The yields of the different Trifluralin treatments and sowing depths ranged from 1.5 to 2.1 t/ha.

• Triticale is very responsive to high inputs of seed and fertiliser.
• Adequate fertiliser is needed to achieve protein levels above 10%.
• In dry springs triticale yields are 10-15% below wheat, due to triticale’s longer grain filling period.

• Winter habit canola has been successfully sown in spring, grazed over summer and harvested for grain in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
• Establishing canola in spring means larger, more resilient plants in autumn with less impact from slugs and waterlogging.
• Forage value comparable to commercially available dedicated forage rapes over summer and autumn with added benefit of oil seed production.
• Grazing management and timing of stock removal is proving to have an impact on grain yield.
• Vernalisation means winter wheats have the potential to be used in the same way.
   

• Winter habit canola has been successfully sown in spring, grazed over summer and harvested for grain in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
• Establishing canola in spring means larger, more resilient plants in autumn with less impact from slugs and waterlogging.
• Forage value comparable to commercially available dedicated forage rapes over summer and autumn with added benefit of oil seed production.
• Grazing management and timing of stock removal is proving to have an impact on grain yield.
• Vernalisation means winter wheats have the potential to be used in the same way.
   

• The trial was designed to test the capacity of TwinN to enable reductions in nitrogen fertiliser applications.
• The control treatments showed no statistical difference in yield between 0 and 50 kg/ha urea but a difference was seen between 50 kg and 100 kg/ha ureas.
• Yield from TwinN plus 75 kg/ha urea was not statistically differenent from that from the 100 kg/ha urea.
• No treatment effects were found in protein% or screenings%.

• There was significant rain in early April.
• The paddock was cultivated wet at the time of seeding.
• Seeding was delayed due to seed supply problem.

This site presents a relatively easy population to control as seen by the lower degree of resistance to Group I (RR) and Group F (RR) and no obvious indications of ‘stacking’. The standard full rates of FC, FI, FCI, HC and HI all performed well. The population fits RRD Stage 3 where screening data indicates there are no recommended MOA limitations for either the first or second spray operations. While the options available for the first spray are many and varied there is a concern regarding the effectiveness of a phenoxy in the second spray given the level of tolerance noted to Group I, and thus the recommendation is that both sprays be multiple MOA co-mixes.

Inversion ploughing of water repellent sands can significantly reduce repellence and increase critical components of grain yield.

Deep ripping in the presence of problem background ryegrass can stimulate ryegrass emergence and worsen weed competition with the crop.

The strength of the subsoil resource (i.e. clay component) appears important in sustaining the crop production potential and realisation of grain yield improvement.

• Vigorous growth in all crops and pasture treatments in 2009 has set up the trial for 2010, when the impact of soil mineral N on disease suppression will be assessed.
• At the start of the 2009 season there were already small differences in mineral nitrogen levels in the soil profile, spray topped medic having the highest with 63 kg N/ha and the control wheat the least with 44 kg N/ha.
• Since healthy medic will fix around 25 kg N/t DM, the medic spray topped treatment should have fixed around 125 kg N/ha during 2009.
• There were slight changes in Rhizoctonia inoculum in some treatments early this season but there were no visual differences in Rhizoctonia patches in the cereal plots in 2009.

• Slow maturing varieties sown early have potential to increase profitability, even in low rainfall areas.
• The late break to the season in 2012 in the UN, did not allow the long season variety to perform.
• Dry sowing of wheat 5 weeks before the opening rains produced equal or higher yields to wheat sown on the break.

• ‘Compass type’ varieties with good early vigour, combined with a prostrate growth habit are the best competitors (Compass, Fathom, Scope CL, RGT Planet).
• ‘Hindmarsh type’ and ‘Urambie type’ varieties with very slow early vigour are poor competitors (Hindmarsh, Spartacus CL, Urambie).
• In the presence of grass weeds there was an average of 0.9t/ha yield loss across all barley varieties.
• Three years of data has reinforced that certain varieties can be used as a non-herbicide option for grass weed control.

• Trifluralin was very effective, reducing ryegrass numbers by 60 percent.
• The use of oilseeds and pulse crops provided the opportunity to effectively control resistant ryegrass using different chemistries (even within Group A - dims).
• Cutting hay is a profitable option with low risk and importantly very effective in reducing ryegrass if managed correctly.

In a trial on Yitpi at Corack there was not yield or margin benefit from using flutriafol on fertiliser at either 400 or 800mL/ha rate, despite low level stem rust and yellow leaf spot infection in the top three leaves of the crop.

