December 2022
Forage Brassica Variety Trial and Forage Demo

Forage Brassica Variety Trial and Forage Demo
This year at Rokewood we are hosting two exciting new trials with RAGT (Seed Force)....
eXpress Results 2022

eXpress Results 2022
The first of the members only eXpress Results are available for: Streatham Canola RR -...
Merry Christmas and a Safe Harvest!

Merry Christmas and a Safe Harvest!
Southern Farming Systems Staff wish all our members and partners a Merry Christmas and a...
Maintaining groundcover, but not the bulk!

- 1 minute read
Maintaining groundcover, but not the bulk!
The balancing act of maintaining at least 70% groundcover in your pastures is recommended to...
Wet Harvest Ahead!

- 1 minute read
Wet Harvest Ahead!
As harvest kicks off in SW Victoria, growers are facing a much wetter season than...
Dung Beetles on a roll

- 1 minute read
Dung Beetles on a roll
Dung beetles are miracle agricultural engineers through their work in the environment. Improving soil health...
FOR SALE – Goldacres Rowcrop mounted sprayer

FOR SALE – Goldacres Rowcrop mounted sprayer
A Frame linkage for fast hook-up. 12-meter hydraulic fold and lift partial aluminium boom with...
Will prolonged waterlogging kill my pastures?

- 2 minute read
Will prolonged waterlogging kill my pastures?
With the continual deluge of rain, farmers have questioned will prolonged waterlogging kill my pastures?...
Faba Beans Galore!

- 1 minute read
Faba Beans Galore!
The bean team at SFS has been working hard the last few weeks collecting, weighing,...
Opportunities in the Wet

- 5 minute read
Opportunities in the Wet
Excessive rain is testing the nerves of many croppers and graziers. These wet conditions are...
AGRIFOCUS 2022

- 1 minute read
AGRIFOCUS 2022
What an event! Through rain and floods, to sunshine on the day, Southern Farming Systems...
Storing items under powerlines doesn’t stack up

Storing items under powerlines doesn’t stack up
Arcing can happen without touching the powerlines – don’t store, load or unload items near...
SFS Casual Summer Position Tasmania

- 1 minute read
SFS Casual Summer Position Tasmania
SFS Tasmania are looking for casual staff, to start immediately. Casuals are needed to help...
Preparing workers for harvest

- 1 minute read
Preparing workers for harvest
We know finding agricultural workers is getting harder and harder. Now more than ever, training...
GRDC Harvester Forums

- 1 minute read
GRDC Harvester Forums
To support growers to reduce harvest losses and improve operations at harvest, BCG & SFS...
New pasture trials for SFS Tasmania

New pasture trials for SFS Tasmania
SFS Tasmania are proud to inform our growers and members that we will now be...
Have your say about the future of farming in Tasmania

- 2 minute read
Have your say about the future of farming in Tasmania
Check your mailbox! That’s the message to more than 2000 landholders across Tasmania who’ve been...
APPLY NOW! Graduate Research and Extension Officer – Tasmania

- 2 minute read
APPLY NOW! Graduate Research and Extension Officer – Tasmania
Work with a leading agricultural research and extension organisation Learn agronomy from experienced colleagues and...
Second Edition of SFS 2021 Trials Results Book Available Now!

Second Edition of SFS 2021 Trials Results Book Available Now!
Members, Partners and Supporters can access the updated Second edition of the SFS 2021 Trials...
My Farm Dashboard – informing farm decisions

- 1 minute read
My Farm Dashboard – informing farm decisions
Farm business decisions are becoming increasingly complicated as our farming systems intensify and diversify. Farms...
Protecting yourself against Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease. Have you acted on precautionary biosecurity plan?

- 2 minute read
Protecting yourself against Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease. Have you acted on precautionary biosecurity plan?
By Tahlia Ferguson, Research and Extension, Soils, Pasture & Livestock Team Walking through the Australian...
Hyper yielding, Hyper Nitrogen Costs?

