Video: Farm Focus – Livestock Containment

Livestock Containment Areas are often associated with drought, but they are useful in any season. Hear from Mark Williams, mixed farmer in the South West of Victoria, discussing his livestock containment area and its’ uses, design and functionality in his farm system.

After viewing please complete a short evaluation survey https://forms.office.com/r/4QtaZwz8Ui

This project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Video: Farm Focus – Drainage Laser Level Bucket

Southern Farming Systems Farm Focus video’s are brought to you by Greta Duff SFS, on drainage.  Waterlogging is an on-going issue in the high rainfall zone, through a GRDC project SFS explores different ways farmers are mitigating waterlogging in their farming systems.  The drainage strategies farmers have implemented in South west Victoria range from subsoil amelioration, subsurface drains, raised beds, spoon drains and strategic laser levelling of paddocks.  Hear from real farmers and how they took their farming system struggle from, where do I start? To building/designing machinery, finding a contractor, to in paddock works and what results are they are seeing.

Episode 3 finishes with contractor Andrew Caldow and farmer Ed Weatherly sharing the processes of drainage using laser levelling bucket.  Andrew discusses the process of mapping, designing to implementation of drainage and what he has learnt as a contractor.  Ed provides the farmer’s perspective his learnings and the farm production results. Watch now!

These videos are a series produced for the Strategies for waterlogged crops in the High Rainfall Zone of the Southern Region project supported by Grains Research & Development Corporation.

Video: Farm Focus – Drainage Raised Beds & Drains

Greta Duff, SFS

Southern Farming Systems Farm Focus video’s are brought to you by Greta Duff SFS, on drainage.  Waterlogging is an on-going issue in the high rainfall zone, through a GRDC project SFS explores different ways farmers are mitigating waterlogging in their farming systems.  The drainage strategies farmers have implemented in South west Victoria range from subsoil amelioration, subsurface drains, raised beds, spoon drains and strategic laser levelling of paddocks.  Hear from real farmers and how they took their farming system struggle from, where do I start? To building/designing machinery, finding a contractor, to in paddock works and what results are they are seeing.

Episode 2 explores raised beds and spoon drains with Lachie Morrison near Inverleigh South West Victoria.  Lachie shares his journey from mapping, designing to implementation and the results.  His experiences and tips of if I had known this before I started, it would have taken the stress out of it moments are invaluable for anyone venturing down this path. Watch now!

These videos are a series produced for the Strategies for waterlogged crops in the High Rainfall Zone of the Southern Region project supported by Grains Research & Development Corporation.

Video: Farm Focus Drainage – Subsoil Amelioration

Southern Farming Systems Farm Focus video’s are brought to you by Greta Duff SFS, on drainage.  Waterlogging is an on-going issue in the high rainfall zone, through a GRDC project SFS explores different ways farmers are mitigating waterlogging in their farming systems.  The drainage strategies farmers have implemented in South west Victoria range from subsoil amelioration, subsurface drains, raised beds, spoon drains and strategic laser levelling of paddocks.  Hear from real farmers and how they took their farming system struggle from, where do I start? To building/designing machinery, finding a contractor, to in paddock works and what results are they are seeing.

Episode 1 starts the drainage journey with Todd Venning near Hamilton in South West Victoria. Todd and his family have embarked on a major investment into their soils by researching, trialing, designing, building a subsoil amelioration machine to ameliorate their soils and then complementing this with subsurface drainage system. Watch now!

These videos are a series produced for the Strategies for waterlogged crops in the High Rainfall Zone of the Southern Region project supported by Grains Research & Development Corporation.

Podcast: Innovation & Decision Making: How do you implement change, without betting the farm?

Kirsten Diprose
Episode 02: Innovation & Decision Making: How do you implement change, without betting the farm?
FEB 01, 2023 SEASON 1 EPISODE 2
Hosted by Kirsten Diprose

Making the right decision at the right time is critical to good business and innovation, especially when you add drought or other volatile factors into the mix. So when a new opportunity arises, how do you know you’ll make the ‘right’ choice?  

This episode looks at the latest research about on-farm decision-making, as well as stories from farmers, farm consultants and agricultural entrepreneurs about how they made the decision to adopt a new technology or practice.

