• 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.

• 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.

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.

• The average yield for the GrainSearch Inverleigh wheat trial was 5.28t/ha, whilst Dunkeld averaged 5.20t/ha.
• Beaufort and Revenue were the standout performers at the Dunkeld site yielding 7.08 and 6.86t/ha respectively.
• Revenue and Beaufort were the standout performers at the Inverleigh site yielding 6.21 and 6.18t/ha respectively.
• Early sowing at both sites was essential to achive high yields in long season varieties.
• Grain quality was adversely affected at both sites by late season rain, all varieties were of feed due to sprouted grain and low test weights.

Caution must be taken when using soluble herbicides on lentils (and other pulses) in light sandy soils, especially when there is wet soil surface conditions followed by heavy rainfall

There was no significant differences in yield between the post emergent herbicides used in the trial.

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.

This demonstration showed there may be a large deep ripping effect, given the control gave the largest yield increase.

 

Canola provided significant grazing value during the growing season as well as during summer.The varieties tested showed minimal yield penalties from grazing with some varieties showing a positive yield advantage from the grazing operation.Grazing canola crops were able to provide good weed control and will allow the following wheat crop to benefit from this.Grazing canola and cereal crops allows farmers to alter their stocking rate quickly and easily as they progress through the season. This practise will mean in better seasons a much smaller proportion of paddocks will need to be left for stock and more paddocks can be taken through to harvest which will result in a significant increase in farm profitability. In poor seasons there will be less paddocks taken though to harvest which will result in a reduction in grain income, higher sheep grazing losses and lower farm profitability. The overall profitability of grazing cereal crops will depend on the frequency of dry years and good years.Don Nairn finds that grazing cereal crops takes the stress out of running sheep as there is always an option for the farmer when feed runs short (ie he can simply graze another crop). Hopefully this trial gives farmers a better appreciation of where the dollars fall when crops are grazed.

• Green cumin (Cuminum cyminum) is a tap-rooted herb grown extensively in India and the Middle East for its grain.
• It survived trials on Eyre Peninsula in 2015 sufficiently well to encourage another look.
• Alternaria fungal disease is a major threat.
• Its low and slow growth will complicate harvesting and weed control.

• The use of Group B herbicdes such as chlorsulfuron can help fight the battle against Group A resistant ryegrass. Although they have a different mode of action, Group A resistant ryegrass populations can rapidly become resistant to Group B herbicides.
• This trial showed that when different products from Group B were applied to ryegreass of the same growth stage, varying results were observed. Glean offered marginal control when applied to tillering ryegrass, while Hussar successfully controlled the same ryegrass population.

Triflur480 (trifluralin) and Stomp (pendimethalin) were compared on wheat and canola in relation to crop emergence and ryegrass control. The canola crop failed due to the dry conditions. The wheat crop was very marginal (average yield of 0.1 t/ha) and no yield differences between products could be determined. In relation to ryegrass control the higher rates of the products applied and incorporated by sowing (IBS) (Triflur480 1.2L and Stomp 1.8L) were more effective compared the lower rates of these products (0.8L and 1.8L respectively) when applied and incorporated 5 days prior to sowing.

• There are several Group G herbicide spikes on the market for use prior to broadacre crops with their specific benefits and limitations
• It important to read the herbicide label and be aware of plant back restrictions before the use of any herbicide.
• Sharpen Group G herbicide significantly increased percentage of brown out across the weed spectrum 7 DAA at Frances in 2012.
• At Frances in 2012 all Group G herbicides showed increased percentage of brown out 7 DAA on annual ryegrass but there was no significant difference between treatments 22 DAA.
• Sharpen, Hammer 400 and Valour significantly increased percentage brown out 22 DAA on clover at Frances in 2012.
• At Frances in 2012 the results indicated Glyphosate was providing majority control of lesser loosestrife.
• Sharpen Herbicide showed a significantly increase in brownout on capeweed 7 DAA at Frances in 2012.

Canola can be successfully grown on a cereal stubble. It is not essential to burn stubble as long as seedling emergence and establishment is not affected by the retained stubble. If the seeder does not leave a good seed bed and the harrows leave the paddock uneven with clumps of mixed up straw and soil it is better to burn the stubble.

The incidence of black leg was quite high and the fungicide treatments, Rovral and Impact in Furrow did not decrease the level of infection.

