• Grain yield responded to applied nitrogen up to 70 kg/ha.
• Oil did not decrease as nitrogen rate increased, unlike what we have observed at other trials – probably a reflection of the continued grain yield response to N.
• Positive gross margin returns were seen at 40-70 kg/ha of applied nitrogen.
• Overall when nitrogen was applied did not alter the response to nitrogen – but avoid putting the majority of N at 12 weeks.

• Pioneer 43Y23 (RR) had higher grain yield, oil yield (kg/ha) and gross margins, than Sturt (TT).
• Grain yield responded to applied nitrogen up to ~ 40 kg N/ha.
• Both varieties responded similarly to applied nitrogen with no variety x N rate interaction for grain yield. 
• Oil yield and gross margins did not respond to applied nitrogen.
• Timing of nitrogen application did not alter the response to nitrogen of both varieties for GY, oil %, oil yield or gross margin.

• With grain yield of less than 1 t/ha, there was only a small grain yield response to applied N and no economic response to applied N.
• Top-up N at 12 weeks gave a similar response to top-up N at 8 weeks.

• With grain yield of less than 400kg/ha, there was no grain yield response to applied N and no economic response to applied N.
• At ‘low rainfall’ N rates of 30 kg/ha top-up N at 12 weeks gave a similar response to top-up N within 8 weeks.

• Pioneer 43Y23 (RR) perform better in terms of higher grain yield, oil yield and gross margins than Sturt TT, with both varieties producing similar oil %.
• Grain yield responded to applied nitrogen up to 30 kg N/ha.
• Maximum oil% was produced with no applied nitrogen.
•  Gross margins also responded to nitrogen application up to ~ 30 kg N/ha after which further increases in nitrogen led to no further financial gain.
• Overall when nitrogen was applied it did not alter the response to nitrogen of both varieties for GY, oil, oil yield and GM. 

•  In a dry year, there was no economic response to applied N.  

• Grain yield responded to applied nitrogen up to 30 kg N/ha.
• Highest oil %, oil yield and gross margins were obtained with no applied nitrogen.
• When nitrogen was applied, did not alter the yield, oil or $/ha response to nitrogen of both varieties.
• Thus 30, 50 or 70 kg N/ha applied either in splits at seeding and 8 weeks or seeding and 12 weeks provided similar responses.

The Cunderdin trial saw Pioneer 43Y23 (RR) perform better in terms of higher grain yield, oil yield and gross margins than Sturt TT, with both varieties producing similar oil %. Grain yield responded to applied nitrogen up to 30 kg N/ha.  As the rate of applied nitrogen increased the % oil in the seed of both canola varieties decreased at a rate of 0.02% oil per kg applied N/ha.  Gross margins also responded to nitrogen application up to ~ 30 kg N/ha after which further increases in nitrogen led to no further financial gain.  Overall when nitrogen was applied it did not alter the response to nitrogen of both varieties for GY, oil, oil yield and GM.   

Cu fertiliser greatly increased yield from 0.6 t/ha to 1.60 t/ha.  

In general oxide source was equal to or superior to the sulfate source in wet mixes. In dry mixes in the same trial Cu oxide was only 66 % as effective as the sulfate.

A recent development in diagnosing Cu problems by a technique of using the youngest fully emerged leaf. Copper concentrations of less than 1.3 ppm (mg/kg) in the yougest fully emerged tissue , suggest that soil Cu deficiency will reduce grain yield .

The tissue testing technique was used on arange of Cu trila in the district to confirm the method (UWA Lonragan, Robson , Snowball)

For the first time it has been possible to distinguish crop damage caused by Cu deficiency from that caused by other factors such as frost, drought and root rots which produce similar symptoms.

Cu fertiliser greatly increased yield from 0.6 t/ha to 1.60 t/ha.  

In general oxide source was equal to or superior to the sulfate source in wet mixes. In dry mixes in the same trial Cu oxide was only 66 % as effective as the sulfate.

A recent development in diagnosing Cu problems by a technique of using the youngest fully emerged leaf. Copper concentrations of less than 1.3 ppm (mg/kg) in the yougest fully emerged tissue , suggest that soil Cu deficiency will reduce grain yield .

