Red sandy loam trials

To examine the long-term environmental, biological and economic effects of alternate production systems.

To evaluate the effect of early application of foliar trace elements and fungicides on yellow leaf spot in wheat.

To assess the P response from current fertiliser applications at MAC.

To determine the optimum ratio of peas and canola for grain yield, profitability and post harvest ground cover.

• To compare very early maturing feed and malting barley lines selected from the University of Adelaide Barley Program advanced yield trials.
• To compare these varieties with other adapted and current varieties, and to evaluate their specific adaptation to the upper EP environment.

To provide early feed for stock in autumn, a time of year when pastures haven’t established properly, and get ewes and lambs out of the confinement feedlot and onto good quality feed as soon as possible.

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

To test whether general soil health and fertility can be increased under a higher carbon input system with well managed grazing.

To assess the new herbicide Sakura on Brome grass control/supression in wheat.

To assess the effectiveness of liquid calcium products on yeild in wheat.

To provide data to assist in decision making when planning to use a field crop as a potential resource for grazing, hay and/or grain based on seasonal conditions, while in some cases utilising the benefits of a break crop within the cropping rotation.

To assess the P response from current and residual fertiliser applications.

To further evaluate variable rate sowing as a tool to improve profitability in low rainfall upper EP farming systems, this broad acre trial
began in 2008 and has continued through to 2010.

To test whether soil health and fertility can be improved under a higher carbon input system with or without grazing.

To understand the impact of soil carbon and nitrogen cycling on Rhizoctonia solani disease suppression.

To recommend options to improve;
• soil nutrients and groundcover, and 
• reduce disease levels and chemical use.

• To measure crop response in a field trial at Minnipa to different fertiliser rates over time, with soil P levels measured annually as Colwell P.

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

To test whether nitrogen management options typical for upper EP would ‘switch off’ disease suppression.

To evaluate variable rate technology using low, standard and high seed and fertiliser inputs on 3 soils zoned as of poor, medium and good production potential from a pre-2008 yield monitor, EM38 and elevation maps.

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

The DAFF and GRDC funded national trial will examine existing, new and alternative strategies for farmers in the cereal sheep zone to increase soil carbon. The trial will be used as baseline data for carbon accumulation in soils and to: discuss the various forms of soil organic carbon (plant residues, particulate, humus and resistant fractions), investigate how management affects each of these pools and how humus can be increased over the medium to long term ,communicate how soil organic matter affects soil productivity (through nutrient and water supply, and improvements in soils structure). Identical trials are being run by eight farm groups in SE Australia (Victoria: Mallee Sustainable Farming, Birchip Cropping Group, Southern Farming Systems; NSW: FarmLink, Central West Farming Systems; SA: Hart and Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation, both through Ag Ex Alliance; and Tasmania: Southern Farming Systems) so information can be collected on different soils and climates in the Southern Region.

To assess the new products with a range of application strategies and compared them to other management options (tillage, zinc, starter nitrogen, deep sowing, fluid fertiliser and late sowing) which can change the impact of rhizoctonia on crop production.

The DAFF and GRDC funded national trial will examine existing, new and alternative strategies for farmers in the cereal sheep zone to increase soil carbon. The trial will be used as baseline data for carbon accumulation in soils and to: discuss the various forms of soil organic carbon (plant residues, particulate, humus and resistant fractions), investigate how management affects each of these pools and how humus can be increased over the medium to long term, communicate how soil organic matter affects soil productivity (through nutrient and water supply, and improvements in soils structure). Identical trials are being run by eight farm groups in SE Australia (Victoria: Mallee Sustainable Farming, Birchip Cropping Group, Southern Farming Systems; NSW: FarmLink, Central West Farming Systems; SA: Hart and Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation, both through Ag Ex Alliance; and Tasmania: Southern Farming Systems) so information can be collected on different soils and climates in the Southern Region.

To test whether soil fertility and health could be improved under a higher input system (e.g. higher fertiliser and seeding rates, establishment of improved pasture) compared to a lower input and more traditional system (district practice seed and fertiliser inputs, volunteer pasture).

