Yield differences of 2*st. dev. are significant. Within plot variability was large (st. dev. about 0.3 to 0.4 t/ha) but there is an apparent response to ripping, but not to depth of ripping.  More information is needed to interpret these results. 

• Desiccation of lentils is a practice that enables growers to bring forward the harvest date by eliminating unripe green patches, reduces the crops exposure to lodging and grain loss from unfavourable weather and reduces green material in the sample by desiccating late germinating weeds or escapes.
• The results of this trial indicate that the time of desiccation does not have a significant influence on yield once the bottom pods have fully formed.

• Early and on time desiccation resulted in large yield losses.
• Early and on time desiccation resulted in large reductions in seed size, but not to the same
  degree as yield.
• What were the reasons (other than reduced seed size) that contributed to these yield
  losses? Was ‘pinched’ seed lost through the header at harvest?
• Yield losses were bigger in the later flowering variety Kaspa.
• Need to more closely fine-tune growth stages with physiological maturity to pick the “on
  time” desiccation spray.
• Oura and Pearl were early and the pick of varieties suited to crop-topping & desiccation.

The Winchelsea site, sown in late April to Amarok red wheat, had yield variations across the site, with highest yielding plots reaching 3t/ha.  These plots although nearest the shelter belts, were the stubble incorporated treatments.  In comparison, where incorporation did take place with either the addition of chook manure or biological applications, there was a reduced yield of up to 0.6t/ha.  Burning at this site yielded 2.33t/ha, being the lowest output for this site

• On average, the stubble incorporation treatments appeared to yield marginally better across this site, but overall when considering additional costs of inputs, there was not significant difference between treatments in terms of net return. Grain quality did not appear to be different across the treaments. 
• For further findings please see the attached trial report.

• On average, the stubble incorporation treatment appeared to yield marginally better than other treatments. Burning still performed very well, along with the three surface retained treatments in 2007.
• For further findings please see the attached trial report.

• Zinc,manganese and copper are the three most important trace element deficiencies for crops in southern Australia.
• Diagnosis from soil testing or symptoms is often unreliable or too late to manage the problem well.  Plant testing is the most reliable, if not fool profft tool to diagnose trace element deficiencies
• Deficiencies can be overcome with cheap sulphate foliasr sprays but boosting soil reserves for copper and zince is a good investment.

• All crops go through stages of development known as critical growth periods (CGP) where stress can reduce yield potential more than at any other time.

• Shading can be used to induce defined periods of stress on a crop to identify CGP.

• The critical growth period for canola was identified as approximately 100–400 degree days (°C.days) after the start of flowering (defined as 50% plants with one open flower).

• There was minimal effect of pre- and post-flowering stress on grain yield.

Deep ripping with twin disk incorporation look to be the most economic treatment for subsoil mixing, however, the results from this one year with poor yield results from a poor season would suggest otherwise.

Nitrifying archaea and bacteria live at different soil depths, with nitrifying bacteria inhabiting the surface soil and nitrifying archaeal populations inhabiting the sub-soil (10-90 cm). Nitrifying bacteria are the most numerous overall when compared to the nitrifying archaea, and their decline in abundance with soil depth matches the decline in soil nitrification rates. In these soils, nitrification rates are low, suggesting the amount of NH4+ is low, leaving little available for nitrification. Understanding the ecology of these microbes and their role in soil nitrification rates, may lead to improved management strategies to decrease N losses from the soil and improve N use efficiency. 

All cultivation treatments reduced crop establishment significantly below “Nil” cultivation. 

Poor rainfall in September and October 2015 meant that the trial yielded very poorly (~0.5 T/ha), with no significant differences between treatments.

Soil test results are not yet available.

The Long Bottom Boots functioned reasonably well at first, but tended to plug with soil from underneath after multiple passes and on finer textured soil to the south of the trial area.

We think that a design that was wider at the back (60 – 80 mm) and therefore more open would improve soil flow down the boot, and reduce the risk of plugging.

The trial reported here is the same as those conducted at 13 sites around Australia.

The 2017 season was significantly colder than average with about 500 hours below zero.

While stubble management may influence in-canopy temperatures, the differences between management practices were minimal during 2017.

Differences in frost damage of grains were significant between treatments at both the Coreen and Yarrawonga sites, with the burnt treatment showing the greatest frost damage at Coreen, while the no-till stubble retained (NTSR) treatments showed the greatest damage at Yarrawonga.

