AgLife – November 28, 2018 edition by The Weekly Advertiser

November 28, 2018

Golden produce Sarah McCuish, from Goroke, in the grain at Shannon Brothers Bulk Storage in Horsham. The Wimmera harvest is underway, following hot on the heels of the Mallee, and results at some receival sites have so far been surprisingly positive. Story, page 25. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

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Rabbit control course 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

Overwhelming interest in a 2018 Leadership in Rabbit Control course has prompted organisers to arrange an additional training program. Developed by Victorian Rabbit Action Network, VRAN, the course is designed to help build knowledge and capability of communities and agencies to deal with rabbits wherever they occur in Victoria. VRAN mentors experts in rabbit management and community-led action, facilitates the course, offers expertise and insights from community, industry and government perspectives. By the end of the course, participants un-

derstand the ecology and biology of rabbits, Victoria’s legislation framework and how to implement an integrated rabbit control program. They take part in demonstrations and learn how to plan and implement monitoring programs to maximise their control efforts. An additional – and critical – element of the course is the chance to establish networks with others from across Victoria who are facing similar scenarios and issues with rabbit management. People interested in applying for the 2019 course can email VRAN executive officer Heidi Kleinert at heidi.kleinert@ecodev.vic.gov.au.

RESEARCH: NSW Department of Primary Industry’s Rohan Brill at a GRDC Optimising Canola Profitability trial site at Longerenong in July.

Harvest research BY JEMMA PEARL BIRCHIP CROPPING GROUP

hile Birchip Cropping Group plot harvesters are making their way around various research sites in the Mallee, harvest of a different kind is also occurring in the Wimmera.

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On October 25, the first maturity cuts – a method of taking a small quadrat sample of a mature crop – were collected from particular plots as part of the Grains Research Development Corporation Optimising Canola Profitability project at Longerenong. A week later, the header harvested BCG’s first trial at Kinnabulla in the southern Mallee. Maturity cuts started in the Wimmera early because some of the plots were ripe. This early maturity is a result of some of the eight varieties, two sowing dates and two nitrogen application timings favouring an early finish. Remaining plots will mature at later dates. To get the most out of these trials, yield information needs to be collected at the maturity of various maturities. If the whole trial was left until all the final treatment matured, the resulting yields would benefit longer season varieties.

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Collecting maturity cuts also allows researchers to collect the whole plant, meaning not only are yields collected, but a harvest index – the ratio between grain and dry matter produced – is recorded as well. Harvest index is the ratio of straw to grain. It provides an understanding of the reproductive efficiency of the plant, or how well it turns green leaf matter into grain. There are many factors that influence harvest index, including the energy and protein content of seeds, long-term breeding achievements, extreme temperatures, delayed sowing and more. Delayed sowing shortens the length of the vegetative phase, resulting in less plant matter to grain as a ratio, and therefore harvest index would be higher. Most importantly for the grower, yield data is collected to assess canola varieties and management strategies. Two other trials in the Wimmera from which maturity cuts were taken are the GRDC Development of Crop Management Packages for Early Sown, Slow Developing Wheats in the Southern Region and the GRDC National Frost Initiative. For more information on the BCG Wimmera research program stay tuned to this column. Alternatively, phone the BCG office on 5492 2787.

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BY DEAN LAWSON

igh-quality produce and a strong market is off-setting hit-and-miss yields as the region gains early insight into a western Victorian grains harvest.

Amid wildly varying expectations about what the season will ultimately reveal, harvest results are surprising many in the industry. Commercial grain company Shannon Brothers, which operates sites at Beulah and Horsham, has reported outstanding quality grain from many growers across the region. Horsham site manager Clayton Shannon said while the southern Mallee harvest was drawing to a close, the Wimmera was a mixed bag, with some growers in full swing and others still waiting for crops to fully ripen. “It’s been a slow start in Horsham, which was to be expected considering the weather patterns we’ve had. But the quality so far has been terrific,” he said. “Around Horsham, north of the Western Highway from Jung through to Kalkee and across to Dimboola is a similar story to what’s been happening up north – varying yields, ranging anywhere from half a tonne to two and a half tonnes a hectare, but all high quality. “The wheat is coming in with high protein levels in the Horsham area

POSITIVE: Leigh and Matt McGennisken check out lentils on their Horsham farm. Leigh said the lentils were going well, returning 1.4-tonne a hectare, ‘which is good for the year’. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

and the majority of barley is malting quality. The lentils yield appears low at this stage but it is also of extremely good quality.” Mr Shannon said the harvest was a long way from over, with grain from southern sections of the wheat belt likely to be still coming off paddocks in January.