- 1 minute read
Hyper yielding, Hyper Nitrogen Costs?
Making nitrogen applications pay this season was a hot topic at the Campbelltown GRDC Update....
Pulse Development and Extension Update

- 1 minute read
Pulse Development and Extension Update
In some very exciting news, I have taken over the Pulse Development & Extension (D&E)...
Welcome New Graduate in Research and Extension

Welcome New Graduate in Research and Extension
Jessie Wettenhall joins the team in SW Victoria. Jessie grew up on a prime lamb...
Soils seminar proves success

Soils seminar proves success
More than 60 farmers flocked to Winchelsea to learn more about sustainable farm practices at...
Russia, biofuel demand and government intervention to shift grain market fundamentals

- 2 minute read
Russia, biofuel demand and government intervention to shift grain market fundamentals
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has ‘rattled and shaken’ global grains markets in the here and...
Negative basis likely to stay

- 2 minute read
Negative basis likely to stay
Most conversations about the Australian grain crop this year include discussion on the record negative...
Opportunities to visit two of the best properties in the Western Districts

- 1 minute read
Opportunities to visit two of the best properties in the Western Districts
There is a great opportunity in the next few weeks to learn secrets of success...
Position Available : Manager – Operations

Position Available : Manager – Operations
Southern Farming Systems (SFS) is seeking a Manager – Operations to join its Victorian team,...
Outlook on 2022/23 global grain and oilseeds market prospects

- 2 minute read
Outlook on 2022/23 global grain and oilseeds market prospects
Given how tight the global commodities market is, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s)...
Opportunities in Pasture Training

- 2 minute read
Opportunities in Pasture Training
It’s a good time in the next few months to find out how you can...
It’s not all small plot seeding for the SFS operations team

- 1 minute read
It’s not all small plot seeding for the SFS operations team
While small plot trials are the focus for the SFS seeding program there are some...
Should I consider applying nitrogen fertiliser in pastures given its high price?

- 1 minute read
Should I consider applying nitrogen fertiliser in pastures given its high price?
Should I consider applying nitrogen fertiliser in pastures given its high price? This was a...
High prices test sustainability commitment

- 2 minute read
High prices test sustainability commitment
It’s often said that it’s easy to be concerned about sustainability on a full stomach....
Building Drought Resilience

- 1 minute read
Building Drought Resilience
Ever wondered what impacts climate change may have on your farming business? What will it...
What are the SFS Variety by Management trials up to this year?

- 1 minute read
What are the SFS Variety by Management trials up to this year?
Southern Farming System’s Variety by Management (SFS VxM) trials are back again this year asking...
Two Graduate Research Agronomist Positions available 1xVictoria, 1xTasmania

- 1 minute read
Two Graduate Research Agronomist Positions available 1xVictoria, 1xTasmania
Come join our team at Southern Farming Systems! SFS has two Graduate Research Agronomist positions...
Poor Chinese hog margins to weigh on feed grain price outlook

- 2 minute read
Poor Chinese hog margins to weigh on feed grain price outlook
Chinese livestock feed consumption is expected to drop between two and five per cent year-on-year...
The Victoria Drought Hub expands to ‘Agricultural Innovation’ and is appointing Adoption Officers, under $3.6m in new funding

- 1 minute read
The Victoria Drought Hub expands to ‘Agricultural Innovation’ and is appointing Adoption Officers, under $3.6m in new funding
The work of the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub has been expanded to...
‘Tis the season, for sowing that it is!

- 1 minute read
‘Tis the season, for sowing that it is!
It’s full steam ahead at SFS, it’s sowing season! It certainly feels like this time...
Rokewood trial site taking shape

Rokewood trial site taking shape
Lots of activity happening at our new Rokewood pasture demonstration and trial site. Water and...
Less Weeds More Feed, resources now available!

- 1 minute read
Less Weeds More Feed, resources now available!
A couple of more weed resources have been added to our weed package to complete...
Could high fertiliser prices create food shortages?

- 2 minute read
Could high fertiliser prices create food shortages?
Global fertiliser prices have skyrocketed even further in recent weeks. From the outset of war...
Future Drought Fund continues delivering drought resilience for regional Australia

- 3 minute read
Future Drought Fund continues delivering drought resilience for regional Australia
5 April 2022 Australian Government continues to support drought resilience in regional Australia $94.5 million...
Investigating acidity in sub-surface soils

Investigating acidity in sub-surface soils
Father and son duo Neil and Charlie Vallance are farming in the high rainfall, high...
Incentives needed for malt barley production

- 2 minute read
Incentives needed for malt barley production
Even before the Russia-Ukraine War, global barley markets were already on edge – supplies were...
Nitrogen Decision Making Journey -SFS Results Morning

- 2 minute read
Nitrogen Decision Making Journey -SFS Results Morning
There’s nothing quite like having face to face events again, this especially applies to the...
What do you get when you combine climate, economics & farming?