• Chickpeas will suffer far more from being too cold and to some degree too wet than they ever will from being too hot and too dry.
• Chickpeas don’t like high levels of boron, but will handle some.
• Chickpeas have some Pratylenchus tolerance but low resistance. Do a Predicta-B test for Pratylenchus. If levels are high, you will need to find an alternative paddock.
• Chickpeas don’t like competition from weeds. Use the herbicide Balance post sowing pre-emergent. If you don’t have broad leaf weeds under control before chickpea emergence there are few herbicide options. Grass weed control is quite easy as for normal pulses, such as Targa or Select.

• H45 had a significantly higher level of rust infection than Bowerbird at the Wirrinya trial site.
• The very dry season at Gunning Gap meant little strip rust developed.
• The fungicide treatments had no significant effect on grain yield, protein, screenings or test weight at Wirrinya and Gunning Gap. However the triazole foliar fungicides were very effective at reducing the level of rust in the trial.
• Late infections and dry finishes can result in a nil response to fungicides

• H45 had a significantly higher level of rust infection than Bowerbird at the Wirrinya trial site.
• The very dry season at Gunning Gap meant little strip rust developed.
• The fungicide treatments had no significant effect on grain yield, protein, screenings or test weight at Wirrinya and Gunning Gap. However the triazole foliar fungicides were very effective at reducing the level of rust in the trial.
• Late infections and dry finishes can result in a nil response to fungicides

• Under sowing hard seeded Serradella seems to be an economical and sustainable way of establishing pastures the year after a wheat crop, particularly if pods are produced in the farm.
• Sowing depth had no significant effect on germination or plant density, however, it is recommended not to bury too deep pods of Serradella (max 2-3cm) to avoid seedling losses.
• Weed control in the plots was very poor, this could have been a result of no use of wetter with the application of Raptor.

In dry years, many canola crops are short and thin. Windrowing is recommended where yield potential exceeds 1 tonne/ha and crops are tall and thick enough to sit on 25-30cm of stubble. With light crops, where windrows may be blown about by strong winds, other options are desiccation and harvest or direct heading, depending on seed moisture levels.

• Herbicide-resistant annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is increasingly becoming a challenge for growers across southern Australia.
• Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) — the collection and/or destruction of weed seeds at harvest — is a non-chemical control method, which can be used to reduce the seedbank of weeds such as annual ryegrass.
• A major premise of HWSC is that the targeted weed species retain a high proportion of their total seed production at crop maturity.
• Where pre-emergent or in-crop herbicides have not been applied, ryegrass weeds are shedding before wheat is harvested.

• Timeliness of harvest is critical to try and maximise the number of annual ryegrass (ARG) weed seeds captured (prior to the onset of seed shedding).
• Harvest height will aid in the capture of increased numbers of ryegrass.
• The amount of ARG captured will depend on conditions prior to harvest and the level of lodging that occurs prior to harvest.
• When weed levels get too high, several years of alternative crop sequences may be required to get numbers down to an acceptable level.
   

Weed seed data (weeds above and below the harvest height) measurements were taken immediately prior to harvest and assessments of weed populations in the soil will be taken after autumn treatments (windrow burn and large scale burn) are applied to allow for an understanding of the effects of different treatments on the weed seed bank.
Harvest data was also collected through the yield monitor. This data is being analysed so that the additional cost of the iHSD can

Leaving straw in windrow to be burnt Weed seed data (weeds above and below the harvest height) measurements were taken
immediately prior to harvest and assessments of weed populations in the soil will be taken after autumn treatments (windrow burn and large scale burn) are applied to allow for an understanding of the effects of different treatments on the weed seed bank.
Harvest data was also collected through the yield monitor. This data is being analysed so that the additional cost of the iHSD can be established to run various economic simulations on the weed seedbank through the LUSO model and to compare the cost of the treatments. There was no significant difference in the yield across treatments or the efficiency (ha/hr). This was as expected as
the groundspeed rate was kept constant between all treatments so that the other factors.

• Harvest weed seed collection showed barley grass is harder to capture using harvest weed seed collection techniques due to its habit of shedding seed early.
• Burning windrows decreased the number of weed seeds present in the soil seedbank at Minnipa in 2017.
• Harvest weed seed collection allows for the capture of ryegrass weed seed and cereal screenings, potentially increasing feed utilisation for stock when placed in chaff dumps or rows.

