• CWFS regional site trials during 2013 and 2014 suggest stubble loads greater than 3 t/ha can limit yield.
• “No till with no stubble is no good” on hard setting red brown soil types. The delimma is that the annual incorporation of stubble just prior to sowing by cultivation or removal by burning would result in the loss of signifigant long term benefits to soil health.
• “If you do not measure it you cannot manage it!” Field measurements of stubble are the starting point for deciding what to do.
• Options to manage stubble loads above 3t/ha need to be made seasonally. Good planning may allow other agronomic and farm efficiency outcomes to be achieved at the same time.

PGR applied to barley in this trial suppressed plant height, generated a yield benefit and improved crop gross margin.

No single variety responded differently to the addition of PGR or fungicide in this trial.

Fungicide extended the green leaf duration of the crop.

• For the newer semi-leafless varieties Kaspa and Moonlight, the recommended plant population is around 35 plants/m2 for early sowings to 50 plants/m2 for late sowing.
• For the other semi-leafless varieties, 40 plants/m2 is recommended for early sowing and 60 plants/m2 for later sowings.

• There were few significant differences between the two systems.
• The most important difference was a significant reduction in conception rate of Merino ewes from the Saltbush system. Wool production and body characteristics between the ewe bloodlines were significantly different but were as expected – the contrasting bloodlines had been bred that way.
• If belts of OMSB are incorporated into low rainfall mixed farms and managed in a similar manner to that tested here, it is unlikely that any worthwhile productivity benefits will result.

• There has been no evidence of any soil health or production losses with grazing after seven years, irrespective of whether crop or pasture inputs were increased or kept at district practice levels.
• In 2014 higher input systems showed how increased inputs and costs throughout the season can result in increased productivity and subsequent profitability.

• There has been no measured grain production or soil health decline associated with grazing sheep on pastures and crop stubbles over a 4 year pasture-wheat rotation. Grain yields were higher as a result of increased wheat seed and fertiliser rates in 2013.
• Higher applied crop seed and fertiliser rates with an improved medic pasture increased estimated gross margins by $16/ha/annum over a 6 year wheat-wheat-pasture-wheat-pasture-wheat rotation

• Grazing sheep have not damaged soil health over eight years of several crop/pasture rotations.
• In 2015 total annual biomass was greater in higher input and grazed rotations. High input grazed systems carried twice the stocking rate of a low input system.

• Over nine seasons, incorporating livestock into the rotation improved overall system outcomes in this trial, including; increased nitrogen cycling and water use efficiency, reduction in weed and pest populations and no negative effects on cereal performance or soil health, while value adding to stubble and pastures by grazing.
• The high input grazed farming system had a gross margin of over $100/ha/year more than lower input and ungrazed treatments over the nine-year trial period.

Early dry matter production (forage value) was boosted by earlier sowing.

• Germination of half the species at each trial site was above 33 plants/m2.
• Although most of the speices achieved this good germination many of the plants have now died or are looking very water stressed.
• On visual assessment, both Rhodes species and Signal grass have experienced the highest survival rates and are looking the least water stressed.
• The grasses would benefit greatly from a summer rainfall event.

• Germination of half the species at each trial site was above 33 plants/m2.
• Although most of the speices achieved this good germination many of the plants have now died or are looking very water stressed.
• On visual assessment, both Rhodes species and Signal grass have experienced the highest survival rates and are looking the least water stressed.
• The grasses would benefit greatly from a summer rainfall event.

• Forage cereals offer a more flexible grazing resource than the traditional grain cereals.
• The grain yield penalty as a result of grazing depends on the timing of grazing, the level of grazing pressure and allowing sufficient time for the crop to recover. If these factors are optimised, grain yields will not be affected.

• In 2006 Buntine received 100mm less rainfall than the average rainfall for that area.
• The largest rainfall event for the year was in January and therefore would have greatly benefited the sub-tropical perennial grasses. 

• Pasture cropping is a relatively new system combining livestock and crop production on the one area of land.
• Production of crop and pasture individually can be lower when grown together in a pasture cropping system compared with when either is grown alone, however the overall annual production can be higher.
• Pasture cropping systems can be managed so that annual winter crops have no direct competition from pastures while the crop is growing.
• Pasture cropping can improve year-round resource use increasing overall annual productivity compared with conventional annual cropping or pasture systems.
• Pasture cropping will be most effective in soil types that do not store soil moisture well and have some summer rain.

