• Significant increases in dry matter at GS30 were found in wheat. Fluid P increased dry matter from the control by 49%, whereas only 19% increase was found when P was supplied as a granule
• There was an increase in dry matter from the application of P for both Barley (20%) and Oats (35%). There was no difference in dry matter between the granular and fluid products.
• There was no difference in terms of grain yield from P application compared to the control of each crop type.

1. Chickpea yields increased by over 900 kg/ha on deep banded phosphorus (P) applied at 40 kg P /ha; representing a 300 % increase over the zero P treatments.
2. Chickpea yields were not responsive to deep applied potassium bands.

1. 20% yield response to deep-placed phosphorus at the highest rate in the third year of production.
2. No significant response to deep-placed potassium.

1. Mungbeans did not respond to deep phosphorus treatments.
2. Mungbeans had a 15% yield response to deep potassium treatments.
3. After 3 years of cropping the return on investment to 20 kg deep banded phosphorus is 1.6 and 100 kg deep banded potassium is 1.7.

• Wheat yields in the poor, medium and good zones in response to low, medium and high inputs respectively did not differ significantly in 2011.
• Over a 3 year wheat-canola-wheat rotation there has been no measured production benefit from applying 6 kg/ha of P on the good soil type as opposed to nil P on a shallow constrained soil.

• 4 kg/ha of P as a blanket application increased grain yields and gross margins over nil P in all 3 soil zones, however applying a variable rate to the medium soil zone of 8 kg P/ha improved gross margins over the 4 kg/ha rate.

• In a good growing season, wheat performed equally well in zones identified as good, medium or poor however they achieved only 50% of their yield potential water use efficiency.

• Annual medic plant establishment density limited by 2008 drought, mice and possibly a false break.
• Pasture production restricted by low plant numbers but increased by 2010 P applications.

• In an above average season a high input system was the “best bet”.
• Variable rate had reduced production but at a lower risk.

• Sowing in early June 2009 resulted in wheat yields on 3 soil types being similar but only achieving 50% of potential water use efficiency.

• The profitability of VRT, excluding capital outlay, was just better than standard practice over the last two seasons at Minnipa.
• The long term impacts of reducing inputs and any consequent yield reductions in above average seasons are yet to be determined.

• In 2009 47 ha of barley sown for feed at the break of the season sustained 300 ewes and lambs for 3 months during the period of late autumn-winter, a traditional period of pasture deficit.
• Hay freezing the forage crop ensures grass weeds are controlled.
• Use of strip grazing better utilises feed on hand and helps control erosion (especially around watering points).

• In 2010 Axe sown 1 July produced a similar grain yield and gross margin to Wyalkatchem sown 11 June. These results continue to show that matching varietyselection with sowing date can help to maximise profits.

• Winter cereal varieties differ in their levels of yield loss and responsiveness to crown rot and growers can use these rankings to improve production in the presence of this disease.
• Grain yield and responsiveness to crown rot appear strongly correlated in these experiments.
• Grain yield losses vary between seasons with up to a 25% reduction measured in southern NSW.

• In dry years open-pollinated canola can produce small seed in low rainfall areas. Sowing the small seed at a low seeding rate of 2 kg/ha reduced yield and farmers could benefit by increasing the seeding rate to 4 kg/ha  in the following year or purchasing fresh seed.
• Grading small seed hard was not as reliable as increasing the seeding rate to 4 kg/ha.
• F2 hybrid seed produced lower yields than F1 seed unless seeding rates are increased to 4 kg/ha or mixes are made with F1 seed.
• Hybrid TT was less productive than open pollinated TT canola.

Farmers can safely retain OP seed for at least two years

Retained and graded hybrid TT seed had lower % establishment, variability in flowering, higher % of sterile flowers, lower oil and yield – but in this environment with yields below 1.5 t/ha the effects were not large enough to reduce gross margins compared to purchasing hybrid TT seed.

Farmers can safely retain OP seed for at least two years

Retained and graded hybrid TT seed had lower % establishment, variability in flowering, higher % of sterile flowers, lower oil and yield – but in this environment with yields below 1.5 t/ha the effects were not large enough to reduce gross margins compared to purchasing hybrid TT seed.

• Very high yields were achived in Revenue which indicates the benefit of an early sowing (23rd April). To achieve high yields in Revenue sowing should be undertaken as early as possible. this variety has a strong vernalisation requirement which means that flowering will occur at approximately the same time of year irrespective of sowing date, thereby not increasing the frost risk.
• For further take home messages please see the attached trial report.

Rhizobia type or rate had no effect on yields. However a small adjoining trial showed a trend to increased yield due to rhizobia inoculation when plants were stressed by waterlogging. This is in keeping with results from last year's trial where large differences between inoculated and uninoculated treatments were attributed to waterlogging stress in winter and spring. This year's trial was sown on raised beds. The absence of waterlogging stress and the release of nitrogen from stubble from the previous poppy crop may account for the lack of yield response to inoculation. Yields were high this year, with some adjoining irrigated plots reaching 7 t/ha.

