trials

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

To comment on Yield Prophet® in 2006 and how it can help save a packet in a drought season.

To ascertain the major differences in soil types in the region, and provide more accurate and timely information on a broad, generic scale that would have better relevance for growers in the region.

To comment on Yield Prophet® 2007.

To test Yield Prophet for 2005.

To discuss Yield Prophet - how did it perform in 2003?

To disucss what'll happen when it does rain again.

To report on the Paxton's efforts to “to keep the soil pH above 5, we know if we don’t, we start losing production”. 

To answer the question 'What is required to be a good financial manager on a farm?'

To discuss using computers to give you weather at your fingertips.

To introduce the concept of water use efficiency.

To answer the question in Victorian weather - will the drought break?

To determine environmental triggers and time of day vegetable beetles and slaters are active.

To share Tim Buck's story about using technology to make better farming decisions.

To put into practice one of the key findings from the BCG research work over the last three years - 'high sowing rates in Silverstar wheat will decrease screenings' At the same time it was a good opportunity to test the results of small scale plot work in a real life situation on a large scale. 

To determine whether crop reflectance at particular wavelengths of light can be used during stem elongation to determine the need for applied nitrogen.

To determine if crop sensors can be used during stem elongation to determine N content of the plant and the need for applied N.

To present research information available on role of foliar fungicide mixtures with new chemistry against barley LR in a variety with known APR.

This trial aims to assist growers in making informed decisions around the construction of sub-surface drainage to reduce the impacts of waterlogging on crop production and farm profitability. By 2024, 45% of growers whose properties are affected by waterlogging will have a good understanding of the yield benefits and time to return on investment of installation of on-farm sub-surface drainage and ability to implement on-farm.

To provide information about trends and costs in production.

The Transitioning Family Farming Businesses project proposed to facilitate a discussion in the WA grains industry regarding its future industry development requirements around the establishment of farm advisory boards. It did this through the delivery of:

• Needs analysis of the Australian grains industry regarding the development of farm advisory boards using leading farmers and key industry stakeholders in;

o a series of in-depth interviews, and

o an industry forum.

• Develop an outline of a training programme that, once developed, will support grain businesses in their implementation of an advisory board of management.

• Develop fact sheets regarding the establishment of farm advisory boards.

• Provide an opportunity for members of the project team to participate with other leading businesses at a national level through;

o Participation in the National Farm Advisory Board Forum, and

o Participation in the Family Business Australia “Family Business Directors

• Delivery of information on the establishment of farm boards at identified industry conferences and field days.

To discuss the year that was - 2008.

To comment on 2007 - the year that was.

To comment on 2006 - the year that was.

To comment on the year that was - 2005.

It is relatively easy to describe a particular year on one’s own farm. To specify precisely what happened over our whole region is the challenging part. Far more difficult is to accurately describe the feelings of the farmers, not to mention those of their partners: the hopes, expectations, commitment, hard work, disappointments and the consequences of what happened.

To reflect upon 2002 - the year that was.

To provide a summary of 2001 - the year that was.

Please see report 

To discuss 1999 - the year that was.

To discuss 1998 - the year that was.

To discuss 1997 - the year that was.

To discuss 1996 - the year that was.

To discuss the year that was 1995.

To comment on 1994 - the year that was.

To provide an overview of the year that was.

To discuss whether the Southern Oscillation Index is useful as a rainfall predictor for the Southern Mallee.

To discuss the probability of grain prices remaining high.

To conudct the Machinery Challenge - a cost comparison of machinery usage in four different farming systems.

To answer the question 'Has the weather changed?'

To measure the loss of soil water attributed to summer weeds and to quantify the impact of summer weeds on lost production.

To establish a grower owned fuel distribution group with the difference being the addition of Bio-diesel.

To present the 'greenhouse story'.

• To gain an indication of the distribution of some beneficial species across the region.
• To gain an appreciation of what beneficial species occur in the different ecosystems.
• To investigate the potential role of native grasslands in assisting to control pests in agricultural crops and pastures

To explore systems to control the air–water interface to reduce evaporation from water storages.

To report on a survey of the “Red Leaf Clover Syndrome”.

The objective of this survey is to understand if HWSC systems influence in mice populations in paddocks.

Properties with mice activity around sheds or houses were targeted.

Barley grass is now one of the top 10 weeds of Australian cropping in terms of area infested, crop yield loss and revenue loss (Llewellyn et al. 2016). Barley grass has several biological traits that make it difficult for growers to manage it in the low rainfall zone, so it is not surprising that it is becoming more prevalent in field crops in SA and WA.

Through recent GRDC investment, the research project ‘Demonstrating and validating the implementation of integrated weed management strategies to control barley grass in the low rainfall zone farming systems’ (hereby referred to as GRDC Low Rainfall Barley Grass) has commenced. An initial grower survey of current practice and attitudes towards barley grass was undertaken in 2019 to be used as the baseline to assess changes in grower attitudes and any change in practices after the completion of the three-year project.

• To use PA maps to indentify and sample soil zones within paddocks.
• To identify potential soil specific nitrogen responses within paddocks.