• Importance of a sound fungicide strategy is highlighted at sites where there are unsprayed plots. The variation in yield between sprayed and unsprayed plots depends on the disease rating of the variety, and this should always be  taken into account when selecting new varieties.
• Long term site results should also be utilised to reduce the effect of seasonal variability in the decision making process. 

Please see attached trial report for results.

• The performance of the wheat varieties sown at the first sowing time was influenced by drought induced copper deficiency (visual assessment).   These symptoms were not observed in the other sowing times. 
• Noodle varieties Fortune and Calingiri had the highest economic returns due to the exceptional prices received for noodles in 2010.  If noodle prices return to traditional premiums then returns for these varieties will significantly reduce.
• Magenta was the highest yielding variety at the first sowing time however there was a 600kg/ha drop in production when seeding was delayed by 18 days.  Screenings (whole and cracked) were greater than 5% at time of sowing 1 and 2 which influenced economic returns.
• Mace and Wyalkatchem yielded similarly at each sowing time however economic returns were greater for Mace because it is classified as Aust. Hard wheat.

Early maturing wheats generally performed well in 2002-03 due to the sharp finish to the season and lack of frosts at flowering. Overall MacKellar (mid maturity) continued to yield well. With one year of evaluation the two late CSIRO lines LH49E2 and LH50M16 showed good potential for Tasmanian conditions. 

Wheat varieties were evaluated at Campbell Town (dryland) and Longford (irrigated). At Campbell Town frost damage at ear emergence and flowering was the factor most influencing yield. All the later maturing lines avoided some of this damage and were the highest yielding. Grain yields at the Longford site were exceptionally high (average of 10.2 t/ha). The CSIRO line 95102.1 was particularly impressive yielding 12.0t/ha. Two other CSIRO lines also yielded very well and the good run of these lines continues. The best performing “named” varieties were Mackellar and Alberic, the latter also yielded well at Campbell Town being late flowering. An additional 50 kg/ha topdressed nitrogen tended to increase yields of all lines at Longford and this effect was close to significant. The very high yields at Longford, both in the trial and commercial crop illustrate the potential for high input crops with irrigation and provide some light in an otherwise very ordinary season.

• In 2015, seasonal conditions tended to favour shorter season varieties. When selecting varieties,need to ensure long-term data and varietal disease profiles is considered in addition to the annual trial results.
• The new variety Scepter has the highest long-term production value for the region, followed by Corack, Cosmick and Trojan.
• Foliar disease had little impact on varietal performance in 2015, but frost combined with terminal drought affected south east trials.

• These trials are carried out each year to assess the range of wheat varieties at several sites across the South East.
• Cosmick, Trojan and Corack are the highest long-term yielding varieties across all of the South East NVT sites. 
• Variety trial sites are selected and managed to maximise the full genetic potential of each variety; when selecting varieties ensure that the disease profile of varieties is taken into account.
• Early vs late sowing at Conmurra highlighted the importance of matching the variety to the time of sowing to maximise yield.

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

• Importance of a sound fungicide strategy is highlighted at sites where there are unsprayed plots. The variation in yield between sprayed and unsprayed plots depends on the disease rating of the variety, and this should always be taken into account when selecting new varieties.
• Long term site results should also be utilised to reduce the effect of seasonal variability in the decision making process.

• Ιn the upper South East the best yielding varieties were the early spring types due to the heat wave conditions in early November.
• In the lower South East, longer season wheats produced high grain yields at Millicent, although longer season varieties were affected by the hot early November at Conmurra.

• Fungicide application did not increase site mean wheat yield.
• In the absence of disease, fungicide application resulted in increased variety protein %. 
• Growers should aim to select resistant wheat varieties, using up-to-date disease guides for varietal choice.

• Early sowing increased grain yields in all of the wheat varieties trialed, however, the size of the increase was dependent on the variety.
• Nitrogen application increased grain yield in the early sown treatments and increased grain protein especially in late sown crops.

• There was little difference in the root growth of wheat and canola.
• There was evidence of restricted root development in the 20-40cm soil layer.
• Wheat yield increased with increasing nitrogen but grain size was reduced slightly.
• There was no evidence of declining yield with high nitrogen in this experiment.

• The legume rotations increased wheat yields in the following crop by 1t/ha.
• Ripping gave a higher benefit after the legume rotations than non-legume rotations.
• No significant adverse effect on screenings was detected in the higher yielding treatments.

• Commercial viability has been difficult to demonstrate.
• Field trials demonstrated that the H Senor was able to accurately classify annual ryegrass in several broadleaf crops, including canola, faba bean, lentil and field pea.
• Other grass weeds such as brome grass and wild oats were also correctly identified as grasses in these crops.
• Broad leaf weeds were accurately classified in cereal crops, however this was more difficult due to the overlapping nature of the cereal crops at the time when the broadleaf weeds had emerged.
• Classification accuracy was lower for detection of grass weeds in cereal crops and broadleaf weeds in broadleaf crops, and these scenarios were not pursued for that reason.  

