• Organic amendments improved ‘soil health’ in terms of free living nematode community structure.
• The Tilled + Organic Matter treatment had a more well balanced soil microbial system than other treatments.
• Numbers of omnivorous and predatory nematodes are quite low in comparison to other cropped soils around Australia, thus room for improvement.
• Soils have improved, as the number of omnivorous nematodes in 2013 significantly increased in organic amended treatments, in comparison to 2011.

• Wildlife ponds provide suitable habitat for frogs, turtles and birds.
• Frog populations in the Wimmera and Mallee channel/dam region can be maintained by installing wildlife ponds near dis-used dams.

The outcome of the project will be an effective strategy for increasing a farm’s environmental value through establishing wildlife ponds that both sustain frog populations and enhance overall biodiversity. This will include an alternative use of farm dam sites and the protection of remnant native vegetation.

The wildlife ponds have proved to be a successful strategy for maintaining and enhancing frog populations and overall biodiversity value (as measured by birds) on farms.

Frost events will occur when temperatures at the soil surface are below 0°C. These conditions often occur when a cloudy day is followed by a windless cloud free night. Cereal crops are at the greatest risk of damage when there is a frost during flowering however, damage can be done any time between late stem elongation and late grain fill.

• Yield results of triticale grown on Southern Farming Systems (SFS) sites last season have highlighted a need for continued research into frost and its effects on cereals; triticale in particular.
• Many triticale lines on the Streatham and Hamilton sites in particular were recognized as being moderately to severely effected by frost.
• Analysis of head and grain samples are still undergoing testing and further evaluation before firm results can be made available on individual frost effects on various lines in the research trial. 

• There were no significant differences in lentil grain yield among seeding system or stubble treatments.
• Stripper and conventional stubble treatments resulted in taller and more erect plants with higher pods, improving harvestability

Populations of fumitory are now exhibiting resistance to commonly used broadleaf herbicides, including Clearfield®.

Avoid cultivation which promotes the germination of fumitory.

In this trial, Precept®, Velocity® + MCPA LVE and Affinity Force® + MCPA Amine, were most effective in controlling fumitory. On-duty® and other Group B herbicides were amongst the worst performers.

• Very little Septoria was noticed at any of the locations, with leaf rust being the biggest leaf disease problem at all three sites. 
• For further discussion please see the attached trial report.

• Ascochyta rabiei can be controlled in chickpeas using chlorothalonil (Bravo).
• The fungicide needs to be applied early (six weeks after sowing) and be applied, at a minimum, every three weeks after the first application.
• Kaniva chickpeas sprayed with Bravo applied at two litres per hectare, every three weeks, produced a clean sample, free of infected grain (premium priced grain).

• Mace and Scout both yielded higher when fungicide was applied.
• Triad is a cheap fungicide and can be effective, but needs to be used strategically and at rates of at least 2 L/ha.
• Management and attention to monitoring wheat crops must match variety grown to achieve yield potential.
• Regular crop inspections are essential to maximize yield potential • All fungicides work best when used as a preventative spray than as a cure.

• Mace and Scout both yielded higher when fungicide was applied
• Triad is a cheap fungicide and can be effective, but needs to be used strategically and at rates of at least 2 L/ha
• Management and attention to monitoring wheat crops must match variety grown to achieve yield potential
• Regular crop inspections are essential to maximize yield potential
• All fungicides work best when used as a preventative spray than as a cure

When spraying for stripe rust in susceptible crops spraying should take place during the early stages of disease development and generally not before the flag leaf stage of the crop. Spraying when the disease has fully developed and/or waiting until the crop is past the flowering stage is unlikely to be beneficial. See also “Fungicide strategies in wheat and barley” articles in this manual.