Farm consultant with Southern Farming Systems, Cam Nicholson shares his decision-making framework of using the ‘head, heart and gut’. Emma Ayliffe, agronomist and founder of Yacker, an app that connects farmers, talks about the value of peer-to-peer research (ie. Calling other farmers!). And Jacob Birch, Gamilaraay man, academic and entrepreneur speaks about how to be culturally appropriate in the decision-making process, especially as the native grains and other indigenous industries grow.

 

GUESTS

CAM NICHOLSON is a director of Nicon Rural Services, a consulting business near Geelong working with the grazing and cropping industries.

Cam has worked in pasture agronomy and soils for 35 years and has been involved in many farmer programs for the GRDC, MLA, Landcare and the current Future Drought Fund.  He provides consultancy advice to farmers and lectures on animal and pasture systems at Marcus Oldham College.

His most recent work has focused on understanding and discussing risk in farming businesses, carbon accounting and decision making. Cam recently helped revamp information and tools for MLA on pastures and soils.

EMMA AYLIFFE is a farmer, researcher and consultant based at Tullibigeal, NSW. After moving from South Australia to New South Wales working as a cotton agronomist, Emma moved to Tullibigeal with her partner where they bought her first 1700 acre farm with the support of Craig’s family. 

In 2020-2021, Emma was Australian Young Farmer of the Year. Emma prides herself on being an innovator pushing the boundaries and coming up solutions with farmers problems.  

JACOB BIRCH  is an academic, entrepreneur and Churchill Fellow passionate about re-awakening, and bringing into a modern context, the native grain foodways that sustained his Gamilaraay ancestors for thousands of generations. 

Jacob’s received First Class Honours for a multidisciplinary research project that investigated the nutritional qualities of Australian native grains for human consumption, and Indigenist research methodologies which give agency to First Nations voices and experience. 

Jacob led a national consultation to inform the AgriFutures commissioned Australian Native Grains Strategic RD&E Plan. 

This podcast has been created by the Victoria Drought Resilience Innovation and Adoption Hub and is funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Video: The Victorian Drought and Innovation Hub in action!

The Victoria Drought and Innovation Hub in action! Take a look at our latest projects on climate resilience and drought preparedness across the state.

Video: How to use fertiliser N successfully – Lee Menhennett, Incitec Pivot Ltd.

At what price is there a place for bagged N in pastures (beef/cattle)?

  • If additional nitrogen is being supplied as fertiliser – what application rates should be used, how many applications per year, when should these applications occur (timing, growing conditions) and which pastures should be targeted?
  • Is there any role for using soil testing to monitor N levels in pastures and, if so, how do we make it accurate?
  • What are the environmental implications of increasing nitrogen levels in a perennial pasture system and how to minimise them? N losses, denitrification, leaching.

Access Presentation Slides

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Video: Maximising legume N contribution in mixed pastures- Dr Belinda Hackney, NSW DPI

How much N do we get from clovers and when?

  • If relying on legumes in the pasture system to supply the required nitrogen, how can nitrogen fixation be maximised?
  • If using both N fertiliser and clover, what rules apply to maximise production & profit?

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Video: How to maximise the potential gains from N in perennial pasture systems? – Lisa Warn, Ag Consulting

How important is nitrogen in terms of improving pasture growth?

  • Pasture nitrogen requirements – how much is needed?
  • N cycle - when is N supplied & when is it deficient? How do clovers and organic nitrogen fit into the cycle?
  • What is the speed of the N cycle through mineralisation and what affects this rate?
  • What yield advantage can be gained by supplying more nitrogen to perennial pastures?

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Video: How do I know if my perennial grasses need rescuing?

Maintaining a high proportion of desirable perennial grass in a pasture requires active management. This video runs through the key things you need to get right, so you can lift or maintain desirable grass content and make your pastures more productive, persistent and able to resist weed invasion.

More information www.sfs.org.au or Contact E:office@sfs.org.au

Podcast: 2022 SFS Results Morning – SFS Canola Variety x Management Trials

Michelle McClure with Grace Evans SFS Research and Extension Officer

Grace Evans SFS Research and Extension Officer at the SFS 2022 results morning discussing SFS Variety by Management Canola Trials

View the Presentation Slides Here...

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Podcast: 2022 SFS Results Morning – SFS Wheat Variety x Management Trials

Michelle McClure with Ashley Amourgis SFS Research and Extension Coordinator

Ashley Amourgis SFS Research and Extension Coordinator at the SFS 2022 results morning discussing SFS Variety by Management Wheat Trials

View the Presentation Slides Here...