• Commercial viability has been difficult to demonstrate.
• Field trials demonstrated that the H Senor was able to accurately classify annual ryegrass in several broadleaf crops, including canola, faba bean, lentil and field pea.
• Other grass weeds such as brome grass and wild oats were also correctly identified as grasses in these crops.
• Broad leaf weeds were accurately classified in cereal crops, however this was more difficult due to the overlapping nature of the cereal crops at the time when the broadleaf weeds had emerged.
• Classification accuracy was lower for detection of grass weeds in cereal crops and broadleaf weeds in broadleaf crops, and these scenarios were not pursued for that reason.  

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

30 years after application, water soluble P leaches to depth on grey sands but is still effective for the growth of deep rooted blue lupins.  On the one-hand, the citrate-soluble P in C-500 releases more slowly through time and so has a longer term residual effect than water soluble P. On the other hand, higher rates of C-500 are required than superphosphate to reach maximum yield when soil P levels are low.  It is less likely to leach and so pollute ground waters. If cheap enough, C-500 could be used as a maintenance P fertiliser.  Much work is still to be done on this trial site.

• All oat varieties achieved over 8% protein and estimated metabolisable energy greater than 9 MJ/kg DM in both 2018 and 2019, so would meet export hay quality.
• The recommended oat varieties to grow in the Kimba region are Durack, Yallara, Brusher or Wallaroo. Brusher and Wallaroo performed well in 2018.
• Durack is ready for hay cutting at a much earlier time than other varieties.

 

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

Match the maturity of a variety with sowing date to maximise biomass accumulation, flowering during the optimum time and maximise grain yield potential: – “If sowing early, sow long, or don’t sow wheat at all”.

• There is an opportunity cost and yield penalty of sowing short-mid season varieties too early (early to late April) in the central and southern production zones, similar to sowing mid-long season varieties too late.
• If sowing mid-April in the northern, eastern and southern wheatbelt without frost risk sow mid-long season varieties. If sowing in late May sow short-mid season wheats.
• If sowing in areas of frost risk in the northern, eastern and southern wheatbelt, don’t sow wheat in April, in early May sow mid-long season varieties in areas of low to moderate frost risk and sow areas of severe frost risk in late May to mid-long varieties.
• Highest yields at all sites have typically been achieved by mid-long maturing varieties sown from late April onwards, and short-mid maturing varieties sown in mid-May. At moderate to severe frost prone sites and with disease pressure, however, delaying sowing of mid-long maturities into mid-May, and the use of winter/long wheats when sowing in early to late April, is essential to minimise frost and disease risk.

• Spores travel long distances so reducing stubble will only reduce white grain levels if adjacent paddocks are managed in the same way.
• Spraying fungicides is unlikely to be the answer to white grain problems.
• All the common wheat varieties grown on Eyre Peninsula can be susceptible to white grain.
• If growers observe white grain they may be able to reduce contamination by blowing away lighter grain during harvesting.
• Trials and monitoring will be ongoing on EP during 2012.

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

• The only way to accurately know your soil pH is to send a sample for a laboratory test (soil testing kits are available from the PIRSA Office in Kingscote).
• Have a look at the on-line acidity tools . They are easy to use and extremely helpful in guiding liming decisions.
• Liming will pay for itself, often in the first year. 
   

The reasons why barley at high sowing rate has the potential for high screenings are:

• Barley produces significantly more shoots per plant than wheat

• Grain weight decreases for each shoot

Hence because barley has many more shoots than wheat, and these extra shoots have smaller grain, the screening level in barley is often higher than in wheat In both crops it is possible to reduce the amount of tillering by increasing the sowing rate. For Silverstar wheat 2.2 shoots formed at a sowing rate of 60 kg/ha, at 120 kg/ha only 1.5 shoots formed. For Sloop barley the number of shoots also decreased but nowhere near as much (at 60 kg/ha - 5 shoots; and at 120 kg/ha - 2.8 shoots).

Hence even at the high sowing rate of 120 kg/ha barley still produced too many shoots and the contribution of the small grain in the third and subsequent shoots is too large a percentage of the whole sample which results in an overall reduced grain weight for the sample.

• The main difference in yield may have been due to poor tillage in the 500mm spaced crop.
• The entire crop was reliant on the soil nutrition from the pasutre as no fertiliser was applied to the paddock prior to and following seeding.
• Later sowing of the trial may have jeopardised the wide row's yield capacity therefore it would be encouraged that when considering sowing in wide rows early seeding is preferable.
• It may be noted that if nutrition was not a limiting factor for the 500mm crop, the water supply from the wide row may have increased yield to similar or better than that of the 250mm crop.