The tissue testing technique was used on arange of Cu trila in the district to confirm the method (UWA Lonragan, Robson , Snowball)

For the first time it has been possible to distinguish crop damage caused by Cu deficiency from that caused by other factors such as frost, drought and root rots which produce similar symptoms.

There are no significant differences in yields between the control and the TM21 plots in either trial.

 

The 2007 growing season was extremely dry and proved extremely difficult for trials. BEST looks forward to seeing the trial evolve over the next few years.

For a full list of take home messages please see the attached trial report.

Please see attached trial report for take home messages.

• Soil applied fertiliser was and better than liquid urea or UAN applied with standard spray nozzles to the crops leaves.
• Both urea and UAN are equally as effective when applied to the soil.
• Growers should select the nitrogen product that most suits their farming system in terms of logistics and cost.

• This trial showed that timing of N application is critical to yield potential, this showed that early foliar N had greater significance than application of other nutrients like potassium and trace elements.
• The trial also showed that seed treatments can develop significantly greater root biomass than unapplied seed.

• One hundred barley lines from a world collection were grown in plant breeders' plots (4 rows x 5 m) on a severely manganese-deficient soil.
• Only 10% of the lines showed good tolerance of manganese-deficient conditions, which were severe enough to kill many of the entries in the tillering stage.
• Extreme sensitivity to manganese deficiency was shown by all progeny of CI3576, an introduction from Egypt, which has conferred considerable yield advantage and disease resistance on its progeny under more highly fertile conditions.
• In all, there were 20 lines from CI3576, including Corvette, and Galleon, a newly released high-yielding feed barley.
• At present, Galleon is not recommended for calcareous sands, pending further agronomic work on its manganese fertilizer requirements.
• The established variety Clipper and its relatives, and Forrest, were also sensitive to manganese deficiency. The tolerant lines fell into three genetically related groups, all of which had pedigrees going back to traditional English land races or their derivatives.

• Wheat, barley, triticale, canary seed, sorghum, sunflowers, millet and panicum were grown in a copper deficient clay soil in pots in the glasshouse.
• For rates of copper from 0 to 6 mg per pot for winter crops, and the same plus 60 mg per pot applied to the summer crops.
• A rate of 6 mg per pot was not sufficient to maximise yield from the winter crops but some are crops produced maximum yields when 60 mg per pot was applied.
• Significant differences intolerance to copper deficiency were apparent between varieties within crops.
• Only the summer crops in triticale produce grain when nearly all the lowest rates of copper were applied.

• A series of glasshouse experiments were conducted with a range of different soils planted to triticale, wheat or rye.
• In one experiment at pH 5 and pH 8.4, triticale was tolerant of flow copper at pH 5 like rye but sensitive to low copper at pH 8.4 like wheat.
• Copper concentration in shoots decreased as pH increased the effect was greatest in wheat and lowest in rye.
• In a similar experiment with zinc these relativities were maintained, that is rye was most tolerant of zinc deficiency and wheat least tolerant.
• In a third experiment in soils deficient in both copper and zinc, these relationships were maintained but adding zinc alone aggravated copper deficiency and decreased pollen viability and yield, while adding copper alone generally increased pollen viability and yield.

• In 2017 no consistent differences in wheat yield were observed among plots established with different sowing implements.

Tor top dressing to be effective on canola the following points are required:

• It needs to be applied to a crop with marginal soil N levels that has the potential to respond.It must be applied before the crop suffers an unreasonable yield potential loss due to N deficiency.
• This will usually mean top dressing before stem elongation.
• The crop also needs good growth conditions after top dressing so that it has potential to provide an economic response.

Large plot sites run by TOPCROP groups across the state generated many opportunities for discussing and fine tuning nitrogen management in canola. The season was the main factor influencing yields and gross margins. Nitrogen application of about 10-20 kg/ha for the Mallee and 10-50 kg/ha for the Wimmera gave best yields and gross margins at most sites in a difficult season.