• Narrow windrow burning can be an effective tactic against ryegrass provided:
  • 1) weed seeds are captured and concentrated at swathing & harvest
  • 2) the burn heat and duration are enough to kill weed seeds.
• Annual ryegrass control in canola was more variable than last season with 37-86% control of the seed captured and concentration in the windrow. Higher control (86-93%) was achieved for wheat residues concentrated into narrow windrows.

Narrow windrow burning canola can be an effective tactic against ryegrass provided weed seeds can be captured and concentrated at swathing & harvest. Of the ryegrass seed captured between 93-99% was controlled by burning narrow windrow canola

• Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) — the collection and/or destruction of weed seeds at harvest — is a non-chemical control method, which can be used to reduce the seedbank of weeds, such as annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidium).

• Techniques include mechanical weed destruction, or methods involving carting or baling chaff straight after harvest. Chaff can also be concentrated behind the header in a row, which is then left to mulch (chaff lining or decking) or concentrated in a narrow windrow behind the header and burnt (narrow windrow burning).

• A major premise of HWSC is that the targeted weed species retain a high proportion of their total seed production at crop maturity.

• There was no difference between a harvest height of 30cm and 15cm in terms of the number of weed seeds returned to the soil.

• In wheat crops with high annual ryegrass plant populations, a large percentage of the ryegrass seed matures and drops in the month before wheat harvest, limiting the effectiveness of HWSC in the Riverine Plains region. In 2017, approximately 30% of total ryegrass weed seeds were removed by the harvest process.

• HWSC could be used as one tool in a larger integrated weed management strategy.

This is a continuing project.

• Compass (bred as WI4593) is a legitimate contender to replace Hindmarsh, but growers will need to wait until 2015 to acquire seed.
• Those still growing Gairdner are costing themselves at least 15-20% in yield.
• Fathom (feed) has a potential fit on deep sands in the Mallee, and La Trobe is an alternative to Hindmarsh in all regions, but it is yet to be Malt accredited.

Common heliotrope (Heliotropium europaeum L.) is an opportunistic annual weed that grows in ‘disturbed’ areas (i.e. areas of bare or sparsely vegetated soil) following summer rain in regions with a Mediterranean climate (hot dry summers, cool wet winters). In its natural habitat, which includes most of the rim of the Mediterranean Sea, farming practices result in there being few disturbed areas during summer, hence common heliotrope is not such a problem. However, in the dry-land cropping belt of southern Australia, the wholesale clearing of native vegetation and the endemic broad acre agricultural practices leave vast areas of fallow, hayed-off pasture and sparse stubble over summer; all of which are ecologically speaking ‘disturbed’, and hence fantastic habitat for common heliotrope.

• Moisture: Ironstone was found across some plots at depth which made any plot response to weed control difficult to measure so that there was more difference due to sub-soil constraints, rather than the individual treatments. Moisture readings were inconsistent and yields were therefore not taken.
• Weed control: Glyphosate is a very important base component when dealing with a mixture of summer weeds. The trial confirmed previous growers who experience and demonstrated summer grasses required high rates of glyphosate, at these high rates glyphosate provides excellent melon control. The Roundup Attack at 1.8 L/ha stand-alone gave the best control of grass and melons. All mixes containing Roundup Attack at 1.2 L/ha gave acceptable control of grasses and excellent control of melons when ester was added. With melons, the Triclopyr standalone was poor, but with Roundup Attack added had an additive effect, improving control significantly. Whilst no oil was used, perhaps the performance of the bottom three mixes may have given a better result with oil. Ally (metsulfuron) had an additive effect with the grasses but was antagonistic with the melons.

• In 2015 the drier start to the season and low soil moisture resulted in lower herbicide efficacy and less chemical damage than expected.
• In different stubble management systems the activity and resulting weed control of specific herbicides will be influenced by the solubility index (movement through the soil profile with rainfall events) of that herbicide. Soil texture and soil chemical properties can affect chemical movement and availability in the soil profile.
• Herbicide performance will vary seasonally due to soil moisture levels, rainfall pattern post application, timing of weed germination, position and number of weed seeds in the profile, etc. Understanding how the various herbicides work can reduce the likelihood of failures.
• Herbicides are only one tool for weed control – always adopt an integrated weed control package that includes non-chemical control, and where possible, consecutive seasons of total weed control.
• Consider the whole farming system when making chemical decisions as the impact may last for several seasons (eg. effects on medic germination and medic seed bank).

