Red loam trials

Farmers in the Kimba area have been producing oaten hay for export for several years. The industry has been expanding, with dedicated storage facilities established in recent years on the outskirts of Kimba. To maximise production and quality, the Buckleboo Farm Improvement Group wanted to identify the best current oaten hay variety for the Kimba area.

To identify the current best oaten hay variety for the Kimba area to maximise production and quality.

Compare Cobra and Emu Rock varieties

To evaluate the performance of new variety Cobra under farmer practice.

To assess the yield and quality of a range of wheat varieties in the L2 rainfall zone.

To assess the potential of two new Durum varieties and a new hard wheat in the L2 rainfall zone.

To compare the performance of wheat varieties in the M2 rainfall zone.

To compare the effects VRT on different soil tyes and to compare rates of seed and fertiliser.

To include a primary trial of breeding material funded by GRDC, at Minnipa, to investigate advanced common vetch lines with specific traits best suited to this region, and enable comparison with other sites in the southern cropping region.

SAGIT trials looking at vetch for a genuine legume break crop option for cereal and mixed farmers in the marginal cropping areas of South Australia were conducted at Piednippie and Minnipa. Other trials were conducted at Morchard, Loxton and Kingsford research centre.

To assess barley grass weed seed capture by swathing and weed seed capture in chaff dumps after harvest, to determine how effective these practices can be in contributing towards an IWM program for barley grass on upper Eyre Peninsula.

To demonstrate the impact of different stubble management techniques on soil biota activity and nutrition demands would be monitored using the same fertiliser applications in crop and by comparing yields. In subsequent years the effect of different treatments will be monitored.

Issue upper EP farmers identified as a problem was sowing into retained pasture residue with pasture vines causing issues with blockages at sowing and uneven germination. The trial at Mount Cooper was designed to compare crop establishment and production, and weed and pest control effectiveness in the presence and absence of legume pasture residues. Project: EPF00001 Maintaining profitability in retained stubble systems - upper Eyre Peninsula.

Investigate the impact of soil management techniques and the application of different rates of lime over a five year period on soil pH.

To investigate herbicide control options for Slender Iceplant (Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum). The focus is on finding possible herbicide options that may allow for legume and grass pastures between bluebush or saltbush.

To investigate the efficiencies of a number of new seed dressing options for the control and/or supression of Rhizoctonia in wheat.

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

Controlling barley grass in upper EP farming systems is becoming a major issue for growers, due to the development of herbicide resistance and delayed weed emergence. Management options other than herbicides need to be considered to address the issue for long-term sustainability. One of the best bets for cultural control of barley grass in-crop may be increased crop competition. The Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (ARHI) based at University of Western Australia has shown an increase in grain yield with wheat and barley sown in an east–west (E-W) orientation over crops sown in a north-south (N-S) orientation due to a decrease in ryegrass competition. This effect is due to lower light interception by the weed due to the crop row orientation resulting in a decrease in weed seed (Borger, 2015).

A trial was established at Minnipa Agricultural Centre to investigate the impact of row direction and row spacing on weed competition and cereal performance over twoyears. The previous season’s research is reported in Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems Summary 2015, Row orientation and weed competition, p163.

To determine the efficacy and rate of gypsum required to improve soil structure on heavy clay soils in a minimum tillage system.

To determine the susceptibility of new chickpea varieties and fungicide treatment against Ascochyta Blight. However, due to herbicide damage the chickpeas weren’t harvested, therefore only Lentils and Fenugreek are discussed in this trial.

• To compare the disease control of Prosaro 420 SC with commercially available foliar fungicides.
• To determine hte best ROI from an application of either an in-furrow or foliar fungicide application or a complete program approach for control of Septoria nodorum or yellow leaf spot.

To determine optimal input packages for noodle wheat varieties grown in the Liebe area.

To determine optimum plant density for hyper-yielding canola

To determine the effect of N application and sowing time on the yield and grain quality of eight popular bread wheat varieties at Trangie in central NSW in 2015.

