Understanding ‘Stubble Trouble’
Goroke and Toolondo will host stubble management workshops next month to give grain growers a broader understanding of effective and efficient stubble management.
Agriculture Victoria and Wimmera Farming Network will co-ordinate the ‘Stubble Trouble’ workshops.
The workshops will include presentations by Nhill-based agronomist Dan Colbert of Westech Ag as well as hands-on soil activities and discussions with Agriculture Victoria soils specialist Melissa Cann.
Event organiser, Agriculture Victoria’s Heather Drendel, said the workshops would include practical soil-testing demonstrations and soil pits as a tool to help explain soil health.
“Historically, we have not had many soil pits in these areas, so the workshop will help growers understand what’s under the top six inches of soil and any constraints that might affect crop growth,” she said.
Ms Cann will lead discussions at the soil pits and demonstrate how to perform basic soil tests and identify subsoil properties.
Mr Colbert’s presentations will focus on alternative practices farmers can adopt to manage heavy stubble loads.
He will discuss effective stubble management techniques including windrow burning, chaff rows and chaff lining, as well as pros and cons of disc and tyne seeders in different soil types, and Real Time Kinematic autosteer.
The workshops will also include a discussion about herbicide resistant weeds and pest management in heavy stubble loads.
Mr Colbert will cover mice, snail and slug control options and provide information about how to maximise herbicide efficacy in paddocks that have high stubble loads.
The workshops will be at Goroke Recreation Reserve on October 10 and Toolondo Recreation Reserve on October 11.
The workshops will run from 10.30am until 3pm and morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided. Wimmera Catchment Management Authority supports the workshops through the National Landcare Program.
People can call Heather Drendel on 0427 868 705 or email heather.drendel@ecodev.vic.gov. au to register.
“Historically, we have not had many soil pits in these areas, so the workshop will help growers understand what’s under the top six inches of soil and any constraints that might affect crop growth” – Heather Drendel