• Herbicides which may be influenced by high stubble loads include trifluralin, triallate, pyroxasulfone, prosulfocarb and metalochor products. If grass weeds are an issue in paddocks with high stubble loads (greater than 50% stubble cover), removal of some stubble may maximize the herbicide activity and grass weed control.
• In-crop germination patterns are later for barley grass than for other grass weeds in MAC paddocks, which is limiting early control with pre-emergence herbicides.
• If you expect most of your grass weeds to emerge straight after sowing maybe 2 L/ha trifluralin (plus an added herbicide depending on cost and risk factors such as seasonal conditions, soil type, rotation etc.) is the best value for your system.
• If you have a later germinating population, and aim to reduce the seed bank, you may be better investing in some of the more expensive herbicide mixes even though they may cost more in the first season.

Dry seeding conditions and lack of rainfall at the start of the 2017 season resulted in challenging conditions for both establishing crops and weed control.

Stubble residues reduced plant establishment and weed numbers; standing stubble in dry conditions had higher wheat germination than chained stubble.

April dry sowing had lower wheat numbers than later sowings, which reduced grass weed competition during the season. Grass weed numbers were also higher and set more seed in the April sowing.

No pre-emergent herbicide provided total barley grass weed control and keeping the weed seed bank low through other methods is important.

Under the production regimes of upper EP, stubble management is unlikely to impact negatively on performance of pre-emergence herbicides targeting grass weed control, providing adequate water rates and best practice application techniques are used.

• No significant difference in ryegrass control was found between plots treated with any of the three pre-emergent herbicides tested.
• Though not statistically significant, the trial demonstrated a trend of increased herbicide efficacy with increasing herbicide carrier volume.

Rotation of herbicide groups paramount for effective brome grass control, ensure that group B herbicides are not used too often in the rotation

• Velocity®, Precept® and Affinity® are the best options for elongating amsinckia.
• There is a wider range of effective herbicides to control amsinckia when they are small and actively growing than when they are elongating.
• Trifluralin is very effective for controlling amsinckia, but weeds can still persist in the crop row where the trifluralin has not been applied.

• There are few broadleaf herbicides registered in conventional canola.
• Bladex 1L/ha, Dual Gold at 150 and 300ml/ha, Brodal at 100 and 200ml/ha, Dicamba500 at 140ml/ha and Spark at 150ml/ha were all visually acceptable (rather than visually acceptable try caused no phyto-toxic effect) when applied to canola at the 5 leaf stage.
• These products are not currently registered, the work was undertaken to assist any possible registration processes.

More robust herbicides and mixing with multi modes of action increase wild radish control where group B tolerance is experienced.

It is important not to rely on a single strategy to keep resistance at bay but integrate them into the crop production program. Some of the key strategies include:

• Rotation of herbicide mode of action groups within and across years.
• Keep accurate records of your herbicide applications on a paddock basis.
• Read the herbicide product label and follow the instructions, always use robust label rates
• Rotate crop and variety.
• Identify and monitor your surviving weed populations and check for resistant weeds on your farm. Keep good records of weed populations.
• If a failure is suspected do not use the same product or product from the same mode of action group.
• Testing – confirm resistance exists. (For further information on resistance
• testing contact www.plantscienceconsulting.com.au)
• Additional cultural weed control techniques to reduce seed banks, e.g. burning, cultivation, delayed sowing,
• competitive crops and varieties, green manuring, grazing and collection of weed seed at harvest.
• Control weed escapes before the weeds set and shed viable seed.
• Do not introduce or spread weeds through contaminated seed, grain or hay.
• Consider crop and pasture topping.
• Seek advice from local advisers such as agronomists.

The herbicide tolerance of two new desi chickpea varieties (Howzat and ICCV96836) were compared to Tyson. All three varieties showed similar tolerance to a range of herbicides. Simazine, Balance + Simazine and Spinnaker applied Post Sowing PreEmergent had little effect on yield, whereas Broadstrike applied Early Post Emergent on stressed plants it suppressed yield. For the main weeds in the trial (prickly lettuce, milk thistle) the best weed control option was Balance + Simazine. In paddocks where musk is a problem the best control option will be Spinnaker.

In this trial Simazine, Diuron and Brodal were quite safe when used post sowing preemergent. However, Brodal has been known to cause crop damage when used at this stage. There are no safe early post emergent herbicides available in vetch for the control of broadleaf weeds. It appears that Morava is less tolerant of pre-emergent and in-crop herbicides compared to Blanchefleur or Languedoc.

