• New varieties of field peas are available for southern Victoria, offering a range of grain types and forage options, associated with excellent yield potential.
• Kaspa continues to perform well with new line OZP1101 consistently producing the highest yields.
• Crop topping saw a yield reduction in most varieties due to crops not being advanced enough when ryegrass was at milky dough stage.
• In 2013, a fortnightly fungicide program proved profitable to control disease in field peas (particularly black spot).
• Sowing earlier has been found to be most profitable in this region, but disease management needs to be a priority.
• Based on yields achieved where disease was managed (4.7 t/ha) peas could have achieved a net profit of approximately $1000/ha based on management costs of $370/ha and grain price at $300/t.
   

The best field pea varieties recommended for growers in the Wimmera and Mallee are for:

• Dun type peas: 1) Kaspa, 2) Parafield,
• White peas: 1) Snowpeak, 2) Mukta,
• Blue peas: 1) Excell.

A new high yielding white field pea "Sturt" was commercialised in 2003 and showed the highest yield performance in 2003 in Victoria. Sturt will be available from growers from 2005/06.

Field pea grain yields were severely affected by a combination of moisture and heat stress and frost damage during flowering and podding. As a consequence, experimental and commercial grain yields were very low and discrimination between varieties often too small to interpret. Downy mildew and bacterial blight were observed in the Wimmera but had relatively very little impact on yield.

• With a dry warm summer few grass weeds were present.
• Wet weeds controlled well with sprays.
• Trial germinated well.

• Yields for the spring sown field peas at both Gnarwarre and Hamilton were promising this year, despite the dry spring conditions. Site means of 2.89 and 2.51 tlha were obtained for Gnarwarre and Hamilton respectively. 
• For further discussion please see the attached trial report.

• Well below average growing season rainfall did not provide favourable conditions for the development of blackspot, therefore there were no significant differences in grain yield between any treatments.  The mean yield across all varieties was 0.64 t/ha. 

• There were no significant differences in grain yield between treatments.  The mean yield across all varieties was 0.79 t/ha. 

• The inoculation treatments did not significantly affect the number of nodules per plant despite the paddock having no history of chickpea production.  However, field pea production was influenced by the treatments.

• Despite consistent stubble loads between treatments, differences in lodging (in all crops) and
  grain yield (field peas only) were generated between the three stubble heights at Pinery in 2013.
• In a similar trial in 2012, stubble treatments generated significant responses for biomass, maturity and grain yield.
• This supports previous work conducted by this project showing that the physical arrangement of stubble (ie standing versus slashed) can have a significant effect on the growth and performance of pulse crop types, as well as the amount of stubble present (ie retained versus removed).

• Our results show that stubble management (reduction in height from 40cm to 5cm) had no improvement on yield and lodging between crop types and varieties within a crop type under the seasonal conditions in 2014.

• there was a highly significant effect of sowing time across all varieties.

• Weather patterns experienced early in 2015 resulted in growers in many districts being advised by DAFWA’s Blackspot Manager Prediction model to delay sowing of field peas in SA. This sowing was often out of alignment with optimal sowing times based on best agronomic practice for some districts.
• Under high disease risk situations, growers in low rainfall areas may be best suited to choose alternative break crop options to field peas to avoid significant yield losses through delayed sowing or disease infection. If field pea remains the preferred crop it is important that growers consider the current recommended fungicide strategy of PPT and Mancozeb treatments, selecting paddocks with little or no field pea history, avoiding close proximity to previous field pea stubbles, and delaying sowing as long as possible.
• Several experimental fungicides with greater efficacy than Mancozeb showed improved blackspot control and significant yield increases over the nil and Mancozeb treatments in 2015.
• Disease progression and grain yield were both reduced by dry and hot spring conditions in early October at all sites in 2015. Further evaluation is warranted in years and environments with more favourable spring conditions. Earlier application timings than the 8 week treatment used in these experiments may also be warranted, along with additional ‘spring’ treatments in longer more favourable seasons.
• A number of industry support groups have reported the economic benefit of using fungicide in controlling blackspot in field pea. Results in 2015 showed the current fungicide application strategy, using PPT and two Mancozeb applications suppressed blackspot at most sites, but previous yield benefits reported from this treatment were not realised due to the hot and dry spring conditions experienced in 2015.
• New fungicide actives and formulas being evaluated showed significant increases in efficacy for controlling blackspot compared to untreated plots and those treated with Mancozeb. Furthermore, a significant yield benefit (approx. 15%) were also identified in these treatments this year. Further trials are planned in 2016 to explore these results.

Despite the lack of significant disease, grain yields were reduced by 20% (0.54t/ha) in a ‘nil’ treatment compared with a fortnightly fungicide application regime.

• Early sowing of field pea is essential for economic yields in dry years in low rainfall environments, providing frost, weed and blackspot risks are considered.
• Kaspa & OZP0602 had lower disease severity and slower build up of blackspot than the old Alma cultivar.
• Strategic applications of foliar fungicides led to a small but significant reduction in blackspot.
• Sowing field peas on the season break will increase blackspot risk however exposure to risk can be reduced through the use of the blackspot predictive tools (Blackspot Manager and DIRI) and careful paddock selection.

