• To measure the productivity and recovery of cereals under simulated grazing regimes.
• To determine the number of times cereals can be grazed without affecting yield.

Native budworm actively feeding on cereals has not been an issue for growers or industry in the past, and considering the recent detections, growers and western region industry networks have voiced that they would like support on this issue, especially regarding sampling techniques and spray thresholds. To achieve this, we investigated this new behavioural trend and the population numbers required to cause economic yield losses to determine if and when management is required in non-traditional cereal hosts.

Through pheromone-based moth trapping, crop inspections, glasshouse trials and a field cage trial, we investigated the behaviour of H. punctigera moths and larvae on, and potential economic damage to, wheat in the northern grainbelt of Western Australia. 

To improve grain production by ameliorating subsurface compaction and subsurface acidity.

To improve grain production by ameliorating subsurface compaction and subsurface acidity.

To measure the effect of deep ripping on depth to free water (waterlogging) and the associated yield response of canola (2018) and wheat (2019) after deep ripping on this soil type.

To evaluate the effect of water rate using a medium spray quality on bromoxynil based herbicides under conditions where coverage is not optimal; to evaluate the effect of coarse droplets; and to evaluate the effect on wild radish control at different water rates with MCPA in tank mixtures with Velocity.

To demonstrate the metribuzin tolerance of the new lupin variety Mandelup.

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 compare the effect of croptopping on Mandelup with other currently grown lupin varieties.

To demonstrate the benefit of wide rows in lupins.

To answer the quesitons:

• Does in-furrow application of fungicide using liquid banding improve control of Rhizoctonia solani compared to the untreated control or seed treatment?
• Does in-furrow application of fungicide using liquid banding improve control of Rhizoctonia solani compared to coating of granular fertiliser?
• Does an integrated approach incorporating cultivation, seed treatment and in-furrow fungicide application improve control of Rhizoctonia solani compared to the untreated control and all other individual treatments?

To test modified one-way ploughs as a method of lime incorporation.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on barley and canola yield on sand over gravel and deep sand soil types in the South Stirling area of WA.

• Assess the influence of soil renovation treatments on soil borne diseases.

To assess amelioration of subsoil acidity using a range of tillage methods for incorporating surface applied lime into acidic subsoils and the impacts of tillage and lime on crop productivity.

To assess amelioration of subsoil acidity using a range of tillage methods for incorporating surface applied lime into acidic subsoils and the impacts of tillage and lime on crop productivity.

To determine if deep ripping overcomes compaction and increases yield on a red sandy loam.

To improve grain production by ameliorating subsurface compaction and subsurface acidity.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on wheat yield in a sand over gravel soil type near Northam, WA.

Main aims of the project are: • Demonstrate different methods of lime incorporation. • Assess rate responses to lime through subsoil amelioration. • Economics of lime rate by tillage method

• OBJECTIVE 1: For growers, researchers and advisers to have a better understanding of the costs and benefits of ‘deeper’ deep ripping versus standard deep ripping and in particular depth of deep ripping required to optimise crop yield and profit.
• OBJECTIVE 2: To gain a better understanding of whether the higher cost associated with deeper ripping is matched with a corresponding yield increase taking into account the rainfall zones and the soil type.
• OBJECTIVE 3: Assess how long the benefits of ‘deeper’ deep ripping benefit last in a CTF system.
• OBJECTIVE 4: Enable growers and advisors on behalf of their clients, assess the cost-benefit of undertaking ‘deeper’ deep ripping.

To investigate the effectiveness of fungicides regimes for controlling net blotch and powdery mildew of barley.

To assess the capacity of surface applied and deep placed lime to improve subsoil pH and productivity of deep acid (Wodjil) sand.

To improve grain production by ameliorating subsurface compaction and subsurface acidity.

To investigate the suitability and profitability of alternative legume crops in the Western Region.
 

Determine the effect of fungicide management strategies on disease control (primarily blackleg and sclerotinia), grain yield and profitability in 45Y28 RR (moderately resistant, blackleg group BC) and HyTTec Trifecta (Resistant, blackleg group ABD).

To compare three legume crops in farmer scale seeding strip trials at three locations in the Albany Port Zone. Demonstrations will compare several legume crops in different soil types in different micro-environments. The same trial sites will be monitored in 2019 to determine the effects (positive or negative) of the legume break crop on the subsequent barley/wheat crop and soil nitrogen status. The legume demonstration trials will provide growers with current agronomic information for pulses/legumes as a break crop in farming systems for the Albany Port Zone. Information from both the legume demonstration and effect on the subsequent crop will complement the Crop Sequence Calculator Workshops to be run concurrently by Farmanco.  

To report on the Fit for Dual Purpose and Dual Use Long Season Wheat Project.

To improve grain production by ameliorating subsurface compaction and subsurface acidity.

To demonstrate the profitability of alternative grain legume crops across the Western Region.

To determine how long the ripping effect lasts for in a controlled traffic farming (CTF) system and when to repeat the deep ripping on deep sands

To conduct comparisons

• crop safety and yield of EverGol Prime compared to Dividend for the contro lof rhizoctonia in wheat,
• efficacy of EverGol Prime compared to Dividend for rhizoctonia control, and
• barley covered smut control of EverGol Prime to current standards.

To demonstrate more efficient deep ripping of a dry compact sandy soil and to assess any benefits of improved rain infiltration and crop yield.

Test the yield of different canola varieties.

To assess amelioration of subsoil acidity using a range of tillage methods for incorporating surface applied lime into acidic subsoils and the impacts of tillage and lime on crop productivity.

To motivate growers to carry out direct problem diagnostics in their crops using:

• nutrient and deep cultivation strips in crops, to compare with standard management;
• follow-up work to find out why they have observable crop growth variations in a paddock

To develop a protocol for setting up strip tests and interpretation procedures for growers with different levels of commitment and time and to answer the 'why is it so?' quesitons.

To evaluate the effectiveness of two bolt-on attachments to a deep ripping tine at lime incorporation.

To provide an overview and improve understanding of the range of tillage implements available to growers to incorporate lime, their respective costs and benefits and to assess novel options.

• To compare the yield of the new Albus lupin Andromeda with Kiev Mutant in a low rainfall area.
• To compare the performance of Kaspa field pea with the trailing types in a low rainfall area.

To investigate the suitability and profitability of alternative legume crops in the Western Region.

To demonstrate the disease resistance of new Sonali, Rupali and Genesis836 and potential releases Genesis90 and Genesis508, chickpea varieties.

To evaluate and determine the profitability of different strategies of disease management.

To evaluate and determine the profitability of different strategies of disease management. 

To demonstrate various long and short-term management options to mitigate water repellent soils in the Corrigin area in 2017

To evaluate Diuron as a broadleaf weed killer pre sowing of lupins and to evaluate some mixing partners to improve the control of grass weeds.

To assess the potential for the use of Dual Gold® for ryegrass control in lupins.

To investigate the suitability and profitability of alternative legume crops in the Western Region.

• To evaluate the effect of water rate using a medium spray quality on bromoxynil based herbicides under conditions where coverage is not optimal.
• To evaluate the effect of coarse droplets.
• To evaluate the effect on wild radish control at different water rates with MCPA in tank mixtures with Velocity.

To determine the soil depth that microbes responsible for nitrification (conversion of ammonium to nitrate) are located. 

• To increase understanding of the interaction between increasing soil organic carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. In particular to quantify the influence of soil organic carbon on nitrous oxide and methane emissions in a grains cropping system.
• To determine whether increasing soil organic carbon lowers the amount of nitrogen fertiliser required for grain production.