• High rates of seed and fertiliser could indeed be a useful tool for controlling weeds. Seed costs would be a little greater but the ability to control the weeds without using chemical - particularly in a situation where resistant weeds become a problem, could certainly make the cost acceptable.

• This site was unresponsive to N and there was no significant effect of either seed rate or N timing upon yield.
• Crop vigour was poor through the season and this was most likely related to subsoil acidity and aluminium toxicity.
• Plant testing confirmed adequate supply of nutrients.
•  

• Blackleg internal infection was found to be greater in retained seed compared to the original hybrid.
• Some trials showed a yield loss when retained sowing seed was used.
• The use of farmer retained hybrid seed must be questioned based on these and other trial results.

•  Yields were significantly higher under narrow row spacing, but sowing direction had no influence on yield.
• Weeds had a significant effect on yield, but the scale of yield penalty (t/ha yield loss) did  not alter with row spacing or sowing direction in 2015.
• Weeds established faster where row spacings were wider, however by late tillering, all treatments had similar weed numbers and biomass levels.

• Yields were significantly higher under narrow row spacing, but sowing direction had no influence on yield.
• Weeds had a significant effect on yield, but the scale of yield penalty (t/ha yield loss) did not alter with row spacing or sowing direction in 2015.
• Weeds established faster where row spacings were wider, however by late tillering, all treatments had similar weed numbers and biomass levels.

• Seasonal conditions had an overriding influence on crop performance and bean yields in 2015. 
• Early sowing benefited yields in less favourable low/medium rainfall environments where biomass production was lower.
• Sowing densities above the recommended rates of 24 plants/m2 led to high increases in biomass production at flowering time however, had no effect on final grain yield.
• Seed size was small in 2015, adjust seeding rates accordingly to maintain optimum plant populations for 2016.

Very little yield data is available for many of the crop species from the 2006 season. Furthermore, for some crop species, notably chickpeas, seed production was severely disrupted by the drought and the release of some of the newer varieties has been delayed by a year.

The application of Real didn't appear to have a big effect on the occurrence of leaf rust on flag leaves.

• Yield of all varieties were largely unaffected across the range of plant density (12 to 80
  plants/sqm) during the highly favourable season of 2010.
• As densities increased, seed size increased.
• Varieties differed significantly in grain yield and seed size. Sturt was the highest yielder,
  followed by OZP0901 and OZP0703.

• All treatments were safe to Mace wheat in this trial with minor crop flecking recorded from all Group F treatments with symptoms diminishing within a fortnight.
• None of the yields in this trial were significantly different from the untreated however all treatments applied at Spray B recorded significantly (P≥5%) lower contamination from wild radish pods in the sample than the untreated. Pod separation was not conducted on treatments that had either Velocity or Jaguar at spray A All treatments with a Spray A were assumed to be AUH2 for ROI analysis due to the high levels of weed control.
• Velocity 800 mL/ha (4.16 t/ha) applied at application A only recorded a higher yield than Velocity 1 L/ha when applied at application B only (4.11 t/ha), demonstrating the advantages of early weed control in competing with the crop for nutrition.
• For further details please see attached trial report.

 

• Velocity and Precept selective herbicides are based on a new active pyrasulfotole.
• This is a new mode of action on broadleaf weeds in cereals in Australia (Group H).
• Velocity and Precept showed excellent crop safety.
• Broad spectrum and reliable broadleaf weed control.

See attached report for results and discussion.

• At Warmur and Kalkee, Bannister was the highest yielding milling oat and Brusher the highest yielding hay oat variety in 2016 – an excellent season.
• Application of fungicides to oats did not create hay or yield benefits in the Wimmera in 2016.
• Choice of oat variety and management should be made according to the intended end-use traits – versatility if conditions change, disease resistance, ability to control problem weeds and likelihood of making premium markets.

• At Warmur and Kalkee, Bannister was the highest yielding milling oat and Brusher the highest yielding hay oat variety in 2016 – an excellent season.
• Application of fungicides to oats did not create hay or yield benefits in the Wimmera in 2016.
• Choice of oat variety and management should be made according to the intended end-use traits – versatility if conditions change, disease resistance, ability to control problem weeds and likelihood of making premium markets.

• Vetch is a versatile crop that can be used for grain, pasture, hay/silage or green manure.
• Common vetches can be successfully grown in lower to mid rainfall areas of southern Australia where no other legume crops perform consistently well.
• It offers disease and weed breaks in rotation and also returns significant amounts of nitrogen to the soil.
• New vetch species are showing potential in very low rainfall areas, with trials to be conducted on Eyre Peninsula in 2012.