“The test results have so far been fantastic, but whether that changes with the crops further south ripening we don’t know just yet,” he said “It might be that the best crops are still relatively green with a little way to go. “At the moment it’s a real unknown. I’ve never seen the crops so good, yet

so bad at the same time, depending on where they were. “That late rain we had has clearly helped in finishing off crops that were hanging on, but it has been a mixed result on how much farmers are getting depending on ground type and rain.” Wheat, barley, canola and pulses make up the bulk of the Wimmera

gains harvest. Climatic and geological circumstances across the vast cropping region vary significantly from district to district and sometimes farm to farm. The Great Dividing Range is a primary demarcation line on north-south weather variability.

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o, you’re a woolgrower? What did you vote for in WoolPoll? Did you vote for a reduction in the levy you pay for marketing and research?

If you did, was it because you’re not happy with the ‘incidents’ that portrayed Australian Wool Innovation chairman Wal Merriman in a far from favourable light? We’ll never know if that’s why. The WoolPoll votes went to preferences and no one asks why growers vote as they do. But with the wool market as good as it has been in nearly 30 years, albeit with a recent correction, it’s either because growers thought a smaller percentage of a lot of income was a good idea, or they weren’t happy with how their money was being spent. A drop in the levy from two percent of wool income to 1.5 percent equates to about $11 a bale according to Mercado agricultural market analysts. That’s $11 less from an average of $46 a bale. Not insignificant. Before WoolPoll, AWI director and wool broker Don McDonald told 3WM’s Country

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Today, the 0.5 percent levy cut would amount to AWI’s income dropping about 36 percent. That is, a 25 percent cut in the levy plus an 11 percent reduction in the wool clip due to the drought. If that didn’t wash with some woolgrowers, the then chair of AWI Wal Merriman claimed the cut in the levy could leave the company insolvent. The feedback from woolgrowers I received was either outrage or laughter at the absurdity of the suggestion. AWI chief executive Stuart McCullough was quick to play Mr Merriman’s suggestion down. But having come on the back of the ‘man in the mirror’ incident, where Mr Merriman watched woolgrowers in a focus group through a one-way mirror when they’d been told it was anonymous, and some serious questions raised at Senate hearings, I think it fair to say Mr Merriman’s comments lacked

gravitas and deeply damaged his credibility. Just days before we were to find out that the poll results had got down to preferences, Mr Merriman announced on a Friday afternoon – an old trick to minimise media coverage when many progams-publications had been put to bed for the week – that he’d resigned as chairman. One can’t help but wonder whether, had he done so earlier and well in advance of WoolPoll voting, if it might not have been a different outcome. Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has persistently urged AWI to convince him it is seriously attempting to implement all 82 recommendations of an independent review into AWI’s governance. Mr Merriman has stepped down as chair, but not as a director. Woolgrowers will have the final say with their vote at an extraordinary general meeting in March as one of the recommendations is for a limit on board terms of 10 years. Now in his 14th year, having served 10 of those as chair, it will be interesting to see if Mr Merriman bows to pressure by stepping down from the board before the meeting.

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Wimmera backs hay runner effort M

urtoa is gearing up for a big pre-Christmas night of celebration in an effort to support droughtstricken communities in NSW and Queensland.

