• Establishment of Moonlight was very poor any yield was still very responsive at the highest
  seeding rate
• Excell and Yarrum had similar response curves with an optimum density of 40-50 plants/m2
• Parafield and Kaspa had similar response curves with a noticable decline in yield at the higher
  seeding rates. Optimum plant densities were around 30 plants/m2 for Parafield and 40 plants
  /m2 for Kaspa.
• Increasing seeding rate in most varieties resulted in a quicker finish to flowering, increasing
  lodging and earlier maturity
• Seed size was unaffected by seeding rate

• 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.
   

• Field pea trial yields across the Mallee were variable, ranging between 0.8 and 2.5 t/ha, reflecting those achieved in commercial crops in the region.
• The main factors affecting yield were low spring rainfall and presence of powdery mildew and downy mildew.
• Many of the new varieties show a significant advantage in yield, disease resistance, harvestability, early vigour, shatter resistance and seed quality compared to the commonly grown variety Dundale.
• A series of late maturing breeding lines have given superior yields in the Mallee over the last three years.
• The yield advantage due to shatter resistance in PSL4 was clearly demonstrated at the North Central sites where heavy rains fell prior to harvest.
• The dun pea PSL4 with its excellent shatter resistance and the white pea PSL10 will be multiplied as potential variety releases.

Seed dressings were more effective at controlling the mild infections in Hart while seed dressings or foliar fungicides were not effective in controlling the severe infection levels in Minnipa. Seed dressing is more effective than foliar sprays for low to moderate disease severity, but for severe disease conditions both were less effective.

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

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

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

• 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.

• Intake (on fertiliser) and Jockey (on seed) is current standard practice for lower EP canola and reduced Blackleg stem infection. In 2014 this practice also increased grain yield. This remains the recommended practice.
• The application method for the fungicide, either as seed treatments or in-furrow, did not increase canola yields in 2015 or 2016.
• The source of nutrients and application method, either fertiliser, in-furrow or foliar had no effect on canola yield in 2014, however further research should be undertaken in this area before final conclusions are drawn.

• Phosphoric acid showed a yield response at Streaky Bay in 2014 of 13% and 2015 of 8%.
• Fungicides did not reduce Rhizoctonia infection or significantly increase yield in 2015 at either site despite high levels of inoculum.
• Including fungicides will increase input cost and risk over a cropping program.
• The addition of trace element or manganese treatments did not improve yield at Streaky Bay or Warramboo in 2015.

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

• Application of trace element (Mn,Cu, Zn) mix or manganese did not improve yield at the two sites.
• Application at sowing of fungicide with the separate (split) addition of 40kg/ha urea reduced Rhizoctonia seminal root infection at both sites.
• Phosphoric acid resulted in higher yields than granular P in two of the three years of the trial at the highly calcareous site (Streaky Bay) but not in the wet year; whereas at the other site (Waramboo) on the red sandy loam there was a small yield response in the wet year.

• 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.

• Zn deficiency was evident at mid-tillering at one site only (Streaky Bay) in treatments where zinc had not been applied.
• Manganese deficiency was not identified via tissue testing at Streaky Bay despite treatments with added manganese having better earlier growth.

• There were no differences in canola Blackleg infection or yield using fungicides as seed treatments or in-furrow in 2015.
• In 2014 combined protection of a fungicide on seed and in the furrow as a banded fluid reduced Blackleg infection and increased yield.
• The selection of Blackleg resistant varieties in the rotation is important.

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

• An aggressive fodder species with good herbicide options is effective at controlling weeds.
• Grazing in summer or winter has no significant effect on weeds. Instead, controlling the late-in-crop weeds that survive grazing and preventing them setting seed is what’s important.
• The timing of seed removal operations is critical. Hay can be just as effective at reducing weeds as silage if it is timed correctly to prevent seed set.
• Modelling has shown that the longer the pasture phase, the greater the weed control. Early work indicates that this may be the case but future trials will need to confirm this.
   

• 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.

 

The 2001 season was a low disease pressure year, Botrytis grey-mould was not detected in this trial and Ascochyta appeared late in the season at low to moderate levels. Fungicide treatments did not affect grain yield regardless of fungicide type, application timing or the number of applications made. Fungicide timing affected seed discolouration with late season fungicide treatments on Cassab and Digger having cleaner seed than those treated earlier or not treated at all.

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.

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

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

Avoid cultivation which promotes the germination of fumitory.

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

• Ascochyta rabiei can be controlled in chickpeas using chlorothalonil (Bravo).
• The fungicide needs to be applied early (six weeks after sowing) and be applied, at a minimum, every three weeks after the first application.
• Kaniva chickpeas sprayed with Bravo applied at two litres per hectare, every three weeks, produced a clean sample, free of infected grain (premium priced grain).