Outback (AGA99-04) is an early-mid variety bred by Ag-Seed Research. It is new in 2001 and will be marketed by Dovuro. It is being tested in Victoria for the first time this year. There is limited information available on this line. Hyola 60 (PACN168) is a new mid maturity hybrid line to be released by Pacific Seeds in 2001. It is being tested in Victoria for the first time. It has good early vigour, but there is limited information available. Try new varieties in conjunction with proven varieties on smaller areas. Check yield, quality results and economics of new varieties before deciding on which variety to grow. A new National Blackleg scoring system will be available soon.

• Post emergent N applied to wheat did not give an economic return in this trial.
• Consider trialling premium wheat seed treatments.
• Seed treatment Veteran Plus (180 g/L imidacloprid + 6.25 g/L flutriafol) gave the best net return on investment ($32/ha) compared to the untreated control.
• Baytan T ($27/ha) and Dividend + Emerge ($24/ha) seed treatments also gave respectable net returns.

• In a year where waterlogging caused yield penalties all treatments resulted in a yield increase compared to the control.
• The raised beds increased yield by almost 200% followed by gravel moles, gravel slots and conventional moles.
• On flat waterlogged land, raised beds provided the best yield result but they did have some management issues.
• Gravel slots and gravel moles also worked extremely well but the slots were too expensive to install to consider for broadacre use. No commercial scale gravel mole is available at present.
• Conventional moles are prone to collapse with Kangaroo Island’s sodic clays.

• In a year where waterlogging caused severe yield penalties, all treatments resulted in a yield increase compared to the control.
• On flat waterlogged land, raised beds provided the best yield result but they do have some
• management issues .
• The delved treatment drained a considerable amount of water, yielded equal to the other treatments (but less than the raised beds) and was more cost effective to install with fewer management issues.
• Gravel slots and gravel moles also worked extremely well but the slots were too expensive to install to consider for broadacre use. No commercial scale gravel mole is available at present.
• Conventional moles are prone to collapse with Kangaroo Island’s sodic clays.

The objective of this GRDC / SPAA funded project is to increase the level of adoption of PA 'beyond guidance' by broadacre farmers. The project specifically aims to increase the level of adoption of variable rate (VR) by growers in the project to 30% by 2013.This goal will be achieved by demonstrating how to use PA tools to growers at a regional level and by increasing the skills of growers and industry in PA to a level where they can then use PA tools in their farming systems to achieve economic, environmental and social benefits.

Sowing early gave best crop competition with brome grass. Select a variety with high early vigour to suppress brome grass seed set. Select a variety with a short growing season when crop-topping brome.

• A mixture of Moddus and Cycocel at GS 24 will reduce wheat plant height more reliably compared to the other treatments applied on their own.
• Plants sown into situations of higher fertility will produce taller plants that may respond better to the use of PGRs to control plant height and biomass which may improve WUE.
• For season long plant growth regulation a follow up PGR may well be required later in the season to stop plant 'bounce back'.

DBA Aurora and Mace showed similar ability to compete with weeds in 2014. Using higher seeding rates improved weed control. Increased crop seeding rate resulted in reduced crop screenings in 2014

DBA Aurora and Mace showed similar ability to compete with weeds in 2014. Using higher seeding rates improved weed control. Increased crop seeding rate resulted in reduced crop screenings in 2014

• Site background weed levels increased total weed competition levels to very high numbers
  masking differences between genotypes for grain yield. However genotype differences still
  occurred for competition score and final ryegrass tiller numbers in the low ryegrass
  treatment.
• Limited findings suggests there is variation in the current chickpea genotype for competition
  with ryegrass, particularly in reducing tiller numbers. Tall types (CICA512) and types with
  wide branching angles (Sonali) were generally more competitive than short and narrow
  branching angle types.
• The concept trial had limited success in 2007 due to trial methodology and site selection
  issues. Further refinements to trial methodology are required for 2008. These are:
  o Lower rye grass numbers (40 and 100 plants per sq.m) are required than those used
  in 2007 (adapted from work undertaken in wheat).
  o A site with very low background weed numbers is essential due to limited herbicide
  options available.
  o The ability of the chickpea variety to reduce ryegrass tiller numbers is likely to be a
  greater assessment of the competitive rating of the variety than its grain yield.
• A number of lines with a greater variation in vigour, plant height and plant shape (degree of
  angle of branches) than those evaluated in 2007 have been selected from advanced breeding trials in 2007 for assessment in 2008.

