Grazing crops in a dry year

2012
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Phillip Barrett (Lennard)
Michelle Handley (Farm )
Ryan Pearce (ConsultAg)
Richard Quinlan (Planfarm)
Sam Taylor (agVivo)
Greg Warren (Planfarm)
Year(s) 2012
Contributor West Midlands Group
Trial location(s) Woogenellup,
Badgingarra, WA
Cascade, WA
Doodlakine, WA
Gibson, WA
Kelleberrin, WA
Miling, WA
Warradarge, WA
Williams, WA
Grazing crops in a dry year locations
Aims

To determine the impact that grazing of crops in winter had on subsequent grain yield and quality, production factors such as weeds, disease and nutrition, and livestock carrying capacity.

Key messages

These on-farm trials once again demonstrate that it is possible to graze crops in winter and maintain grain yield.  However, the frequency that yield penalties occurred (when grazing crops) increased when compared to the same set of trials in 2011.  Yield penalties (i.e. greater than 5% yield reduction) occurred in seven out of eleven (64%) trials in 2012 compared to two out of seven (29%) trials in 2011.  There are three possible reasons for this increase.  Firstly, growing season rainfall was significantly less in 2012 with most sites receiving only decile 1 or 2 rainfall.  Moisture stress may reduce the ability of crops to recover from grazing.  Secondly, a number of the 2012 trial sites were located in the low rainfall zone where the short seasons are less suited to crop grazing.  And finally, the timing and intensity of grazing may have increased the frequency of yield penalties experienced.  Four out of the eleven crops were grazed later than recommended and seven out of eleven crops were grazed heavily.  It is quite likely these three factors interact, and that a dry year or location exacerbates the negative impacts of late and/or heavy grazing.

The average amount of grazing value provided by crops was significantly less in 2012 compared to 2011 (214 vs 307 DSE grazing days per hectare).  This was mainly due to the late start and the cold and very dry July experienced in 2012.  The amount of grazing value provided by the crop is important when considering the economic implications of crop grazing.  In a year such as 2012, when grain prices were high, a small yield penalty caused by crop grazing can have a large impact on grain income per hectare.  At the current relatively low livestock prices, a lot of grazing value is needed to make up for any grain yield penalty.

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation West Midlands Group
Trial funding source GRDC
Trial funding source DAFWA
Related program Grain & Graze 2
Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank GRDC and DAFF (CFOC) for funding this work as part of the Grain & Graze 2 project, the host farmers (Will Browne, Andrew Kenny, Kristin Lefroy, David Leake, Ryan Forsyth, Matt Carne, Mark and Heather Adams, Mark Walters and Lindsay McLean) for participating in these trials, and a number of local grower groups (West Midlands Group, Moora Miling Pasture Improvement Group, Kellerberrin Demonstration Group, Southern DIRT and Stirlings to Coast) for organising field days at these sites in 2012.


Other trial partners Moora Miling Pasture Improvement Group, Kellerberrin Demonstration Group, Southern DIRT and Stirlings to Coast
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Barley Cereal (Grain): Wheat Oilseed: Canola
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Variety
  • Grazing
Trial type
Trial design

Woogenellup 2012 Barley

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Woogenellup 2012 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Woogenellup 2012 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Badgingarra 2012 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Badgingarra 2012 Barley

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Badgingarra 2012 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Cascade 2012 Barley

Sow date Not specified
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Plot size Not specified
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Cascade 2012 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
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Cascade 2012 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
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Doodlakine 2012 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
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Doodlakine 2012 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Doodlakine 2012 Barley

Sow date Not specified
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Gibson 2012 Barley

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
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Gibson 2012 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
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Gibson 2012 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
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Kelleberrin 2012 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Kelleberrin 2012 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Kelleberrin 2012 Barley

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Miling 2012 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Miling 2012 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
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Miling 2012 Barley

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Warradarge 2012 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Warradarge 2012 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Warradarge 2012 Barley

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
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Williams 2012 Barley

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Williams 2012 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Williams 2012 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Woogenellup, Not specified
Badgingarra, WA Not specified
Cascade, WA Not specified
Doodlakine, WA Not specified
Gibson, WA Not specified
Kelleberrin, WA Not specified
Miling, WA Not specified
Warradarge, WA Not specified
Williams, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Woogenellup, Tenosol
Badgingarra, WA Chromosol
Cascade, WA Hydrosol
Doodlakine, WA Sodosol
Gibson, WA Sodosol
Kelleberrin, WA Sodosol
Miling, WA Kandosol
Warradarge, WA Chromosol
Williams, WA Sodosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Woogenellup Badgingarra WA Cascade WA Doodlakine WA Gibson WA Kelleberrin WA Miling WA Warradarge WA Williams WA
2012 490.4mm236.0mm496.5mm437.3mm337.8mm509.6mm283.7mm214.0mm115.0mm
2011 488.0mm224.8mm498.7mm391.8mm302.3mm467.7mm224.6mm211.7mm124.3mm
2010 449.5mm209.6mm485.3mm373.9mm298.6mm475.0mm216.4mm187.0mm66.9mm
2009 495.9mm228.5mm510.3mm393.6mm344.3mm504.1mm241.7mm206.3mm103.8mm
2008 498.6mm246.8mm487.4mm391.2mm305.3mm487.0mm242.3mm240.3mm69.5mm
2007 434.6mm198.9mm502.6mm381.2mm321.0mm456.8mm228.4mm178.6mm100.1mm
2006 445.2mm196.0mm497.2mm385.1mm270.3mm497.3mm236.7mm169.5mm88.6mm
2005 489.7mm242.6mm486.7mm333.0mm289.1mm470.9mm184.9mm212.6mm107.2mm
2004 477.9mm204.2mm517.3mm385.3mm308.0mm487.4mm197.6mm187.4mm111.7mm
2003 508.4mm230.9mm526.7mm382.1mm320.6mm464.9mm180.7mm197.0mm83.8mm
2002 501.6mm212.7mm516.4mm316.0mm261.8mm388.4mm147.2mm175.8mm96.0mm
2001 451.7mm192.5mm505.5mm345.0mm267.8mm415.2mm177.1mm179.5mm44.1mm
2000 469.9mm206.7mm509.2mm418.2mm320.7mm488.6mm274.6mm196.3mm164.6mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Woogenellup WA

Badgingarra WA

Cascade WA

Doodlakine WA

Gibson WA

Kelleberrin WA

Miling WA

Warradarge WA

Williams WA

Woogenellup WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Badgingarra WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Cascade WA

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Doodlakine WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Gibson WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Kelleberrin WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Miling WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Warradarge WA

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Williams WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2012 trial report



Trial last modified: 26-11-2019 17:03pm AEST