Inoculation on a paddock that had not grown pulese for at least 10 years increased Faba bean yield by 1t/ha and shoot nitrogen fixed by 130-180kg N/ha). The numbers of rhizobia deline ini the soil over time. The improvements in wheat yield after faba beans and lupins were not associated with enhanced nitrogen supply.

• A significant variation in the rhizoctonia inoculum build-up exists between cereal crops wheat, barley, triticale and cereal rye and their varieties. Inoculum build-up was generally higher in the barley varieties compared to that in other crops. Results are in general agreement with observations in other experiments in the Mallee and on calcareous soils in Eyre Peninsula.
• Differences in inoculum levels carried through summer and seen at sowing in 2016 suggest that farmers may select between cereal crops and their varieties to limit inoculum building during the cereal phase. However, non-cereal break crops are the best option to reduce the pathogen inoculum in a cropping system.
• Soil physical (compaction), chemical (organic C and nutrients) and biological (activity and composition) characteristics and seasonal (temperature and rainfall) factors can influence the growth of R. solani AG8 fungi and the severity of rhizoctonia disease.

Due to the dry season, there were no visible differences in crop growth and yield resulting from different seed treatments.

• The nil treatment produced the highest grain yield at all sites.
• Deep ripping treatments reduced early crop vigour and grain yield at all sites, however at the Clare sites the effect on crop vigour was less.
• Subsoil manuring produced higher grain yields than surface manuring at 4 of 5 harvested sites.

There has been a major response to ripping but little response to nitrogen above and beyond the farmer dressings.  The ripping treatment markedly improved crop emergence numbers and timing.  The very dry nature of the season after seeding has meant no leaching of nitrogen and therefore no improvement in nitrogen uptake efficiency due to faster root penetration on the ripped plots. Plant counts, estimated biomass levels and yield components are shown in the table of results, above.

There was a marked establishment and growth response to ripping and variability was much more marked on the non-ripped plots than on those which were ripped.  Measures of surface soil wettability showed no difference between ripping so the better establishment was probably due to better and more uniform wetting on the rougher, more disturbed, ripped soil. 

Ripping gave better early growth but also better finishing conditions as reflected in higher harvest indices and lower screenings.  The ripped strip samplings emphasized this point so it seems that the ripping allowed better access to stored sub-soil moisture over the harsh finish to the season. Plant samples from on and off the ripped strips showed no difference in K status.

We sampled on and off visually obvious windrows north of trial (2) on 10 July and south of trial (3) on heavier country on 18th August.  Both sites showed unambiguous K deficiency which again was reflected in better grain size and lower screening measures on the K adequate windrow.  The sandy site had more severe K deficiency and bigger responses than the loamy site which had a higher soil K status.  Both areas would respond to K fertilizer applications.

The results in this years risk management trial emphasised the importance of knowing:

• the nutrient status of your soils prior to sowing, and
• potential of the soils. The starting soil nitrogen at Birchip was particularly low (55kg/ha N) resulting in a significantly lower yield for the Low Input scenario compared to the High Input and Best Bet treatments.

The Low Input scenario also resulted in significantly lower protein and significantly higher screenings. These results suggest that there was not enough nitrogen to sustain a crop even in a dry finish, eventually affecting the final gross margin of the Low Input system.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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. 

As the climate is changing to warmer conditions and the atmosphere contains more CO2 (also called CO2 fertilisation), crops grow more quickly and mature earlier. It is important to be aware of these effects on crops so that the risk of frost or heat shock reducing crop yield can be better managed. Even though the climate is warming, it is not clear whether the occurrences of frosts are reducing. In fact, there is anecdotal evidence that frost severity and frequency are not changing, which could be because there is reduced moisture in the atmosphere. If this is the case, it will have implications for sowing time and variety choice. Through the use of PA and VR, growers are able to sow different varieties on more frost prone areas. Without this technology, growers would either need to sow different zones separately, reducing efficiencies, or treat the paddock as a whole, which may see reduce yields and risk in various zones. To demonstrate the advantages of this strategy, over the past two seasons, BCG and SPAA have undertaken paddock scale trials. Two demonstrations were undertaken to compare two varieties of different maturity at two different sowing times.

• BCG risk management work between 2005 and 2008 has shown a low to moderate input approach to be the most profitable • Adopting a low input approach to managing variable inputs was the most economic at Curyo in 2008.
• No economic yield or grain quality response was achieved by adopting a high input strategy.
• Tools such as soil sampling and Yield Prophet® can support fertiliser and in-crop input decisions.

