It is important to remember what the primary objective of seeding equipment is. Some farmers have been disappointed in the overall performance of banding fertiliser due to poor seed placement.

• Significant grain yield responses to P fertiliser application occurred at the Goonumbla site.
• At Goonumbla, 25 kg P/ha significantly increased grain yield over 15 kg P/ha only when applied with starter N.
• Field peas proved very sensitive to heliothis damage at Gunning Gap and to harvest delays at Wirrinya.

• No significant yield response was recorded in either year.
• The trial site appeared to be badly affected by rhizoctonia root rot in 2000.

• No significant yield response was recorded in either year.
• The trial site appeared to be badly affected by rhizoctonia root rot in 2000.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 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

• 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.

• Legumes are difficult, but in a heavy cropping regime they are essential in the rotation because of fertility, disease, weeds and sustainability. Trial and observation should be used to find the pulse best suited to your soils and climate.
• Sharing experience with local farmers and agronomists is very useful in this process.

• H45 had a significantly higher level of rust infection than Bowerbird at the Wirrinya trial site.
• The very dry season at Gunning Gap meant little strip rust developed.
• The fungicide treatments had no significant effect on grain yield, protein, screenings or test weight at Wirrinya and Gunning Gap. However the triazole foliar fungicides were very effective at reducing the level of rust in the trial.
• Late infections and dry finishes can result in a nil response to fungicides

• H45 had a significantly higher level of rust infection than Bowerbird at the Wirrinya trial site.
• The very dry season at Gunning Gap meant little strip rust developed.
• The fungicide treatments had no significant effect on grain yield, protein, screenings or test weight at Wirrinya and Gunning Gap. However the triazole foliar fungicides were very effective at reducing the level of rust in the trial.
• Late infections and dry finishes can result in a nil response to fungicides

The application of lime to this sandy acidic soil has had provided little benefit over the last 4 years (ie. 2000 - 2003).

• Cash flow analysis shows the sensitivity of the farm business to varying seasons.
• Mixed Farming Systems are more sustainable in poorer seasons. However, they are not as able to capture the large profits in the better years (Decile>5).
• Leasing provides opportunity for business expansion when a business is in a low equity position.

• In-crop applications of some broadleaf and grass herbicides can reduce nodulation and nitrogen fixation of peas.
• Timing of herbicide application and seasonal conditions play an important role in herbicide-legume interactions. 
• Late applications of some broadleaf and grass herbicides can reduce crop yields.

• All herbicides provided effective control of brome grass and barley grass in wheat this season.
• Crop safety in wheat was achieved by all herbicide mixes in 2008.

• Soil water content is being measured to 3 m depth in the CWFS core site.
• The lucerne plots in the phase farming systems contained 200 mm less soil water than the continuous cropped plots at the end of 2003.
• Lucerne had dried the soil to a similar extent after 3 years of lucerne (conventional tilled system) and 2 years of lucerne (reduced till system).
• Most of the additional moisture in the annual plots was below 1 m depth.
• Including a perennial pasture such as lucerne in a cropping system can reduce the risk of excessive deep drainage.

• Treat infested pastoral areas with 3.0 litres MCPA amine per hectare in the autumn. Apply the MCPA with 100 litres of water per hectare. Horehound can be a difficult plant to wet. A wetting adjuvant may be of assistance.
• Maintain grasses to prevent the establishment of seedlings. Burn the infested area the following year, in early
• autumn, to destroy as much of the seed bank as possible. Respray the area later in the autumn to control any subsequent horehound germinations with MCPA amine.

• Early sown, long season material did very well in 2018 considering the season (Growing Season Rainfall was one of the lowest on record).
• More options are available to growers who have the opportunity to sow wheat to coincide with earlier rain and the need to start earlier due to a large cropping program.
• The trial is planned to run again in 2019 with the aim to test earlier sowing dates than 2018. 

The risk of stem frost damage can be minimised by using winter wheats if sowing prior to 20 April. Spring wheats should be kept within 5-7 days of their optimal sow date. If appropriate, risk of BYDV should be managed by backing up imidacloprid seed dressing with foliar insecticides at the start of tillering if aphids are present. New winter wheat cultivars are in the pipeline and are likely to have significant yield advantages over current ageing material.

