Cropping, tillage and pastures february 2016

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PAGE 2—‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016

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Peter Lawless has resigned as VFF grains vice-president.

Moving aside for next generation arrawonga cropping farmer Peter Y Lawless has resigned as VFF grains vice-president.

The fifth generation farmer from Burramine, near Yarrawonga, said as part of succession planning in the VFF, he felt there could be someone else who might want to put their hand up. ‘‘I thought if I stepped aside that someone else would step up,’’ he said.

He said the group had looked at the terms and made a decision that if someone else took on the role, in 12 months they could be given the opportunity to move into the president’s role.

Current president Brett Hoskin has one more year left in his position.

Mr Lawless said he had made it clear to the VFF that he didn’t want to become president. ‘‘I made it clear from the time I started,’’ he said. ‘‘The vice-president’s role is more like a back-up role and more supportive for the president — and it’s not as hands-on.’’

Mr Lawless now runs his farm alongside his son Nathan, and crops about 900 ha of

barley, oats, wheat and canola.

He said the VFF was a necessary organisation to represent farmers. ‘‘We deal with a lot of issues that some farmers may not be aware of,’’ Mr Lawless said. ‘‘It’s pretty valuable to talk about things like chemical use, VicRoads issues and land issues.’’

He said the extra knowledge he had picked up from meeting other farmers from around the state allowed him to adopt different practices and build on his own knowledge to assist the farm. ‘‘We have also formed a lot of great friendships with terrific people,’’ he said. ‘‘They’re the first to ring when they think you’re going through a tough time. ‘‘During the 2012 floods just about everyone from the floods council rang us.’’

Mr Lawless said he planned to remain part of the council of which he has been a part since his early 20s. ‘‘The VFF is a necessary forum organisation to represent farmers,’’ he said. ‘‘Some farmers may not be aware of what it actually does — it’s pretty valuable.’’

Herbicide controversy n ABC report about the use of A glyphosate by municipal councils for weed control has provoked some

controversy.

The report says: ‘‘Councils across Australia are using the weed killer glyphosate in sensitive areas like playgrounds, despite a World Health Organisation (WHO) warning the chemical probably causes cancer.’’

The report said the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) upgraded its assessment of the common herbicide from ‘‘possibly’’ to ‘‘probably carcinogenic to humans’’, placing it in the same category as red meat. ‘‘The Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) and the Federal Department of Health are now re-assessing the risks it presents to humans,’’ the ABC report said.

The Australian organisation CropLife, which represents the plant science industry, said the article and subsequent reporting on local councils’ continued use of herbicides that contain the active ingredient glyphosate, had several serious factual inaccuracies and was misleading in regard to the International Agency for

Research on Cancers (IARC) Report.

CropLife chief executive officer Matthew Cossey said the report also omitted pertinent information such as the fact that all glyphosate products had been extensively and independently assessed by regulators in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe and found to be safe. ‘‘More recent findings have concluded that glyphosate is unlikely to pose even a carcinogenic hazard let alone an actual risk,’’ Mr Cossey said. ‘‘The article fails to mention the recent European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) peer review that concluded glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans and the evidence does not support classification with regard to its carcinogenic potential.’’

He said the article and subsequent radio and television reports seemed more concerned with misleading, sensationalised fear-mongering than providing correct and useful information to the Australian public.

‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016—PAGE 3

cropping, tillage & pastures

Focus on pre-emergent herbicides he region’s broadacre T farmers heard the latest information about controlling

weeds in retained stubble and maximising pre-emergent spray applications by selecting the correct nozzles at a Riverine Plains event in Rennie on Friday, February 5.

Spray Safe and Save director Craig Day presented the boom spray training day, which attracted about 100 people including farmers, agricultural advisers and representatives from spray machinery companies.

Mr Day said the industry was aware of the importance of maximising pre-emergent herbicide applications, particularly as many growers were experiencing reduced effectiveness of in-crop herbicides due to the increase in plant chemical resistance. ‘‘It is important that applicators pay attention to selecting the correct nozzle and water rate to maximise the placement of preemergent herbicides, such as Boxer/Treflan/Sakura, through the stubble and to the soil,’’ Mr Day said. ‘‘For many growers this will mean increasing the water rate to at least 90 to 100 litres per hectare.’’

Water quality issues and mixing order for pesticides were also

Choosing the correct spray nozzle is critical for effective preemergent chemical applications. addressed, along with spray drift reduction strategies and changes for product labelling.

Mr Day said the timing of the training event was perfect for a discussion about pre-emergent herbicide programs for 2016 and farmers took the opportunity to seek advice about modifying their existing spray equipment with the appropriate nozzles for maximum efficacy.

Riverine Plains extension officer Dr Cassie Schefe said farmers travelled from as far afield as Dookie, Barooga, Culcairn, Henty and Wagga Wagga to gain more

knowledge about using the right chemical, placed in the right spot at the right time.

Dr Schefe said the training day was supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation which funds the Maintaining Profitable Farming Systems with Retained Stubble in the Riverine Plains Region project.

The day concluded with farmers inspecting a range of selfpropelled and trailing spray equipment from Goldacres, O’Connors Farm Machinery, CJ and LH Wiesner, Hutcheon and Pearce, Agrifac Australia and Burando Hill.

Presenter Craig Day (above and below) demonstrates at the boom spray training day.

About 100 people including farmers and agricultural advisers attended the Riverine Plains training day.

Early jump on potential threats rain growers are being strongly G encouraged to subscribe in advance to a new alert system that will

send early warnings about potential threats from diseases, weeds and pests.

GrowNotes Alert will publish urgent messages, sent from experts across the country, in an attempt to address any potential threats before they become problematic and a financial burden on growers and the industry.

In an Australian-first, growers will be able to nominate their farm locations and specific crop types, increasing the relevance of alerts, their reliability, speed and coverage.

The free alerts will be sent to growers and advisers in the format of their choice, either from an app, email, media portal, as an SMS or voice message, or via Twitter.

DEDJTR, the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Australian pathologists, entomologists and weed experts have joined forces to deliver the new system.

GrowNotes Alert will build on GRDC’s existing GrowNotes, a popular web-based information service focused on delivering packaged crop-specific management resources.

DEDJTR project leader Dr Chris Pittock said the new alerts would speed up the release of information and give land managers the freedom to decide how they would prefer to receive the information, saving time and money. ‘‘GrowNotes Alert is taking early subscribers now, with a view to launching a full service by mid-year,’’ Dr Pittock said. ‘‘Early subscription will give growers a chance to get familiar with the tool, and possibly help us in user-testing the system in our ‘pilot’ phase. ‘‘We want to be able to deliver what growers and advisers want. ‘‘We will look at all feedback to iron out

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Dr Chris Pittock in the field where the intelligence for GrowNotes Alert comes from. any bugs and issues, and we will address any specific needs, so that growers will get a system they find user-friendly and one that they really want to use for the benefit of their operations.’’

The app and Twitter channels will be launched closer to mid-year when GrowNotes Alert becomes fully

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GrowNotes Alert was launched at the Grains Industry Update in Adelaide two weeks ago. ➤ To find out more or to subscribe, visit www.grdc.com.au/grownotesalert — Chris Pittock

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PAGE 4—‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016

cropping, tillage & pastures

Resistance worries he surge in glyphosateT resistant rye-grass during the past 20 years has been

exacerbated by poor application technique delivering marginal doses of herbicide.