• Grazing pressure is greatest in winter, with volunteer pasutre providing the majority of the value.
• The stocking rates used on the improved pastures are also relatively high.
• Crop stubbles provide the majority of the grazing value in summer and autumn however they are grazed at very low stocking rates.

 

Cattle are brought onto the property from stations from June to September at an average weight of about 140kg/ha and then leave from mid-October to mid-February at approximately 300kg/ha.

Cattle are brought onto the property from stations from June to September at an average weight of about 140kg/ha and then leave from mid-October to mid-February at approximately 300kg/ha.

Cattle are brought onto the property from stations from June to September at an average weight of about 140kg/ha and then leave from mid-October to mid-February at approximately 300kg/ha.

In summary, the TOS1 showed a greater variance overall between grazing treatments and the frost events of 2016 seemed to have a greater impact on this section of the trial. Results from TOS2 did not vary greatly between treatments and the effects of frost damage were not as prevalent. This indicates that grazing early sown cereals can have a great effect on yields and provide an excellent source of feed to livestock and the grazing of later sown crops in a season like 2016 does not impact yields or quality

For the findings please see the attached trial report.

Filed peas, lentils and chickpeas are responsive to the application of phosphorus.

Growers should soil test paddocks going into grain legumes to determine the optimum phosphorus rate to apply and ensure lentils and field peas are priority crops for P fertiliser.

The regular use of grain legume super zinc on alkaline, calcareous soils of this region is recommended for legume crops to provide sufficient zinc for other crops in the rotation.

For discussion of results please see the attached trial report.

• Mean grain yields are presented in the tables in the attached trial report. 
• It is evident that the newer faba bean lines will play an important role as a break crop. For now Fiesta is yielding well (av. of 6.2t/ha over last 3 years at Symmons Plains) and there have been reasonable prices received. In the future the line IxA 56/1 with good resistance to ascochyta is one to watch. The broad bean cultivar Aquadulce has continued to yield well - the greatest problem with this line is the large seed size and associated difficulties in sowing

• It is evident that the newer faba bean lines will play an important role as a break crop. Fiesta has yielded very well in trials (average of 6.3t/ha over last 4 years of trials at Symmons Plains). The broad bean cultivar Aquadulce has also continued to yield well - the greatest problem with this line is the large seed size and associated difficulties in sowing. 
• For further conclusions please see the attached trial report.

• For results and discussion please see the attached trial report.

Faba beans should be developed as a substitute for lupins in stock rations in Tasmania le. ignore the seed size and colour characteristics required for human consumption markets and concentrate on breeding for yield and disease resistance. In a dry finish tick beans require a price premium over faba beans to remain economic.

Soil analysis is being performed on each individual sub-plot to determine the amount of Nitrogen each crop and stubble treatment produced/retained in the soil. The phase is being done in conjunction with the CSIRO laboratories in Canberra.

Significant responses have been shown at other sites with suface lime treatments and deep ripping to 30cm, so using test strips to test responsiveness of a soil to these more treatments is a good option.

• Revenue was significantly higher yielding than Einstein which in turn out-yielded Endeavour. Revenue appears to have set a new plateau in wheat yield potential in Tasmania across a range of sowing dates both in grain-only and in dual purpose trials.
• For further take home messages please see the attached trial report.

• A replicated trial was conducted to compare grain yield from four winter wheat varieties: Mackellar, Tennant, Alberic and the soon to be released 95102.1
• Yield ranged from 7.3 to 10.6t/ha. Mackellar and tennant were lowest yielding varieties and also the most prone to lodging, in particular Mackellar. Mackellar being the earliest to flower also suffered the most frost damage.
• Alberic and 95102.1 yielded the hisghest and show the greatest potential for early sowing without grazing. 

• Late sowings could have a negative effect on barley yield due to heat and water stress during grain fill. In 2015 this was the key detrmining factor for grain yield.
• While mid season varieties yielded well in the first sowing time, mid and late sowings favoured early-flowering.
• Early sowing, early flowering crops are at risk of flowering during frost events, and sowing decsisins should be based on the phenology of teh particular variey and understanding the region's climate.