• High-pressure injection shows promise as an alternative method for applying fertiliser into the soil.
• Deep banding fluid fertilisers with extra long knife points is another option which also showed promise.
• This research is still in its early days.

These trials demonstrate that certain crop species and cultivars such as barley, oats and grazing wheat, can
suppress weeds effectively at standard establishment rates. This may be due to their ability to compete
effectively with weeds for valuable resources, or their potential to exhibit allelopathic effects associated either
with the crop or remaining residues following harvest.

Soil biota hold the key to sustainable crop production via impacts on processes like suppression of disease outbreaks and the cycling of essential nutrients.

• Although not statistically validated a trend of either higher or lower NDVI’s in the centre of the tram tracks was observed on 7 of the 14 farms investigated.
• The trend to wider header fronts makes the practicalities of redistributing residue evenly back across the width of the header all the more difficult and may accelerate any rate of change in crop performance.
• In the short term CTF producers should target even redistribution of crop residue across header widths
• Further work is needed and the author would welcome collaboration from others in helping to design a future experiment and statistical analysis.

• Although not statistically validated a trend of either higher or lower NDVI’s in the centre of the tram tracks was observed on 7 of the 14 farms investigated.
• The trend to wider header fronts makes the practicalities of redistributing residue evenly back across the width of the header all the more difficult and may accelerate any rate of change in crop performance.
• In the short term CTF producers should target even redistribution of crop residue across header
  widths
• Further work is needed and the author would welcome collaboration from others in helping to design a future experiment and statistical analysis.

• Changes in soil chemistry were found 14 years after application of high rates of lime and gypsum.
• The source of Ca (lime, gypsum or lime + gypsum) had no significant impact on the long term displacement of Na hy Ca.
• The practical message is that any source of Ca, applied at an equivalent Ca rate, gives equal long term benefits in Na displacement.
• Soil chemistry did not change below 30 cm depth.
• Plant yields have been low due to drought. In 2002 there was no significant difference in plant growth after different ameliorants. This result may not be true and may have occurred because of the low yields.

• For the first time sheep grazing behaviour in a Mallee paddock was monitored and mapped using GPS tracking collars.
• Sheep grazed the entire stubble paddock as they sought out spilt grain during the summer fallow, but they preferred to graze on sandy soil types first.
• While grazing a vetch pasture in the same paddock, livestock spent 50% of the time grazing only 25% of the paddock and 25% of the paddock was not utilised.

• No till treatments have been higher yielding and more profitable in continuous cropping rotations. Cultivation has increased yield and profit in 18 month fallow rotations.
• Two cereals followed by a break crop of either fieldpeas or canola no till has been the most profitable rotation. Interestingly 16 years continuous wheat has not been too far behind.
• Weed spectrum and numbers have changed dramatically within rotations and tillage methods. Interestingly no till treatments have hosted less weeds than cultivated treatments.
• One year of no pre emergent herbicide has taken the trial back 6 years and allowed large numbers of ryegrass to again become established and set seed.

• After 18 years there was no standout rotation, in terms of profitability, in any given season. All  rotations had their pros and cons in both wet and dry years. Therefore having a mix
  of rotations and doing things on time is a recipe for a resilient business.
• The most profitable rotation for the duration of the trial was the continuous cropping rotation, which included two wheat crops followed by a pulse crop in a no-till system. The addition of the pulse crop every third year was beneficial, especially for adding extra nitrogen, however added issues such as broadleaf weed blowouts with weeds like fumitory.

• No till treatments, for all rotations, were slightly higher yielding than the conventional tillage
  treatments for wheat. The yield of peas, in rotation 2, was very low in this trial as a result of
  the season and Sakura damage.
• Rotations including a fallow, such as the WFW treatment, had lower weed numbers compared
  to continuous cropped rotations. The continuous wheat rotation, both conventional and no till
  treatments, had a large number of ryegrass, even with Sakura.
• Profit and income for 2015 was highest in the no till wheat/ley/fallow/wheat rotation, and lowest in Rotation 2.
• 17 years of no till wheat on wheat is still second for profitability.

