• Brassica carinata is a crop similar to canola that may be used to produce biojet fuel.
• Carinata is grown in Canada over summer but is very late flowering and taller when grown under our winter conditions.
• Earlier flowering carinata lines were selected in 2017 and tested in 20 yield trials in 2018.
• Several carinata lines have produced higher grain yields than canola at Bordertown.
• Future studies will develop an agronomic package to optimise carinata production.
   

• Trial data from the fast track project is still to be analysed. The following key messages are from trials conducted by Steve Marcroft in conjunction with the fast track project.
• Normal crown canker occurred as predicted, i.e. high leaf infection resulting in crown canker. Fungicides applied at the 4-6 leaf growth stage were effective at reducing crown canker. Cultivar resistance was also very significant.
• Upper Canopy Infection did not develop as badly as anticipated with the many leaf lesions noted early in the season.
• Pod infection was not influenced by fungicide applications up to 30% bloom, but flowering date was very significant.
• Fungicide was effective at reducing Upper Canopy Infection. Fungicide was effective at significantly increasing yield, however the most effective timing for fungicide application was variable for each of the disease symptoms.
• The sclerotinia spray application timing (30% bloom) appeared to be a good timing for Upper Canopy Infection control. However this work needs to be repeated in seasons that are conducive for severe Upper Canopy Infection symptoms.

• In 2017, don’t let stubble compromise the big things (weeds, disease, timeliness)
• If the intent is to retain stubble:
◊ Pro-actively manage the stubble for your seeding system
◊ Diversify (add legumes to rotation), deep band N and manage invertebrates. Mice could also be a major problem
◊ For tined seeders, reduce stubble load by mulching, incorporation + nutrients, baling, grazing and consider sowing at 15-19 degree angle to previous sown row
• If stubbles are too thick to sow through, consider strategic late burn, especially before 2nd wheat crop or if sowing canola into large stubbles
• Early monitoring is essential to see how effective actions are to allow for re-planning

Average trial yield was 2.8 t/ha, approximately 1 t/ha below the nitrogen unlimited potential as identified by Yield Prophet® during the season. No significant differences in yield were found between stubble treatments (stubble retained, worked or removed) and nutrient treatments (normal practice, normal practice plus additional nutrients to enhance stubble breakdown). After three years of trial work, no significant differences in soil carbon were found between the stubble and nutrient treatments.

Average trial yield was 3.8 t/ha, close to the potential as identified by Yield Prophet during the season. No significant differences in yield were found between stubble treatments (stubble retained, worked or removed) and nutrient treatments (normal practice, normal practice plus additional nutrients to enhance stubble breakdown). Changes in Soil Organic Matter fractions over the duration of the trial (2012 to 2014) resulting from the stubble and nutrient treatments will be assessed in March, 2015.

• Latest information on canola variety yield performance can be found at www.nvtonline.com.au
• Growers should be encouraged to change canola varieties every two or three years to reduce the risk of blackleg 
• Variety selection should be made inconjuction with the latest version of the blackleg risk assessor (available at www.grdc.com.au)

No difference in yield or quality was noted for the stubble or nutrient treatments. It is likely that soil carbon is being increased as the additional nutrients did not increase yield. Increasing soil carbon is a slow process and several years are needed to see whether these treatments do increase soil carbon. A range of sites across southern Australia have been chosen to see if soil carbon can be increased.

• Varietal differences in disease ratings will be reflected in the level of response achieved to a fungicide application.
• Even with a dry spring, inclusion of a fungicide in the program improved the effectiveness of a nitrogen application. 

Different fungicide applications didn’t result in a significant difference in grain yield, however there was a large difference in the amount of internal blackleg infection.

• Latest information on canola variety yield performance can be found at www.nvtonline.com.au.
• Growers should be encouraged to change canola varieties every two or three years to reduce the risk of blackleg.
• Variety selection should be made inconjuction with the latest version of the blackleg risk assessor (available at www.grdc.com.au).

• Wheat sown after break crops produced up to 1 t/ha more than wheat after wheat
• The greatest benefit of the break crop was produced at the earliest sowing
• Safflower produced the break crop effect but produced low wheat yields, small grain but high protein due to drying out the soil profile.

