No tested barley cultivars suffered yield losses under Cadence WG or Diuron/MCPA in 2010, but a narrow safety margin exists for Baudin, SloopSA, SloopVic and Vlamingh in response to these two treatments.

• Favourable climatic conditions in 2021 resulted in the increased prevalence of a range of cereal diseases across NSW, especially the wheat leaf diseases stripe rust, septoria tritici blotch (STB) and yellow leaf spot (YLS).
• In combination with increased cereal stubble loads produced in 2021, pathogen levels are likely to be elevated again in 2022.
• Predicted La Niña conditions over summer will maintain or increase the risk of stripe rust in 2022.
• Multiple stripe rust pathotypes were prevalent across NSW in 2021. Keep up to date with the latest varietal resistance ratings.
• Minimise disease impacts in 2022 by using an integrated approach to management.
• NSW DPI plant pathologists can assist with correct diagnosis and advice on appropriate management options.

• Significant yeild increases were measured at Conmurra by controlling aphids to reduce the impact of BYDV
• A range of fungicide treatments, applied at GS31 9increased grain yeild in wheat at Conmurra by about 2t/ha
• High levels of black point occured at Millicent and allowed good ratings to be made. 

•  Significant yield increases were measured at Conmurra by controlling aphids to reduce the impact of BYDV.

•  A range of fungicide treatments, applied at GS31 increased grain yield in wheat at Conmurra by about 0.8 t/ha

•  High levels of black point occurred at Millicent and allowed good ratings to be made. 

At the higher rainfall sites such as Conmurra, consideration should be given to spraying to control aphids in order to reduce the early infection of cereals by BYDV. At lower rainfall sites such as Frances this may only be a viable proposition in years with high summer and autumn rainfall that may allow increased aphid survival. The development of new varieties with increased tolerance to BYDV will reduce this need to spray. CSIRO has wheat lines in their breeding program that have this tolerance. While fungicides would normally be used when disease is present, there are some circumstances where yield increases can be recorded even in the absence of disease. 

• Edillilie crops show huge potential to recover from grazing and value add to cereals.
• Edillilie crops responded to late N application with higher DM production and grain yield.
• Barley was the highest producer of DM at Minnipa.
• Two other G&G regions conducted cereal grazing trials - see the "Sharing Info" section of this book.

• Wheat on wheat can be successfuly grown with relatively low risk if all factors that influence diease are considered.
• The most important are: disease carry over, variety selection, sowing time, seed treatment and burning stubbles.
• Barley on wheat is less of a problem, except for self-sown wheat in the barley sample.

• Wheat on wheat can be successfuly grown with relatively low risk if all factors that influence diease are considered.
• The most important are: disease carry over, variety selection, sowing time, seed treatment and burning stubbles.
• Barley on wheat is less of a problem, except for self-sown wheat in the barley sample.

On-Duty residues may affect the performance of subsequent susceptible crops. Cereals are considered a safe crop option following Clearfield canola as long as the On-Duty has been applied prior to the end of August and that rainfall between spraying and sowing the next winter crop has been at least 250mm.

There was no forage production response to fertiliser nitrogen (N) at Yanac in 2012; a low rainfall, decile 1 season. District experience, however, has seen forage production respond to fertiliser N in better rainfall seasons. Consider the risk associated with the application of fertiliser on pastures. What is the likelihood of achieving a paying response from this investment? Ensure forage is meeting the nutritional requirements of stock to realise genetic potential for growth and production.

• Increasing inputs from low to district practice significantly increased crop emergence for all four varieties, reflecting the increased seeding rate.
• Crop head density was higher under district input practice, reflecting the higher seeding rate and crop nutrition, and was positively correlated with seedling establishment.

• Burning or cultivating 2015 stubbles tended to produce higher yields, however this was only significant at Ungarie.
• High rainfall and a soft finish removed the benefit of stored soil moisture that stubble retained systems may have provided.
• Nitrogen was the limiting factor for both yield and protein for 2016.
• Growers cannot let stubble negatively impact on weed control and timely sowing.
• Growers should use crop rotation to their advantage by aiming to sow the right crop into the least antagonistic stubble.
• Stubble retained systems can require more nitrogen due to increased nitrogen tie-up.

Root diseases such as 'Take all', cereal cyst nematode, and Rhizoctonia cost cereal farmers acorss the Mallee and the Wimmera millions or dollars each year.

• Plant counts for each treatment were averaged over three replicates and compared.
• No statistical analyses have been used in the following interpretation.
• For results, please see the attached trial report.

Grain legumes are ideally suited for direct drilling into cereal stubble. Cereal stubble does not affect grain legume growth or yield. The legume's large seed size and tolerance to variations in sowing depth allows them to safely emerge through stubble. Stubble should be left on the soil surface. Attempts to break up and bury it with repeated harrowing and workings will damage the soil structure, negating any benefit from retaining it.