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Podcast: Southern Farming Systems 2022 Results Morning Play List- A Nitrogen decision making journey.

Michelle McClure

This playlist is all the presentations from the Southern Farming Systems 2022 Results Morning - A Nitrogen decision making journey for the 2022 Cropping Season.

 

Podcast: 2022 SFS Results Morning – Faba Bean Nitrogen Fixation & Canopy Management

Michelle McClure with James Manson, PhD Student, Adelaide University and former SFS Senior Research and Extension Officer

Southern Farming Systems Podcast with James Manson, PhD Student, Adelaide University and former SFS Senior Research and Extension Officer at the SFS 2022 results morning discussing Faba Bean’s Nitrogen Fixation & Canopy Management trials from 2021.

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Podcast: 2022 SFS Results Morning – Decision making & using a decision matrix.

Michelle McClure with Cam Nicholson, Nicon Rural

Southern Farming Systems Podcast with Cam Nicholson, Nicon Rural  discussing Decision Making and using a decision matrix to decide, When should I apply the greatest percentage of total Nitrogen to gain the best return for cereals?

To access the Decision Wizard https://sfs.org.au/tool/decision-wizard

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Podcast: 2022 SFS Results Morning – Nitrogen & Commodity forecasts, decisions for the 2022 Cropping Season

Michelle McClure with Wes Lefroy, Rabobank

Southern Farming Systems Podcast with Wes Lefroy Rabobank’s Senior Agricultural Analyst at the SFS 2022 Results Morning discussing Nitrogen and commodity forecasts, and decisions for the 2022 Cropping Season starting with the key drivers of supply and price globally.
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Podcast: 2022 SFS Results Morning – Nitrogen Strategies & Considerations for 2022

Michelle McClure with Jon Midwood TechCrop Services

Southern Farming Systems Podcast with Jon Midwood, TechCrop Services, at the SFS 2022 results morning discussing Nitrogen Strategies & Considerations for 2022.

View the presentation slides here...

For more information contact: Jon Midwood E: jon@techcrop.com.au M: 0400 666 434
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Video: How do I winter clean pastures to remove annual grass weeds?

Some annual grass weeds can reduce the quality, productivity and persistence of your pastures. Winter cleaning is an effective tactic to reduce annual grass weeds. Watch this video to learn the process of winter cleaning and what you need to consider when using this herbicide method.

Video: How do I spray-top to reduce annual weeds in pastures?

If you want pastures without troublesome annual weeds then watch this video on spray-topping. It shows you the critical factors to help you improve perennial grass and clover content and extend the productive life of sown pastures.

Podcast: Did we make ‘Better Frost Decisions’? – Issue 3 December

Tanja Morgan with Peter Hayman, Naomi Scholz, Jess Koch, Adam Morgan, Michelle McClure

We have multiple guests on the show as we take Issue 3 of the Better Frost Decisions newsletter to the air waves.

Tanja Morgan talks Spring temperature and frost events with Peter Hayman, SARDI Climate Applications. We also take a trip to the regions with an update from the Tooligie frost demonstration with Naomi Scholz; Jess Koch, PA Consultant from Breezy Hill Ag Services talks about frost mapping in the Upper North; we interview Southern SA Mallee farmer Adam Morgan as he talks about how frost impacts his farming system and we finish off with Michelle McClure, Southern Farming Systems, to talk about a new frost economic scenario calculator for growers and advisors.

For more information, including an update from Birchip Cropping Group, check out Issue 3 of the Better Frost Decisions newsletter online here

Video: How do I identify sub-clover cultivars?

This video helps you develop basic skills in sub-clover cultivar identification and narrow down what sub-clover cultivars are growing in your paddocks. Not being able to identify problem sub-clover cultivars means up to 30% winter production could be forfeited if growing outdated varieties or oestrogenic sub-clovers that impact on sheep reproduction go unrecognised.

More info www.sfs.org.au or  office@sfs.org.au

Video: BUILDING DROUGHT RESILIENCE DURING GOOD TIMES

With all the talk about climate change have you ever wondered what it might mean for your farming business?  What impact will there be on crop yields, pasture growth and farm profit?  If I need to be prepared, what changes should I be thinking about?