• Although there was a very late break to the season, cooler conditions through September and October maintained good yields.
• Yield varied from 1.46 - 2.56t/ha. Yarrum, Kaspa and Excell were the highest yielding varieties.
• There was no significant difference between seeding rates, except for 16 plants/m2 which yielded significantly less than the other seeding rates. There were not enough plants to compensate for yield in the short season

• Although there was a very late break to the season, cooler conditions through September and October maintained good yields. The faster maturing varieties (like H46 and Ellison) performed much better than the long season varieties (like Rosella and EGA-Wedgetail).
• Yield varied from 2.9 - 4.4t/ha.
• The protein levels were generally above 12.5%, except for H45 and H46. High protein values were a result of small grain size and a shortened grain filling period. Very high values (15.5 -16.1%) were seen for long season varieties like Petrie, Rosella, Marombi and EGA-Wedgetail.

• Field peas yielded significantly higher then both lupins and vetch.
• Field peas and undersown barley had significantly higher gross margins than lupin and vetch.
• In terms of gross margins there was no significant difference between field peas/undersown barley, undersown barley/vetch and lupins/vetch.
• When choosing to grow a pulse crop the following management issues are critical: time of sowing, paddock selection, species selection and disease and pest management.

• Barley crops showing foliar symptoms of a disorder recognised as boron toxicity were analysed for boron and other nutrients.
• Samples were obtained from sites throughout the cropping districts of South Australia.
• In plants with characteristic foliar symptoms, the concentration of boron alone was sufficient to account for the crop disorder.
• The mean concentration in affected plants was 151 mg/kg and in control plants 23 mg/kg.
• Slight accumulations of sodium and chloride were associated with the disorder, along with slightly lower calcium concentrations.
• The nutrient balance was consistent with association of the toxicity with sodic and saline soils.
• Severe boron toxicity is widespread in barley crops in South Australia.

• Deep placed trace elements can be more effective than the same amount placed just below the seed.
• Foliar application of trace elements was just as effective as deep placement at increasing crop yields.
• Deep placement increased grain uptake of all nutrients compared to other methods of trace element application.

• Copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc were analysed in 45 soil samples from the lower south-east of South Australia, an area well-known for trace element deficiencies
• Absolute levels of all trace elements except molybdenum were very low for most soils of this region compared to average values for other parts of the world
• For soils similar in respect to profile features, parent materials and drainage conditions, each trace element maintains some consistency in its total content in the soil.
• This was shown particularly in relation to the terra rossas and rendzinas.
• Terra rosses on dune limestone is distinguished by higher manganese and molybdenum from the groundwater rendzinas on marls, which have higher cobalt, copper, zinc and iron.
• Several trace elements, especially cobalt, copper and zinc, are significantly higher on the small area of soils developed on volcanic rocks.

• A potted history and review of research into trace element deficiencies in South Australia (PDF available).

• Laboratory analysis of 14 red brown earth soil profiles from South Australia.
• Molybdenum, copper and cobalt concentrations were all strongly correlated with clay content but manganese was not.
• Manganese concentration was correlated with the silt content.
• The relative mobility of the elements in soil was directly related to their position in the periodic table (excepting for cobalt) Co>Cu>Mo>Mn.
• Molybdenum concentration should change with surface clay content but not that for copper and cobalt.

• The document provides summary data for nine experiments examining a range of trace elements in the productivity of pastures over time, and some livestock deficiencies.

• There were no significant yield effects of foliar applied trace elements to wheat, barley, canola and lentils at the Woomelang site in 2001. The trace elements were applied as Zincsol, Coppersol and TopFoliar (which contains a mix of trace elements).
• The alternative nutrient product, Hibrix, had no significant yield effect on wheat and barley and depressed the yield of canola and lentils

• Fluid trace elements banded under the seed row is an effective system for delivering these nutrients to cereal crops.
• Rates of trace element application as banded fluids may be lower than for other seeding strategies and cheap sulphates can be used
• Mixes of trace elements as banded fluids are effective.
• Trial was not trace element deficient.

• No further yield benefit was measured from applying other nutrients (S, K, Mg) and trace elements (Zn, Mn, Cu) over and above that from applying nitrogen and phosphorus alone.

• The concentrations of cobalt, zirconium, nickel, copper, vanadium, molybdenum, and manganese were determined in soils.
• The soils from the lower South East of the state contain lower concentrations of all of these elements than do those near Adelaide, particularly for cobalt, copper and zinc.
• This difference is reflected in the concentrations of calcareous material in the soil.

