• Increasing row spacing reduced plant establishment and shoot densities but this was notreflected in reductionsin grain yield at widerrow spacing treatmentsin droughtstressed trial environments: there were no statistically significant differences in grain yield between any of the row spacing treatments.
• Key management decisions for optimising production were variety choice (at all sites) and nitrogen management (Curyo).
• At Curyo, barley varieties responded differently to row spacing, nitrogen timing and combinations of row spacing and nitrogen.
• Varying pre-emergent herbicide did not effect yield at Manangatang or Jil Jil.
• Variety yield performance was consistent with long-term National Variety Trial data (Hindmarsh, Buloke performing well, Commander and SloopVic performing poorly in dry environments).

• Increasing incidence of barley grass in cropping paddocks in southern Australia is likely to be associated with selection of more dormant biotypes by weed management practices used by growers.
• In some districts, barley grass management is now being complicated by the evolution of group A resistance. However, there appear to be several effective potential herbicide alternatives for barley grass control in broadleaf crops.
• Integrated weed management strategies are critical to delay onset of herbicide resistant barley grass.

• Two seasons of trials have demonstrated there are differences in crop vigour / biomass production within open pollinated varieties ATR Stingray (less competitive) and ATR Bonito (more competitive) relative to a competitive hybrid variety Hyola559TT.
• In 2017, at Hart and Roseworthy both OP and hybrid varieties provided similar crop competition for ryegrass control.
• A combination of effective pre-emergent herbicides with competitive canola varieties combines two tactics to reduce ryegrass seed set.

• Ryegrass seed production was reduced by more than 50% for the hybrid cultivar compared to open-pollinated.
• Pre-simazine or pre-propyzamide/simazine with post-atrazine, were more effective than herbicide strategies that relied just on pre-emergent herbicides.
• Combination of effective pre-emergent herbicides with competitive canola cultivars of canola can significantly reduce ryegrass seed set.

• March to April sown winter wheats performed comparably to main season spring wheats. Optimal time of sowing for winter wheats was late March to mid April.
• Early sowing may present opportunities to increase overall farm profitability by spreading the sowing window without excessive risk of frost and heat.
• Longsword (RAC2341) failed to perform at both sites due to unexplained sterility.

• Winter wheats sown early can match but not exceed yields of locally adapted spring wheats sown in their optimal window (eg. Scepter sown late April-early May).
• It is only advantageous to sow winter wheats early if they are replacing paddocks that would otherwise be sown too late, or used for dual purpose.
• In a very dry growing season sowing earlier than late April reduced yields when stored soil water was present after a long fallow.

• Know the risk of yield loss from eyespot before sowing a cereal - inspect stem bases (lodging does not always occur) in a previous cereal crop or take soil samples pre-sowing and submit them to PREDICTA B for analysis.
• When selecting varieties with some resistance to eyespot, check their susceptibility to leaf/stem diseases to ensure they are not very susceptible to diseases such as stem rust.
• Where eyespot pressure is low, varietal resistance alone will assist in reducing yield losses, but at medium to high level eyespot pressure, resistance alone may not be sufficient to provide good protection from eyespot.
• Varieties with weak straw strength are more likely to lodge if affected by eyespot.
• If applying fungicides for eyespot control - use the correct rate; apply before canopy closure (GS30-31); use high water rates; target the plant base (note that Aviator® Xpro® @ 500mL/ha is registered for eyespot control).

• The Yield Prophet uses the APSIM model to estimate wheat yields based on seasonal growing conditions and inputs.
• The outcomes of the Yield Prophet allow farmers to make better pre-sowing and in-crop management decisions which reduce risk and optimise returns.
• The Yield Prophet reports on crop growth during the season; availability of soil water and soil N; likely responses to N fertiliser; and calculates probabilities for yield and protein.
• The Yield Prophet is a web based service and accessible to subscribers and visitors on www.yieldprophet.com.au/yieldprophet.

The results have clearly shown that effective soil residual herbicides used in combination with timely applications of POST glyphosate in RT-canola can provide acceptable control of Group A resistant ryegrass. Ability to reduce seed set and seedbank replenishment in this initial phase of 2-year break is crucial to long-term management of ryegrass, particularly given that wheat is to follow and weed
control will rely on the few effective pre-emergent herbicides available.