University of Adelaide weeds researcher and Plant Science Consulting director Dr Peter Boutsalis believes that had he been asked 10 years ago whether glyphosate resistance with Group A and B herbicides would increase exponentially as it has, he wouldn’t have thought it possible.

However, in recent years he has also seen a large increase in not only rye-grass samples testing as glyphosate-resistant but, worryingly, also brome grass.

Dr Boutsalis said a common reason for poor weed control when using glyphosate was herbicide resistance, ranging from weak resistance to strong resistance.

Plants with weak resistance were often controlled with maximum label rates of glyphosate, Dr Boutsalis said, but relying on a herbicide-only option would develop resistance to very high rates. ‘‘Additionally, maximum label rates also help counteract poor application technique, improves the control of older and/or stressed plants and improves control when poor quality water is used or plants are covered by dust,’’ he said.

Besides using the maximum

Export hay production and cropping will be on the menu at the Deniliquin evening.

The increase in glyphosate resistance has surprised some researchers. label rate of glyphosate, Dr Boutsalis has some further tips for growers wanting to achieve more from their glyphosate applications.

He said spraying glyphosate in the morning could result in greater uptake than spraying it in the evening.

Pot trials have shown that glyphosate activity can be reduced as ambient temperature increases.

Plant stress caused by frost, drought, waterlogging, temperature, nutrition or pest damage, as well as the growth stage of the weed, will have an impact on efficacy. ‘‘Experiments have found that the optimum daily temperatures for glyphosate activity on rye-grass

range between the low teens and mid-twenties,’’ Dr Boutsalis said. ‘‘These findings have been observed in unstressed two- to three-leaved rye-grass growing in pots. ‘‘Glyphosate usually has a greater effect in young actively growing plants, whereas on larger plants, higher label rates are required to maintain good control.’’

Dr Boutsalis said it was also important growers set up their sprayer correctly and used good quality water so they were not applying sub-lethal rates of glyphosate. This includes getting the right spray quality and water rate for the job at hand.

Winter cropping information night pre-season information A night focusing on winter cropping will be held at

Deniliquin on Thursday, February 25.

The evening has been organised

by Ian Lea from Superior Seed Company and will run from 5 pm to 10 pm, with a barbecue dinner.

Export hay farmer Andrew Holmberg from Elmore will be one of the guest speakers.

Mr Holmberg, who operates a cropping farm, will speak on the evolution, growth and future for export hay.

With several export companies in the region, Mr Holmberg will talk

about how the industry has developed, and how hay production can be integrated with other crops.

He is also expected to cover weed management and crop rotation.

Mr Lea said the format would be changed for this event, with just one guest speaker, and an opportunity to talk to seed and chemical and industry representatives.

It will be held at the Deniliquin Club (corner of Edward and George Sts, Deniliquin).

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‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016—PAGE 5

cropping, tillage & pastures

Three-P philosophy of cropping dherence to a simple threeA point philosophy — prepare, place and protect — has helped

to almost double the yield potential of a northern Victorian cropping operation during the past three decades.

Ross and Judy Geddes, together with their sons David and Nick, grow about 800 ha of wheat and canola on a number of properties based around their thirdgeneration family farm, Carinya, just outside Dookie.

They also run about 300 Merino ewes for first-cross lamb production. ‘‘There’s been tremendous changes in the way we farm over the past 30 years,’’ Mr Geddes said. ‘‘When I came home, our cropping program was burn, bash and bury — we burned the stubble, we cultivated the paddocks and we buried the seed. ‘‘Now it’s ‘prepare, place and protect’.’’

Working with IK Caldwell senior agronomist Bruce Larcombe, he prepares detailed plans with each paddock. ‘‘Preparation is about stubble management, maintaining a clean fallow over summer, soil testing, choosing the right varieties and planting them at the right time,’’ Mr Geddes said. ‘‘Placement is about placing the seed and fertiliser accurately to make sure you give the seed the best opportunity for germination, emergence and establishment.

Ross Geddes in a paddock of TT canola sown with his Seed Hawk 800 C compact precision air seeder. ‘‘Then we protect the plant with the right crop protection and nutritional products at the right time so that the crop reaches its full yield potential. ‘‘We’re getting yields of up to 6 tonne/ha for wheat and

2.5 tonne/ha for canola, which was unimaginable even 15 years ago.’’

About three years ago, Mr Geddes started looking for a suitable replacement for his outdated 24-row combine before

settling on a Seed Hawk 800 C compact precision airseeder, supplied by CLAAS Harvest Centre in Echuca.

Unlike larger Seed Hawk toolbars, the 800 C features a mounted 4000 litre split seed and

fertiliser tank and a three-section frame folds to a transport width of just 3 m.

It incorporates 26 of the company’s patented openers set on 30 cm spacings, providing an operating width of 8 m.

Each opener consists of a laidback hydraulic tine with separate knives that place the fertiliser about 20 mm deeper and 40 mm to the side of the seed row.

Depth control is achieved with the 10 cm trailing press wheel.

This simple design delivers precise seed depth, even across uneven ground, high trash conditions or at high operating speeds.

Each opener is pulled into its operating position by a hydraulic ram with the break-out pressure adjusted from the cabin.

Once the trip pressure has been reached, the opener gently glides up and over any obstacle before re-engaging the soil. ‘‘You pull the pin out, change the setting, put the pin back in and that’s exactly how deep the seed and fertiliser knives will go, no matter what,’’ Mr Geddes said.

Mr Geddes was also impressed with the calibration and metering system.

He has since had the unit retrofitted with semi-pneumatic press wheels and Devloo Roto conical mud scrapers.

The Seed Hawk is paired with a John Deere 8310 R tractor.

Ross Geddes inspecting the canola plants.

Protect valuable seed S

eed that is stored on-farm for subsequent crop plantings is a valuable asset that needs to be well managed.

That is the advice from research agronomist Philip Burrill, who is based at the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QLD DAF).

His top tips and tools for best practice on-farm seed storage are outlined in Episode 18 of GroundCover TV. Mr Burrill said when selecting grain for planting seed, it was important to ensure it: was well grown; was disease-free; had varietal purity; had not been weather damaged prior to harvest; and was weed seed-free.

He said the ideal storage for planting seed was a cone-based silo that was aerated, sealable when fumigation is required, had good hygiene and was able to keep grain cool.

To maintain good seed germination and vigour, he suggested using a quality aeration controller to manage aeration

fans to help achieve the recommended grain temperatures in storage of less than 23 C in summer and 15 C in winter.

Growers are also encouraged to check grain in storage every month and use a sieve and insect probe traps to detect any insect pests early.

If pests are found, identify them and then seal the silo gas-tight to achieve an effective fumigation.

Keep a record of monthly checks, pests found and grain fumigations.

A germination and vigour test before seed grading and planting would also be valuable, Mr Burrill said.

The seed testing laboratory can ‘clean/ grade’ seed samples prior to testing if required. If there is a poor test result, there is time to consider alternative sources of seed. ➤ For more information about grain storage, see the GRDC’s stored grain hub or phone the hotline on 1800 933 845.

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PAGE 6—‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016

cropping, tillage & pastures

Smarter solution for cropping n a first for Australian agriculture, ISwarmFarm Robotics has announced

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its partnership with Westpac Agribusiness to develop robotic technology for farmer use — revolutionising the future of farming across Australia.

The agricultural robotic company, based at Gindie near Emerald in central Queensland, is commercialising robot use in crop production, aiming to improve productivity, lower costs, increase production and reduce environmental impacts.

Farmers Andrew and Jocie Bate began developing the robots after questioning whether it was more effective to have smaller, slower, highly-precise equipment instead of increasingly large, fast equipment — in essence a ‘smarter not bigger’ solution.