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

• A combination of Monza and Sakura applied PSPE provided the highest levels of wild oat control (68%)
• Even with good control a high weed density remained (>200 plants per square metre) which would still be expected to cause significant crop yield losses (90%)

• Sakura alone or in combination with Avadex Xtra provided the highest levels of wild oat control (75%).
• Although Sakura treatments provided the highest level of wild oat control the high weed density remaining (>50 plants per square metre) would still be expected to cause significant crop yield losses (50%).

In 2014, an estimated 61 per cent of the seed bank germinated throughout the season, enabling a rapid reduction of the wild radish population and having a positive effect on grain yield. However, due to the long dormancy of the seed (six to eight years), 100 per cent control would be needed to eradicate the entire seed bank.

Approximately 30 per cent of the seed bank germinated as a result of summer rainfall; best practice is to make the most of seasons that deliver a summer break to get a good knockdown.

Aim to control 100 per cent of seed set by using multiple cultural, chemical and mechanical practices to eradicate the seed bank and stop resistance development.

Overall control of wild radish:

• 2-leaf only treatments achieved total control of the treated population, but with some minor subsequent germination after treatment final control was rated 91-92 percent.
• 6-leaf only treatments failed to control the treated population achieving final control of 80-86 percent.
• 2-leaf followed by 6-leaf treatments achieved total control of the original treated population and total control of radish that subsequently germinated.

 

• In many areas wild radish control requires two applications of herbicide.
• The first is early in the season to reduce the competition of the radish and the second is late in the season to reduce seed set.
• The choice of product required to reduce competition should be based on cost and potential for crop damage.
• For the late application to reduce seed set, 2,4D Amine is the preferred product.

Heavy trafficking did not reduce the grain yield of wheat in 2015 and crop development appeared faster with some trafficking.

Stubble height can have a significant impact on wind speed close to the soil surface. This can increase soil erosion in vunerable environments (sand hills).

Windrow burning can reduce small pointed snail populations by over 90%. If there are weeds or fallen stubble that are not burnt then snails can still be present in the paddock.

Windrow burning can reduce small pointed snail populations by over 90%. If there are weeds or fallen stubble that are not burnt then snails can still be present in the paddock.

To effectively establish windrows requires forward planning and potentially slows harvest tand increases harvest costs. Burn as early as conditions allow. Make it a priority job. Small rainfall events may germinate weeds in burnt areas that require attention before the whole paddock area.

• Winter Graze n Grain Hybrids provide huge yields and multiple cropping & grazing opportunities
• SuperHyola® late Spring Hi-Biomass Hybrids show very high yield potential in the HRZ
• Triazine Hybrids show similar performances to the best Clearfield Hybrids
• RT® dual herbicide tolerant Hybrids show their value as a new competitive IWM management tool

1. Winter cover crops can improve ground cover, increase plant available water and improve subsequent cotton yields in pivot-irrigated systems.
2. The early spray-out treatment was the best cover crop for storing water over the short fallow in this study where cover did not have to last very long. However, the extra cover in the mid-terminated cover treatment continued to boost infiltration in the cotton’s
early growth stages.
3. All cover crop treatments improved the yields of cotton by approximately 3 bales/ha; well in excess of any gains expected from the increased fallow soil water storage.

• There is no significant difference between any of the sowing rates over 100 kg/ha this year, although the higher yields were obtained with the higher rates.
• This is probably due to the dry conditions killing off a large number of secondary tillers at the lower rates, while the increased plant densities at the higher rates with fewer secondary tillers resulted in more grain per hectare.

• While there is little difference between the results it would appear that the best sowing rate for winter wheat in the Hamilton District is between 100 - 120 kg/ha.
• Interestingly the higher rates were not significantly different from the standard rate in a dry year.
• What was evident was the increased number of weeds in the plots with the lower rates despite the plots all being sprayed at the same time. 

• The average foliar fungicide treated wheat yields for the Mininera winter wheat trial were 4.60 t/ha. Rust activity was moderately low at the site in 2008, resulting in an average yield increase of 0.26 t/ha across all varieties from the one spray fungicide programme, with 2 of the 8 varieties achieving a 19% or more yield increase from a single fungicide applicaito - when compared to the untreated check.
• All 8 varieties achieved the F1 specifications basedo n the NACMA classifications, consequently quality had no effect on profitability. The highest yielding variety was CS95102.1 at 111% of the site mean, also the most profitable variety obtaining a gross margin of $776.40/ha.

• The average foliar fungicide treated wheat yield for the Dunkeld winter wheat trial was 5.24 t/ha. Disease pressure was high at the site resulting in an average yield increase of 0.75 t/ha across all varieties from the two spray fungicide programme, with 5 of the 8 varieties achieveing a 20% or more yield increase.
• The highest yielding variety was Mackellar at 126% of the site mean, also the most profitable variety returning a gross margin of $1,136.40/ha.
• BYDV management must be considered when growing susceptible varieties of wheat, employing techniques that also minimise the impacts on the predatory environment.