The early May sowing gave the highest yield for the broadleaf Albus Lupins, whilst early May and early June gave highest yield for narrow leaf Angustifolius Lupins. No yield advantage from April sowing at Gunning Gap. 

• In 2017, don’t let stubble compromise the big things (weeds, disease, timeliness).

Apart from the groups continuing to roll out the results of this project there will be further development in two main areas:

• THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SIMPLE TOOL FOR FARMERS AND CONSULTANTS TO USE WITH THEIR OWN FIGURES TO ASSESS VARIOUS DECISIONS,.AND
• THE FURTHER APPLICATION, WITH CSIRO TO USE THE TOOL TO ASSESS RESEARCH RESULTS IN TERMS OF THEIR IMPACT ON PROFIT AND RISK ON FARM”.

• Trials in the Condobolin area have shown excellent responses to topdressing in wetter years when the nitrogen requirement of the crop is higher than initially expected.

• In year 1 of this experiment, we demonstrated that genetically diverse wheat cultivars performed differently in two locations with varying rainfall patterns. Significant differences in crop biomass, LAI, weed count and biomass between  cultivars was also location dependent. These results show that although weed suppression in wheat is influenced by genotype, the genotypic response in wheat is clearly influenced by environmental factors as well, when it comes to growth, yield and weed suppression. However, certain cultivars were excellent performers in both locations in terms of weed suppression and crop yields and these included Espada and Condo and to a lesser extent Janz. Additional results will be obtained from metabolomic analyses to evaluate both primary and secondary biosynthetic pathways operational in crop genotypes and to determine if these pathways influence weed suppression in either location over time. The role of hydroxamic acids in weed suppression will be further examined in detail through targeted metabolic profiling in both soils and plant tissue. Additional field experiments will be repeated over the next 3 years to determine impacts of year and location upon wheat cultivar performance and weed suppression.

• The trial is showing clearly that the early years of no tillage come with a significant yield penalty in most treatments.
• This is most significant when coming out of a spray fallow as seen in both the ley/fallow/wheat treatment and the wheat/fallow/wheat treatment.

• Issues such as diseases and weeds are now starting to affect the profitability of the continuous wheat system.
• Minimum tillage needs ideal conditions at sowing to be successful on these soils.
• Seasonal variation has influenced cropping system comparisons, hence the need for the trial to continue into the future.

• Long term gross margin data shows conventional tillage to be more profitable than minimum tillage.
• Long term gross margin data also shows that continuous wheat and rotation l are the most profitable rotations.
• No-tillage into a long fallow situation is significantly less profitable than conventional tillage, by $147.oo/ha. This is not the case with no tillage into a stubble situation which is not significantly different to conventional tillage.
• A major factor determining the profitability of the no tillage treatment is effective weed control.
• The threat of root diseases, such as Rhizoctonia, is now at a high risk level in the continuous wheat rotation, particularly under no tillage, whereas the risk is minimal in other rotations. 

Continuous cropping has remained the most profitable rotation since the trial began, especially continuous wheat. This system however will not last, and will be less profitable in the next few years, as suggested by the GM variations in figures 6 and 7. For continuous cropping to be sustainable, a break crop is needed to keep the system working.

• Proper rotations (irrespective of tillage methods) incorporating no more than two cereal crops in sequence with the addition of either a break crop or a fallow once in every three years is ideal. This rotation allows a very productive and sustainable farming system in our environment.
• The most profitable system since 1999 has been two years of cereal followed by a break crop such as peas under no till.
• No till systems are now becoming more profitable in the trial than cultivated systems under every rotation.
• No till will work on our problem soils so long as effective weed control is achieved.
• Under a continuous cereal rotation, the impact of weeds, diseases, poor nutrition and subsequently lower yields has lowered profitability

• No-till has performed on average 5% higher in yield and increased profits over cultivated farming systems in continuous cropping rotations.
• Adding cultivation to the system has increased both yield and profit in the 18 month fallow rotations.
• Thirteen years of continuous wheat has produced the most grain per hectare, closely followed by a wheat–barley–field pea rotation.

Allowing ewes access to some of the dual-purpose wheat sown on a mixed farm can increase gross margins
from the sheep operation by increasing stocking rates and the amount of lamb and wool produced and reducing supplementary feeding requirements.

