The following series of articles are from trials undertaken in 2010 on the three focus sites:
• Responsive Farming Using Variable Rate Sowing at Minnipa
• Responsive Farming for Soil Type at Mudamuckla
• Responsive Farming for Soil Type at Wharminda
• Farming to Soil Potential on the Upper Eyre Peninsula: How Accurate was In-season Yield Prediction in
2010?
• Crop Production Using Replacement P Rates
• Measuring the Effect of Residual P
• Nitrogen Management on Upper Eyre Peninsula
• Wheat Variety Response to P on Grey Calcareous Soil

• Grain yields were increased by sowing early (mid-April to early-May) over later sowing (end of May) under the favourable growing seasons experienced at Hart in 2016, in contrast to similar climatic seasons in higher rainfall areas of SA such as Tarlee.
• Varieties with agronomic characteristics of early flowering and high biomass production optimised yields.
• There was no change in grain yields from application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on early sown faba beans.
• Agronomic traits related to improved harvestability were observed from some PGRs, however further field testing will be required to better understand the best application timings and quantify benefits.

• Prices for faba beans have remained very high compared with long term averages, enhancing the profitability of faba beans. Growers always need to be aware of possible price swings as the international market is limited. The potential return for the crop should be based on longer term pricing between $300 and $400/ t.
• New varieties, PBA Zahra and PBA Samira, offer significantly improved grain yield (>10%) and disease resistance compared with older varieties.
• Sowing early is essential to maximise benefits to the farming system from improved biomass and grain yield to maximise profitability.
• Good disease management is critical to maximise grain yield and quality. Growers are encouraged to carefully plan their strategies, regularly monitor crops and have fungicide purchased in advance, to ensure appropriate timing of application.

• 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.  

• Early sowing, concurrent with previous research, was highest yielding in 2012
• There appear to be several promising new varieties available for southern Victoria, offering a range of grain types and forage options, associated with excellent yield potential.
• Crop topping results highlight the importance for growers and advisors to be aware of both weed and crop growth stages, otherwise significant grain yield loss could occur.

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

• 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.  

• 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).

• A low level of rust infection occurred during October and was the only foliar disease affecting bean performance.
• 7% higher grain yields occurred in the fortnightly sprayed (improved rust control) and single
  cercospora treatment (reasons unclear) compared with the nil treatment.
• Grain yields decreased by 14% when sowing date was delayed from May 1 to May 18. No
  further yield loss occurred when sowing date was delayed to June 6.
• Nura was higher yielding than Farah at the mid sowing time and equal at the others, unlike
  in previous trials where Nura has been lower yielding at later sowing dates. Late rainfall events in 2007 were of more benefit to Nura than Farah.
• Necking (collapsing of top part of bean plant) was greater at the early sowing time. Nura
  had a higher level of necking than Farah sown early, but yields were the same. Similar
  necking and yield occurred between the two varieties when sown late.

• Yield of faba beans (ignoring the broad bean PBA Kareema) averaged 1.5t/ha at Wanilla in 2012. Early establishment and growth was excellent, disease pressure was low, and beans showed high yield potential.
• Beans appeared to “hay off” late in the season due to high early season biomass production and the dry and rapid finish to the season, together with the occurrence of several high temperature events during late flowering.

• The three bean varieties, Farah, Fiesta and Nura, gave similar yields and showed a similar yield response to delayed sowing – i.e. around 1.5 t/ha when sown on May 12, falling to around 0.9 t/ha with a June 7 sowing.
• Foliar disease levels (ascochyta) were negligible in Farah and Nura at both sowing times, and very low in late sown Fiesta. The slightly higher, but still low, levels of ascochyta in early sown Fiesta were reduced by fungicide sprays, but this did not produce a yield response.
• Spinnaker herbicide applied at 100 g/ha post-sowing pre-emergence caused no yield depression in any of the varieties at either time of sowing, and showed no effect on total plant height or height to bottom pods at harvest.
• The extreme dry late winter/spring conditions may have limited responses to fungicide spray regimes and Spinnaker in this trial.