• Pulse production was generally much higher at the Mildura site than the Ouyen site.
• Field pea was the best yielding pulse crop at both sites.
• Selecting the right crop was more important than selecting the best variety.
• Field pea, lupins and faba beans had the greatest biomass production.
• Vetch biomass production was low due to the late break.

• Pulse production was generally much higher at the Mildura site than the Ouyen site.
• Field pea was the best yielding pulse crop at both sites.
• Selecting the right crop was more important than selecting the best variety.
• Field pea, lupins and faba beans had the greatest biomass production.
• Vetch biomass production was low due to the late break.

This project is funded by SAGIT as a follow-up to a 12-month study which screened oat varieties using pot assays in growth room/greenhouse. Two seasons (2018 and 2019) of field trials will be conducted.

 

About 60% of SA agricultural soils are sodic (high Na, etc) or saline-sodic (high NaCl & high Na, etc), which reduces yield. This study extended screening trials into two seasons of field trials at Redhill and Turretfield, to assess tolerance of oats to saline-sodic soils.

Main findings:

• The most tolerant oats (grain yield) were early-to-medium maturity milling varieties: Bannister, Bilby, Mitika, Williams, Echidna, Kowari. My message to farmers: “To maximize yield and profitability from salty paddocks, sow milling oats Bannister, Bilby, Mitika, Echidna or Kowari”

• The most tolerant oats (biomass yield) were Kangaroo, Bannister, Wintaroo, Mulgara, Mitika. All oats listed are commercial varieties, available now

• The grain yields of tolerant oats at Redhill (the saline-sodic site, under low growing season rainfall of 170 mm) were outstanding, e.g. Bannister (3.2 t/ha), Bilby (3.1), similar to Compass barley (3.2) and much higher than Mace bread wheat (1.5) and Aurora durum wheat (1.1)

• Pasture oats (e.g. Bond, Wizard) and overseas oats were intolerant of saline-sodicity

• The pot and field trials showed that the ability of the plant to extract water from salinesodic soil, rather than its ability to exclude sodium, is the key to acceptable yield on this type of soil.

• 2013 was a year of multiple germinations of radish and products with good residual were required.
• Velocity + MCPA, Precept + Lexone and Flight are currently the best performing products on the market to control radish in situations of multiple germination.
• Wild Radish with Group B and I resistance was found in 50% of surveyed paddocks.

• The cereal varieties and winter gap fill blend provide livestock with substantial feed during autumn and winter, then go on to produce high quality hay in spring.
• Clover, medic and forage brassica varieties provide nutrious feed over winter, spring and into early harvest time. These varieties also offer a disease break in a cereal rotation.
• Nutritional value of varieties was exceptional and would provide an excellent feed source for lactating ewes, and lambs.
•  

Knowing phosphorous levels in the soil is critical. At low levels of nutrition, an economic response to phosphorous application will be achieved. This work is critical in determining where the nutrient response curve flattens out – allowing for improved management decisions to be made.

• Since the year 2000 farm debt has doubled but so have land values hence current debt has adequate security.
• Farming systems which increase income through intensive cropping and higher inputs also increase costs of farm input and machinery. Higher costs will increase the loss in droughts. Target low cost options in 2007 to reduce the level of new debt and the risk of losses in 2007/08
• In 2007 it will be OK to leave 25 to 40% of area to livestock or fallow. Focus crop selection towards the low cost paddocks.

1. There was a 35% (970 kg/ha) grain yield response to the highest deep-P treatments in the 2018 sorghum crop.
2. There was no significant response to K in the 2018 sorghum crop.
3. Over 5 crops the deep-P treatments have produced between 2500-3000 kg/ha of extra grain over the zero P treatments.
4. After 5 crops the return on investment for 20 kg and 40 kg P/ha are 4.7 and 3.4 respectively.

This site had high soil nitrate reserves (45 mg/kg Nit N in 0 - 10cm) but there were still very good responses to Flexi-N. Although there were no Flexi-N placement/timing or stubble effects on yield, an analysis of protein yield showed that stubble reduced N recovery in the grain by about 30 kg protein/ha or 5 kg N/ha – most likely due to increased immobilisation. Leaf disease symptoms were most severe where stubble was retained but they were less obvious where Flexi-N was banded. Hectolitre weights were 78 – 79 kg/hl and screenings were 2 - 3% in all treatments.

These results show a strong tend towards N applied and what is remaining in the soil after the failed wheat crop.

• Cereals yield well relative to other crop types under low rainfall conditions, but use all available water and nitrogen
• Grain legumes do not yield well in dry seasons but can fix valuable amounts of nitrogen if brown manured
• Forage legumes (vetch and forage peas) can produce profitable amounts of dry matter in dry seasons.
• Research in higher yielding environments has shown that break crops provide significant yield benefits to subsequent wheat crops. Benefits to subsequent crops should be accounted for when making decisions regarding break crop options and end-uses.