Slow pasture growth rates during winter limit the potential gross margins from autumn and early winter
lambing in southern New South Wales (NSW) by limiting stocking rates and/or increasing supplementary feed
requirements. Dual-purpose crops can reduce the winter feed gap in mixed-farming systems by increasing
the available feed in winter. The simulation software AusFarm was used to model a mixed-farming system
at Wagga Wagga with Merino ewes joined to terminal sires and grazing lucerne-subterranean clover pasture
over a 41-year period. A paddock of dualpurpose wheat was then added to the system, and ewes were
allowed to graze the wheat crop when feed on offer reached 850 kg DM/ha and before GS31.

• Moderate mouse abundance in some small pockets of north-west Victoria.
• Low mouse abundance in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

• Moderate to high mouse abundance in some Yorke Peninsula, Adelaide Plains, parts of Eyre Peninsula and Macalister.
• Low mouse abundance elsewhere in South Australia and Queensland, and low across Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
• The National Mouse Census Week is set for 13=19 April 2015.

• We are working hard on upgrading models for predicting mouse plagues. MouseAlert information is vital for these improvements.
• Use MouseAlert to report activity and damage: it can be downloaded from http://itunes.apple.com.au/app/id9754-7187 or via computer at www.mousealert.org.au
•  

• Schooner and Gairdner have been the preferred malting barley varieties in southern NSW. Schooner generally achieves better quality in the lower rainfall parts of the cropping belt.
• Gairdner has proved to be the highest yielding malting variety, but is prone to high screenings under dry conditions, late sowing and excessive nitrogen or seeding rates.

• Barley is a valuable rotation crop as it is not susceptible to many wheat foliar diseases (yellow spot, stripe rust, septoria), suffers less yield loss from root diseases, and competes well with weeds.
• Schooner and Gairdner have been the preferred malting varieties in central NSW. Gatrdner has proved to be the highest yielding malting variety, but is prone to high screenings under dry conditions, late sowing and excessive nitrogen or seeding rates.
• Buloke, a new potential malting variety for the mid-lower rainfall parts of the region performed well in 2005.
• Fitzroy, Baudin and Cowabbie yielded well in the mid-higher rainfall areas.
• Tilga and Tantangara are high yielding feed varieties with Tilga better suited to drier areas. Binalong, Mackay and Grout are new feed grain lines particularly suited to the northern half of the State.
• Seeding rates of 70-120 seeds/m2 are likely to be a good compromise for yield and grain quality for barley; the higher rate should be used with late sowing and in wetter areas, but care is needed with Gairdner which is prone to high screenings.

• Nitrogen contributions by pastures in Ley Farming Systems are a renewable resource for Central West farmers.

• Legume pasture species and management practices have been investigated to determine the most important factors for improving nitrogen inputs to the soil.
• Results have shown significant improvements in the soil available nitrogen after growing pastures with a high proportion (>75%) of legumes.
• The increased soil nitrogen from good stands of pasture legumes is also reflected in the yield and quality of wheat grown the following year.
• A short pasture (2-3 seasons) will provide a significant increase in soil nitrogen and a yield and/or protein response. A long pasture (5 seasons) may not provide more nitrogen than one of 4 seasons.
• No legume species has performed consistently better than any other species.
• Sowing a mixture of inoculated pasture legume species that are suited to the region is important to spread the risk and ensure a good stand of legumes is achieved.
• Weed control using grazing management and/or chemical control is seen as the best way to maintain a high level of legumes in the paddock and therefore increase soil nitrogen

• N2O losses appear to be minimal from dryland low to medium rainfall farming systems; peak emissions of only 4.0 gN2O-N/ha/day were measured following rainfall.
• N2O emissions from legume stubble over summer and with synthetic fertiliser applied in-crop were low.
• An increase in soil water was the major driver of N2O emissions.

• N2O losses appear to be minimal from dryland low to medium rainfall farming systems; peak emissions of only 4.0 gN2O-N/ha/day were measured following rainfall.
• N2O emissions from legume stubble over summer and with synthetic fertiliser applied in-crop were low.
• An increase in soil water was the major driver of N2O emissions.