• There was no detectable yield penalty associated with Karnal bunt resistance when new wheat lines were compared with commercial varieties.
• Three of the new wheat lines had yields comparable to MaceA, ScoutA and SuntopA, the highest yielding commercial varieties.
• Half of the new wheat germplasm with resistance to Karnal bunt had grain yields above the experiment’s average.

• A very dry year and indicative problems with wheat accessing trace elements in dry soils.
• There were signifcant yield reponses to zinc and magnesium.

• The mean site yield for hte GrainSearch Inverleigh barley trial was 4.51 t/ha, whilst Dunkel site man was 5.00 t/ha.
• Westminster was teh standout commercial barley variety at the Inverleigh site yielding 123% of the site mean, displaying exceptional scald and lodging resistance compared with current commercial lines.
• Shorter saturated varieties with good head retention were the standout performers in the Dunkeld trial. Baudin and Westminster were the top commercial performers yielding 6.51 and 5.91 t/ha respectively.
• Several early season experimental lines yielded exceptionally well topping the trials for yield. These lines displayed good grain quality data.
• Early sowing at both sites was essential to achieve high yields in longer season varieties.

• The mean site yield for the Inverleigh trial was 6.53t/ha while the Lake Bolac site mean was 6.32t/ha.
• Westminster was the best of the commercial barley varieties at both Inverleigh and Lake Bolac with yields of 7.52t/ha and 7.06t/ha respectively.
• SY Rattler show considerable promise as a domestic malt line, with yields of 7.23t/ha and 7.00t/ha respectively. The malt profile of htis line is aimed at the domestic brewing market.
• Please see attached trial report for further details.

• The average yield for the GrainSearch Inverleigh wheat trial was 5.28t/ha, whilst Dunkeld averaged 5.20t/ha.
• Beaufort and Revenue were the standout performers at the Dunkeld site yielding 7.08 and 6.86t/ha respectively.
• Revenue and Beaufort were the standout performers at the Inverleigh site yielding 6.21 and 6.18t/ha respectively.
• Early sowing at both sites was essential to achive high yields in long season varieties.
• Grain quality was adversely affected at both sites by late season rain, all varieties were of feed due to sprouted grain and low test weights.

The 2005 field trials have shown promising results in terms of an improved delivery system for legume inoculants.

Caution must be taken when using soluble herbicides on lentils (and other pulses) in light sandy soils, especially when there is wet soil surface conditions followed by heavy rainfall

In work undertaken by the MSFS project it was reported that grass sprays affected the nodulation and possibly the N fixation ability of legumes. Four different types of grass sprays were investigated in relation to the effect of these sprays on nodule number and health. No differences in nodulation between the grass sprays could be determined during the 2002 season.

There was no significant differences in yield between the post emergent herbicides used in the trial.

Following two years of grass free medic pasture soil mineral nitrogen levels averaged 158 kg N/ha and all disease inoculum levels were low.

Cutting the medic pasture for hay lowered dry matter production and medic pod set in the following season.

An early light tickle resulted in higher weed germination and lower powdery mildew damage in spring.

Full cut tillage following two years of grass free medic resulted in the highest wheat yields while a discing prior to seeding resulted in the lowest yield.

Working medic residues in the year prior reduced the following wheat yield but grain protein was higher.

Cutting a medic pasture for hay in 2013 reduced medic productivity in 2014 and lowered wheat grain protein in 2015.

• A two year pasture break has been more beneficial in the first cereal year than a one year break, resulting in lower grass weed numbers, higher soil reserves of N and low disease levels.
• The impact of pasture management and pre-seeding tillage on grain yield and quality was greater following a medic pasture in 2015 than in 2016.

• Hay cutting in 2013 resulted in lower medic dry matter in 2017.
• Grass weed numbers were very low in 2017 due to low opening rains and poor germination.
• Two years of wheat increased Rhizoctonia, Yellow leaf spot and Pratylenchus.
• A two year pasture break was beneficial to the following cereal because of lower grass weed numbers, higher soil reserves of N and lower disease levels.

• The ability to capture barley grass seeds at harvest is limited.
• If seed can be captured and placed in windrows, windrow burning can reduce grass weeds.
• Seed capture at harvest is higher with annual ryegrass than with barley grass.
• Burnt narrow windrows sustained temperatures above 400oC for longer than 10 seconds, which is sufficient to sterilise annual ryegrass seed.
• Snail numbers were reduced with windrow burning.
• Barley grass germinates later in Minnipa Agricultural Centre cropped paddocks than in non-cropped areas.

