• There were no differences in yield between the control, BTH and fungicide treated plots.
• Disease levels in 2000 were very low and had no impact on yield.

• The fungicides Amistar Xtra and Cogito in this trial significantly reduced foliar disease levels providing significant yield increases in barley.
• The addition of Moddus Evo plant growth regulator provided a small incremental improvement on yield to the fungicides alone.
• The experimental in-furrow fungicide SYNSIF1 was not able to deliver disease control and hence yield improvements in this trial because foliar disease appeared after the useful residual of the product had been exhausted.

The results of the 6 tonne crop trial have raised more questions that we were able to answer. 

• The maximum response to fungicide was 17% (0.65 t/ha) with Bolac, 40% (1.24 t/ha) and Yipti and Chara 73% (2.11 t/ha).
• Impact (flutriafol) was particularly effective at delaying the built up of stripe rust in the Chara which has a susceptible rating to the disease.
• The effect of flutriafol was less evident in more resistant cultivars or where stem rust ws the principal disease (Yipti).
• Foliar fungicides at GS32-33 (2nd - 3rd node) gave their greatest benefits where Impact had not been applied, however, its use was still positive with Impact treated crops.
• A flag leaf spray was the most influential component of the fungicide strategies evaluated irrespecitve of cultivar.
• The flag leaf spray reduced late stem rust pressure and controlled the earlier infection of stripe rust on the flat leaf itself.

• Where Flutriafol in furrow was used at establishment no stripe rust was observed in the MS-S cultivar Chara until approximately 130 days after establishment at third –fourth node GS33-34.
• In Chara Flutriafol alone was still giving 80% control of stripe rust at the end of flowering, the same level of control achieved with a GS32 application of Folicur (145ml/ha). Where the crop had received a flag leaf spray at booting GS45 (late flag leaf spray) there was 99-100% control of stripe rust on the flag leaf throughout grain fill.
• All fungicide programmes applied to the cultivar Chara produced a significant yield increase (0.74 – 1.64 t/ha or 12-27%). The greatest yield increase of 1.64t/ha was the result of Flutriafol in furrow with two foliar fungicides
follow ups at GS32 and GS45.
• Chara gave an 18% yield increase from the use of fungicide, averaged across all fungicide treatments, Yitpi gave a 2.5% yield increase and Beaufort gave no response despite a late low level stem rust infection.
• Three of the eight fungicide programmes produced significantly higher yields than the fully untreated crop and the flutriafol alone when meaned across the three cultivars, they were the two programmes receiving two foliar fungicides and the flutriafol followed by a foliar fungicide applied at booting (GS45).
 

• An H45 crop affected by stripe rust was treated with Tilt. There was no significant difference between the yield of the sprayed and unsprayed sections.
• The crop was badly hit by frost and moisture stress in September and October.
• 2003 was not a typical year in the Parkes area, so the results from this demonstration should not be used until more work is carried out in more typical seasons.

• Disease was scored as being low to moderate during the two assessment intervals with the highest disease symptoms observed at the second assessment and only data from this period has been presented in this report.

• Average Canola yield in the trial was 2.47 t/ha
• Disease pressure at the site was high initially during winter, but after a dry spring Stem Canker didn’t develop into a serious problem.
• The highest yielding treatment was Jockey® seed treatment + Intake in furrow®.
• The addition of Intake in furrow® to Jockey® seed treatment was significantly higher yielding than Jockey used alone.
• Intake in furrow® or Jockey® seed treatment used separately showed no significant difference in yield.
• The earlier foliar fungicide timing significantly reduced blackleg lesions on the leaf compared to delaying the application by a further 21 days.

Both the Jockey seed treatment (Group B) and the Impact fertiliser treatment (Group C) gave added protection against stripe rust and leaf rust compared to Group A which relied solely on foliar sprays.

Disease assessment was not undertaken in this trial however the trial does reveal that treatment no. 6 with a conventional fungicide application yielded the highest, had the highest test weight, the lowest screenings and the highest thousand grain weight.

• This trial was infected with a reasonable level of leaf rust and all treatments yielded higher than the untreated.  The Amistar Xtra and Tilt Turbo treatments both yielded significantly higher than the control. When considering grain quality, Tilt turbo was best overall with significantly lower screenings. 
• For further discussion please see the attached trial report.