Ascochyta blight still has the potential to threaten a chickpea crop, as varieties available to the farmer today are still susceptible to the disease. Without a fungicide plan a chickpea crop is at risk of being devastated by ascochyta. In this trial, chickpeas that had no fungicide applied during the season had significantly lower yield than those treated with some sort of fungicide plan. Those plots treated with three fungicide applications during the year had the highest yield response (1.34t/ha and 1.39t/ha) compared to 1.1t/ha for the unsprayed control.

There was general trend for those treatments that produced the best disease control to produce the highest yields e.g. Tilt Xtra/Amistar Xtra 2 spray programme and 2 spray Opus programme (however there were notable exceptions).

• Foliar applications of blackleg fungicides such as Aviator Xpro or Prosaro achieve the largest gains on varieties such as Bayer 3000TR and Bonito which are both rated MS-MR or lower for blackleg resistance.
• Canola varieties rated R-MR or better are unlikely to benefit from foliar blackleg sprays for disease control,
  however some secondary benefit from green leaf retention may be seen in years where moisture is not limiting.
• Blackleg management should be tackled with an integrated approach using buffer zones, rotations, varietal selection and fungicides.

• At both Murtoa and Birchip Gairdner barley developed spot form of net blotch; however it was most evident at Murtoa where fungicide applications gave yield responses varying from minus 0.4% to 8.5% (0-0.38t/ha).
• At this site three treatments gave significant yield increases over the untreated controls.

Severe moisture stress was a key feature of both barley fungicide trials this season with the Mallee trial yields ranging from 0.49 – 0.72 t/ha and Wimmera yields from 1.85 – 2.09 t/ha.

Fungicides were not cost effective in the Birchip and Murtoa wheat trials, despite the late appearance of stripe rust at Murtoa. The new strobilurin fungicides conferred no significant yield advantages over the triazole product Folicur, a feature probably linked to the dry conditions during grain fill. Unlike barley at the same sites, there was no indication that strobilurin treatments conferred any prolonged green leaf retention.

For the second year in succession there was no response to foliar fungicides in the Mallee trial on wheat, water stress leading to poor canopy size preventing disease build up and reducing yield potential (yield range 0.68-0.82 t/ha).

Delaying the onset of a stripe rust outbreak can be achieved using fungicide seed dressings or fertiliser treatments. In situations where this is beneficial such as in the Wimmera where conditions may be too wet for fungicide application late in the season, this could be a good strategy.

• Stripe Rust (SR) caused yield losses in all but the highly resistant variety Sunstate (8) at most sites.
• Fungicides helped to protect yield potentials in susceptible varieties, except when SR pressure was either very low or very high.
• Timely early and late protection appeared more important than fungicide choice at Z39
• The genetic resistance in Sunstate (8) was clearly the most outstanding form of SR control when disease pressure was very high, exceeding any fungicide strategy used on susceptible varieties.
• Fungicide protection of SR on susceptible varieties is a practical and profitable option in the absence of resistant wheat varieties with desired agronomic traits.

• To date field trials funded by GRDC project DAS00136 have not been able to show that application of fungicides to seed provide significant reductions in yield loss caused by crown rot.
• Fungicides applied to seed or in-furrow at seeding can provide some suppression of pathogen growth through the plant early in the season (as measured using DNA techniques) but this effect is gone by early grain fill.
• In crop spray applications targeted at the base of plants have shown small yield benefits, but these benefits are not consistent between sites and across seasons.

• H45 proved far more susceptible to stripe rust than Diamondbird in 2004.
• With the dry conditions of 2004, when yields were higher (2-3 t/ha) stripe rust infection significantly decreased yield in H45 by 16%-17%. Grain quality effects were also recorded at the site with the highest level of infection.
• Jockey seed treatment provided some residual control of stripe rust at two out ofthe three sites.
• Foliar fungicides proved very effective at reducing stripe rust infection.
• Only the combination of seed applied + foliar fungicide resulted in a significantlyhigher yield and quality than the nil treatment with H45 wheat.
• Yellow leaf spot had no effect on yield or quality of the susceptible varietyDiamondbird.

