Balance + Simazine showed the most crop damage, reducing the growth for a short period of time and chickpea establishment was slightly less, however, yield was significantly better than any other treatment.

• There were no differences in yield between the control, BTH and fungicide treated plots.
• Disease levels in 2000 were very low and had no impact on yield.

Hussar® is a group B herbicide, which is active on a range of grasses (Wild Oats, Phalaris, and Rye Grass) and broadleaf weeds in wheat. Hussar® is currently pending registration.

Affinity is a Group G herbicide (as is Goal) used for broadleaf weed control in cereals. Best used in conjunction with MCPA. The control plot yielded the least presumably due to competition from weeds. Affinity showed good crop tolerance.

Paragon is similar to Tigrex and in this demonstrationshowed good tolerance in wheat.
 

Raptor (imazamox) has activity on barley grass, brome grass, dead nettle, volunteer cereals, wild oats and mustard. 

In the northern wheat belt, poor crop growth has often been reported following long periods of fallow or after a prolonged drought. The symptoms of poor growth have been attributed to a lack of vasicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the roots of wheat plants following a long dry period.

• Granulock 10Z would have provided sufficient nutrients for an average season 3.75t/ha.
• The good spring rains allowed the Granulock 10 blends: 10, 22, 24, 25 and 29 to perform to their potential because of their additional nitrogen. Granulock 10Z 29 produced the highest yield and acheived H2 quality class attracting a premium price.
• The Granulock 10Z (S) blends did not perform as well because of lesser nitrogen levels and the soil was not sulphur responsive.

Nobody is going to argue that 2006 was a disastrous year for agriculture in southern Australia. After a dream start in most areas, many farmers were saying that “the crop went in the best it had for years,” but the absence of useful follow up rain, and in some cases damage due to frost, was a bitter pill to swallow.

By the end of 2006 mature El Niño conditions were recorded in the eastern equatorial Pacific. Most ocean-atmosphere models suggest that the Pacific should remain warm in the short-term with a gradually return to neutral conditions by mid-year. The DAFWA analogue year selection system has a more optimistic outlook, suggesting that there is a high chance of La Niña conditions developing by the middle of the year. In terms of wheatbelt rainfall, the analogues suggest that average rainfall is likely over summer and average to above average rainfall is likely between May and October. To the northwest of WA there has been a recent trend towards warmer Sea Surface Temperatures (SST). If this trend contributes to an enhanced SST gradient to the northwest of Australia the confidence in enhanced northwest cloud-band activity and above average growing season rainfall would increase. The lesson from 2006 is that trends in SST in this region need to be closely followed.

Peake and Correll are two new varieties that may be considered for the Mallee environment.

The simulation study suggests that the rate of root extension into the subsoil was dramatically slower in the presence of subsoil constraints. However, in the 2001 season, wheat yield was not limited by this factor, which reduced the use of soil moisture early in the season and thus delayed the onset of water stress during the dry grainfilling period.

• The DGT method is an improved soil test for predicting P response from a given soil.
• Greater confidence in accurately predicting P fertiliser requirements can be obtained from using DGT measurements.
• Lack of response to liquid and granular P at two trial sites in the Birchip region were explained with greater accuracy using DGT measurements.

The results of the 6 tonne crop trial have raised more questions that we were able to answer. 

• Abiotic stress can be reduced by choosing the most appropriate pulse species and adjusting agronomy (sowing time, plant density, soil management) to ensure sensitive crop stages occur at the most favourable time in the season. For example choosing the optimum sowing time, species and cultivars with appropriate phenology can reduce the effect of frost and drought in pulse crops in dryland environments with terminal stress.
• For further management options please see the attached trial report.

• Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) increases yield of grains, but whether future yields increase depends on rainfall and temperature changes.
• Wheat grain protein decreases with elevated CO2.
• Breeding new cultivars will allow adaptation to increasing CO2.

Adjuvants to Atrazine are essential for the early post emergent control of radish in TT canola.

• The yields were generally good.
• Based on growing season rainfall at Birchip, the yield potential for barley was 2.7t/ha.

The advanced lupin variety comparison located at the northern satellite site at Sea Lake was one of three similar comparisons located throughtout the Mallee in 1998.

• Moonah was the best performing named variety averaging 116% of Merrit across Mallee sites.
• Kalya yielded well at the Sea Lake site but is susceptible to drought stress and shattering.
• The most promising of the potential new varieties was Walan2141, averaging 133% of Merrit over the four Mallee sites.
• Walan2128 and 284AA38 also performed well at Sea Lake.
• The new release Jindalee yielded poorly due to late maturity and is not recommended for the Mallee.