• This trial had relatively low levels of leaf rust and although there were no significant differences, most treatments yielded higher than the untreated. 
• For further discussion plesae see the attached trial report.

The trial shows clearly the impact of Stripe Rust on wheat yield and grain quality. All varieties had their yield depressed as a result of Stripe Rust, with an average yield reduction of approximately 21%. Those varieties with lower levels of resistance to Stripe Rust were more severely affected, with Silverstar for example suffering a 44% yield penalty. The extra profit generated by controlling foliar disease was on average $81.30 per hectare. The worst affected variety by fungal leaf disease (Silverstar) generated a further
$207.72 per hectare profit when sprayed with a fungicide. Stripe Rust had a significant effect of grain quality. Grain test weights and one thousand grain weights were reduced significantly in the unsprayed treatments. There was less effect on grain protein.

The trial was subject to a moderately dry finish and 2-3 week dry period in October, which curtailed grain fill, and resultant yields. Despite this, under moderate Scald (Rhynchosporium) pressure, a 2-spray fungicide programmes based on Tilt (propiconazole) and Tilt plus Amistar (azoxystrobin) gave a 6 and 7% yield increase (0.22 —0.25 t/ha) over the untreated (mean of nitrogen treatments). Though individual nitrogen levels differed, the 2-spray Tilt programme showed a small margin improvement, however the
strobilurin was not cost effective in this trial.

There was no evidence that the use of strobilurin fungicides lowered grain protein relative to untreated crops, despite yield increases of over 30%, contradicting European work where strobilurin application lowered grain protein through yield dilution. In this study strobilurin treatment was associated with either no effect or higher grain protein levels relative to untreated crops fertilised with the same amount of nitrogen. However, there was a slight trend to suggest that strobilurin treated crops utilised higher N rates better than untreated crops since where there was a margin advantage to nitrogen application it tended to be greater with the strobilurin treatments.

Seed disinfection with seed treatments is essential for smut and bunt control.

Under 1999 growing conditions little take-all developed in the trial despite the conducive cropping history (wheat on wheat).

It is important to consider the seasonal risk posed by diseases when developing an appropriate disease management strategy. Avoiding susceptible barley and wheat varieties will significantly reduce the risk of grain yield and quality loss due to disease Both foliar and fertiliser fungicides can both provide effective disease management when applied to coincide with the critical development stages of disease epidemics.

• Both barley scald and leaf rust were observed at high levels in the trial this year. 
• There were significant differences between the treatments with the best results obtained from the treatments with three separate applications. This equated with the levels of leaf disease in the plots. The plots with the highest levels of disease (and the lowest percentage of green leaf area) were generally the treatments with the lowest yield. 
• For further discussion plese see the attached trial report.

In the absence of disease at all three sites, some fungicide treatments still gave a significant yield increase over the nil treatment.

The unusually dry and hot seasonal conditions in October impacted on both the development of barley disease and the final barley yields. Both Impact In furrow ® and Bumper ® appeared to provide varying degrees of visual control of the barley disease scald. The yield of the barley variety Gairdner appeared to react to disease pressure more than Baudin, with the most likely reason being the longer growing season of Gairdner and the date of sowing of the two varieties. Nufarm's Fungicide systems program will continue to analyze the affect of different fungicides on wheat and barley varieties to determine the most strategic fungicide regime.

• Barley requires the same amount of nitrogen input as wheat to yield near its potential.
• 80-92 kg/ha Nitrogen (N) is required to maximise yield.
• Barley responds strongly to extra N when fungicide is used to control disease.
• A preliminary program for growing barley is ready for farmers. Anyone interested should contact John Sykes.

• Barley responded to inputs of nitrogen, buy responded to variably to fungicide.
• 20- 40 kg N was reqired to maximise yield.
• Where there was an N response, fungicide also gave an additional response.

• Barley responded to inputs of nitrogen (N), and fungicide in 2006 and 2007.
• 20- 40 kg N was reqired to maximise yield.
• Fungicide response was independent of N application.

• Barely responded to inputs of nitrogen and fungicide during 2008.
• 50 kg of seed was the optimum sowing rate.
• 40 kg/ha of nitrogen was required to maximise yield.
• Fungicide response was independent of nitrogen application.