• Chocolate spot levels were high in 2009, and accounted for 32% yield loss across varieties
  in untreated plots.
• Nura had higher disease levels and lower grain yield than Fiesta across all treatments in
  2009, but a triple chocolate spot spray strategy was effective in reducing yield loss by 25%
  in both varieties.

• The optimum timing to sow faba beans at Junee in 2015 was mid-April.
• PBA Zahra, PBS Samira and PBA Nasma were the highest yielding varieties.
• Commercial yields of 3t/ha are acheivable with appropriate variety and selection management. 

• New varieties are likely to offer significant yield improvement in southern Victoria, along with improvements in disease resistance.
• Residual herbicide caused issues in 2013, most likely due to the dry summer of 2012/13.
• Similar to 2012, AF05095 was the highest yielding variety at 3.95 t/ha, 37% higher than Farah.
• Based on yields achieved (3.9 t/ha) beans could have achieved a gross profit of approximately $1300/ha based on management costs of $250/ha and grain price at $400/t.
   

• Grain yields of beans were lower in 2012 in than previous seasons, averaging 3.6t/ha at Bool Lagoon.
• All varieties showed higher yields sown early.
• Later maturing varieties PBA Rana and PBA Kareema performed similarly to other varieties in this trial in 2012, despite the low season rainfall.
• The three earlier maturing varieties (Farah, Fiord and Nura) showed increased yield from increasing plant density, while no yield response was seen in later maturing and larger seeded varieties (PBA Rana and PBA Kareema).
• Fiord showed the most response from varying plant density across the three seasons of trials.
• Crop-topping trials showed a 9% yield loss across all varieties from crop-topping at the milky dough stage of ryegrass in 2012 and caution is required with this practice in later maturing regions. No yield loss was generated from later treatments.

• The optimum time to sowing faba bean at Junee in 2015 was mid-April.
• PBA Zahra, PBA Samira and PBA Nasma are the highest yielding varieties.
• Commercial yields of 3 t/ha are achievable with appropriate varieties and management.

The practice of windrowing beans has become increasingly popular in the past two seasons for harvest management and perceived grain quality benefits. These benefits were not realised in this trial.

• The Making Better Fertiliser Decisions for Cropping Systems in Australia (BFDC) database allows us to search for soil test calibrations for four macronutrients across a range of crops, soils types, regions and time spans.
• As an example, the critical range for soil test P (Colwell) for wheat grown in red chromosols in NSW has increased under minimum-tillage management.

The 1995 cropping season was the final season that will be monitored by the FAST Project, and ironically it was also the best. 1995 provided a combination of good yields and prices, returning good gross margins to farmers, as well as adding another full year of excellent data to the large database that has been collected over the last four cropping seasons.

2012 was a set up year for the Rhizoctonia best bets demonstrations. Fungicides banded with fluid fertilisers at seeding did not reduce Rhizoctonia in the following cereal crop.

In 2013 the Rhizoctonia best bets demonstrations using rotations were over sown with cereal and showed break crops which are grass free are the best option to lower Rhizoctonia inoculum levels.

Six different farmer operated seeders were used in a minimum tillage situation to compare seeder set up and the effect of trifluralin incorporated by sowing on crop emergence. The demonstrations were taken through to harvest to compare yield.

Average trial yield was 3.8 t/ha, close to the potential as identified by Yield Prophet during the season. No significant differences in yield were found between stubble treatments (stubble retained, worked or removed) and nutrient treatments (normal practice, normal practice plus additional nutrients to enhance stubble breakdown). Changes in Soil Organic Matter fractions over the duration of the trial (2012 to 2014) resulting from the stubble and nutrient treatments will be assessed in March, 2015.

No difference in yield or quality was noted for the stubble or nutrient treatments. It is likely that soil carbon is being increased as the additional nutrients did not increase yield. Increasing soil carbon is a slow process and several years are needed to see whether these treatments do increase soil carbon. A range of sites across southern Australia have been chosen to see if soil carbon can be increased.