Plans are in place for a Burrumbuttock Hay Runners Christmas Ball at the town’s Railway Hotel on December 22. The charity fundraiser, starting during the day, will feature music, Christmas carols, family and children’s activities and a barbecue. Organisers are also promoting the event as a chance for the regional community to gather for Christmas cheer while helping to support a worthy cause. A major highlight will be the Christmas ball, with band Acousticus Stomp performing throughout the night free of charge. The Burrumbuttock Hay Runners, BHR, concept involves dedicated groups across the country that provide transport runs of hay to drought-affected farmers. During a December build-up to the Murtoa ball, a Wimmera group will be busy cutting, producing and baling hay and straw in preparation for a major Australia Day run to Quilpie in Queensland. Sam McGennisken of Green Lake, who has been collecting

hay and straw donations, said the Wimmera group was trying to build on a stockpile at Wonwondah. “We’re looking for paddocks to windrow, hay donations, trucks, trailers and volunteers for stacking and contractors willing to give up some of their time to help bale,” he said. “It’s a big job but we have to keep doing what we can. “I went up north on Australia Day last year and didn’t realise how bad things were and that they were only getting worse. “It was a massive eye-opener and really made us want to do it again.” Tama Australia is donating string for baling and various outlets are donating some of the fuel needed to truck the hay north.

Hay run origins

The Burrumbuttock Hay Run started in 2014 when NSW truck-driver Brendan ‘Bumper’ Farrell heard about a farmer in Bourke who was struggling in the drought. He contacted the farmer and offered to bring him a truckload of hay to help him out. This was when the ‘Burrumbuttock to Bourke Hay Run’ was born, which then became the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners. Since 2014 the BHR team has completed 13 successful

hay runs to help farmers across NSW and Queensland. Mr McGennisken said the Wimmera group had grown from him and Robert Armstrong to a team of at least a dozen. “It’s a real mix of farmers, business operators, trucks and contractors. There are plenty of people involved,” he said. Efforts include Bernard Delahunty and a group of volunteers at Murtoa who have so far raised $876 for the hay runners. A raffle during Murtoa’s Big Weekend Show ’n’ Shine of a Lou Richards portrait airbrushed by Andrew Slattery raised $450. Another donation of $250 came from coffee sales at the Big Weekend’s art show and tin-rattles at the Murtoa Show and Railway Hotel. People keen to volunteer their services or seeking more information can call Mr McGennisken on 0488 219 802 or text Robert Armstrong on 0497 589 776. People can make cash donations to Rotary Club of Sydney. Details are available on website hayrunners.com or Facebook page Burrumbuttock Hay Runners. The majority of northern NSW and Queensland is currently ‘drought declared’, impacting on farmers, businesses, schools and communities.

Change for lamb exporters Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud will change the definition of lamb for export purpose to match a New Zealand definition. He said he would make the change to remove an unfair advantage New Zealand producers had over Australian farmers. He said lamb had previously been considered to grow into less lucrative ‘hogget’ or mutton as soon as incisor teeth were visible. But in New Zealand, lamb was still considered lamb after the

emergence of two teeth. “The issue of the Australian definition has been debated for decades,” he said. “Our export definition will now match New Zealand’s definition and our own new AUSMEAT definition.” Lamb and mutton exports were worth more than $2.6-billion to the Australian economy in 2016-17, with lamb alone worth more than $1.9-billion.

GOOD CAUSE: From left, Leigh McGennisken, Matt McGennisken, Bernie Delahunty, Sam McGennisken and Rob Armstrong are looking forward to a Burrumbuttock Hay Runners Christmas Ball at Murtoa’s Railway Hotel on December 22. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

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ainbow district farmers will soon be the beneficiaries of a new soil-moisture probe network in the region.

Rainbow and District Landcare Group, with advice from Agriculture Victoria, has created the network. Agriculture Victoria Hopetounbased extension officer Heather Drendel said the network, made possible with financial support from Wimmera and Mallee catchment management authorities, would be a valuable tool for farmers. She said farmers could hear how to use data from the network to manage risks and increase profitability at a free Agriculture Victoria information forum at Rainbow on December 17. Ms Drendel said the forum would provide district producers with an opportunity to meet over breakfast and gain an understanding of the benefits of the development. During the forum, Agriculture Victoria’s seasonal risk agronomist Dale Boyd will present an example of the data generated by the network and translate the information so it is relevant to farmers and can be used as a risk-management tool. Birchip Cropping Group technical officer Chris Cook will explain how farmers can receive the soil-mois-

INFORMATION: Agriculture Victoria’s seasonal risk agronomist Dale Boyd, pictured, will be a presenter at a Rainbow forum. ture data through the ‘blue node’, and how the information can be used. Ms Drendel said soil-moisture data could help grain growers manage inputs, particularly nitrogen, and could also be used to make

crop-rotation decisions. “Knowing soil-moisture levels helps to better assess the production risk of different crop types and improve estimations of potential yield during the season,” she said. The free forum will be at The

Oasis, the former Rainbow Primary School site. The event will start at 7.30am with a breakfast, with the forum starting at 8.30am. People seeking more information can call Ms Drendel on 0427 868 705.

