Hussar® is a group B herbicide, which is active on a range of grasses (Wild Oats, Phalaris, and Rye Grass) and broadleaf weeds in wheat. Hussar® is currently pending registration.

Affinity is a Group G herbicide (as is Goal) used for broadleaf weed control in cereals. Best used in conjunction with MCPA. The control plot yielded the least presumably due to competition from weeds. Affinity showed good crop tolerance.

Paragon is similar to Tigrex and in this demonstrationshowed good tolerance in wheat.
 

Raptor (imazamox) has activity on barley grass, brome grass, dead nettle, volunteer cereals, wild oats and mustard. 

The main messages from the agronomy trial work undertaken in 2005 were: ƒ

• After a slow start, our season in 2005 ended up producing excellent yields and quality,
• Grass weeds are becoming more and more of a concern across our region,
• Timely summer weed control is important. Spraying summer weeds over 2004/05 resulted in a 0.5 to 0.7t/ha yield increase, and
• Climate variability is something we need to learn to live with.

The trial was conducted near Goondiwindi on a population of ~6 barnyard grass/m2. Majority of weeds were at flag leaf emergence with first flowers visible on ~20% of the population. Average weed size was ~20cm diameter and 15cm tall.
The 1st knock application was applied commercially (Roundup + Clethodim + Starane + LVE + Banjo) with 2nd knock treatments applied 8 days later.
All 2nd knock treatments significantly increased % weed burndown, when assessed 5 days after application with Gramoxone 2.4 L/ha providing significantly increased burndown compared to all other treatments.
Assessment of regrowing barnyard grass was conducted 28 days after the 2nd knock application. The 1st knock alone had provided ~85% control with no significant improvement in control from any 2nd knock treatment. In this situation, when sprayed on advanced barnyard grass growth stages, there was no significant improvement in control from any 2nd knock treatment.

The trial was conducted near Goondiwindi on a population of ~6 barnyard grass/m2. Majority of weeds were at flag leaf emergence with first flowers visible on ~20% of the population. Average weed size was ~20cm diameter and 15cm tall.
The 1st knock application was applied commercially (Roundup + Clethodim + Starane + LVE + Banjo) with 2nd knock treatments applied 8 days later.
All 2nd knock treatments significantly increased % weed burndown, when assessed 5 days after application with Gramoxone 2.4 L/ha providing significantly increased burndown compared to all other treatments.
Assessment of regrowing barnyard grass was conducted 28 days after the 2nd knock application. The 1st knock alone had provided ~85% control with no significant improvement in control from any 2nd knock treatment. In this situation, when sprayed on advanced barnyard grass growth stages, there was no significant improvement in control from any 2nd knock treatment.

Overall, there was a positive relationship with coleoptile length and wheat emergence in both 2021 and 2022 trials, where Halberd, Rht13 variety Magenta-13, and Rht18 varieties Mace-18 and Yitpi-18 consistently had 95-100% emergence when sown at depth. Shorter coleoptile varieties had significantly less plants emerge by comparison, such as Scepter (60-75% emergence from depth), and Mace (50-70% emergence from depth). Emergence was significantly faster for Mace-18 compared to varieties such as Scepter and Calibre when sown at depth (120 mm) into soil temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. Mace-18’s coleoptile elongated twice as much as Calibre’s at 8 DAS.
The 2022 Muntadgin trial exhibited how longer coleoptile wheat had significantly more plants emerged and emergence at faster rates than shorter coleoptile varieties (100mm+ sowing) across uneven soil platforms following soil amelioration.
Rhizoctonia was prevalent in most shallow-sown plant samples (sown 35 mm dry) compared to deep sown wheat (100 mm into moisture) which exhibited very few spear-tipping symptoms in various 2021 trials, and at Ballidu in 2022.
More vigorous Rht18 varieties such as Mace-18 had significantly less annual ryegrass weeds in deep sown plots compared to Mace sown deep across three assessed locations (2022). Shallow-sown Mace-18 was more vigorous than Mace, also leading to weed out competition in conventional sowing situations. In Ballidu, deep-sown mace had significantly higher weed infestation (nearly three times the weed counts) than Mace-18 sown deep.
Overall, there was the same yield result (100-200 kg/ha difference) between shallow sown Mace and Mace-18 at 5 locations. At three of the five locations, Mace-18 yielded better than Mace when sown deep in 2022.
There were few differences in emergence and yield where various IBS and EPE herbicides were applied to shallow and deep sown wheat. Long coleoptile wheat was shown to improve crop safety where trifluralin was applied IBS, with 90 mm sown wheat, demonstrating reduced coleoptile thickening and greater seedling vigour across multiple treatments compared to 35 mm sown plots. Field walk discussions were made around exploiting the absence of nodal roots with pre-emergent herbicides when sowing deep, as mobile pre-emergent herbicides (Sakura, Luximax and Overwatch) may cause greater crop damage when washed into the root zone of shallow sown crops.