• Harvest dates for the ryegrass trials were 22 September and 3 November 2011, while the harvest date for the legume trial was 2-3 November. Harvest date in 2012 was 2 October.
• Little growth occurred after this due to dry conditions.

• Harvest dates for the ryegrass trials were 22 September and 3 November 2011, while the harvest date for the legume trial was 2-3 November. Harvest date in 2012 was 2 October.
• Little growth occurred after this due to dry conditions.

• In high rainfall areas, the inclusion of an insecticide to control aphids, and therefore reducing the incidence of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) should becoming common practice.
• Yield responses continue to be seen by controlling BYDC (particularly in susceptible varieties).
• In  2011, the control of BYDV also appeared to  improve the response to later applied nitrogen. 

• In high rainfall areas, the inclusion of an insecticide to control aphids, and therefore reducing the incidence of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) should becoming common practice.
• Yield responses continue to be seen by controlling BYDC (particularly in susceptible varieties).
• In  2011, the control of BYDV also appeared to  improve the response to later applied nitrogen. 

• In high rainfall areas, the inclusion of an insecticide to control aphids, and therefore reducing the incidence of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) should becoming common practice.
• Yield responses continue to be seen by controlling BYDC (particularly in susceptible varieties).
• In 2011, the control of BYDV also appeared to improve the response to later applied nitrogen.

• Importance of a sound fungicide strategy is highlighted at sites where there are unsprayed plots. The variation in yield between sprayed and unsprayed plots depends on the disease rating of the variety, and this should always be  taken into account when selecting new varieties.
• Long term site results should also be utilised to reduce the effect of seasonal variability in the decision making process. 

• Importance of a sound fungicide strategy is highlighted at sites where there are unsprayed plots. The variation in yield between sprayed and unsprayed plots depends on the disease rating of the variety, and this should always be  taken into account when selecting new varieties.
• Long term site results should also be utilised to reduce the effect of seasonal variability in the decision making process. 
• Trial 

• Importance of a sound fungicide strategy is highlighted at sites where there are unsprayed plots. The variation in yield between sprayed and unsprayed plots depends on the disease rating of the variety, and this should always be  taken into account when selecting new varieties.
• Long term site results should also be utilised to reduce the effect of seasonal variability in the decision making process. 

• Importance of a sound fungicide strategy is highlighted at sites where there are unsprayed plots. The variation in yield between sprayed and unsprayed plots depends on the disease rating of the variety, and this should always be taken into account when selecting new varieties.
• Long term site results should also be utilised to reduce the effect of seasonal variability in the decision making process.

• Varietal differences in disease ratings will be reflected in the level of response achieved to a fungicide application.
• Even with a dry spring, inclusion of a fungicide in the program improved the effectiveness of a nitrogen application.

• Several new varieties have been released for the 2012 season that look promising; they are only feed quality at this stage, but undergoing malt evaluation.  NVT Trials weren’t sprayed for leaf rust in 2011.
• This will change in 2012 to reflect farmer practice.
• Unsprayed v Sprayed varietal data is available for both Frances and Conmurra and it gives a good indication of effects of disease on yield across different varieties. 

• Several new varieties have been released for the 2012 season that look promising; they are only feed quality at this stage, but undergoing malt evaluation.
• NVT Trials weren’t sprayed for leaf rust in 2011.This will change in 2012 to reflect farmer practice.
• Unsprayed v Sprayed varietal data is available for both Frances and Conmurra and it gives a good indication of effects of disease on yield across different varieties. 

• Both scald and Leaf Rust had a major effect at Conmurra.
• Varieties like Capstan and Oxfod lodged less than other varieties, resulting in a tendency to yield better. 

 Mowing to simulate grazing reduced grain yield and plant height. The application of Prosaro at the 3-4 leaf stage increased grain yield over the nil application treatment by reducing the level of internal infection caused by blackleg. The later application of Prosaro (8-10 leaf stage) also decreased the amount of blackleg compared to either the nil or the mowed at 8-10 leaf treatments. 

 Mowing to simulate grazing reduced grain yield and plant height. The application of Prosaro at the 3-4 leaf stage increased grain yield over the nil application treatment by reducing the level of internal infection caused by blackleg. The later application of Prosaro (8-10 leaf stage) also decreased the amount of blackleg compared to either the nil or the mowed at 8-10 leaf treatments. 
 

