Rye demo at field day
Gippsland Agricultural Group (GAgG) is continuing to trial what its farmer members want to see.
An incredibly wet string of seasons has presented challenges for farmers and that is reflected in the trials and demonstrations at the Gippsland Research Farm in Bairnsdale.
Among the paddock demonstrations and interesting pasture, crop, livestock and soil information at next week’s Spring Field Day, a ‘blind’ ryegrass demonstration is one to keep an eye out for.
GAgG agronomist, Casey Willis, said there were two ryegrass demonstrations running at the Gippsland Research Farm, with the blind demonstration including 24 annual and 16 Italian ryegrass varieties.
The varieties are a mixture of commercial and breeding lines entered by numerous Australian commercial seed companies, replicated four times, organised by the Pasture Trial Network (PTN). Each ryegrass is coded so that no one involved with the demonstration knows which one is which.
Casey said if people wanted to know more, the research and development was being managed by Brendan Torpy, of AGF seeds, who would also be at the field days.
The plots are measured using a ‘cut and carry’ measurement protocol, where dry matter (DM) samples are taken from each plot to calculate the DM percentage.
Each plot is cut and weighed, and the DM yield (kg/ha) calculated, then the data is recorded by the operator and loaded onto the PTN portal for analysis.
Once data is run through statistical analysis and approved by the technical working group, the data is available to view on the PTN online tool allowing producers and advisors to assess the performance of commercial and developmental pasture varieties in their region.
The second ryegrass showcase is a time-ofsowing demonstration, sown on two different dates, March 30 and April 28.
It also encompasses annual and Italian varieties and Casey said the earlier sowing was proving better. “We’re getting an extra cut from the earlier sowing,” Casey said. “Which quantifies that time of sowing is important, we need to get ryegrass in early.”
Within that demonstration there are also different maturities.
“We have early heading, mid-season and late-season varieties for farmers to see and help them with making decisions on what would fit best in their farming system,” Casey said.
Different decisions could include sowing an early season variety prior to planting a summer crop.
Other things to see at the GAgG Spring Field Day include speaker Richard Eckard on carbon farming, as well as presentations on managing legumes in perennial pasture systems, and understanding the worm life cycle in your animals.
The Spring Field Day will be held at the Bengworden Rd property on Thursday from 8.30am to 3pm and includes a barbecue luncheon. A working dog demonstration will take place in the afternoon. Contact Nat Jenkins, Southern Farming Systems 0436 462559, to register.