• At Grass Patch in 2016 there was no response to fertiliser applications of K, S and micro nutrients. 
• There was a yield response to P and N.
• Considering the costs of inputs, the lowest cost treatment which provided equal maximum gross margin was to apply only superphosphate at sowing – equivalent to 9 kg P/ha.
• In this region farmers typically apply either superphosphate plus N or a compound fertiliser at sowing and top-up N at 4- 6 weeks after sowing.  This approach in this experiment would have had higher up front input costs, did increase yield but did not lead to higher gross margins.  But the farmer approach also is a more balanced nutrient approach, in that nutrients are replaced to balance out nutrients removed in the seed.

• Non wetting soil resulted in poor weed germination pre seeding
• Pre seeding the total trial area received 2 knockdowns with 1.5 L/ha Sprayseed.
• The limitation and knowledge of the relative tolerance of the different perennial grasses to grass selective herbicides prevented removal of late germinating brome and ryegrass from the trial post seeding.
• Jaguar was sprayed on the 29/6/2011 and good broad leaf control was achieved.
• For further results please see the attached trial report.

• The high ryegrass burden, particularly on the TOS1 plots impacted on the usefulness of the yield prophet tool for this time of sowing as it does not take into account other yield limiting factors.
• High rye grass burden on TOS1 had significant impact on yield (approx 1.2-1.3 t/ha).  As such we have learnt that site selection (most especially with herbicide resistant weeds) is critical in order to conduct meaningful trials.
• No difference in Yield Prophet forecasts between the two cultivars Mace and Bonnie Rock. This was also expressed in the harvest results, in direct contrast to the very dry, early finishing 2010 season, where Mace out yielded Bonnie Rock in all treatments.

• Investigation of weed seedbank decline in nine chaff-lining systems of South Australia demonstrated that growers are achieving high concentration of weed seeds and crop residue at harvest.
• Assessment of the viable weed seed fraction after crop harvest suggests that large residual annual ryegrass, brome grass and Indian hedge mustard seedbanks have been established in cropping field because these species did not decay over the summer-autumn period in chaff-lines.
• Evaluation of chaff-tramlining systems showed that annual ryegrass seedbank decline is independent of chaff-line configuration and chaff density.
• The stability in the weed seedbanks in chaff-lines were consistent with the dry conditions over the summer-autumn period.
• Growers should be cautious of the magnitude of viable weed seeds in chaff-lines before the cropping season and expect variability in the effectiveness of this tactic between seasons.

• Good seed quality is essential for the successful adoption of No-Till farming systems.
• Highest yields generally occur with row spacing narrower than 300 mm and the benefits of adopting wider row spacing needs to be evaluated against the costs (in terms of lower yields).
• Narrow row spacing should not be used with currently recommended rates of pre-emergent herbicides for No-Till farming systems.

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

• In 1997 it was not safe to use the knockdown Gramozone at the half leaf stage on wheat or barley (this has been a relatively safe practice in previous years).
• The crop did not recover from the spray due to the dry conditions.

• Group 1 (A) selective herbicide in 2019 gave good barley grass control, with an early application (2-4 leaf) better than a late application (Z31). Group 2 (B) herbicide in 2021 pasture gave similar results but control was not as effective.
• Paraquat spray topping in 2019 did not reduce seed set.
• Slashing in 2021 gave excellent seed set control.
• Effective Group A weed control in 2019 combined with Sakura® + Treflan® in 2020 successfully reduced this very dense barley grass population by 98% compared to a rotation of grazing (no herbicide) in 2019 and Treflan® alone in 2020, but barley grass was still dense in 2021.
• The seedbank lasts 3-4 years, particularly in dry years where not all seed has the opportunity to emerge.