Leaf rust, net blotch and barley scald were evident in the trial. The average yield response as a result of spraying with a fungicide was 900 kg/ha. Controlling leaf disease with the use of a fungicide significantly increased grain retention, reduced screenings and increased test weights. There was no significant effect on grain protein.

There are 2 commercially available varieties, namely Fleet and Capstan that performed very well in the trial. The effect of a foliar fungicide to control leaf disease (scald and spot form of net blotch) gave on average an additional 340 kg/ha yield which was cost effective on most varieties, even in a very low disease pressure situation.

For a full list of take home messages please see the attached trial report.

• The average yield for the barley variety trial at Dunkeld was 6.53 t/ha. 
• The highest yield was achieved by Westminster (7.52 t/ha) followed by cv. 4262 (7.40 t/ha) and Fleet (7.20 t/ha).
• Gairdner and Baudin were the lowest yielding varieties achieving 5.16 and 5.23 t/ha.
• Providional malt varieties Westminster, 4262 and Oxford topped the gross margin results with high yields, good retention and low screenings.
• Leaf scald pressure was high with all varieties showing some susceptibility when no fungicide was used.

• In the presence of disease, fungicide application increased grain yield (kg/ha).
• Grain quality improved with fungicide application.  
• In conjunction with a fungicide management strategy, growers should aim to select resistant barley varieties, using up-to-date disease guides for varietal choice. 

• In the presence of disease, fungicide application increased grain yield (kg/ha).  
• Grain quality improved with fungicide application.  
• In conjunction with a fungicide management strategy, growers should aim to select resistant barley varieties, using up-to-date disease guides for varietal choice. 

• In the presence of disease, fungicide application increased grain yield (kg/ha).

• Grain quality improved with fungicide application.

• In conjunction with a fungicide management strategy, growers should aim to select resistant barley varieties, using up-to-date disease guides for varietal choice.

• Where blackleg disease pressure is low, fungicide application is not necessary.
• The greater the amount of canola grown, the more likely is an infestation of blackleg.
• Consequently, in 2012, blackleg disease pressure may increase in the Wimmera and Mallee.
• A buffer of 500m from the previous year’s canola stubble is desirable when selecting canola paddocks.
• Growers should utilise the “Blackleg Risk Assessor” and the current “Blackleg Ratings” on the GRDC website.

• WA2211 had lower disease severity and slower build up of blackspot than Kaspa and Alma,
  however this was not reflected in final grain yield due to dry spring seasonal conditions.
• P-Pickel T slows the blackspot epidemic during the early stages of the crop growth. The effect of P-Pickel T wears off and disease levels are no different to untreated controls beyond 12 weeks after sowing.
• The blackspot epidemic spreads further in the crop during flowering and podding, by spore
  splash (demonstrated by trap plants placed at Kingsford trial). Fungicide sprays at this stage, to stop the infection on upper foliage and stems, may be beneficial in higher rainfall regions. This needs to be tested in trials by timing spraying with spore release.
• Concept trial methodology was successfully developed to assess wether field pea lines with
  improved blackspot resistance levels can be sown at earlier sowing dates than currently
  recommended. However further evaluation is required on WA2211 to assess wether its black spot resistance improvement is significant enough due to the dry seasonal conditions which prevailed in 2007 . This will occur again in 2008.
• The importance of an additive effect of varietal improvement, seed dressing and foliar sprays in allowing earlier sowing is not fully understood and requires further evaluation in a year more favourable for disease infection and spread.

• The risk of blackspot is influenced by many factors of which seasonal conditions play a significant role in disease outbreak as was observed in this trial.
• Fungicide use to control blackspot is one of the strategies to minimise the disease.
• Although there was no effect of fungicide treatment on yield, previous trials have shown that crops sown into high blackspot risk and with a high yield potential can benefit from a fungicide strategy of P-Pickel T seed dressing combined with a mancozeb spray at 9 nodes growth stage followed by a second spray at early flowering.