The new variety Morava was in the top five for grain yield at both the Walpeup and Birchip sites.

• Of the three sites located throughout the Mallee, Walpeup and Ultima produced the highest yields.
• Walpeup was the most rewarding site recording an average of 1.33 t/ha with Ultima's yields being 1.24 t/ha.
• The Birchip site yielded poorly compared to the other trials averaging 0.87 t/ha. Early maturing varieties produced the highest yields.
• The mid maturing varieties performed the best at Birchip.

The Mallee average was determined from a total of 10 sites located across the Mallee.

Seasonal conditions in 1999 were viriable, which was reflected in the differences in site yield means across the Mallee.

Excellent yields, well above the average expected in the Birchip area were recorded from the BCDS experiment in 1996.

• Sowing too early exposes a crop to a high frost risk at flowering.
• Sowing too late exposes a crop to heat shock during grain fill.
• Use Yield Prophet to determine the least-risk sowing window for the varieties you are planning to sow in 2011.

Applied nitrogen has a positive effect on both yield and protein. The results indicate that if nitrogen is required, it should be applied at sowing. If nitrogen is topdressed then the increase in protein can be too high to ensure biscuit wheat quality.

• Agronomic practices have proven to reduce frost damage.
• Clay delving reduced frost damage by up to 80 percent.

The main messages from the agronomy trial work undertaken in 2005 were: ƒ

• After a slow start, our season in 2005 ended up producing excellent yields and quality,
• Grass weeds are becoming more and more of a concern across our region,
• Timely summer weed control is important. Spraying summer weeds over 2004/05 resulted in a 0.5 to 0.7t/ha yield increase, and
• Climate variability is something we need to learn to live with.

Crop damage can occur with some of these chemicals and a good understanding of how these chemicals work and their registration status is essential before commercial use.

• Ten different crops were sown at the Birchip site on the 11th of May. None of the crops were harvested.
• If you would like further information about any of the crops described below contact Sue Knights at University of Melbourne, Longerenong campus.

There were no significatn differences in canola yields from the biological seed dressings, organic and inorganic fertilisers applied.

• In 2003 the BCG-WFS tested the bio fertiliser ‘Extra Life’ and compared it to using MAP as a standard fertiliser, at the Birchip site. There were no wheat yield or quality benefits from using the alternative nutrition product ‘Extra Life’.
• Over the many years that the BCG-WFS have been testing a wide range of alternative bio nutrition products we have never found a yield or quality benefit.

No significant differences were observed in wheat yield from the application of a range of alternative products.

• Alternative nutrition products have been tried at several trial sites over 2 years.
• There have been no yield responses to any of the products in these trials.

• Alternative nutrition products have been tested for the last 3 years at several locations around Birchip and Donald.
• In the third year of the trial, the growing season rainfall was average at Birchip and still there was no significant yield response from the products used.

• Juncea canola varieties, with the advantage of lower production costs, are being bred for the lower rainfall districts to provide a Brassica break crop option. Further breeding is required to improve the yield potential of these varieties.
• Identity preservation schemes, involving the contracted production for a particular market, are required for the production ofspecialty oils, either for human consumption (eg Monola™) or industrial use (eg Hemola™). Growers need to carefully consider the price premiums (above canola) and the agronomic performance of these varieties. Unfortunately, currently there is very limited independent evaluation of this material.

• Alternative forge cereal and legume pastures offer grazing opportunities at different times during the season.
• Choose varieties according to your needs: their ability to fill feed gaps, what they offer to your rotation in terms of nutrition, root and foliar disease management, weed control and suitability for hay production.

There was no evidence of gypsum application and deep ripping interacting to improve overall soil structure and crop growth.

In 2003 at the Berriwillock site, higher seeding rates resulted in higher yields (2.6 to 2.9t/ha) but had no affect on screenings (all sowing treatments less than 3%).
Numerous BCG-WFS seeding rate trials since 1997 have found that higher seeding rates often resulted in higher yields and better quality, never resulted in lower yields or reduced quality and always resulted in more competitive crops (fewer weeds).

Using 2008 prices with 2000-07 data, the keys to modest, less variable profits with minimal complexity and less reliance on skill or luck have been

• moderate intensity (60-80%) of profitable, reliable crops cereal after fallow or a forage break, and
• a modest but profitable livestock enterprise.