• Highest grain yields were produced at the earlier sowing date at both sites.
• Commander produced the highest grain yields at both sites with the lowest protein content.
• Increased N application rates increased grain yield at both sites but significantly increased protein content at Frances.
• Increased sowing rates have been shown to slightly increase grain yield but reduce screenings and protein so may assist in attaining the malting grade. 
   

• Highest grain yields were produced at the earlier sowing date at Frances but the later sowing date at Conmurra.
• Commander produced the highest grain yields at both sites with the lowest protein content.
• Increased N application rates had no effect at Conmurra but a small increase yield at Frances.
• Increased sowing rates have shown to slightly increase grain yeild but reduce screenings and protein so may assist in attaining the malting grade.
• Disease control ws critical to allow high grain yields to be acheived. 

• Increasing plant density resulted in increased plant height, pod height and subsequent yield. 
• Early sowing resulted in an increase in bottom pod height and total plant height, however the plants were more liekly to lodge. 

• Blackleg internal infection was found in many varieties inclding some varieties that had higher levels than would be expected. 
• Due to teh good winter and spring, the level of yield loss as a certain level of internal infection was much lower than measured in 2008.
• Farmers need to cut canola stems at windrowing time to assess the level of blackleg. 

• As long as enough plants are established, canola can be sown at low rates as the plants compensate so well. Lodging was reduced by lower sowing rates. 
• Using retained hybrid seed for sowing resulted in lower grain yeilds and increased plant losses from blackleg.
• Winter types of canola from international sources may allow us to get increased grain yeilds in seasons when we can sow early. 

• Please see attached trial report for full details on each variety.

• 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. 

The penetrometer measurements show that the nil treatment at both sites had a harder soil profile in the upper 20 cm at Hannafords (clay loam) and down to 35 cm at Jacobs. The reason the Nil treatment at the site of Hannafords shows lower resistance at depth is because this zone was waterlogged (water perched on the clay layer), showing that the ripping and spading have relieved some of the waterlogging. 

Ripping has done a very little to increase grain yields at the Frances site. The application of gypsum has generally increased grain yield by 15-20% over the untreated control treatment.  

• Improving water use efficiency across mixed cropping and livestock systems thorughout Eastern South Australia
• Improving whole farm profitability, whole farm sustainability and whole farm ground cover across Eastern South Australia.

• Bogong has been the highest yielding triticale variety over the past few years
• Mitika, Possum and Potoroo have been high yielding oat varieties, Wandering produced high yields in 2009 but has some disease issues that may affect yield in other years.

• While KASPA peas did well in 2010, several new varieties show great potential
• PBA Jumbo is a large-seeded red lentil that performed well in 2010.
• PBA Slasher was the highest yielding chickpea in 2010.
• PBA Kareema is a large seeded broad bean that has done well in the lower South-East for several years. 
• Janabillup lupins perform better than Mandelups in 2010.

• In 2010 we saw little effect of varying nitrogen rates on grain yield at Conmurra or Frances.
• Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus decreased grain yield by about 1 t/ha at both sites in 2010.
• Highest grain yield was achieved by the earlier sowing dates but very good disease control was required to achieve this.

• In 2010 we saw little effect of varying nitrogen rates on grain yield at Conmurra and Frances
• Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus decreased grain yield by about 1t/ha at both sites in 2010.
• Highest grain yield was achieved by the earlier sowing dates but very good disease control was required to achieve this. 

• In 2010 we saw little effect of varying nitrogen rates on grain yield at Conmurra or Frances.
• Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus decreased grain yield by about 1 t/ha at both sites in 2010.
• Highest grain yield was achieved by the earlier sowing dates but very good disease control was required to achieve this.

• Look at stripe rust scores and yield with and without stripe rust control.
• Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) had a large effect on yield at many sites.

• Commander looks to be a replacement for Gairdner in the higher rainfall areas.
• Disease control needs to be good to maximize grain yield and quality.
• Oxford may have potential in higher rainfall areas but needs to be further evaluated for yield and also whether it will get malting quality. 

• Blackleg internal infection was found in many varieties including some varieties that had higher levels than would be expected.
• Due to the good winter and spring, the level of yield loss at a certain level of internal infection was much lower than measured in 2008.
• Farmers need to cut canola stems at windrowing time to assess the level of blackleg.