Nitrogen (N) is the nutrient wheat most needs for growth, development and yield. In recent seasons in Central West NSW there has been a significant trend towards above average yields and very low grain protein levels with more than 30% of grain receivals meeting ASW or lower specifications. Protein levels of <10.5% in a prime hard variety usually indicate that insufficient N levels have not only limited grain protein concentrations, but also yield. Soil testing for N levels before sowing remains an important budgeting tool. It is the most useful indicator within that season if additional applied N is needed to maximise yield and grain protein levels, along with starting soil water and target yield. This trial aimed to determine the effect of N application and sowing time on the yield and grain quality of eight popular bread wheat varieties at Trangie in central NSW in 2015. 

To determine the effect of N rate on the yield and grain quality of eight popular bread wheat varieties at Gilgandra in central NSW in 2015. 

To determine the effect of N application rates on the yield and grain quality of eight popular bread wheat varieties at Gilgandra in central NSW in 2015. 

To determine optimum nitrogen nutrient management (including rate and timing) for hyper-yielding canola.

To push the nitrogen inputs at Minnipa Agricultural Centre to achieve a target yield of 2 t/ha.

To conduct a break crop trial at Mt Cooper.

Barley grass weed density was monitored in three paddocks on upper EP (Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC), Heddle's at Minnipa and Wilkins' at Yaninee) using a UAV during the 2017 growing season at three different timings, with paddock transects conducted to verify grass weed density in paddocks.

Barley grass weed density was monitored in three paddocks on upper EP (Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC), Heddle’s at Minnipa and Wilkins’ at Yaninee using an UAV during the 2017 (EPFS Summary 2017, p 83) and 2018 growing seasons at three different timings, with paddock transects conducted to verify grass weed density in paddocks.

Barley grass continues to be a major grass weed in cereal cropping regions on upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). The use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology to identify and assess barley grass populations in paddocks and monitor potential resistant populations may be a useful tool for farmers. This approach was tested in three paddocks on upper EP Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC), Minnipa Hill and Yaninee using a UAV during the 2017, 2018 and 2019 growing seasons at three different timings, with paddock transects conducted to verify grass weed density in paddocks. In 2019 grass weed escape paddocks were targeted at MAC and Condada in the final flights.

The aim of the research was to determine if the UAV imagery could monitor the grass weed populations across seasons in crops and pastures, if resistant weed patches were continually in the same area of the paddock and if the information could be useful for farmers to adopt this method to better target grass weed control.

To evaluate yield and quality response of existing wheat varieties when treated at different nitrogen rates. Aiming to maximise nitrogen use efficiency by matching inputs to variety.

This trial was developed to examine the efficacy of seeding and foliar fungicide combinations for control of rust (stripe and leaf rust) and leaf spotting diseases (septoria nodorum and yellow spot) in wheat.

• To investigate legume pasture options for controlling group A (ACCase inhibitors) resistant barley grass (GRDC project UA00149).
• The trial also looked at the impact of these pasture treatments on a subsequent wheat crop and compared one vs. two consecutive years of legume pasture on barley grass management in the absence of group A herbicides.

To evaluate the quality and yield of Carnamah wheat in response to a range of in-furrow fungicide applications.

With larger seeding programs, increased summer weed control to conserve soil moisture and more variable autumn rainfall patterns, many growers Australia wide are continuing to dry-sow. More traditionally, growers may have previously ‘dabbled a little’ in dry-sowing and are observing with interest the successes and failures of dry-sowing systems.

On upper Eyre Peninsula in 2017 and 2018, seed was placed in the soil for many weeks with limited soil moisture; some seed still germinated but the delayed plant emergence often resulted in a lower plant establishment. This raised questions by EP farmers and consultants about the soil factors which influence seed germination and establishment.

Research trials were established in 2019 to assess the impact of management on seed germination and establishment on three different soil types in field trials and pot experiments; a red loam [Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC)] and two grey calcareous soils (Cungena and Streaky Bay) for:

• Impact of fertiliser type (P and N) and fertiliser placement,
• Impact of practices, herbicides and seed dressings.

This article reports on field trials undertaken in 2019 at three sites.

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 in 2014-17 to determine the impacts of stubble management on crop production, weeds, disease and pests in low rainfall farming systems.

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 different stubble treatments imposed at harvest and was sown either inter row or in row with wheat in 2014.

