Caring for our Country trials

To investigate the impact of glyphosate as a crop-topping operation and the follow-on effects on grain yield and quality

• To investigate soil acidity in Kangaroo Island soils.

To compare two farming systems, one with and one without the addition of old man saltbush (OMSB). Farming system one (‘No saltbush’) operated a crop/pasture rotation which was similar to that used in the central west of NSW. Farming system two (‘Saltbush’) had an rop/pasture rotation, but each paddock had 20% of its area replaced with belts of OMSB.

To compare the performance of 3 seeding systems and 2 nutrition strategies. This is a rotation trial to assess the longer term effects of seeding systems and higher fertiliser input systems.

• To investigate the impacts burying organic matter at depth.

To investigate the impacts burying at depth organic matter (using a Neutrog product Bounce Back) and gypsum using the Sub Soiler machine.

To investigate the impacts burying at depth organic matter (using a Neutrog product Bounce Back) and gypsum using the subsoiler machine.

To report on the use of crop sensors as an aid for nitrogen decisions.

• To determine which wheat varieties perform best under local conditions. The trial included a number of bread wheats, but also some noodle and biscuit wheats.

To identify alternative grazing systems that are both sustainable and profitable in low-medium rainfall zones where cropping is no longer viable due to high risks and changing climatic conditions.

To compare the performance of 3 seeding systems and 2 nutrition strategies. This is a rotation trial to assess the longer term effects of seeding systems and higher fertiliser input systems.

To compare the performance of 3 seeding systems and 2 nutrition strategies. This is a rotation trial to assess the longer term effects of seeding systems and higher fertiliser input systems.

To investigate the effect of full stubble retention compared with other stubble management methods and seeding technologies.

To assess the usefulness of using historical yield data to predict future yields and adjust fertiliser rates according to production zones.

The Upper North Farming systems group is involved in several Carbon Farming projects, which are trying to identify areas which have the greatest potential for soil carbon sequestration or reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

To implement the findings of previous work conducted on the establishment of native perennial grasses in the Upper North.

This project is investigating where and how perennials, including fodder shrub species can fit into our farming systems and the benefits they can have on production andsustainability.

To answer the question: can you affod to lime?

To have paddocks re-tested for soil pH post liming and results were compared to the pH level prior to liming.

To use six different labs (Soil Food Web, CSBP, APAL, AgPath, Microbwise and Solvita) to analyse soil microbiology on six different properties across Kangaroo Island.

To undertake a variable rate grazing trial in pastures.

To test the concept of spreading sand on transient salinity “magnesia” patches to see if could be equally effective in improving the performance of heavy soils.

To investigate options for no-till sowing in stony soils.

To investigate a spader machine for lime incorporation.

• To investigate the potential to incorporate a mixture of perennial species into farming systems in low-rainfall areas across southern Australia.

To identify better perennial species than what is already available in low rainfall areas.

• To compare the impact of four different management strategies on production, profitability and sustainability at the Minnipa Agricultural Centre.

To investigate nitrogen response at Minnipa in 2009.

To trial supplementing sheep grazing medics with La Trobe pellets to accelerate growth.

Investigate the dry matter accumulation and timing of a range of pastrure species and mixes and comparing them to the dry matter production by crops that are grown to be grazed before being shut up for grain production or cut for hay or silage.

Investigate the dry matter accumulation and timing of a range of pastrure species and mixes and comparing them to the dry matter production by crops that are grown to be grazed before being shut up for grain production or cut for hay or silage.

To investigate the effect of full stubble retention compared with other stubble management methods and seeding technologies

To investigate the effect of full stubble retention compared with other stubble management methods and seeding technologies.

To use the increased concentration of fertiliser granules in low SBU systems to measure any advantage of fertiliser uptake

To monitor how quickly the lime would change the pH down the profile.

• To investigate the effect of different types of inoculant on nodulation and yield in field peas grown in KI conditions.

• To look at some agronomic solutions to waterlogging.

To look at the effectiveness of placing lime at depth.

• To look at the effectiveness of placing lime at depth.

To improve our understanding of what is driving these responses and how soil modification techniques can be improved on sandy profiles.

To provide further understanding of what is driving responses to modification of sandy subsoils and how soil modification techniques can be improved.

To compare four locally grown wheat varieties at district practice and high seeding rates to assess their influence on reducing the impact of ryegrass in the whole farming system.

To investigate methods for successfully establishing crops in a single pass to reduce erosion potential and improve productivity.

To build on previous crop sequencing projects, using farmer equipment and paddock lengthtrial strips to help assess both the profitability and practicality of various pulse options: to help farmers see these crops growing for themselves, discuss the various issues involved and then better decide what may best suit their farming systems

To determine:

• Which dual purpose varieties respond to Gippsland’s climatic conditions?
• Which new varieties may have commercialization potential?
• Which varieties are best suited to forage and feed grain production?
   

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

To evaluate the suitability of different wheat and barley cultivars for both grazing and grain production, when sown as part of a the normal cropping program in low rainfall zones of western Victoria.

To address the following questions.

• Is the variable lime technique applicable/economic in a pasture system or is it more suited to cropping systems?
• Is it viable in the smaller size paddocks that are usual in pasture systems?
• Can you measure economic gains using the technique in pasture paddocks?

To develop a regionally viable farming system which incroporates the establishment of native perennial pastures, cropping into native pasture adn rotational grazing of the pasture and stubble.