• Cereals yield well relative to other crop types under low rainfall conditions, but use all available water and nitrogen
• Grain legumes do not yield well in dry seasons but can fix valuable amounts of nitrogen if brown manured
• Forage legumes (vetch and forage peas) can produce profitable amounts of dry matter in dry seasons.
• Research in higher yielding environments has shown that break crops provide significant yield benefits to subsequent wheat crops. Benefits to subsequent crops should be accounted for when making decisions regarding break crop options and end-uses.

• Grain yields can vary considerably within the paddock in the Victorian Mallee. The spatial pattern of this yield variation, however, is not always consistent, with relative yield patterns differing over consecutive seasons, and/or crop types, in a flip-flop (alternating) pattern.
• Consistently high yielding zones existed where the shallow subsoil (10-20cm) was a clay loam texture (33% clay) with low salinity. In contrast, consistently low yielding zones possessed a shallow subsoil of light clay (40% clay) and medium to high levels of salinity.
• Flip-flop yield zones were associated with gilgai (crab-hole) depressions where yields tended to increase in dry seasons (due to a concentration of surface water) but decreased in wet seasons (due to water logging of the heavy textured soils). In contrast where gilgai depressions and light textured soils occurred, crop yields were depressed in dry seasons.
• Overall, the flip flop patterns in grain yields observed within paddocks was attributed to the effect of gilgai microrelief and changes in soil texture which influence soil water availability to crops.

• In 2016 there was a small yield response to phosphoric acid over granular P at Warramboo.
• Fungicides and the addition of extra 40 kg/ha urea at seeding separately reduced Rhizoctonia seminal root infection compared to the control at both sites.
• Including fungicides will increase input cost and risk over a cropping program.
• The addition of a trace element mix or manganese did not improve yields at Streaky Bay or Warramboo.

• Phosphoric acid as a liquid fertiliser resulted in 13% and 8% higher yields in 2014 and 2015 respectively at Streaky Bay, and an 8% yield increase at Warramboo in 2016 when compared to the same rate of P delivered in granular fertilisers.
• Despite the yield increases at Streaky Bay and Warramboo, the economics showed granular fertiliser had greater returns in $/ha compared to using phosphoric acid at 9 units of P.
• The guidelines for moving to the adoption of phosphoric acid as a P source exist in the Fluid Fertiliser Manual which adequately covers the principles, economics, recommendations and chemistry of adopting fluid delivery systems. The manual is available at www.fluidfertilsers.com.au.
• Knowing the responsiveness of a soil type to phosphoric acid is an important factor to consider before investing in a fluid delivery system. The responsive soil types are generally higher n calcium carbonate (greater than 25%). P source responses may also be driven by soil moisture conditions because in 2016, which had wetter seasonal conditions, phosphoric acid and granular P performed similarly in the same soil type at Streaky Bay.
• The adoption of fluid fertiliser systems to place fungicides in-furrow for rhizoctonia disease management is not recommended in this environment. The addition of fungicides showed small and variable yield advantages at Warramboo in 2014 and 2016 and Streaky Bay in 2016. Using fungicides in above average seasons the greatest yield benefit was only 0.22 t/ha with an in-furrow application with granular phosphorus and trace elements. This is lower than the benefits achieved in other regions where yield increases of up to 0.49 t/ha in wheat with split applications of fungicides were achieved. Inluding fungicides on wheat up front will increase input costs and risk over a large cropping program. 
• Large scale demonstrations by growers across Eyre Peninsula with in-furrow fungicide applications at seeding did not reduce rhizoctonia or produce yield benefits over three seasons.
• The adoption of fluid fertiliser systems will depend in growers' soil types for phosphorus responses, the existence of trace element deficiences and ease or timing of application (in-furrow at seeding) and machinery ability to deliver fluids.

• Fungicides as seed treatments or in-furrow did not increase canola yield in 2015 or 2016.
• In 2016 Intake (on fertiliser) and Jockey (on seed) which is current standard practice, lowered Blackleg stem infection, and in 2014 this treatment increased yield.

• Field trials were conducted at two sites (comprising Sodosol and Calcarosol soil types) in the southern Mallee and one in the Wimmera (Vertosol soil) to assess the responsiveness of wheat to fluid forms of phosphorus (P) fertilisers.
• Fluid P forms (APP and phosphoric acid) generally produced greater growth during vegetative stages of crop growth compared to granular forms (DAP and Triple Super) at all three sites.
• However, in a season characterised by a late break and dry conditions prior to flowering, early growth responses to P fertiliser (regardless of form) translated to grain yield responses at only one Mallee site. In contrast there was significant grain yield responses to fluid P at Dooen (Wimmera).
• At this site, fluid P forms produced 0.24 t/ha (or nearly 10%) more grain on average than granular forms at commercially applicable rates (4 to 12 kg P/ha).

Despite the wet year, little folir disease was detected in the trial, therefore the foliar fingicides tested had no effect on yield.

• Fungicides are an effective management tool in protecting faba bean crops from grain yield and quality losses caused seasonally by Chocolate Spot and Ascochyta blight.
• Owing to the late break in the season crop growth rates were low until late September and the canopy remained open minimising the risk of a severe disease infestation.
• Fungicide treatments did not significantly affect yield (average yield 2.6 t/ha) or grain quality at this site.
• Seasonal conditions and disease pressures must always be taken into account when making a fungicide decision.