Stubble management per se did not influence frost damage in wheat during 2017, with frost damage not necessarily related to in-canopy temperatures.

Stubble management practices can influence the rate of crop development and may lead to changes in flowering time. This change in rate of development can influence crop susceptibility to frost at different times throughout the growing season.

 

• The application of 40kg/ha at sowing resulted in significant yield responses from all products over the control where only starter fertiliser was applied.
• Fertilisers banded at sowing generally resulted in higher yields and grain N recovery than top dress applications, while the inverse was true for grain protein levels.
• Low grain protein levels (<10.5%) for all treatments and application timings generally indiates that yield was not optimised due to the limited nitrogen supply.
• There were no significant responses found from the use of inhibitors in this trial.

• There were adequate levels of phosphorus in the soil profile, but we still saw a response to phosphorus fertiliser.
• There were some differences within different products at the 12 kg P rate - with sulfur enhances products delivering a better outcome.
• Other additive to phosphorus fertilisers delivered no additional benefits.

• Digital photos collected up to GS31 and processed for green ground cover provided a good measure of crop biomass and N uptake.
• Images collected after GS31 had poorer relationships with crop growth.

• Canola and juncea can successfully be direct-harvested without windrowing or using pre-harvest chemicals.
• Windrowing can help the crop ripen more evenly, allowing better management of the harvest windrow, especially if damaging weather is forcast.
• Although expensive, Reglone and Desikote Max may help to offset yield losses experienced with crop variability.

• Time of sowing is more important than seeding system.
• Depth control on disc seeding systems can affect crop establishment.
• In this trial the knife-point press wheel seeding system out yielded the single disc seeding system.

• Both the grazed disc and grazed tyne treatments yield the same.
• In contrast to one of the initial years where the tyne treatments saw greater Patterson’s Curse density, there have not been any further or continual patterns of weeds within the site.
• Disc seeder saw limitations in ungrazed stubble, when stubble lodged along with soft wet soil. Solutions will include reducing stubble harvest height, to lower risk of post-harvest lodging, however even spread across header width will be essential.
• Addition of “residue managers” to brush material aside from path of disc openers would reduce level of poor establishment and ensure discs continue to roll and cut.
• Poor establishment means that it is behind on tiller density and ultimately head density. This is the basis of building yield potential and water use efficiency. Focus on maximum and consistent establishment to efficiently use nutrient and moisture resources.
• Tyne seeder is more “forgiving” in troublesome conditions, as there are fewer variables to manage.
• To date, total yields are virtually level, signifying there is no silver bullet to seeding machine or stubble management.
• To manage the variables which pose risk to any such system will be the key to limit downfalls (as seen this year with the ungrazed disc) and maximise profitability. This is the silver bullet!

Drought conditions throughout the Mallee and Wimmera last year (2002) resulted in poor growth in most pulse crops, with many crops failing. It is very tempting to re-sow paddocks to the same crop or another pulse in 2003. However, there are several disease management issues growers should be aware of before deciding to replant on pulses.

• Combined results from the sowing date and disease management trials indicated PBA Blitz and PBA Greenfield were more severely affected by ascochyta blight than previously observed relative to other varieties. This has resulted in a drop in their disease ratings relative to other varieties.

The main messages from the trial work undertaken in 2005 for disease management in 2006 are discussed.

• The 'Full' treatment was significantly better yielding than the other treatments.
• The 'Full' treatment was more profitable than other treatments for wheat.

Taking account of fungicide costs (both application and product) revealed that untreated Teesdale generated the equal highest margins (Table 6-16). With both Mitre and Kellalac the most cost effective treatments were two applications of fungicide based on a GS32 Bayleton followed by Opus, however as stand alone treatments the flag leaf spray of Opus was substantially more cost effective than either Jockey or Impact. The application of Bayleton at GS32 followed by GS39 Opus was slightly more cost effective than the Impact followed by Opus. Impact had an edge over Jockey in this trial in terms of green leaf retention, yield and margin.

• Wider row spacings resulted in less visual symptoms of ascochyta blight and higher grain yields.
• This was particularly notable in the susceptible genoptype, Howzat.

• No significant disease was noted in trials this year so grain yields were unaffected by disease management treatments.
• However the trials did clearly highlight the yield advantage of AF05069, AF05073 and AF05095 compared with Farah.

