Medic trials

To demonstrate the productivity and persistence of annual pasture legumes (NAPLIP cultivar/species) on several soil types in the medium–low rainfall wheat belt environment.

To discuss alternative options to increase organic matter; improve soil properties and provide additional non-chemical control options for weed management, whilst providing a break crop effect.

To demonstrate establishment, management and viability of legume phase options in cropping rotations with appropriate agronomic management packages.

This paper assesses the economic benefits of green manuring and the potential costs. It also investigates the circumstances in which green manuring will be profitable and those that result in losses to growers.

To compare a number of different varieties  which could be used for making hay.

To assess and evaluated a range of different pasture varieties at three different sites.

To determine the effectiveness of a number of grass selective herbicdes to control grasses in medic pastures

• To observe the control of legumes and oilseeds of treatments normally used in cerealy crops applied pre-sowing and early post emergent.
• To observe the crop effect of a range of products over a range of crops applied post sowing pre-emergent and applied early post emergent.

• To compare a number of herbicides and herbicide mixes to control broadleaf weeds in a variety of legume and canola crops.
• To compare a number of herbicides and herbicide mixes to control broadleaf weeds in a variety of legume and canola crops before sowing another crop.

To demonstrate the effects on plant density, nodulation and yield from inoculating legume seed using the correct method, applying inoculum dry and sowing 7 days after inoculating seed.

To determine whether crop growth and yield responses are likely from inoculating legumes on alkaline clay-loams in the Southern Mallee.

Working with 60 farmers, counts were carried out in three districts of South Australia to measure the effectiveness of different types of management on snail control.

To demonstrate a wide variety of crop types and varieties in the Southern Mallee.

To quantify the agronomic benefits that break crops can provide in Mallee cropping rotations so that farmers can be confident of the long term benefits of more diverse crop sequences.

The GRDC Low Rainfall Crop Sequencing project is identifying the effects that different break crops and rotations have on Mallee farming systems. Farmers have increasingly adopted continuous cereal cropping strategies as non-cereal crops are perceived as riskier than cereals due to greater yield and price fluctuations. Therefore, it is important to quantify the agronomic benefits that break crops can provide in Mallee cropping rotations so that farmers can be confident of the long term benefits of more diverse crop sequences.

The aim of this project was to test if including one or two-year break phases in low rainfall crop sequences could successfully address agronomic constraints to increase the productivity of subsequent cereal crops and improve the profitability of the long term crop sequence when compared to maintaining continuous cereal

To test the tolerance of the new strand medic, Angel, to sulfonylurea (SU) herbicide residues from a summer weed application.

To discuss how to achieve a dense medic dominant pasture.

To compare various crops and crop mixtures as alternatives to fallow in the first year of a 2 year cropping rotation.

To report on variety descriptions and characteristics.

To test whether soil fertility and health could be improved under a higher input system compared with a lower input and more traditional system.

To evaluate forage varieties in a cropping system. 

To demonstrate a range of crop types and end-uses that could have a role in the low rainfall farming systems of the Mallee.

To collect more data on dry matter and production figures for forage varieties.

To assess the ryegrass control ability of crop rotation, in combination with pre- and post- emergent herbicides.

To investigate pasture production and utilisation by sheep.

To assess the long-term impact of a range of P fertiliser rates on crop yield and economic returns

To evaluate emerging and newly released medic, vetch and forage peas varieties for their ability to produce dry matter and nutritive value for stock in the Mallee and Wimmera environments.

To assess and evaluated a range of different pasture varieties at three different sites.

To measure and report the potential impact of best management practices for dryland agriculture in the Mallee.

To compare the production of different winter pastures and their recovery from grazing.

The aim of this project was to assess parture herbicide tolerance at Charlton in 2000.

To compare grass herbicides alone and in comparison with common broadleaf herbicides.

To provide a useful technique for estimating pasture legume seed reserved in paddocks.

To assess the potential of medic pastures and compare the productivity and persistence of commercial varieties in the Birchip area.

To discuss the BCG Farming Systems 2000 season.

To compare the profitability of four different farming systems.

To report on the BCG Farming Systems project in 2001.

To update information on livestock ad the Farming Systems site.

To report on the Farming Systems trial 2003.

To report on the Farming Systems trial.

To evaluate commercial and new pulse (grain legume) cultivars on sandy, calcareous soils, in terms of both the crop performance and its benefit in a rotation.

To investigate the effect of grass herbicides on nodulation in legumes.

To provide a calendar as a guide to insect pests that could be expected during each of hte major crop and pasture growing phases.

To investigate herbicide options on newly sown pasture crops at three sites.

To evaluate Roundup CT and a range of additives as fallow initiation treatments.

To answer the question 'What if there is no break until June or July?'

To investigate best bet options for controlling medic prior to sowing lentils.