BCG research from 2005 to 2008 has shown that adopting a low to moderate approach to inputs has been the most profitable • Adopting a low input approach to managing variable inputs was the most economic at Manangatang in 2008 • Soil sampling at the start of the season is very valuable in determining soil nutrient status.

During 2010, trials were carried out on a number of paddocks near Dookie, Vic and Yarrawonga, VIC to explore the relationship between in-season crop reflectance, crop biomass and crop nitorgen content. In-season crop reflectance was measured using CropCircle snesors, which use NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index). The ultimate goal is to assess the suitability of the data to assist in making decisions on crop nitrogen requirements as the season unfolds. In this reprt one of the paddocks at Dookie is used as an example.

• 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

Although the Wickepin site did not experience damaging frost events in 2013, results show that the severity (minimum temperature) and duration (hrs <0°C) of frost increased at positions lower in the landscape and was less severe under cultivation. Standing stubble treatments also showed colder temperatures than removed stubble treatments. These results also supported the two other trials conducted in Western Australia during 2013 that showed stubble can have an influence on crop canopy temperature.

The drought and subsequently paddocks with failed crops present an interesting dilemma for many growers. Should the rotation continue as planned or can the same crop type be resown on those paddocks that failed? In the case of cereal crops root disease will present the greatest threat.

• Medics appear susceptible and very intolerant to P. neglectus.
• Of the medics tested, Harbinger is the most tolerant.
• Although moderately intolerant to P. neglectus, Herald is a high yielding medic.
• Rotations including medic and wheat result in higher nematode numbers.

 

• Both rotary spading and mouldboard ploughing sucessfully overcame water repellance and both resulted in large grain yield increases mostly in the order of 500-1200kg/ha.
• Spading and ploughing of water repellant sandplain soils that have reasonable subsiol water holding capacity is more beneficial than for the pale deep sands whose low water holding capacity limits the opportunity to realise the improved yield potential, particularly is seasons with a dry finish.

This project is providing a focus on pasture species, inoculation, weed control and overall management together with the crop nitrogen benefits and crop responses. This project is a large-plot Development and Extension project, part of a much broader effort of many industry participants in developing new pasture systems in crop rotations.

This project is providing a focus on pasture species, inoculation, weed control and overall management together with the crop nitrogen benefits and crop responses. This project is a large-plot Development and Extension project, part of a much broader effort of many industry participants in developing new pasture systems in crop rotations.

This project is providing a focus on pasture species, inoculation, weed control and overall management together with the crop nitrogen benefits and crop responses. This project is a large-plot Development and Extension project, part of a much broader effort of many industry participants in developing new pasture systems in crop rotations.

This project is providing a focus on pasture species, inoculation, weed control and overall management together with the crop nitrogen benefits and crop responses. This project is a large-plot Development and Extension project, part of a much broader effort of many industry participants in developing new pasture systems in crop rotations.

This project is providing a focus on pasture species, inoculation, weed control and overall management together with the crop nitrogen benefits and crop responses. This project is a large-plot Development and Extension project, part of a much broader effort of many industry participants in developing new pasture systems in crop rotations.

• In a dry season, there was a small grain yield benefit (90kg/ha) for wheat that followed terminated vetch and field peas (1.5-2.4t/ha of biomass), compared with fallow and terminated medic.
• Soil water benefits from fallow and legume termination don’t occur with dry spring finishes.
• Using soil tests to measure nitrogen mineralisation helps you to properly evaluate the benefit of a legume crop or pasture in a rotation.

• In low rainfall seasons, (2005-08), north-south sowing increased grain yield by an average of 8.4% compared to east-west.
• Narrow row spacing with retained stubble also showed increased grain yield.
• In 2009 (decile 9+ season) there was a 0.24 t/ha yield advantage in wheat with sowing east-west.
• In 2010 (decile 8-9 season) with Kaspa peas, row direction at sowing had no effect on grain yield.
• Ultimately direction of sowing will depend mostly on paddock shape and direction of sand hills.

• Mean grain yield has been 8.4% higher with north-south over east-west sowing over the last four seasons.
• Grain yield has been higher with narrower row spacings when stubble has been retained.

• An east-west (E-W) sowing direction increased yield over north-south (N-S) sowing direction in an average season.
• The results showed a decline in yield due to weed competition, but no effect on weed competition due to row direction. Sowing in an E-W direction may give a yield benefit with no difference in weed seed set.
• The wider row spacing of 30 cm resulted in a yield reduction and greater weed biomass at harvest.
• There were no differences in yield with ribbon seeding with either 18 or 30 cm row spacings, but ribbon seeding reduced ‘weed’ biomass.

• There was no detectable direct effect of sowing direction this season at Minnipa with a mild spring.
• Using a narrow row spacing of 18 cm instead of 30 cm resulted in wheat yield increasing from 3 t/ha to 3.6 t/ha (19% increase).
• Light interception was very sensitive to sowing direction, and not having ‘weeds’ resulted in higher light within the canopy in the north-south direction compared to east-west.
• Knife point and ribbon seeding systems achieved similar crop establishment and crop performance.