The extra nutrition treatment had no effect on yield or grain quality this season. In the 2012 season the stubble removed treatment had the highest yield.

Average trial yield was 2.8 t/ha, approximately 1 t/ha below the nitrogen unlimited potential as identified by Yield Prophet® during the season. No significant differences in yield were found between stubble treatments (stubble retained, worked or removed) and nutrient treatments (normal practice, normal practice plus additional nutrients to enhance stubble breakdown). After three years of trial work, no significant differences in soil carbon were found between the stubble and nutrient treatments.

The systems trial has not been operating for a sufficient period of time for the full effect of different management on pasture production to be defined.

• Reliance on chemicals as the only weed control option is difficult (almost impossible) in a run of dry years.
• This trial will cease at the end of 2004 (3 years too early to obtain meaningful results) unless other funding is found.
• The trial showed, in the 2003 season, that there was no yield penalty for waiting until rain for sowing, although grain protein was lower in these crops.

Of the seven frost events that showed significant differences, all showed that the reduced stubble treatment (2t/ha) reached colder minimum temperatures than the removed stubble treatment (1.6t/ha). Across the seven events, the retained stubble treatment (2.5t/ha) also remained warmer than the reduced stubble treatment. The removed stubble treatment spent significantly less time at -2⁰C temperature threshold compared to the reduced stubble treatment. The retained stubble treatment was not significantly different to either of these.

These results suggest that removing stubble decreases the severity and duration of frost, however as discussed, there was variability in the results between the retained and reduced stubble treatments. This suggests, that in seasons where frost events are so severe, stubble management does not have a large effect on the severity of events.

The interim temperature results suggest that retaining 4t/ha of stubble significantly increases the severity and duration of frosts when compared to 0t/ha. On all occasions, reducing stubble loads to 0t/ha reduced the severity and duration.

• A survey was conducted in early 2010 to determine the current management practices of farmers and the average water use efficiency of farms on upper Eyre Peninsula.
• The survey will be repeated in 2013 to see if there are changes in the management practices and water use efficiency.

• Using crop growth models to quantify the season to season yield performance on different soil types and predict in-season potential yield can be a very useful tool for managing risk and inputs.
• Given the high spatial variability in soils and grain yield, mapping paddocks into zones of similar soil and yield potential enables farmers to better target input levels as well as understand crop yield potential in different seasons.
• Information about the capacity of a soil to hold water, the water and mineral N levels at sowing are the basic information needed to use Yield Prophet - given this information, grain yield can be accurately predicted.

The humus portion of soil carbon has relatively constant ratio of N, P and S. This has been established as 80N, 20P and 14S per tonne of humus carbon.

Sustainable and productive farming practices will require that water be used where it falls and this entails that water be used by plants and not access the water table through either surface run-off or permeating below the root zone.

• Wheat was surprisingly tolerant of continuous flooding for nearly 4 months, yielding up to 2.8 t/ha with the best combination of nutrients tested.
• Despite the extended flooding there was a 13% response to P at a starting Colwell P of 29 mg/kg, with an economic optimum application rate of 7 kg P/ha.
• Canola was intolerant of extended flooding, producing no harvestable yield.
• In-crop application of urea shortly before flooding showed no grain yield response in wheat, while there was a negative response of 9% to applying S as in-crop sulfate of ammonia.
• Ideally in-crop applications of fertiliser should be made at least a week prior to flooding to allow time for the crop to take up the nutrients.

Stretegic (up-front) nitrogen was useful in a wet year, but no N rate used was high enough to anticipate the wet and cool spring at Ouyen.

• Zinc (Zn) has been shown to be a clear limiting factor in achieving maximum fertiliser response from N and P on all soils sown in the SA Operation FerTill experiment program.
• Increased wheat grain yield of 4-6% has been achieved with Zn as a coat to DAP applied in each year over 3 years.
• This clearly questions the current practice of Zn application once every 3-4 years.
• These results suggest that Zn when used in combination with higher P and application should be considered every year.
• P and Zn placement are very effective management tools to reduce the severity of Rhizoctonia spp, in crops.
• Some P and Zn placement in the seed row of cereal crops is beneficial in reducing the severity of Rhizoctonia patch by up to 50%, increasing grain yield.