• No barley varietal differences in tolerance to metribuzin applied either pre-sowing or post-emergent have been detected in 3 years of trials on sandy loam soils at Walpeup and Woomelang.
• Crop damage from metribuzin has been known to occur in some commercial situations so label advice should be adhered to.

• Growers need to be aware that glyphosate, trifluralin and diflufenican residues, plus the glyphosate metabolite AMPA, can accumulate to agronomically significant levels in certain soils.
• These findings suggest that the current risk of damage to crops in NSW is minor compared with some sites in WA that have lower rainfall and sandy soils with low organic matter.
• The risk to soil biological processes is generally minor when herbicides are used at label rates and given sufficient time to dissipate before re-application.
• However, given the frequency of glyphosate application and the persistence of trifluralin and diflufenican, further research is needed to define site-specific critical thresholds for these chemicals to avoid potential negative effects on soil function and crop production.

• Ryegrass is an increasingly significant weed in the SE of SA and Western Victoria due resistance to major knockdown, pre emergent and post emergent herbicide chemistries.
• As resistance develops to post emergent chemistry, pre emergent chemistry becomes increasingly important in managing resistant ryegrass.
• Knowing the resistance status of weeds within a paddock allows for the most cost effective herbicide to be applied....the most expensive herbicide is the one that doesn’t work.
• Incorporating alternative herbicide modes of action can improve ryegrass control especially where the presence of Group D resistant ryegrass is suspected or known.

Four nitrogen fertiliser products were compared for efficacy in relation to providing the crop with sufficient N to optimize production at two sites, Birchip and Marnoo. The products compared were: granular Urea, granular Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN), liquid Urea Ammonium Nitrate (UAN) and liquid Urea. The products were applied three times (pre-sowing; at the five leaf stage and at the end of tillering).

• Urea increased wheat grain yield significantly over the nil when banded at sowing.
• There was no significant difference between urea, UAN or MAXamFLO when applied at the same rate of nitrogen and incorporated by sowing, banded or applied at pre-sow, banded and post.

• Work conducted in low and medium rainfall environments indicate that N2O emissions are low from an overall national perspective. • Results showed that there was no clear response of N2O emissions to nitrogen applied at sowing and post sowing. • High pre-seeding soil mineral nitrogen raises the possibility of higher N2O losses over the fallow period following significant rainfall.

• Work conducted in low and medium rainfall environments indicate that N2O emissions are low from an overall national perspective. • Results showed that there was no clear response of N2O emissions to nitrogen applied at sowing and post sowing. • High pre-seeding soil mineral nitrogen raises the possibility of higher N2O losses over the fallow period following significant rainfall.

• For the fourth year running, on-row sowing proved it has potential as a brome management tool on non-wetting sands, reducing brome grass seed set by 55%.
• The use of trifluralin with metribuzin reduced the brome density in July but did not reduce seed set.
• On-row sowing resulted in more soil water and nitrogen supply potential near the crop,  improved crop establishment and higher crop biomass.
• On-row sowing did increase root disease incidence, but there were low levels of disease for both on- and inter-row sowing in 2017.

• Fertilising above the optimum plant nitrogen (N) demand level reduced N-use efficiency and increased environmental impact.
• Despite receiving 8–9 irrigations as well as several intense rainfall events in a season, there were typically only 3–4 significant nitrous oxide (N2O) flux periods during the season, with most occurring early in the season, i.e. irrigations 1 and 2.
• Other significant N2O emissions events occurred mostly in response to adding in-crop N fertiliser followed by irrigation and/or intense rainfall.
• Initially, higher N2O emissions came from the beds where N fertiliser had been applied pre-sowing. Later in the season, emissions often peaked in the non-irrigated furrows after rainfall and irrigation events, particularly after additional N was added in the irrigation water.
• Farmers’ N rates were at least 25% higher than necessary to achieve the same lint yield in 2014–15, i.e. 50–100 kg N/ha. Less N fertiliser could have produced the same amount of cotton.
• Increasing N rates increased total N2O emissions, especially in prolonged wet conditions.
   

• Compared to the pre-emergent ryegrass control trial, conducted alongside, the post emergent application results were very poor, below 60% control.
• Boxer Gold applied post sowing pre-emergence at either 1.5 or 2.5 L/ha produced the greatest in-row ryegrass control (78%).