 

None of the fungicide treatments gave a statistically significant increase or decrease in yield compared to the untreated. Disease levels were extremely low all season at the Gnarwarre site, such that at GS72 (milky ripe stage) there was little difference between treatments in terms of green leaf area (GLA) of the whole crop canopy.

No fungicide treatment gave any yield benefit or extension of “green-ness” of the canopy.

The dry early winter and spring resulted in low disease pressure.

• Foliar fungicides appear to increase the yield and economic return for susceptible wheat cultivars such as Kellalac, where leaf rust (Puccinia recondita) is present at low to moderate levels.
• An application of fungicide at GS39 (flag leaf stage) to Kellalac at Gnarwarre, appeared to give adequate fungal leaf disease control. 
• Due to the late onset of leaf disease at the Gnarwarre site, there appeared to be little economic benefit derived from the additional fungicide application to Kellalac at GS32.
• Barley (var Gairdner) responded well to the use of foliar fungicides, despite the relatively low level of disease infection. This could be due to maintaining a green stem for longer.
• Even at a low disease site (Hamilton), there appeared to be some yield benefit from using fungicides to prolong the greenness of the plant leaf and stem. 

• The absence of leaf rust was presumably a function of the dry finish to the season and dry autumn and lack of a "green bridge" (alternative hosts). Scald infection levels were low. Based on the pessimistic seasonal forecast, nitrogen was not applied to the crop and it is likely this retarded the development of scald. 
• Further trials are required to evaluate these fungicides in seasons with higher disease pressure. 

There was no yield benefit from the application of foliar fungicides and no differences in response between Kellalac and Tennant. Seasonal conditions were not conducive to disease and further trials are required. 
 

• Replicated trials at 22 sites were sown in factorial design of two rates of manganese sulphate (0 and 32 kg/ha), drilled with the superphosphate (200 kg/ha) at seeding, and two rates of manganese foliar spray (Mangasol®) at 0 and 10 1/ha) applied at flowering.
• Harvest yields were obtained, and the number of split seeds recorded in the grain sample.
• Manganese significantly (P < 0.05) increased grain yields and reduced the proportion of split seeds in the grain sample at 10 of the 22 sites (see table).
• Manganese significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the proportion of split seeds at 8 non-yield responsive sites, and produced no response at 4 sites (see table). Cultivar effects were not apparent. Concluded that a Mangasol® foliar spray applied at flowering is a more reliable means of controlling manganese deficiency in lupins than is the drilling of manganese at seeding time.
• Wide-spread aerial applications of Mangasol® have been commercially applied in the two seasons since these trials. The method is cost-effective, and in most cases coincides with insecticide application.

• Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and molybdenum (Mo) were applied as foliar sprays at 75, 150 and 30 g/ha, respectively, to tillering wheat (5-6 leaf stage) growing on a strongly acid soil (Rutherglen site, pH CaCl2 4.38) limed at three rates (0, 2.5 and 10 t/ha lime).
• The highest lime treatment (pH CaCl2 increased to 7.18) was included to determine if lime induced any micronutrient deficiency.
• Two further sites were established on farmers' properties (Devenish, pH CaCl2 4.36; Goomalibee, pH CaC12 4.72), the same three micronutrients were applied with boron (B, 200 g/ha) to adjacent limed and unlimed areas.
• At the Rutherglen site plants were sampled on three occasions (3 leaf stage, jointing and flowering). The youngest fully emerged leaf (YFEL) was separated for chemical analysis.
• There was no effect of lime or applied Cu to the concentrations in the YFEL's.
• These concentrations considerably exceed the suggested deficiency value of <2 ppm (2). Zn concentrations in YFEL's at flowering were above 20 ppm for all treatments, well in excess of the critical deficiency level (<10 ppm).
• There were no effects on YFEL Zn concentrations from applying Zn or lime.
• The levels of Mo were significantly increased (P<0.01) by lime from 0.3 ppm to 0.6 and 0.8 ppm respectively, for 2.5 and 10 t/ha lime (SED0.059). However, YFEL Mo concentrations were more than adequate for plant needs.
• There was no effect of foliar applied Cu, Zn or Mo on grain yield.
• Lime has consistently increased grain yield at this site. At the Devenish and Goomalibee sites, lime significantly (P<0.01) increased grain yields (36% and 13% respectively) but there were no improvements from the applied foliar nutrients nor any interaction with lime.

At the time of first visit (30th May), plants were at ~3 leaf stage and no foliar disease was evident.  Seedling establishment showed no spatial differences, with average emergence of >100 plants / m2 in all treatments except those with triadimenol seed treatment where >20% reduction in emergence was noted.

Minimal foliar disease was evident at 7th July (~Z31) assessment, minor levels of Stagonospora nodorum (septoria nodorum blotch) (SNB) were evident in the lower canopy but severity was too low for fungicide differences to be assessed.  