In 2019, herbicides ensured that barley grass density was low throughout the trial.

In spite of good crontrol in 2019, there was high barley grass density in 2020, potentailly from the 2019 seed production and dormant seed bank.

The 2020 use of Intercept® herbicide reduced barley grass across the whole trial, with higher crop yield following Intercept® at 500 mL/ha compared to 375mL/ha.

In 2019, herbicides ensured that barley grass density was low throughout the trial.

In spite of good crontrol in 2019, there was high barley grass density in 2020, potentailly from the 2019 seed production and dormant seed bank.

The 2020 use of Intercept® herbicide reduced barley grass across the whole trial, with higher crop yield following Intercept® at 500 mL/ha compared to 375mL/ha.

In 2019, herbicides ensured that barley grass density was low throughout the trial.

In spite of good crontrol in 2019, there was high barley grass density in 2020, potentailly from the 2019 seed production and dormant seed bank.

The 2020 use of Intercept® herbicide reduced barley grass across the whole trial, with higher crop yield following Intercept® at 500 mL/ha compared to 375mL/ha.

In 2019, herbicides ensured that barley grass density was low throughout the trial.

In spite of good crontrol in 2019, there was high barley grass density in 2020, potentailly from the 2019 seed production and dormant seed bank.

The 2020 use of Intercept® herbicide reduced barley grass across the whole trial, with higher crop yield following Intercept® at 500 mL/ha compared to 375mL/ha.

• Barley grass can have late, staggered cohorts, and so full control requires pre- and post-emergent control.
• Clearfield® crops or pasture ‘break crops’ allow excellent in-crop control and reduction of barley grass seed production.
• Resistance remains very low at this site. A diverse crop rotation allows a rotation of herbicide groups to avoid resistance development.

There were no differences in grass weed numbers in paddock N7/8 between cereal crop treatments imposed of Sakura, East West and North South sowing, cross sowing and ‘15 cm nudge’.

• Weed seeds were found in narrow windrows and chaff dumps, ryegrass was more prevalent than barley grass which is more prone to shedding seed early.
• Burning reduced the viable ryegrass and self-sown cereal seed density by 85%, reducing the overall weed seed bank, but results for barley grass were lower at 38%.
• Conditions (i.e. temperature and humidity) and timing of burn were shown to strongly influence the effectivenessof this cultural management tactic.
• Burning windrows resulted in fewer weed seeds returning to the weed seed bank.
• There is a cost associated with windrow harvesting due to lower harvesting height requiring reducing the harvest speed with larger throughput of straw.
• A better understanding of burning and the weather conditions needed to sterilise barley grass seed is needed.

• The 2016 trial results looking at cultural control techniques on barley grass largely confirmed the 2015 findings.
• Increasing the seeding rate of barley in the presence of barley grass can provide substantial benefits to both yield and reduced weed seed carry-over. This applies particularly to competitive varieties such as Fathom, but also to less competitive varieties such as Hindmarsh.
• In contrast, doubling the seeding rate of wheat had no beneficial effect on yield or weed carry-over.
• Doubling the district practice seeding rate in barley substantially reduced the competitive effect of barley grass to the stage where crop yields were similar to those check plots where herbicide was appliedD.
• uring the trials, barley has consistently outperformed wheat in its ability to compete with barley grass, particularly when sown at high seeding rates.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

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

• The new winter cereals pre-emergent herbicide, Bayer191, is targeted for release in 2011.
• New chemistry with varying degrees of broadleaf and grass weed control.
• High level control of annual ryegrass, including Group A-, B- and D-resistant ryegrass.