This demonstration showed there may be a large deep ripping effect, given the control gave the largest yield increase.

 

• In a drier season, early-mid maturing Mace wheat provided better feed and grain value than mid-late maturing Trojan.
• Make variety choice based on the stored soil moisture, the potential time of sowing and the seasonal outlook.
• Variety differences exist between Mace and Trojan and their response to grazing.

• Cobra responded very well to a one off graze over a period of 14 days with an application of 10L of CoRoN giving an increase of 350kg/ha. 

Canola provided significant grazing value during the growing season as well as during summer.The varieties tested showed minimal yield penalties from grazing with some varieties showing a positive yield advantage from the grazing operation.Grazing canola crops were able to provide good weed control and will allow the following wheat crop to benefit from this.Grazing canola and cereal crops allows farmers to alter their stocking rate quickly and easily as they progress through the season. This practise will mean in better seasons a much smaller proportion of paddocks will need to be left for stock and more paddocks can be taken through to harvest which will result in a significant increase in farm profitability. In poor seasons there will be less paddocks taken though to harvest which will result in a reduction in grain income, higher sheep grazing losses and lower farm profitability. The overall profitability of grazing cereal crops will depend on the frequency of dry years and good years.Don Nairn finds that grazing cereal crops takes the stress out of running sheep as there is always an option for the farmer when feed runs short (ie he can simply graze another crop). Hopefully this trial gives farmers a better appreciation of where the dollars fall when crops are grazed.

Subsoil moisture and an early sowing opportunity meant that grazing did not affect yield or the gross income return of canola at Sea Lake in 2012. Dry conditions increased canola tissue nitrate levels to toxic levels as plants matured. Canola has a shorter grazing window than cereals, and requires careful grazing management to avoid high tissue nitrate situations, and roughage to balance fibre.

• Barley produces more feed than wheat at the time of grazing and is nutritionally superior.
• Early maturing varieties had the greatest yield penalties when grazed.

• Grazing cereals is a tool for risk management in low and medium rainfall environments.
• Late grazing of cereals in medium rainfall affected grain yield.
• Grazing cereals is useful only if the feed is required.
• Locally adapted wheat varieties performed better than long growing season winter wheats

• Four farmer grazing cereal demonstrations showed no difference in yield between grazed and un-grazed crops.
• Grazing increased screenings in all four demonstration paddocks.

• There was no yield penalty from grazing in 2011. 
• This was probably due to removal of the sheep at closer to the ideal (i.e. Z31) crop stage and possibly the reduced grazing density as well as a favourable finish to the season. 
• This resulted in a profit of $29.89 in 2011 for the grazed treatment compared to -$29.74 for the grazed in 2010.

• Grazing crops can offer the ability to spell pastures, however careful management needs to be practised to ensure there are no grain yield losses. Grain yield losses can very easily result in a negative profit from grazing crops.
• In this case I suggest that the paddock was grazed heavily in the days leading up to removal of the paddock and this resulted in poor recovery of the crop from grazing.  In hindsight I feel that fewer yield losses would have resulted if there was more bulk left leading into stem elongation.
• On the 17th August the Grain & Graze II trial site was visited by the Northern Agri Group (NAG) field day.  During the day we had over 100 growers discuss the pros and cons of grazing crops.  Both Don Nairn and I addressed the field day and had good feedback about the system.

This wheat crop provided significant grazing value, however the paddock was in late in the sowing program which reduced the ability to graze the crop early in the season. This may also have affected how well the crop recovered from grazing due to the delay in maturity of the crop.There was an 11% reduction in yield in this demonstration. Sheep grazed the trial past the Z31 stage which would have meant grain heads would have been vulnerable to the damage from grazing. Smaller yield reductions would have been possible if sheep were removed from the paddock a few days earlier.When the grazing value of the sheep was taken into account there was a $29.74 reduction in profitability from grazing the paddock.Grazing cereal crops allows farmers to alter their stocking rate quickly and easily as they progress through the season. This practise will mean in better seasons a much smaller proportion of paddocks will need to be left for stock and more paddocks can be taken through to harvest which will result in a significant increase in farm profitability. In poor seasons there will be less paddocks taken though to harvest will result in a reduction in grain income, higher sheep grazing losses and lower farm profitability. The overall profitability of grazing cereal crops will depend on the frequency of dry years and good years,Don Nairn finds that grazing cereal crops takes the stress out of running sheep as there is always an option for the farmer when feed runs short (ie he can simply graze another crop). Hopefully this trial gives farmers a better appreciation of where the dollars fall when crops are grazed.