Management grants for landholders Landholders and community groups can apply for up to $200,000 under round two of Federal Government Smart Farms Small Grants. Agriculture and Water Resources Minister David Littleproud encouraged Landcare groups, natural-resource-management bodies, indigenous organisations and community groups to apply. “The future of Aussie agriculture relies on sustainable farming and land management practices,” he said. “Our farmers are looking for new practices and tools to stay sustainable and profitable. “These grants support new projects to improve Aussie soil, biodiversity and vegetation. “They will also help support water security and promote climate-smart farming. “Ultimately, this leads to more profitable agriculture, fishing and forestry industries. “I know there’s exceptional ideas out there, and these grants can make them a reality. “The first round of funding was highly competitive, attracting more than 800 applications. I strongly encourage those who missed out in round one to apply again.” More information is online at www. agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/naturalresources/landcare/national-landcareprogram/australian-governmentinvestment-in-landcare.

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Nutrient warning issued

esearchers have advised graingrowers who have cut crops for hay and silage due to moisture stress and frost to be mindful of the amount of nutrients removed from their paddocks.

Crop nutrition experts supported by Grains Research and Development Corporation said cutting hay removed significantly more nitrogen, potassium and sulphur than if the crop was left standing for grain production. The corporation said hay could remove up to two times more nitrogen and up to 10 times more potassium than if a crop was harvested for grain. In canola, up to five times more sulphur could be lost. Agriculture Victoria research scientist Roger Armstrong said one-off hay cutting of a failed crop could prompt changes in crop nutrition programs and paddock management into the next season. “With nutrients that would otherwise be recycled in the soil being lost through the removal of crop material in hay and silage, soil tests will become more important ahead of next year’s sowing to inform nutrition programs in 2019,” he said. More information on nutrient removal from cutting crops is on a GRDC Communities website at http://bit.ly/2qyUCre and http://bit. ly/2DByOnz. Leading agronomist and former International Plant Nutrition Institute regional director for Australia and New Zealand Rob Norton has contributed a significant amount of information. GRDC Communities, for which Dr Arm-

RISK: Cutting hay removes significantly more nitrogen, potassium and sulphur than if the crop was left standing for grain production. In canola, pictured, up to five times more sulphur can be lost. Picture: FELICITY PRITCHARD strong and Dr Norton are among the cropnutrition experts, brings together a range of specialist grains researchers and advisers online to share information, knowledge and technical advice on seasonal issues to improve grower profitability. Dr Armstrong said repeated removal of hay was considered to be one of the most acidifying of agricultural practices, and on acid soils could exacerbate the issue in the long term. He said the removal of cereal or canola hay required 25 kilograms a hectare of lime for each tonne of biomass removed, or 45kg-ha for each tonne of annual legume hay removed, to neutralise the resulting acidity.

Cutting hay reduced inputs of organic matter into the soil for that season. The size of the effect when the hay is cut from a failed crop might be roughly similar to organic matter lost from burning stubble residues from a good crop, compared to retained stubble. Following hay cutting, little residue cover – maybe 0.4 t/ha of residue after hay cutting versus 2.0 t/ha after harvest – remained. Growers were therefore advised to reduce grazing and traffic across these paddocks to minimise the risk of wind and water erosion, which also contributed to soil-nutrient loss.