• The Mooneys Gap phalaris site has shown that productive perennial grass and sub clover pastures can double the carrying capacity of a paddock when compared to a rundown annual pasture. The Mooneys Gap phalaris pasture has had an average increase in carrying capacity of 157% compared to the control annual pasture over the three years of the trial.
• The introduction of deep rooted perennial pastures has environmental as well as production benefits. Perennial pastures are more efficient users of water as they are able to access available moisture at deeper levels and for longer periods than annuals and therefore assist in lowering water recharge reducing the risk of salinity. Perennials slow the soil acidification rate by the increasing nitrogen uptake thereby reducing nitrate leaching. Well managed phalaris pastures maintain a level of ground cover well in excess of annual grass based pastures reducing the risk of wind and surface water erosion. The Mooneys Gap phalaris site clearly demonstrates the enhanced environmental outcomes that come with well managed perennial pastures.
• Soil testing is important to test for nutrient deficiencies and pH prior to phalaris establishment. Adequate lime and fertiliser should be applied to address deficiencies prior to establishment. Particular attention must be paid to ensuring that aluminium levels are suitable for phalaris production prior to sowing.
• Weed control is of critical importance before and during the establishment phase of phalaris pastures. Periodic annual weed control measures enhance the production of phalaris based pastures after establishment.
• A suitable fertiliser regime needs to be implemented to replace nutrients removed by the enhanced production of the phalaris based pasture.
• Rotational grazing increases the persistence of the phalaris pasture.
• The addition of phalaris pastures extends the period of available green feed when compared to an annual grass system.
• The recent availability of the Holdfast GT Phalaris variety is an important addition to the perennial grasses that can be established in the region.
• The claims that Holdfast GT will persist as well as Australian phalaris have not been tested due to the time required to obtain results from a new variety.
• PPS will continue to test the persistence of Holdfast GT in the PDS trials as well as other pastures in the project.

• Wheat grain yield can be expected to be reduced by around 0.5 t/ha for every tonne of in-crop grass weed dry matter present in spring.
• Wheat following break crops were consistently more profitable than wheat on wheat. This in part reflected the  relatively low wheat grain prices experienced during experimentation, and the high returns for canola, but was also related to the efficacy and costs of ryegrass control.
• Growing pulses for brown manure (Bm) lost money in the year that they were grown, but achieved excellent weed control, provided high inputs of N and a residual carry-over of soil water, and more ground cover than if they had been cut for hay.
• In the presence of a high density of herbicide resistant ryegrass a ‘single break’ was not adequate to reduce weed seedbanks and subsequent in-crop weed competition. ‘Double breaks’ (two broad leaf break crops, or break crop - cereal hay sequence) reduced ryegrass seedbank numbers to manageable levels and were amongst the most profitable sequences.
• Break crop choice and selection should be based on individual farm management and ability to manage the various break crops options in the rotation. If growers remain flexible in break crop and end-use decisions, and make suitable choices, risks associated with producing them can be greatly reduced.
• A cropping program that includes break crops is likely to be more sustainable in terms of N inputs and risk of build-up of root diseases than continuous wheat, and provided cheaper, more effective strategies for controlling herbicide resistant grass weeds.

• Field pea had higher biomass and grain yield production than other break crop species at Minnipa, although @RISK analysis suggests field pea is only profitable as a grain crop in 41% of years.
• @RISK analysis model outcomes indicate chickpea, vetch hay and lentil are lower risk break crop species, and are profitable in more than 50% of years.
• Field pea and vetch have multiple alternative end-use options in dry seasonal conditions that can be utilised to recover crop input costs and salvage a financial return.

 

• Crop sequence experimentation undertaken in Central West NSW in 2011 and 2012, has demonstrated that crop sequences which include a brassica or legume break crops can be as profitable as, and in many instances more profitable than, continuous wheat.
• Growing pulses for hay was found to provide high quality feed as good as from cereals but hay from canola was less nutritious. However, canola hay provided an alternative option in cases where a possible crop failure is likely due to adverse weather.
• Growing pulses for hay was found to be profitable across a range of season types, achieves excellent grass weed control and provides greater N inputs and higher carry-over of soil water than when the same crop is grown for grain.

• Average wheat yield gains were approximately 0.6 t/ha in the first year after a break and the size of this yield gain was similar in high and low yielding seasons.
• Second year break effects were generally in the order of 0.3 t/ha and third year break effects 0.1 t/ha, resulting in a total of approximately 1 t/ha more wheat being produced following a break compared to continuous wheat.
• The effect of breaks on subsequent wheat yields is usually more consistent across soils, seasons and break type than the yield of break crops.
• Cumulative gross margins from wheat following legume, brassica and legume-based pasture breaks were generally much higher than continuous wheat, but the overall profitability of including breaks is strongly determined by the high variability in the relative profit from the different break options on different soils in the year that they are grown.

The use of Lexone on both barley and wheat was quite safe in 1996, spray conditions were quite good with moist soil and some dew on hte crop, and no heavy rain occurred within a week of appying the herbicie.