In July 2010, barley and wheat crops provided nutritious fodder for livestock in July.

• Both the oats and the ryegrass recovered very quickly from each graxing, however, the legumes were very slow to start growing as expected.
• The treatments in this trial were set up for intensive strip grazing.
• The pasture and DSE carrying capacities are representative of this type of system.

Overall, moderate grazing up to Z25-Z30 and clip grazing at and after Z25-Z30 had little to no significant impacts on yield. However,assessing the value of grazing to the farm system is complicated as grazing can affect time of flowering and frost impacts. It can also increase water use efficiency, allow pasture paddocks to be deferred, reduce the need for supplementation and allow increased stock numbers and/or crop area.

• Moderate grazing up to Z30 and clip grazing after Z30 did not appear to have significant impacts on yield in 2012 when compared to early sown crops.
• However, assessing the value of grazing to the farm systems is complicated as grazing can affect time of flowering and frost impacts. It can also increase water use efficiency, allow pasture paddocks to be deferred, reduce the need for supplementation and allow for increased stock numbers and/or crop area.

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.

• Forage barley variety Moby has vigorous early growth and matures quickly, and should be grazed sufficiently early to enable recovery for a second grazing.
• Spring wheat variety Bolac maintained yield when sown early and grazed in 2014.  
• Winter wheat variety Wedgetail can be sown very early (March-early April) in low rainfall areas to utilise early rainfall, and widen both the sowing and flowering window of crops.

• Forage barley variety Moby has vigorous early growth and matures quickly, and should be grazed sufficiently early to enable recovery for a second grazing.
• Spring wheat variety Bolac maintained yield when sown early and grazed in 2014.  
• Winter wheat variety Wedgetail can be sown very early (March-early April) in low rainfall areas to utilise early rainfall, and widen both the sowing and flowering window of crops.

• Forage barley variety Moby has vigorous early growth and matures quickly, and should be grazed sufficiently early to enable recovery for a second grazing.
• Spring wheat variety Bolac maintained yield when sown early and grazed in 2014.  
• Winter wheat variety Wedgetail can be sown very early (March-early April) in low rainfall areas to utilise early rainfall, and widen both the sowing and flowering window of crops.

• Grazing did not change grain yield in 2015 or 2016. Variety selection was the most important factor for final yield, particularly with the soft finish in 2016.
• Grazing slows crop maturity by one to two weeks, which meant Revenue (long season variety) was still booting during the October heat wave in 2015. In 2016, grazing lengthened the growing season for Bolac (mid-season variety) with a resulting 0.54 t/ha (NS) yield increase.
• To graze without yield loss, it’s important to start planning from the beginning of the season, e.g. early sowing of long season varieties. 

• Moby has the ability to be grazed 2-3 times and taken to harvest with a yield result of 815kg/ha,

• Grazing treatment had no influence on pasture sward composition when averaged over seasons.
• Grazing, rather than the type of grazing management, increased soil carbon under native pastures.
• Soil under cell-grazed pastures had a significantly greater carbon stock to 0.30 m compared with ungrazed pastures (32.9 t C/ha vs 25.6 t C/ha), however, there was no difference between cell and tactically grazed (29.5 t C/ha) pastures.

• Grazing livestock can compact surface soil and reduce infiltration rates, but their biggest impact on fallow efficiency is through stubble removal.
• Stubble improves summer fallow efficiency primarily by increasing infiltration; it slows but does not stop evaporation, and this is only beneficial where rainfall events occur close together or if it aids crop establishment.
• Despite high rainfall during the 2009-10 fallow period at Condobolin, there was little response in soil water storage to the grazing and stubble treatments.
• Wheat yield in 2010 was reduced by very heavy grazing but not by moderate (more typical) grazing.