• Although chickpea yields were higher than previous years, the rapid finish to the season
  favoured earlier flowering and maturing varieties such as GenesisTM079 and Sonali.
• Ryegrass competition at 31 and 86 plants/m2 reduced chickpea grain yield by 31% and 56%, respectively. Similarly, at Turretfield ryegrass at 41 plants/m2 corresponded to 33% yield loss, and 62% at 123 plants/m2.
• Similarities between moisture stresses caused by lack of finishing rainfall in 2009 and from
  competition with ryegrass meant that the same varieties yielded well with or without  ryegrass competition eg GenesisTM079.
• Breeder’s line “Chickpea 4” recorded the lowest yield loss from ryegrass competition at both
  sites (9% at the low ryegrass density at Hart), and also displayed 35% better tiller suppression than other varieties at Hart.
• Early vigour appeared an important trait in chickpea for improved competivness with ryegrass, plant height was a disadvantage, but further work is required on a larger set of
  phenotypes and in a more favourable growing season.
• Some ambiguous results in 2009 (eg PBA Slasher and Chickpea 2) may be due to the
  unfavourable seasonal conditions for chickpea production which prevailed in SA last year.
  However they do indicate the need for more work in a more favourable growing season, and
  potentially on a larger set of phenotypes.

• Ryegrass and broadleaf weeds such as toadrush and capeweed are the main weeds to control in oat crops on the rising hill country in hte southern Wimmera.
• In this trial, the most cost effective option to control these weeds was Diuron and Glean applied at the 3-leaf stage of the oats.

• Triflur and Roundup CT applied pre-sowing produced the best yield and gross margin result, some other treatments were statistically similar.
• All 4 rates of Diuron produced the same yield and gross margin.
• The best timing for weed control to maximize yield and gross margin is prior to sowing.

• Concentrating the header trash into rows prevents spreading of weed seeds across the paddock. Additionally, it allows for site specific weed management and weed seed destruction through strategic burning.
• A low cutting height (10cm) can allow greater than 95% weed seed capture and placement
  into rows. However this harvest height can impact harvest cost, speed and efficiency.

Herbicide use is becoming increasingly complicated with restrictions on the use of more and more products and a tight water supply. The following articles outline how to cope with these limitations and provide some good information for spraying this season.

The main messages from the trial work undertaken in 2005 for weed management in 2006 are presented in this report.

 

This study has shown that substantial savings can be made with the use of this technology. It essntially allows the farmer to have a zero tolerance on summer weeds, without having to apply economical thresholds. The study also identified that the savings will not always result. If there is consistently, 60-70% ground cover, the economical returns may not be as great. This is due to the way the technology is designed. Often in relatively high densities, two sensors would come on to spray one weed, hence twice the amount of water. This is most likely the cause of more water being used in the areas with the High density. Overall, the Weed Seeker technology has the potential to reduce chemical costs and increase the efficiency of spray applications.

• Optical Spray Technology (OST) systems are used for broad spectrum weed control for summer weed and fallow weed control. This type of sprayer is widely accepted in broad-acre cropping situations.
• In-Crop weed detection is the sensing and identification of non-crop plants within the growing crop.
• This technology is not as advanced, nor as widely used as the optical sprayer technology.

• Significant reductions in water and chemical use can be achieved when weed sensing technology (WeedSeeker) is used, compared with blanket applications.
• Erect plants compared with prostrate plants require less spray.

• In the past four (dry) years on this demonstration farm the fallow/wheat/oats/lucerne (Phase farming) and wheat/fallow rotations have proved the most financially rewarding, probably due to the moisture storing benefits of fallow.
• Urea seems both less risky and more reliable than the pulse or ley in increasing wheat yield.
• The extreme dryness has caused problems with weed control (chemicals not effective) and with growth of pulse crops and subclover leys.

• Our standard package of 100 kg 18:20/ha at seeding under the seed row (to avoid fertiliser toxicity), Jockey-treated seed, endosulfan and simazine pre-seeding, a follow up spray of atrazine and a grass herbicide mid-season, and two top-ups of nitrogen during the season (50 kg N/ha as broadcast urea each time) gave us a clean, high yielding and good quality crop with no pests or diseases.
• There was no evidence that extra management options provided any further benefits to canola performance (ie a fungicide spray, B fertiliser or use of a growth regulant) under the conditions of last year’s trial.
• However, it would appear that we may have been a bit generous with our N and P inputs in the standard package because we could halve the mid-season N rate and not suffer any yield or quality loss. Additionally, leaving out P altogether had little impact so a rate lower than 20 kg P/ha may have been the best compromise last year.
• There seems little reason to change from a management strategy of plenty of N at seeding (providing you can avoid seedling toxicity by separating the N and the seed) followed up by an early season top-up. Delayed aapplications of N produced yields or quality no better than our standard.