• Our standard package of 100 kg 18:20/ha at seeding under the seed row (to avoid fertiliser toxicity),  and two top-ups of nitrogen during the season (50 kg N/ha as broadcast urea each time) was not the right combination for wheat at our site last year. It would appear that we were far too generous with our N inputs because we could leave out all fertiliser N and not suffer any yield loss. However, some N would appear to have been necessary to maintain high protein levels.
• In addition, our standard package of one trial spray in September did not cope with the stripe rust  infection in such a susceptible crop as Wyalkatchem. A Jockey seed dressing helped but another foliar spray of Tilt at flag leaf emergence gave the best control of the options tested.
  • This trial showed that under the high productivity conditions of Kangaroo Island, P fertiliser is still a vital requirement, even if the soil has high P reserves.
  • There was no evidence that extra management options provided any further benefits to wheat performance (ie extra seed dressings, an early aphid spray, B or K fertiliser or use of a growth regulant) under the conditions of last year’s trial.
  • All yields fell far short of the French/Schultz potential yield of 8.4 t/ha (based on the growing season rainfall in 2005 of 532 mm) which suggests that we still have a lot to learn about growing wheat under Kangaroo Island conditions, although the delayed seeding date of 28 June would have contributed to the relatively low yields.

Different fungicide applications didn’t result in a significant difference in grain yield, however there was a large difference in the amount of internal blackleg infection.

• Split application of nitrogen at green bud and full flower produced the highest yields.
• The risk of a dry season can be reduced by using split fertiliser timings.
• Applying nitrogen consistently increases levels of protein in canola but reduces oil content.
• Using flutrifaol-treated starter fertiliser and in-crop fungicides increased yields of canola by an average of 0.42 t/ha.
• Fungicide use had no consistent impact on grain quality.
   

From this initial work it cannot be concluded that the later nitrogen timings implicit in a canopy management approach significantly influence the need for disease management.

• The concept of canopy management for improved disease control, fertiliser use efficiency and grain yield has been well documented in cereals, however limited research has been  onductedc on this concept in pulse crops, including faba beans.
• While large bean canopies are beneficial from a nitrogen fixation perspective, these often pose a number of problems, such as shading of flowers, poor fungicide penetration, increase disease intensity, increased plant lodging, decreased harvestability and the potential for haying off in seasons with a sharp finish.

• Significant yeild increases were measured at Conmurra by controlling aphids to reduce the impact of BYDV
• A range of fungicide treatments, applied at GS31 9increased grain yeild in wheat at Conmurra by about 2t/ha
• High levels of black point occured at Millicent and allowed good ratings to be made. 

•  Significant yield increases were measured at Conmurra by controlling aphids to reduce the impact of BYDV.

•  A range of fungicide treatments, applied at GS31 increased grain yield in wheat at Conmurra by about 0.8 t/ha

•  High levels of black point occurred at Millicent and allowed good ratings to be made. 

At the higher rainfall sites such as Conmurra, consideration should be given to spraying to control aphids in order to reduce the early infection of cereals by BYDV. At lower rainfall sites such as Frances this may only be a viable proposition in years with high summer and autumn rainfall that may allow increased aphid survival. The development of new varieties with increased tolerance to BYDV will reduce this need to spray. CSIRO has wheat lines in their breeding program that have this tolerance. While fungicides would normally be used when disease is present, there are some circumstances where yield increases can be recorded even in the absence of disease. 

• Resistant varieties will still produce excellent yields under high disease pressure and provide growers with a low risk alternative to grow chickpeas again.
• The resistant varieties Genesis 090 and Genesis 509 produce excellent yields under high disease pressure and provide growers with a low risk alternative to grow chickpeas again.

• The mild (although dry) finish to the 2012 season suited chickpeas at this site enabling them to mature slowly and achieve relatively high yields (averaging 2.6t/ha).
• Across all varieties a 13% yield improvement from fortnightly disease control, and a 7% yield improvement from strategic control involving three applications of chlorothalonil compared to untreated plots occurred.

Grain yield results of these trials need to be treated with caution due to the adverse environmental
conditions experienced throughout the season.

• Howzat had significantly greater levels of foliar disease and pod infection levels than all resistant varieties when no fungicides were applied.
• Under high disease pressure in Howzat fortnightly sprays of chlorothalonil did not always prevent plant death from occurring.
• Maximum grain yields in Howzat treatments at Turretfield occurred in fortnightly sprays of
  chlorothalonil, however disease levels in these treatments were still higher than in untreated plots of the resistant varieties
• Resistant varieties with no fungicides applied suffered no yield loss when compared to the same varieties treated with fortnightly sprays under high disease pressure at Turretfield
• One spray at podding to reduce pod infection levels from low levels to very low levels in resistant varieties was all that was required to successfully grow the new resistant chickpeas under high levels of disease pressure last year. There was no significant difference between the fungicides used to reduce pod infection levels in the resistant types, however chlorothalonil reduced levels to a far greater extent than Mancozeb in Howzat.