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A world-first three-dimensional X-ray unit in Melbourne will help detect biosecurity risks faster and more effectively than in the past. Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said a year-long trial of a Rapiscan RTT 110 X-Ray unit at Melbourne International Airport that started last week was a huge step forward for Australian biosecurity. “Our clean green reputation makes Australian produce valued overseas and we have to protect that,” he said. “We’re seeing more people, mail and cargo come through our borders. That means more risk to Aussie farmers and we’ve got to stay on top of it. “We need to make sure they’re not bringing in pests or items carrying pests, which could destroy our farm sector.” Mr Littleproud said biosecurity officers did a great job but could not check every bag. “Australia is a world leader in biosecurity and we always strive to be better,” he said. “New technology like this X-ray unit is an important part of keeping pests out. “This world-first trial with Biosecurity NZ will change the way we work for the better.” X-ray images from Melbourne and Auckland airports will be combined into an image library then used to create an algorithm that can instantly identify high-risk items. The algorithm will be trialled with fruit for six months, then on vegetables, seeds and meat. Mr Littleproud said biosecurity screening provided critical protection for Australia’s $60-billion agricultural industries and the health of the country’s communities, environment and national economy.

Riordan Grain Services and the Edenhope Grain Storage Riordan Grain Services is pleased to announce we have acquired and will be solely managing the Edenhope Grain Storage site for the 2018/19 harvest and onwards. The site is located at 58 Cameron and Lampard Road, Charam and was formerly operated by Emerald Grain. The site is well located for Riordan’s to expand into the Portland grain export zone over the longer term. For the 18/19 harvest receival access to the site will be limited to the silos and small shed to provide around 15,000mt of grain storage. Access to the larger sheds is pending council approvals. Segregations are to be based around receivals for all grades of Barley, Wheat and Non-GMO Canola. If you require any further information regarding Riordan Grain, please feel free to contact Mark Lewis on mobile 0438 103 312. 58 Camerons and Lampards Road, Charam VIC Site Contact Number – 0429 580 598 www.riordangrains.com.au 1800 746 732

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For site pricing visit www.riordangrains.com.au or for other site information please contact the site mobile 0429 580 598 or Leigh Burgess on mobile 0409 103 336. Please also contact Leigh if you are local to the area and are looking for harvest and/or post-harvest work.

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Encouraging study results

oil types across the Wimmera, Mallee and Grampians vary considerably from heavy clay to loam and sand.

All can present farmers with a variety of management needs and treatments. Research is demonstrating that substantial opportunities exist to increase productivity of crops on poor-performing sandy soils. Trials in a Grains Research and Development Corporation project have shown some sandy-soil treatments could deliver investment returns up to 520 percent. However, researchers involved in the ongoing studies are advising growers to assess the potential to increase yields and any associated risks before implementing new treatments and practices. The GRDC investment, ‘Increasing production on sandy soils in low and medium rain areas of the southern region’, is exploring cost-effective techniques to diagnose and overcome primary constraints to poor crop water use on about five-million hectares of under-performing sandy soils. The study is a collaborative effort involving CSIRO, Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, the University of South Australia, Mallee Sustainable Farming, Ag Grow Agronomy and Trengove Consulting. CSIRO scientist Therese McBeath said research involved assessment of a spectrum of crop constraints and interventions across different types of sand and environments at several sites in Victoria, South Australia and southern New South Wales. Interventions include application of soil wetters, improved fertiliser management, lime applica-

STUDYING: CSIRO research scientist Dr Therese McBeath says results of a Grains Research and Development corporation project have been encouraging. Picture: REBECCA BARR tions, deep ripping and more aggressive tillage, incorporation of clay or organic matter, and delving. “There has been significant work into sandy soils in recent years, and research has been separated into mitigation strategies, which are lowcost annual interventions that typically have a small impact on yield, and high-cost, high-impact and long-term amelioration treatments,” she said. “This project aims to bring all these intervention strategies together, so when a grower is approach-

ing a sandy soil on their farm they can think about all the options available, to decide what management practice is best from a financial and productivity perspective.” Dr McBeath discusses the research investment in a new GRDC podcast, at http://bit.ly/2ywMo7H. In the podcast, she refers to results being generated from trial sites at Bute in South Australia, where treatments combining deep ripping with surface applied nutrition – fertiliser or chicken litter – delivered the highest marginal returns on a sandy soil. These ranged from $934 to $1249 a hectare across three years. Depending on treatment cost, these treatments delivered return on investment ranging from 142 to 521 percent. While the results are encouraging, Dr McBeath said understanding the rain-limited yield potential and season-specific effects was important for assessing the lscope of yield gains and the associated investment risk. “The aim is to develop appropriate and costeffective management strategies with high returns and that are low risk, so growers can increase their actual crop yields closer to their yield potential based on rainfall,” she said. Dr McBeath said season-to-season effects of different interventions were also important factors to consider when contemplating sandy-oil treatment options. Through the GRDC research, characterisation of sandy-soil sites across Australia’s southern cropping region has confirmed that compaction, water repellence and a range of nutritional deficiencies are common issues.