• The winter wehat variety trial yielded an average of 5.72 t/ha. Revenue had the highest yield with 6.67 t/ha after topping the 2008 Mininera variety trial. Mackellar again yielded well with 6.05 t/ha and was the highest yielding variety at Dunkeld in 2008.
• Most varieties were classified as feed wheats, and were all able to achieve this grade. Revenue had the highest gross margin of $750/ha, however consideration must also be given to the value of grazig these dual purpose varieties.
• For further take home messages please see attached trial report.

• The average yield for the Winter wheat variety trial was 3.03 t/ha. The highest yielding variety was Amorok with 3.81 t/ha.
• The shorter season varieties yielded well compared to the longer season varieties. This was a response to the rapid finish to the season, where the longer season varieties lost some yield potential during grain fill.
• The rapid finish to the season also reduced the grain quality, where test weight and screenings were the main reasons for downgrading.

• Look at stripe rust scores and yield with and without stripe rust control.
• Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) had a large effect on yield at many sites.

The Wolseley “Cereal Challenge” is an initiative of the Wolseley Ag Bureau and funded by the MFMG. The challenge compares grain yields and quality of milling oats, durum wheat, bread and feed wheats and feed and malt barley varieties and the subsequent gross margin when all crops are grown side by side on the Wolseley flats.

• Extremely dry conditions prevented cereals from expressing yield potential.
• No significant differences in yields between oat and wheat varieties.
• Compass barley significantly out-yielded Westminster
• Compass barley and Mace wheat were the highest yielding cereals.

• No yield measurements were taken.

Agricultural crop film may be the future of agriculture. This project aims to understand the degradation process of polyethylene, as well as understand the effects on crops when covered with polyethylene.

Wheat, barley and canola were tested in 2018, and wheat and barley in 2019, representing a range of quality segregations. Trials were located close to Hyden, Kojonup, Jerramungup, South Stirling, Mt Madden, Munglinup, Gibson and Scadden and Salmon Gums.

The 2018 season was characterised by significant autumn rainfall and below average seasonal rainfall for most sites. The first time of sowing was seeded dry for most cereal and canola trials and the second sowing followed opening rains.

There was little evidence from the eight locations in 2018 to support the idea that the latest varieties differ in their response to increasing N and P inputs in wheat, barley and canola such that it could be exploitable by growers. Some interactions between variety and N and P nutrition were identified but responses were isolated and varied with crop and site. For example, significant interactions were measured for wheat yield at Gibson and protein percent at South Stirling; barley yield at Jerramungup, protein at Hyden, protein at South Stirling and screenings at Kojonup; canolayield at Gibson and oil content at Hyden.

In 2019 the Western Australian wheatbelt experienced a late start to the winter growing season and one of its driest. Data from the Bureau of Meteorology show all sites tested in 2019 experienced a Decile 1 season with well below average seasonal rainfall.

The 8 locations for wheat and barley in 2019 tested N rate and timing and supported the findings of 2018 with very little evidence to support the idea that varieties differed in their response to increasing N inputs. In fact, the opposite was true with the four varieties of wheat and barley tested responding in very similar ways for yield and grain quality.

The lack of consistent variety x fertiliser interactions in these environments suggests growers need only consider a crop and not specific varieties in their agronomic management.

N and P nutrition in 2018 and N nutrition in 2019 data supports current farmer practices of adequate basal nutrient upfront for the season, followed by post-emergent nitrogen as season and yield potential warrant.

Conclusions of this study are limited by the site-specific growing conditions and choice of varieties.

Take Home Messages

• Near perfect growing season for canola, provided ideal opportunity to assess the residual N feeding effect of the legumes.

• All legumes sown in 2016 – peas, lupins, sub clover and faba beans had similar starting soil N levels and soil water nitrate readings throughout the year which was reflected in similar grain yields inferring that all legume species were equal in terms of their N fixing capabilities.

• The average amount of N fixed by the legumes was calculated as ~86kg/ha.

• Growing adequately nodulated legumes can give rise to a ~1t/ha canola yield advantage compared with a non-legume.

• Linseed used more moisture, from a greater depth, than the faba beans in 2016. Resultantly more moisture was extracted by the canola crop sown on the faba bean stubble in 2017, and yet there is still more  residual moisture left.

Similar to trials undertaken in previous years, the fungicide trials undertaken in 2005 indicated there was no fungicide activity on Yellow Leaf Spot (YLS) when applied early post emergent (GS13 – three leaf stage). Fungicides applied to fertiliser or as a foliar application did not reduce the level of YLS in the crop and showed no yield benefits. Zincsol® applied to crops in paddocks which have had a good zinc fertiliser history also showed no benefit in reducing YLS pressure. After several years work the BCG conclude that spraying fungicides for YLS is not a successful practice.