Applying urea with the seed, even deep banded, can affect establishment and slow growth and development. There was no advantage in applying N at sowing (deep banded). The effects of seed burn on canola are much greater on sandier soils than clay. Dry soils are also more susceptible than wet soils: if applying up-front N, rates should not exceed 10kg N/ha (22kg/ha urea) on 30cm spacing, and seed should be separated by at least three to four centimetres from the nitrogen fertiliser.

The main risks for this year are:

• high fertiliser inputs,
• price risk,
• mice risk,
• nitrogen fertiliser risk,
• frost risk, and 
• rainfall risk.

Small ryegrass (less than 4 leaves) was controlled by Atrizine with oil in crop.

Avadex Xtra provided excellent annual ryegrass control; either standalone or in a tank mix with Triflur X.

• Cereal stubble contributes only a small percentage of the nitrogen requirement for a following cereal crop (2 to 11% of N from 2014 wheat stubble was taken up by 2015 and 2016 crops).
• Urea fertiliser nitrogen use efficiency of the 2014 wheat crop was 35%.
• The 2015 drought reduced the influence of stubble management treatments on nitrogen cycling, yield and carry over effects on microbial activity.

Seed disinfection with seed treatments is essential for smut and bunt control.

Under 1999 growing conditions little take-all developed in the trial despite the conducive cropping history (wheat on wheat).

• Good seed quality is essential for the successful adoption of No-Till farming systems.
• Highest yields generally occur with row spacing narrower than 300 mm and the benefits of adopting wider row spacing needs to be evaluated against the costs (in terms of lower yields).
• Narrow row spacing should not be used with currently recommended rates of pre-emergent herbicides for No-Till farming systems.

whilst the time of sowing can strongly influence yield, the advantages of early sowing may be reduced if establishment is compromised. later sowing (23 June) reduced yield in all varieties except Wimmera, the average reduction being 0.8t/ha compared to sowing on either 26 April or 17 May. avoid dry sowing into paddocks with known weed burdens

Grain yield, as percentage of site mean yield, for entries in Victorian Stage 4 trials relative to control varieties when grown at eight sites in the Victorian Mallee during 2000 are given in Table 1 of the attached report.

With the crop under severe water stress for much of the growing season the yields were very low - 1 t/ha or less.

Growing season rainfall at this site was well below average (approximately 350mm) with 264mm for April - November. October was particularly dry with only 7.5mm

Gairdner barley gave significant yield responses to applied nitrogen of 1t/ha at 50kg/ha N and 1.27t/ha at 100kg/ha N applied.

It is important to consider the seasonal risk posed by diseases when developing an appropriate disease management strategy. Avoiding susceptible barley and wheat varieties will significantly reduce the risk of grain yield and quality loss due to disease Both foliar and fertiliser fungicides can both provide effective disease management when applied to coincide with the critical development stages of disease epidemics.

• In 1997 it was not safe to use the knockdown Gramozone at the half leaf stage on wheat or barley (this has been a relatively safe practice in previous years).
• The crop did not recover from the spray due to the dry conditions.

• Sub-tropical perennial grasses have persisted and produced good quantities of biomass over several years in the Mallee.
• Due to low early winter rainfall and reliance on stored summer moisture, cropping into a summer-growing pasture base led to high yield penalties in 2011. 
• Further research and development is needed to fine-tune management of the pasture cropping system before it can be deployed in the Mallee.

• When the maximum rate of nitrogen (N) was applied, La Trobe achieved malt grade and the greatest profitability.
• Fathom was the most N efficient variety, converting the most supplied nitrogen to grain, whereas Compass and Commander were the least responsive.
• The highest rate of N (120kg N/ha) was the most profitable for all varieties in a Decile 10 growing season

• Mundah a short season feed barley from WA outperformed Galleon when sown in July by almost doubling its yield.
• There was no benefit of using high rates of P when sowing late.

• Flagship and Buloke are new malting variety alternatives to Schooner and the Sloop varieties and segregation options for these varieties will increase during 2008. Flagship has the advantage of CCN resistance and more developed markets, whilst Buloke has the advantage of higher yields.
• Hindmarsh, Fleet and Keel are the highest yielding feed varieties. Choice between these varieties will be based on the relative importance of test weight (Hindmarsh superior), resistance to the spot form of net blotch (Keel and Fleet superior), resistance to leaf rust (Hindmarsh and Fleet superior), and tolerance to deep sands (Fleet and Hindmarsh superior).

• Fathom, Spartacus CL and Rosalind have performed consistently well at most sites in 2016.
• Compass performed poorly when sown early, with substantial lodging and head loss. When sown later, it was one of the top performers with little to no lodging observed.
• Fathom, Hindmarsh, La Trobe, Spartacus CL, Rosalind and Compass are consistently the top yielding varieties over a range of different seasonal finishes in the Mallee and Wimmera.