• Grazed crops showed no effects from grazing in 2016 – an excellent season producing high early biomass. Crops recovered and yielded very well.
• Trojan and LRPB Arrow were the best dual purpose wheat varieties.
• Fathom, Spartacus and Rosalind were the best dual purpose barley varieties.

The highest yielding wheat overall was Janz at Charlton at 3.72t/ha.

The highest yielding wheat overall was Janz at Charlton at 3.72t/ha.

The highest yielding wheat overall was Janz at Charlton at 3.72t/ha.

In this demonstration at Birchip, Yitpi and Krichauff were the highest yielding wheat varieties (3.28 and 3.26 t/ha),.

• A diagnostic service is available to farmers and industry for diseased plant specimens.
• Samples of all leaf and aerial plant parts should be kept free of moisture and wrapped in paper not a plastic bag. Roots should be dug up carefully, preserving as much of the root system as possible and preferably kept damp. Samples should be sent to the following address:

SARDI Diagnostic Centre
Plant Research Centre
Hartley Grove
Urrbrae SA 5064

• Please see the attached trial report for full details.

• Oats produced the most dry matter after repeated grazings.
• Manage timing of grazing to allow cereal recovery. • Establish as much bulk as possible in a cereal pasture by increasing.
• seeding rate and consider dry sowing.

 

• Current standard practices of 50 kg/ha DAP or 50 kg/ha MAP balanced with urea below the seed provides adequate P nutrition.
• With adequate soil moisture, no large differences in grain yield were observed in 2019 at Streaky Bay with different granular fertiliser treatments.

The trial went well in 2011 because the manure coverage was good. Michael was disappointed with the results from the deep rip treatments with or without lime, because there was no significant yield difference compared to the control and hence no economic gain. However applying chicken manure at 2t/ha resulted in an increase in yield (especially from the most acidic sand rises) with a considerable economic gain/return. Therefore, as a result of these trials Michael is going to implement a strategic manure application programme with the objective of increasing his paddocks yield and profitability while reducing the impact of the sand rises. Fellow growers in the area have embraced the trial outcomes and most of them are keen to adopt a similar strategy in their cropping system since chicken manure is widely available in the area.

• Commercial viability has been difficult to demonstrate.
• Field trials demonstrated that the H Senor was able to accurately classify annual ryegrass in several broadleaf crops, including canola, faba bean, lentil and field pea.
• Other grass weeds such as brome grass and wild oats were also correctly identified as grasses in these crops.
• Broad leaf weeds were accurately classified in cereal crops, however this was more difficult due to the overlapping nature of the cereal crops at the time when the broadleaf weeds had emerged.
• Classification accuracy was lower for detection of grass weeds in cereal crops and broadleaf weeds in broadleaf crops, and these scenarios were not pursued for that reason.  

Ascochyta blight infection was severe within this trial and resulted in almost complete plot death in multiple susceptible varieties. Grain yields were higher when disease was fully controlled. Interestingly, PBA Royal, a new variety with improved resistance produced the highest yields when diseases were fully controlled (2.44 t/ha) and not controlled at all (1.6 t/ha).

The choice of vigorous, leafy, nutritious forage crops available for low to medium rainfall environments to supply nutritious green feed to sheep during the winter and spring months continues to expand. Forage cereal crops provide feed during winter; vetch is useful from late winter into spring and forage brassicas provide from late spring into summer. To help decide which forage to grow from the broad range available, first plan the time of greatest need (time of year, duration), intention to harvest silage, hay or grain and the rotational requirements of the paddock in which forage is to be planted.

Greater variation in dry matter production at the water ripe sampling time was observed compared to milky-soft dough. Dry matter production was highest at milky-soft dough and Moby barley consistently had the lowest. Majority of cereal forage varieties had NDF and NDFD levels to meet grade 1 and 2. Feed quality did not decline significantly with later cutting

Study Conclusions

Potential nitrogen contributions are assumed to be 40% of the total nitrogen contribution, assessed from the dry weight and nitrogen content (N% tissue) of the green manure crops measured at anthesis. Legume crops provided the most potential nitrogen of all treatments, due to high tissue nitrogen and moderate to high biomass production. Oats had the highest biomass but were low in tissue nitrogen and potential nitrogen benefits were therefore negligible. Any benefits from this type of crop, would be largely associated with the contribution of organic carbon to the soil. Emergence of both canola and mustard was poor, whilst the lathyrus and vetch competed poorly with weeds due to slow initial growth.

The percentage of undecomposed material remaining on the soil surface at seeding in 1999, varied from approximately 35% for oats down to 10% for lathyrus. The general pattern was that the crops with higher tissue nitrogen content broke down quicker. This indicates the microbial degradation of legume crops is likely to be faster than for brassica or cereal crops.

Differences in water infiltration observed may indicate the potential for treatments to increase the initial sorptivity of soil (ability for more rapid entry of rainfall) and decrease the flow rate through the soil (effectively increasing moisture retention). This may allow earlier sowing after summer rains, increased moisture availability during the growing season and potentially longer availability under dry finishing conditions. These results are variable and subject to trial/operator error. Further evaluation of these attributes is required prior to evaluation of renovation techniques.