Similar to trials undertaken in previous years, the fungicide trials undertaken in 2005 indicated there was no fungicide activity on Yellow Leaf Spot (YLS) when applied early post emergent (GS13 – three leaf stage). Fungicides applied to fertiliser or as a foliar application did not reduce the level of YLS in the crop and showed no yield benefits. Zincsol® applied to crops in paddocks which have had a good zinc fertiliser history also showed no benefit in reducing YLS pressure. After several years work the BCG conclude that spraying fungicides for YLS is not a successful practice.

• Fungicide applied at third node (GS33) gave significantly better yellow leaf spot (YLF) control and green leaf retention (GLR) than a tillering (GS23) application.
• The improvement in disease control with a single spray timing did not lead to a significant yield increase.
• There was a significatn yield advantage (0.27t/ha) when both spray timings were sequenced in a two-spray programme despite the low yield of the trial.
• The value of hte extra grain produced from two sprays was $69/ha, which covered the costs of the fungicides and their application.
• The net margin was great with Tilt than Prosaro largely as a result of Prosaro being a more expensive product.
• The best YLS control achieved with a foliar fungicide on the top three leaves was 65% control.

• Fungicide reduced disease levels in all varieties, but failed to eliminate disease completely.
• Observed differences in disease levels agreed with published variety resistance ratings.
• Early infection of yellow leaf spot (YLS) caused high yield losses in the more susceptible varieties.
• Variety selection will always play an important role in high risk areas.
• Crop rotation and best practice methods are required to maximise the benefits of correct variety selection.

• Seed size did not have a significant effect on Canola yield when planted 15-20mm deep.
• Cost differential of establishing a Canola plant stand can be substantial.

• Pasture cropping systems can provide grain (and out of season fodder) on deep sandy soils and reduce the likelihood of groundwater recharge.
• Potential yield penalties associated with pasture cropping across perennials on deep sandy soils in the west midlands appear to be less than 20%.
• Pastures started competing with the crop for soil water during grain filling, but impacts on soil water and grain yield were generally small given average rainfall in spring.
• During the crop growing season, there was little difference in soil water under annual crop, perennial pasture, and pasture-cropped plots.
• Soil water contents were much lower under pasture and pasture-cropped plots during summer and autumn.

• An increase of wheat grain yields released between 1957 and 2007 was found.
• Yields have increased because of improved harvest index, more biomass at flowering, and increased grain number.
• Nitrogen is critical in allowing each variety to reach its potential through increasing growth rate between stem elongation (GS31) and flowering.
• WUE has improved over the 1957-2007 timescale through increased yields, not greater extraction of water.

• Sowing date and variety maturity choice is a balance between the risk of frost versus terminal heat stress.
• Earlier sowing can increase frost risk, but also generally maximises yield potential and reduces the extent of yield loss from crown rot.
• Cereal crop and variety selection can have a significant impact on yield where there are high levels of crown rot infection.
• Durum wheat, barley or bread wheat varieties with increased susceptibility to crown rot, should only be grown in paddocks known to have lowrisk inoculum levels based on testing (e.g. PreDicta B).
• All winter cereal varieties are susceptible to crown rot infection and will not significantly reduce inoculum levels for subsequent crops. Cereal crop and/or variety choice is not the sole solution to crown rot.

• Yield loss to crown rot varied significantly among wheat and barley varieties ranging from 0.4 to 1.1 t/ha for wheat and 0.5 to 1.8 t/ha for barley.
• An understanding of the crown rot disease history of a paddock and choosing varieties with appropriate disease resistance ranking can improve crop yield substantially.

 

• APSIM, as a crop simulation model, can accurately estimate actual crop yield.
• The Yield Prophet builds on output tools based on APSIM simulations.
• Inputs returns that can be modelled to build a likely profit profile based on probability functions.
• Climate risk (hence production risk) can be modelled to project forward the likely seasonal outcome.

• Yield Prophet® in 2005 had many new features and capabilities and was delivered to 338 paddocks that were subscribed Australia-wide. From 5 April to 1 December, 6813 reports of various types were generated by subscribers, with most around time of top-dressing.
• Final simulated yields for wheat crops, using appropriately measured soil characterisation and initial soil data, fitted observed yields comparable to previous seasons (R2=0.74, 67% of simulated yields within 0.5 t/ha of observed, 98 % within 1.0 t/ha).
• Yield Prophet simulates yield more accurately than it does grain protein content.
• However, overall accuracy for all subscribed crops was lower due to expansion into new regions with less soil characterisation data available.

