Birchip VIC trials

The aim of this trial is to compare a range of ‘N banking targets’  to ‘N crop demand’ driven N application strategies in terms of their impact on productivity (yield, protein), profitability (gross margin, risk) and sustainability (soil organic matter, carbon footprint,  losses) in diverse soil types in the LRZ.

To quanitfy the role of livestock in the financial performance of Wimmera and Malle farming systems.

To raise awareness about the increasing occurrence of herbicide resistant wild radish populations in the Wimmera and Mallee and to determine the best management practices for farmers to combat it and reduce its spread.

To compare soil moisture, soil nitrogen and profitability of five different vetch end-use treatments from 2012, sown to wheat in 2013.

A study was commissioned in 2008 by the Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) and Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) to assess the impacts of the first GM canola available to farmers in NSW and Victoria.

The purpose of this study was to assess at farm level the impact of GM herbicide tolerant canola on farming operations that may or may not include non-GM canola.

To compare the effects of (i) five different vetch termination timings, and (ii) five different end-uses of vetch on stored soil water and mineral N, and the yield of a subsequent wheat crop.

To determine the performance of new and current wheat varieties in the Wimmera and Mallee

To increase grain protein (%) in wheat and barley by means of late applications of nitrogen (N) applied as UAN.

The aim of this trial was to compare the performance of very early sown wheat varieties, their early grazing potential and ability to recover from grazing.

To evaluate the performance of new and current barley varieties in the Mallee and Wimmera.

To evaluate commercially available forage cereal varieties, comparing their feed value and suitability for grazing or grain production in low rainfall Mallee and Wimmera environments.

To measure: nitrous oxide fluxes in a wheat crop when different rates of nitrogenous urea fertiliser were applied. The effect on wheat yield and quality of applying fertiliser at zero, medium and high urea rates.

To evaluate the performance of new and current wheat varieties in the Mallee and Wimmera.

This trial was established to investigate current fungicide seed treatment options in cereals and compare these with EverGol Prime for Rhizoctonia control.

To identify nutrient and stubble management practices which result in increased soil organic matter.

To determine whether rhizobial inoculation of vetch enhances the amounts of N fixed. To evaluate the effect the timing of vetch termination has on inputs of fixed N, and on residual soil moisture and mineral N measured at the end of the 2012 growing season.

The project objectives were to: determine what effect stubble load and type had on YLS infection. Determine whether changing cultural practices would aid in reducing YLS incidence. Investigate the effect of fungicide application timing and nutrition on YLS severity.

To provide growers with a list of suggested varieties for 2012 from the large range of varieties now available and to provide information about current varieties that still have limitations which growers need to know and to manage for.

To trial and demonstrate two possible agronomic adaptations to a changing climate:

• to sow wheat varieties earlier to reduce the possibility of heat shock events during grain fill whilst taking into account the frost risk, and
• to sow more than one variety in the one paddock as a mix to ensure that the whole crop is not susceptable to frost and heat shock at the same time.

To identify weed species that pose the greatest threats to agricultural produciton if incursion an dispersal is allowed to occur from roadsides and fence-lines into farmed land.

To evaluate adaptive farm systems using a case study farm and then to develop simple approaches which farmers can use to help their decision making, especially in the fact of continuing uncertain seasons and profit margins.

To compare soil P tests for predicting crop responses on a paddock scale.

To investigate whether polymer films can improve yields of short season crops when late sown.

To improve farmer’s capacity to manage soil health issues by providing information and access to soil management strategies and techniques

To provide an update for Mallee wheat results update from 2008.

To compare two soil phosphorus (P) tests (Diffusive Gradient Thin Films (DGT) and Colwell P) for their prediction of crop responses to applied-P in farmer paddocks.

To simulate the impacts of likely climate change scenarios on wheat production using the Yield Prophet® Climate Change Report.

To determine if DGT could predict P fertiliser requirements for the field and to compare results from the DGT soil P test with other common soil P testing techniques (Colwell P and resin).

To generate independent information for growers about newly released barley crop varieties.

To conduct a pre-release evaluation (crop tolerance testing) of potential new canola quality Brassica juncea varieties (J05Z-08920 and J05Z-08960) for tolerance to the appropriate CLEARFIELD® (imidazolinone) herbicide products.

To improve soil health and sustainable soil management practices in the region.

To assess a number of different nitrogen timings and nitrogen products.

To conduct three polymer trials. 

To determine whether responses ‘to liquid P, found in wheat are the same as those found in barley, canola, oats and lentils.

To report on a  series of in-crop risk management plots that were established at BCG’s three research and demonstration sites (Manangatang, Birchip and Longerenong).

To conduct trials investigating stripe and stem rust – wheat variety performance.

To look at the application of disease and canopy management principles and their application to the different climatic regions of southern Australia.

To conduct a barley variety trial.

To report on the Farming Systems trial 2006.

To answer the question 'Can we manage inputs in-crop that will yield well in a good season whilst also maintaining yields and keeping costs down in poorer seasons?'.

Perennial pastures are being investigated for their potential fit in the Wimmera Mallee region.

To conduct a wheat variety trial.

To compare the competitive nature of wheat and barley sown at different row spacing and seeding rates on grass weed competition.

To compare the competitive nature of wheat and barley sown at different row spacing and seeding rates on grass weed competition.

To discuss fluid phosphorus fertilisers: how did they fare in Victoria in 2005?

To estimate in-crop risk management using the Yield Prophet.

To provide an indication of when stripe rust is likely to affect a particular district, enabling local growers to take measures to protect any unprotected crops before the disease becomes intense.

To investigate options for managing hostile subsoils.

This trial is investigating the uptake by wheat of different nitrogen fertilisers.