The high cost of seeding and maintenance of the green manure crop, can significantly influence the gains or losses experienced over this three year period. It may be most economic, to green manure legume crops in seasons with low potential returns (poor yield potential or price).  The cost of harvesting a lupin crop for example may prove less beneficial than using it as a green manure to improve wheat yield and quality, where prices are depressed or where disease/season has reduced yield potential. Strategic use of green manure crops as a tool in integrated weed management or potential productivity gains through addressing specific problems may result in little or no short term economic gain where employed in better performing paddocks and must be viewed as a long term strategy to overcome yield constraints. However, strategic use of these techniques for poor performing paddocks, or paddock that would have otherwise been ‘rested’, are likely to result in economic responses, particularly where using low cost crops or pasture has been employed as there is no requirement to recover the cost of foregone yield – only those associated with growing a crop and the implementation of techniques.

Data supports the hypothesis that a green manuring:wheat:wheat rotation, may be as profitable as a legume:wheat:wheat rotation using either a field pea or Lathyrus crop. Given this assessment does not include any additional benefits that may be gained from green or brown manuring in terms of additional weed control and potential improvement of soil characteristics such as the addition of organic material, improved soil structure and longer term productivity gains, these techniques are likely to prove both economical and sustainable by providing additional benefits that may be observed in lower herbicide costs through better weed management, improved soil health and a more flexible farming system.

• Treatments were a single application of 10 kg/ha of Zn as zinc sulfate monohydrate (ZSM) (35% Zn) in 1996 or 4 applications of 1.25kg/ha or 2.5 kg/ha Zn as Incitec.
• Granulock ST-Z (10 %N, 19.5 % P, 2.5% Zn) between 1996 and 1999. Soil samples were collected at the commencement of the experiment, after the first application and post-harvest from the fourth crop.
• Samples were analysed for DTPA extractable Zn.
• The percentage of soil extractable Zn available from applied Zn after 4 cereal crops was about 12 % for the single application of 10 kg/ha Zn as ZSM, 22% for multiple applications of 1.25 kg/ha Zn and 20 % for 2.5 kg/ha Zn as STZ.
• It would appear that provided there is no compromise in crop productivity, a multiple low rate strategy of Zn fertiliser addition may be more effective in building available soil Zn concentration than a single higher rate.

Overall the results returned from this trial were confounded by low growing season rainfall and high temperatures during spring. This was reflected in the poor seed yields and significant variation across the treatment replicates reducing the confidence with which results can be drawn from the data.

• Continuous wheat can be successfully grown.
• Stubble has been burnt to reduce the incidence of yellow leaf spot in the following crop.
• In most years the crop has been direct drilled.
• Disease levels are still low and the crop is checked at flowering every year for root diseases.
• Continuous wheat has been relativley low risk - after 7 years it has not failed (except for the drought year in 2002).
• Thus far there is no problem with grass weeds or soil borne diseases.

Early application of selective herbicide (Group 1, A) gave excellent control of barley grass. While fewer barley grass plants meant less pasture biomass, it’s important to remember that the seeds on the mature barley grass would injure livestock. Further, these barley grass plants could host cereal crop disease.

Spray topping prevented viable seed set of barley grass while leaving the greatest pasture biomass.

Good barley grass control in the 2019 pasture was still evident in the 2020 and 2021 crops.

Late sowing of barley in 2020 (delayed 4 weeks) was relatively ineffective in controlling barley grass and crop yield was slightly reduced.

Late sowing of oats in 2021 (delayed 7 weeks) gave excellent weed control, but the crop yield was severely reduced.

• In the 2001 season there was no benefit from the application of an alphacypermethrin insecticide application to barley and lentil crops.
• The dry summer of 2000/2001 resulted in very few host plants for aphids and virus diseases and threshold levels for disease carry over potential were not reached.
• In wet summers with many host plants surviving it is possible that preventative spraying with alphacypermethrin could be worthwhile.

In the 2001 season there was no benefit from the application of an alphacypermethrin insecticide application to barley and lentil crops. The dry summer of 2000/2001 resulted in very few host plants for aphids and virus diseases and threshold levels for disease carry over potential were not reached. In wet summers with many host plants surviving it is possible that preventative spraying with alphacypermethrin could be worthwhile.

In the 2001 season there was no benefit from the application of an alphacypermethrin insecticide application to barley and lentil crops. The dry summer of 2000/2001 resulted in very few host plants for aphids and virus diseases and threshold levels for disease carry over potential were not reached. In wet summers with many host plants surviving it is possible that preventative spraying with alphacypermethrin could be worthwhile.

A small but significant decrease in black leg infection was observed from the Atrazine applications. Further work will have to be undertaken in this area to confirm these results.

There were no differences in yield between the treatments.

• Trifluralin was more effective at reducing ryegrass numbers in the cereal phase than in break crops.
• There are more benefits from good rotation than improved weed control alone, but benefits (in this case additional nitrogen) may not be apparent until several years after the non-cereal break crop or pasture phase.