• 2007 was an unusual year and one in which playing the odds as they looked at the start and middle of the growing season did not pay off.
• When making decisions based on probability, be aware of the likelihood and consequences of downside risk.
• Our climate is changing; climate science is moving away from forecast systems that rely on the past to predict the future and investing its efforts in improving general circulation models.
• Yield Prophet in 2008 will be capable of simulating paddock-specific yields under climate change scenarios for 2030.

• APSIM simulations, accessed through the Yield Prophet web interface, were evaluated for their ability to forecast nitrogen fertiliser responses at the canopy management trial in the Wimmera.
• Yield Prophet accurately simulated crop yield and protein for a range of nitrogen fertiliser application rates and timings.
• Yield Prophet was able to estimate likely nitrogen fertiliser responses and dollar returns during the season.
• For accurate simulations Yield Prophet requires good soil characterisation data (crop lower limit, drained upper limit and bulk density) and pre-sowing measurements of soil water and available nitrogen.

The model was very accurate at the actual soil site location. Inaccuracies can be due to a number of reasons - namely weed burden at the site, frost, variations of soil type across the paddock and variations of rainfall received in the paddock versus the recording location. Furthermore, if the soil classification is slightly different in the model than is actually the soil physical properties, this could cause deviation as well. Lastly, as crop phenology can vary from cultivar to cultivar, this can cause discrepancy too.

Yield Prophet® saved many subscribers from over investing in inputs during the 2006 season. From early in the 2006 growing season, Yield Prophet® predicted that profitable yields in our region were unlikely.

The value of Yield Prophet® as a risk management tool is often overlooked because of a common perception that Yield Prophet® is only a nitrogen management tool to be used in good seasons. An analysis of Yield Prophet® predictions made throughout 2006 busts this myth.

• Average simulated wheat yields of the current ten year period are the worst on record since 1899 at the Birchip site.
• A comparison of the impacts of climate change in the past 30 years compared with earlier years provides no evidence of an effect on the wheat yields at this site.
• Given the ‘worst case’scenario itisforecastthat climate change will cause an increase in temperature and reduction in rainfall in the year 2030 reducing potential crop yields at this site.

The actual wheat grain yield at Hart in 2009 was 2.46 t/ha, well under the final Yield Prophet prediction of 3.7 t/ha.

The actual wheat grain yield at Hart in 2010 was 2.46 t/ha, well under the final Yield Prophet prediction of 3.70 t/ha.

• Yield prophet accurately predicted a final grain yield near 2.2t/ha.
• Predictions made in mid-August using an average finish to the season have been 80% accurate.

Yield prophet accurately predicted a final grain yield of Mace wheat near 4.7 t/ha.

• Yield prophet closely predicted a final grain yield of Mace at 5.5 t/ha in the Hart area.
• Good season rainfall meant the difference between 20% and 80% of years started at 0.8 t/ha in late June and was only 0.1 t/ha by mid-October.

• Yield prophet closely predicted a final grain yield of 4.2 t/ha for Mace wheat at Hart.
• The lack of in-season rainfall in June and July meant the difference between 20% and 80% of years was only 1.5 – 2 t/ha during this time.

• Yield prophet closely predicted wheat grain yields in the Hart district.
• Heavy rainfall in September meant the difference between 20% and 80% of years was only 0.2t/ha towards the end of the season.

Subsurface soil compaction has been shown to be a major constraint to crop production and the removal of
this compaction via deep ripping can lead to large yield increases.

Subsurface soil compaction has been shown to be a major constraint to crop production and the removal of
this compaction via deep ripping can lead to large yield increases.

• Trojan apparently responded better to 3 Nitrogen applications at GS 31, 33 & 37.
• Revenue yielded most will nil extra Nitrogen, but not significantly better than with 100kg applied urea.
• Higher Nitrogen late increased grain protein across all varieties as expected • Revenue expressed reduced yields at Urea application rates higher than 200kg/Ha.

The Plant Growth Regulator trinexapac-ethyl (Moddus Evo) has been shown in previous trials to increase yield in irrigated barley, but not necessarliy due to reduced lodging. This trial appears to indicate that the PGR resulted  increased tiller survival in lower plant populations of certain varieties. 

Some varities have shown no yield response to PGR application.

Selection of a variety that is not prone to lodging may be a better choice than applying a PGR.

 

Registered Yitpi seed came in two sizes in the 2000 season (small - 36g/1000 grain and large - 43g/1000 grain). The general concern for those who purchased Yitpi with small seed was that it was of poor quality. A demonstration investigating emergence and crop yield showed that there was no difference between the small and large sized grain in emergence and crop yield. The harvested grain from the small and large sown seed was the same size (40g/1000 grain).
It is advisable to know grain size and emergence potential so that optimum sowing rates can be determined.

• The spraytopped treatment and the fallow treatment both yielded significantly better than wheat on wheat in 2010.
• Weed burden was high in the wheat on wheat in the second year while the spraytopped treatment was slightly cleaner followed by the fallow which was virtually weed free.