Trace levels of powdery mildew (PM) were evident on stems and lowest canopy leaves of untreated plots at booting (27th July) when the second foliar spray was applied. Development of PM was slow and on 15th September (~Z69) average severity in untreated controls was <1% leaf area affected on top 3 leaves, with infection primarily restricted to Flag-2 (Table 1).

PM was also present on heads and stems at low severity at this time, however the distribution of disease, particularly on heads, was patchy across the trial making differentiating between treatments difficult. At this time only the booting foliar spray provided consistent significant reduction in incidence of powdery mildew on stems and leaves.

SNB was present at low levels throughout the season, assessments at head emergence (23rd August) showed a small but significant effect of foliar treatments (Z31 and Z45) and flutriafol and Uniform in-furrow on necrotic leaf area. Assessments 3 weeks later at Z69 indicated that flutriafol in-furrow, triadimenol seed dressing and both foliar spray timings were providing a small reduction (~8-15% leaf area) in necrosis associated with SNB infection (Table 1).

With late and patchy onset of PM, yield responses to fungicides were 0-320kg/ha, with only the flutriafol in-furrow treatment having significantly greater yield than the untreated control, this response is likely due to the reduction of SNB rather than any effect on powdery mildew. Neither foliar spray timing gave significant yield response. Reduced emergence in triadimenol treated plots resulted in a 15% yield reduction (Table 2).

At two other sites (Geraldton, Dalwallinu), where powdery mildew infection commenced during stem elongation, all tested seed dressing and in-furrow fungicides had significant impact on disease severity and incidence. At the one site (Geraldton) where powdery mildew was yield limiting, in-furrow and foliar fungicide treatments gave a significant yield response.

• Fungicide seed treatment or in-furrow did not affect germination or emergence.
• Root disease levels were too low for fungicide responses to be evident.
• Foliar assessments at Z25 & Z30 indicate low levels of necrotrophic disease, both yellow spot (YS) and Stagonospora nodorum (SNB) present with SNB dominant, with no significant impact of at-seeding fungicides on disease expression.
• Foliar fungicide applications at Z31 and Z39 significantly reduced foliar disease severity (YS and SNB) at flag leaf and head emergence.
• Warm dry spring conditions limited fungicide response to late fungicide (Z55) application.
• Yield and quality results were not available.

• Simulated grazing up to early tillering on cereals caused only a minor reduction in grain yield.
• There are broad leaf field crop alternatives, forage peas and vetch, that as a monoculture or as component of a cereal or oilseed mixture can increase total (anthesis) biomass production.
• There are further opportunities to develop farming systems around the multipurpose break crops on upper Eyre Peninsula.

• Forage pea varieties produced similar levels of biomass to other peas and less than vetch at Hart in 2014. They were also more susceptible to blackspot than other pea varieties.
• The value of PBA Hayman as an alternative to vetch will depend largely on being able to sow it early and control blackspot disease infection. This will often be difficult to achieve and sowing dates will need to be as early as possible around safe “black spot manager” predictions.
• Where sowing of field peas was delayed, biomass was maximised by increasing sowing densities above 50 plants/m2 with little negative effect on grain yield.

• Biomass production at Hart in 2013 averaged 4.2 t/ha at the early pod development stage, and 5.0 t/ha at maturity across the trial.
• Kaspa, Morgan and PBA Coogee have generally shown similar biomass levels at flowering in 2013, although Kaspa has shown higher grain yield.
• PBA Hayman produced the highest biomass of all the field pea and vetch varieties at the early pod development stage, particularly when sown early.
• Vetch varieties showed equal or greater biomass to Kaspa, Morgan and PBA Coogee at the early pod development stage, but lower than PBA Hayman.
• Biomass of field pea varieties at flowering was maximised at higher sowing densities (75 and 100 plants/m2 ), however this resulted in yield loss at some sites.

• Molybdenum is required for healthy pasture growth across most of Victoria.
• It is especially important for nitrogen fixing legumes.
• Molybdenum deficient legumes look N deficient.
• Molybdenum should be applied every 5 to 8 years.
• No more molybdenum should be applied than is necessary as excess molybdenum reduces the availability of copper to livestock.
• Stock should be excluded from fields for six weeks after molybdenum application to reduce the risk of copper deficiency in livestock.

• Organic amendments improved ‘soil health’ in terms of free living nematode community structure.
• The Tilled + Organic Matter treatment had a more well balanced soil microbial system than other treatments.
• Numbers of omnivorous and predatory nematodes are quite low in comparison to other cropped soils around Australia, thus room for improvement.
• Soils have improved, as the number of omnivorous nematodes in 2013 significantly increased in organic amended treatments, in comparison to 2011.

The outcome of the project will be an effective strategy for increasing a farm’s environmental value through establishing wildlife ponds that both sustain frog populations and enhance overall biodiversity. This will include an alternative use of farm dam sites and the protection of remnant native vegetation.

Frost events will occur when temperatures at the soil surface are below 0°C. These conditions often occur when a cloudy day is followed by a windless cloud free night. Cereal crops are at the greatest risk of damage when there is a frost during flowering however, damage can be done any time between late stem elongation and late grain fill.