• Preliminary results have shown that post sowing use of some pre-emergence herbicides can improve control of late emerging ryegrass and could be beneficial as a late salvage exercise where ryegrass has escaped earlier control.
• Although no damage to the wheat crop was observed, these treatments present a higher risk to crop safety, depending on soil type and rainfall after application.
• Post sowing use of these herbicides is currently off label & requires further investigation before registration can be granted.

Diuron at 1L or 2L applied post sowing pre-emergent in a wheat crop was not effective in controlling fop and dim resistant ryegrass. However, Diuron with Dual Gold or Dual Gold on its own (especially at the 0.5L rate) had better control of ryegrass. The level of control was not sufficient in a commercial sense but it may be in combination with trifluralin or with other ryegrass control strategies. Dual Gold is a Group K herbicide and will not initially add to a resistance problem.

Slender iceplant exhibits a germination quality that increases its chance of survival.

Good iceplant control results were achieved with Broadstrike, diflufenican and diuron in various mixtures in these trials.

Early control of radish in both Terbyne pre-emergent plots showed great promise and gave enough early control and timento get back to spray post emergent applications with applications of Velocity or Jaguar contolling next to 100% of wild radish.

• Residual control of herbicides applied before crop emergence was not effective for short to medium term control or suppression of radish.
• It appears that in-crop control techniques are more effective.

• Group D herbicides should not be used alone – it is important that resistance to this very important group of herbicides does not develop.
• There was no difference in yield between the trifluralin in mixes with metribuzin, diuron or avadex applied; however there was a reduction in ryegrass heads at flowering due to the addition of Dual Gold (metolachlor) to trifluralin.

Trifluralin use has increased in the last decade and the threat of ryegrass developing resistance to group D herbicides (including trifluralin) is real, already occurring on some farms. In this trial a number of herbicides with activity on ryegrass were tested as mixes with trifluralin on their efficacy in controlling ryegrass as well as on grain yield.

• Seasonal conditions reduced the potential impacts of the pre-emergent herbicides evaluated in this trial with sowing taking place under dry conditions. The top 5 cm was dry with little follow up moisture although there was enough to get the crop out of the ground. The effects of pre-emergent herbicides are generally more pronounced under very moist conditions particularly under intense heavy rain events at seeding or when the top soil is saturated for an extended period at plant establishment.
• In this trial neither yield or weed density were significantly different between the herbicide treatments.
• Weed plant densities were extremely variable within each treatment so caution should be taken when comparing grass weed efficacy in this trial.

• Group A resistant ryegrass populations are becoming more prevalent across south Australia, increasing the reliance on the use of Group D (trifluralin) for ryegrass control.
• Group D resistance will develop if trifluralin is consistently used without other control practices.
• Trifluralin used in combination with other herbicides such as Avadex Xtra (Group E) and Dual Gold (Group K), may enhance ryegrass control and could prolong the onset of Group D resistant ryegrass populations.

Standard farmer practice of 'pasture topping' in the previous year, followed by a knock down around the seasons break, remain the best practice before sowing saltbush or bluebush by seed.

Standard farmer practice of 'pasture topping' in the previous year, followed by a knock down around the seasons break, remain the best practice before sowing saltbush or bluebush by seed.

Increased crop density reduced annual ryegrass density.

Herbicides offered effective weed control, and performance of Sakura® and Boxer Gold® was similar in this season.

Triflur X® provided excellent control of barley grass over the entire site, although by August, weed density was lower following Triflur X® at 3L/ha rather than 2L/ha.

In 2020, Intervix® provided excellent control in-crop, preventing panicle production. In 2021 the field was too wet to spray in-crop herbicides.

Increased seeding rate increased crop density, and resulted in a non-significant reduction to barley grass panicles.

• Continuous cropping is not an effective way to manage herbicide resistant annual ryegrass over the long term in the high rainfall zone.
• The increase in weed numbers over time can be slowed by adopting an intensive and high cost herbicide strategy, but not enough to reduce soil weed seed bank.
• Increasing annual ryegrass density by 100 seed heads per square meter was associated with a 150 kg/ha decrease in grain yield. 

• From the statistical analyses performed on this trial it is concluded that Paraquat at 1L with adjvant LI700 at 0.5% is most efficient in causing fast brownout on Paddy Melons, Wild Radish, Serradella, Mint weed, Capeweed, Couch grass and Blue Lupins.  