• PBA HeraldXT and CIPAL1101 have good tolerance to imidazolinone chemicals, but may not be as tolerant to Imi-3 as the lines CIPAL1208 and CIPAL1209.
• Conversely, PBA HeraldXT and CIPAL1101 have improved tolerance to the Sulfonylurea herbicides relative to the control and CIPAL 1208 and CIPAL 1209, indicating potential benefits where residues may be an issue in cropping systems.

• PBA HurricaneXT has improved tolerance to the sulfonylurea herbicides relative indicating significant benefits where residues may be an issue in cropping systems.

• PBA HurricaneXT has improved tolerance to the sulfonylurea herbicides relative indicating significant benefits where residues may be an issue in cropping systems.

• PBA HeraldXT and CIPAL1101 have s good tolerance to imidazolinone chemicals, but may not be as tolerant to Imi-3 as the lines CIPAL1208 and CIPAL1209.
• Conversely, PBA HeraldXT and CIPAL1101 have improved tolerance to the Sulfonylurea herbicides relative to the control and CIPAL 1208 and CIPAL 1209, indicating potential benefits where residues may be an issue in cropping systems.

• A newly released herbicide tolerant faba bean provides increased weed management options.
• A new release lentil provides another herbicide tolerant lentil variety with different agronomic characteristics.
• However, care still needs to be taken in relation to herbicide use, paddock selection, and herbicide permits and registrations.
   

• Field Peas - There were no differences in pea yields from the applied post sowing pre-emergent herbicides. However, Tough at 2L significantly reduced pea yields in the post emergent herbicide applications.
• Lentils - Simazine alone (1.5L) or in combination with Lexone (1L + 100g respectively) significantly reduced lentil yields. The best options were post sowing pre-emergent Lexone (180g) or Diuron (Diurex at 1.1 kg) or post emergent Broadstrike (25g, no wetter) or Brodal at 150ml.
• Chickpeas - the chickpea yields in the control plots were significantly reduced because of weed competition. The best options were post sowing pre-emergent Simazine and Atradex (1L + 275g respectively) or Spinnaker and Simazine (125ml + 0.75L respectively).
• Lupins - there were no significant differences found in lupin yields between the different herbicides applied.

Rainbow vs Karoo canola - Karoo canola is tolerant to the triazines Simazine and Atrizine; however, it also appears that Karoo has a higher degree of tolerance to Lexone.

• In-crop applications of some broadleaf and grass herbicides can reduce nodulation and nitrogen fixation of peas.
• Timing of herbicide application and seasonal conditions play an important role in herbicide-legume interactions. 
• Late applications of some broadleaf and grass herbicides can reduce crop yields.

• Infrequent rainfall events, poor weed germination early and dry conditions at seeding resulted in challenging conditions for early weed control and crop establishment in 2018.
• In a high Barley grass weed situation herbicide mixes containing Sakura provided good weed control.
• Trifluralin (1.5 L/ha) IBS followed by Lexone (metribuzin) (180 g) post emergent caused significant crop damage due to rainfall events following the metribuzin application.
• Use as many options as possible to lower grass weed seed banks including two-year breaks.
• Regularly test grass populations for herbicide resistance.
• Aim to prevent 100% of seed from setting in all phases of the rotation.

• All herbicides provided effective control of brome grass and barley grass in wheat this season.
• Crop safety in wheat was achieved by all herbicide mixes in 2008.

Rotation of herbicide groups paramount for effective annual reygrass control

Rotation of herbicide groups paramount for effective annual reygrass control

Rotation of herbicide groups paramount for effective annual reygrass control

Rotation of herbicide groups paramount for effective annual reygrass control

Previous trials and demonstrations have highlighted zinc deficiencies in both cereals and pulses, which could produce substantial profits over the cost of zinc. A trial conducted on wheat at Hopetoun in 2006, on a zinc responsive soil type with a good zinc history defined responses to zinc and demonstrated that responses to phosphorus or nitrogen cannot be achieved if zinc is deficient, in a drought year.

• Treat infested pastoral areas with 3.0 litres MCPA amine per hectare in the autumn. Apply the MCPA with 100 litres of water per hectare. Horehound can be a difficult plant to wet. A wetting adjuvant may be of assistance.
• Maintain grasses to prevent the establishment of seedlings. Burn the infested area the following year, in early
• autumn, to destroy as much of the seed bank as possible. Respray the area later in the autumn to control any subsequent horehound germinations with MCPA amine.

