As reports and results books from 2023 trials are completed, the team at SFS is looking ahead to this year and getting ready for sowing. The first trial has already been sown on the first week of March at Inverleigh with an  early sown canola trial.

The team have been meeting with clients to plan and design new trials for 2024 and looking at the key research questions for the upcoming season. The trial protocols are created and preparations such as seed packing and ground preparation begin.

Soil testing is another key component of the preparation for trials. Soil testing at this time helps reflect the conditions at sowing and will help to inform decision making in this period and throughout the season. Sampling from the top soil is key to understanding soil pH levels, organic matter content and nutrients, deeper testing can be useful to better understand things such as nitrogen levels. The team have started soil testing this week.

At the SFS Pasture Site at Rokewood, a new trial area is being prepared for some new and exciting trials funded by Meat and Livestock Australia.  The new area will include Pasture Trial Network variety trials as well as trials around pasture systems for carbon accumulation and drought responders.

The SFS team is excited about the trials for the upcoming season and looking forward to answering those research questions that will benefit the growers in the South West region.

By James Palmer, Research & Extension Officer