• Yield results of triticale grown on Southern Farming Systems (SFS) sites last season have highlighted a need for continued research into frost and its effects on cereals; triticale in particular.
• Many triticale lines on the Streatham and Hamilton sites in particular were recognized as being moderately to severely effected by frost.
• Analysis of head and grain samples are still undergoing testing and further evaluation before firm results can be made available on individual frost effects on various lines in the research trial. 

• There were no significant differences in lentil grain yield among seeding system or stubble treatments.
• Stripper and conventional stubble treatments resulted in taller and more erect plants with higher pods, improving harvestability

Populations of fumitory are now exhibiting resistance to commonly used broadleaf herbicides, including Clearfield®.

Avoid cultivation which promotes the germination of fumitory.

In this trial, Precept®, Velocity® + MCPA LVE and Affinity Force® + MCPA Amine, were most effective in controlling fumitory. On-duty® and other Group B herbicides were amongst the worst performers.

• Very little Septoria was noticed at any of the locations, with leaf rust being the biggest leaf disease problem at all three sites. 
• For further discussion please see the attached trial report.

• Mace and Scout both yielded higher when fungicide was applied.
• Triad is a cheap fungicide and can be effective, but needs to be used strategically and at rates of at least 2 L/ha.
• Management and attention to monitoring wheat crops must match variety grown to achieve yield potential.
• Regular crop inspections are essential to maximize yield potential • All fungicides work best when used as a preventative spray than as a cure.

• Mace and Scout both yielded higher when fungicide was applied
• Triad is a cheap fungicide and can be effective, but needs to be used strategically and at rates of at least 2 L/ha
• Management and attention to monitoring wheat crops must match variety grown to achieve yield potential
• Regular crop inspections are essential to maximize yield potential
• All fungicides work best when used as a preventative spray than as a cure

When spraying for stripe rust in susceptible crops spraying should take place during the early stages of disease development and generally not before the flag leaf stage of the crop. Spraying when the disease has fully developed and/or waiting until the crop is past the flowering stage is unlikely to be beneficial. See also “Fungicide strategies in wheat and barley” articles in this manual.

Ascochyta blight still has the potential to threaten a chickpea crop, as varieties available to the farmer today are still susceptible to the disease. Without a fungicide plan a chickpea crop is at risk of being devastated by ascochyta. In this trial, chickpeas that had no fungicide applied during the season had significantly lower yield than those treated with some sort of fungicide plan. Those plots treated with three fungicide applications during the year had the highest yield response (1.34t/ha and 1.39t/ha) compared to 1.1t/ha for the unsprayed control.

There was general trend for those treatments that produced the best disease control to produce the highest yields e.g. Tilt Xtra/Amistar Xtra 2 spray programme and 2 spray Opus programme (however there were notable exceptions).

Severe moisture stress was a key feature of both barley fungicide trials this season with the Mallee trial yields ranging from 0.49 – 0.72 t/ha and Wimmera yields from 1.85 – 2.09 t/ha.

For the second year in succession there was no response to foliar fungicides in the Mallee trial on wheat, water stress leading to poor canopy size preventing disease build up and reducing yield potential (yield range 0.68-0.82 t/ha).

Delaying the onset of a stripe rust outbreak can be achieved using fungicide seed dressings or fertiliser treatments. In situations where this is beneficial such as in the Wimmera where conditions may be too wet for fungicide application late in the season, this could be a good strategy.

• To date field trials funded by GRDC project DAS00136 have not been able to show that application of fungicides to seed provide significant reductions in yield loss caused by crown rot.
• Fungicides applied to seed or in-furrow at seeding can provide some suppression of pathogen growth through the plant early in the season (as measured using DNA techniques) but this effect is gone by early grain fill.
• In crop spray applications targeted at the base of plants have shown small yield benefits, but these benefits are not consistent between sites and across seasons.

• H45 proved far more susceptible to stripe rust than Diamondbird in 2004.
• With the dry conditions of 2004, when yields were higher (2-3 t/ha) stripe rust infection significantly decreased yield in H45 by 16%-17%. Grain quality effects were also recorded at the site with the highest level of infection.
• Jockey seed treatment provided some residual control of stripe rust at two out ofthe three sites.
• Foliar fungicides proved very effective at reducing stripe rust infection.
• Only the combination of seed applied + foliar fungicide resulted in a significantlyhigher yield and quality than the nil treatment with H45 wheat.
• Yellow leaf spot had no effect on yield or quality of the susceptible varietyDiamondbird.

Very little differences were found in the experimental trials with and without inter-row compaction in 2015 due to localised seasonal conditions. However, another site at Southern Cross where inter-row compaction was used with barley resulted in grain yields up to 2.5t/ha. There was also an indication from black plastic over inter-rows at Southern Cross, that water harvesting can potentially double wheat grain yields from 0.8 t/ha to 1.6 t/ha. The latter highlights that the benefits of compacted inter-rows could potentially be maximised using a water-harvesting, spray-on polymer on the compacted inter-row.