• Severe drought conditions affected the results of this trial (grain yields 0.60 to 1.02t/ha), with only 130 mm for April – October and 171mm for the calendar year recorded at the trial site.
• The wheat variety Ventura, showed the benefits of quicker maturity over Sunstate in such extreme seasonal conditions. 􀂃 Plant density was not found affect grain yield or quality in a very tough year.
• Precision agriculture can be used for on-farm trials to produce statistically valid results, thereby offering an alternative to small plot trials.
• The broadacre trial will be repeated in 2007 at Northparkes Mine.

• Jumpstart seed inoculant did not increase the yield of treated crops in 2009.
• Jumpstart seed inoculant increased the early vigour of the crop.

• Grain & Graze is helping farmers increase their knowledge about nutrition of sheep.
• Don’t wait for the ‘magic’ supplements.
• Find out what your sheep lack and supplement their feed.
• Energy is usually the most limiting nutrient.
• Protein may be limiting for young or growing stock.
• Liquid molasses (e.g. Molofos) may encourage sheep to eat dry feed

There may be an opportunity to enhance phosphorus uptake in wheat following an albus lupin crop.

• The extremely late break to the season highlighted maturity differences very clearly. The fast maturing varieties like H45 and H46 yielded highest, while the long season varieties like Rosella, EGA-Wedgetail and  Marombi yielded the lowest.
• Yield varied from 0.96 -1.9t/ha.
• The protein levels varied from 12.9% (H45) to 17.1% (Marombi). Protein levels were all high because of the short grain filling period.

• The main issue that needs to be kept in mind when interpreting the results is the relative maturity of varieties.
• The 5 June sowing date means that faster maturing varieties like Grout, Hindmarsh, Tilga and Schooner have an advantage over slower varieties like Gairdner and Tantangara and the results need to be interpreted in this context.

• This trial was a bit of a mixed bag with conventional, clearfield and TT varieties of varying maturities evaluated.

• Hail in early October negated the effect of early sowing due to increased shattering losses in the early canola over the later sown canola.
• Aphids were very damaging in the podding stages and would have significantly reduced yield and possibly oil content also.

• Seasonal conditions of 2003 limited the yield of pulse crops, with the average yield below 0.5 t/ha.
• The highest yielding pulse crop was Field Peas. Vetch was the lowest yielding crop.
• The highest yielding variety was Dundale field peas, whilst Excel field peas were the lowest yielding variety.

• It was difficult to see the carryover of residual P into 2003 in this trial as some plots were affected by crown rot or common root rot (still to be determined).
• The maximum wheat yield was achieved when 5 kg P/ha was applied in 2003 on top of 11 kg P/ha applied in 2002.

• Results were not conclusive, probably due to late topdressing stage and little rain
  following (5 mm).

• Variety differences were not statistically significant other than the lower yielding Sunkota which was the most severely affected by Yellow leaf spot.
• Despite the early sowing of several of these varieties, frost was of minor significance in this year.

• Canola yields in 2003 were below average, mostly less than 0.5 t/ha.
• No yield response was reported with increased rates of P and N fertiliser.

• Unfortunately in contrast to quality measurements grain yield results were not statistically significant.
• Caution should be taken when assessing the performance of faster maturing varieties like Ellison in an early sown trial situation like this.

• Seeding depth uniformity is influenced by both seed placement quality within the furrow and the consistency of added soil cover
• Many machinery design and operating parameters affect the uniformity of seeding depth across a paddock
• Deep sowing (eg. beyond 50-6omm) can significantly affect crop emergence and final grain yield
• Many paddock situations can soon suffer a 5-10% yield loss as a result of inadequate seeding depth, with more extreme situations suggesting possible yield penalties of 15-20% or more.

At both sites wheat yields and protein following lucerne or a lucerne based mix were high. Yields and protein following lovegrass alone or lovegrass and medic mixtures were the lowest.

• Further examination is necessary to determine to what degree winter cleaning in the final pasture year will improve the nitrogen status of the soil.
• These conclusions will need to be verified over several more seasons before reliable relationships can be confirmed.