At the Berriwillock site none of the barley varieties sown achieved malting quality. The yields were exceptionally good (in excess of 3.5t/ha) but retention levels were low (less than 70%) and screenings high (more than 7%).

Compass was the only variety to achieve Malt 1 (assuming Malt accreditation), at both BCG sites, in the dry finish.

Compass, Hindmarsh, Fathom and La Trobe are varieties best suited to the Mallee and Wimmera. Compass and La Trobe, if granted Malt accreditation, are the obvious choices for the added premium.

Currently, Malt accredited varieties are well behind feed varieties or those pending accreditation, in terms of yield. For those varieties to be more profitable, there would need to be in excess of $130/t premium for Malt over Feed: growers should aim for yield.

Two on-farm variety demonstrations were used to compare new malting barley varieties to the standard Wimmera variety Gairdner. The two new varieties for 2006 are: Buloke and Flagship. In a season with late spring rain, neither of these two new varieties were higher yielding or produced better grain quality than Gairdner at the two on-farm variety demonstrations in the Wimmera.

• La Trobe was the highest yielding malt variety in 2015.
• Compass has consistently produced high yields in the Mallee and Wimmera. 
• New varieties Rosalind and IGB1334T were high yielding in their first year of trials.
• Short (early) season varieties performed better than long season varieties in 2015.

2007 will not be the year for large changes in malting barley variety options. Limitations in seed quantities and/or availability of malting segregation, will restrict adoption in 2007 of the new malting varieties Flagship and Buloke, which primarily target those growers in regions with less than 400mm annual average rainfall.

Seasonal conditions favoured early maturing varieties, particularly at the Wimmera sites. The relative performance of Gairdner in the Wimmera was the worst since its first inclusion in trials in 1996. In particular the grain plumpness levels of Gairdner were extremely low. Baudin (“Bow-dan”) is the latest malting variety available to Victorian growers. The variety is best suited to the 375 – 450mm average annual rainfall districts where Gairdner is currently the preferred variety. Yields of the two varieties were similar in the Wimmera during 2003 despite an increased susceptibility of Baudin to leaf rust. In a year where grain size was a major issue, grain plumpness levels of Baudin were substantially superior to Gairdner.

The growing season both regionally and nationally was characterised by very favourable late spring conditions, favouring later maturing varieties. For many growers, the rains arrived in time to allow average to above average yields, particularly for the later maturing varieties. But for some growers, and for very early maturing varieties, the crops had past the point of response and disappointing yields resulted. In most areas, grain plumpness has been quite good although cleaved grain has been a problem in some of the earlier maturing areas.

An extremely highl level of barley yellow dwarf disease was recorded in Victorian cereal crops in 2013; 40-70 per cent infection.

A high number of aphids flying into crops from neighbouring vegetation reduced the effectiveness of the insecticides.

Regular crop monitoring is essential to maximise yield while minimising the effects of aphids and BYD spread.

• The new winter cereals pre-emergent herbicide, Bayer191, is targeted for release in 2011.
• New chemistry with varying degrees of broadleaf and grass weed control.
• High level control of annual ryegrass, including Group A-, B- and D-resistant ryegrass.

Multi-grade contracts allow growers to secure a price for grain before harvest without exposing them to significant quality risk.

Multi-grade contracts allow growers to secure a price for grain before harvest without exposing them to significant quality risk.

All labs had their results back to us within a two-week period, which is highly desirable. We have had numerous comments over the years of extremely long turn around times experienced – this test has highlighted that it can be done within an acceptable time.

Better grazing systems can be developed for the low rainfall zones of the Wimmera and Mallee. With high livestock prices holding there is a resurgence of interest in how to improve our livestock production systems.

Intensive cropping systems rely on a high level of production management and prudent financial mangment to be successful, particularly in such a variable climate. Furthermore, such systems are increasingly reliant on agricultural chemicals. As well as being costly, the flow on effects of this reliance such as herbicide resistant weeds and changes to pest populations invokes thoughts about the long term environmental and financial sustainability of such a system.

• Where blackleg disease pressure is low, fungicide application is not necessary.
• The greater the amount of canola grown, the more likely is an infestation of blackleg.
• Consequently, in 2012, blackleg disease pressure may increase in the Wimmera and Mallee.
• A buffer of 500m from the previous year’s canola stubble is desirable when selecting canola paddocks.
• Growers should utilise the “Blackleg Risk Assessor” and the current “Blackleg Ratings” on the GRDC website.