• An east-west (E-W) sowing direction increased yield over northsouth (N-S) sowing direction in an average season.
• The results showed a decline in yield due to weed competition, but no effect on weed competition due to row direction. So sowing in an E-W direction may give a yield benefit with no difference in weed seed set.
• The wider row spacing of 30 cm resulted in a yield reduction and greater weed biomass at harvest.
• There were no differences in yield with ribbon seeding with either 18 or 30 cm row spacings, but ribbon seeding reduced ‘weed’ biomass.

Whilst the year was dry, there appeared to be a significant yield difference between varieties, no matter what the row spacing or nitrogen treatment. When analysis was undertaken to compare row spacing, nitrogen and variety responses, there still appeared to be significant differences within one variety, suggesting the importance of row width and nitrogen placement.

• Similar to other pulse crops growing conditions in 2011 were excellent for faba beans, due to
  extreme rainfall events during the summer of 2010/11 which resulted in soil profiles at or near field capacity at sowing.

• Grain yields - The effects of variety, row spacing and edge row effects as single factors were
  found not to be significant (P<0.005). There was also no significant interaction of any of the
  combination of treatments detected. No differences were detected across row spacing’s and
  varieties.

• Cereals and lentils are best suited to sowing with narrow rows (23cm or less).
• Faba beans performed best on wide row spacings (36cm).
• Row spacing appeared to make little difference to other broadleaf crops such as canola and other pulses.

• VB 0021, Gairdner, Quasar and Baudin yielded the highest at this site however quality analysis shows that, of these high yielding varieties, only Gairdner achieved malt quality - VB 0021 and Baudin had a low protein content (<9.0%), while Quasar had low retention (<70%).
• This result for Gairdner is surprising given the number of crops in the district that did not make malt quality due to low retention or low protein.
• Of the three lowest yielding varieties: Sloop Vic, Galaxy and Schooner, only Schooner had quality parameters acceptable for Malt 1 quality.
• There was no yield advantage at this site from the boron tolerance present in Sloop Vic. To gain the greatest potential from Sloop Vic it should be sown in areas with medium rainfall where boron is suspected to be affecting yield.

• Varieties in this trial yielded similarly to other barley crops in the district although there were no significant differences between the varieties.
• Retention across the site was low, with WI 3586 retention exceptionally low especially given that this variety was selected as a replacement for Gairdner with improved grain size.
• Low retention or high protein meant no variety was graded above Malt 2.
• Screenings were highest in Gairdner & WI 3586.
• Test weights for all varieties were acceptable.

• Research to date in Australia suggests optimum rolling time between 3-5 node and crop damage has been recorded from rolling after the 7 node stage. However this trial showed no yield penalty from any time of rolling.
• Lentil rolling is a management practice utilised to create better harvesting conditions and to lower sample contamination. The results from this trial suggests there is flexibility in rolling time and that rolling can be delayed up to the 9 node stage if other management issues are more pressing immediately after sowing. However, this is dependent on the soil and crop health conditions at the time of rolling.
• To avoid crop damage rolling should not occur within 2 weeks of a herbicide application.
• Soils at risk of hard setting or wind erosion should not be rolled PSPE.

• The La Trobe University team are winners of the Rural Finance barley challenge at the Inverleigh site for the second year is successions with the highest margin of $734/ha.
• Grain marketing played a significant part in the outcome of the competition. The La Trobe tream would have come 4th had they not forward sold some of their crop.
• For further take home messages please see the attached trial report.

• Landmark are the winners of the Rural Finance Crop Challenge for 2013 at the Inverleigh site with the highest gross margin of $1853/ha.
• The A Team and Southern Stars were last placed with negative gross margins due to total crop loss.
   

Higher rates of Triflur Xcel can only be used in a no‐till system where a knife point and press wheel system operated at a suitable sowing speed ensures that soil throw from seeding rows does not fall into adjacent seeding rows thereby avoiding crop damage.
The high levels of ryegrass control achieved in this trial demonstrate how a concentrated band of trifluralin in the top few cm of soil is highly effective when weed seeds are also in this band. The tank mix partners used in the trial, Bouncer and Avadex Xtra, can provide cost effective control over a range of additional weeds, as well as ensuring control of any possible group D resistant ryegrass plants.

• Sakura alone or in combination with Avadex Xtra or Dual Gold provided the best pre-emergence ryegrass control (72 to 94%) in 2010.
• New pre-emergent herbicides like Boxer Gold or Sakura provide good control of trifluralin resistant annual ryegrass.
• Post-sowing pre-emergent herbicide applications provide significantly improved ryegrass control in the crop row, and also give longer residual control.
• Sakura significantly reduced the number of ryegrass heads produced.