• This was a large scale demonstration using Impact applied to the sowing fertilizer at the two label rates of 400m/ha and 200mL/ha. The two other areas were sown with no Impact on the fertilizer but one was sprayed with Impact at 250mL/ha at stem elongation. 
• There were no obvious signs of leaf diseases or other symptoms in the plots but the two Impact in furrow' treatments delivered economic yield benefits. The previous two crops grown in the area were wheat, which may mean Take-all was a factor. 

• Wheat on wheat following canola is an alternative that will enable more cereal crop to be grown in a rotation.
• Raising inputs on cereals to increase yield returns well in $/ha.
• Alternative crops such as canola and lupins are not high income earners compared to cereals with optimum (higher than average) inputs.

• Wheat on wheat following canola is an alternative that will enable more cereal crop to be grown in a rotation.
• Under dry conditions there was no response to additional nitrogen or fungicide treatments.  
• Alternative crops such as canola and lupins yield very poorly in drought seasons.

• Wheat on wheat following canola is an alternative that will enable more cereal crop to be grown in a rotation.
• Barley yields best under dry conditions.
• There were responses to additional nitrogen (N) or fungicide treatments in all cereal crops.
• Alternative crops such as canola and lupins yield very poorly in drought seasons.

• Wheat on wheat following canola is an alternative that will enable moer cereal crop to be grown in a rotation.
• Wheat or cereal after wheat has given a better return than more canola for the trial period 2004 - 2008.
• Barley yields and returns better profits than wheat or triticale under dry conditions.
• There were ersponsees to fungicide treatments and added nitrogen in barley during 2008 and in all cereals during the long term.

• Crop establishment was not improved by on-row seeding or by increasing seeding rate in 2016.
• Higher seeding rate increased early dry matter but this effect declined during the growing season.
• In 2016 row placement or seeding rate did not affect grain yield or grain quality.
• Sowing on-row may be an advantage on non-wetting soils with low moisture at seeding.

Neither crop establishment, grain yield nor quality were changed by on-row seeding or by increased seeding rate in 2017, similar to results in 2016.

Crop establishment in the non-wetting soil was poor in 2017.

In 2015, with low moisture at seeding, improved crop establishment from on-row seeding in the non-wetting soil increased crop competition and lowered brome grass weed seed set.

• Crop establishment increased with on row sowing. Stubble from the previous season helps soil moisture infiltrate into non-wetting sands and into a position closer to the seed.
• Initial germination of brome grass weeds was higher with inter row sowing.
• Late brome grass weed numbers was also greatest with inter row sowing. Sowing on row may also increase crop and weed competition as will a higher seeding rate.

• Commercial viability has been difficult to demonstrate.
• Field trials demonstrated that the H Senor was able to accurately classify annual ryegrass in several broadleaf crops, including canola, faba bean, lentil and field pea.
• Other grass weeds such as brome grass and wild oats were also correctly identified as grasses in these crops.
• Broad leaf weeds were accurately classified in cereal crops, however this was more difficult due to the overlapping nature of the cereal crops at the time when the broadleaf weeds had emerged.
• Classification accuracy was lower for detection of grass weeds in cereal crops and broadleaf weeds in broadleaf crops, and these scenarios were not pursued for that reason.  

Crop selection in 2003 is complicated by the conditions in 2002. The main issues that can affect your crops this year are:

Cereal Root Disease levels in 2002 were very low and disease levels from 2001 will be carried over - 2002 was NOT a disease break year. The last time we saw CCN in the southern Mallee was after the 1994 dry year when eelworm did not hatch but was carried over from 1993 and affected wheat crops in 1995.

Foliar Disease levels were low in 2002 and stubbles from 2001 will be the main source of inoculum outbreak for diseases in 2003.

Residual Herbicides used in 2001 and 2002 can have a large impact on susceptible crops in 2003.

• Legume crops consistently increased pre-sowing soil nitrogen in the year following the break.
• Two-year break phases that included a brown manure vetch phase have generally resulted in the highest pre sowing soil nitrogen levels in the subsequent wheat crops.
• One and two-year break phases reduce Rhizoctonia soil inoculum, however levels increase significantly following the first cereal crop.
• Two-year break treatments generally reduced brome grass populations in the cereal phase, however all rotations relied on Clearfield herbicides for brome grass control by the second wheat crop following the break.
• The benefits from extra soil water following some break phases in this trial have been variable and small.

• The choice of legume species and management were found to influence the amount of nitrogen fixed by both crop and pasture legumes byaffecting either legume reliance upon N2 fixation for growth or changes in dry matter accumulation.
• Medium to high soil mineral N concentrations at sowing appeared to suppress N2 fixation by field pea more than lupins or faba beans.
• Pulse legumes grown for grain generally result in lower net inputs of fixed N.
• Available soil N following either legume crops or pastures can represent an additional 40 to 90kg N/ha in the 1st year.
• The increased N uptake by the 1st wheat crop grown after legumes was equivalent to 27-40% of N in the previous year's legum residues.