• There have been findings that Wyalkatchem is generally more frost prone than other varieties.
• If you are cropping a high frost risk area, good management would suggest minimising input costs (e.g. fertiliser) in these areas.
• Due to the large LSD there were no statistically different treatments. However there seems to be a trend that the lower seeding rate improved yield.
• There was no significant yield difference between retaining stubble and burning the stubble at both seeding rates.

• All treatments were safe to the crop except for Sakura 118 g/ha + Sencor 150 g/ha which resulted in biomass reduction at all assessments.
• This was in part due to a couple of rows being sown into the inter row that contained herbicide which re-sulted in the death of some plants.
• This mixture would not be recommended on conventional wheat. An overall crop bio-mass rating was taken 106 DAA rated Sakura 118 g/ha as 100% with the other treatments benchmarked against it.
• The crop was water stressed at this time. Inspection of the crop heads found they were not filling to potential with small grain and empty husks common across the trial.

• There were no significant visual vigour or establishment differences between retained or pedigree ATR Cobbler. However, in previous seasons this has been observed in the paddock with some growers, as well as at other trial sites this year from the same seed that was used in this trial. This may be due to the unknown vigour of the seed under different broad-acre paddock situations.
• CB Eclipse RR showed good vigour and growth initially from emergence until late flowering. From this stage, CB Eclipse RR finished flowering quite rapidly in comparison to the Hyola 404RR and 505RR, both which continued to flower strongly tak-ing advantage of the seasonal conditions. This correlates to past experiences with Hyola 404RR being an adaptable variety that will flower earlier or later depending on current seasonal conditions.
• There was a distinct increase in plant vigour and biomass with the RR Hybrids compared to the RR open pollinated varieties, which is commonly observed in many trials across Australia. This improvement in vigour (along with adequate plant popula-tions) has a significant impact on the level of crop competition achieved which is critical for adequate weed control in the RR system. The vigour advantage in the Hybrid TT varieties was not apparent until late vegetative through to early flowering.

• There were no significant visual vigour or establishment differences between retained or pedigree ATR Cobbler. However, in previous seasons this has been observed in the paddock with some growers, as well as at other trial sites this year from the same seed that was used in this trial. This may be due to the unknown vigour of the seed under different broad-acre paddock situations.
• CB Eclipse RR showed good vigour and growth initially from emergence until late flowering. From this stage, CB Eclipse RR finished flowering quite rapidly in comparison to the Hyola 404RR and 505RR, both which continued to flower strongly tak-ing advantage of the seasonal conditions. This correlates to past experiences with Hyola 404RR being an adaptable variety that will flower earlier or later depending on current seasonal conditions.
• There was a distinct increase in plant vigour and biomass with the RR Hybrids compared to the RR open pollinated varieties, which is commonly observed in many trials across Australia. This improvement in vigour (along with adequate plant popula-tions) has a significant impact on the level of crop competition achieved which is critical for adequate weed control in the RR system. The vigour advantage in the Hybrid TT varieties was not apparent until late vegetative through to early flowering.

• There were no significant visual vigour or establishment differences between retained or pedigree ATR Cobbler. However, in previous seasons this has been observed in the paddock with some growers, as well as at other trial sites this year from the same seed that was used in this trial. This may be due to the unknown vigour of the seed under different broad-acre paddock situations.
• CB Eclipse RR showed good vigour and growth initially from emergence until late flowering. From this stage, CB Eclipse RR finished flowering quite rapidly in comparison to the Hyola 404RR and 505RR, both which continued to flower strongly tak-ing advantage of the seasonal conditions. This correlates to past experiences with Hyola 404RR being an adaptable variety that will flower earlier or later depending on current seasonal conditions.
• There was a distinct increase in plant vigour and biomass with the RR Hybrids compared to the RR open pollinated varieties, which is commonly observed in many trials across Australia. This improvement in vigour (along with adequate plant popula-tions) has a significant impact on the level of crop competition achieved which is critical for adequate weed control in the RR system. The vigour advantage in the Hybrid TT varieties was not apparent until late vegetative through to early flowering.

• Repellence can be worse below 5cm (5-10cm samples collected but not tested yet).
• If repellence is worse at 5-10cm this may explain why deep ripping has increased repellence as ripping could bring some of this more water repellent soil to the surface.

• All treatments applied in this trial were safe to the crop with any early crop effects recovering quickly.
• At 44DAA all Velocity treatments applied alone or in tank mixtures recorded excellent control (≥94 rating) of wild radish in this trial. All Velocity treatments including tank mixtures provided superior control to Precept 300 at 750 mL/ha (88), Jagu-ar 1 L/ha (86) and Paragon 500 mL/ha applied with (88) or without (81) Bromicide 200 500 mL/ha.
• All Velocity and Precept 300 treatments achieved commercially acceptable control (≥97 rating) of volunteer lupins in this trial.