Picking out the ryegrass from the cereal crops in spring did not prove to be effective.The ryegrass tiller count data was converted into a contoured map and divided into three zones for each paddock. Once again we compared the manually drawn zones and found a relatively good correlation but not good enough to mplement patch ryegrass management with confidence. A dual boom A more detailed analysis of previous yield maps when farmers determine their ryegrass patches would certainly improve the accuracy of their zone drawings. Any farmer wanting to implement patch ryegrass management should also consider btaining imagery at a time of the year when ryegrass is more visible such as prior to sowing or around crop establishment as these maps would more accurately define the weed patches with less crop effect.

• Managing herbicide resistance in ryegrass continues to be crucial in maintaining sustainable crop production on Lower Eyre Peninsula.
• Management strategies other than herbicides need to be deployed to ensure sustainable ryegrass control into the future.
• Windrow burning proved to be an effective method in reducing ryegrass seed numbers in 2015.
• Managing ryegrass on differing soil types will prove a challenge into the future.
• Information generated by this project will provide data to simulate how different management strategies can be used to manage ryegrass in a sustainable, cost effective way.

• BOXER GOLD® (Prosulfocarb + S-metalochlor) is a new chemistry released in 2008 that can be rotated with trifluralin (Group D) .
• Rotation of herbicide groupsis a mustto ensure herbicide resistant weed populations do not emerge.

• SAGIT funded trials over the last 3 years have shown the potential of vetch on Eyre Peninsula, leading to the selection of an early flowering (90-95 days) line with increased winter vigour (SA 34876) as a new variety for low rainfall mixed farming systems.
• The last three seasons have been particularly good at Minnipa for both grain and hay production of vetch.
• Piednippie trials have not been as successful as Minnipa, but have still shown with the right management vetch could produce good hay, fodder or grazing on the grey calcareous soils.
• On Eyre Peninsula early sowing (mid- April) can achieve good yield and hay production but is heavily reliant on either good subsoil moisture or late follow-up rain.
• Herbicide choices for vetch are very dependent on local conditions so talk to your local agronomist about the best options available.

• Grower noted that Sakura mixed well in the tank and was easy to spray.
• Sakura reduced the numbers of barley grass across the site compared to the grower’s treatment. This was also evident down by the Summit trial where Sakura applied pre-emergent adjacent to the trial was giving better control of barley grass than Trifluralin 2 L ha with a post-emergent application of Monza® 25 g/ha.
• Sakura was safe to Calingiri wheat in this commercial trial.
• The yields presented were taken from close to the northern contour bank where there was higher numbers of barley grass in the crop to represent a good efficacy comparison.
• Based on this the Sakura treatment recorded a 110 kg/ha yield increase over the grower’s Trifluralin at 2 L/ha.
• This equals a $20.58 ROI above the grower’s program once herbicide and application costs were removed.

Using an effective knockdown with broad spectrum pre-emergent grass herbicide like Sakura can deliver excellent weed control, yields and return on investment not just in the year of application but in following seasons due to a reduction in the seed bank when combined with a complete integrated weed management program across the farm.

This site received only a single knockdown on the 1st June 2010. There was a thick covering of green material present across the trial site when the treatments were applied especially on the header rows which would have compromised coverage and therefore final weed control.  The trial treatments were applied to moist soil on the 1st June. The trial was sown by the grower the following day after treatments were applied with knife point and press wheels on 9 inch row spacing. After sowing there were some clumps of trash caught up in the points particularly in the header rows across the site.

A site inspection on the 29/6/10 confirmed the effectiveness of the glyphosate application with no large weeds observed across the site.

The relatively new herbicide Sakura is currently registered for use in wheat only; in barley this product caused a yield penalty. Effects may not be seen in early stages of plant growth, as Sakura affects the root system. Deep sowing did not have an interaction with Sakura application.

No damage to lentils was observed, but it should be noted that conditions were not conducive to herbicide damage.  Following label rates will ensure that the risk of damage is minimized.  Using a range of pre-plant and post-plant-pre-emergent herbicides will assist in reducing pressure on in-crop herbicides for grass weed control such as Clethodim (group A).  Rotating herbicide groups and sound manual methods such as wind row burning, chaff carts and fence line spraying will ensure that weed numbers are kept in check and “blow-outs” of weed numbers is minimised.

• Past work has indicated that Old Man Saltbush could have a useful place in mixed farming systems in the NSW wheat belt.
• This is a long term trial designed to have excellent applicability to commercial farms.
• Initial results show a trend towards less liveweight and fat loss during summer in the plus-saltbush sheep.
• Results so far are not statistically analysed. More years of data are required before this can happen.

• Deep ripping in most cases improved plant vigour and increased yield although responses were variable between the deep ripping treatments.
• Although potassium had visual responses at most sites it only translated into increased yields at one site.
• Nutrismart appeared to have no impact on barley production.