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Soil advice available 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

Willaura district farmers have an opportunity to access independent soil-management support and advice early next year. The program will help farmers learn how to interpret a soil test, minimise nutrient losses, reduce soil acidity and maximise the economic returns from lime and fertiliser programs. The program involves – • Two soil tests taken on-farm to assess a range of soil chemical parameters such as nutrients, pH and cation-exchange capacity. • Farm visit and preparation of a nutrient plan with Agriculture Victoria staff. • Two workshops focused on soil test interpretation and nutrient budgeting. Soil testing and farm visits are already underway. A soil test interpretation workshop will be in February-March and a nutrient-budgeting workshop will be in March-April. Willaura district venues are yet to be confirmed. The cost to take part is $100 a farm business. People can register their interest by emailing Agriculture Victoria’s Neil James at neil.james@ecodev.vic.gov.au or calling 0417 353 929. Funding from the National Landcare Program is providing support for the service.

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Asthma warning for the Wimmera A

Wimmera harvest combined with a thunderstorm season has prompted a Wimmera Health Care Group warning to people who suffer from asthma and-or hayfever.

Respiratory nurse Heather Macdonald said there was a confirmed link between hayfever, asthma and thunderstorms and it was important for people to be prepared. “With the combination of thunderstorms and harvest stirring up grasses, dust and pollen, we urge people to be prepared and make sure their medication is in date and close by,” she said. “Reliever inhalers, such as Ventolin and Asmol can continue to ‘squirt’ sometime after there is no longer medication in them, so it is important to have a new one on standby. “It is also important to check that your reliever inhaler is still in date. This can be done by removing the metal canister from the device.”

Ms Macdonald said the Wimmera had one of the highest rates of asthma in Australia and was also a problem area for pollen and dust allergies. “People who have not experienced asthma for years, or ever before, can develop asthma,” she said. Ms Macdonald said a new mobile phone application that showed pollen counts – Melbourne Pollen Count – could help people be aware of asthma-danger days. “Anyone who has a past history of asthma or hayfever can experience an asthma flare if the weather and pollen conditions are right, even if they have been symptom free for many years,” she said. Ms Macdonald said if people did believe they were experiencing asthma symptoms they should – • Seek medical attention immediately if they do not have asthma medication. • Use their reliever inhaler with a spacer when short of breath.

• Continue with usual daily preventer medications, including antihistamines for hay fever. Ms Macdonald said reliever inhalers should provide some relief within minutes. “If they do not and symptoms rapidly worsen, call 000 and continue using your reliever inhaler four puffs every four minutes,” she said. More information and instructions for use of inhalers and spacers is available on Asthma Australia’s website, www.asthmaaustralia.org.au. A general recommendation for people who aware they suffer from pollen related hayfever and asthma is to try to stay inside on windy, stormy days to try and reduce triggers. Symptoms of asthma can include – • Constant or intermittent coughing. • Increasing shortness of breath at rest. • Wheezing. • Tightness in chest.

95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

KEEPING CHECK: The new electronic Ceres Tag monitor in action.

Cows are counting steps Move over recreational joggers – there’s a new type of ‘fit bit’, and instead of monitoring people, it monitors livestock. Its use could well be part of standard livestock management in the region in the near future. CSIRO and agtech group Ceres Tag have created the product to help farmers keep track of where their livestock are and what they are doing. The development represents the type of technology that might ultimately be in use at Longerenong College as part of its data-farm development and evolution. The new technology, which takes the form of a smart ear tag, produces similar data to that delivered by consumer smart watches.