More reliable management strategies for the production of broad leaved phases.

Identification of more reliable break phase options.

Guidelines to identify trigger points for when, for how long and which break phases to use for improved farming systems outcomes.

Reliable estimation of risks with break phases as well as their total impacts on following cereal crops.

• Break crops can be just as profitable as wheat crops.
• Antas sub-clover (for hay production) as the break crop was the most profitable option.
• Beans were the most effective at fixing nitrogen, averaging 13 kgN/tDM produced.

• Break crops can be just as profitable as wheat crops
• Antas sub-clover (for hay production) as the break crop was the most profitable option
• Beans were the most effective at fixing nitrogen, averaging 13 kgN/tDM produced

• Time of Sowing; get it right after the break crop.
• Effects of the break crops are often realised for at least 2 seasons after being planted.
• Beans consistently fixed the most nitrogen over the 3 year period; averaging 15Kg N/ha per tonne of dry matter produced (above the ground).
• Financial benefit of a break crop needs to be worked out over life of rotation.

• Yield loss response curves are an additional tool to help growers in varietal selection decisions to maximise returns where disease is present.
• Variations occurred in the yield response of varieties to crown rot, along with their resistance to this disease.
• The variety Suntop, although displaying crown rot symptoms similar to that of a susceptible variety, demonstrated a greater ability to maintain yield where disease was present than other varieties that are considered tolerant.
• The selection of varieties based purely on current resistance categories may be overlooking genetics with improved tolerance, such as the variety Suntop.
   

Based on this trial it appears CG could be used as a substitute for DAP fertiliser in cereal production however blending with urea to ensure adequate N would be essential. 

• The trial area was seeded in June 2015 to wheat by Peter Negus, while he was seeding the surrounding paddock.  Unfortunately, the seeder ran out of seed as the trial was being sown.  The result was that there were large unseeded strips running through the trial. 
• Rainfall at the site was very poor in September and October 2015; approximately 70% below average for that period.  As a result, cereal crops on soils with low water holding capacity were badly affected, with yields well below average.
• Analysis of the harvest results (excluding plots affected at seeding) showed no significant differences, leading us to conclude that either (a) the tillage and lime treatment effects have ‘worn out’ at the site, or that (b) poor rainfall in September and October severely reduced yields, obscuring any other effects.  We believe that (b) is more likely.
• This trial will be sown to lupins in 2016.

The pH results from this trial show some interesting trends. 

The treatments with greater disturbance at depth (spade, deep rip + spade, mouldboard) tend to decrease surface pH.  This is of concern if the ‘new’ topsoil pH is acidic enough to inhibit root development. 

The treatments with greater disturbance at depth (spade, deep rip + spade, mouldboard) tend to increase midsoil pH most rapidly.  This is the effect hoped for.  The differences between treatments are generally not significant, but more intensive sampling may tease out differences.

The treatments with greater disturbance at depth (spade, deep rip + spade, mouldboard) tend to increase subsoil pH most rapidly.  This is the effect hoped for.  The differences between treatments are generally not significant, but more intensive sampling may tease out differences.

• Investigated infertile soils over clay in SA and Victoria.
• Earlier work showed that a "shotgun" mix of N, P, zinc, copper and manganese placed at 40cm regularly doubled cereal yields.
• Have shown that such applications have onging residual benefits.
• Need at least 25cm of sand or haying off can occur in dry years.
• Deep ripping tyne type and spacing appear to be less important than depth of application at 40cm.
• Apply nutrients at a rate which would double current yields.
• Management of erosion after ripping is the primary challenge.
• Addition of deep nutrient during ripping would appear to be a good option with reliable benefits.

At Minnipa in 2013 there were cereal yield responses to fungicide treatments in both wheat (up to 14% better than no fungicide) and barley (up to 12 % better than no fungicide but not all strategies were effective). However there were still visual Rhizoctonia patches present. In-furrow fungicide applications were more effective than seed treatments. Tillage, starter nitrogen and zinc produced similar yields to many of the fungicide treatments. A three week delay in seeding reduced yield by nearly one third. Fungicide treatments did not prevent an increase in Rhizoctonia inoculum levels during a cereal phase.

• In 2019 the IMI system had the lowest barley grass plant numbers.
• The Cultural Control strategy did not achieve the desired outcome of having a more even seed spread and increased competition in the inter row for barley grass weed control.
• The medic pasture produced low dry matter compared to the cereal systems, had the highest barley grass population and the lowest competitive ability with the barley grass.
• The loss of Group A herbicides to control barley grass within local pasture systems has the potential to change rotations and decrease farm profitability.

• In 2019 the IMI system had the lowest barley grass plant numbers.
• The Cultural Control strategy did not achieve the desired outcome of having a more even seed spread and increased competition in interrow row for barley grass weed control.
• The medic pasture produced low dry matter compared to the cereal systems, had the highest barley grass population, and the lowest competitive ability with the barley grass. 
• The loss of Group A herbicides to control barley grass within local pasture systems has the potential to change rotations and decrease farm profitability.

