In southern Australian mixed farming systems, there are many opportunities for pasture improvement, providing positive impacts to both cropping and livestock systems. Dryland legume pastures are necessary in low to medium rainfall zones to support productive and healthy livestock, along with optimal production in crops following these pastures. The majority of pasture species used in these mixed farming systems are short-lived annuals that complete their lifecycle from winter to early summer, with dry seasonal conditions resulting in a shorter growth window between germination and senescence. This is a major issue for livestock producers in these regions due to unreliable rainfall patterns leading to fluctuating legume growth, and the subsequent impact on feed supply and quality for grazing animals.

Innovative and improved legume species and pasture systems have the potential to fill existing nutrient gaps, thus reducing supplementary feed required for optimum ruminant performance, and maintain or improve livestock productivity through growth rates, fertility or product quality.

The Dryland Legume Pasture Systems (DLPS) project aims to boost profit and reduce risk in medium and low rainfall areas by developing recently discovered pasture legumes together with innovative management techniques that benefit animal and crop production and farm logistics. A theme of the DLPS project involves ‘Quantifying the benefits of novel legume pastures to livestock production systems’ and aims to maximise the advantages that pastures provide to livestock through increased animal growth and reproduction by extending the period of quality feed and reduced supplementary feeding. The animal systems research within the project will also assess areas of understanding anti-nutritional factors and ‘duty of care’ for new pasture species, providing opportunities for improved weed management and evaluate the main benefits of novel self-regenerating pasture legumes in crop rotations on animal production, health and welfare.

This theme is a component of a five year Rural R&D 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.

A five-year grazing system trial was established at the Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC) in 2018 to examine this theme and is the main livestock field site for the DLPS trial in the southern region of Australia.

To determine effective rates and mixtures for the knockdown control of hard to kill summer grass weeds. 

To determine effective rates and mixtures for the knockdown control of hard to kill summer grass weeds

To determine effective rates and mixtures for the knockdown control of hard to kill summer grass weeds. Specifically Button Grass

To determine effective rates and mixtures for the knockdown control of hard to kill summer grass weeds. Specifically Button Grass.

To determine effective rates and mixtures for the knockdown control of hard to kill summer grass weeds. Specifically Liverseed Grass.

To determine effective rates and mixtures for the knockdown control of hard to kill summer grass weeds. Specifically Windmill Grass.

To evaluate a range of herbicides for the control of large grass weeds when using optical spray application. Specifically Awnless Barnyard Grass. 

To evaluate a range of herbicides for the control of large grass weeds when using optical spray application. Specifically Awnless Barnyard Grass. 

• Serradella is a useful pasture species on the sandy soils of the West Midlands. But it has two major weaknesses: weed control (particularly radish and capeweed) and a lack of early biomass production. By sowing serradella with a Clearfield Barley variety (Scope or Spartacus) and using Clearfield (Imidazolinone) herbicides both of these weaknesses can be overcome.
• The aim of this demonstration was to highlight the pro’s and con’s of using Clearfield Barley as a cover crop when sowing serradella pastures.

To inform readers about weed sensing: the use of a machine or instrument to detect a weed; a plant that shouldn’t be there

To report on discussions that there was an apparent increase in cultivation of fallows this year.

To determine effective rates and mixtures for the knockdown control of hard to kill summer grass weeds. Specifically Liverseed Grass. 

To evaluate alternative chemistry for fallow knockdown control of summer grass weeds. Specifically Feathertop Rhodes Grass and Button Grass.

To evaluate a range of herbicides for the control of large grass weeds when using optical spray application, especifically feathertop Rhodes grass. 

To evaluate residual herbicide tank mixtures for broad spectrum summer fallow weed management.

To evaluate residual herbicide tank mixtures for broad spectrum summer fallow weed management.

To evaluate residual herbicide tank mixtures for broad spectrum summer fallow weed management.

To evaluate residual herbicide tank mixtures for broad spectrum summer fallow weed management.

To evaluate residual herbicide tank mixtures for broad spectrum summer fallow weed management.

To evaluate residual herbicide tank mixtures for broad spectrum summer fallow weed management.

To evaluate residual herbicide tank mixtures for broad spectrum summer fallow weed management.

To evaluate residual herbicide tank mixtures for broad spectrum summer fallow weed management.

To evaluate residual herbicide tank mixtures for broad spectrum summer fallow weed management.

To evaluate the compatibility of mixtures of Group A and broadleaf herbicides for summer grass weed control. Specifically Feather Top Rhodes Grass. 

To evaluate the compatibility of mixtures of Group A and broadleaf herbicides for summer grass weed control. Specifically Feathertop Rhodes Grass. 

To evaluate the compatibility of mixtures of Group A and broadleaf herbicides for summer grass weed control. Specifically Liverseed Grass

To evaluate the influence of perennial row spacing and grass suppression on the performance of serradella summer sown into subtropical perennial-grass pastures.

To evaluate alternative chemistry for fallow knockdown control of summer grass weeds.

To evaluate alternative chemistry for fallow knockdown control of summer grass weeds. Specifically Liverseed Grass and Awnless Barnyard Grass. 

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

To evaluate the efficacy of residual herbicides for fallow control of summer grass weeds.

To measure the effectiveness of herbicides used in Clearfield and non-Clearfield cropping rotations to control problematic weeds in the Mallee including wild radish and brome grass.

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

To investigate the dry matter (DM) productivity and nutritive value (NV) of a range of pasture species sown independently or in conjunction with Fathom barley at Hart in winter and summer.

To investigate alternative break crop sequences and cereal herbicide control options that can increase profitability and reduce brome grass populations in the Mallee.

To evaluate the efficacy of residual herbicides for fallow control of summer grass weeds.

To evaluate the efficacy of residual herbicides for fallow control of summer grass weeds.

To evaluate the efficacy of residual herbicides for fallow control of summer grass weeds.

To evaluate the efficacy of residual herbicides for fallow control of summer grass weeds.

To evaluate the efficacy of residual herbicides for fallow control of summer grass weeds.

To evaluate the efficacy of residual herbicides for fallow control of summer grass weeds.

To evaluate the efficacy of residual herbicides for fallow control of summer grass weeds.

To evaluate the efficacy of residual herbicides for fallow control of summer grass weeds.

To evaluate the efficacy of residual herbicides for fallow control of summer grass weeds.

To evaluate the efficacy of residual herbicides for fallow control of summer grass weeds.

• To evaluate the performance of annual crop and pasture species sown into subtropical grasses.
• To compare summer and winter sowing options to introduce serradella into subtropical perennial pastures.

To demonstrate differences between sprayed and unsprayed plots from December 2012 to February 2013 for RCSN Kwinana East Port Zone trial locations.

To (i) determine possible associations between soil types and weed distribution within the Kwinana West and the Kwinana East Regional Cropping Solutions Network zones; and (ii) provide factsheets linking soil types to the top 5 weeds in each of the two zones, produced specifically for their zones and soils.

To evaluate the economic benefit and effectiveness of different herbicide treatments on mixture of summer grassses and melons.