Grain Yield results of these trials need to be treated with caution due to the adverse environmental
conditions experienced throughout the season.

• The trial had no disease pressure and was not harvested for grain yield due to the dry conditions which have been outlined previously.

Grain Yield results of these trials need to be treated with caution due to the adverse environmental
conditions experienced throughout the season.

• See Milestone 1 for weather interpretation.
• Infected stubble was spread throughout this trial to ensure adequate infection by ascochyta
• blight.
• The trial highlighted the excellent foliage resistance of Flip 94-090c, Flip 94-508c, Flip 94-509c and Flip 97-530. However because of late rainfall it also showed the importance of the recommended fungicide application at early podding to prevent seed discolouration. Where the plots remained untreated, there were significant levels of infection on the seed.
• Varieties that are susceptible (Kaniva) or moderately susceptible to ascochyta blight (Howzat and WACPE 2075) had significant yield reductions without the application of fungicides.

• Dry seasonal conditions did not favour chickpea production in 2006 and grain yields were below average
• Ascochyta blight infection levels were only low in the trials however the ascochyta blight resistant varieties still had lower infection levels than Howzat, Almaz and Nafice
• Susceptible and moderately resistant varieties incurred grain yield loss in nil treatments compared to fortnightly sprayed treatments at Turretfield. This did not occur in varieties rated resistant including the two new lines to be released (FLIP94-079C and CICA503)
• Previous trials show ascochyta blight resistant varieties Genesis090 and Genesis509 can be successfully grown under high disease pressure with only the need for foliar fungicide sprays during podding
• No information was obtained on podding strategies required to reduce grain yield loss in resistant varieties due to a lack of pod infection from the dry spring conditions. Further work is required in this area.
• Varieties with intermediate resistance require foliar fungicides early in the season to control ascochyta blight and prevent yield loss even in dryer years.

• Howzat, Sonali and Almaz had significantly greater levels of foliar disease, pod infection levels, yield loss and seed size reductions than all three resistant varieties when no fungicides were applied at both sites.
• Under very severe disease pressure levels fortnightly sprays of chlorothalonil did not always prevent plant death from occurring in Howzat, Sonali and Almaz.
• One spray of chlorothalonil at the podding stage in the resistant varieties was sufficient to control high levels of ascochyta blight disease pressure and prevent yield loss and seed size reduction, up to eight sprays were required in moderately susceptible lines and four sprays in moderately resistant varieties.
• Genesis090 and Genesis508 can be successfully grown in SA with only the need for one fungicide spray during podding except for in cases where very severe levels of disease pressure exist early in the season and then more frequent spraying in flowering and podding may be required.
• Varieties with partial resistance to ascochyta blight like Almaz can be successfully grown in SA however they will require a proactive regular fungicide spray strategy including early season fungicide sprays when disease is present.
• The treatment based on spraying according to forecasted rainfall amounts and variety disease susceptibility (predictive) was successful for moderately susceptible varieties under high levels of disease pressure, however needs further refining for severe disease level conditions and varieties with moderate or greater levels of resistance to ascochyta blight.
• Chlorothalonil was superior to mancozeb as a podding spray treatment.

• No disease was present in the trial this year, therefore no effects of fungicide management regime were seen.

• Dry and hot conditions prevailed throughout late winter and spring limiting disease spread and plant growth.
• There was no fungicide treatment effect on grain yield in 2007.
• Fungicide treatments at early podding (pod), early and late podding (podplus) and strategic sprays (strat) had larger seeds than the control, but not significantly larger than fortnightly or systemic sprays.

• No disease was present in the trial this year, therefore no effects of fungicide management regime were seen.

• Significant levels of disease were present in the trial this year, but due to the high temperatures in November causing a short finish, it appears that potential yield differences were negated.
   

There was a small but significatn yield penalty for desi chickpeas treated with P Pickle T compared to the nil treatement (the control).

• Chickpea production in Victoria will increase in 2006 due to the wide availability of the ascochyta blight resistant variety Genesis™ 090.
• This variety will provide a new small seeded high yielding kabuli chickpea option for growers, particularly those in traditional desi growing areas.
• Two new larger seeded kabulis, Almaz and Nafice, with moderate ascochyta blight resistance are good varieties for areas where Kaniva has been grown successfully.