• 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. 

• Seeding rate had a bigger impact on wheat establishment than soil wetting agents
• High seeding rates on soils with low yield potential were sometimes a disadvantage; optimal seeding rates would need to account for yield potential as well as the degree of soil water repellence.
• Delaying sowing providing an opportunity to get a knockdown of weeds was important on water repellent soils where staggered weed germination, and reduced herbicide activity, reduces efficacy of in-crop and pre-emergent applications.
• In these trials soil wetting agents did not consistently improve wheat establishment and despite some evidence of benefits to vegetative growth this generally did not translate into a grain yield benefit.

• 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 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 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 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. 

• The first sowing date produced the highest grain yields but there was a significant interaction between varieties and sowing date at each site.
• Nitrogen application rate had large effects at both sites while application time had small effects on yield and quality.
• Due to the heat wave in early November, longer season wheat varieties produced lower grain yields than earlier maturing varieties
• Control of BYDV had less effect on grain yield than in previous years.

• Across all sites, barley was more productive than wheat on both wheat and canola stubble. However in the binnu trial wheat yields were significantly higher than barley at all nitrogen treatments except the control.  
• Nitrogen is an important component of agronomy of wheat and barley in both canola and wheat rotations. Yields did respond to nitrogen. 

• 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.  

• 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.

This is the first experiment to evaluate the effect of canopy architecture on wheat yield in Australia. The results show that leaf erectness appears to be an important trait for wheat in Western Australia. Erect leaves allow greater light penetration into the lower canopy.  As a result a larger leaf area and longer duration of greenness is maintained in the canopy over time (Fig. 2), both of which could increase photosynthesis and improve yield (Fig. 3). More data across a wide range of environments are needed to prove the hypothesis, and test other effects on weed competition and disease incidence. We will continue to evaluate this hypothesis with WMG in 2017, and look to broaden our evaluation with future projects beyond that.

• With very low levels of available soil nitrogen and rooting limitations due to salinity at 70cm, there was a significant response to applied nitrogen over the zero N control, but was statistically significant only in treatments that received nitrogen in the seedbed.
• Where nitrogen was applied in-crop at GS31 (14 August) and GS39 (14 September), there was no significant yield response above the control (a result attributed to limited uptake 3.25mm of rain in August, 8.5mm in September).
• While grain protein content increased after seedbed nitrogen applications, there was no protein response to in-crop applications, confirming a lack of nitrogen uptake as a result of limited follow up rainfall.

• In this water-limited scenario, with 70 kg/ha N available in the soil at the start of the season, in-crop nitrogen application served to significantly reduce yield relative to the zero N control.
• Yield depression was strongly significant (p=0.001) when nitrogen was applied at GS30 (start of stem elongation) but was less evident when applied at GS37 (flag leaf first visible).
• Unusually, the yield reduction from GS30 nitrogen timing was associated with higher grain protein than the later flag leaf first visible (GS37) timing. This result looks likely to have been influenced by protein concentration effect accompanying the stronger yield reduction at GS30.

Seed and fertiliser dresings and in-crop fungicides did not give a response in wheat in a drought year. Ventura and H45 yielded better than Diamondbird.

• Seed and fertiliser dresings and in-crop fungicides gave responses in wheat that were inconsistant.
• Stripe rust varieties gave less reponse.
• Generally the best response came from spraying at full tillering (Z31).

• Fertiliser dressings gave responses in wheat during 2008.
• There were no responses to in-crop fungicides.
• During the four year of the experiment, the best fungicide treametns have benn the seed and fertiliser treatments and the in-crop fungicide sprays at growth stage Z 39 (flag leaf emergence).

• Similar yields can be obtained using a number of combinations of seed and fertiliser.
• Low tiller numbers can be recovered by using light amounts of nitrogen.
• There may be opportunities to use much lower inputs and still produce high-yielding and profitable crops.

• Trial reveals that 70 plants per square metre (about 35kg seed) and 5-10 kilograms per hectare of phophorus represent the optimal target plant density and phosphorous input level for wheat.
• Similar yeild results can be obatained using a number of combinations of seed and fertiliser.
• Low tiller numbers can be recovered by using light amounts of nitrogen.

• There was significatn rain in early April.
• Main weed problem was radish.