• Dry pre-furrowing of sandy loam pasture at Pindar in 2003 resulted in a yield benefit estimated at $26.5/ha.
• Grain quality was not changed by pre-furrowing in this trial.

• The standard treatment in this trial, namely Sencor (metribuzin) 750WG plus TriflurX, provided no more that weak suppression of brome allowing substantial seed set.
• The trial demonstrates a new option for brome control in barley crops now available to growers, namely growing Scope barley and using Clearfield herbicides such as Intervix or Midas. Both products provided excellent to absolute control of brome, as well as silver grass.
• The trial also demonstrates that while the pre-emergence treatments alone provide only modest control of brome, their use in combination with Clearfield herbicides has the potential to improve the overall Clearfield performance. Their use is recommended for resistance management purposes and as a means of securing yield by reducing early weed competition.
• Achieving absolute control of brome grass by treatments that pay for themselves and deliver a surplus to users (of $45 – $150 per hectare) should make most Clearfield treatments highly attractive. Atlantis, Crusader and Monza each only provided strong suppression that in the long run cannot be expected to overcome brome. Regardless of their return on investment, they failed to deliver satisfactory brome control (i.e.. >90% so that the seed bank is not dramatically reduced) and are useful only in terms of managing brome within the current crop at best.
•  

Post sowing pre-emergent and early post emergent herbicide applications all reduced radish numbers but not sufficiently to be commercially acceptable. High rates of triazines were more effective in controlling radish and were quite well tolerated by the broadleaf lupins in this trial. For effective control of radish in lupins, a post sowing application of triazine followed by a post emergent application of either Brodal or Eclipse is required.

Post-sowing pre-emergent treatments were not active enough to reduce a large radish population to a commercially acceptable level. Early post emergent treatments were more effective in reducing radish populations to a manageable level but did not eliminate the radish problem. Product mixes containing Brodal were the most effective in controlling to low levels quite a dense radish population.

• Research to date in Australia suggests optimum rolling time between 3-5 node and crop damage has been recorded from rolling after the 7 node stage. However this trial showed no yield penalty from any time of rolling.
• Lentil rolling is a management practice utilised to create better harvesting conditions and to lower sample contamination. The results from this trial suggests there is flexibility in rolling time and that rolling can be delayed up to the 9 node stage if other management issues are more pressing immediately after sowing. However, this is dependent on the soil and crop health conditions at the time of rolling.
• To avoid crop damage rolling should not occur within 2 weeks of a herbicide application.
• Soils at risk of hard setting or wind erosion should not be rolled PSPE.

Higher rates of Triflur Xcel can only be used in a no‐till system where a knife point and press wheel system operated at a suitable sowing speed ensures that soil throw from seeding rows does not fall into adjacent seeding rows thereby avoiding crop damage.
The high levels of ryegrass control achieved in this trial demonstrate how a concentrated band of trifluralin in the top few cm of soil is highly effective when weed seeds are also in this band. The tank mix partners used in the trial, Bouncer and Avadex Xtra, can provide cost effective control over a range of additional weeds, as well as ensuring control of any possible group D resistant ryegrass plants.

• Sakura alone or in combination with Avadex Xtra or Dual Gold provided the best pre-emergence ryegrass control (72 to 94%) in 2010.
• New pre-emergent herbicides like Boxer Gold or Sakura provide good control of trifluralin resistant annual ryegrass.
• Post-sowing pre-emergent herbicide applications provide significantly improved ryegrass control in the crop row, and also give longer residual control.
• Sakura significantly reduced the number of ryegrass heads produced.

• Grower noted that Sakura mixed well in the tank and was easy to spray.
• Sakura reduced the numbers of barley grass across the site compared to the grower’s treatment. This was also evident down by the Summit trial where Sakura applied pre-emergent adjacent to the trial was giving better control of barley grass than Trifluralin 2 L ha with a post-emergent application of Monza® 25 g/ha.
• Sakura was safe to Calingiri wheat in this commercial trial.
• The yields presented were taken from close to the northern contour bank where there was higher numbers of barley grass in the crop to represent a good efficacy comparison.
• Based on this the Sakura treatment recorded a 110 kg/ha yield increase over the grower’s Trifluralin at 2 L/ha.
• This equals a $20.58 ROI above the grower’s program once herbicide and application costs were removed.