The six year (2008-2013) rotation of: wheat, wheat, pasture (volunteer and sown annual medic), wheat, pasture (annual medic – self regenerating) and wheat, was also split into grazed and un-grazed treatments in both the high and low input systems to establish the relative impact of grazing.

To increase grower awareness of: the current status of soil acidification and the associated causes and impacts and associated need to address of soil acidification via the ongoing application of agricultural lime.

To increase grower awareness of: the current status of soil acidification and the associated causes and impacts and associated need to address of soil acidification via the ongoing application of agricultural lime.

To increase grower awareness of the benefits of applying Lime to a cropping operation. Providing local relevance to farmers.

The DAFF and GRDC funded national trial will examine existing, new and alternative strategies for farmers in the cereal sheep zone to increase soil carbon. The trial will be used as baseline data for carbon accumulation in soils and to: discuss the various forms of soil organic carbon (plant residues, particulate, humus and resistant fractions), investigate how management affects each of these pools and how humus can be increased over the medium to long term, communicate how soil organic matter affects soil productivity (through nutrient and water supply, and improvements in soils structure). Identical trials are being run by eight farm groups in SE Australia (Victoria: Mallee Sustainable Farming, Birchip Cropping Group, Southern Farming Systems; NSW: FarmLink, Central West Farming Systems; SA: Hart and Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation, both through Ag Ex Alliance; and Tasmania: Southern Farming Systems) so information can be collected on different soils and climates in the Southern Region.

A long-term study was established at the Minnipa Agricultural Centre from 2008 to 2014 (EPFS Summaries 2008 to 2013) to assess the impact of grazing on crop and pasture production and soil health and also to evaluate this from a systems perspective.

The seven year demonstration with a wheat, wheat, pasture (volunteer and sown annual medic), wheat, pasture (self-regenerating annual medic), wheat and wheat rotation was also established to determine whether productivity could be improved under a higher input system compared to a lower input and more traditional system and what affect this had on soil fertility.

This trial addresses issues which may be a barrier to early sowing in the region. In particular; 1. What varieties preform well from early sowing? How do winter and long season spring varieties compare? 2.Can early sown crops be managed to avoid excessive vegetative growth and low harvest index, particularly in dry finish? 3. How do early sown yields compare with traditional mid-May sowing?

To determine the optimal plant density for lentil in southern NSW cropping systems, and if the optimum plant density remains consistent accross varieties. 

To compare no till farming techniques against conventional farming methods over 5 different cropping rotations: No-till • all weed control by herbicides or narrow windrow burning • sown with NDF single disc seeder • stubble retained where possible Conventional • weed control both by herbicides and cultivation • sown with NDF single disc seeder • stubble incorporated.

This experiment compared the different Rhizobia innoculation formulations on nodulation, growth and yield of field pea, lupin, faba bean, lentil and chickpea under varying rain-fed and soil moisture conditions on an acidic, sandy loam at Yenda in the south western cropping zone of southern NSW.

Compare the new IGW3526 imidazolinone tolerant wheat with Justica in a farm scale demonstration to gauge variety performance.

• To compare the growth, development and yield of current commercial chickpea varieties and  promising advanced breeding lines at three sowing dates on a hard-setting, acidic, red-brown soil at Yenda in southern NSW.

The DAFF and GRDC funded national trial will examine existing, new and alternative strategies for farmers in the cereal sheep zone to increase soil carbon. The trial will be used as baseline data for carbon accumulation in soils and to: discuss the various forms of soil organic carbon (plant residues, particulate, humus and resistant fractions), investigate how management affects each of these pools and how humus can be increased over the medium to long term, communicate how soil organic matter affects soil productivity (through nutrient and water supply, and improvements in soils structure). Identical trials are being run by eight farm groups in SE Australia (Victoria: Mallee Sustainable Farming, Birchip Cropping Group, Southern Farming Systems; NSW: FarmLink, Central West Farming Systems; SA: Hart and Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation, both through Ag Ex Alliance; and Tasmania: Southern Farming Systems) so information can be collected on different soils and climates in the Southern Region.

To update the benefits of fluid delivery systems from previous research and assess the potential of fluid nutrients and disease control strategies in current farming systems.