• The kabuli chickpeas, both smaller and larger seed types were much more profitable than desi’s at Rupanyup in 2012. Disease had no significant effect on yield, although symptom scores highlighted potential risks with a new line CIC0717.

• Phytophthora medicaginis (Pm) inoculum concentrations decline to low levels (within 6−12 months) of a diseased crop and the distribution becomes more uneven.
• Within 6−12 months, survival populations of Pm (oospores) can be below detectable levels based on both soil DNA and isolate baiting methods.
• These inoculum decline factors limit the ability of PreDicta B to identify paddocks that have a significant disease risk.
• The Pm test is useful for in-crop disease diagnosis when the pathogen is active and inoculum decline has not taken place.
   

Diuron appears to be safe when applied pre-sowing of lupins at label rates, as there was no difference in yield between the Simazine alone and Diuron alone treatments.

 

• The completion of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline will introduce long term changes to wildlife populations on farms across the region.
• Surveys undertaken by BCG have shown that the wildlife values on farms are higher where there is open water available and where native vegetation is present.
• Installing a wildlife water point on a farm can be an efficient and cost-effective way of enhancing wildlife values in the Wimmera and Mallee within a piped water delivery system.

During the first year (2004/05) sites were selected, the monitoring program established, baseline data collected and the experimental (trial) water troughs installed. The second year (2005/06) will see further data collected, analysis of results and an extensive communication program implemented.

For a full list of trial details and results please see the attached trial report.

Gairdner is still a very difficult variety to beat in terms of yield and quality. Waite Institute line W13586 yielded significantly higher than Gairdner at Gnarwarre and Streatham. Malting quality testing will continue in 2003 for VB0021, VB9926, WB236 and WB238. Baudin, the newly released variety from Department of Agriculture in WA, will not be available in the eastern States until 2004. Baudin  is more suseptible to disease than Gairdner and did not yield any higher than Gairdner in the 2002 season. It's application in Victoria appears to be limited. 

No varieties or lines produced higher grain yields than the standard, Rainbow at Streatham. Castle and Chariton yielded particularly low at Streatham compared to Rainbow. Unremarkable yields by Hyola60 are worth noting given the variety has yielded very high compared to other varieties in the past 2 years. The application of Jockey to Rainbow and Sapphire did not affect those variety's grain yields. 

• All released varieties except Mortlock gave similar grain yields. Similarity between varieties could be attributed to the lack of disease pressure. Mortlock yielded significantly lower at both sites as was expected given the variety's long term yield average. 
• For further findings please see the attached trial report.

For results please see the attached trial report.

• Based upon the data from the 2002 season one released variety cannot be recommended above any other as having superior yields. All released varieties gave similar yields. 
• For further findings please see the attached trial report.

For results please see the attached trial report.

• The varieties behaved differently depending upon location. It is difficult to find released varieties that performed better than Kellalac at all three sites. Best bets for the whole of South-west based on 2002 results is Declic and Kellalac. This is is line with best bets from long term averages. 
• For further findings please see the attached trial report.

• The highest yielding plots were the ‘Medium’ input which was 150kg urea at tillering and 100kg/ha urea at stem elongation.
• The High input plots were the lowest yielding.
• Protein levels were directly related to nitrogen at stem elongation.
• Nitrogen response is varied depending on timing of application so make decisions wisely!

This comparative study focused on the role of livestock in whole farm performance and has shown:

• the Wimmera and Mallee farming systems that achived the highest profits typically operated with approximately 75% cropping and 25% non-cropped, with some livestock
• livestock income is less volatile than crop income;
• farms with livestock use fewer herbicides, livestock being effective as a tool to delay the developmet of herbicide resistance in crops;
• labour costs are higher when runinng livestock
• livestock do not substantially decrease from total farm operating expenses;
• the most profitable farms are not making their profit from thier livestock enterprise.

• Results from experimentation undertaken in southern NSW in 2011 and 2012, have demonstrated that crop sequences which include a brassica or legume break crops can be as profitable as, and in many instances more profitable than, continuous wheat.
• Canola was consistently the most profitable break crop option. However, the rotational benefits of canola were usually restricted to just the first subsequent wheat crop whereas additional wheat yields can occur for two years after a legume.
• Growing pulses for grain maximises profit, particularly in favourable seasons, but compromises grass weed control and (depending upon species) reduces N available to subsequent crops compared to brown manuring.
• Growing pulses for hay was found to be profitable across a range of season types, achieves excellent grass weed control and provides greater N inputs and higher carry-over of soil water than when the same crop is grown for grain.
• Growing pules for brown manure loses money in the year they are grown, but achieves excellent grass weed control, high N inputs, residual carry-over of soil water, provides more ground cover, and requires less labour than when grown for hay or grain.

