2007 trials

Evaluation of new and existing Angustifolius lupin varieties.

Evaluation of the ability of barley varieties to tolerate acid/aluminum soils.

To evaluate new Lupin inoculation initiatives in high background populations of naturalised Rhizobium strains in medium–low rainfall cereal/lupin rotation

To compare the returns of barley, canola, wheat and triticale.

• To measure the productivity and recovery of cereals under simulated grazing regimes.
• To determine the number of times cereals can be grazed without affecting yield.

This trial was designed to investigate the crop growth, yield and gross margin response of a number of wheat varieties commonly grown in the district to changes in management input strategy.

To conduct a wheat variety evaluation.

To conduct an evaluation of the ability of wheat varieties to tolerate acid/aluminum.

The aim was to assess the impacts of delayed sowing and radish infestation on lupin yield. By doing this we can better understand the extra weed control required to make delayed sowing profitable

• To better understand the trade-offs between lupin yield and weed management when lupins are sown using different strategies; dry sowing vs delayed sowing.
• To investigate if shielded spraying can effectively control the large weed populations that often arise after dry sowing.

To look at the potential of black urea in terms of lifting yields through better nitrogen efficiency.

The purpose of this trial is to determine if there are benefits from applications of a biological based product developed by Basic Environmental Systems and Technology (B.E.S.T) namely ‘Customer Formulated Fertiliser’ (CFF).

Evaluation of new and existing wheat varieties classified as AH or APW

To conduct an evaluation of new and existing udon noodle wheat varieties.

To find herbicide options that may be safe to use in saltland pasture systems wherein a farmer can maintain the productive capacity of his saltland by controlling his weeds. Trials also aim to explore weed control options during saltbush germination.

To find herbicide options that may be safe to use in saltland pasture systems wherein a farmer can maintain the productive capacity of his saltland by controlling his weeds. Trials also aim to explore weed control options during saltbush germination.

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 determine the effects of variable rate technology (VRT) through variable nutrient management across high, medium and low performing soil types, and also the effects of seeding rate across these soil types

To assess the capacity of surface applied and deep placed lime to improve subsoil pH and productivity of deep acid (Wodjil) sand.

To find herbicide options that may be safe to use in saltland pasture systems wherein a farmer can maintain the productive capacity of his saltland by controlling his weeds. Trials also aim to explore weed control options during saltbush germination.

The purpose of this trial is to determine if there are benefits from applications of a biological based product developed by Basic Environmental Systems and Technology (B.E.S.T) namely ‘Customer Formulated Fertiliser’ (CFF).

To understand how a range of pasture types combine to form a whole farm feed supply.

To understand how a range of pasture types combine to form a whole farm feed supply.

To determine responses to Super Phos, Potash and Lime in a pasture wheat rotation over 5 years.

The focus of this project is to better determine the NRM impacts of immerging precision agricultural systems in WA, with particular reference to surface water management and sol health issues.  The project will be implemented by one of the leading farming systems groups in Australia in the field of precision agriculture.

To investigating if applying fertiliser according to productivity zones is more profitable than blanket applications of fertiliser across the whole paddock. We aimed to design trials to demonstrate to growers that matching fertiliser inputs to productivity zones will increase whole paddock profitability compared to blanket applications of fertiliser. We also aimed to use off the shelf tools (Silverfox/Sky Plan, Nulogic etc) that growers could access to enable them to follow our procedures to adopt VRT across the whole farm.

Discover alternative herbicide options for wild radish, annual ryegrass and doublegee control in lupins.

The experience from trial work with TM21 in Canada and Vietnam has been that farmers have been able to reduce some of their inputs as well as maintain or increase their yield. BEST Australia set up a long-term trial at the Liebe Group Long Term Trial Site (LTRS) comparing fertiliser rates at three different input levels. This trial will continue over the next few years. During that time, BEST will be evaluating the trial at LTRS to show that fertiliser efficiency increases by using TM21 in Austr

To understand how a range of pasture types combine to form a whole farm feed supply.

To investigate the potential of biological and organic matter inputs to increase soil water storage, target long-term yield increases and soil improvement

• To develop new sub-tropical grasses specifically for the soils and climate of southern Australia with improved persistence, out-of-season dry matter production and feed quality.
• To test promising lines of Panicum maximum (panic grass) in a range of environments (Muresk, Buntine, Mingenew).

Evaluation of a group of Australian perennial legumes to select species useful for perennial pastures adapted to the northern wheatbelt’s low rainfall and acid soils.

• To measure the productivity and recovery of cereals under simulated grazing regimes.
• To determine the number of times cereals can be grazed without affecting yield.

To improve understanding of the range of tillage implements and techniques available to incorporate lime into acidic soils, their respective costs and benefits.

This experiment aimed at trialling some of the products which may have benefited a plant‟s capacity to fight diseases, rather than treating the infection itself.

The demo sites fit into the objectives of the HSSF project which are:

• Improve farmers’ capacity to manage soil health issues
• Identify appropriate soil management strategies, both at a landscape and industry level
• Develop and deliver data and information packages for farmers
• Develop and promote industry based training packages

This site was designed to demonstrate the practical implications of implementing Controlled Traffic and
Precision Agriculture practices

To investigate wheat canopy management.

The key aims of this project have been to develop agronomic guidelines and seeding technology solutions to allow for increased stubble retention practices, thereby reducing the dependence on burning. 

To test a number of plant health products as to their effect in controlling leaf disease in wheat.

The objective of this trial is to test the effectiveness of the two different forms of nitrogen, two nitrogen timings and two nitrogen
timings and two nitrogen dressings on yield and grain quality. 

• To quantify the amount of high quality feed that can be grown before GS 30
• To identify the difference growth patterns of two winter wheat varieties
• To quantify the grain yield and stubble mass changes due to grazing

To investigate the benefits of speciality phosphorus products and liquid phosphorus options in cereals. 

• To assess the potential yield loss/gains when increasing the seed row width for the benefits of subsequent inter‐row (no‐till) cropping
• To determine if nitrogen application efficiency can be increased in wider row spacing
• To assess the varietal yield response to row spacing and nitrogen application
• To assess weed incidence and disease pressure across each seed row width

To compare a number of varieties that are either commercially available or close to commercial release that may be suitable for south west Victoria.

Trials were conducted by the BCG to evaluate a range of these alternative oilseed options.

To investigate:

• the efficacy of the pre-emergent herbicide treatments on brome grass,
• the weed competitiveness of different varieties at different row spacing configurations, and
• the relative yields of the different varieties with the different herbicide applications and row spacing configurations.