Mr Bate said SwarmFarm was not trying to automate agriculture, but was trying to make farming practices more efficient. ‘‘This isn’t a driverless tractor, the robots themselves are only as much use as what

they carry on board,’’ he said. ‘‘The future of these robots will be better ways to grow crops and smarter ways to kill weeds.’’

The possibilities appealed to former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, who has a background in agribusiness and engineering and now chairs SwarmFarm’s board.

He said the partnership with Westpac Agribusiness would allow SwarmFarm to achieve its goals of full commercialisation, putting the cost-reducing technology in reach of Australian farmers. ‘‘Andrew and Jocie wanted a partnership at this time as it was considered premature to be enlisting venture-capital support,’’ Mr Newman said. ‘‘The strategic partnership between SwarmFarm and Westpac Agribusiness is a perfect fit, with both being frontrunners in innovation and agriculture.’’

SwarmFarm will commercially launch its SwarmBot 3 into the service industry on Tuesday, March 22 with plans to expand down into NSW and Victoria by late 2016.

Back in chair’s role rain Growers Limited director G Andrew Carberry has stepped down and John Eastburn has taken the

reins once again.

The change of position followed a meeting of the board in Sydney earlier this month.

The appointment came as a result of the stepping down of Narrabri farmer Andrew Carberry, due to family commitments.

Mr Eastburn, a grain grower from Baradine in north-west NSW, is an experienced member of the board having served as chair between 2008-2014 and as director since 2006.

Mr Eastburn thanked Mr Carberry for his contribution to the organisation. ‘‘Under Andrew’s leadership Grain Growers has continued to mature into an organisation that is well placed to represent the interests of Australia’s grain growers in 2016 and beyond,’’ Mr Eastburn said. ‘‘I understand very well the time commitments the chairman’s role

requires and I, speaking on behalf of the entire Grain Growers board, extend sincere appreciation to Andrew for his commitment to, and passion for, the position and the organisation as a whole.’’

Mr Eastburn’s appointment ensures continuity in a time of potential transition for Grain Growers.

During late 2015 the Grain Growers board initiated a wide-ranging review of the organisation’s constitution.

Mr Eastburn said the board remained committed to the constitution review process . ‘‘As part of the review the board and executive will carry out national consultation with members to canvas their opinions on matters such as board skill-compilation, voting mechanisms and processes and membership eligibility,’’ Mr Eastburn said.

He said he was looking forward to engaging with grain growers across Australia as part of the consultation process.

Pulse trials promising espite last year’s drier than average D growing conditions, locally established pulse field trials produced

Michaels Moama Cobb Highway, Moama Ph (03) 5480 0731 Brad Michael 0428 300 883

promising results with most proving profitable in the Mallee in 2015.

At Birchip Cropping Group’s Trials Review Day on February 19, Victorian Government senior pulse research agronomist Jason Brand presented the research results and explained what they meant for farmers.

While the positive results last year were largely thanks to strong global demand and high prices, Dr Brand said improvements in varieties and farming practices were also having an impact. ‘‘Farming system changes and varietal improvements go hand in hand,’’ he said. ‘‘Pulses love soil that has been well looked after, so when you combine wellmanaged soils with the genetic advances, growers are in a good position to include them in their system.’’

Particularly encouraging from last year’s research was the performance of new faba bean varieties which have been identified

for improvements in drought resistance.

Dr Brand described the performance of the new varieties at Curyo in 2015 as ‘‘excellent’’ with most easily out-yielding traditionally grown varieties such as PBA Samira.

Despite the dry season, faba bean yields averaged 0.8 tonne/ha at the Kulwin research site and 0.7 tonne/ha at Curyo, with the best variety (the yet-to-be released AF12025) delivering a net return of $150/ha.

It was a similar story in lentil trials with new lines with consistently high yields and biomass, improved herbicide tolerance and disease resistance set to become available in the next few years.

While Dr Brand stressed the importance of assessing crop varieties based on longterm results, rather than just on their performance in an individual season, he said new pulse lines could offer future opportunities for growers in the Mallee.

‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016—PAGE 7

cropping, tillage & pastures

Pasture an economic alternative ‘

xpanding the use of cheaper E grazed grass pastures and ultimately using less expensive

feed options during summer and autumn — such as hay and silage — are seen by Strathallan dairy farmer Mick Myers as a great opportunity.

In an effort to reduce overall production costs, Mr Myers has added the flexibility of a new and highly vigorous longer season hybrid rye-grass to his program.

And the prospect of grazing earlier and finishing grazing later with Shogun rye-grass is certainly adding flexibility to his management decisions.

Mr Myers said he liked to have options to adapt his management to suit the prevailing circumstances and weather conditions.

He has 155 ha that is used as the pasture base for 440 milking cows. Another 40 ha is used for grazing young stock and 140 ha is available to grow silage. It is all irrigable, except for 30 ha.

About 60 per cent of his herd currently calves in autumn and the aim is to push that up to 70 per cent in the future with a continued focus on grazing. ‘‘One aim is to milk a bit over 7000 litres per cow,’’ he said. ‘‘We join most of the cows at the end of May so they start calving in March, and the rest are joined in November and calve in August. ‘‘Shogun is a new long season rye-grass that we have been planting on some paddocks and it complements the Aston rye-grass we have on other paddocks mixed in with clover. ‘‘The Shogun has done very well

. . . I need to have the grasses that are going to perform for me. Paying for higher quality varieties may cost more, but if it produces a lot more you’re way in front.

Dairy farmer Mick Myers

Strathallan dairy farmer Mick Myers (right), Landmark Echuca agronomist Brad Caldwell (left) and Heritage Seeds territory manager Reece Hardwidge inspect a Shogun rye-grass paddock. Shogun is a long-season, late-flowering hybrid rye-grass released recently by Heritage Seeds that could emerge as a game changer for many farmers. here over the winter and spring period. It has the added advantage over other varieties that if we have a favourable season, it can be watered and grown all the way

through summer. ‘‘If it’s not to our advantage to do that, the paddocks can be allowed to just dry off. ‘‘It depends a lot on water prices

and how hot it is. ‘‘We’ve just found here in northern Victoria that if you start to irrigate over summer and the conditions aren’t right, you can

’

grow a lot of rubbish pasture weeds when you get those hot, humid days. ‘‘I find in those conditions it’s better to dry those paddocks off, conserve the water, and we know the Shogun will come back strong.

We just top it up with about 12 to 14 kg/ha of seed. ‘‘It does cost a little bit more for seed, but it grows for a long time and it gives us the opportunity that if we get a favourable season we can take it right through the summer as a cheaper feed option. ‘‘I select grass varieties depending on what I want to achieve and how I think I can get to my goals, so I need to have the grasses that are going to perform for me. Paying for higher quality varieties may cost more, but if it produces a lot more you’re way in front,’’ Mr Myers said. ‘‘You pay more, but you get more back.’’

Medicinal cannabis to be a regulated crop he Federal Government has T introduced legislation opening the way for the growing, harvesting and production of medicinal cannabis.

Health Minister Sussan Ley said the amendments to the Narcotics Drugs Act 1967 would allow the controlled cultivation of cannabis for medicinal or scientific purposes through one single national licensing scheme — an Australian first.

The bill provides two types of

cultivation licences; one that allows for the cultivation of cannabis plants for the production of cannabis for medicinal purposes; the other to authorise cultivation for research purposes related to medicinal cannabis.

