideally the three sowing times were to be 1) mid April 2) early to mid May and 3) early to mid June.

To investigate the possible advantages of varying nitrogen rates over different soil types on a field in the Upper North region.