Fertiliser decisions are economic decisions based on the relative prices of fertiliser and grain – at higher grain prices, investments even in higher cost fertilisers can still be attractive. Do your sums and calculate the best option.

• Zinc is an essential nutrient to crops on alkaline soils in hte Mallee and Wimmera zinc deficiencies are common.
• The regular (once every three to four years) use of a fertiliser with a zinc additive overcomes most of these dificiencies.
• Some crops such as faba beans may require more zinc.

• Winter habit canola was successfully sown in spring 2011, grazed over summer and harvested for grain in 2012.
• Grazing over summer increased grain yield compared to no grazing. Ungrazed yield was 1.9 t/ha, grazed was 2.7 t/ha. Taurus sown at the conventional time (April) yielded 2.3t/ha. 
• Number of grazings had a small effect on yield. Grazing twice produced the best result, yielding 0.1t/ha more than grazing once and 0.2t/ha more than grazing three times. Although there was a yield penalty by grazing 3 times compared to two times, the third grazing supplied an additional 1t/ha of high quality feed at the beginning of May.
• Heavy grazing reduced yield compared to light grazing irrespective of the number of times it was grazed. However the reduction in yield was small and the heavy grazing produced 4t/ha of feed compared to 1.4 t/ha when lightly grazed. 
• Applying nitrogen over summer has no yield benefits except for multiple (3) heavy grazings. In this case yield went from 2.0 t/ha to 2.7 t/ha

• Grinding the limesand does make it more effective (ie increases pH more rapidly) and increases pH at a greater
• soil depth compared with using the same rate unground.
• However, we can get the same result from simply applying higher rates of unground product. Ultimately it comes back to cost effectiveness.
• To make it worthwhile applying ground product (and overcoming some application difficulties, ie the stuff blowing away!) we will need to get grinding costs down to less than the cost of about 2t of lime or about $14/t.

• Grinding the limesand does make it more effective (i.e. increases pH more rapidly) and increases pH at a greater soil depth compared with using the same rate unground
• However, unground lime applied at a higher application rate can have just as much of an effect on soil pH as ground limesand applied at lower rates
• Ultimately it comes back to cost-effectiveness. To make it worthwhile applying ground product (and overcoming some application difficulties i.e. the stuff blowing away!) we will need to get grinding costs down to less than the cost of about 2 t of lime.

Glyphosat, Trifluralin and diflufenican residues, plus glyphosate metabolite AMPA are frequently detected at agronomically significant levels at the start of the winter cropping season.

The risk to soil biological processes is generally minor when herbicides are used at label rates and sufficient time is given for them to dissipate before re application.

Further research is needed to define critical thresholds for glyphosate, trifluralin and diflufenican and AMPA and the potential impacxts to soil function and crop production.

Growers should continue to be encouraged to employ land management practises that increase SOC in Western Australia’s cropping soils. Increasing soil C benefits crop production, and has the potential to decrease N and other fertiliser needs. Although increasing SOC increased soil N2O emissions (and inhibited CH4 uptake) in the present study, these losses were relatively low.

The greatest risk of N2O emissions from a sandy soil in the Western Australian grain belt occurred in response to summer-autumn rainfall events, and more so with increasing SOC. This observation is consistent with previous observations for semi-arid soils where a large proportion of annual N2O emissions occurred between crop growing seasons, when the soil was fallow, and in response to soil wetting following summer and autumn rainfall. Approaches to decreasing N2O emissions following summer rainfall events is limited to decreasing N2O emissions from nitrification (e.g., liming, nitrification), and increasing soil N immobilisation and plant N update during summer and autumn.

Nitrogen supply (via mineralisation) prior to seeding varied depending on soil type and summer rainfall, and needs to be included when determining annual N fertiliser requirements. Optimising N fertiliser input will increase farm profitability and decrease the risk of N2O emissions arising from under-utilised N fertiliser.