• SARDI funded and managed a barley nitrogen trial at Conmurra to value add to the MFMG field day.
• A nitrogen response was observed at Conmurra in 2016.
• Bass out-yielded Compass at the two lower N rates.
• Applying 100 kg N/ha to Bass resulted in a similar yield to applying 200 kg N/ha, whilst maintaining maximum grade, MALT 1.
• Compass was highest yielding at 7.0 t/ha and 200 kg N/ha.
• All Compass treatments achieved F1.

• SARDI funded and managed a wheat nitrogen trial at Conmurra to value add to the MFMG field day.
• A nitrogen response was observed at Conmurra in 2016.
• Split applications of 200 kg N/ha and 250 kg N/ha resulted in higher grain yields and grain reaching maximum grade.

• SARDI funded and managed wheat nutrition trials to evaluate different N and P treatments.
• A nitrogen response was observed at Keith.
• No grain yield differences were observed at Frances with different N or P treatments.
• Grain at both sites achieved a higher grade with the highest N application.
• Protein was the limiting factor for grain achieving maximum grade.

• In 2015 treatments with increased rates of N did not result in an increased yield in Trojan wheat or Compass and Bass barley.
• Increased N treatments tended to have increased wheat and barley protein levels.
• Seasonal conditions impacted on trial results; they should be interpreted with caution and used in conjunction with additional soil nutrition information.
• Soil testing and responding to the results is an important component in maximizing yield and profitability of farming enterprises.

• In 2015 Trojan wheat yields were greater with the highest P rate treatment.
• Bass and Compass barley achieved their highest yields with 30 units of P (kg/ha) applied at sowing.
• Seasonal conditions impacted on trial results; they should be interpreted with caution and used in conjunction with additional soil nutrition information.
• Soil testing and responding to the results is an important component in maximizing yield and profitability of farming enterprises.

Research and development for satellite products in the broadacre cropping industry has been underway for the past 18 months, with Agrecon already having invested over $150,000 in this endeavour. The main focus has been on broadacre winter grains and oilseeds and more recently on sorghum in summer. One of the steps in the planned R&D program was that of collaboration with region specific grower groups. The purpose of this collaboration is to advance Agrecon’s R&D by gaining access to collateral ground data, field observations, crop input and other agronomic information that only individual growers can provide. The Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) with its reputation for openness to innovation and willingness to trial new technology is an ideal collaborator with whom to form a working relationship.

• The application of Pastures from Space technologies allowed wethers to be carried at a stocking rate 50% above the district average.
• There were no significant differences in animal health or parasite burden between the two groups.
• The per head wool production was reduced by approximately 5% in the PFS mob; however, the per hectare performance was 42% above the Control mob for CFW and 44% above the Control mob for wool income per hectare. This outstanding result demonstrates the ability of merino sheep to grow wool at close to maximum rates on 800 – 1000 kgs DM per hectare of good quality feed
• Forward feed budgeting using the Feed Budget program was able to predict when it would be necessary to initiate supplementary feeding in the PFS wethers and when it would be necessary to remove sheep from the paddock altogether. This allowed forward planning to maintain adequate ground cover and hence preserve topsoil in the more heavily grazed paddock
• The net benefit in the PFS wether group was $73.83 per hectare after allowing for the higher direct costs per hectare associated with the higher stocking rate and the extra supplementary feed required in the PFS wethers. Due to the extraordinarily high prices for supplementary feed in early 2008, the extra supplementary feed cost
• $63.11 per hectare. This obviously had a large influence on the magnitude of the net benefit, with a benefit of $97.00 per hectare being achieved using long-term average supplementary feed prices

• Nitrogen applied to crops that have hayed off can contribute to crop biomass and yield in the subsequent season.
• When haying off is severe, a nitrogen (N) balance based on paddock history may be inaccurate.
• Conservative N management delivered the best economic returns over the two years of the trial.

• The critical pHCa threshold is in the range of 5.2 to 5.4, below which faba bean growth is reduced.

• Variability for tolerance to low pH is present within the species with cultivar (cv) PBA ZahraA more tolerant at low pH than cultivars (cvv) PBA SamiraA, FarahA or PBA NasmaA.

• The sensitivity of uninoculated faba bean plants to low pH suggests it may not be sufficient to overcome the poor performance of faba bean on acid soils simply by developing more acid-tolerant rhizobium. Further research is warranted to address this question.

• During 2014 stubble treatments imposed late in fallow generally had no impact on N response. • During 2014 generally farmers in the absence of frost or unusual rainfall events during the season were able to reliably predict final yield before sowing. Where a site was N responsive, an N fertilizer rate of 20kg actual nitrogen/ha/per tonne of expected yield produced the most profitable result. • During 2014 split N applications only improved yield and protein at Nyngan which experienced a well above average growing season rainfall. • During 2014 split N applications would have possibly reduced risk at two sites, Lake Cargelligo and Ungarie where a decision not to apply the final 1/3 topdressing may have been made due to soil moisture and rainfall outlook. • The benchmark of 20kg/ha of actual N per tonne of expected grain yield assumes unrealistic N recover rates from soil and fertilizer but never the less it continues to be a widely used “number” during the commercial decision making process to topdress crops.

