Central West Farming Systems trials

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

To understand the grazing behavior of livestock in paddocks to utilise technology such as portable fencing systems.

To determine if sowing direction and row spacing can be used to reduce grass weed populations, growth and seed set, and their impact on crop performance in the Mallee.

To determine if sowing direction and row spacing can be used to influence grass weed populations and growth,
and their impact on crop performance in the Mallee.

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

To measure N2O losses from a wheat crop grown into vetch that was terminated via different end uses and to
measure the effect on wheat yield and quality.

To verify that recommendations for maximum production in other pulse growing regions of SA are applicable under low rainfall conditions.

• To identify suitable machinery for deep nutrient placement with economic and practical potential.
• To evaluate the potential of injecting fluid fertilisers into soil using high pressure.

To evaluate the efficacy and crop safety of alternative pre-emergence herbicides under knife-point and disc seeding systems.

To test a range of early maturing canola cultivars.

To compare different varieties for dry matter production (DM/ha), recovery from grazing and the impact of grazing on grain yields.

To evaluate which cereal species and variety will produce the most early feed.

To capture how different pasture systems are performing.

To search for greater profit and improved management of feed gaps and pastures, which are incentives for grazing cereals.

To investigate the effects of six commonly used herbicides for the control of grass and/or broadleaved weeds in peas on the growth, nitrogen fixation and yield of the crop. The impact of spray time was also investigated.

To verify that recommendations for maximum production in other pulse growing regions of SA are applicable under low rainfall conditions.

To identify strategies that minimise the risk of canola production in the low rainfall zone.

To investigate the effects of row direction, row spacing and stubble cover on grain yield and quality. 

To investigate the impact of row direction and row spacing on grass weed competition and cereal performance over three years.

To investigate the potential of non-chemical options for managing barley grass in a crop is increasing crop competition by reducing row spacing and increasing sowing rate.

To investigate whether soil compaction was causing them production losses.

To report on paddock yield and seeding depth optimisation.

To compare the grass weed control of various herbicides and compare crop safety and grain yield on wheat at Penong and barley at Mangalo.

To inform members about airborne imagery: the taking of photographs of the ground and crops from a direct-down position. Platforms for airborne imagery for agriculture include satellites, fixed-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or “drones”).

To compare break crop productivity and profitability on major soil types in the northern South Australian Mallee.
 

To provide information about understanding maps.

To investigate the impact that two different harvest weed seed control (HWSC) methods – narrow windrowing of header trash and the Esperance Mobile Ag Repairs (EMAR) chaff deck – have on reducing the weed burden in the following crop.

To inform readers about weed sensing: the use of a machine or instrument to detect a weed; a plant that shouldn’t be there

To comment on seedbed utilisation calculating safe fertiliser rates,

To provide information regarding fertiliser placement.

To compare the efficacy and crop safety of various pre-sowing herbicide mixes on grassy weeds in a dry sowing situation for wheat, and followed the treatments through to final grain yield.

To study the interaction of cereal type and variety and seeding rate on crop yield and grass suppression on a known weedy site.

• To present information on farm business health indicators - the key drivers of profit and wealth creation.

To investigate canola response to phosphorous in the Forbes district.

• To assess the potential for yield and quality responses from controlling Stripe Rust (SR) in several wheat varieties with differing levels of SR resistance in central-west (CW) NSW.
• To assess the level of stripe rust control achieved by using different fungicide products including seed dressings, fertiliser dressing and foliar sprays.

To compare the response of H45 and Bowerbird when treated with a range of fungicide treatments.

To investigate the effects of sowing date on the yield of Lupins.

To report on new barley varieties and management.

To measure responsiveness to starter nitrogen (N) and high sulphur (S) rates.

To identify and retest historic pH monitoring sites from previous publically funded projects.

To further investigate the impact of rainfall timing on the effectiveness of topdressed urea N uptake, and
the possible role of Agritain-treated urea to overcome the problems with the timing of topdressing.

To discuss the economics of lucerne establishment.

To discuss the economics of pasture establishment.

To focus on maintaining profitable retained stubble systems rather than investigating agronomic and economic benefits of stubble retention.

To help farmers wanting help in managing the ups and downs, the dry and the wet.

To demonstrate herbicide(s) and timing of application options for the control of horehound.

To research the innovative management of SLN and prairie ground cherry.

During 2013 harvest Mr Roger Bolte of Wyalong established windrows in paddocks in an attempt to help manage herbicide resistant ryegrass populations.