For both forms of cultivation, an applicant for a licence to cultivate must be a fit and proper person, according to criteria set out in the bill, and must be able to demonstrate that they can adequately

manage the physical security of the crop.

Ms Ley said this legislation would open the way for Australians with painful and chronic conditions to get access to the relief they needed where this was determined by their doctors to be of potential benefit. ‘‘This is an important day for Australia and the many advocates who have fought long and hard to challenge the stigma around medicinal cannabis

products,’’ Ms Ley said. ‘‘For Australia, this is the missing piece in a patient’s journey. ‘‘Importantly, having a safe, legal and reliable source of products will ensure medical practitioners are now at the centre of the decision-making process on whether medicinal cannabis may be beneficial for their patient.’’

Ms Ley said the Federal Government had worked closely with the states and territories,

law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders during the past eight weeks to ensure this legislation was ‘‘robust’’ before bringing it to parliament to give it the best chance of a smooth passage. ‘‘A national regulator will also allow the government to closely track the development of cannabis products for medicinal use from cultivation to supply and curtail any attempts by criminals to get involved,’’ she said.

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PAGE 8—‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016

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Steve Marsh claimed he lost organic certification for 70 per cent of his Kojonup farm after contamination from his neighbour’s herbicide-resistant crop in 2010.

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Organic claimant denied damages

n organic farmer who failed in a bid to A sue his neighbour after genetically modified canola blew onto his West Australian property has been denied leave to appeal by the High Court.

Steve Marsh claimed he lost organic certification for 70 per cent of his Kojonup farm after contamination from his neighbour’s herbicide-resistant crop in 2010.

Mr Marsh had sought $85 000 in damages but lost the lawsuit against childhood friend Michael Baxter in the WA Supreme Court in 2014 and was ordered to pay court costs of about $804 000.

The Court of Appeal also ruled in favour of Mr Baxter in a two-to-one vote in September last year.

Mr Marsh sought special leave to appeal in the High Court, but the case was dismissed.

The decision means Mr Marsh has no further appeal options.

Gene Ethics director Bob Phelps, who supported Mr Marsh, said the case deserved a High Court review. ‘‘Steve Marsh deserved a High Court review and we are extremely disappointed by this rejection of his application for leave.

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manipulated (GM) canola blew onto his farm in 2010. ‘‘Carmel McClure, chief judge of the WA Court of Appeal, strongly backed Marsh’s case for $85 000 compensation but two other judges disagreed with her so Marsh lost. ‘‘Her incisive judgement offered good prospects for Marsh’s appeal to succeed in the High Court, had it been heard,’’ Mr Phelps said. ‘‘Judge McClure found that Marsh’s certifier was right to decertify his land, according to federal organic standards, so his compensation claim should have been upheld. ‘‘Marsh’s neighbour Baxter had windrowed his GM canola to dry, and it blew onto Marsh’s land scattering millions of seeds. Marsh also spoke to Baxter, wrote to him and posted signage on his boundary long before the GM contamination event, warning that GM canola was a hazard to his organic certification and livelihood. ‘‘Mediation before the first trial also failed, refuting Baxter’s claim that Marsh could have settled the claim over the fence and a beer. Monsanto indemnified Baxter for his legal costs so he did not negotiate fairly,’’ Mr Phelps said.

officially recognised for his efforts and achievements in communicating the outcomes of research.

Dr James Hunt has been named the recipient of the 2016 Grains Research and Development Corporation Southern Region Seed of Light award which acknowledges outstanding effort in the extension of GRDCsupported grains research outcomes.

The Seed of Light award was presented to Dr Hunt at the GRDC Grains Research Update in Adelaide last week.

In presenting the award, GRDC Southern Regional Panel chair Keith Pengilley said despite being just 38 years old, Dr Hunt had already left an indelible mark on Australian grains research, particularly in the area of improved and innovative farming systems.

‘‘His pioneering contribution to research into water-use efficiency, time of sowing of crops and stubble management, and his ability to communicate research findings, has been quite outstanding,’’ Mr Pengilley said. ‘‘James’ dedication to research aimed at supporting grain growers in their endeavours to improve productivity and build sustainability and his enthusiasm in communicating new knowledge and new understandings is to be commended and celebrated.’’

A specialist in crop agronomy and physiology, Dr Hunt is a senior lecturer at La Trobe University in Victoria, a position he has only just taken up following employment as a research scientist for CSIRO for the past seven years.

‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016—PAGE 9

cropping, tillage & pastures

Remanufactured parts a solution wo days after the T transmission in his older model tractor stopped working,

Toby Acocks was back up and running again despite it being a public holiday.

The fast turnaround was thanks to his local Case IH dealership and its ability to source a remanufactured (reman) transmission overnight.

The fifth-generation farmer runs the family business, Forres Pty Ltd, with his brother Ben. Their 8000 ha operation is spread over three clusters, spanning 120 km around Rochester.

The mixed operation trades some livestock, and has dryland and irrigation cropping, mainly canola, wheat and barley, and oats and fodder crops for hay and grazing. ‘‘The older model Case IH tractor had worked long and hard and had a significant number of hours on it,’’ Mr Acocks said. ‘‘In the space of about 12 hours, the existing transmission went from being quite functional to not working at all. ‘‘It was the day before Anzac Day a couple of years ago, and we were in full swing with our cropping program; that tractor was pulling one of our two air seeders,’’ he said. ‘‘Some of our gear is older, so you have to expect a breakdown at

Reman parts are on average 30 per cent cheaper than buying new; they are a low-cost, fastturnaround alternative to avoid costly down time and get farmers back out in the paddock sooner. some stage — but that timing was not good.’’

Mr Acocks said it was ‘‘pretty clear’’ they needed a new transmission. One option was to send it to a rebuilder, however a lack of parts because of a tsunami in Japan meant they could only offer a fix date between six weeks and six months at a cost of up to $35 000, depending on the problem, once they opened the

transmission. ‘‘I didn’t have six weeks, let alone six months,’’ Mr Acocks said.

A phone call to his local dealer found a remanufactured transmission at the Case IH parts warehouse in St Marys, which Mr Acocks could have the following day. ‘‘I didn’t expect that, given the following day was Anzac Day, a

public holiday, but it still turned up in the morning, and within two days we were going again for much less than $35 000.’’

The Acockses have a variety of machinery brands, including several Case IH models, two Steiger 9180s, a Steiger 375, Magnum 260, Magnum 255 and an old Case IH 8910 that’s done 15 000 hours. ‘‘We like Case IH, we’ve had a

good run out of them. We’ve got a terrific dealer in Echuca CIH and a good relationship with them, and that makes a big difference,’’ Mr Acocks said. ‘‘Their support, particularly from parts manager Luke Feiss, is very good. They do their best to keep things moving and go to extraordinary lengths to get the right part quickly, minimising down time,’’ Mr Acocks said.

Case IH national aftersales manager Patrick McVeigh says with harvest now complete, farmers will be servicing machinery. ‘‘It’s good to keep remanufactured, or reman, parts in mind too. Being on average 30 per cent cheaper than buying new, they are a low-cost, fastturnaround alternative to avoid costly down time and get farmers back out in the paddock. And just like a new part, reman components come with a full 12-month parts and labour warranty.’’

Mr McVeigh said a further benefit was increased resale value for the equipment because reman parts were as good as new. ‘‘Case IH has very strict quality control through every step of the reman process, and every machine part not remanufactured is brand new. Even the wash water is sediment tested to prevent particle contamination.’’