Chara sown 13th June gave a small but significant responses to applied nitrogen, despite a soil N reserve of 176 kg/ha N (0‐90cm) pre planting. With this later sown trial there was no significant difference in nitrogen timing, though there was a trend for seedbed/GS31 (50/50 split of N) treated crops to be slightly higher yielding than GS31/37 (50/50 split of N) treated crops.

• Glasshouse experiments measured plant DM response and recovery of Zn fertilisers in oxide and sulfate form using three placement treatments - banded, mixed throughout the soil volume, and applied to the soil surface.
•  Also plant recovery of Zn from pure Zn phosphates and carbonates, which are likely reaction products of banded Zn fertilisers in soil, was measured. Recovery of Zn from Zn phosphates, carbonates and oxides was lower than that of Zn sulfates when banded.
• Placement was the major factor controlling plant responsiveness to Zn.
• Zinc oxide fertilisers had very low water solubility and slow dissolution rates in water, which is related to the high pH when the oxide is dissolved in water.
• There was significantly less recovery of fertiliser Zn by plants from Zn oxides than from Zn sulfates when the fertiliser was banded near the seed, likely due to higher pH in the band as the oxide dissolved.
• However, the Zn supply to plants was the same for both sources of Zn when fertilisers were mixed through the soil, as the soil likely buffered any dissolution-induced pH increases.
• This means that Zn oxides, despite their low water solubility, can be effective fertilisers if uniformly mixed throughout the crop rooting depth but Zn sulfate is preferable for banding or surface application.

• Inoculation with effective formulations significantly improved nodulation, herbage and yield. 
• Sterile peat slurry innoculant produced more nodules on faba beans than all other rhizobial products; freeze dried rhizobia applied to seed and peat applied as liquid inoculant produced greater nodules than granular inoculants. 
• inoculation with peat slurry, peat applied as a liquid, and freeze dried inoculants significantly improved herbage and yield compared with uninoculated treatments. Yield was also improved following application of bentonite granules. 

• We can not rely on current varieties remaining resistant and as farmers, breeders and pathologists we must remina vigilant in manageing stripe rust.
• This involves managing diversity in our varieties, reducing the opportunities for hte fugus to carryoever from one season to the next on volunteer wheat and using seed treatments where appropriate.

• Hyola 404RR and Hyola 505RR show their adaptation to the medium or higher rainfall districts of Victoria and ability to have the highest yields and oil %s assisted with excellent blackleg resistance.
• Hyols 474CL and Hyola 575CL performed well against competitor Clearfield hybrids along with providing improved oil %s and stability.
• Most of the hybrids evaluated significantly out-yeilded the OP Clearfield variety 43C80.
• Hyola 555TT, Crusher TT, Thumper TT and Jackpot TT show good adaptation and ability to have some of the highest yields for the Western District of Victoria.

The HRZ of south-eatsern Australia has a high yield potential but for this potenial to be realised, new traits will need to be introduced. Important traits are likely to include high seed numbers per pod, drought tolerance during flowering and seed development and good blackleg resistance. Further testing of germplasm under a wider range of conditions will be needed to verify findings and develop cultivars adapted to the region. 

• VBHT805 is an inidazolinone tolerant barley variety in the final stages of evaluation and commercialisation.
• VBHT805 could be a useful tool for managing Group B soil residual herbicide carryover for improved grass weed control in intensive cereal rotations.

• Yield of PBA Ace and PBA Jumbo2 (the only two imidazilinone or IMI-sensitive varieties evaluated) was reduced by 70%–80% from applying imazethapyr.
• PBA Hurricane XT and PBA Herald XT are the only current commercial IMI-tolerant varieties. PBA Hurricane XT is better adapted, producing more dry matter and grain yield than PBA Herald XT in southern NSW.
• CIPAL1422 is a promising advanced Coordinated Improvement Program for Australian Lentils (CIPAL) breeding line with high grain yield. It is very IMI-tolerant, and tall and bulky with late maturity.
• Advanced breeding lines are equal to, or better than, PBA Ace and PBA Jumbo2 in southern NSW. They bring additional features such as herbicide tolerance, extra bulk and height, and a wider range of maturity.
• IMI herbicide tolerance will expand weed-control options in lentil, which is a poorly competitive crop with a limited number of registered herbicides.
• These new varieties, coupled with new technologies, demonstrate considerable potential for expanding lentils across the better class of acidic, red-brown soils of southern NSW