•  A survey of 80 winter cereal crops across central and northern NSW in 2016 established that low levels (generally <1%) of Fusarium head blight (FHB) were evident with the causal pathogen predominantly being Fusarium pseudograminearum (Fp).
• This was the crown rot fungus (Fp), reminding growers that it does not disappear in a wet season.
• FHB infection caused by Fp has a reduced risk for mycotoxin accumulation in infected grain, but could have detrimental impacts on crop establishment if seed is retained for planting.
• Planting Fusarium-infected grain can also introduce seed-borne crown rot infection into clean paddocks, negating the rotational benefits associated with growing non-host crops.
   

• No impact on crop emergence, head count or yield observed 
• No indication of any benefit from application of fungicide as seed treatment 
• Significant increase in Fusarium colonisation when sorghum sprayed out with glyphosate 
• Increase in Fusarium colonisation following glyphosate spray-out was significantly greater in MR Bazley than MR Buster

Possible strategies are:

• move from breeding to dry sheep enterprise,
• extend rotations and replace grain legumes with productive clover or medic pastures,
• build good working relationships with professional contractors and be prepared to pay them according to their skill,
• develop a positive attitude to employing casual labour or consider having a proficient student or overseas farmers on work experiences, and
• make as much contact as possible with others who have similar goals and aspirations. Exchange ideas, help each other and adopt a really positive approach to part-time farming.

 

• The random survey found that button grass infests approximately 45% of cotton fields.

• The species shows a high level of physical seed dormancy.

• Seedlings of this species can survive a moderate level of water stress.

• Southern populations of this species are sensitive to saline conditions.

• Gibberellic acid is a safe, cheap and convenient way to increase winter fed growth, but it must be applied early in the season (ideally by late autumn/early winter).
• Only apply Gibberellic acid if there is sufficient soil moisture and adequate levels of surface cover.
• Applying early in the season will boost winter growth.
• Applying too late can potentially cause a decrease in spring feed production.
• Don’t graze the paddock within 3 weeks of application.

• Gibberellic acid is a safe, cheap and convenient way to increase winter fed growth, but it must be applied early in the season (ideally by late autumn/early winter).
• Only apply Gibberellic acid if there is sufficient soil moisture and adequate levels of surface cover.
• Applying early in the season will boost winter growth.
• Applying too late can potentially cause a decrease in spring feed production.
• Don’t graze the paddock within 3 weeks of application.

“There are some very good reasons why we should either get into sheep or continue with them as an important enterprise.” Here are some pros and cons to the above statement.

• Clover content in kikuyu can be increased by hard grazing of the kikiyu stand prior to the opening rains (insure RLEM are controlled, lime if soil is pHCaCl<5).
• Sowing legumes can increase legume content. If grass suppression is used, weeds may also increase unless control measures are taken.
• Legume content can be increased after the break by using a grass selective herbicide to suppress the kikiyu, if you have an adequate clover seedbank.
• If clover needs to be added, drill seed in, don't broadcast.

• No-Till is a whole farming system, not just a change of machinery. If farmers only get part of the package right, the potential to succeed with no-till is greatly reduced.
• Paddock selection, stubble management, weed control, nutrition, disease management and seed placement all play a vital role in the success of no-till.
• 2007 has many advantages for the first year no-tillers with low stubble loads, residual nutrition and low disease carryover.
• Ask others who have successfully made the change to no-till what works for them. Don’t try to re-invent the wheel and make the same mistakes all over again.

• Clethodim sprayed with medium droplets provided better control of annual ryegrass (ARG) than very coarse droplets when at the 4 leaf growth stage of the weed
• Clethodim effectively controlled ARG at mid-tiller and late-tiller growth stage, irrespective of nozzle type
• Delaying spraying until ARG is at late-tiller stage may compromise canola yield 

• Sowing winter habit canola early in the autumn can provide grazing and grain yield.
• Garnet sown early can still produce good results.
• In mild weather aphids are a problem longer into the season and possibly sowing a spring variety earlier gives the potential to develop before succumbing to viruses.
   

In 2002 barley breeding and evaluation trials were as susceptible to drought conditions, as was the rest of the farming community. Only 12 of 21 advanced variety trials warranted harvesting, with trials in the Wimmera and north-central districts being the most severely effected – only 4 of 12 trials were harvested from these areas. Average yields of those trials harvested were only 1.4t/ha compared to the long-term average yields of these trials (on a State wide basis) of 3.0t/ha. Taking into account both the average yields of these trials, and the loss of almost 50% of trials, the trials reflect closely to a Victorian season where the crop harvest was only approximately 25% of average.

Four problem sub-clover species Yarloop, Dinninup, Geraldton and Dwalgenup.

Oestrogenic clovers are responsible for a variety of symptoms in sheep including reduced ewe fertility, difficult births, prolapse of the uterus, urethral blockages in wethers and udder development in maiden ewes and wethers.

Paddock assessments have confirmed the widespread presence of oestrogenic clovers in the South East and Kangaroo Island.

Growers are encouraged to assess their own paddocks for the presence of problem species and their potential impact on their flock.

