Applying organic matter to improve crop production on clay soils in medium and high rainfall zone environments has received widespread interest but to date grain growers remain uncertain about adoption. This uncertainty arises from unpredictable yield responses, insufficient stocks of some ameliorants such as animal manures, access to suitable machinery and initial high upfront costs ($1200-1400/ha).

Managing annual ryegrass is a challenge in the HRZ of Victoria.

The design of the Southern Farming Systems variety by management trials has evolved over recent of years, with 2020 presenting a combined approach of 2018 and 2019. In each trial in 2020 there is again more than one variety, allowing a direct variety comparison, but the ability to separate out management factors of Variety, Plant Growth Regulators and Nitrogen to determine specifically where the differences are coming from has been retained.

This year, Southern Farming Systems Variety by Management (SFS VxM) trials includes two canola trials located at our Inverleigh and Lake Bolac sites. These trials are presented in a three-way factorial design comparing time of sowing, variety, and fertiliser application at Inverleigh, and variety, fertiliser, and PGR application at Lake Bolac.

There has been increasing discussion around soil carbon in recent years, partly because of a possible way of capturing atmospheric carbon to offset global warning and partly because of the association with regenerative agriculture. Many benefits are related to increasing soil carbon, one of which is increasing the soil water holding capacity or soil water bucket.

The main foliar diseases affecting faba beans in Victoria include cercospora leaf spot, ascochyta blight and chocolate spot.

Winter Crop Walk Series – Audrey Gripper SFS, Alistair Crawford ADAMA & James Considine Syngenta. Southern Farming Systems host trial at Hamilton Branch Lake Linlithgow Trial Site looking at new pre-emergent herbicides in Faba Beans.

The next phase of yield and biomass gains in Victoria’s medium and high rainfall zones will be aided by better understanding soils, soil constraints and soil amelioration technologies.

The injection of organic amendments into the subsoil has been promoted as a way of overcoming one of the major impediments to improving crop yields in the HRZ of Victoria - hostile subsoils.

The webinar features leading Frost Research Expert Kelly Angel, BCG and local agronomists, discussing the latest research and approaches to managing frost on-farm. With SFS farmers sharing their experiences and ideas to direct future research investment.

Better Frost Decisions is an extension project that aims to assist farmers in frost-prone areas to make better-informed decisions to help farm businesses better manage (and reduce) the risk and impact from frost. Better Frost Decisions is part of a national GRDC investment through the project “Applying current knowledge to inform grower decision making to mitigate the impact of frost, now and in the future”, with Mallee sustainable Farming coordinating this project across the Southern Region.

This video steps though the stages of sub-clover growth and what management is required so we consistently have good clover years.

Spray grazing is an effective tactic for selectively removing capeweed from mixed pastures. It is the combination of both herbicide and grazing intensity and timing that greatly influences the effectiveness of this treatment.

Barley Disease Management evaluating products Maxentis and Proviso against industry standards.

This GRDC project, now in its third year, is looking at optimising seed placement, plant establishment, plant densities and row spacings to maximise crop yield. As a part of this Southern Farming Systems are undertaking paddock scale trials in both canola and faba beans.

Southern Farming Systems Herbicide Matrix trial evaluating the crop tolerance of broadleaf crops to a range of herbicide products and timings.

XC & CT Canola Technologies IWM Trial at Southern Farming Systems Satellite Site.

The main aim of these member trials is to evaluate the effectiveness of different levels of management in any given season. Using varieties GrainSearch Bottler, GrainSearch Nitro, SeedForce RGT Planet, AGF Seeds Laperouse.