The proportion of N fertiliser applied that was lost as N2O from a sandy soil in the Western Australian grain belt ranged from 0.08 to 0.12%. This finding, plus past research in the Western Australian grain belt, supports further lowering current Australia’s emission factor (0.3%) for calculating N2O emissions from the application of N fertiliser to non-irrigated, cropped soils in Australia’s semi-arid regions.

• Crop production is often a source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions including nitrous oxide (N2O).
• Increasing organic carbon (C) in the surface soil increased N2O emissions from a cropped soil in the Western Australian grainbelt, however, losses were low by international standards.
• Greatest N2O emissions occurred in response to summer-autumn rainfall events.

 

• Canola yield was increased and oil % marginally decreased with increasing N rate applied.
• The highest yield (4.2 t/ha) was achieved at the highest N rate (160 kgN/ha).
• With adequate starting soil N (67 kgN/ha) and good spring rain, N application timing made little difference.
• 30% N fertiliser recovery in grain remains a good ‘rule of thumb’ for canola N budgeting.
• Easy N® application shows promise for topping up N at early flower.
   

• Changing the pre-plant N fertiliser from the non-irrigated side of the plant bed to the irrigated side of the plant bed did not affect soil mineral nitrogen (N), plant growth or cotton lint yield.
• The pattern of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions after the first irrigation event differed according to N fertiliser placement treatment, but the total amount of N2O released was the same.
• Pre-plant N fertiliser placement did affect N2O emitted after the second irrigation (with water-run N), with more lost from the irrigated, non-fertilised side of the hill.
• The cumulative N2O losses summed over all the measurement events showed no treatment differences resulting from pre-plant N fertiliser location, indicating that there is no agronomic or environmental benefit to changing N fertiliser location.
   

• Changing the pre-plant nitrogen (N) fertiliser location from beside the non-irrigated furrow to beside the irrigated furrow increased nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, primarily from the fertiliser band location.
• Irrigating every single furrow instead of every second furrow did not significantly change N2O emissions.
• Altering irrigation furrows in relation to pre-plant N fertiliser did not significantly affect mineral N in the surface soil, nor did it affect any measure of crop production.
• These results do not support changing from the current irrigation and N fertiliser placement system in use.
   

• The results of this demonstration indicate that by reducing fertiliser granule size, while maintaining the amount of fertiliser applied, can be beneficial to crop yield.
• It is assumed that this benefit is derived from better spatial arrangement of the fertiliser allowing crop roots better access to the nutrients.
• Crops with fibrous root systems (cereals and pulses) are better able to exploit this than those with tap roots (canola).

• The results of this demonstration indicate that by reducing fertiliser granule size, while maintaining the amount of fertiliser applied, can be beneficial to crop yield.
• It is assumed that this benefit is derived from better spatial arrangement of the fertiliser allowing crop roots better access to the nutrients.
• Crops with fibrous root systems (cereals and pulses) are better able to exploit this than those with tap roots (canola).

• The results of this demonstration indicate that by reducing fertiliser granule size, while maintaining the amount of fertiliser applied, can be beneficial to crop yield.
• It is assumed that this benefit is derived from better spatial arrangement of the fertiliser allowing crop roots better access to the nutrients.
• Crops with fibrous root systems (cereals and pulses) are better able to exploit this than those with tap roots (canola).

• Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions at the Gunnedah site were approximately three times higher than at the Emerald site, probably because of the heavier clay soil at Gunnedah.
• High and highly variable N2O emissions occurred at both sites during the week following the first irrigation event after the pre-planting nitrogen (N) application. There was no significant effect from the amount of N applied at pre-planting on these first emissions, nor overall at Gunnedah. At Emerald, overall N2O losses were greater from the split N treatment.
• N2O emissions were low–negligible following the subsequent 4–5 irrigation events, except where N was water-run, which caused small and temporary increases in N2O.
• The greatest N2O emission came from the soil above the pre-plant N fertiliser bands. More was emitted from the non-irrigated side of the plant bed, even when both sides of the bed had been fertilised (Emerald).
• Cotton lint yield was not affected by N timing treatment, however, plant biomass was smaller and more N-concentrated from the split N treatment at Gunnedah.
• The 2015–16 weather conditions did not favour either N-timing treatment agronomically or environmentally, but different rainfall patterns in other years may be more influential.
   

• Stubble height did not affect fallow efficiency at Weethallee following the 2013 or 2014 harvests.
• Stubble height during the 2014 fallow did not impact on 2015 crop yields.
• Leaving higher stubbles may reduce harvest cost but may also cause issues during fallow sprays and sowing. Individual producers need to target a stubble height that best suits their equipment and techniquies.