Despite weed competition, less-than-ideal winter weather and soil conditions, wheat responded to both P and N application at this site. Grower returns on fertilizer investment were best with P applied at 8 to 16 kg/ha and N applied at 40 kg/ha. Greater response and returns from increased fertilizer application may be expected with improved early-to-mid season moisture conditions and less weed competition.

The plant roots in this trial were not assessed for disease incidence and there were no above ground symptoms of any diseases, however results (although not statistically significant) show some modest yield increases at Gnarwarre that are consistent with the other trials conducted in Victoria.

The objective of this GRDC / SPAA funded project is to increase the level of adoption of PA 'beyond guidance' by broadacre farmers. The project specifically aims to increase the level of adoption of variable rate (VR) by growers in the project to 30% by 2013.This goal will be achieved by demonstrating how to use PA tools to growers at a regional level and by increasing the skills of growers and industry in PA to a level where they can then use PA tools in their farming systems to achieve economic, environmental and social benefits.

• The average sowing rate in low rainfall zones is 50 kg/ha.
• Increasing seeding rates is generally not helpful for yield as moisture is limiting in this zone.
• Higher seeding rates can have other benefits such as reducing weed burdens.

There was no influence of seeding rate on crop production in 2012 at Mullewa when the crop was sown close to the break. However there was a yield penalty with the higher seeding rate when the sowing time was delayed by a month. These results are in contrast to 2011 at Mullewa . Increasing seeding rate increased crop production when sown close to the break and there was no effect on  roduction with increasing seeding rate when seeding was delayed.

Emergence: 

Emergence was staggered for the first sown treatments only. This is because seeding was on the 11th May into a drying seed bed. It had rain ed in April and early May. The second sowing time was on the 7th June. Rainfall in June was 56 mm.The seeding rate treatments targeted 100, 200 and 300 plants/m2. The actual plant population was 100, 147 and 200 plants/m2 respectively (averaged across variety and sowing time). The range in ears produced across treatments was not large however it was a significantly different between the highest (145 ears/m2) and the lowest seeding rate (137 ears/2) (ave across variety and sowing time).

Yield:

At Mullewa, there was no interaction between seeding rate, sowing time and variety on crop yield. However, there was an interaction between seeding rate and sowing time on crop production for all varieties. When sown close to the break of the season, changing seeding rates did not affect crops yields significantly. In contrast to the first sowing time, the grain yield (averaged across all varieties) was significantly reduced at the higher actual plant population compared to the middle and lower targe ted plant populations of 100 and 147 plants/m2. Delaying seeding by a month later, reduced crop production by 500 - 600 kg/ha. This equates to 20kg/day/ha.

Emu Rock, Mace and Corack were the higher yielding varieties at each sowing time. Emu Rock and Mace are AH varieties, Corack is an APW variety.

Quality:

There was no influence of seeding time, plant density or variety on grain protein (P>0.05). Initial assessment of grain screenings includes whole and cracked grain. Except for Emu Rock, screenings of all varieties were lower than 5% when sown at the first sowing time (P<0.05). Observations of Emu Rock at harvest suggest the screenings are a result of mechanical damage, rather than small grain (further measurements are to be undertaken to assess this).

.

Sowing time has a greater influence on production of all wheat varieties than seeding rate. Weed competition is one factor which can limit early sowing and increasing crop competition through increasing plant density has been demonstrated as a useful non chemical tool to reduce weed growth. The research has demonstrated that increasing plant density did not adversely affect crop yield or grain quality of crops sown close to the break of the season in May however higher plant densities of varieties sown in June did reduce yield of wheat varieties.There was no influence of seeding rate on crop production in 2012 at Mullewa when the crop was sown close to the break. However there was a yield penalty with the higher seeding rate when the sowing time was delayed by a month. These results are in contrast to 2011 at Mullewa. Increasing seeding rate increased crop production when sown close to the break and there was no effect on production with increasing seeding rate when seeding was delayed.

• Sowing date, particularly for mid–late maturing varieties, was found to be a significant determinant of grain yield potential, with yield reductions of >25% observed due to a delayed sowing date (8 May vs. 7 June).
• Variety and sowing date in particular affected grain quality parameters, with a significant increase in the level of screenings for all varieties when the sowing date was delayed.
• Higher plant populations had a greater influence on grain yield when the sowing date was delayed. Yield potential was optimised at 200 plants/m2 for a 7 June sowing date vs. 100 plants/m2 for the earlier 8 May sowing date, supporting the principal of increasing targeted plant populations when sowing is delayed.
• Altering variety and maturity type, and increasing targeted plant population in response to a delayed sowing date did not fully compensate for yield losses associated with a delayed vs. timely sowing date.

