FarmLink Research trials

To investigate whether a break crop can be used to manage weeds.

To compare the productivity and profitability of cropping in the presence of a background of herbicide resistant ryegrass, and to assess the implications of various low or high input grass control options applied to wheat and break crops on production costs and ryegrass management.

To compare the productivity and relative profitability of various low input/low risk cropping options with alternative high input/high risk, but potentially higher return crops.

To measure the impacts on wheat and canola of brown manure peas. Focus on N usage, moisture conservation, weed control and yield.

To measure the impacts of brown manure peas on nitrogen fixation, moisture conservation, weed control and yield compared to a traditional long fallow system.

To test the impact of sheep grazing no-till and zero-till farming systems on soil conditions and crop yields.

This paper reports results from previous reserach and some recent findings on inputs on fixed N2 by different legumes routinely measured. The project examines the effect of legumes or canola break crops on subsequent cereal productivity in cereal-dominated cropping systems.

To detect and manage trace element deficiencies in crops.

To assess the differences between disc and tyne seeding systems in commercial practice.

To assess the differences between disc and tyne seeding systems in commercial practice.

To assess the differences between disc and tyne seeding systems in commercial practice.

To determine whether rotational benefits of break crops improve the profitabiliyt of first wheat after break crops.

It assess the impact of repeat applications of herbicide on residue levels and the impact on soil biology and crop production.

To investigate early sown wheats in the Junee Reefs and Rankins Springs areas.

To test the practicality of increasing soil humic carbon on farm.

To determine the impact on soil carbon fraction levels of applications of balanced nutrients, N, P and S, stubble retention, stubble removal and stubble incorporation.

To offer students of St Anne's Agriculture classes Year 9 and 10 hands on opportunities to undertake a small field trial using varying urea rates.

To establish trial sites at Wagga Wagga and Temora to provide a wider geographic base for the evaluation of canola allelopathy.

To examine the performance of genetics and foliar fungicides for the control of blackleg.

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 determin if harvest weed seed practices can be adopted to reduce soil week seed banks in high yielding HRZ areas of the southern region to address herbicide resistance issue.

• To address emerging weed issues in the Southern Region, identifying why these issues are arising through targeted biological and ecological studies on emerging weed species and providing practical recommendations where possible.
• To develop a standard protocol for determining soil disturbance by disc seeders for use by industry. The benefits of this work will primarity be delivered in the Southern Region.

FarmLink’s role is to establish two paddock scale replicated experiments to –
• Increase awareness of subsoil acidity, and 
• Demonstrate effectiveness of innovative technology to ameliorate and/or prevent subsoil acidity on a farm scale

To evaluate different harvest and post-harvest stubble management techniques and measure their effect on harvest efficiency, grain losses and growth and yield of the subsequent crop.

Aim to develop kinowledge and skills in improved soil moisture profile management to reduce yield loss and maximise profitability. Three moisture probes were established on Felix Farm north west of Ariah Park and Bellevue, south west of Ariah Park.

To provide soil test calibrations with fertiliser repsonses for situations where the national database has minimal data.

To highlight the main challenges faced in continuous cropping systems, and provide some recent research outcomes on best-bet management to sustain profitable continuous cropping with current and foreseeable technologies.

The aim of this series of experiments was to deterimine if management of EGA Wedgetail should be different to that of spring wheats sown in May, and if grown for grain only or dual purpose use.

To determine the impact of reducing fertiliser rates following a run of low yielding seasons.

The aim of this demonstration trial was to compare the ability of PodGuard to reduce the occurrence of shattering events, allowing a variety with this trait to increase yields without losses due to shattering.

To answer the question, 'Can a break crop be as profitable as wheat?'.

To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.

To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.

To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.

To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.

To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.

To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.

To assess the impact of sheep grazing on crops, stubbles, soil structure, water dynamics and crop yield.

To determine the impact of sheep grazing on stubbles during the summer fallow period on soil properties, crop resources and growth under no-till, controlled traffic cropping with strict weed control.

• To examine the impact rotation has on the population of annual ryegrass under different systems.
• To answer the questions: what is the effect of specific herbicides applied in the wheat crop in year one have on the annual ryegrass populations in year two before and after sown to canola (RR & TT) and how and where are herbicides best used in the rotation to maximise efficacy?

Identifying if the increase in soil organic matter content could be beneficial for improving soil water holding capacity, increasing nutrient supply.

Work conducted by Clive Kirkby (CSIRO) has investigated the feasibility of increasing soil carbon levels with the use of balanced amounts of nutrients and incorporation of stubble.

The overall aim of the project was to raise awareness of farmers about how they can reduce green house gas emissions, sequester soil carbon and make improvements in farm productivity.

To improve landholder understanding of soil moisture conditions through the use of raw data, the establishment of yield modelling and data analysis and interpretation.

To see how slow maturing wheats sown early into stored water yielded in comparison to mid-fast varieties sown during the usual sowing window.

To report on investigations into the strategic use of tillage within no-till systems.

To discuss strategies and tactics to extend whole-farm water-use efficiency - sow on-time or early!

To determin the effect of grazing and burning stubbles on grain yield and quality in no-till and zero-till controlled traffic farming systems in SNSW.

To explore the issues that impact on the profitability of retaining stubbles across a range of environments in southern Australia with the aim of developing regional guidelines and recommendations that assist growers and advisors to consistently retain stubbles profitably.

To deliver local trials to increase awareness of subsoil acidity and, demonstrate effectiveness of innovate technology to ameliorate and/or prevent subsoil acidity on farm scale.

To measure the variation in dry matter production, nitrogen fixation, moisture conservation and grain yield as a result of sowing date, legume species and variety.