 

• Broadleaved break crops increased pre sowing soil nitrogen by up to 40 kg/ha in 2014 while Rhizoctonia inoculum was also significantly reduced following these crops.
• Growing a legume break crop in 2014 increased the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop by 0.6–0.7 t/ha.
• Wheat crops following legumes were twice as profitable than following another cereal crop in 2015.
• The profitability of paddock rotations that included legume break crops in 2014 were similar to or exceeded the profitability of the cereal intensive rotation in the same paddock.

• Broadleaved break crops increased pre sowing soil nitrogen by up to 40 kg/ha in 2014 while Rhizoctonia inoculum was also significantly reduced following these crops.
• Growing a legume break crop in 2014 increased the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop by 0.6 – 0.7 t/ha.
• Wheat crops following legumes were twice as profitable than following another cereal crop in 2015.
• The profitability of paddock rotations that included legume break crops in 2014 were similar to or exceeded the profitability of the cereal intensive rotation in the same paddock.

• Broadleaved break crops increased pre sowing soil nitrogen by up to 40 kg/ha in 2014 while Rhizoctonia inoculum was also significantly reduced following these crops.
• Growing a legume break crop in 2014 increased the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop by 0.6–0.7 t/ha.
• Wheat crops following legumes were twice as profitable than following another cereal crop in 2015.
• The profitability of paddock rotations that included legume break crops in 2014 were similar to or exceeded the profitability of the cereal intensive rotation in the same paddock.

• Broadleaved break crops increased pre sowing soil nitrogen by up to 40 kg/ha in 2014 while Rhizoctonia inoculum was also significantly reduced following these crops.
• Growing a legume break crop in 2014 increased the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop by 0.6–0.7 t/ha.
• Wheat crops following legumes were twice as profitable than following another cereal crop in 2015.
• The profitability of paddock rotations that included legume break crops in 2014 were similar to or exceeded the profitability of the cereal intensive rotation in the same paddock.

• Broadleaved break crops increased pre sowing soil nitrogen by up to 40 kg/ha in 2014 while Rhizoctonia inoculum was also significantly reduced following these crops.
• Growing a legume break crop in 2014 increased the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop by 0.6–0.7 t/ha.
• Wheat crops following legumes were twice as profitable than following another cereal crop in 2015.
• The profitability of paddock rotations that included legume break crops in 2014 were similar to or exceeded the profitability of the cereal intensive rotation in the same paddock.

• With a disease like rhizoctonia crop rotation away from cereals is important to reduce inoculum levels. In high risk rotations or in paddocks known to have high disease levels EverGol Prime will be a useful new option for growers based on Australia wide trial experience.
• EverGol Prime has demonstrated excellent control of smut diseases (including bunt) with work conducted in Western Australia on loose smut this year confirming it as an excellent new tool for grower’s to target this hard- to- control disease.

• Adequate pre and post emergent weed control is critical for maintaining yield potential and quality of grain legume crops.
• Canola remains the most profitable non-cereal crop type demonstrated at this site in 2018.
• Where vetch grain is not harvested and sold as feed, consideration of this legume crop type for its grazing value may be advantageous for a mixed farming system.
   

• Preparation of paddocks is key to the success of legume crops such as chickpeas and field peas. Control of weeds prior to sowing is crucial and, rolling to level the seed bed post seeding improves the ability to harvest such crop types.
• Field peas and chickpeas are more susceptible to frost damage compared to canola or lupins.
• Canola remains a highly profitable non-cereal crop in Kalannie in 2018.
   

• Significant weed burdens can impact yield of legume crops considerably if not controlled well with rotation or pre and post emergent herbicide options.
• Without control of weeds, soil borne diseases can be carried from legume phase into the cereal phase. 

• Zinc deficiency caused production losses in cereals of up to 25% and in medic of up to 300% in biomass.
• Critical level for zinc deficiency in wheat was established as 18 mg/kg in YEBs at late tillering.
• Zinc deficiency in crops can be corrected with foliar sprays, zinc coated fertilisers or zinc applied to the soil and thoroughly incorporated by tillage. Fertilisers which are a mix of NP granules and zinc granules are poorly effective.
• Zinc applied to the soil will provide residual benefits for 3-10 years, the longer persistence in sandier mallee soils.
• 70% of cereal crops in the SA mallee were zinc deficient in the early 1990s.
• An application of 2 kg zinc/ha to the soil (as an incorporated soil spray or zinc coated fertiliser) will correct zinc deficiency in broadacre crops and pastures.

• A combination of old and new technology is being used to detect and analyse airborne fungal spore patterns affecting cereal and pulse grain crops.
• Intense spore showers were detected for blackspot of field pea and NFNB of barley, but negligible for YLS of wheat, at the experimental site at Hart during the 2013 season.
• Spore dispersal patterns of blackspot of field pea fitted with Blackspot Manager predictions.