• Copper deficiencies have been reported but are usually corrected with fertiliser addition, however diagnosis can be a problem.
• Some evidence for boron deficiency on sandy dune soils in the Murray Mallee, upper south east and Eyre Peninsula, only a narrow range in soil B between deficient and toxic. Alkaline calcareous soils are known to contain toxic concentrations of boron.
• Molybdenum deficiency occurs on acid soils in the Mt Lofty Ranges, Fleurieau Peninsula, Clare Hills, Kangaroo Island, south-east and lower Eyre Peninsula. It has been recorded for legumes but not cereals.

• While some yeild differences occurred between plots the yield responses generally were not significantly different from the control.
• For further conclusions please see the attahced trial report.

• Only 31 per cent of the applied urea nitrogen (N) was taken up by the wheat crop in 2014. This low fertiliser use efficiency may be partly related to the season; unused N in the soil can benefit the following crop.
• In a decile 1 season, different stubble retention practices had no effect on microbial biomass and N supply potential (avg. 58kg N/ha).
• Labelling a wheat crop with 15N allows researchers to quantify the fertiliser use efficiency and trace the N from stubble to the subsequent crop.

With pasture growing in a dry spring, not accessing stored water and producing little biomass, the effect on soil water/nitrogen and on the following crop is minimal. Prioritise paddocks which need medic seed set for retaining as pastures, but terminate more pastures later if feed is an issue. In a year when pasture is growing fast and using water and possibly fixing nitrogen, the trade-off may not be so flat (or simple) and will depend more on the following season (unpredictable).

• Normal traffic can easily reduce grain yield on this clay soil.
• This trial design is not very hard to use to quantify tramline farming systems.

• Over the last four years, trafficking at any level has not decreased crop production on a heavy Minnipa soil so moving to controlled traffic farming on this soil type is not likely to increase crop production due to less trafficking in the paddock.
• Trafficking on a deep sand (trial at Loxton in the northern mallee) has substantially reduced crop production for at least 4 years so CTF may have additional benefits on deep sands, especially if ripping is used to correct existing compaction.
• Similar to many previous trials, ripping has not benefited production on the heavy Minnipa soil.

There were no significant differences in grain yield or screenings due to the traffic treatments.

• The industry should begin to work with specialist organisations such as the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and Family Business Australia to provide regionally available training.
• • Continue to develop information sheets and meeting templates that provide support to farm businesses establishing an advisory board.

•    Production constraints on sandy soils can be overcome by mechanical intervention and the application of soil amendments, however, the response can vary between sites and years.
•    Knowledge of soil characteristics throughout the profile is vital for identifying key production constraints and determining an appropriate and effective management strategy.

• Treated seed treatment had a marginally higher yield (3.24t/ha versus 3.15), lower screenings, lower protein and higher income by $9/ha.
• Seed from control plots (untreated seed sown) had higher nutrient (Mn, Cu, Zn, P and S) concentrations.
• Coating seed does no harm but farmers need to judge what is ' best bang for their buck'.

Before attempting subsurface lime incorporation it is essentail that the pH profiel be known.

Before attempting subsurface lime incorporation it is essential that the pH of the profile be known. The amelioration treatments were no larger than the effect of the ripping. 

• Tonic plantain and Grouse chicory are worth considering as summer forages, with the Tonic plantain likely to persist through the following winter and longer. Although not tried, Italian ryegrass (or perennial ryegrass) could be oversown for more winter feed. In this trial, winter feed production from Tonic plantain and sub clover was excellent, no doubt partially due to the high sub clover seed reserves and partially due to the high soil fertility on Tremaine’s.
• Banquet tetraploid hybrid perennial ryegrass could be considered for a medium term high quality pasture for finishing lambs/weaners in high fertility paddocks, with controlled rotational grazing over summer.

Over the 1990’s the most profitable farming system for each region was determined by losses in poor years rather than the profits in good years. Businesses with high costs associated with intensive cropping and high inputs, were impacted more by losses than businesses with moderate adoption of new crop types and moderate inputs.

• Wheat yields were significantly reduced by competition from barley and brome grass.
• The use of knockdown post sowing but pre-emergent provided excellent control of the grass weeds, which translated into a yield benefit.
• The trends in control of grass weeds and yield benefits in barley were similar to the results seen in wheat.