• 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.  

NVT is a national program of comparative crop variety testing with standardised trial management, data generation, collection and dissemination. The program is supported by the Australian Government and growers through the Grains Research Development Corporation and is managed by the Australian Crop Accreditation System Limited.

• Field peas performed exceptionally well at Minnipa in 2012, despite a decile 3 growing season and a rapid season finish. This is likely due to good stored soil moisture levels, good early winter rainfall amounts and generally mild winter temperatures.

• Pea yields were high in 2011, but less than in the previous 2 years.
• Later maturing lines were favoured by the longer season, and apart from lower yields in Parafield there was generally little difference in grain yield between named varieties.
• A four week delay in sowing from early May resulted in a 32% yield loss across all varieties.
• Agronomy trials showed no significant effect of stubble management of grain yield in 2011, however standing stubble treatments showed increased standing height and reduced lodging compared to slashed stubble plots, which could aid harvest.

• New field pea varieties PBA Gunyah and PBA Twilight performed similarly to Kaspa and Parafield under extremely favourable conditions in 2010 at Minnipa, and given their yield advantages over these varieties in drier seasons, will be better adapted varieties for this region.
• Grain yield of PBA Stage 3 field peas averaged 2.9 t/ha at Minnipa in 2010 due to the wet and long growing season, which generally favoured later flowering pea varieties.
• Most advanced breeding lines showed no difference in yield to Kaspa (2.93t/ha) due to the favourable conditions.
• Though blackspot was present in 2010, it was not as extensive as in 2009 and had little impact on yield. This will have contributed to the 27% higher yield achieved in 2010 compared with 2009.
• Agronomy trials showed no significant effect of sowing date or stubble management treatments in 2010. This is likely due to the long growing season, and lack of disease. However early sowing is still recommended for low rainfall regions providing frost, weeds and blackspot risks are considered.

• 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.
   

• Yields were relatively high at these sites in 2012, particularly given the drier than average growing season. Chickpeas performed particularly well, yielding equal to lentils at Minlaton
  and higher than lentils at Pinery. Yields may have been buoyed by the presence of stubble in all treatments, helping to conserved soil moisture, and the mild (although dry) finish to the season.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• Many of the management issues in till and no-till systems are similar.
• A flexiable approach is beneficial in both systems.

• 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 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.

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.

• 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.

• 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

• 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

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.

• Foliar applications of blackleg fungicides such as Aviator Xpro or Prosaro achieve the largest gains on varieties such as Bayer 3000TR and Bonito which are both rated MS-MR or lower for blackleg resistance.
• Canola varieties rated R-MR or better are unlikely to benefit from foliar blackleg sprays for disease control,
  however some secondary benefit from green leaf retention may be seen in years where moisture is not limiting.
• Blackleg management should be tackled with an integrated approach using buffer zones, rotations, varietal selection and fungicides.

• At both Murtoa and Birchip Gairdner barley developed spot form of net blotch; however it was most evident at Murtoa where fungicide applications gave yield responses varying from minus 0.4% to 8.5% (0-0.38t/ha).
• At this site three treatments gave significant yield increases over the untreated controls.

Fungicides were not cost effective in the Birchip and Murtoa wheat trials, despite the late appearance of stripe rust at Murtoa. The new strobilurin fungicides conferred no significant yield advantages over the triazole product Folicur, a feature probably linked to the dry conditions during grain fill. Unlike barley at the same sites, there was no indication that strobilurin treatments conferred any prolonged green leaf retention.

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.

Both cultivar and N fertiliser treatments significantly affected grain yield but there were no cultivar by N fertiliser interactions.

• 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.

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.

• 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.