Using an effective knockdown with broad spectrum pre-emergent grass herbicide like Sakura can deliver excellent weed control, yields and return on investment not just in the year of application but in following seasons due to a reduction in the seed bank when combined with a complete integrated weed management program across the farm.

This site received only a single knockdown on the 1st June 2010. There was a thick covering of green material present across the trial site when the treatments were applied especially on the header rows which would have compromised coverage and therefore final weed control.  The trial treatments were applied to moist soil on the 1st June. The trial was sown by the grower the following day after treatments were applied with knife point and press wheels on 9 inch row spacing. After sowing there were some clumps of trash caught up in the points particularly in the header rows across the site.

A site inspection on the 29/6/10 confirmed the effectiveness of the glyphosate application with no large weeds observed across the site.

No damage to lentils was observed, but it should be noted that conditions were not conducive to herbicide damage.  Following label rates will ensure that the risk of damage is minimized.  Using a range of pre-plant and post-plant-pre-emergent herbicides will assist in reducing pressure on in-crop herbicides for grass weed control such as Clethodim (group A).  Rotating herbicide groups and sound manual methods such as wind row burning, chaff carts and fence line spraying will ensure that weed numbers are kept in check and “blow-outs” of weed numbers is minimised.

• The seasonal conditions experienced during these trials had a profound impact on the trial results.
• During 2015 stubble treatments imposed late in fallow had no impact on N response.
• Similar to 2014, during 2015 generally farmers were unable to predict final yield before sowing when the season experienced extreme weather conditions.
• During 2015 split N applications did not improve yields and had only a very minor impact on grain quality.
• During 2015 split N applications was not a way to reduce financial risk as opposed to all N fertiliser upfront since crop outlook at Z30 was positive.

Stubble treatments involving late burning or cultivation resulted in significantly different yields in wheat and barley in 4 to 6 trials conducted at Nyngan, Ungaire, Tullamore, Gunning Gap, Alectown and Lake Cargelligo during 2014. The yield effects were not consistent and these trials could not be used to predict response pre sowing. The effects of stubble treatments observed during 2014 were similar to the effects observed during similar trials in 2013. Variety rankings were not significantly affected by stubble treatments. The best option in terms of yield was to simply grow the variety with the highest potential for the sowing window.

Stubble treatments involving late burning or cultivation resulted in significantly different yields in wheat and barley in 4 to 6 trials conducted at Nyngan, Ungaire, Tullamore, Gunning Gap, Alectown and Lake Cargelligo during 2014. The yield effects were not consistent and these trials could not be used to predict response pre sowing. The effects of stubble treatments observed during 2014 were similar to the effects observed during similar trials in 2013. Variety rankings were not significantly affected by stubble treatments. The best option in terms of yield was to simply grow the variety with the highest potential for the sowing window.

• In 2018 there was a reduction in crown rot severity when Product X was applied, however this did not improve yield
• 2019 pre-season PreDictaB results showed a reduction in crown rot risk for Evergol, Product X and Vibrance
• The second year had no carry over benefit of seed dressings or previous year’s variety. These seed dressings are only effective in the year applied and effectiveness can be influenced by initial inoculum level and how conducive the season is for the disease

Please see attached trial report for results.

Hindmarsh barley grain yield was unaffected by stubble or seeding systems averaging 3.3 t/ha. Of all pre-emergent herbicides trialled a grain yield reduction was observed for Sakura (average reduction 0.18 t/ha). A split application of Boxer Gold (IBS/POST) was slightly safer compared to the full rate IBS.

• Hindmarsh barley grain yield was unaffected by stubble or seeding systems averaging 3.3 t/ha.
• Of all pre-emergent herbicides trialled a grain yield reduction was observed for Sakura (average reduction 0.18 t/ha). A split application of Boxer Gold (IBS/POST) was slightly safer compared to the full rate IBS.

• Overall the efficacy of pre-emergent herbicide control of ARG increased with increasing water rates. This was particularly the case with Sakura, supporting the results from Western Australia.
• There was no significant difference between weed control treatments (both between and within herbicide treatments) on end grain yield.
• This trial experienced extremely dry conditions throughout the season, as such grain yield was limited.