• The trial was sown into dry soil on the 11th May. This trial was indicative of many lupin crops within the West Midlands region in 2010, with establishment and weed control issues. Establishment was inconsistent across the trial site with seasonal conditions, non-wetting soil and rhizoctonia root rot contributing to uneven plant numbers and poor growth within some plots. Herbicide management of weeds, particularly ryegrass, was less effective than expected, resulting in high weed burdens, especially in plots with poor lupin establishment.
• Anthracnose was introduced into plots 4 weeks after sowing but warm dry weather following introduction of infection and long dry spells during the growing season reduced disease development.
• Disease assessments at crop maturity indicated that despite high levels of inoculum being introduced only low levels of disease were present within the trial and differences between varieties were not statistically significant. Approximately 10% of the moderately susceptible Jenabillup plants suffered stem infection, the resistant variety Tanjil and resistant breeding lines had between 2-4% of plants with stem infection. Pod infection levels were low across the trial due to dry weather during podding.
• Due to uneven establishment, variable soil moisture, root disease and weed burden, individual plot yields varied from 0.5 t/ha to 2 t/ha across the site (average 1.4 t/ha), however neither variety nor anthracnose infection significantly affected yield.
• In seasons with good rainfall, anthracnose can be a yield constraint for lupin production in the high-medium rainfall regions of the northern agricultural region (particularly in areas with abundant blue lupins); the anthracnose resistance in current advanced breeding lines will reduce disease development and yield loss.

• Nodulation was reduced when pea seeds were coated with P-Pickel T fungicide before inoculation.
• Reductions in rhizobia numbers on fungicide-coated seeds occurred very quickly, within two hours, but the toxic effect of the fungicide continued after sowing.
• Dry soil conditions are likely to have exacerbated fungicide toxicity to the rhizobia.

• There was a 0.17 t/ha yield advantage in the 2014 season due to removing or cultivating the previous season’s stubble, possibly due to extra nitrogen being available to the crop during the growing season.
• There was a 0.08 t/ha yield advantage at MAC this season by inter row cropping rather than placing the seed on row.
• There were no differences in either barley or ryegrass numbers at the start of the cropping season or in crop.

• There were no differences in wheat yield at Minnipa in response to stubble architecture, seeding position and nitrogen treatments in 2015.
• In 2015 plant establishment was reduced with cultivation and the addition of nitrogen at seeding compared to standing stubble cut low at harvest. The extra nitrogen applied at seeding also reduced the early dry matter.
• Removing and cutting stubble low decreased the Yellow Leaf Spot disease incidence and snail numbers compared to high cut stubble.
• Stubble management and seeding position had little effect on grass weed numbers.
• Overall at Minnipa, stubble management and seeding position have not impacted highly on crop production, weeds, disease and pests over two years with relatively high stubble loads in low rainfall farming systems.

• Barley sown into standing stubble yielded higher (between 0.15-0.33 t/ha) than cultivated or removed stubble in 2016.
• Standing stubble cut low (15-17 cm) resulted in the highest level of stubble being maintained into the following season.
• Maintaining standing stubbles may be the best option for yield and stubble carry over, but adequate nitrogen must be maintained.
• In 2014 and 2015 stubble management and seeding position did not impact strongly on weeds, disease or pests with relatively high stubble loads in a low rainfall farming system at Minnipa.

Standing stubble cut low (15-17 cm) resulted in the highest level of stubble being maintained into the following season.

Stubble management and seeding position had little effect on grass weeds.

Snail numbers were higher in standing stubble cut high (30 cm) and stubble removed had the lowest numbers.

Stubbles can be estimated using 1.3-2.8 times the grain yield, but it may underestimate the stubble in an average season following a good year, or after a very poor season.

In many low rainfall farming systems livestock are still a very important part of the farming system and the level of stubble carryover is reduced after grazing.

Stubble management and seeding position have not impacted greatly on crop production, weeds, disease and pests over three years with relatively high stubble loads for low rainfall farming systems.

• Paraquat Treatments provided 100% control of all sizes of onion weed.
• Ally treatments (metsulfuron) were slower than paraquat, however provided 100% control.
• Double knocks improved the speed of burn off and control.
• Glyphosate does not provide complete control of onion weed and recovery can occur.
• Glyphosate mixed with Pyresta or Starane Advanced showed reduced glyphosate efficacy.
• Glyphosate mixed with Valor and Sharpen showed no increase in control compared to glyphosate applied alone on all sizes of onion weed.
• Local seeding machines successfully established canola into a heavy barley stubble and there was no benefit in pre-sowing cultivation or burning.