• Trifluralin can provide useful control of low levels of brome and barley grass.
• No crop damage was observed this season from Metribuzin/Diuron mixes applied pre-sowing.

• Brome grass is becoming more prevalent in the Victorian Mallee with adoption of no-till farming an dintensification of cereal cropping systems where few effective herbicides are available for control.
• The ecology of brome grass has changed, making it more problematic to control in crops.
• Aim for two consecutive years of control to deplete the seedbank of hthis troublesome weed.

• There was no significant difference netween any of the treatments.

There was no significant difference between the lentil counts, but there was a trend evident of some of the group C herbicides causing some slowness and even plant death. Rain events in the first month post planting were below average, it is likely that those herbicides that are known to have some level of toxicity to lentils (such as Metribuzin) were concentrated in the furrow and thus negatively affected some of the germinating plants.This apparent damage  highlights the importance of understanding how herbicides interact with the soil type, stubble loading and the planted crop.

Managing Brome grass populations in wheat is a challenge facing many growers but chemical control options have increased over the past two seasons with the introduction of Clearfield wheat technology and Atlantis herbicide.

• Knockdown treatment of Gramoxone offer good control of Brome grass but must be applied before the 0.5-leaf crop stage to provide sufficient crop safety. RoundUp is also used in some situations but because it is a translocated herbicide it can do significantly more crop damage.
• Lexone offers good in-crop control of Brome grass in both barley and wheat (Lexone is not registered in wheat and only registered for broadleaf control in barley) however the window for application is both small, and critical, for safe and effective use.
• Monza offers suppression of Brome grass (at the 1 to 3 leaf stage) in wheat but has long plantbacks that need to be observed.
• The introduction of Clearfield technology in wheat appears to offer another tool against Brome grass.

Non-chemical methods work hand in hand with chemical methods for controlling brome grass

Non-chemical methods work hand in hand with chemical methods for controlling brome grass

• Brome grass control in wheat is difficult (except when using Clearfield technology).
• Brome grass is becoming an increasing problem and there is evidence that the problem is increasing faster under direct drill systems with an intensive cereal rotation.
• Pre-emergent herbicides such as trifluralin and metribuzine do have activity on brome grass but the effect is slight suppression only (metribuzin is not registered in wheat).

• The ecology of brome grass has changed, making it more problematic to control in crops. Higher levels of seed dormancy are allowing brome to escape pre-sowing control tactics, resulting in greater in-crop emergence.
• Increased seed dormancy associated with a requirement for cold or chilling. Under field conditions this increased chilling requirement would not be met until late Autumn or early Winter.
• Knockdown herbicides are less effective in the management of highly dormant populations of brome. Therefore, brome grass management has become heavily reliant on Group A and B herbicides, especially the Clearfield(TM) technology, which is expected to increase the risk of herbicide resistance development.
• High levels of seedbank persistence from one year to the next (approximately 25%) means multiyear control of brome grass is required to exhaust seedbanks to manageable levels. Plan a three-year rotation.

• Many techniques can be employed to deplete the brome seedbank but an integrated weed management (IWM) approach reduces reliance on herbicides (ie. imi’s).
• In the best managed paddocks, two years of effective management reduce brome grass seedbank to <50 seeds/m2 (8-32 seed/m2 ).
• The most effective rotations for reducing brome populations incorporated oaten hay, break crops, legumes and CLF cereals.

• On average for the three harvest dates there were 12 brome grass plants/m2, over 1000 brome grass seeds/m2 and 88 seeds per brome plant.
• The proportion of brome grass seed retained above the 15 cm harvest height was 59, 38 and 30% for the measurements on 7 November, 21 November and 5 December 2014 respectively.
• Harvesting the crop on these dates, combined with HWSC would potentially result in 41, 62 and 70% of brome grass seed being added to the seed bank, and possibly more if seeds above 15 cm were dislodged in the harvesting operation.
• These measurements indicate insufficient brome grass seed is retained above harvest height, especially with later harvests, to expect control techniques such as seed carts and seed destructors to be effective on their own. However, when used as part of an integrated weed management program, these techniques will undoubtedly assist in achieving brome grass control.
• Research is continuing with MSF and the University of Adelaide to evaluate the effectiveness of a range of brome grass control approaches.