• Stubble management can influence in-canopy temperatures.
• The in-canopy temperature of long stubble was colder than short stubble.
• All trial sites experienced fewer temperature extremes during 2016 than in previous years of this trial.
• There were no measured frosts during flowering in 2016. Further research is needed to determine the physiological significance of the observed temperature differences.

For results please see the attached trial report.

For results please see the attached trial report.

For results please see the attached trial report.

For results please see the attached trial report.

For results please see the attached trial report.

Most named varieties gave similar grain yields to other TT or conventional varieties. Canola varieties known to have the Sylvestris gene for blackleg (Surpass 603CL and Surpass 501TT) did not suffer grain yield losses due to breakdown of the resistance gene. However, these varieties still should not be grown. The 2 speciality oilseeds (MC20I and MC202) produced comparable grain
yields to conventional canola varieties. Several new varieties were released; Skipton, Hyola 61 and Bravo TT. 2005 Blackleg ratings
guide should be used to assess blackleg rating of all varieties.

Most named varieties gave similar grain yields to other TT or conventional varieties. Canola varieties known to have the Sylvestris gene for blackleg (Surpass 603CL and Surpass 501TT) did not suffer grain yield losses due to breakdown of the resistance gene. However, these varieties still should not be grown. The 2 speciality oilseeds (MC20I and MC202) produced comparable grain
yields to conventional canola varieties. Several new varieties were released; Skipton, Hyola 61 and Bravo TT. 2005 Blackleg ratings
guide should be used to assess blackleg rating of all varieties.

Chara and Mackellar are still suitable varieties for growing in high rainfall enviroments despite increased susceptiblity to some diseases.

Several new varieties were released; Skipton, Hyola 61 and Bravo TT. 2005 Blackleg ratings guide should be used to assess blackleg rating of all varieties.

• Growers' choice of wheat variety in south-west Victoria must take into account the possible need for fungicide sprays to protect some varieties from leaf diseases, in particular stripe and leaf rusts.
• Wheat growers who are not fully prepared to adopt an adequate regime of correctly timed fungicide sparys should choose only varieties that have high levels of resistance to Stripe Rust and Leaf Rust.
• As new strains of both rusts appear very regularly, varieties may rapidly lose their resistance.
• It is very important to check the disease ratings of your chosen varieties every year.

• Pasture species were out competed when sown with Fathom barley.
• Even when pasture species were sown as monocultures weed competition reduced biomass production in winter and summer.
• Fathom barley produced the most dry matter and the vetches and peas performed comparatively well.

• Simulated dry sowing was not shown to have any detrimental effect on Zn fertiliser use efficiency.

• Commercial granular and liquid monoammonium phosphate fertilizers enriched with zinc were incubated under dry and wet conditions to test the effects of dry sowing on fertilizer diffusion, lability, and subsequent availability to wheat (Tritium aestivum L. ‘Axe’) plants in the growth chamber using isotopic techniques.
• Fertilizer incubated in dry soil tended to have a much greater lability than in wet soil, but diffusion was limited.
• The restricted diffusion during the incubation did not negatively impact nutrient availability to plants subsequently grown in the growth chamber, however, and simulated dry sowing was not shown to have a detrimental effect on fertilizer efficiency.

• Dry sowing before the break limits the possibility of broad spectrum herbicide control of early germinating weeds.
• Annual ryegrass is very competitive if it emerges before or with the crop. Delaying sowing until the first flush of weed seedlings have emerged to allow an effective knockdown with a broad spectrum herbicide is pivotal when sowing into paddocks with a high ryegrass seed bank
• The seed rate and consequently the plant density will most likely not create conditions where the rapid early growth of Revenue will out compete the germinating ryegrass. In this case, the density of plants does not play a significant role in the outcome of weed suppression.
• Application of IBS herbicides (Sakura, Avadex Xtra) lose weed kill effectiveness with extended periods of hot weather and minimal rainfall.

 

• The dry sowing treatment had lower crop establishment in all treatments compared to sowing into moist soil.
• No additional herbicide was found in the row after rain for the dry time of sowing.
• For the moist soil sowing treatment there was a greater concentration of herbicide in the inter-row as indicated by the reduced growth of ryegrass.