The 2002 drought may have major implications for potential weed problems during the 2003 season, including management in fallows, pastures and crops. However, there is very little published information on the impact of drought on weed population dynamics. There is some information on the impact of weather (rainfall and temperature) on effectiveness of weed control methods. The 1982 and 1994 droughts provide some guidance on the consequences of a major drought on subsequent weed problems. The most likely impact of the drought on weeds is the incursion of new weed problems into districts via fodder, grain and seed.

• Fathom barley was more competitive than Hindmarsh barley, bread wheat and durum.
• Increasing seeding rate and seed bed utilisation improved crop weed competition (by up to 60%) without a yield penalty or quality downgrading.
• Tjilkuri and Mace sown at 300 seeds/m2 with a spreader boot achieved similar ARG suppression as Fathom barley sown at 150 seeds/m2 .
• Pre-emergent herbicide application offered the best control of ARG in this trial across all varieties and agronomic management factors. 
• Non chemical strategies can significantly enhance crop’s competitive ability with weeds and should be integrated with herbicide use.

• The impact of 13 different soil wetter treatments ranged from none to more than a doubling of wheat establishment.
• Grain yield benefits ranged from zero to 21% (or 0.22 t/ha).
• While higher grain yield generally correlated with better crop establishment, some treatments with low crop establishment were able to generate substantial yield responses, suggesting specific chemistries may promote later season effects.
• Combinations of some soil wetters interacted positively to maximize grain yield response.

• No measured improvement in phosphorus uptake through low seed bed utilisation systems.

Please refer to attached trial report for results and discussion.

• Essential plant growth requirements including nutrients and water are influenced by the capacity of the soil to both store and supply these elements.
• Infiltration of water into soil and the ability for soils to retain water are processes fundamentally important for soil productivity.
• Management strategies that increase the rate of water infiltration into soils are likely to improve the potential of the soil to capture larger amounts of water.
• The rate of movement through the soil profile however, may be more important for crop production in terms of influencing the ability of plants to utilise this water.
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(i) Baits do kill juvenile snails. (ii) Stubble and/or green plant material reduce uptake of snail bait by juvenile snails. (iii) A baiting program that is integrated with appropriate stubble and weed management at presowing is likely to optimise snail control. (iii) Calibrate your bait spreader to optimise the effectiveness of your baiting program. (iv) Perlka® did not have a significant effect on reducing snail populations in caged field trials. (v) The effectiveness of bait product and bait size differs between the pest snail species; once fully researched,future bait program recommendations will be tailored to the species being targeted.

• Clethodim applied at 500ml/ha to ryegrass at the 2 to 3 leaf stage averaged 84% control.
• Two early applications, ryegrass at 2 to 3 leaf and then again 3 weeks later, gave the best control of resultant ryegrass head numbers.
• All combinations of clethodim and butroxydim applied after ryegrass reached the 2 to 3 leaf stage significantly reduced grain yield.

• The research aims to find rhizobia that will support lucerne growth on acidic soils.
• Good levels of nodulation found on acidic sand at Kingscote, despite soil acidity, pHCa 4.6
• Lucerne is highly recommended for KI soils that do not receive lengthy periods of water logging or have high levels of aluminum.
• Purchase freshly coated seed as background levels of lucerne rhizobia are low.

A trial was established west of Moora in 2016 to investigate in season potassium response in barley. The main objective was to compare Lokomotive, a liquid potassium product, to the more commonly used granular muriate of potash (MoP).  Both soil and plant sample analysis showed the site to be marginal/deficient in potassium. Treatments were applied at GS 32. This timing was chosen as potassium deficiency is most commonly identified late in the growing season, when visual symptoms appear, and confidence in an economic response to applications of MoP in the current season is diminishing. At the time of application there were typical potassium leaf deficiency symptoms on the lower leaves. 

Good growing conditions were experienced in Moora in 2016 and resulted in high barley yields of 4.17 to 4.39 t/ha. There was a small yield response (1.7% to 5.3%) from both Lokomotive and MoP however this was not significantly different to the untreated control. The small response to potassium in 2016 may be attributed to the wet spring conditions that would have made potassium in the soil more available to the crop. Further evaluation of in season potassium application is required when spring conditions aren’t as favorable as 2016.