• Across the trial series at Grass Patch, Ballidu, Merredin and Holt Rock the highest grain yields, oil and gross margins were from the open pollinated variety, so growers should continue to use open pollinated TT varieties in the low rainfall regions, rather than hybrid varieties.
• In the hybrid treatments, there were generally increased yields and oil from the purchased (F1) seed, compared with the retained (F2) seed.  The gross margin was only significantly better at the Grass Patch site, for the 2014 F1 compared with the retained seed. Grading to increase seed size and sowing at a target density of 40 plants/m² improved the yield and gross margins of F2 retained hybrid seed, but at Grass Patch in 2015 using F1 hybrid seed or OP seed provided better results..

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

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

Please see attached trial report for results.

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

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

In 2017, approximately 50% of barley grass weed seed was already on the ground (dropped) before the first swathing opportunity.

• In 2019, approximately 40% of barley grass seeds had already dropped on the ground before the first swathing opportunity.
• Barley grass seed retention declines with every successive week and by crop maturity retained only 20% of its seed on the head.
• If growers are aiming to collect grass seed using harvest weed seed management strategies (chaff carts or windrows) they need to harvest grassy paddocks as early as possible to maximise weed seed collection.

 

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

• Wimmera rye grass. Score 4 (Early season). 2 (Mid season).
• Capeweed score 4 (Early season. 2 (Mid season).
• Drought score 5 (Mid season).
•  

• Clearfield chemistry significantly increased brome grass control, at this timing compared to the SU's.
• Clearfield offers control, not suppression.
• There are many factors that must be weighed up before deciding upon the weapon of choice for brome grass control.

• The trial results from 2009 demonstrate there may be a number of options for companion annual legumes for perennial grass based pastures.
• The results need to be verified over a number of years with different seasonal conditions.

• The trial results from 2009 demonstrate there may be a number of options for companion annual legumes for perennial grass based pastures.
• The results need to be verified over a number of years with different seasonal conditions.

• All of the double knock treatments were very effective in controlling mid-late tillering awnless barnyard grass (BYG).
• Herbicides, apart from haloxyfop or glyphosate, have the potential to be used as the first spray in double knock treatments to control mid-late tillering awnless BYG.
   

• Balance and haloxyfop, followed by a double knock application of paraquat seven days later produced excellent control of mid-late tillering feathertop Rhodes (FTR) grass.
• Atrazine and paraquat, followed by paraquat, was slightly less effective than the Balance and haloxyfop double knock treatments.
   

• Tank mixing systemic herbicides and paraquat appears to be an effective tactic to control mid to late tillering awnless barnyard grass (BYG).
• Tank mixes could be a viable alternative to double knocking for BYG control, although further investigation is needed.

• Tank mixing systemic herbicides and paraquat for mid-late tillering feathertop Rhodes (FTR) grass control resulted in one potentially useful treatment (paraquat + haloxyfop).
• Haloxyfop tank mixed with paraquat, provided excellent control at 35 days after treatment (DAT), which was the only treatment to reach 100% efficacy.
   

• Results from experimentation undertaken in southern NSW in 2011 and 2012, have demonstrated that crop sequences which include a brassica or legume break crops can be as profitable as, and in many instances more profitable than, continuous wheat.
• Canola was consistently the most profitable break crop option. However, the rotational benefits of canola were usually restricted to just the first subsequent wheat crop whereas additional wheat yields can occur for 2 years after a legume.
• Growing pulses for grain maximises profit, particularly in favourable seasons, but compromises grass weed control and (depending upon species) reduces N available to subsequent crops compared to brown manuring.
• Growing pulses for hay was found to be profitable across a range of season types, achieves excellent grass weed control and provides greater N inputs and higher carry-over of soil water than when the same crop is grown for grain.
• Growing pules for brown manure loses money in the year they are grown, but achieves excellent grass weed control, high N inputs, residual carry-over of soil water, provides more ground cover, and requires less labour than when grown for hay or grain.

You need to reduce the use of grass selective herbicides in pastures; however, if it is necessary to use grass selectives, make sure there is a 'mop-up' treatment later in the year to control resistant annual ryegrass and silvergrass.