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PAGE 10—‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016

cropping, tillage & pastures

Ricegrowers Resistant pest spreads welcome move Australian Four populations of the

he Ricegrowers’ T Association of Australia has welcomed

the announcement from Barnaby Joyce that the proposed relocation of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority had been put on hold, pending an independent cost benefit analysis.

RGA president Jeremy Morton said it was a sensible decision from the minister. ‘‘We have shared the concerns of many others in agriculture about the potential effects of shifting the APVMA away from Canberra,’’ he said. ‘‘There is a high risk that such a move would have decimated the capacity of the agency and affected our ability to maintain international competitiveness via access to new chemical technologies. ‘‘We will welcome the opportunity to have input into the cost benefit analysis and I’m confident the process will see commonsense prevail.’’

Mr Morton also welcomed the minister’s decision to shift RIRDC to Wagga Wagga. ‘‘As a major RIRDC industry, the rice industry is pleased that our preference for a shift to Wagga ahead of other options was heard. ‘‘A relocation wasn’t RGA’s strong preference, but we are sure that in partnership with RIRDC the industry can make it work effectively.’’

However, Mr Morton indicated that a key stumbling block remained. ‘‘Yes, we are content with the decision to choose Wagga. But we didn’t ask for

the relocation and therefore don’t think rice grower levies should be used to fund it. ‘‘To fund this move from rice grower levies would be to strip back key research being done to improve our competitiveness in an expensive water market environment, in part due to this government’s basin plan reform. ‘‘The rice industry won’t be paying for the move and I look forward to this commitment from the minister as the relocation unfolds.’’

increasingly widespread annual sub-tropical weed feathertop Rhodes grass (Chloris virgata) have been confirmed resistant to the key herbicide glyphosate.

Feathertop Rhodes grass is yet another species that has increased its abundance during the past 10 years, largely due to widespread adoption of notill cropping and the shift to glyphosate-based weed control on road verges. ‘‘We have now confirmed that two populations from cropping land in NSW and Queensland and two from roadsides in South Australia are not controlled with glyphosate at the seedling stage and therefore are classified as resistant,’’ Australian Glyphosate Sustainability Working Group (AGSWG) chair Dr Chris Preston said. ‘‘Glyphosate is normally effective on actively growing seedlings, however, once feathertop Rhodes grass begins to tiller it is tolerant of very high rates. Again this is another unwanted world first for Australia,’’ Dr Preston said.

While the weed is not

Feathertop Rhodes grass has been found across Australia for decades. listed on any glyphosate herbicide labels, glyphosate has been widely used in Queensland and northern NSW to control seedlings.

Feathertop Rhodes grass has been found across Australia for decades as a weed of roadsides, fence lines and unmanaged land, especially in summer rainfall areas and irrigated agriculture.

During the past 15 years it has become a major cropping weed in

Queensland and northern NSW as well as horticultural plantings such as vineyards.

It is also dominating many roadsides across southern Australia.

The success of feathertop Rhodes grass is due to the rapid production of large numbers of seed that are easily shed from the heads.

Seed germinates if left on the soil surface, with sufficient moisture and temperatures above 25 C. Seed banks appear to be short-lived at around 12 months and burial of seed at any depth prevents germination.

Management strategies need to involve a range a tactics aimed at stopping the production of any fertile seed. ‘‘This poses significant challenges on roadsides where most road managers have opted for glyphosate as the main strategy,’’ Dr Preston said. ‘‘A shift to grass-selective Group A herbicides without a robust second knock will lead to the rapid development of Group A resistance in this species.’’ ➤ For information on herbicide sustainability visit www.weedsmart.org.au

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‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016—PAGE 11

cropping, tillage & pastures

Lime application drives faba yields ‘

ith plans for this year’s W winter crops the focus of farming activities across the

region, new research confirms effective lime applications and paddock selection as keys to producing high faba bean yields on acid soils.

NSW DPI development officer Helen Burns said a joint DPI and Grains Research and Development Corporation project had identified that the incorporation of lime to lift topsoil pH in calcium chloride to above 5.0 was essential for faba bean root growth and nodulation. ‘‘Current practices of surface lime application with minimal incorporation may not adequately increase soil pH in the rooting zone to create the conditions acidsensitive legumes need for root growth and rhizobia survival,’’ Ms Burns said. ‘‘Rhizobia play an important role in nodulation and nitrogen fixation in these legumes — feedback from farmers and agribusiness advisers identified poor nodulation as a possible cause of low faba bean yields. ‘‘Investigations of commercial crops in 2015 revealed soil acidity was the likely culprit — reducing nodulation, root growth, plant vigour and yield potential. ‘‘Most paddocks we monitored were limed in recent years, yet soil tests from those with poor faba bean nodulation had a pH below

LOW

Current practices of surface lime application with minimal incorporation may not adequately increase soil pH in the rooting zone to create the conditions acidsensitive legumes need for root growth and rhizobia survival.

’

NSW DPI development officer Helen Burns

NSW Department of Primary Industries development officer Helen Burns says incorporation of lime in topsoil to lift pH levels above 5.0 is essential to deliver good faba bean yields in acid soil.

5.0 in the top 10 cm of soil. ‘‘Detailed sampling to 15 cm depth indicated that lime which was not incorporated had a limited effect on sub-surface pH. ‘‘At one site soil pH was 7.3 at the surface and dropped to 4.8 in the five-to-7 cm sample.’’

Ms Burns said bulking the surface soil samples might deliver misleading soil test results. ‘‘Lime moves very slowly into sub-surface layers and our 2015 observations suggest that faba bean root growth is severely limited beyond the depth of the

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lime effect,’’ she said. ‘‘If lime incorporation is not an option, farmers should apply lime well before sowing acid-sensitive crops such as faba bean — the timing for lime to impact on subsurface soil pH will vary according to soil type and rainfall.’’

Ms Burns also recommended that growers manage herbicide programs to fit crop rotations and paddock selection. ‘‘Soil pH affects the breakdown of Group B sulfonyl urea herbicides, and high pH levels in soil surface layers can extend the re-cropping interval for legume species — we advise growers to pay close attention to herbicide labels,’’ she said.

PAGE 12—‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016

cropping, tillage & pastures

Early sowing increasing yield ustralian grain growers are A planting their winter crops a month earlier than three

decades ago, according to survey results released by the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC).

The results are being presented for the first time in a book chapter entitled Innovations in dryland agriculture in Australia, coauthored by doctors David Stephens, Wal Anderson and Kadambot Siddique which will appear soon in an overview book on agricultural innovation. ‘‘Between 1978 and 2014 the mean midpoint of national wheat sowing shifted from around June 10 in the late 1970s and early 1980s to May 10 in 2014, the earliest recorded midpoint,’’ AEGIC agro-meteorologist Dr Stephens said.

The findings came from an analysis of 168 sowing date survey forms of growers spread across Australia between 1978 and 1990 in a GRDC-funded PhD project, and the mean midpoint of 233-613 paddocks monitored by the Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) Yield Prophet program. ‘‘The combination of zero tillage technology — which includes chemical spraying of weeds and faster seeding equipment — and grain varieties that perform better with early sowing, has enabled this major shift in farming practice,’’ Dr Stephens said. ‘‘Formerly farmers would plough the ground, wait for the weeds to

Crops are going into the ground earlier, shifting their growing window to a period with lower evaporative demand. germinate, then plough the soil again before seeding with a third pass, using a lot more fuel in the process. ‘‘In the last two years excellent opening rains in April and May meant many farmers were sowing wheat in a single pass from as early as mid-April and had their

seeding programs finished in early May. ‘‘This early sowing, in combination with more nitrogen fertiliser, meant yields in many regions turned out much better than expected given the dry El Nin ˜o spring finishes to the two seasons.’’