Because a crops ability to produce and finish is so tightly linked to how much water is available to it a simple yield forecast combined with how much water a crop still has left to access in the soil is surprisingly informative when it comes to reducing risks associated with forward selling decisions. At any point in the growing season it is surprisingly easy to use the data to see if the crop has access to enough water to finish, or if more rainfall is needed to reach a target yield. The graph below shows and compares the yield forecasts from each of the sites this year from when the soil probes were installed up until 20 Jan 2017.

• 2007 results showed two varieties experienced statistically significant yield penalty from mowing when medium maturing varieties were mowed at growth stage 30 (given appropriate crop management).
• Early sowing thought to be very critical to minimizing yield penalty from grazing - to be researched .
• Crop management will be different for both graze/grain versus pure grain crops - to be researched.
• Grazing crops gives pastures a chance to establish and grow at optimal growth rates during winter.
• Sheep can be used to selectively graze weeds - to be researched.

• Yield premium for Long season wheat varieties April sown vs May sown was 920 Kg/Ha
• SCF dual purpose/dual use long season HRZ wheat production package is being upgraded with each year’s research and case studies (2016-2019)
• Product testing for flour blend characteristics and feed qualities such as metabolisable energy in progress
• CBH trial offer for dual purpose/dual use long season wheat

Wheat grain yields following grazing were surprisingly high and it would appear grazing was not detrimental to grain yield. Reduced dry matter from grazing may have resulted in less water useage early in spring with more then being available during grain fill. Of the wheat varieties, the grain yield of the line 1SR594-34 was particularly high. Dry matter production (from the one cut taken) was significantly lower for the wheat varieties but given the current high grain price dual purpose wheat is an attractive option. 
 

Dual purpose cropping can have a role in an intensive grazing operation if crops can be sown on an early break – early growth is essential whilst conditions are still warm. The season will have to have a mild finish otherwise yield will be lost from the early grazing. More work needs to be done in the Wimmera and Mallee to see whether it is commercially viable to graze cereal crops early in the season, without suffering a yield penalty at the end of the season. It might only be a proposition in those areas which have a regular early start to the season and a longer wetter finish.

• Second year of a 3-year project funded by SAGIT and managed by SARDI.
• Project aims to evaluate dual-purpose canola varieties, comparing two times of sowing and exploring grazing management options.
• Trial site waterlogging resulted in variable results, interpret results with caution.
• Feed test results appear to vary between varieties and varieties at different times of sowing, indicating the importance of feed tests.
• Conventional canola varieties dry matter (DM) production was greater at time of sowing (TOS) 1 compared to TOS 2. Grain yield differences were not measured between varieties or TOS.
• There was a significant difference in DM production between the Triazine Tolerant varieties and TOS. Average grain yield was greater at TOS 2, than TOS 1.
• Greater DM was removed at TOS 1 compared to TOS 2 for Clearfield canola. Hyola 970 CL showed a significant difference in grain yield between TOS, with TOS 1 having a greater yield compared to TOS 2.

• Initial year of a new 3-year project funded by SAGIT and managed by SARDI.
• Project aims to evaluate dual-purpose canola varieties, comparing two times of sowing and exploring grazing management options.
• Trial site waterlogging resulted in high variability and confounding results, which should be interpreted with caution.
• Difference in feed test results were measured within a variety at different TOS and grazing dates, indicating the importance of getting feed quality tested.
• Dry matter production was low, maximum production recorded was Conventional 434 kg/ha, Triazine Tolerant 357 kg/ha and Clearfield 589 kg/ha.
• Conventional and Clearfield canola grain yields did not vary between TOS or varieties. • Triazine tolerant varieties had higher yields at TOS 1 and Hyola 750TT was the highest yielding TT variety.

The 1999 results highlight that Janz generally out yields Wollaroi. This is also supported by the findings of other trials.

• Varieties responded similarly in yield and many quality measurements to applied nitrogen, but showed large differences in grain screenings.
• Large amounts of early applied nitrogen predisposed WID803 with inherent small grain to quality downgrading due to high screenings, varieties with inherent larger grain (Tjilkuri and Caparoi) were not downgraded across N treatments.
• The strategic approach to nitrogen management was a more effective method to maintain grain size and achieve 13% protein rather than applying all nitroen at stem elongation.

• High yielding, water efficient DR1 durum was achieved in most of the 18 benchmarked fields.
• Grain protein, Hard Vitreous Kernels, Test weight, 1000 grain weight, falling numbers, semolina colour and semolina yield all fell within desirable limits.