• For the newer semi-leafless varieties Kaspa and Moonlight, the recommended plant population is around 35 plants/m2 for early sowings to 50 plants/m2 for late sowing.
• For the other semi-leafless varieties, 40 plants/m2 is recommended for early sowing and 60 plants/m2 for later sowings.

• 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.

For discussion of results please see the attached trial report.

• Mean grain yields are presented in the tables in the attached trial report. 
• It is evident that the newer faba bean lines will play an important role as a break crop. For now Fiesta is yielding well (av. of 6.2t/ha over last 3 years at Symmons Plains) and there have been reasonable prices received. In the future the line IxA 56/1 with good resistance to ascochyta is one to watch. The broad bean cultivar Aquadulce has continued to yield well - the greatest problem with this line is the large seed size and associated difficulties in sowing

• It is evident that the newer faba bean lines will play an important role as a break crop. Fiesta has yielded very well in trials (average of 6.3t/ha over last 4 years of trials at Symmons Plains). The broad bean cultivar Aquadulce has also continued to yield well - the greatest problem with this line is the large seed size and associated difficulties in sowing. 
• For further conclusions please see the attached trial report.

• For results and discussion please see the attached trial report.

Faba beans should be developed as a substitute for lupins in stock rations in Tasmania le. ignore the seed size and colour characteristics required for human consumption markets and concentrate on breeding for yield and disease resistance. In a dry finish tick beans require a price premium over faba beans to remain economic.

Soil analysis is being performed on each individual sub-plot to determine the amount of Nitrogen each crop and stubble treatment produced/retained in the soil. The phase is being done in conjunction with the CSIRO laboratories in Canberra.

Following two years of grass free medic pasture soil mineral nitrogen levels averaged 158 kg N/ha and all disease inoculum levels were low.

Cutting the medic pasture for hay lowered dry matter production and medic pod set in the following season.

An early light tickle resulted in higher weed germination and lower powdery mildew damage in spring.

Full cut tillage following two years of grass free medic resulted in the highest wheat yields while a discing prior to seeding resulted in the lowest yield.

Working medic residues in the year prior reduced the following wheat yield but grain protein was higher.

Cutting a medic pasture for hay in 2013 reduced medic productivity in 2014 and lowered wheat grain protein in 2015.

• A two year pasture break has been more beneficial in the first cereal year than a one year break, resulting in lower grass weed numbers, higher soil reserves of N and low disease levels.
• The impact of pasture management and pre-seeding tillage on grain yield and quality was greater following a medic pasture in 2015 than in 2016.

• Hay cutting in 2013 resulted in lower medic dry matter in 2017.
• Grass weed numbers were very low in 2017 due to low opening rains and poor germination.
• Two years of wheat increased Rhizoctonia, Yellow leaf spot and Pratylenchus.
• A two year pasture break was beneficial to the following cereal because of lower grass weed numbers, higher soil reserves of N and lower disease levels.

• The ability to capture barley grass seeds at harvest is limited.
• If seed can be captured and placed in windrows, windrow burning can reduce grass weeds.
• Seed capture at harvest is higher with annual ryegrass than with barley grass.
• Burnt narrow windrows sustained temperatures above 400oC for longer than 10 seconds, which is sufficient to sterilise annual ryegrass seed.
• Snail numbers were reduced with windrow burning.
• Barley grass germinates later in Minnipa Agricultural Centre cropped paddocks than in non-cropped areas.

Subsoil moisture and an early sowing opportunity meant that grazing did not affect yield or the gross income return of canola at Sea Lake in 2012. Dry conditions increased canola tissue nitrate levels to toxic levels as plants matured. Canola has a shorter grazing window than cereals, and requires careful grazing management to avoid high tissue nitrate situations, and roughage to balance fibre.

• Grazing cereals is a tool for risk management in low and medium rainfall environments.
• Late grazing of cereals in medium rainfall affected grain yield.
• Grazing cereals is useful only if the feed is required.
• Locally adapted wheat varieties performed better than long growing season winter wheats