Taking account of fungicide costs (both application and product) revealed that untreated Teesdale generated the equal highest margins (Table 6-16). With both Mitre and Kellalac the most cost effective treatments were two applications of fungicide based on a GS32 Bayleton followed by Opus, however as stand alone treatments the flag leaf spray of Opus was substantially more cost effective than either Jockey or Impact. The application of Bayleton at GS32 followed by GS39 Opus was slightly more cost effective than the Impact followed by Opus. Impact had an edge over Jockey in this trial in terms of green leaf retention, yield and margin.

• Axe and Gladius produced the highest gross income at Franklin Harbour.
• Correll and Yitpi produced the highest gross income at Mt Cooper.
• Pugsley and Yitpi produced the highest gross income at Elliston.
• Flagship and Capstan produced the highest gross income of barley at Mt Cooper.

• Results from experimentation undertaken in southern NSW in 2011 and 2012, have demonstrated that crop sequences which include a brassica or legume break crops can be as profitable as, and in many instances more profitable than, continuous wheat.
• Canola was consistently the most profitable break crop option. However, the rotational benefits of canola were usually restricted to just the first subsequent wheat crop whereas additional wheat yields can occur for two years after a legume.
• Growing pulses for grain maximises profit, particularly in favourable seasons, but compromises grass weed control and (depending upon species) reduces N available to subsequent crops compared to brown manuring.
• Growing pulses for hay was found to be profitable across a range of season types, achieves excellent grass weed control and provides greater N inputs and higher carry-over of soil water than when the same crop is grown for grain.
• Growing pules for brown manure loses money in the year they are grown, but achieves excellent grass weed control, high N inputs, residual carry-over of soil water, provides more ground cover, and requires less labour than when grown for hay or grain.

• The monitoring undertaken showed no evidence for significant reduction of soil borne disease by ripping and cultivation.
• The spatial variability of soil borne diseases dictates that careful site selection, small plots, multiple replications and intensive sampling is required to obtain meaningful results.

Chara and Mackellar are still suitable varieties for growing in high rainfall enviroments despite increased susceptiblity to some diseases.

• Growers' choice of wheat variety in south-west Victoria must take into account the possible need for fungicide sprays to protect some varieties from leaf diseases, in particular stripe and leaf rusts.
• Wheat growers who are not fully prepared to adopt an adequate regime of correctly timed fungicide sparys should choose only varieties that have high levels of resistance to Stripe Rust and Leaf Rust.
• As new strains of both rusts appear very regularly, varieties may rapidly lose their resistance.
• It is very important to check the disease ratings of your chosen varieties every year.

• This trial aims to investigate opportunities for symbiotic improvement.
• Inoculation will be critical to the establishment of new legume species, where they have not previously been grown. The extent to which inoculation can still improve medic nodulation is being investigated.
• There was no response to medic inoculation in the 2018 trial, even when the inoculation rate was doubled.
• Trigonella was better nodulated and produced greater root weights than the medics.
• These results cannot be fully interpreted until the N-fixation data becomes available.
• Medic breeding lines with improved N-fixation capacity are being developed as part of the Dryland Legume Pasture Systems project and will be tested in 2019.

• This is a component of a new five year Rural Research and Development for Profit funded project supported by GRDC, MLA and AWI; and involving Murdoch University, CSIRO, SARDI, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; Charles Sturt University and grower groups.
• This trial aims to assess a diverse range of annual pasture legumes in order to determine whether there are more productive and persistent options for the drier areas (<400 mm) of the mixed farming zone of southern Australia.
• Several new legume species established well under very difficult conditions, but in general were not as productive as the medics or vetch. 
• In the 2018 growing season, Caliph barrel medic was the best adapted pasture legume species to the conditions at Minnipa.
• Astragalus was the best adapted alternative legume species, although it was poorly nodulated.
• Zulu arrowleaf clover also performed well, however its peak dry matter production and flowering time may be too late for SA conditions.

• This is a component of a new five year Rural Research and Development for Profit funded project supported by GRDC, MLA and AWI; and involving Murdoch University, CSIRO, SARDI, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; Charles Sturt University and grower groups.
• This trial aims to assess a diverse range of annual pasture legumes in order to determine whether there are more productive and persistent options for the drier areas (<400 mm) of the mixed farming zone of southern Australia.
• Annual medics continue to be the best pasture option for neutral/alkaline soils on the upper Eyre Peninsula. Common vetch is an alternative option where a sown legume ley of one year duration is preferred.
• Building up a seed bank is critical to the longer term performance of the pasture. The aim in the pasture establishment year should be to maximise seed set.
• Levels of hard seed affect regeneration. Legumes with high hard seed levels should be cropped in the year following establishment.

Grain protein, but not grain yield was significantly affected by the type of pasture legume previously grown.

The annual medics were the most persistent species after cropping. 

The findings will be used to prioritise further research and development of novel pasture species on sandy soils.

Volga vetch produced the most biomass in the establishment year at both sites. 