Green manuring canola or mustard has not been proven to be beneficial following wheat crops in the southern Mallee.

Wheat yields were highest when grown after chickpeas or lupins at both low and moderate phosphorus (P) sites. Benefits provided by the previous chickpea or lupin crops could not be attributed to an increase in residual P sources alone.

• Canola produced the highest gross margin of all break crops grown in 2010.
• Wheat grown following peas and vetch had the highest grain yields and protein concentrations.
• Crop sequences of canola, pea grain or hay and vetch following by wheat have gross margins equal to or higher than wheat-wheat and fallow-wheat on both sand and clay soils.

Wheat consistently yields more following a broadleaf break-crop than following wheat or a long-fallow. Wheat yields more when grown after legumes (peas and vetch) than after brassicas (mustard, canola). Wheat yields are consistently higher following vetch than all other break crops. Canola, pea hay or vetch hay followed by two wheat crops were more profitable than continuous wheat or fallow followed by two wheat crops.

Canola, juncea canola, vetch and pea hay were all more profitable than wheat on both sand and clay soil types.

Wheat yields in 2012 were higher following hay, brown manure or fallow in 2011, probably due to extra water conserved in these treatments. Crop sequences including a break crop are at least as profitable as continuous wheat, with some examples of substantial profit gain. Where continuous cereals are grown, cutting wheat for hay can provide substantial yield and profit benefits to subsequent wheat in seasons with low growing season rain.

Wheat yields in 2012 were higher following hay, brown manure or fallow in 2011, probably due to extra water conserved in these treatments. Crop sequences including a break crop are at least as profitable as continuous wheat, with some examples of substantial profit gain. Where continuous cereals are grown, cutting wheat for hay can provide substantial yield and profit benefits to subsequent wheat in seasons with low growing season rain.

The time from sowing to emergence represents a key period in the development of high-yielding wheat crops.

Chickpeas have not been widely grown in the Brim district since the outbreak of ascochyta in 1998. This trial has shown it is possible to grow chickpeas in the district and newer lines with improved disease resistance show promise for the future and would eliminate the need for a fungicide in this district. Improved disease resistance may also allow newer lines to be sown earlier, which is likely to have a yield affect – especially in shorter growing season districts such as Brim.

If the time and costs incurred in sowing are compared to broadcasting in relation to the yields achieved it is more cost effective to broadcast then to sow. The BCG will continue work in this area in 2001.

Although there were no significant differences between herbicide treatments in wheat yield the control plots yielded the lowest.

Choice of product depends on mix, population and size of weeds, crop safety and growth of the crop.

The use of Lexone on both barley and wheat was quite safe in 1996, spray conditions were quite good with moist soil and some dew on hte crop, and no heavy rain occurred within a week of appying the herbicie.

• Brome grass is becoming more prevalent in the Victorian Mallee with adoption of no-till farming an dintensification of cereal cropping systems where few effective herbicides are available for control.
• The ecology of brome grass has changed, making it more problematic to control in crops.
• Aim for two consecutive years of control to deplete the seedbank of hthis troublesome weed.

Managing Brome grass populations in wheat is a challenge facing many growers but chemical control options have increased over the past two seasons with the introduction of Clearfield wheat technology and Atlantis herbicide.

• Knockdown treatment of Gramoxone offer good control of Brome grass but must be applied before the 0.5-leaf crop stage to provide sufficient crop safety. RoundUp is also used in some situations but because it is a translocated herbicide it can do significantly more crop damage.
• Lexone offers good in-crop control of Brome grass in both barley and wheat (Lexone is not registered in wheat and only registered for broadleaf control in barley) however the window for application is both small, and critical, for safe and effective use.
• Monza offers suppression of Brome grass (at the 1 to 3 leaf stage) in wheat but has long plantbacks that need to be observed.
• The introduction of Clearfield technology in wheat appears to offer another tool against Brome grass.

• Brome grass control in wheat is difficult (except when using Clearfield technology).
• Brome grass is becoming an increasing problem and there is evidence that the problem is increasing faster under direct drill systems with an intensive cereal rotation.
• Pre-emergent herbicides such as trifluralin and metribuzine do have activity on brome grass but the effect is slight suppression only (metribuzin is not registered in wheat).

With the cooperation and commitment of some 15 farmers, a network across the Wimmera-Mallee existed during 1994 to monitor the moth of native budworm (Heliothis punctigera) in grain legumes. This trial used the information gained to forecast the pest's development and economic thresholds for spraying. The information gained was faxed and posted weekly to some 40 agribusiness and interested farmers.