• Occurrence of blackleg infection was generally low at Westmere in 2013.
• The ‘Rolls Royce’ treatment of Jockey seed treatment, Impact on fertiliser and two applications of Prosaro yielded significantly higher than the control (600 kg/ha difference).
• All treatments that received foliar applied Prosaro had significantly less infection at green bud compared to only seed or fertiliser fungicide or nothing.
• Prosaro’s ability to control blackleg is clear however yield results in a year with low blackleg burden make it difficult to distinguish between in furrow and foliar fungicide control.
   

For a list of variety information and results please see the attached trial report.

• Karoo is the best suited Triazine Tolerant canola in the Southern Mallee.
• Oil contents can be expected to be low in a dry year.

The grain yields of TM05 and TM08 are not a true reflection of their potential yields because of frosted seed at sowing time. As well heavy rain approximately 10 days prior to harvest would have had some effect on grain yields.

Trifluralin appears to be the best pre-emergent ryegrass herbicide for wheat.

Trifluralin and related Group D herbicides are effective in controlling Group A herbicide resistant ryegrass, however when they are consistently used without other control practices resistance will develop. Ryegrass with Group D (trifluralin) resistance is already common in some areas.

• We used Frame wheat in this trial, it could be that Flame is more tolerant to Triflualin than other wheat varieties.
• Do not use this technique before checking to see whether on your soil type and machinery the higher rates of Trifluralin are also safe to use.
• Do not use Trifluralin according to the techniques outlined if your soil is cloddy.

A thorough understanding of trifluralin application techniques can be the difference between poor and excellent ryegrass control. It can also help achieve target plant establishment. This demonstration showed an increase in ryegrass control when up to 3L/ha trifluralin was applied. Rates above 3L/ha trifluralin did not result in additional ryegrass control. The influence of water rates was minimal due to the lack of stubble residue which shows that water rates of 50L/ha are acceptable in situations where there is very little residue from the previous crop.

Differences in trifluralin tolerances exist between different wheat varieties, however the differences were not consistent. Over three years of trial work Silverstar was intolerant to trifluralin in one year (30% yield loss at Triflur480 2.4L/ha IBS in 1998) and tolerant in 1999 and 2000. In 2000 only Yitpi suffered a yield loss (20% yield loss at Triflur480 2.4L/ha IBS). There are no differences in tolerance when applying trifluralin immediately prior to sowing or post sowing pre-emergent as long as the trifluralin is not incorporated into the sowing band. Trifluralin residues in grain were below the Minimum Residue Level (less than 0.05ppm) for the plots with trifluralin used at the registered rate or at the high application rate (Triflur480 2.4L/ha). Trifluralin is registered at 0.8L/ha of Triflur480 applied at least 7 days prior to sowing. NuFarm have applied to the NRA for changes to the Triflur480 label - changes relate to higher rates for use in minimum tillage.

• An unusual result with Silverstar out-yielding both Frame and Schooner. Previous trial work showed that Silverstar is especially sensitive to trifluralin even at recommended rates.
• Frame seedling establishment was significantly lower at the 2.4L/ha rate than at the registered rate of  Silverstar and Schooner.
• Trifluralin in not registered on wheat at rates higher than 1.0L/ha.

The yields of the different Trifluralin treatments and sowing depths ranged from 1.5 to 2.1 t/ha.

Frame is more tolerant to high rates of trifluralin compared to Goldmark and Silverstar.

• Triticale is very responsive to high inputs of seed and fertiliser.
• Adequate fertiliser is needed to achieve protein levels above 10%.
• In dry springs triticale yields are 10-15% below wheat, due to triticale’s longer grain filling period.

• At Streatham, no variety was significantly higher yielding than Currency, however at Hamilton, both Credit 1 and Everist were superior in yield. 
• It would appear that no Triticale variety has any better frost tolerance than any other variety and that susceptibility or otherwise to frost is mainly governed by when flowering occurs relative to the timing of the frost. Any variety which flowers when there is a frost will be badly affected. Many varieties with poor yield were badly frosted. 

• Triticale requires 80kg of N to maximise yield.
• Triticale requires the same amount of nitrogen input as wheat to yield near its potential.
• Kocsiusko Triticale responds to the use of fungicide.