- 1 minute read
What do you get when you combine climate, economics & farming?
Ever wondered what impacts climate change may have on your farming business? What will it...
Alternative Legumes

- 1 minute read
Alternative Legumes
The Alternative Legumes Project is a three-year project SFS is involved in that is being...
University of Melbourne led projects receive $2.1m through Drought Resilience Innovation Grants

- 2 minute read
University of Melbourne led projects receive $2.1m through Drought Resilience Innovation Grants
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud MP has announced a major Innovation Grant...
“Cautious optimism” among Victorian farmers as good prices and weather help offset input concerns

- 4 minute read
“Cautious optimism” among Victorian farmers as good prices and weather help offset input concerns
Results at a glance: Forecast business spending reveals underlying confidence among Vic farm sector, despite...
Lifting expectations and production with Lime

Lifting expectations and production with Lime
This is one of my favourite producer’s stories SFS wrote for MLA as part of...
Building Drought Resilience

- 1 minute read
Building Drought Resilience
Ever wondered what impacts climate change may have on your farming business? What will it...
Having issues sourcing Clearfield Canola Seed Check out what Cargill & AWB can offer you…

Having issues sourcing Clearfield Canola Seed Check out what Cargill & AWB can offer you…
AWB (manage the contracting and grower logistics) have the VICTORY Clearfield canola program open at...
SFS Member & Partner Survey

SFS Member & Partner Survey
This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or log in if you are a member.
GRDC Hyper Yielding Crops Grower Meetings Back for 2022

- 1 minute read
GRDC Hyper Yielding Crops Grower Meetings Back for 2022
The GRDC Hyper Yielding Crops (HYC) grower meetings have resumed this week following a break...
When Black Sea wheat is caught in conflict

- 2 minute read
When Black Sea wheat is caught in conflict
The Russia Ukraine conflict will have large and structural ramifications for global grains and oilseeds...
Don’t be fooled by the green pick

- 2 minute read
Don’t be fooled by the green pick
Getting productive and persistent pastures is influenced by how we manage perennial grasses during a...
Winter shift starting for dung beetles

- 1 minute read
Winter shift starting for dung beetles
Two years into the dung beetle project and much of the trapping for the South-West...
Helping you make decisions on using soil pH mapping and variable rate liming

Helping you make decisions on using soil pH mapping and variable rate liming
Precision Agriculture and Southern Farming Systems have put together three farmer case studies, where producers...
“Sun shines brightly” for Australian agriculture in the year ahead – 2022 industry outlook

- 4 minute read
“Sun shines brightly” for Australian agriculture in the year ahead – 2022 industry outlook
Australia’s agricultural sector is set for another profitable year ahead, with the gross value of...
Weed control during the summer fallow

- 2 minute read
Weed control during the summer fallow
It’s mid-February, you’ve finally finished harvest and you’re thinking about how nice a few weeks...
Soil Testing

- 1 minute read
Soil Testing
It’s that time of year again! Harvest is wrapping up for the South-West, it’s a...
MLA Have your say on what extension you want! Win a SFS Membership!

MLA Have your say on what extension you want! Win a SFS Membership!
SFS and 6 other grower groups in Southern Australia are conducting surveys on behalf of...
SAVE THE DATE! SFS Results Morning

SAVE THE DATE! SFS Results Morning
Harvest has now concluded across all the SW VIC sites and the team are busy...
Could farmers actually be facing Urea shortages next season?

- 2 minute read
Could farmers actually be facing Urea shortages next season?
The headlines about urea (nitrogen) shortages have been free-flowing in recent weeks and months, elevating...
Waterlogging and Drainage

- 1 minute read
Waterlogging and Drainage
Drainage is one of the most common topics we get asked to do work on...
2021 grain season setting the bar high in the HRZ

- 1 minute read
2021 grain season setting the bar high in the HRZ
Consistent warm weather has meant harvest has been kept moving with the odd storm interrupting...
Weed Fast Facts

- 1 minute read
Weed Fast Facts
Weed fast facts is now available from our SFS website from the project page Less...
Lime Assist Calculator

- 1 minute read
Lime Assist Calculator
LimeAssist is our new lime calculator tool developed through funding from Australian Government's National Landcare Program...
Stubble Management and the impact of stripper/disc systems in the HRZ

- 1 minute read
Stubble Management and the impact of stripper/disc systems in the HRZ
Large stubble loads are a continuous decision for growers in the high rainfall zone, and...
Exciting plant phenotyping technologies on the horizon

Exciting plant phenotyping technologies on the horizon
Innovation in Plant Variety Testing Australia (INVITA) is an exciting project SFS is part of...
What sub-clover cultivar is that?

- 1 minute read
What sub-clover cultivar is that?
Developing basic skills in cultivar identification can help you narrow down what sub-clover cultivars are...
Harvest Time

Harvest Time
Just like that, it’s time for harvest again! The acidity trials for the Smart Farmer...