• The most important results from this work, being those obtained from the wheat stage of the system, will need to be collected for several more years in order to develop substantial findings.

• Juncea canola (Brassica juncea) shows potential as an alternative to canola in the low rainfall zone.
• 2008 was another very tough year for both canola and juncea canola. Only one out of six trials were harvested but the results were too variable to be meaningful.

• Hi-analysis granular fertiliser required the smallest yield to breakeven in 2009 .
• Hi-analysis granular P and liquid P had a similar response curve and both types of products performed well.
• Rock Phosphate product had a very flat response which slightly improved when 30% DAP was added.

• In this district and in reference to the soils that are low in exchangeable aluminium – that is to say the soils where barley, canola and lucerne can realise their water limited yield potentials without the need for the application of lime, that negligible quantities of phosphorus are lost to the soil pool. The
• It is stressed that after 2007 you should apply at least the usual recommended phosphate rate to your 2008 wheat crops to achieve their water-limited yield potential

• Soil test results indicated that the P levels on the trial site were not particularly low.
• Despite the dry conditions in September, grain yields ranged from 1.59 to 2.16 t/ha.
• Results demonstrate that application of P up to 40 kg P/ha can increase field pea yields. To maximise grain yield, P rates above 40 kg/ha may be needed.

This years findings mirror those of last year. The trials demonstrated that current P application rates may be suboptimal, and significant grain yield gains may be achieved by applying greater amounts of P.

This years findings mirror those of last year. The trials demonstrated that current P application rates may be suboptimal, and significant grain yield gains may be achieved by applying greater amounts of P.

When compared to fallow, the 2005 grain yields from the field pea more than compensated for the subsequent 2006 wheat grain yield reduction.

The potential advantages of growing pulse crops are well recognised, such as: increasing soil nitrogen,
breaking disease cycles for cereal crops, providing a high nitrogen feed grain and being a cash crop in their
own right. Field peas are well suited to the Central West and other pulses are useful, depending on pH,
drainage and weed control.

• Peas are the most robust pulse option in low rainfall environments, but erosion risks must be well managed.
• Early sowing is essential for maximising pulse yields.
• Kaspa is an option for low rainfall regions, but has generally performed best in the more favourable years.
• No significant yield difference occurred in Kaspa by increasing plant density from 45 to 55 plants/m2 in 2003.
• Beans and chickpeas are opportunity crops only in low rainfall environments and suited to better years and more favourable conditions.

• Peas are the most robust pulse option in low rainfall environments, but erosion risks must be well managed.
• Early sowing is essential for maximising pulse yields.
• Kaspa is an option for low rainfall regions, but has generally performed best in the more favourable years.
• No significant yield difference occurred in Kaspa by increasing plant density from 45 to 55 plants/m2 in 2003.
• Beans and chickpeas are opportunity crops only in low rainfall environments and suited to better years and more favourable conditions.

• Wheat and field peas had the highest yields and gross margins compared with lupins and vetch.
• Field peas have the potential to be an alternative crop in western cropping rotations.

• In 2009, field peas were the only pulse crop to produce measurable yields in the trials run at Condobolin and Euabalong.
• All field pea varieties produced similar yields at Condobolin.
• Harvest was difficult due to stunted plant height and lodging.
• Sowing pulse crops early is essential to maximise yield.

• In 2009, field peas were the only pulse crop to produce measurable yields in the trials run at Condobolin and Euabalong.
• All field pea varieties produced similar yields at Condobolin.
• Harvest was difficult due to stunted plant height and lodging.
• Sowing pulse crops early is essential to maximise yield.

• Pulses last season were affected by both drought and frosts.
• Prices were exceptional in 2006/07, with high demand and low supply.
• Herbicide residues may influence crop rotations more than diseases in 2007.
• Seed quality and availability will also be a big issue for pulses in 2007.
• Timeliness of sowing is becoming a greater issue with pulses.
• Pulses cut as forage proved to be a worth while option last season .

In 2015 mouse monitoring will continue at all of the regional sites. To further identify mouse population dynamics CWFS will also be in contact with further persons from each region to identify mouse activity perhaps not recorded by monitoring activities. To be involved in mouse monitoring, or if you have any observations or queries, don’t hesitate to call Nick Hill at CWFS on 02 6895 1038 or 0437 612 140.