Triticale does not respond to N, or fungicide in dry years.

• Triticale responded to nitrogen (N) and fungicide in the last three years.
• In 2007, the response was to either N or fungicide
• The variety Toburk yields as well as Kocsiusko when not grazed.
• Tobruk did not respond significanly to fungicide.

• Triticale responded to nitrogen during 2008.
• Triticale did not respond significantly to fungicide during 2008.
• The variety Kosciusko yielded better than the variety Toburk.
• Kosciusko did not repond significantly to fungicide.

• Tahara is one of the most widely grown Triticale variety in the district, however its performance was significantly inferior to that of Treat and Credit, two more recently released lines.
• For further conclusions, please see the attached trial report.

It has proven difficult to select a new triticale variety that is consistently higher yielding than Tahara. This appears to be complicated by
greater variety by site interaction as well as variety by year interaction in comparison with wheat trials.

Four triticale varieties and lines were evaluated and one composite line (Tahara/Breakwell). Grain yields were highly correlated with the degree of frost damage around ear emergence and flowering. The late flowering Breakwell avoided most frost damage from October frosts and yielded significantly higher than all other varieties. Crackerjack and the composite line were also significantly higher yielding than Tahara and Tickit. The latter varieties were both severely affected by frost damage.

• All triticale varieties evaluated showed some degree of susceptibility to stripe rust with Breakwell being the most susceptible. Grain yield rankings largely reflect this with Breakwell finishing a distant last.
• Hawkeye was significantly higher yielding than all other varieties and this was probably assisted by significantly less lodging compared with the other varieties except Blackwell.
• Further trials will be conducted in 2009-10 to evaluate the performance of Hawkeye and screen for new disease resistant material from other breeding programs.

• The average yield for the Bairnsdale tritical trial was 2.77 t/ha. The highest yielding variety was AT5731 with 3.07 t/ha, a new variety due for commercial release in 2010.
• Grain quality was reduced due to unfavourable seasonal conditions during grain fill, the main parameter affected were test weights and screenings.
• The yield potential of the trial may have been reduced due to the later sowing in comparison to the Bairnsdale wheat and barley variety trials.
• An evaluation of sowing date and effect of grazing was conducted in the 2009 Cereal Grazing Trial at the Bairnsdale research site.

• The variety with the highest yield was Crackerjack at 7.35 t/ha.
• The site mean was 7.13 t/ha.

• Grain yields were affected by water-logging. Endeavour and Hawkeye were the top yielding varieties (5.0 and 4.7 t/ha respectively) but only Endeavour was significantly higher than Tahara. Endeavour has also yielded reasonable well in dual purpose trials but overall is yet to prove a worthy replacement for Breakwell.
• Yields of the new entries, Bogong and Yukuri, were dissapointing as they tended to be lower yielding than Tahara.
• Only Endeavour and Yukuri proved fully resistant to stripe rust although the other varieties remained moderately resistant.

• Tobruk produced the highest yield of 5.9t/ha which was significantly higher than Bogong, the lowest yield producer but not different from the other varieties.
• Bogong produced the highest test weight and protein content.

• Over the last 5 years later maturing lines (flowering mid-November) have generally significantly out-yielded Tahara. The exception was 2000/01 where Tahara was 10-25% higher yielding than nearly all other lines due to both the absence of frost damage and the sharp finish to the season. With this season's good spring rains Tahara was back at the bottom of the pile at Symmons Plains and less dominant at Riccarton. However the fact that this year the later lines were not the highest yielding in such a favourable season suggests that the main advantage of these lines is through avoiding frost damage at flowering. 
• For further conclusions please see the attached trial report.

• Triticale yields were surprisingly good at Symmons Plains being on average higher than all except the best wheats. In contract at Riccarton the wheats tended to be higher yielding possibly due to a small amount of frost damage in the triticale. 
• It has been difficult to select a new triticale variety that is consistently higher yielding than Tahara. This appears to be complicated by greater variety x site as well as variety x year interaction in comparison with wheat trials. The front runners after several years of trials appear to be Wig, W47, Treat, Tickit and AT509. 
   