• Utilising a pre-emergent herbicide of any kind significantly reduced broadleaf weed establishment overall .
• Terrain and Terrain + Avadex treatments resulted in highest control of fumitory and cleavers.
• No significant difference between pre-emergent herbicides on grass and radish control.
• There was no significant influence of pre-emergent herbicide on yield.
• Untreated and Sakura treated plots had significantly lower protein levels.

• All three seeders have resulted in successful establishment of sub-tropical grasses at the paddock scale.  This reinforces that successful establishment can be achieved with a range of seeding machinery providing the basic principles are followed: i.e. furrow sowing, press wheels, precise shallow seeding together with wide row spacing.
• The disc seeder appeared to have the least soil disturbance, with less loose soil on the soil surface after seeding, but had slightly more sand infill.  This may be due to steep side walls and a relatively narrow furrow, while the seeders with tynes created larger – wider furrows, so sand moving into the furrow was spread over a wider base.  The Case-International combine with a single point had the lowest sand infill.
• The disc seeder resulted in the highest establishment of panic grass, but in late October many of these plants were still small seedlings and subsequently many died over summer.  As number of plants, size and health of plants need to be taken into account, the disc machine may not provide an overall advantage as the proportion of healthy plants was much less. Visually, the Case-International combine appeared to produce a thicker stand; this was most likely due to the higher number of medium to large sized plants when compared to the other machines. 
• The knockdown did not completely kill the brome grass which subsequently recovered and competed with the emerging perennial grass seedlings in early spring.  Combined with dry conditions in October (5 mm) the perennial grass seedlings were struggling in late October.  More favorable seasonal conditions in November and December enabled the grasses to establish.  The scalping points on the John Shearer were able to reduce the impact of brome grass more successfully than the other seeders.
• Persistence will be measured over late summer until the break of the season.  This machinery demonstration trial will be the focus of an extension video which features the producers describing the modifications to their seeders.

• High sowing rates (120kg/ha) and narrow row spacing (17cm) had the highest yield in all wheat varieties tested.
• The results were repeatable over two dry seasons (1997 and 1998).

Increased use of grass selective herbicides in many farming systems has caused increased selection pressure for herbicide resistance in grass weed populations such as annual ryegrass and brome grass. Work conducted by Bill Roy (Agricultural Consulting & Research Services Pty Ltd, York) with GRDC support demonstrates that managing herbicide resistance requires a diversified approach using a number of different tools. Manipulating canopy through seeding rates and row spacing is one of the options being explored by the BCG.

Increased use of grass selective herbicides in many farming systems has caused increased selection pressure for herbicide resistance in grass weed populations such as annual ryegrass and brome grass. Work conducted by Bill Roy (Agricultural Consulting & Research Services Pty Ltd, York) with GRDC support demonstrates that managing herbicide resistance requires a diversified approach using a number of different tools. Manipulating canopy through seeding rates and row spacing is one of the options being explored by the BCG.

• The overall performance of Frame and Silverstar was much better than for Ouyen.
• In this very dry year, higher sowing rates at narrow row spacing gave the highest yields for Frame and Silverstar.
• Ouyen performed better at higher sowing rates at wider spacings.

• Continuous wheat can be successfully grown.
• Stubble has been burnt to reduce the incidence of yellow leaf spot in the following crop.
• In most years the crop has been direct drilled.
• Disease levels are still low and the crop is checked at flowering every year for root diseases.
• Continuous wheat has been relativley low risk - after 7 years it has not failed (except for the drought year in 2002).
• Thus far there is no problem with grass weeds or soil borne diseases.

• Comparative tolerance of wheat and 2 species of barley grass to manganese deficiency was examined in solution culture.
• All 3 species achieve comparable biomass on full nutrients but wheat seedlings were greatly disadvantaged on low manganese.
• Both species barley grass proved far more tolerant of low manganese and maintained positive carbon balance and all treatments including nil addition of manganese.
• This contrast explains the comparative advantage barley grass wheat on low manganese soils.

Early application of selective herbicide (Group 1, A) gave excellent control of barley grass. While fewer barley grass plants meant less pasture biomass, it’s important to remember that the seeds on the mature barley grass would injure livestock. Further, these barley grass plants could host cereal crop disease.

Spray topping prevented viable seed set of barley grass while leaving the greatest pasture biomass.

Good barley grass control in the 2019 pasture was still evident in the 2020 and 2021 crops.

Late sowing of barley in 2020 (delayed 4 weeks) was relatively ineffective in controlling barley grass and crop yield was slightly reduced.