• Hyperno (3.44 t/ha) and WID802 (3.50 t/ha) were the highest yielding durum varieties in this trial at Hart.
• Nitrogen application timing did not influence grain yield at Hart in 2009.
• Durum grain yield was reduced by 17% in the presence of ryegrass.
• Grazing in the absence of ryegrass increased durum grain yield.

• The presence of ryegrass reduced grain yields by 25%.
• Reduced sowing rates did not affect the grain yield or quality of new or standard durum varieties.
• A split application of nitrogen at GS31 and GS37 produced a significantly higher yield, 1.3t/ha.
• Growth regulants did not improve grain yield.

• Applying nitrogen to durum later in the season (GS47) was the most economically viable treatment maximising both yield and quality.
• A late tillering (GS30) application of N reduced grain plumpness in new varieties, WID803 and hyperno.
• A GS30 and split N application between GS30 and GS47 produced the lowest yields in all varieties. 
• WID803 and Saintly were highest yielding while Caparoi and Kalka produced teh best grain quality. 

The high soil nitrogen levels at this site and follow up topdressing applications produced protein levels high enough for durum quality, however, yields were approx 0.8t/ha lower than Mitre grown at the same site.

• Durum varieties (CaparoiA, DBA AuroraA, DBA LillaroiA and JandaroiA) displayed differential grain quality and yield responses to time of sowing (TOS) and nitrogen (N) management. Increased screenings (>5%) were the most common cause of quality downgrades.
• DBA AuroraA, due to increased risk of screenings (>5%) in part because of reduced grain size, would appear to offer less flexibility in terms of agronomic management, specifically delayed sowing and N management.
• The newly released Northern Durum breeding program variety DBA LillaroiA appears to offer excellent grain size and grain stability, achieving low screenings from a delayed sowing and high N rates.
• Results also highlight the need to sow varieties within recommended sowing windows. An earlier than recommended sowing date of May 19 for the Liverpool Plains resulted in yield losses of ~25% averaged across N treatments for earlier maturing varieties such as JandaroiA and DBA LillaroiA, with possible grain quality implications (e.g. increased screenings).

• Durum varieties displayed differential grain quality and yield responses to time of sowing (TOS) and nitrogen (N) management.
• DBA AuroraA appears to offer good yield potential, but exhibits an increased risk of screenings with increasing rates of N application at sowing or when N is applied before stem elongation (GS31). It also appears to have an increased potential for lower grain protein concentrations (GPC) due to yield dilution under high yielding situations.
• A strategy involving a split application of N at sowing and either GS31 or GS39, could reduce the potential for screening issues in DBA AuroraA while maintaining adequate GPC.
• Findings from this experiment further highlight the need to sow appropriate variety maturity types within their recommended sowing windows.
   

• A good farming system will utilise two to three with varying maturities, to spread risk
• Sowing varieties inside their recommended window is essential and will maximise yield and reduce screenings. 
• Storing summer fallow moisture is the key to producing good yields in these short finishing seasons. 
• In the 2009 season, quick maturing varieties and earlier sowing dates produced the best yields across the region.

• All treatments with zinc sulphate or commercial fungicide Tilt reduced yellow leaf spot infection but only Tilt treatments had increased grain yield.
• Despite yield increase the Tilt treatment was not economic.
• Triadimefon and copper sulphate did not reduce yellow leaf spot infection.

• There was significant rain in early April.
• It was very wet at the time of seeding.
• Reduced emergency due to soil crusting and seeding depth.
• There was adequte rain overall but dry at emergence.

• Delayed sowing provided no advantage over early sowing in reducing ryegrass plant or head number.
• In two out of three seasons, later sown crops were lower yielding and did not provide as good crop competition allowing ryegrass head number to increase.
• Sowing time had no effect on the performance of pre-emergent herbicides for ryegrass control.

• The early break to the 2015 season meant soil moisture and rainfall conditions were similar between ToS 1 and 2 and there was little variation in annual ryegrass control among preemergent herbicides tested.
• Grain yield and quality were not affected by pre-emergent herbicide; however, there was a 0.7 t/ha yield penalty for the later ToS.
• Over two seasons of research ryegrass seed set was greater when sowing was delayed.

In-crop control of radish with a range of herbicides was highly effective in reducing the wild radish population.