Weeds external to a cropping area (ie; along fence lines and roadways) are a known problem. They impact negatively upon a cropping operation in a number of ways; ie,

• Pest insects - Weeds can provide refuge for insect pests and act as a point source of distribution into a cropping area.
• Diseases - Weeds can act as a host for crop disease. When an infected weed is fed upon by a pest insect (e.g. aphid) and the pest insect then feeds upon a plant within a cropping zone the disease is transferred to the crop.
• Seed - Weeds external to a cropping zone provide a source of seed that can enter and infest a cropping area.
• Mice - Weeds external to a cropping area provide food, moisture and refuge for mice.
• Herbicide resistance - Weeds external to a cropping area do not generally receive the same levels of control as weeds within a cropping area, which can assist in the development of herbicide resistance.
• Green bridge - Weeds that perpetuate external to a cropping season provide what is termed as a “green-bridge”. This green bridge is known to enable pest insects and diseases to survive as well as provide a source of weed seed for future in-crop infestations.

• Phillip Adams has been working on raised bed farming for the past seven years and is convinced the system has significant benefits.
• Raised beds increase the quantity of organic matter in the soil which is of great importance in improving soil structure and promoting germination and growth.
• All land is suited to raised beds, however paddocks where excess water is a problem (eg. sodic soils prone to waterlogging) will benefit the most. The aim of raised bed farming is to produce loose soil beds where water can drain off to prevent waterlogging in the root zones, to provide adequate drainage, and to store excess water for use when conditions turn dry.

• Although there was a very late break to the season, cooler conditions through September and October maintained good yields. Mid to short season varieties performed well, namely EGA-Gregory (at 3.0t/ha), Ventura (at 3.0t/ha) and Strzelecki (3.0t/ha).
• Yield varied from 1.8 - 3.0t/ha.
• The protein levels were all below the Prime Hard receival standards.

• In 2004 the organic system had the lowest wheat yield and the highest screenings.
• The 2004 gross margin showed that the Albrecht, Soil Management Riverina and BioAg systems made a small profit.
• The Conventional, Soil Management Riverina and Organic systems have the best long-term (2000-2004) average gross margins, although they are all negative.

The results are showing up trends and possible differences between treatments, but being a long term trial it may take at least five years before any meaningful data or an accurate assessment of each system can be made.

• Row spacing and seeding rate made no difference to yield when sown on 4 May.
• When sown 24 May, yield decreased with wider row spacing’s, and slightly increased with higher seeding rates.
• The variation in this trial was large due to previous seasons header rows.

 For results please see trial report attached.

Row Spacing: Most pulse crops are adapted to wider row spacings:

• Lupins 18 - 50cm
• Chickpeas 18 - 75cm
• Faba beans 18 - 75cm

Wider rows can reduce foliar fungal disease incidence (increasing airflow) and allow better stubble clearance by sowing machinery. However, good weed control is essential with wider rows.

In this paper, a simple, robust method for quantitatively mapping fPV, fNPV and fBS across the Australian tropical savanna region was deveoped.

• Contrasting canola yields were observed at two sites in 2015 highlighting both the potential and the risks of growing canola in the southern Australian low rainfall zone.
• Sowing at the earliest opportunity and applying N at seeding or early in the crop’s development produced the highest grain yields.
• Purchasing hybrid canola instead of using farmer retained open pollinated canola provided no advantage in 2015.

• High Density Legumes (HDLs) offer a profitable 1 year (potentially 2 year) break crop option for cropping rotations, as an alternative to the traditional pulse break crop.
• HDLs offer greater flexibility in that they can be grazed, cut for hay/silage or green manured. They also have the potential to produce significant quantities of regrowth after cutting or grazing, extending the period of high quality green feed on offer after other pastures have dried off.
• HDLs offer substantial benefits to the following crop(s) in the rotation, including high nitrogen input, disease break and weed control (if managed correctly). Their superior economic returns, compared with pulses, depend on the grower's ability to rotationally graze HDLs throughout winter and spring (and early summer if the season permits), and/or the capacity to use or sell large quantities of hay or silag