• It has been difficult to select a new triticale variety that is consistently higher yielding than Tahara.
• This appears to be complicated by greater variety by site interaction as well as variety by year interaction in comparison with wheat trials. The front runners after six years of trials are Kosciosko, W47, Tickit and AT509. In the first year of trialing, Breakwell performed exceptionally well but requires further testing over more sites. It is possible that without a major waterlogging stress, Breakwell may have no yield advantage. It was noted that this variety grew taller than other lines and so lodging could be a problem in a good season.

Eight triticale varieties and lines were evaluated. A new strain of stripe rust affected nearly all material, some severely eg Kosciosko. In other less susceptible material adult plant resistance ensured that at least the flag leaf was largely functional. Grain yields generally reflected the severity of stripe rust infection. Tahara still remains difficult to beat in terms of grain yield.

• Sow varieties inside their recommended window.
• Triticale may have a niche in the eastern areas of Central West NSW.
• Triticale is less tolerant of moistures at flowering than wheats.
• Delivery points and markets are a major influence on triticale production.

• Triticale tolerance of low manganese was much greater than for wheat or barley, but not as good as rye.
• Higher seen Mn in triticale varieties was correlated with greater yield.
• There was significant variation in manganese efficiency between triticale genotypes.

• Winter habit canola has been successfully sown in spring, grazed over summer and harvested for grain in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
• Establishing canola in spring means larger, more resilient plants in autumn with less impact from slugs and waterlogging.
• Forage value comparable to commercially available dedicated forage rapes over summer and autumn with added benefit of oil seed production.
• Grazing management and timing of stock removal is proving to have an impact on grain yield.
• Vernalisation means winter wheats have the potential to be used in the same way.
   

Key Messages Amount and quality of feed are important considerations when grazing livestock Barley and canola/vetch had fastest early growth rate to 21st August Oats/vetch and canola had the fastest growth rate between 21st August and 28th September Alternative pastures produced more dry matter overall than medic varieties

• N demand by crops in last year’s trials results was low due to the very dry finish to the season.
• There was no benefit from applying Twin N to wheat in this season.

• The trial was designed to test the capacity of TwinN to enable reductions in nitrogen fertiliser applications.
• The control treatments showed no statistical difference in yield between 0 and 50 kg/ha urea but a difference was seen between 50 kg and 100 kg/ha ureas.
• Yield from TwinN plus 75 kg/ha urea was not statistically differenent from that from the 100 kg/ha urea.
• No treatment effects were found in protein% or screenings%.

• There was a significant step up in 2013 wheat yields from rotations which included a one year break previously compared to where there had been a two year break.
• The break crop benefit of a one year break may only last one season if grass weeds are a significant factor.
• Large break crop benefits of 0.5-1.25 t/ha were achieved following a two year non-cereal break phase compared to continuous wheat.
• The benefit of a two year break had little to do with the phases chosen for those two breaks.
• The eight most profitable crop sequences over a three year period in this trial had two year breaks in them.

This project has demonstrated that diversified cropping sequences have an important role to play in low rainfall Mallee farming systems. Including 1- and 2-year break phases were shown to significantly increase the productivity of subsequent wheat crops.

Following this year's trials results we are confident that UAN can have a role as an in-crop N fertiliser.

Best practice for using UAN at rates of up to 60L/ha when mixed with herbicides and fungicides:

• if using herbicides or fungicides not in this trial then always to a 'jar' test first for determining the physical compatibility: if white clouds or clear divisions appear, then the two may not be compatible;
• herbicides and fungicides mix better with UAN if mixed in water first;
• do not spray at temperatures over 25degrees C especially after flag leaf emergence because you don't want to scorch the flag leaf (!)
• do not spray when the Delta T is < 2, it appears that the leaf scorch is worst when humidity levels are high.

Results indicate that Uniform significantly improved crop yields in a second-year barley crop and in a wet season; in dry years’ root diseases such as rhizoctonia generally have even greater effects on grain yield and quality.

Pre-sowing: limed and cultivated by farmer.

Early season: very slow growth and stressed.

Mid season: very stressed until good rain in September.

Pre-harvest: droughted.

• There was significant rain in early April.
• The paddock was cultivated wet at the time of seeding.
• Seeding was delayed due to seed supply problem.