Ultimately herbicide selection should be based on the suitability of that product to the sowing conditions, weed pressure and rotational fit while trying to completely control ARG in both single & consecutive years, managing for chemical groups.  Annual ryegrass populations can incre3ase rapidly if in any one year poor control occurs.  Therefore careful rotational planning to include crop types, vaqrieties and herbicide technologies is essential in an overarching control strategy.  From the results observed in this two year trial it is evident that effective weed control in year one results in a reduction in seed season are necessary to reduce weed seed bank numbers potentially making Roundup Ready canola systems more viable in a lower risk situation.  Herbicides with lo binding, moderate solubility and longer persistence such as Sakura tend to offer higher levels of weed control.  It is also clear that herbicide technology is not straight forward and attention to detail can mean the difference between a mediocre and first-rate result.  Chemical efficacy can be influenced by a number of factors, especially when using pre-emergent herbicides in a combined chemical IWM strategy.  Little things like stubble load, method of application, level of seedbed cultivation, incorporation timing and technique, rainfall after sowing and the suitability of that herbicide for the particular situation can add incremental gains for the overall result.  For RR canola and TT canola ensure to use every option available, don't settle for just 1 application of RR or rely solely on triazine chemicals for effective control of weeds.

Annual ryegrass control is a long term holistic proposition and no 1 or 2 control methods will solve your issues.  It must be tackled with multiple techniques.

• Grain yields reached 80% of their potential water use efficiency in a decile 5 growing season.
• Variable rate strategies did not result in improved yields over blanket strategies and the costs of the inputs ensured the blanket nil fertiliser treatment was at least economically comparable to the other options evaluated.

• N2O emissions at the Gunnedah site were approximately 10 times higher than at the Emerald site, due to the wet soil conditions and high pre-season rainfall at Gunnedah which led to denitrification of N from pre-season anhydrous ammonia application.
• Two nitrification inhibitors, DMPS (“Big N-sure”, Incitec Pivot Fertilisers) and nitrapyrin (“N-serve”, Dow AgroSciences) directly injected into anhydrous ammonia during pre-plant N application delayed the conversion of applied ammonium in the soil to nitrate for a period of 2–3 months.
• At the Gunnedah site, cumulative N2O emitted was reduced by 86% (DMPS) and 65% (nitrapyrin), compared to untreated ammonia.

Conclusions: 

In a season such as that experienced at the Emerald 2016–17 site, there were only minor environmental benefits from using a nitrification inhibitor in conjunction with anhydrous ammonia. However, these experimental conditions may not be typical as pre-plant fertiliser is usually applied earlier in the year at Emerald than it was at this site. A longer period of time between pre-plant application and plant establishment would provide greater opportunity for N2 O losses to occur, although the potential for heavy winter rainfall tends to be low in the Emerald region. While both inhibitor products clearly reduced emissions during the first two measurement periods, it was apparent that the effectiveness of these products had dissipated by the time of the second irrigation. The additional inhibitor application with the side-dressed urea boosted the N2 O reduction period for the DMPP treatment, while the application of untreated urea to the other treatments allowed further losses matching those of the untreated control after the initial pre-plant N application. The 2016–17 Gunnedah experiment provided the perfect testing conditions for nitrification inhibitors as the soil was very wet at application, and received frequent heavy rainfall during the next 3 months. These inhibitors were designed to retain mineral N from applied N fertiliser in the soil during periods of excessive rainfall that may otherwise lead to large losses of nitrate N through denitrification and leaching. Leaching occurs through downward movement of nitrate with water in the soil, but we found no evidence of this having occurred in the soil core samples we took just prior to sowing. For heavy clay soils such as this one at Gunnedah, denitrification of soil nitrate during periods of anaerobic soil conditions is the most likely major N loss pathway. The results of the gas sampling campaigns highlighted the almost complete mitigation of N2 O emissions during this period by adding nitrification inhibitors. The Big N-sure® inhibitor appeared to remain active for longer in the soil than the N-serve®.

• Field experiment to test the relative effectiveness of a zinc spray to the soil surface compared to zinc-enriched fertilizers.
• These results suggest that zinc-enriched fertilizers which are of a heterogeneous nature will not be effective at correcting zinc deficiency in the year of application, or in the following year.
• Both soil sprays of zinc pre-sowing and zinc-enriched fertilizers drilled with the seed of a homogeneous nature are effective at correcting zinc deficiency.