Conclusions:

Results from this experiment highlight the importance of timely sowing, particularly for mid–late maturing varieties. Yield reductions of approximately 1.3 t/ha averaged across plant population treatments were recorded for the mid–late maturing varieties LRPB LancerA and EGA GregoryA with delayed sowing, which equates to a 25% and 26% yield decline, respectively. Similarly, the late maturing variety EGA EaglehawkA suffered a yield penalty of around 22% (0.98 t/ha) whilst the mid maturing variety SuntopA suffered a 14% (0.70 t/ha) yield reduction due to delayed sowing. In comparison, the earlier maturing varieties LRPB DartA and LRPB SpitfireA suffered only minimal yield reductions when SD was delayed. Importantly however, the earlier maturing varieties did not exhibit any yield advantage over the later maturing varieties in SD 2 and were significantly lower yielding than these varieties at SD 1. Temperature and plant available water during anthesis/grain fill would also have affected both yield potential and grain quality parameters, with limited effective in-crop rainfall in September/October, and temperatures exceeding 35 °C for an extended period from 4 October. The longer season variety EGA EaglehawkA in particular had high screenings for both SDs, and also produced a low yield in SD 2, reinforcing the need to sow this variety early due to its lack of adaptability under unfavourable conditions. Increasing plant population had a greater influence on GY when SD was delayed, with yield potential optimised at 200 plants/m2 in SD 2 vs. 100 plants/m2 in the earlier SD 1, supporting the principal of increasing targeted plant populations with delayed sowing. These findings further emphasise the advantage of planting early in the sowing window compared to delayed sowing just simply in terms of input seed requirements. Variety selection and sowing date particularly affected grain quality parameters and screenings. There was a significant increase in the level of screenings for all varieties when sowing was delayed. LRPB LancerA was the only variety in this experiment that achieved screenings of <5%, but only at SD 1. All other varieties, including LRPB LancerA in SD 2, exceeded the critical 5% screenings receival standards level. LRPB LancerA appears to have excellent grain stability with significantly lower screenings than either EGA GregoryA or SuntopA. Findings from this experiment indicate that there were differences between varieties in terms of grain stability, due possibly to variations in kernel shape/plumpness and or kernel weight stability. These results also highlight the adaptability of some of the mid–late season 16 | NSW Department of Primary Industries varieties, and the yield and quality advantages of sowing these varieties early, compared with sowing earlier maturing varieties later

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Average treated wheat yields in the trial were 4.81 t/ha.
• The late timing of the rain in November tended to favour the longer season varieties which were just starting to grain fill at this time.
• Of the 20 varieties included in the trial, 5 are not commercially available at present.
• The highest yielding commercially available variety was Amarok at 111% of the site mean.
• The top four yielding varieties were red grained wheat.
• Stripe rust pressure was extremely high at the site giving an average yield increase of 0.21t/ha from applying a two spray fungicide programme.

• Average treated wheat yields in the trial were 4.2 t/ha.
• The late timing of the rain in November tended to favour the longer season varieties which were just starting to grain fill at this time.
• Of the 14 varieties included in the trial 6 are commercially available at present.
• The highest yielding commercially available variety was Mackellar at 120% of the site mean.
• Stripe rust pressure was extremely high at the site giving an average yield increase across all varieties of 0.2t/ha from applying a two spray fungicide programme.
• Chara increased yield from 1.93t/ha to 3.83t/ha with a $30/ha fungicide programme.

• These trials are carried out each year to assess the range of wheat varieties at several sites across the South-East.
• The regular use of fungicides for disease control within wheat NVT has reduced the impact of disease on grain yield performance, placing greater importance on the use of disease guides for varietal choice.  
• Need to minimise or avoid sowing of susceptible varieties which do not meet minimum disease standards unless a vigilant and successful disease control strategy is in place.
• Data from the NVT (National Variety Trial) data contains long-term site results. This data should be utilised to reduce the effect of seasonal variability in the decision-making process. 

• These trials are carried out each year to assess the range of wheat varieties at several sites across the South-East.
• The regular use of fungicides for disease control within wheat NVT has reduced the impact of disease on grain yield performance, placing greater importance on the use of disease guides for varietal choice.  
• Need to minimise or avoid sowing of susceptible varieties which do not meet minimum disease standards unless a vigilant and successful disease control strategy is in place.
• Data from the NVT (National Variety Trial) data contains long-term site results. This data should be utilised to reduce the effect of seasonal variability in the decision-making process. 