Using the device, farmers can track where their herds graze, if an animal has escaped or been stolen, and even unusual movements that could indicate an animal is giving birth or sick. Researchers successfully trialled the smart ear tag on 100 cattle at CSIRO’s Lansdown Research Station near Townsville in Queensland earlier this month. The aim is to save farmers time and money compared with costs of manually tracking flocks and herds using vehicles or aircraft. Ceres Tag chief executive David Smith said the tag provided transparent grazing management, allowing farmers to locate and monitor their animals to reduce risk and operating costs, improve efficiency and help with traceability.

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Zero-till pioneers take on the plow “Like” Us On Facebook

95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

ifty years ago, pioneers of zero and minimum-tillage cropping systems had a challenge convincing researchers and growers these systems had benefits over a traditional tractor and plough crisscrossing a paddock.

But in 2018, conservation farming methods are widely accepted across Australia. Associate Professor David Freebairn from the Centre for Engineering in Agriculture at University of Southern Queensland is renowned for his research into the impact of cultivation on soil erosion. He remains a go-to expert for many growers when it comes to ‘real’ advice on tactics that will improve soil moisture and on-farm profitability. He also provided insight into the history of zero and minimum tillage in a Grains Research and Development Corporation podcast. Prof Freebairn grew up on a farm in New South Wales where cropping country was cultivated and stubble burnt every year. As a university graduate, his first research task was to assess the impact of minimising cultivation and retaining stubble on soil erosion. He admitted to thinking ‘this won’t work’, but was amazed when rain simulators on different soils with different cover returned the same result

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every time – a significant reduction in runoff and erosion. Prof Freebairn has now reviewed the past 50 years of research into zero and minimum-till practices. Since the 1960s there have been two different mindsets: the traditional method of burning stubble to reduce disease and make it easier to plant the next crop, and the idea of leaving it on the surface to protect the soil and retain water. Catchment studies looking at water storage, erosion and runoff showed the dramatic impacts of retaining stubble. One study demonstrated soil loss was dramatically reduced from 50 tonnes-hectare-year down to six tonnes-hectare-year if stubble was mulched, and one tonne-hectare-year if zero tillage was implemented. Prof Freebairn said as a researcher, the challenge was to make conservation farming methods easy for growers to put into practice. “In the early days, there were no minimum-tillage machines on the market to enable growers to plant directly into stubble, and few herbicides,” he said. “Roundup entered the market in 1974 but cost $20 a litre, and at that time growers were using one to two litres a hectare.” Around this time Hector Todd became one of the early growers to

TOUGH GOING: The pioneers of zero and minimum tillage cropping systems had a challenging time convincing researchers and growers about the systems’ benefits. Picture: GRDC explore tillage and planting equipment that could handle higher stubble loads. Machinery evaluation programs, testing equipment imported from Canada and the US, started in Queensland in the mid-1970s. In 1968 a study, started at Warwick in south-east Queensland, provided more support for conservation-farming methods.

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It showed that where there was less tillage or no tillage and stubble retained, an extra 30-50 millimetres of stored water was available to the crop in most years. “This should have converted to extra yield, but stubble in the system resulted in poorer mineralisation of nitrogen at sowing, translating as lower protein and lower yields,” Prof Freebairn said.

“Then there was an accumulation of foliar and root diseases which got in the way of maximising the improved water capture.” The finding triggered additional trial work and from 1968-90 researchers focused on breeding of root lesion nematode-resistant varieties. In response to root diseases, the NSW Department of Agriculture trialled no tillage in tandem with the rotation of other crops such as sorghum and pulses, to follow a winter cereal. “The yield response was dramatic. The extra water was used by the rotational crop, the disease pressure was less, and yields improved by half a tonne to a tonne per hectare,” Prof Freebairn said. Improvements in machinery followed suit. So, should growers fear the return of cultivation nowadays? “The occasional working of a notillage paddock might trigger the germination of weed seeds, but it won’t destroy 10 years of hard work,” Prof Freebairn said. “I have reviewed 50 years of conservation farming, and I now advise any growers who are still sceptical about this concept to start small and experiment.” To listen to Prof Freebairn’s podcast, visit website https://grdc.com. au/podcasts.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018