Dr Stephens said this innovation

was a major contributor to growers increasing their profitability and doubling their crop water-use efficiency during that time. ‘‘This is because early sowing enables the crop growing window to shift to a period with a lower evaporative demand compared to late spring when evaporation rises

rapidly and hot temperatures can reduce yields in grain filling,’’ he said. ‘‘In addition, early sowing enables better plant germination in warmer soils, better plant absorption of solar radiation, a reduced tendency for small plants to be affected by waterlogging, and better weed management options. ‘‘With earlier sowing and warmer temperatures hurrying crop growth, grain receival points are now opening much earlier, and as an example, the CBH bin at Merredin in Western Australia has moved its opening date from around November 22 in the early 1970s to an average around October 18 during the last four years. ‘‘This innovation in farming systems has been a lifesaver for growers battling a five to 30 per cent decrease in growing season rainfall since the 2000s and it is fortunate that we don’t have such a fixed window to plant growth like in Canada where the growing season is more determined by snow cover.’’

Dr Stephens said the analysis also highlighted that simple yield forecasting models based on rainfall summations could become inaccurate without taking into account the changed growing season, and that proper water balance models — like those used in AEGIC and in the Yield Prophet program — should be utilised.

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‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016—PAGE 13

PAGE 14—‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016

cropping, tillage & pastures

Improving profitability

New info to help Managing beat rot

owing a range of cultivars in S their ideal sowing windows will give wheat growers the

best chance of balancing the increasing risks of heat and frost damage.

Former CSIRO senior research scientist James Hunt says weather conditions in recent years have shown why it is so important to sow a diversified wheat program.

Dr Hunt says planting a range of cultivars at their optimal sowing time can improve profitability for wheat growers. ‘‘We had unprecedented frosts in 2014 and we had very early heat conditions in 2015,’’ he said. ‘‘It is more important than ever to optimise the sowing window so that, as much as possible, all wheat flowers in its ideal window to minimise the risk of frost or heat damage.’’

The direct effects of heat stress are estimated to cost grain growers in south-east Australia almost $600 million per year and about $1.1 billion nation-wide.

Frost is estimated to cost southeast Australia at least $100 million a year in unfulfilled or lost yield potential.

Due to the effects of climate change, heat stress and frost are likely to play an increasing role in the future and will require growers to take steps to manage the risks.

Growers who plant the majority of their wheat program using a single high-performing cultivar struggle to plant their whole wheat program in a time close to the ideal sowing window.

This can result in flowering occurring earlier or later than desired.

This then leads to a higher heat stress risk if sowing is delayed, or higher frost risk if planting too early.

For example, if the ideal sowing window is considered to be about five days either side of the target date, growers who sow a single cultivar during three weeks will have sown at least half of their crop (11 days out of 21) outside of this window.

By comparison, if the wheat program was split up into two cultivars, almost 100 per cent of the crop can be sown in its ideal window.

Time of sowing Dr Hunt says it would be impossible to choose a

early-sown crops r Hunt’s tips for D management of earlysown crops:

Growers can have a variety of sowing options by looking at different cultivars. combination of sowing time and cultivars that would prevent exposure to heat and frost risk.

However, time of sowing trials in South Australia and Victoria have shown that certain strategies will give crops the best chance. ‘‘Depending on the local climate and duration of the wheat-sowing program, growers can take a few different approaches to optimise time of sowing,’’ Dr Hunt said. ‘‘In many regions of Victoria, growers can start with a winter wheat after a rain in April, then move onto slow-spring wheats and then mid-fast cultivars in May. The different maturity drivers of the cultivars mean that they still flower in the ideal window despite being sown at different times,

meaning that overall yield is optimised and risk is minimised.’’

A time-of-sowing trial at Berriwillock in Victoria showed that where there is soil moisture, sowing early can provide higher yields than traditional sowing dates.

Diversity is the key The best strategy to manage heat and frost risk is diversity. By choosing a range of crops, cultivars with different maturity drivers and optimum sowing dates, growers will have the highest percentage of their program flowering in its ideal window. ‘‘The opportunities to take advantage of early sowing have

■ Don’t dry-sow slowdeveloping cultivars (EGA Wedgetail, Cutlass). They will flower too late if not established early. There needs to be seed-bed moisture and ideally some stored soil water to get them through to winter.

■ If growing winter wheat (EGA Wedgetail) and not grazing, defer nitrogen inputs until after GS30.

■ Pick clean paddocks — winter wheat is not competitive with rye-grass, and common root diseases are exacerbated by early sowing.

Protect against diseases associated with early sowing — barley yellow dwarf virus (imidicloprid on seed backed up with in-crop insecticides at the start of tillering if aphid pressure high), Zymoseptoria tritici in some areas (flutriafol on fertiliser and timely foliar epoxiconazole applications at GS30 and GS39). Many slow developing cultivars also have poor resistance to stripe rust (flutriafol on fertiliser and timely foliar fungicide application at GS39). never been better,’’ Dr Hunt said. ‘‘Previous barriers have been overcome through no-till technologies, summer fallow management and cheaper chemistries to control early pests and diseases. ‘‘Researchers are working on developing new cultivars that are better suited for sowing early, including a new winter wheat for South Australia. But there is no reason most growers can’t spread out their wheat sowing by incorporating a few different cultivars with different maturity drivers.’’

serious crown rot A infection can cause yield losses of 90 per cent in

durum wheat and 50 per cent in bread wheat, but a new fact sheet to beat the rot is helping grain farmers fight back.

Crown rot in winter cereals tips and tactics has been developed by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and is geared towards Victorian and South Australian farmers.

With input from grains advisers within the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR), the fact sheet gives the three top tips to stopping crown rot: rotate your crops, monitor plants for browning at the base of tillers, and test stubble and soil.

DEDJTR Grains Extension Plan Pathologist Luise Sigel said rotating crops was the most important management option. ‘‘A grass-free break from winter cereals is the best way to lower crown rot inoculum levels,’’ Ms Sigel said. ‘‘Check plants for browning at the base of infected tillers, as this is the most reliable indicator of crown rot, and don’t rely solely on white heads as an indicator.’’

Testing can be done with a pre-sowing PreDicta B soil test, which will help to identify if paddocks are at risk of crown rot.

Ms Sigel said farmers should avoid sowing wheat into paddocks with high crown rot levels. ‘‘Choosing more resistant crops can help, but this still needs to be combined with effective management.’’

The tips and tactics guide also explains in-paddock treatments that can reduce yield losses, includes a frequently asked questions section and gives links to useful resources. ➤ For more information about the guide, visit the GRDC website at www.grdc.com.au/ CrownRotWinterCereals Southern

‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016—PAGE 15

cropping, tillage & pastures

Vertical tillage maximising yields ‘

FG Australia is P distributing the Kansas-built Great Plains

Turbo Max, a vertical tillage machine set to transform cultivation practice here.

With such advances in true vertical tillage technology, Australian farmers will look at cultivation in a new light, particularly in broadacre farming which has had heavy reliance on chemical weed control.