A long-term study was established at the Minnipa Agricultural Centre from 2008 to 2015 (EPFS Summaries 2008 to 2014) to assess the impact of grazing on crop and pasture production and soil health and also to evaluate this from a systems perspective.

The eight year demonstration with a wheat, wheat, pasture (volunteer and sown annual medic), wheat, pasture (self-regenerating annual medic), wheat and wheat rotation was also established to determine whether productivity could be improved under a higher input system compared to a lower input and more traditional system and what affect this had on soil fertility.

To assess the impact of soil nutrition, current herbicides, adjuvants and rhizobial inoculants on nitrogen (N) fixation by medics under field conditions typical of the upper Eyre Peninsula. 

The GRDC project ‘Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble - upper Eyre Peninsula’ aims to produce sustainable management guidelines to control pests, weeds and diseases while retaining stubble to maintain or improve soil health, and reduce exposure to wind erosion. The major outcome to be achieved is increased knowledge and skills allowing farmers and advisers to improve farm profitability while retaining stubble in farming systems on upper Eyre Peninsula (EP).

The Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC) S7 stubble retention trial was established to maintain or improve crop production through applying alternative weed, disease and pest control options in pasture wheat rotations in the presence of crop residues. The trial was established in 2013 with wheat and different stubble treatments imposed at harvest annually. It was sown either inter row or on row with wheat in 2014 and 2015 to determine the impacts of stubble management on crop production, weeds, disease and pests in low rainfall farming systems.

To look at current techniques used by farmers, or recommended by consultants, to improve medic pastures and determine the most effective method to optimise N₂-fixation. Biomass, nodulation and N₂-fixation differences between management practices, including inoculation treatments on both sown and regenerating medic stands were measured. The trial also investigated if grazing medic pastures in the break phase of the rotation benefits or impedes nodulation and subsequent N₂-fixation.

1. To establish agronomic guidelines for lentil time of sowing and seeding rate for current commercial lentil varieties alongside promising advanced breeding lines on an acidic, red-brown earth at Wagga Wagga, NSW. This information will be used to confirm and update current agronomic recommendations for lentil in this region.
2. To determine if optimum plant density and sowing time remains constant across varieties in this environment.

• To determine the ability and drivers of grain yield recovery of two different wheat varieties after grazing.
• To investigate whether N has the ability to assist in grazing recovery of yield and/or quality compensation.

Similar trials were conducted for the GRDC funded Grain & Graze 3 project in 2015 across other agro-ecological regions including Mid-North of South Australia, Wimmera Mallee region of Victoria and Southern Victoria to determine regional and seasonal differences.

To investigate how differing summer farming practices influence stored water and how plant available water may influence grain yield potential and grain quality attributes in the low rainfall area in central NSW.

To build on previous research by updating knowledge of the benefits, including disease control and nutrition, of fluid delivery systems. 

A long-term study was established at the Minnipa Agricultural Centre from 2008 to 2016 (EPFS Summaries 2008 to 2015) to assess the systems impact of grazing on crop and pasture production, and soil health. 

The GRDC project ‘Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble - upper Eyre Peninsula’ aims to produce sustainable management guidelines to control pests, weeds and diseases while retaining stubble to maintain or improve soil health, and reduce exposure to wind erosion. The major outcome to be achieved is increased knowledge and skills allowing farmers and advisers to improve farm profitability while retaining stubble in farming systems on upper Eyre Peninsula (EP).

The Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC) S7 stubble retention trial was established to determine if we could maintain or improve crop production through applying alternative weed, disease and pest control options in pasture wheat rotations in the presence of crop residues. The trial was established in 2013 with wheat and different stubble treatments imposed at harvest annually. It was sown either inter row or on row each season to determine the impacts of stubble management on crop production, weeds, disease and pests in low rainfall farming systems.

To compare growth, development and yield of current commercial lentil varieties and advanced breeding lines sown on two dates on a red, sandy loam soil at Rankins Springs in south-western NSW

To compare growth, development and yield of current commercial lupin varieties and advanced breeding lines sown on two dates on a red sandy loam soil at Rankins Springs in southern NSW.