This is a component of a five year Rural Research and Development for Profit funded project supported by GRDC, MLA and AWI;
and involving Murdoch University, CSIRO, SARDI, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; Charles Sturt University and grower groups.
• This trial aims to assess a diverse range of annual pasture legumes in order to determine whether there are more productive and
persistent options for the drier areas (<400 mm) of the mixed farming zone of southern Australia.
• The annual medics were the most productive pasture legume producing > 2 t/ha DM and setting > 500 kg/ha of seed. A new Tetraploid Barrel medic was the most productive.
• Astragalus was the most promising alternative legume and warrants further evaluation.

Wheat grain yields following grazing were surprisingly high and it would appear grazing was not detrimental to grain yield. Reduced dry matter from grazing may have resulted in less water useage early in spring with more then being available during grain fill. Of the wheat varieties, the grain yield of the line 1SR594-34 was particularly high. Dry matter production (from the one cut taken) was significantly lower for the wheat varieties but given the current high grain price dual purpose wheat is an attractive option. 
 

Most varieties showed a significant reduction in biomass protein levels following grazing. This was particularly the case for Monstress triticale.

Dual purpose cropping can have a role in an intensive grazing operation if crops can be sown on an early break – early growth is essential whilst conditions are still warm. The season will have to have a mild finish otherwise yield will be lost from the early grazing. More work needs to be done in the Wimmera and Mallee to see whether it is commercially viable to graze cereal crops early in the season, without suffering a yield penalty at the end of the season. It might only be a proposition in those areas which have a regular early start to the season and a longer wetter finish.

Canola Grain Yield at Pindar

All varieties apart from Stingray were able to yield the same or higher from the 9th April sowing opportunity.

As expected the shorter seasoned varieties were not able to capitalise on the 9th April sowing as the longer season varieties.    Grain yield declined with delayed sowing for longer season canola varieties.

Growers may not see a flat yield response for early sowings as an issue.  Instead, the early sowing window allows them to get crop out of the ground and reduces the risk of dry spells leading to a lack of future sowing opportunities.   However pests (eg Diamondback moth) and diseases (such as Sclerotinia), depending on rainfall zone and soil type, need to be factored into decisions about very early sowing windows.

The success of very early sowing depends heavily on soil type, soil moisture and temperature. Growers need to assess the conditions they face in the lead into each season closely before embarking on very early sowing, especially when using hybrid seed with high seed costs.

• An early sown cereal crop provides a green paddock of feed when regenerating or sown legume pastures are establishing, and avoids the cost and labour of handfeeding.
• In low to medium rainfall areas, barley and oat crops best tolerate grazing. They have better forage value and their ability to recover lessens production penalties. Grazed wheat varieties are likely to suffer grain yield and quality penalties. Dual purpose winter varieties are generally not suitable.
• In low rainfall areas, it is best to graze well before stem elongation for better crop recovery.

For trial results please see the attached trial report.

Intensive grazing at GS 30 – GS 31 (start of stem elongation) reduced grain yield compared to no grazing by an average of 37%. The greatest yield loss of 57% occurred with Monstress triticale and the lowest yield loss occurred with Amarok wheat (18%). Up to 2.1 t/ha of drymatter was available for grazing before stem elongation was reached. Yerong barley yielded the greatest drymatter pre grazing, with Brennan wheat the lowest drymatter yielding at 1.5 t/ha.

• Wheat following wheaten hay produced the highest grain yield, averaging 3.22 t/ha.
• The highest gross margin for the 4 years was from the standard rotation, which included field peas and canola.
• The greatest limitation to rotation productivity was from brome and barley grass, especially in the continuous cereal rotation.

• Wheat following wheaten hay produced the highest grain yield, averaging 3.22 t/ha.
• The highest gross margin for the 4 years was from the standard rotation, which included field peas and canola.
• The greatest limitation to rotation productivity was from brome and barley grass, especially in the continuous cereal rotation.

• Wheat following wheaten hay produced the highest grain yield, averaging 3.22 t/ha.
• The highest gross margin for the 4 years was from the standard rotation, which included field peas and canola.
• The greatest limitation to rotation productivity was from brome and barley grass, especially in the continuous cereal rotation.

• Wheat following wheaten hay produced the highest grain yield, averaging 3.22 t/ha.
• The highest gross margin for the 4 years was from the standard rotation, which included field peas and canola.
• The greatest limitation to rotation productivity was from brome and barley grass, especially in the continuous cereal rotation.

• Several sites where the main soil is grey sand over a yellow gravelly sandy loam {Altas of Australian Soils sheet 5; CSIRO Division of Soils).
• Neither Cu nor Zn applied alone gave increase grain yield.
• Increased grain yield resulted where Cu & Zn were applied together
• Application of greater than 2.75 - 5.5 kg bluestone (Cu sulfate] and about 1.5 -2.0 kg Zinc oxide drilled with a cereal crop gave maximum yields
• Aerophos treatements with low Zn content showed extrememly low grain yield compared to super; illustrating the value of Zn in plain super.