Vertical tillage creates a level unrestricted soil profile encouraging the optimal root development and plant nutrition that leads to healthier and more competitive crops. ‘‘Farmers in Australia have been trying to get the same results as these for years but have been cultivating too deep and burying too much residue, which leads to nutrient tie-up,’’ agronomist and PFG product manager John Simpson said. ‘‘Great Plains has a longstanding commitment to developing machinery that answers farmers’ needs, is agronomically sound, and produces the best environment to maximise yields. ‘‘Turbo Max has been specifically developed as a true vertical tillage

Farmers in Australia have been trying to get the same results as these for years but have been cultivating too deep and burying too much residue, which leads to nutrient tie-up.

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Agronomist and PFG product manager John Simpson

The Turbo Max encourages optimal root development and plant nutrition, leading to healthier and more competitive crops. machine.’’

Mr Simpson said its unique design delivered all the advantages in just one machine.

‘‘Even heavy stubble is not an issue. Also, the horsepower requirements are really low,’’ he said.

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PAGE 16—‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016

cropping, tillage & pastures

More bang for your fertiliser buck e may live on a ‘level W playing field’ but it is still full of lumps and potholes.

What we need are new ways of restoring profitability and competitiveness to Australian farms — because too often, farmers find themselves spending more but getting less in return.

Livestock farming in particular is a tricky business.

The soil needs to be managed to produce good pasture; then the pasture needs to be managed to support livestock, and how the animals use that pasture needs to be managed to ensure the whole system operates productively — but these are just things you can see.

The most important stage in pasture production is the growth of new tillers after grazing because this is when the greatest energy demand is placed on reserves in the crown and roots of the plant.

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PastureMasta is a specialised blend of three unique products, each offering important benefits for pasture: Seasol, PowerFish and Liquid Organic Humate (plus some

There has been a quicker response after cutting and increased yield from lucerne at Nagambie that has had applications of PastureMasta. added nitrogen).

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PowerFish adds to these benefits by helping stimulate an

even broader range of soil microbes that work to increase the availability of nutrients in the soil — so you get more bang for your fertiliser buck.

Liquid Organic Humate completes the trifecta by improving soil structure and moisture retention to maximise the benefit from each irrigation and every drop of rain. ‘‘The combination of rotational grazing and PastureMasta has helped me virtually double the amount of pasture I can grow,’’ beef producer Boyd Collins said. ‘‘I used a competitor product last year and had no end of trouble with blocked spray nozzles. This year I used PastureMasta and it just worked. I couldn’t be happier with the results.’’

With regular applications, many growers also find PastureMasta helps produce a quicker start at the season break and holds green pasture a bit longer into the dry end of the year.

And it is not just pasture that benefits — PastureMasta is also good for lucerne and fodder crop production. ‘‘This is the first time I have used PastureMasta — and while the season isn’t over yet, I have already seen a quicker response after cutting and I am very happy with the tonnages produced so far,’’ Nagambie lucerne grower Geoff Hateley said.

The UNIQUE Aitchison T-Boot has been & moisture trapping ‘germination cocoon.’

This gives seeds the best possible start.

Engineered to Exceed 3000 SERIES GRASSFARMER

4000 SERIES SEEDMATIC

SEEDMATIC AIR PRO 4.6M MKIII

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17,350 $ 19,085 $

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26,350 $ 28,985 $

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114,958 $ 126,454 $

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0

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to Seedmatic airpro MKIII only.

Pictured with optional 350mm disc coulters.

*0.00%p.a. finance package requires minimum 20% Deposit and the equipment GST component repaid after 3 months. Fees & Standard Lending Conditions Apply on a 36 Month Chattel Mortgage Agreement.

Offer expires 31/03/2016. PFG Credit is a division of De Lage Landen Pty Limited ABN 20 101 692 040. 2 only available. Additional dealer freight and pre-delivery charges may apply.

43 Sturt St, Echuca (03) 5482 1733

H.S West Punt Rd, Cobram 0427 711 486

7847 Goulburn Valley Hwy, Shepparton (03) 5832 5500

Phone 1800 888 359 A division of PFG Australia Pty Ltd, ABN 820 9303 7533

‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016—PAGE 17

cropping, tillage & pastures

Grains conference he contribution summer grain crops T make to the productivity and profitability of Australian farming systems will be in the spotlight in March during the 2016 Australian Summer Grains Conference.

Being held at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast from March 7 to 9, the Australian Summer Grains Conference will showcase five grains — maize, soybean, sorghum, sunflower and mung beans — and will attract growers, researchers, marketers, crushers and customers from across Australia.

An exceptional line-up of international and Australian speakers will address delegates on the latest innovations in grain production, crop protection and marketing with topics covering farming practices, agronomic research and development, information technology, farm business management, human resource management, biosecurity, product enduse and advances in commodity marketing.

The theme of the conference is ‘securing our future’.

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outhern grain growers have the S opportunity to tap into a new world of crop management advice with the

release of three new winter cropping GrowNotes by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

Incorporating the latest research findings and management advice for southern region growers and advisers, a new suite of GrowNotes on Wheat and Canola was launched at the GRDC Grains Research Update in Adelaide.

The Barley GrowNote will be launched at the GRDC Update at Bendigo on February 23.

GRDC GrowNotes have become an essential go-to resource for growers throughout Australia. The crop-focused publications can be found at www.grdc.com.au/GrowNotes GRDC Southern Regional Panel chair Keith Pengilley described the GrowNotes as ‘‘living documents’’ that were regularly updated when the latest research results came in. ‘‘The biggest thing I see with GrowNotes is they give every grower the ability to look at the latest research that is coming out and use that to help them make the best management decisions they can on their farms,’’ he said.

Mr Pengilley said one of the key features of the GrowNotes was the comprehensive list of links within them. ‘‘If we, as growers, need to know more information or contact the researchers and experts in those fields we have a pathway to get more in-depth information and have a discussion on how to use the information to enhance the crops that are about to be planted or are in the ground,’’ he said. ‘‘Because it is a living document that is regularly being updated we can go back and

New to Gaff y’s Hire Fleet Yeomans Deep Ripper with seven tyne and a crumble roller.

New research is identifying varieties more prone to frost damage. refer to it any time throughout the year when there is an issue in the paddock or we are planting.’’

Agricultural consultant Mick Faulkner from Agrilink Agricultural Consultants, Watervale, said a lot of work had been done on identifying varietal differences that related to frost. ‘‘GRDC projects are identifying varieties that are more damaged by frost than others, and those that are handling frost slightly better. ‘‘No variety is frost-resistant and is ever likely to be. There are minor differences in varieties when frost occurs at flowering time,’’ he said. ‘‘While flowering isn’t the only susceptible time, it is still important to have some tools that can reduce the damage, even if it is by the smallest amount.’’

JEANTIL 14 cubic metre Manure Spreader for hire. Ideal for spreading cow manure – natural fertiliser.

A five metre K-Line Speed Tiller now available for hire.

The large scalloped disks and the heavy cage roller, will leave your ground prepped for sowing.

Two Agrowdrill seeders available for hire.

22 run, both seeders with hydraulic lift disc coulters, great for cutting through trash like hog weed.

Amazone Multi Disc 3 metres wide with crumble roller for hire.

New to Gaff ys Tractor Hire fleet Case Magnum 260hp Ultimate with Auto Steer.

Great for pulling your air seeder this sowing season .

Gaffys now have tractors ranging from 110-260hp.

Phone Tim or Michael 0407 561 381 or 0428 100 555 www.gaffystractorhire.com.au

PAGE 18—‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016

cropping, tillage & pastures

Focus on multiperil insurance armers in Victoria need real F insurance against the elements, and the state’s peak

The new AD230 seed drill from Agrowplow has excellent features to suit a variety of farming applications.