With larger seeding programs, increased summer weed control to conserve soil moisture and more variable autumn rainfall patterns, more growers Australia-wide are moving toward dry sowing.

On upper Eyre Peninsula in 2017 and 2018, seed was placed in the soil for many weeks with limited soil moisture, some seed still germinated but the delayed plant emergence often resulted in a lower plant establishment. This raised questions by growers about the soil factors which reduce germination and establishment.

This article summarises a pot trial which assessed the impact of DAP placement on wheat establishment on three different soil types; a red loam (Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC)) and two grey calcareous soils (Streaky Bay and Cungena).

To examine the suitability of elite commercial and unreleased winter canola cultivars for Hyper-yielding regions

To examine the suitability of elite commercial and unreleased spring cultivars for Hyperyielding regions

To determine the response to increased crop inputs (fungicide and nitrogen) of a range of canola variety types.

Barley grass continues to be a persistent grassy weed in low rainfall farming systems and current farming practices have selected for increased seed dormancy. This change in seed dormancy has resulted in Barley grass germinating later, and being much harder to control with knockdown and pre-emergent herbicides. In 2018 a range of herbicide strategies was tested for their effectiveness on a high density population of Barley grass.

The GRDC project ‘Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble - upper Eyre Peninsula’ aims to improve farm profitability while retaining stubble in farming systems on upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). Weed control in stubble retained systems can be compromised when stubbles and organic residues intercept the herbicide and prevent it from reaching the desired target, or the herbicide is tightly bound to organic matter. Reduced herbicide efficacy in the presence of higher stubble loads is a particular issue for pre-emergence herbicides. Current farming practices have also changed weed dormancy in barley grass genotypes in many paddocks on Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC).

As a part of the stubble project this trial was undertaken to assess herbicide efficacy (effectiveness) in different stubble management systems. To understand how herbicides perform it is important to know the properties of the herbicide, the soil type and how the herbicide is broken down in the environment. The availability of a herbicide is an interaction between the solubility of a herbicide, how tightly it is bound to soil particles and organic matter, soil structure, cation exchange capacity and pH, herbicide volatility, soil water content and the rate of herbicide applied (EPFS Summary 2015, p132).

This article reports on the results of the second year of the trial, with a third year of the trial to be conducted in 2017.

The GRDC project ‘Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubble - upper Eyre Peninsula’ aims to improve farm profitability while retaining stubble in farming systems on upper Eyre Peninsula (EP). One of the barriers to retaining stubble is the perceived reduction in pre-emergent herbicide effectiveness (efficacy) in stubbles. This component of the project is testing whether various stubble management activities impact on herbicide efficacy.

Weed control in stubble retained systems can be compromised when stubbles and other plant residues intercept the herbicide and prevent it from reaching the desired target, or the herbicide is tightly bound to organic matter. Reduced herbicide efficacy in the presence of higher stubble loads is a particular issue for pre-emergence herbicides. Current farming practices have also changed weed behavior; eg prolonged dormancy in barley grass has been confirmed in many paddocks on Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC). As a part of the stubble project this trial was undertaken to assess herbicide efficacy in different stubble management systems.

This article reports on the results of the third and final year of the trial. See EPFS Summaries 2015 and 2016 for previous trial reports.

To demonstrate the growth rates and carrying capacities of new pasture species and to show options available for improving pasture productivity.

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 S3S pasture trial was established in 2013 to assess barley grass weed management with a two year medic pasture break. The trial had different grass weed management and tillage treatments imposed in 2013 and in 2014. The trial was then sown with wheat in 2015.

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 S3S pasture trial was established in 2013 to assess barley grass weed management with a two year medic pasture break. The trial had different grass weed management and tillage treatments imposed in 2013 and in 2014. The trial was then sown with wheat in 2015 and 2016.

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 S3S pasture trial was established in 2013 to assess the impact of a two year medic pasture break on barley grass. The trial had different grass weed management and tillage treatments imposed in 2013 and 2014. The trials were sown with wheat in 2015 and 2016, and allowed to regenerate with medic pasture in 2017.

To develop a phosphorus response curve and investigate responses to sulphur, zinc, manganese and copper.