Very little differences were found in the experimental trials with and without inter-row compaction in 2015 due to localised seasonal conditions. However, another site at Southern Cross where inter-row compaction was used with barley resulted in grain yields up to 2.5t/ha. There was also an indication from black plastic over inter-rows at Southern Cross, that water harvesting can potentially double wheat grain yields from 0.8 t/ha to 1.6 t/ha. The latter highlights that the benefits of compacted inter-rows could potentially be maximised using a water-harvesting, spray-on polymer on the compacted inter-row.

One way ploughing slightly improved establishment, head numbers, biomass production and yield but is not a viable long term solution for the severe non wetting on this soil type.

Deep ripping and spading improved head numbers by over 60% and biomass production by 87% compared to the control.

Grain yields were improved by over a 1 t/ha and gross margin by about $200/ha when treatment costs were amortized over 5 years in the combined ripping and spading treatments.

•  A survey of 80 winter cereal crops across central and northern NSW in 2016 established that low levels (generally <1%) of Fusarium head blight (FHB) were evident with the causal pathogen predominantly being Fusarium pseudograminearum (Fp).
• This was the crown rot fungus (Fp), reminding growers that it does not disappear in a wet season.
• FHB infection caused by Fp has a reduced risk for mycotoxin accumulation in infected grain, but could have detrimental impacts on crop establishment if seed is retained for planting.
• Planting Fusarium-infected grain can also introduce seed-borne crown rot infection into clean paddocks, negating the rotational benefits associated with growing non-host crops.
   

• No impact on crop emergence, head count or yield observed 
• No indication of any benefit from application of fungicide as seed treatment 
• Significant increase in Fusarium colonisation when sorghum sprayed out with glyphosate 
• Increase in Fusarium colonisation following glyphosate spray-out was significantly greater in MR Bazley than MR Buster

Possible strategies are:

• move from breeding to dry sheep enterprise,
• extend rotations and replace grain legumes with productive clover or medic pastures,
• build good working relationships with professional contractors and be prepared to pay them according to their skill,
• develop a positive attitude to employing casual labour or consider having a proficient student or overseas farmers on work experiences, and
• make as much contact as possible with others who have similar goals and aspirations. Exchange ideas, help each other and adopt a really positive approach to part-time farming.

 

Both cultivar and N fertiliser treatments significantly affected grain yield but there were no cultivar by N fertiliser interactions.

• Canola yield increased up to 17% when plants were spaced evenly apart compared to the spacing observed in commercial paddocks.
• Lupin yield improved up to 7% when plants were spaced evenly apart, but this was not statistically significant.
• Moving towards improved plant spacing without achieving perfect spacing is likely to improve yield.

• The random survey found that button grass infests approximately 45% of cotton fields.

• The species shows a high level of physical seed dormancy.

• Seedlings of this species can survive a moderate level of water stress.

• Southern populations of this species are sensitive to saline conditions.

• Gibberellic acid is a safe, cheap and convenient way to increase winter fed growth, but it must be applied early in the season (ideally by late autumn/early winter).
• Only apply Gibberellic acid if there is sufficient soil moisture and adequate levels of surface cover.
• Applying early in the season will boost winter growth.
• Applying too late can potentially cause a decrease in spring feed production.
• Don’t graze the paddock within 3 weeks of application.

• Gibberellic acid is a safe, cheap and convenient way to increase winter fed growth, but it must be applied early in the season (ideally by late autumn/early winter).
• Only apply Gibberellic acid if there is sufficient soil moisture and adequate levels of surface cover.
• Applying early in the season will boost winter growth.
• Applying too late can potentially cause a decrease in spring feed production.
• Don’t graze the paddock within 3 weeks of application.

“There are some very good reasons why we should either get into sheep or continue with them as an important enterprise.” Here are some pros and cons to the above statement.

