Trials gain insight
ABCG
research program is well underway and aims to provide information for growers to progress their farm businesses and develop strategies for ongoing resilience.
Research trials sown in the Wimmera so far have included two sowing times of a Grdc-funded managing-early-sown wheat trial, with another two to be sown in coming weeks.
The purpose of this trial is to determine how long-season winter wheat varieties perform at different sowing times.
This trial, at Rupanyup, has had irrigation treatments applied at 10, 25 and 50-millimetre rates.
The irrigation treatments simulate the effect of an early break to see how these long-season winter wheat varieties perform and whether there is an opportunity to improve profitability by spreading the business risk and sowing early.
BCG research leader Claire Browne said the aim was to do several trials in the Wimmera investigating agronomy, disease, weed and pest management, crop nutrition and farming systems.
“BCG carries out a broad range of research trials to provide farmers with solutions and strategies to combat on-farm challenges and improve business decisions,” she said.
At a Longerenong research site a canola-fungicide-management trial and the first time of sowing for a canola phenology trial was sown on April 12.
The canola phenology trial aims to understand the growth habits and development of canola varieties within the four herbicide groups, hence the importance to irrigate with 15mm to establish the crop close to the sowing date.
Previous research has found it imperative to match sowing date and varietal phenology so that flowering starts at the right time for the localised region.
Ms Browne emphasised the potential mice threat to the 2018 season and that it was still important to be vigilant and bait after sowing.
“Initial inspections in paddocks have shown a range of 0-1000 holes per hectare,” she said.
“Anything greater than 200 mice a hectare is where economical damage can occur or establishment can be reduced.
“These numbers would indicate we are in a high-risk scenario.”
A small and informal study by BCG last week found in 12 commercial paddocks there was an average of 300 holes a hectare.
For more information on the BCG Wimmera research program, stay tuned to this column. Alternatively, call the BCG office on 5492 2787.