• These trials are carried out each year to assess the range of wheat varieties at several sites across the South-East.
• The regular use of fungicides for disease control within wheat NVT has reduced the impact of disease on grain yield performance, placing greater importance on the use of disease guides for varietal choice.  
• Need to minimise or avoid sowing of susceptible varieties which do not meet minimum disease standards unless a vigilant and successful disease control strategy is in place.
• Data from the NVT (National Variety Trial) data contains long-term site results. This data should be utilised to reduce the effect of seasonal variability in the decision-making process. 
   

At both sites stripe rust appeared relatively late and fungicide sprays were applied to control the disease.

• The regular use of fungicides for disease control within wheat NVT has reduced the impact of disease on grain yield performance, placing greater importance on the use of disease guides for varietal choice.
• Need to minimise or avoid sowing of susceptible varieties which do not meet minimum disease standards unless a vigilant and successful disease control strategy is in place.
• Data from the NVT (National Variety Trial) data contains long-term site results. This data should be utilised to reduce the effect of seasonal variability in the decision-making process.

• 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.  

• 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.  

The 2005 season in general suited wheats with mid-late maturity because of the favourable spring following a dry winter. Entries in the National Variety Testing (NVT) system were not sprayed for rust control and stripe rust had a large effect on yield of susceptible varieties in many environments. Growers should keep these two factors in mind when assessing yield data from the 2005 season.

Nitrogen use has resulted in great improvements in crop yield in favourable seasons.
In dry seasons too much applied nitrogen can result in haying-off and lower yields.
Good guidelines are now available for nitrogen use to reduce the risk of crop failure resulting from applying too much fertiliser nitrogen.
The critical factors are:
• Stored soil water (control summer weeds)
• Measure how much nitrogen is in the soil prior to sowing
• Calculate nitrogen requirement from the target yield
• Do not pre-drill more than 60 kg/ha of urea in the 350mm rainfall zone (100kg/ha in the 450mm zone)
• Split applications are safer
• Topdress with urea if the soil test indicates a need, the crop is healthy, and the outlook is for an average to wet season

Vetch is a multi-purpose crop; its versatility allows decisions about its end-use to be made during the year (grain, hay/silage or green manure/grazing) and also can be used as a management tool against resistant weed development. Vetch can improve soil fertility by returning organic matter to the soil, increase yield in the following crop by means of nitrogen fixation and reduce disease and insect risk for the following crop. Two new varieties; SA-34823 and SA-35103 are set for release in spring 2013.

Andrew’s management of water repellence demonstrates that a strategy of affordable progressive amelioration and better sowing methods for the rest of the crop can be a successful and profitable approach for managing soil water repellence. On-farm testing of water repellence management options can help confirm which strategies are likely to be successful and profitable on particular soils and landscapes. The use of winged paired-row systems, winged points, banded-wetting agents, on-row seeding or broadcast spreading a proportion of the seed ahead of the bar can all potentially improve the effectiveness of sowing on water repellent soils and this is the subject of ongoing research.

• Canola grown in wide rows (50-60cm) yielded well enough to consider this row spacing as an option.
• Canola plants were able to compensate for being sown in wide rows - biomass similar to narrow rows.
• We may be able to reduce input costs, seed and fertiliser by refining the production package in wide rows.
• Wide rows offer benefits of reduced fuel costs at seeding, easy stubble handling and safety of IBS herbicides.

• Canola grown in wide rows (50-60cm) yielded well enough to consider this row spacing as an option.
• Canola plants were able to compensate for being sown in wide rows - biomass similar to narrow rows.
• We may be able to reduce input costs, seed and fertiliser by refining the production package in wide rows.
• Wide rows offer benefits of reduced fuel costs at seeding, easy stubble handling and safety of IBS herbicides.

• Canola grown in wide rows (50-60cm) yielded well enough to consider this row spacing as an option.
• Canola plants were able to compensate for being sown in wide rows - biomass similar to narrow rows.
• We may be able to reduce input costs, seed and fertiliser by refining the production package in wide rows.
• Wide rows offer benefits of reduced fuel costs at seeding, easy stubble handling and safety of IBS herbicides.

• Amira albus lupin is a good break crop option for high and medium rainfall areas of the northern region
• Albus lupin grown in 44 cm rows yielded 81% of 22 cm rows.
• Maintaining a high seed rate maximised yield at both 22 and 44 cm row spacing’s.
• In dry conditions fungal disease were not evident, therefore we could not assess the impact of row spacing and density on foliar diseases.