The main impacts of climate change by 2030 on grazing livestock enterprises is likely to be shorter  growing seasons, greater variability in pasture growth, reduced pasture quality, less available pasture, reduced wool quality and increased variability in farm gross margins. Possible adaptations to alleviate
some of these impacts are;

• Minimising the need for supplementary feed by reviewing lambing and calving times, age at first joining, stocking rates and sale times,
• Increase flexibility in systems by varying sale times/rules, confinement feeding, movement, more animal trading (core breeding), agistment, matching feed demand to pasture production, and
• Improved pasture utilisation by grazing management.

Winter wheat has to potential to produce high grain and forage returns. Early grazing should be no later than GS30 in order to maximise final grain yield. Early grazing of winter wheat can reduce final stubble volumes and increase harvest index. Ideally for best forage production, winter wheat should be planted in March if possible.

• Quadrat cuts at the end of July showed that each of the crops produced about 0.5 t/ha dry matter. There were no significant differences between the crops (P< 0.05).
• Crop yields were generally between 3 and 4 t/ha. Once again, there were no significant differences between varieties and there was no significant effect of grazing on yield (P < 0.05).
• The ungrazed Baudin was badly affected by mildew.

• Sowing early, grazing the crops and taking through to harvest gives only a small yield penalty.
• Manning has been a strong performer across all three sowing dates.
• With early sowings, more feeding is essential to improve yields at the end of the season.
   

• There were no significant differences between herbicide treatments due to the low weed burden.
• Attention to detail and good planning is essential when growing high-value legumes in the region.

• The combined Simazine and Isoxaflutole (Treatment 1) resulted in the lowest early weed counts, with
less than 30 w eeds per m 2 at four weeks post emergence.
• Simazine and Isoxaflutole (Treatment 1) had a profound impact on inhibiting Medic growth relative to
other treatment styles.
• Application of Isoxaflutole & Terbuthylazine (Treatment 2) completely mitigated all weed species
except the medic.

• Minimal levels of fungus affected the crop.
• There was no difference in yield response between the two fungicide regimes implemented.
• In the dryer than average season the use of fungicide was not economical.

Despite presenting with some waterlogging symptoms, faba beans and canola yielded exceptionally well. It is critical to understand the crop growth stage during waterlogging to determine potential yield impacts.

• Nutritional products applied did not influence grain yield except for the trial at Hagley, Tasmania, where a yield response was observed with different rates of nitrogen applied.

• Established plants will be most affected when they are rapidly growing, for example prolonged waterlogging during the warmer spring period is where yield penalties will be most severe.

• Green cumin (Cuminum cyminum) is a tap-rooted herb grown extensively in India and the Middle East for its grain.
• It survived trials on Eyre Peninsula in 2015 sufficiently well to encourage another look.
• Alternaria fungal disease is a major threat.
• Its low and slow growth will complicate harvesting and weed control.

• Due to climatic conditions frost and dry conditions there was no effect of crop topping and harvest timing in 2014.

Dry matter production is essential - therefore sowing early is essential.

• The APW wheat and Wyalkatchem had the highest gross margin.
• Yield is still the major target; however, quality is important and in the future there may be more pressure put on farmers by the end-users to get exacty what they want.

It is important when considering a change in your farming system to look at both the gross margin and the rotation and any extra costs which may be concurrent in changing.

• Grain yields of all species (lentil, field pea, faba bean and chickpea) at this site were very low and generally less than 0.5 t/ha. Seasonal conditions were very dry during autumn and winter before favourable spring growing conditions (rainfall and relatively cool maximum temperature during September and October) provided for some yield recovery.
• Triasulfuron (e.g. Logran, sulfonylurea herbicide Group 2) residues and the in-crop application of Intercept® (imazamox + imazapyr, an imidazoline herbicide Group 2) resulted in total crop failure in the conventional (non-herbicide tolerant) varieties of all four species.
• The presence of Intercept® residue did not affect the grain yield of the conventional field pea variety (PBA Wharton) or conventional faba bean variety (PBA Samira). However, Intercept® residues completely killed the conventional lentil variety PBA Bolt and reduced yield by two-thirds in the conventional chickpea variety CBA Captain.
• PBA Highland XTA (imidazolinone tolerant) showed good tolerance to Group 2 herbicide treatments, including where triasulfuron residues were simulated.
• Triasulfuron residues suppressed the yield of the imidazolinone tolerant faba bean (PBA Bendoc), field pea (GIA2005P) and chickpea (D16218). However, yield was not affected by the post-emergent application of Intercept® and Broadstrike®.
• Always read and follow product label thoroughly.