The Carlshausen’s had previously grown Calingiri noodle wheat but abandoned the variety in 2015 due to bad lodging in the 2014 season and consistent 0.1 t/ha lower yields than Mace. In 2015 they wanted to see if the new noodle variety Zen was able to match Mace (the only wheat currently grown on their property) in terms of yield and quality. Mace is a short to mid maturity Australian hard wheat with Wyalkatchem major parent and Stylet minor parent. Zen is a mid to long maturity Australian noodle wheat bred from Calingiri and Wyalkatchem.

Mace and Zen were compared in two locations of the same paddock. The soil type was similar at the two locations, but varied in their elevation.

This demonstration was conducted using farmer equipment. Farm scale demonstrations are a valuable way to explore new varieties, products, or practices, complimenting results which are produced through more scientifically rigorous, small plot trials. Please refer to NVT for a replicated view of the varieties in your area.

• Snapshot of some aspects of a large project on diagnosis of the deficiency, yield responses to zinc, residual value of zinc, protein increases and improvement of quality, and genotypic effects in relation to zinc.
• Zinc (as zinc sulphate hepta hydrate) was applied at rates up to 40 kg/ha. Nitrogen was applied at 30 kg/ha. Wheat cv. Hartog was sown at 30 kg/ha. In some experiments Cu was applied at 5kg/ha.
• Yield and protein in the grain increased with application of zinc.
• Zinc deficiency symptoms seen in crops without Zn applied throughout tillering and leaf samples confirmed the deficiency.
• The reduction in yield was largely due to plant mortality and fewer productive tillers per plant.
• Bread making quality as measured by a mixograph showed that the dough strength of zinc deficient grain was very poor.
• However, the dough itself mixed very quickly.
• Residual value of the initial application of zinc is at least 2 years: yield responses have occurred in successive seasons.
• In yield response experiments, responses to zinc have been recorded up 10 kg/ha; at 40 kg/ha, toxicity has been recorded at early tillering but the crop has recovered totally by maturity.

• Wheat grain Zn concentration decreased with P fertiliser addition.
• Wheat grain Zn concentration was lower after canola than after either linola or clover pasture.
• Wheat receiving P fertiliser had lower mycorrhizal colonisation than that with no P added.
• Wheat after canola had lower mycorrhizal colonisation than that wheat after linola or clover pasture.
• It was hypothesised that Zn uptake was reduced where mycorrhizal infection was lower.

• Correction of zinc deficiency in a barley crop increased grian yield and reduced Rhizoctonia bare patch.
• In glasshouse experiments, increasing wheat shoot zinc to 20 mg/kg dry matter strongly suppressed damage to roots by the Rhizoctonia fungus.
• Experiments also showed that the zinc was ot toxic to the fungus but instead improved root growth.

• The application of zinc had no effect on yield or grain protein.
• Zinc coated products are effective in supplying zinc.

• Spectacular increases in yield in response to early application of foliar zinc in navy bean.
•  Zinc sulphate heptahydrate application during early crop growth should be standard practise until better varieties become available.
• Soil applied zinc has given inconsistent results.

• Yields may be limited by zinc even where deficiency symptoms are not apparent.
• Responses to zinc are common on clays in the Wimmera and sands in the Mallee.
• Phosphorus is required to make zinc fertiliser effective.
• Grain protein is not increased by zinc application.
• Applications of zinc are recommended every second or third crop as zinc has some residual value in the soil.
• Zinc is typically applied in a mixture with phosphorus fertiliser.
• 2 - 2.5 kg /ha zinc should be sufficient for 4-6 years.

There were no differences in yield obtained between the control (no zinc applied) crop and the four differenct zinc treatments.

Zinc seed dressings and/or zinc foliar sprays did not benefit treated crops in the 2009 season.

• Comprehensive fertiliser trial at >20 sites across the Wimmera and elsewhere in Victoria in 1938 .
• Results showed that Wimmera soils were responsive to zinc but not other areas of the State.
• Under low rainfall conditions 5-10 lbs/acre were as effective as higher application rates of zinc sulphate.
• Increased yields are to be expected when superphosphate and zinc are applied together on most black soils in the Wimmera.
• Effects on oats, clover and peas were greater than for wheat.
• Red and loamy soils responded variably the zinc application

• Two pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of wheat to 3 rates of zinc sulphate on 3 contrasting black earths.
• On all 3 soils zinc concentration plant tops increased with application of zinc but declined as the application of phosphorus increased due to dilution from increased plant growth.
• The results of these experiments suggest that response to zinc fertiliser only occurred on the alkaline soils where the available zinc was less than 1 ppm.
• No evidence was obtained that phosphorus supply had any effect on the availability of zinc for plant uptake but other experiments indicated that zinc absorption was reduced by increasing phosphate concentrations in solution.