Yield increases were the result of stripe rust control and the associated green leaf retention achieved with fungicide treatment.

• Control of net form net blotch using effective fungicides resulted in yield increases of up to 1.0 t/ha compared to nil treatments.
• Two strategic fungicide applications during early-mid growth stages (before end of August) – suppressed disease development and provided control comparable to four applications made every 2-4 weeks from early August.
• Tilt, Amistar Xtra, Opera and Prosaro were effective for control of net form of net blotch.

• Control of net form net blotch using effective fungicides resulted in yield increases of up to 1.0 t/ha compared to nil treatments.
• Two strategic fungicide applications during early-mid growth stages (before end of August) – suppressed disease development and provided control comparable to four applications made every 2-4 weeks from early August.
• Tilt, Amistar Xtra, Opera and Prosaro were effective for control of net form of net blotch.

Seed-applied fungicide had no significant effect on plant establishment, yield or grain quality (Refer Table 2). Visual differences in disease levels were not present between the fungicide treatments. Spot Form of Net Blotch was present at low levels in the trial and Leaf Scald was present at very low levels.

This trial looked at protecting the crop from excessive sun and wind during the spring when crops are flowering and setting seed by covering it in shade cloth in early September. It was expected that this would improve yield and grain size but in fact it had the opposite effect with reduced yields and poor grain quality.

• This year was unusual in that red legged earth mite pressure at sowing was very low and no damage was done to the control plot.
• Wireworm damage had been observed previously in the paddock but in 2000 there was no evidence of wireworm damage.
• Cosmos seed dressing showed good tolerance in canola.
• There was also some spray drift on to the site, which may have affect yield.

• This was a large scale demonstration using Impact applied to the sowing fertilizer at the two label rates of 400m/ha and 200mL/ha. The two other areas were sown with no Impact on the fertilizer but one was sprayed with Impact at 250mL/ha at stem elongation. 
• There were no obvious signs of leaf diseases or other symptoms in the plots but the two Impact in furrow' treatments delivered economic yield benefits. The previous two crops grown in the area were wheat, which may mean Take-all was a factor. 

• Wheat on wheat following canola is an alternative that will enable more cereal crop to be grown in a rotation.
• Raising inputs on cereals to increase yield returns well in $/ha.
• Alternative crops such as canola and lupins are not high income earners compared to cereals with optimum (higher than average) inputs.

• Wheat on wheat following canola is an alternative that will enable more cereal crop to be grown in a rotation.
• Under dry conditions there was no response to additional nitrogen or fungicide treatments.  
• Alternative crops such as canola and lupins yield very poorly in drought seasons.

• Wheat on wheat following canola is an alternative that will enable more cereal crop to be grown in a rotation.
• Barley yields best under dry conditions.
• There were responses to additional nitrogen (N) or fungicide treatments in all cereal crops.
• Alternative crops such as canola and lupins yield very poorly in drought seasons.

• Wheat on wheat following canola is an alternative that will enable moer cereal crop to be grown in a rotation.
• Wheat or cereal after wheat has given a better return than more canola for the trial period 2004 - 2008.
• Barley yields and returns better profits than wheat or triticale under dry conditions.
• There were ersponsees to fungicide treatments and added nitrogen in barley during 2008 and in all cereals during the long term.

At Minnipa in 2013 there were cereal yield responses to fungicide treatments in both wheat (up to 14% better than no fungicide) and barley (up to 12 % better than no fungicide but not all strategies were effective). However there were still visual Rhizoctonia patches present. In-furrow fungicide applications were more effective than seed treatments. Tillage, starter nitrogen and zinc produced similar yields to many of the fungicide treatments. A three week delay in seeding reduced yield by nearly one third. Fungicide treatments did not prevent an increase in Rhizoctonia inoculum levels during a cereal phase.

• Yipti wheat is highly adapted to the Mallee environment. It is consistently one of the highest yielding varieties and has excellent quality characteristics.
• Yeipti is not hte best variety for direct drilling into wheat stubble as it is very susceptible to yellow leaf spot.