• During 2014 stubble treatments imposed late in fallow generally had no impact on N response. • During 2014 generally farmers in the absence of frost or unusual rainfall events during the season were able to reliably predict final yield before sowing. Where a site was N responsive, an N fertilizer rate of 20kg actual nitrogen/ha/per tonne of expected yield produced the most profitable result. • During 2014 split N applications only improved yield and protein at Nyngan which experienced a well above average growing season rainfall. • During 2014 split N applications would have possibly reduced risk at two sites, Lake Cargelligo and Ungarie where a decision not to apply the final 1/3 topdressing may have been made due to soil moisture and rainfall outlook. • The benchmark of 20kg/ha of actual N per tonne of expected grain yield assumes unrealistic N recover rates from soil and fertilizer but never the less it continues to be a widely used “number” during the commercial decision making process to topdress crops.

• The seasonal conditions experienced during these trials had a profound impact on the trial results.
• During 2015 stubble treatments imposed late in fallow had no impact on N response.
• Similar to 2014, during 2015 generally farmers were unable to predict final yield before sowing when the season experienced extreme weather conditions.
• During 2015 split N applications did not improve yields and had only a very minor impact on grain quality.
• During 2015 split N applications was not a way to reduce financial risk as opposed to all N fertiliser upfront since crop outlook at Z30 was positive.

Stubble treatments involving late burning or cultivation resulted in significantly different yields in wheat and barley in 4 to 6 trials conducted at Nyngan, Ungaire, Tullamore, Gunning Gap, Alectown and Lake Cargelligo during 2014. The yield effects were not consistent and these trials could not be used to predict response pre sowing. The effects of stubble treatments observed during 2014 were similar to the effects observed during similar trials in 2013. Variety rankings were not significantly affected by stubble treatments. The best option in terms of yield was to simply grow the variety with the highest potential for the sowing window.

Stubble treatments involving late burning or cultivation resulted in significantly different yields in wheat and barley in 4 to 6 trials conducted at Nyngan, Ungaire, Tullamore, Gunning Gap, Alectown and Lake Cargelligo during 2014. The yield effects were not consistent and these trials could not be used to predict response pre sowing. The effects of stubble treatments observed during 2014 were similar to the effects observed during similar trials in 2013. Variety rankings were not significantly affected by stubble treatments. The best option in terms of yield was to simply grow the variety with the highest potential for the sowing window.

• During 2015 stubble treatments involving late burning or cultivation resulted in significantly different yields in wheat and barley in 2 of 3 trials conducted at Tottenham, Weethalle, and Mumbil Creek.
• The stubble treatments had no effect on cultivar rankings or grain quality at any site.
• The effects of stubble treatments observed during 2015 were similar to the effects observed during similar trials in 2013 and 2014. The trend emerging is best summarised: “Cultivation late in fallow to reduce stubble loads for sowing is the most likely option to reduce yield unless it resolves a physical soil constraint such as compaction or established hard to kill weeds. Burning late in fallow to reduce stubble loads for sowing is unlikely to significantly improve yields compared to sowing into district typical standing stubbles. Burning may be a good last minute option where despite good planning, stubble is still interfering with sowing.”

• Stubble treatments involving late burning or cultivation resulted in significantly different yields in wheat, barley and oats at 4 of 6 trials conducted at Rankins Springs, Weethalle, Wirrinya, Tottenham, Tullamore and Euabalong during 2013. The yield effects were not consistent and these initial trials could not be used to predict response. • Crop establishment was not affected by stubble or tillage treatment at five of the six sites. At Rankins Springs, however, establishment was 15% higher in the burnt stubble than in the standing stubble treatment. • Visual differences in early growth could be observed between stubble treatments. Biomass in mid-August was lower with standing stubble than after burning at three sites (Weethalle, Tottenham and Tullamore) but not at Wirrinya and Euabalong. • Variety rankings were not significantly affected by stubble treatments. The best option in terms of yield was to simply grow the variety with the highest yield potential for the sowing window.

• Stubble treatments involving late burning or cultivation resulted in significantly different yields in wheat, barley and oats at 4 of 6 trials conducted at Rankins Springs, Weethalle, Wirrinya, Tottenham, Tullamore and Euabalong during 2013. The yield effects were not consistent and these initial trials could not be used to predict response.
• Crop establishment was not affected by stubble or tillage treatment at five of the six sites. At Rankins Springs, however, establishment was 15% higher in the burnt stubble than in the standing stubble treatment.
• Visual differences in early growth could be observed between stubble treatments. Biomass in mid-August was lower with standing stubble than after burning at three sites (Weethalle, Tottenham and Tullamore) but not at Wirrinya and Euabalong.
• Variety rankings were not significantly affected by stubble treatments. The best option in terms of yield was to simply grow the variety with the highest yield potential for the sowing window.