Late sowing of oats in 2021 (delayed 7 weeks) gave excellent weed control, but the crop yield was severely reduced.

Three years of control reduced barley grass density from over 1000 plants/m2 to 2-14 plants/m2 across the whole site.

The diverse rotation, including pasture and canola break crops, allowed a range of herbicides from different mode of actions and control of late emerging barley grass cohorts.

Two years of seed set prevention was not sufficient to remove the barley grass. Barley grass has a seedbank that lasts at least 3-4 years.

Neither crop establishment, grain yield nor quality were changed by on-row seeding or by increased seeding rate in 2017, similar to results in 2016.

Crop establishment in the non-wetting soil was poor in 2017.

In 2015, with low moisture at seeding, improved crop establishment from on-row seeding in the non-wetting soil increased crop competition and lowered brome grass weed seed set.

• Deeper sowing at 3-4 cm achieved better early dry matter and increased grain yield in a later sowing.
• Frost damage may have lowered yield with early sowing, but inter-row placement at TOS1 had the highest yield.
• TOS 3 placement in row achieved better early plant growth and higher grain yield.
• Later sowing reduced brome grass numbers, and the size of the panicles, so it substantially lowered returns to the seed bank.

• Crop establishment increased with on row sowing. Stubble from the previous season helps soil moisture infiltrate into non-wetting sands and into a position closer to the seed.
• Initial germination of brome grass weeds was higher with inter row sowing.
• Late brome grass weed numbers was also greatest with inter row sowing. Sowing on row may also increase crop and weed competition as will a higher seeding rate.

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

• Legume crops consistently increased pre-sowing soil nitrogen in the year following the break.
• Two-year break phases that included a brown manure vetch phase have generally resulted in the highest pre sowing soil nitrogen levels in the subsequent wheat crops.
• One and two-year break phases reduce Rhizoctonia soil inoculum, however levels increase significantly following the first cereal crop.
• Two-year break treatments generally reduced brome grass populations in the cereal phase, however all rotations relied on Clearfield herbicides for brome grass control by the second wheat crop following the break.
• The benefits from extra soil water following some break phases in this trial have been variable and small.

When sub-soil water is present, growing high value canola and legume break crops can be profitable in the Mallee.

Where brome grass seed bank populations are high, break crop sequences of longer than two years are necessary to decrease numbers, and keep them down.

The application of CLF herbicide chemistry is effective in reducing brome grass populations, but herbicide resistance will develop quickly if they are used repeatedly in the same paddock.

• Early maturing desi chickpea varieties incurred the least yield loss at the recommended timing for crop-topping. Later varieties and kabuli types showed significant yield loss at the recommended timing and three later kabuli varieties showed yield loss at the late timing.

• There was no significant difference between sowing systems or level of nutrition on grain yield but higher grain yield at the higher nitrogen rate.
• Levels of brome grass were higher under the early sowing no-till plots and annual ryegrass was lower in the disc system.

• There was no significant difference between sowing systems or level of nutrition on grain yield.
• Levels of brome grass were higher under the early sowing no-till plots and annual ryegrass was lower in the disc system.
• There is very little difference in long term gross margin between seeding system or level of nutrition.

• In 2019 the IMI system had the lowest barley grass plant numbers.
• The Cultural Control strategy did not achieve the desired outcome of having a more even seed spread and increased competition in the inter row for barley grass weed control.
• The medic pasture produced low dry matter compared to the cereal systems, had the highest barley grass population and the lowest competitive ability with the barley grass.
• The loss of Group A herbicides to control barley grass within local pasture systems has the potential to change rotations and decrease farm profitability.

• In 2019 the IMI system had the lowest barley grass plant numbers.
• The Cultural Control strategy did not achieve the desired outcome of having a more even seed spread and increased competition in interrow row for barley grass weed control.
• The medic pasture produced low dry matter compared to the cereal systems, had the highest barley grass population, and the lowest competitive ability with the barley grass. 
• The loss of Group A herbicides to control barley grass within local pasture systems has the potential to change rotations and decrease farm profitability.

 

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

 

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

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

When UAN was used as a carrier at 60L/ha (with added water at 20L/ha to make the total spray volume up to 80L/ha) there was a significant increase in efficacy on ryegrass control.