• Spot form of net blotch (SFNB) is a foliar disease of barley threatening production of the susceptible variety Gairdner.
• Fungicides may play an important role in achieving control over this disease

• Results of preliminary tests show the fungicide has excellent activity against this fungal disease.
• The potential use of the new AgrEvo fungicide in Australia will be as a single spray, six weeks after emergence, when seed treatment activity ceases.

The new Dun type field varieties Parafield and Kaspa (PSL4) had a significantly higher yield compared to Dundale at the Woomelang trial site (Dundale 1.3t/ha, Parafield 1.9t/ha, Kaspa 2.1 t/ha). The increased standability of Kaspa also makes harvesting much easier. In the 2001 season there were no benefits from a fungicide spray program on yield.

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

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

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

• New varieties are likely to offer significant yield improvement in southern Victoria, along with improvements in disease resistance.

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

• New varieties are available for southern Victoria, offering a range of grain types and forage options, associated with excellent yield potential. Disease had little impact on yields in 2014. PBA Pearl was the highest yielding variety producing, 2.3t/ha and estimated profit of $500/ha.

• Chlorothalonil (Bravo), pyraclostrobin (Cabrio) and azoxystrobin plus chlorothalonil (Amistar
  Opti) showed increased yield compared to the nil treatment, however further improvement is
  possible as the response from fortnightly chlorothalonil sprays was even greater.

• Disease was not significant in 2014. AF05095-1 continued to show increased susceptibility to brackling compared other varieties.

• Due to extreme weather events there was no major effect of disease management in 2014.

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

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

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

For trial results please see the attached trial report.

Yield responses were closely related to blackleg resistance rating. Varieties with a resistance rating of 7 or greater showed low or no response to fungicide application. Varieties with a mid range rating showed large responses to fungicide.Fungicide does not totally compensate for a low resistance rating.

• Evidence from this trial indicates that further investigation of fluid fungicides banded at sowing for crown rot management is warranted.
• Many treatments decreased crown rot incidence early in the season and in these treatments, the plants had increased vegetative bulk later in the season.
• Fungicide application reduced levels of crown rot DNA in the crop at maturity.
• Expression of crown rot symptoms in durum wheat and bread wheat were different, depending on the treatment applied

Applying gypsum can reduce soil pH and lower the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (C) to 30 cm depth within a year. Soils with pH > 9 will benefit most from gypsum. The solubilisation of soil organic C increased markedly at pH above 8.5. The availability of aluminium (Al) in soil increases at pH above 9. There was no significant effect of gypsum on the biomass or yields of crops within 2 years.

Leaf rust assessments on this trial have shown that Epoxiconazole at 375 ml/ha had the best response in this trial. The Powdery Mildew infection level were very low but there still was some response. A late application of Propiconazole at Z45 was the best performer with 0.47% infection of Powdery Mildew. Tilt Xtra (Propiconazole + Cyproconazole) was the second best result with 0.73% infection.

There was no take-all evident in the second cereal (wheat on wheat) trial and as a consequence no seed treatment differences in yield, however there was evidence of late season leaf rust control in the second wheat trial.

• New varieties are likely to offer significant yield improvement in southern Victoria, along with improvements in disease resistance.

• An advanced breeding line (AF07125) has been developed with improved resistance to CLS.
• There was no CLS in the trial, and the fungicide amended fertiliser (Impact-in-furrow) provided no additional benefits in terms of grain yield.
• Disease levels were low, and grain yield was high, averaging 4.3t/ha across the trial.
• The potential release AF07125 was the highest yielding variety, outyielding Farah and Nura by 5%

• Chocolate spot is a major disease in bean crops, causing significant losses to yield and profitability.
• Low disease levels in 2012 and favourable seasonal conditions meant that there was no treatment or variety response for either disease severity or grain yield.

• The late break (12 June) and prevailing seasonal conditions were unfavourable for the spread of disease, although chocolate spot and rust did infect the trial plots early in the season. Disease was not a yield limiting factor in this trial this year.
• No significant difference was recorded between any of the different fungicide spray programs within varieties or between varieties.
• Fiesta VF plots had a reduced plant population compared to the other varieties due to poor seed quality of the commercial seed sourced.y treatment.

• Low levels of ascochyta. Fiesta had a significantly higher foliar symptom score (2.1) than
  Farah and Ic*As/7/3 (both 1.1). The Standard and Complete spray treatments reduced
  ascochyta on Fiesta to negligible levels (score of 1.0).