• In 2017 and 2018 a total of 61 paddocks were assessed from 10 properties on Kangaroo Island (KI) and the South East (SE) of SA with 44% having the potential to cause fertility issues in ewes, with visual assessments ranking them moderate to high.
• Whole farm assessments of the two focus demonstration farms have identified that 38% of the paddocks were moderate to high risk on the SE property and 60% of the paddocks were moderate to high risk on the KI property.
• Producers found that identifying all four of the oestrogenic clover cultivars was difficult.
• Undertaking paddock assessments to determine the risk rating of a paddock is time consuming for most producers.
   

• CWFS regional site trials during 2013 and 2014 suggest stubble loads greater than 3 t/ha can limit yield.
• “No till with no stubble is no good” on hard setting red brown soil types. The delimma is that the annual incorporation of stubble just prior to sowing by cultivation or removal by burning would result in the loss of signifigant long term benefits to soil health.
• “If you do not measure it you cannot manage it!” Field measurements of stubble are the starting point for deciding what to do.
• Options to manage stubble loads above 3t/ha need to be made seasonally. Good planning may allow other agronomic and farm efficiency outcomes to be achieved at the same time.

PGR applied to barley in this trial suppressed plant height, generated a yield benefit and improved crop gross margin.

No single variety responded differently to the addition of PGR or fungicide in this trial.

Fungicide extended the green leaf duration of the crop.

• There were few significant differences between the two systems.
• The most important difference was a significant reduction in conception rate of Merino ewes from the Saltbush system. Wool production and body characteristics between the ewe bloodlines were significantly different but were as expected – the contrasting bloodlines had been bred that way.
• If belts of OMSB are incorporated into low rainfall mixed farms and managed in a similar manner to that tested here, it is unlikely that any worthwhile productivity benefits will result.

• There has been no evidence of any soil health or production losses with grazing after seven years, irrespective of whether crop or pasture inputs were increased or kept at district practice levels.
• In 2014 higher input systems showed how increased inputs and costs throughout the season can result in increased productivity and subsequent profitability.

• There has been no measured grain production or soil health decline associated with grazing sheep on pastures and crop stubbles over a 4 year pasture-wheat rotation. Grain yields were higher as a result of increased wheat seed and fertiliser rates in 2013.
• Higher applied crop seed and fertiliser rates with an improved medic pasture increased estimated gross margins by $16/ha/annum over a 6 year wheat-wheat-pasture-wheat-pasture-wheat rotation

• Grazing sheep have not damaged soil health over eight years of several crop/pasture rotations.
• In 2015 total annual biomass was greater in higher input and grazed rotations. High input grazed systems carried twice the stocking rate of a low input system.

• Over nine seasons, incorporating livestock into the rotation improved overall system outcomes in this trial, including; increased nitrogen cycling and water use efficiency, reduction in weed and pest populations and no negative effects on cereal performance or soil health, while value adding to stubble and pastures by grazing.
• The high input grazed farming system had a gross margin of over $100/ha/year more than lower input and ungrazed treatments over the nine-year trial period.

Early dry matter production (forage value) was boosted by earlier sowing.

• Germination of half the species at each trial site was above 33 plants/m2.
• Although most of the speices achieved this good germination many of the plants have now died or are looking very water stressed.
• On visual assessment, both Rhodes species and Signal grass have experienced the highest survival rates and are looking the least water stressed.
• The grasses would benefit greatly from a summer rainfall event.

• Germination of half the species at each trial site was above 33 plants/m2.
• Although most of the speices achieved this good germination many of the plants have now died or are looking very water stressed.
• On visual assessment, both Rhodes species and Signal grass have experienced the highest survival rates and are looking the least water stressed.
• The grasses would benefit greatly from a summer rainfall event.

• Forage cereals offer a more flexible grazing resource than the traditional grain cereals.
• The grain yield penalty as a result of grazing depends on the timing of grazing, the level of grazing pressure and allowing sufficient time for the crop to recover. If these factors are optimised, grain yields will not be affected.

• In 2006 Buntine received 100mm less rainfall than the average rainfall for that area.
• The largest rainfall event for the year was in January and therefore would have greatly benefited the sub-tropical perennial grasses. 

• Pasture cropping is a relatively new system combining livestock and crop production on the one area of land.
• Production of crop and pasture individually can be lower when grown together in a pasture cropping system compared with when either is grown alone, however the overall annual production can be higher.
• Pasture cropping systems can be managed so that annual winter crops have no direct competition from pastures while the crop is growing.
• Pasture cropping can improve year-round resource use increasing overall annual productivity compared with conventional annual cropping or pasture systems.
• Pasture cropping will be most effective in soil types that do not store soil moisture well and have some summer rain.

• Grazing pressure is greatest in winter, with volunteer pasutre providing the majority of the value.
• The stocking rates used on the improved pastures are also relatively high.
• Crop stubbles provide the majority of the grazing value in summer and autumn however they are grazed at very low stocking rates.

 

Cattle are brought onto the property from stations from June to September at an average weight of about 140kg/ha and then leave from mid-October to mid-February at approximately 300kg/ha.

Cattle are brought onto the property from stations from June to September at an average weight of about 140kg/ha and then leave from mid-October to mid-February at approximately 300kg/ha.