• During 2013, in canola crops sown on time that achieved target plant populations, it appears that late burning and/or cultivation of previous crop stubbles improved yield.
• The cost of burning stubble needs to be considered both in terms of dollar labour cost and lost nutrients.
• Potential impact on fallow efficiencies following the canola crop need to be better understood. Burning stubbles may have a fit in paddocks where windrows are being burnt for grass seed control or stubbles are too heavy for seeders to get through.
• The cost of cultivation needs to account for both cost of the operation as well as the risk soil erosion, and the possibility of producing drier seedbed conditions at sowing time.
• CWFS proposes to do further trials in the next two years. Remember this report represents only one year (2013) of data from trials at Rankins Springs, Wirrinya and Tullamore.

• During 2013, in canola crops sown on time that achieved target plant populations, it appears that late burning and/or cultivation of previous crop stubbles improved yield. • The cost of burning stubble needs to be considered both in terms of dollar labour cost and lost nutrients. Potential impact on fallow efficiencies following the canola crop need to be better understood. Burning stubbles may have a fit in paddocks where windrows are being burnt for grass seed control or stubbles are too heavy for seeders to get through. • The cost of cultivation needs to account for both cost of the operation as well as the risk soil erosion, and the possibility of producing drier seedbed conditions at sowing time. • CWFS proposes to do further trials in the next two years. Remember this report represents only one year (2013) of data from trials at Rankins Springs, Wirrinya and Tullamore.

• Both higher seed manganese concentration or seed coating with MnSO4 were found to increase yield of barley on manganese deficient soil

Sowing feed into dwindling lucerne stands; either barley or the newer forage ryecorn varieties resulted in increased weight gains of lambs when compared with those lucerne stands where annual grasses were becoming more dominant allowing lambs to be finished quicker prior to the onset of grass seeds
• Oversowing with Scope CL provides a flexible option in the grazing system with the ability to graze for feed in a seed free environment, or to lock up for grain if seasonal conditions are favourable 
• Heavy stocking rates (and possibly small paddocks or strip grazing methods) are needed to keep newer
forage ryecorn varieties grazed down to maintain feed quality and maximise grazing benefits.

• 60 thrips per plant four weeks after cotton emergence.
• Cruiser® seed treatment reduced thrips larvae numbers at one week after cotton emergence.
• Thimet® in-furrow treatment reduced thrips larvae numbers at one and three weeks after cotton emergence. » Hand-harvest yields indicated the Thimet® treatment increased yields over no Thimet®-treated plots.
• Machine harvest yields were not significantly different between treatments.

• Seed quality: Check the germination and vigour of seed harvested in 2000, or other weather damaged seed.
• Nitrogen: Soil nitrogen levels are likely to be lower in 2001, but will vary depending on summer rainfall, fallow weed control and paddock history.
• Screenings: Pinched and small grain can result from drought stress and high temperatures, foliar disease or inappropriate input levels such as excessive early nitrogen, late sowing or poor soil water extraction.
• Black Point: Black point in wheat is now thought to result from enzyme reactions during ripening, brought on by environmental stresses.

Please see attached trial report for results.

• Fungal diseases and aphids can affect yield dramatically in some years in some areas.
• Bayer CropScience is developing two new seed treatments which can help with fungal disease and aphid control and reduce the spread of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) helping to increase yields.
• In this trial no aphids and very low levels of disease were recorded.
• The use of Hombre and Zorro in this situation did not increase yield.

• Low-zinc seed and high-zinc seed oilseed rape genotypes were sown in pots containing zinc-deficient siliceous sand fertilized with low or high zinc supply in a controlled environment.
• After six weeks, plants derived from the high-zinc seed had better seedling vigour, increased root and shoot growth, more leaf area and chlorophyll concentration in fresh leaf, and higher zinc uptake in shoot compared to those from low-zinc seed at low zinc supply .
• The influence of high-zinc seed was dissipated at high zinc supply.
• The results demonstrate that although oilseed rape has very small seeds compared with wheat, zinc reserves present in seed still have a strong impact on early vegetative growth and zinc uptake in zinc-deficient soils.
• The results suggest that sowing high-zinc seed coupled with growing zinc-efficient genotypes may help in sustaining the production of oilseed rape in zinc-deficient soils.

• SBU is the spread pattern of seed and fertiliser relative to row space, expressed as a percentage.
• Safe urea N rates in Canola are approximately half that of wheat at the same SBU %.
• When the SBU % is > 45%, safe N rates become less than half that of wheat.