Caring for our Country trials

To demonstrate leadership and show industry-led practice change has the greatest capacity to change behaviours to reverse the trend of over-fertilising and tp promote best-practice fertiliser use, and more specifically soil testing and fertiliser application rates.

To showcase to growers different methods for deep incorporation of lime to ameliorate sub surface, below 10cm, acidity and improve soil health.

Using tillage to incorporate lime improves the rates of reaction and increases subsurface pH soomer than spreading lime on the surface alone.

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

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

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

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

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

To look at the effectiveness of placing lime at depth.

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 test the effect of very deep ripping to 500mm with shallow leading tines and incorporation of limesand on a very deeply compacted acid sand plain soil.

To determine the effectiveness of biochar on increasing soil carbon and soil stability.

To answer the question: can you affod to lime?

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 compare commercial seeding machines that have specifically been set up to sow sub-tropical grasses.

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 identify the optimum sowing time for establishment of sub-tropical grasses to the east of Eneabba.

• To investigate the impacts burying organic matter at depth.

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

• To investigate soil acidity in Kangaroo Island soils.

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

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

To assess the growth and yield of barley and wheat growing in a range of different established perennial pasture species.

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

• To examine the potential for both grain and forage cereal crops to supply feed for grazing enterprises.
• To determine the effects of grazing on grain yield and quality to help build informed decisions about when to graze crops to ensure maximum profit

To assess whether the effects of grazing wheat with sheep during the growing season. Factors being assessed are yield and quality, dry matter production and grazing value.

To assess whether the effects of grazing wheat with sheep during the growing season. Factors being assessed are yield and quality, dry matter production and grazing value.

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

To determine the effect of grazing on grain yield of Naparoo wheat

To find a way to improve the productivity and sustainability of the Darkan river flats.

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

To evaluate whether farmers can make use of the out-of-season rainfall.

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

Determine the value of Wedgetail wheat for yearling steers. Determine the impact of grazing on the grain yeld of wedgetail wheat.

To deal with the issue of sustainable agriculture.

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

Demonstrate best practice phalaris establishment and management at the PPS/EverGraze site at Mooneys Gap which should provide information to producers to give them confidence to increase phalaris use.

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