• 55% of paddocks tested in 2014 and 80% of paddocks in 2015 had crown rot.
• 90% of paddocks tested in 2014 and 2015 had take all.
• The previous crop grown in the paddock can greatly influence the pre-sowing levels of crown rot and take all in the following year, particularly in a cereal on cereal rotation.
• Most paddocks with pre-sowing levels of crown rot and take all had increased inoculum levels throughout the growing season.
• Crop rotation and duration, and stubble management can reduce crown rot and take all infection risk.

The 1.6 t/ha pasture residue had no impact on sowing and plant establishment in drier seeding conditions in 2014. • In 2014 there were no differences in wheat establishment, yield or grain quality due to different pre-sowing treatments with pasture residues. • The wheat stubbles have been harvested at different heights and pasture establishment and will be monitored next season.

Pre-sowing comment: surface crusting with adequate moisture at 3cm.

Early season commment: slow chickpea growth. Field peas ok some ryegrass. Adequte moisture.

Pre sowing comment: surface crusting with adequate mositure at 3cm.

Early season comment: slow chickpea growth. Field peas ok some ryegrass. Adequate moisture.

• When dealing with annual ryegrass populations, it is a numbers game; the more you can control the better.
• Higher water rates in retained stubble resulted in increased efficacy of pre-emergent herbicides.
• Initial findings suggest that using speedtillers to retain stubble in the system does not result in any negative effects

• In 2007, herbicides applied to burnt stubble were more effective than those applied to slashed stubble. In 2008, there was no effect of stubble management on efficacy or crop safety.
• All herbicide treatments gave adequate control ofryegrassin both years, but TriflurX® 1.5L/ha + Avadex Xtra® 1.6L/ha gave the best control in both 2007 and 2008.
• Improved control of ryegrass did not increase yield, and the most profitable treatments were the lower rates of trifluralin.
• Standing stubble substantially increased grain yield relative to slashed stubble (0.41 and 0.47t/ha in 2007 and 2008 respectively).

• Traditionally, forage legumes are sown after the main cropping program is completed and require the application of a pre-sowing knockdown herbicide to control established weeds.  This treatment seriously reduces early winter pasture production which is then compounded by the slow growth rate of legumes under the cold winter conditions. 
• Summer sowing offers early winter grazing in a mixed enterprise farm. The technique has the ability to lift the legume component in a pasture which has degraded through a range of factors such as drought and/or intensive cropping. On a farm without grazing animals, summer sowing can be used to produce a green fallow with a high legume content that can be brown manured to provide  high nitrogen residues  and maximise the organic matter for the benefit of subsequent crops.
• Summer sowing reduces establishment cost by firstly, minimising seed processing particularly in the case of serradella where seed extraction is difficult and expensive and secondly, sowing does not require a pre-sowing application of herbicide.
• The requirement to sow hard-seeded cultivars in summer or early autumn does lose some of the flexibility to tactically respond to seasonal conditions and this needs to be balanced against the clear productivity advantages demonstrated.

• Traditionally, forage legumes are sown after the main cropping program is completed and require the application of a pre-sowing knockdown herbicide to control established weeds.  This treatment seriously reduces early winter pasture production which is then compounded by the slow growth rate of legumes under the cold winter conditions. 
• Summer sowing offers early winter grazing in a mixed enterprise farm. The technique has the ability to lift the legume component in a pasture which has degraded through a range of factors such as drought and/or intensive cropping. On a farm without grazing animals, summer sowing can be used to produce a green fallow with a high legume content that can be brown manured to provide  high nitrogen residues  and maximise the organic matter for the benefit of subsequent crops.
• Summer sowing reduces establishment cost by firstly, minimising seed processing particularly in the case of serradella where seed extraction is difficult and expensive and secondly, sowing does not require a pre-sowing application of herbicide.
• The requirement to sow hard-seeded cultivars in summer or early autumn does lose some of the flexibility to tactically respond to seasonal conditions and this needs to be balanced against the clear productivity advantages demonstrated.

Traditionally, forage legumes are sown after the main cropping program is completed and require
the application of a pre-sowing knockdown herbicide to control established weeds. This treatment
seriously reduces early winter pasture production which is then compounded by the slow growth
rate of legumes under the cold winter conditions.

For further comments please see the attached trial report.