• Clover content in kikuyu can be increased by hard grazing of the kikiyu stand prior to the opening rains (insure RLEM are controlled, lime if soil is pHCaCl<5).
• Sowing legumes can increase legume content. If grass suppression is used, weeds may also increase unless control measures are taken.
• Legume content can be increased after the break by using a grass selective herbicide to suppress the kikiyu, if you have an adequate clover seedbank.
• If clover needs to be added, drill seed in, don't broadcast.

• No-Till is a whole farming system, not just a change of machinery. If farmers only get part of the package right, the potential to succeed with no-till is greatly reduced.
• Paddock selection, stubble management, weed control, nutrition, disease management and seed placement all play a vital role in the success of no-till.
• 2007 has many advantages for the first year no-tillers with low stubble loads, residual nutrition and low disease carryover.
• Ask others who have successfully made the change to no-till what works for them. Don’t try to re-invent the wheel and make the same mistakes all over again.

• Clethodim sprayed with medium droplets provided better control of annual ryegrass (ARG) than very coarse droplets when at the 4 leaf growth stage of the weed
• Clethodim effectively controlled ARG at mid-tiller and late-tiller growth stage, irrespective of nozzle type
• Delaying spraying until ARG is at late-tiller stage may compromise canola yield 

The double incorporation of trifluralin method is designed to minimise the number of ryegrass that emerge from the edge of the furrow wall. However, there was no effect of incorporation with rolling harrows, or the snake chian on ryegrass density in the furrow of this trial.

• Current knowledge about the effects of gibberellic acid application to oats is limited.
• In 2016 gibberellic acid had no impact on biomass or feed quality of oats.
• Exceptional growing conditions and a mild winter may have reduced effects of gibberellic acid.

• Sowing winter habit canola early in the autumn can provide grazing and grain yield.
• Garnet sown early can still produce good results.
• In mild weather aphids are a problem longer into the season and possibly sowing a spring variety earlier gives the potential to develop before succumbing to viruses.
   

In 2002 barley breeding and evaluation trials were as susceptible to drought conditions, as was the rest of the farming community. Only 12 of 21 advanced variety trials warranted harvesting, with trials in the Wimmera and north-central districts being the most severely effected – only 4 of 12 trials were harvested from these areas. Average yields of those trials harvested were only 1.4t/ha compared to the long-term average yields of these trials (on a State wide basis) of 3.0t/ha. Taking into account both the average yields of these trials, and the loss of almost 50% of trials, the trials reflect closely to a Victorian season where the crop harvest was only approximately 25% of average.

Four problem sub-clover species Yarloop, Dinninup, Geraldton and Dwalgenup.

Oestrogenic clovers are responsible for a variety of symptoms in sheep including reduced ewe fertility, difficult births, prolapse of the uterus, urethral blockages in wethers and udder development in maiden ewes and wethers.

Paddock assessments have confirmed the widespread presence of oestrogenic clovers in the South East and Kangaroo Island.

Growers are encouraged to assess their own paddocks for the presence of problem species and their potential impact on their flock.

• Pastures with greater than 20% oestrogenic clovers are considred problematic.
• Paddocks with greater than 20% oestrogenic clover should not be grased with ewes while hte clover is green

• In 2017 and 2018 a total of 61 paddocks were assessed from 10 properties on Kangaroo Island (KI) and the South East (SE) of SA with 44% having the potential to cause fertility issues in ewes, with visual assessments ranking them moderate to high.
• Whole farm assessments of the two focus demonstration farms have identified that 38% of the paddocks were moderate to high risk on the SE property and 60% of the paddocks were moderate to high risk on the KI property.
• Producers found that identifying all four of the oestrogenic clover cultivars was difficult.
• Undertaking paddock assessments to determine the risk rating of a paddock is time consuming for most producers.
   

• Back to back droughts are extremely rare.
• The year following a drought is almost always better than the year preceding a drought.
• The cropping area will increase because of de-stocking during the drought and the need to generate cash flow.

• 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.