Right drill for the job ewly released on the N market, the outstanding versatility and innovative

features have placed the latest AD230 seed drill from Agrowplow in high demand across Australia.

Agrowplow’s David Hobbs said manufacturing capacity was being increased to build two seed drills a day to meet incoming orders. ‘‘The new AD230 has already met unprecedented demand, sight unseen, across nearly every state — it will go everywhere,’’ Mr Hobbs said.

The four-bar machine is available in 24-run and 28-run versions (at 125 mm tine spacings), plus the options of 20 or 24-row versions at 150 mm spacings.

The four-bar format, based on a beefy 100 mm x 100 mm RHS welded frame and 600 mm underframe clearance, also delivers superior trash-handling ability.

The unit employs Agrowplow’s proven 425-coil tine assemblies, and the famous Baker boot which delivers seed into a superior

seedbed while maximising trash handling and minimising topsoil disturbance.

With an overall width of just 3.25 m, two of the four AD230 versions offer transport through standard 3.6 m farm gateways; the other two versions, at 3.6 m overall, will fit through 4.2 m gateways.

On this basis alone the new Agrowplow AD230 is well suited to most tasks — from sowing cereal crops and seed for hay production to pasture renovation — across a range of farming enterprises.

New features, some of which are exclusive to Agrowplow, include powder coated seed boxes with a generous 605 or 710 litre capacity — some of the biggest in their class — and twin lids to prevent cross-contamination.

The AD230 has heavy duty wheel arms, Australian-made Titan axles, Alford phasing cylinders and an adjustable platform height.

In addition, shaft rotator indicators, visible from the tractor seat, provide visual assurance that the seed metering system is functioning, while windows in the

front of the seed box provide a quick and ready guide to seed levels.

Simple calibration and efficient cleaning are valuable features in everyday operation, as is a positive drive dog clutch to engage/disengage operation when the machine is raised or lowered into work.

The Agrowplow AD230 Series AgrowDrill’s versatility can be further expanded with options and accessories including a small seeds box, coulters, press wheels, spring harrows, and trailing flexirollers. ‘‘This new seed drill is a clear step above existing standards, and at a price that delivers farmers with a real value surprise,’’ Mr Hobbs said. ‘‘It’s strong, smart and durable and clearly demonstrates that all seed drills are not created equal.

Agrowplow has established a track record for building high quality seed drills — made in Australia and built at Agrowplow.’’ ➤ For more information phone David Hobbs at Agrowplow on 0477 299 592.

farmer organisation believes multi-peril crop insurance could be the key.

VFF Grains Group president Brett Hosking said multi-peril crop insurance would be a main focus of the group’s upcoming annual conference. ‘‘The impact of drought and other climate conditions on the grains industry is of national significance,’’ Mr Hosking said. ‘‘It is paramount that we continue to discuss the options available to us, as well as argue for government support.’’

Recent statistics show that the grains industry brings in an estimated $12.38 billion to the Australian economy.

At the conference VFF Grains will put forward a resolution to lobby the Federal Government to commit funding for developing a commercially sustainable multiperil crop insurance market, which

will enable the industry to selfinsure against production risk and climate variability. ‘‘Farmers need peace of mind against unpredictable weather conditions, and multi-peril crop insurance is a reasonable answer, which is why it is top of our agenda for this year’s conference,’’ Mr Hosking said. ‘‘Many farmers have had two consecutive years of drought, when just five years ago our growers were challenged by extreme flooding. ‘‘Insurance will give incentives for continued post-drought farm expenditure, which will improve productivity in seasons immediately after droughts and ensure our small rural communities don’t suffer through lack of spending.’’ ➤ The VFF Grains Conference will this year be held in Horsham on Monday, February 22.

Heavy hail in the Goulburn Valley.

‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016—PAGE 19

cropping, tillage & pastures

Pasture sprayer offers solution ilvan Australia has released S a new 2500 litre or 3000 litre capacity pasture

sprayer that is providing dairy farmers, their contractors and pasture-based properties with the ideal choice for pasture management and renovation projects.

A key feature of the Silvan Pasture Sprayer range is the many boom choices available up to 18 m along with electric control options that can be chosen to suit the application needs of a farmer or contractor.

Four different axle and tyre options are available.

A common feature however is the base 2500 litre or 3000 litre capacity Polytuff impact-resistant polyethylene spray tank complete with a calibrated fill sight line mounted on a fully galvanised chassis.

Another feature is the standard 100 litre capacity fresh water tank — for tank flushing or hand washing use — mounted forward on the chassis for operator safety.

The basic pump offer is a PTOdrive Silvan self-priming oilbacked diaphragm pump with 121 litres/minute capacity at 2000 kPa pressure.

However three other pump options up to a hydraulic drive centrifugal pump of 400 litres/ minute open flow at 7000 kPa pressure to suit a tractor with the available hydraulic capacity.

Four different control options include a five-section Silvamatic electric controller up to a Bravo automatic spray rate controller, with each option enabling the sprayer operation to be controlled from the tractor cabin.

The four track and wheel options range from a 2 m width track axle with 24 inch lug tyres up to an adjustable track option fitted with 44 inch lug tyres.

The new Silvan Australia trailed pasture sprayer features either a 2500 litre or 3000 litre capacity Polytuff spray tank.

The intermediate choices also include a turf tyre choice and a Simplicity axle fitted with 15 inch lug tyres.

Recognising that every farm has different characteristics, the spray boom choices range from a 10 m spray width hydraulic fold Devil Boom and then in graduations of 12 m, 15 m and 18 m booms including self-levelling, hydraulic lift and airbag suspension options.

Additional options available exfactory from Silvan include two different foam markers, a chemical hopper, three or fivesection electric over hydraulic controls and two hose reel choices with hose length and nozzle choices to suit any proposed spot spraying application.

Silvan Australia’s spraying specialist Chris Tait said his company’s long experience and

leadership in spraying equipment and accessories confirmed that every proposed application was different. ‘‘Our farmer and contractor clients always want options to spec their sprayer to their individual operational needs. ‘‘Silvan believes that by offering a strong feature-based 2500 litre or 3000 litre capacity trailed spray

tank, it addresses the core requirement with the ability to add the operational and boom choices needed to address the in-field requirements on farm. ‘‘It is likely to be well recognised as the solution on which the best operational choices can be built,’’ Mr Tait said.

Prices for the 2500 litre Silvan Pasture Sprayer range from $21 495 including GST.

Weed control essential following rain are coming.

TheTheweeds Grains Research and

Development Corporation said heavy rainfall in parts of the southern cropping region during recent weeks could be likely to promote summer weed growth, robbing cropping soils of valuable

moisture and nutrients.

It said grain growers should therefore be encouraged to control weeds as soon as possible, before they became a larger problem.

Uncontrolled weeds not only reduce soil moisture and

nitrogen, but could also lead to equipment blockages that impede efficient sowing operations.

Controlling summer weeds can also minimise disease and insect issues that can occur when a ‘green bridge’ of weeds and

volunteer cereals is allowed to survive over summer.

To assist growers with their summer weed control efforts, the GRDC offers a number of useful resources, including the Summer Fallow Weed Management Manual, available at

www.grdc.com.au/GRDCManual-SummerFallowWeed Management ➤ More information can be found at the GRDC Integrated Weed Management Hub at www.grdc.com.au/IWMhub or at WeedSmart at www.weedsmart.org.au

PAGE 20—‘Cropping, Tillage and Pastures’, February, 2016

SHEPPARTON

Ph: (03) 5820 9700

ECHUCA

Ph: (03) 5481 3800