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

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

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

• 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.

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.

• Stripe Rust (SR) caused yield losses in all but the highly resistant variety Sunstate (8) at most sites.
• Fungicides helped to protect yield potentials in susceptible varieties, except when SR pressure was either very low or very high.
• Timely early and late protection appeared more important than fungicide choice at Z39
• The genetic resistance in Sunstate (8) was clearly the most outstanding form of SR control when disease pressure was very high, exceeding any fungicide strategy used on susceptible varieties.
• Fungicide protection of SR on susceptible varieties is a practical and profitable option in the absence of resistant wheat varieties with desired agronomic traits.

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

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

One way ploughing slightly improved establishment, head numbers, biomass production and yield but is not a viable long term solution for the severe non wetting on this soil type.

Deep ripping and spading improved head numbers by over 60% and biomass production by 87% compared to the control.

Grain yields were improved by over a 1 t/ha and gross margin by about $200/ha when treatment costs were amortized over 5 years in the combined ripping and spading treatments.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• 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.

• High levels of crop safety were observed in imidazolinone tolerant lentil varieties, with no grain yield loss from any simulated residue treatments of sulfonylurea herbicides, or post-emergent applications of imidazolinone herbicides, at North Block in 2018, or Tooligie in 2019.
• High levels of crop safety were observed in the imidazolinone tolerant faba bean variety, with no grain yield loss from any simulated residue treatments of sulfonylurea herbicides, or post-emergent applications of imidazolinone herbicides, at Yeelanna in 2019.
• Access to herbicide tolerance traits will provide growers with an increased opportunity to diversify their cropping rotations and increase in-crop control options, specifically for broadleaf weed control in areas with high weed burdens.

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.

• Thirty two barley grass populations were collected from grower paddocks from Eyre Peninsula and Upper North regions in 2019 and screened for resistance to major herbicide groups in 2020. This was not a random survey because most of these populations were considered difficult to control with herbicides. 
•  All of these barley grass populations collected in 2019 from Eyre Peninsula and Upper North regions were completely killed by glyphosate and paraquat and were rated as herbicide susceptible.
• Resistance to the FOP herbicide quizalofop was confirmed in 50% (n=16) of these targeted populations tested in 2020. In addition to this, 19% of the populations (n=6) were classified as developing resistance. 
• Ten barley grass populations were confirmed resistant to clethodim at 250mL/ha. At the higher clethodim dose (500mL/ha), only three populations were rated as resistant. This result is consistent with research results for annual ryegrass where higher rates of clethodim can improve weed control. Growers could improve barley grass control by increasing clethodim dose but this is unlikely to be a long-term solution to the problem. 
• Out of 1 O clethodim resistant populations, only 3 showed resistance to butroxydim at 90 g/ha and only 1 was resistant at 180 g/ha. These results are consistent with the findings from the previous year, which showed the susceptibility of many clethodim-resistant populations to butroxydim.
• Resistance to the IMI herbicides still appears to be very low in barley grass. Only one barley grass population from Eyre Peninsula was found to be highly resistant to Intercept® and showed no reduction in plant survival or biomass. 

 

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.

Desi chickpea varieties CBA Captain, Neelam and PBA Striker, and Kabuli chickpea variety Genesis 079 showed good tolerance to a range of chickpea herbicides or herbicide mixtures at the label rates and timings with good crop safety margin.

A new herbicide Ultro® 900 WG at 1.1 kg/ha applied before seeding reduced seed yield of PBA Striker (9%) significantly.

Note: Always follow label recommendations. The Department Primary Industries and Regional Development, does not endorse the use of herbicides above the registered rate or off-label use of herbicides or off-label tank mixes. Crop tolerance and yield responses to herbicides are strongly influenced by seasonal conditions.

Lentil varieties PBA Bolt, PBA Hallmark XT and PBA Jumbo2 showed good tolerance to a range of lentil herbicides or herbicide mixtures at registered rates and timings with good crop safety margin.

Unregistered use pattern of Brodal® (diflufenican) at 200 mL/ha as PSPE and of Metribuzin 750 at 100 g/ha in mixture with Brodal® 100 mL/ha as post-emergent application reduced seed yield of PBA Bolt and PBA Jumbo2 significantly.

Note: Always follow label recommendations. The Department Primary Industries and Regional Development, does not endorse the use of herbicides above the registered rate or off-label use of herbicides or off-label tank mixes. Crop tolerance and yield responses to herbicides are strongly influenced by seasonal conditions.