Southern Farming Systems have received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund to conduct analysis on 32 crop and livestock farms in South West Victoria to understand the likely impact of different climate change predictions.

For more information watch this short video

To register your interest contact Tahlia Ferguson SFS, E: tferguson@sfs.org.au, M: 0418 462 967

Podcast: Country Today AgriFocus Interview

Gina Kreeck, SFS Operations Manager

Southern Farming Systems in Victoria's South West has taken its popular AgriFocus field days online, due to COVID restrictions. Southern Farming Systems Operations Manager Gina Kreeck told Will Boddington, the sessions have been surprisingly successful.

Video: Healthy Soils Webinar – Session 3 Soil Organic Carbon

Presenter Dr Susan Orgill, NSW DPI addresses the following scenario: Carbon, it’s all that’s talked about. My kids want me to do something to help the environment and there seems to be lots of benefits in improving soil carbon and I don’t want to miss out if there is money to be made from carbon trading. But I hear it’s tricky to tell if you are actually making a difference and to do this you need to monitor over a long time or test carbon fractions. I’m not sure that my carbon levels are even that bad and that its worth lifting them. How do I even tell and if I do try and improve, what’s the best way to improve soil carbon? The neighbours are putting on compost and I have heard about special pasture renovators and even biological stimulants to increase soil carbon.

Video: Healthy Soils Webinar – Session 2 Soil Acidity

Presenter Dr Jason Condon, Charles Sturt University addresses the following scenario: Some of the soil experts are saying that our current liming topsoil pH targets are much too low and won’t stop subsurface acidity from forming. But liming is expensive and producers/advisors are unsure if they can justify spending money on more lime, especially when lime is not the only limiting factor. Plus, it doesn’t look like the lime is moving, so is it worth it? Are these new targets just for “good country,” and protecting sown pastures, what should producers do about poor pastures or hill country? If producers already have acid subsoils, should they just live with it or try to fix them. Plus aren’t soils naturally acid anyway, is it such a big deal?

Video: Healthy Soils Webinar – Session 1 Fertilisers

Presenter: Dr Mark Farrell, CSIRO addresses the following scenario: Healthy soils are the foundation of a productive and profitable grazing system. In the past the focus on achieving a healthy soil and pasture has been meeting sufficient levels of available nutrients by fertilising. However today some producers are querying the response they are getting from their traditional fertilisers given the money they spend; fertiliser just doesn’t seem to work like they used to. Understandably many question if they are getting good value for the fertiliser investment. When combined with recent discussion around achieving balanced soil condition, holistic soil management, feeding the soil bugs and ‘natural’ fertilisers, it is not surprising many of us are wondering what’s the right way to go.

Video: Predicting wheat and barley flowering time in Australia

Dr James Hunt talks about optimizing wheat yield through selection of variety for its optimal flowering time in the HRZ.

Video: Women On Farms: PayDirt Workshops

Video: Risk

Australian farming is one of the riskiest businesses in the world because of climatic conditions, prices and our reliance on export markets. This video explores concepts around risk in farming. It explains volatility, the limitations with using averages to understand risk, correlations between yields and prices and how to frame the odds to inform risky decisions. It also shows ways of presenting information so the risk can be appreciated.

Video: Rules of thumb

We commonly make decisions without thinking too much about them, using previous ‘rules’ to guide the choices we make. But are these rules always the best to follow and could they be leading us to make poorer decisions? This video explores the concept of Rules of Thumb and how to test if they are appropriate for the next big decision you are going to make.

Video: Decision matrix

Many decisions in farming are complex. There are often multiple factors to weigh up but may not be of equal importance. We also know complex decision are influenced by our head, heart and gut. This video steps through a simple process to help make more informed decisions using a seven-step process called a decision matrix.

Video: Managing soil constraints using soil amelioration

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: Weed Resistance Management

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: Wheat Variety Management

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: SFS Canola Agronomy for Varieties in the HRZ

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: Tangible benefits of soil organic carbon on water holding capacity

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Video: Faba Bean Disease Management

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Video: Pre-emergent herbicides in beans

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: Where the rubber hits the road with subsoil amelioration

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Video: Making sub soil manuring work

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: Better frost decisions

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.

Video: A grower and agronomist’s frost discussion in the High Rainfall Zone

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.

Video: More Sub-Clover

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: Spray Grazing – turning weeds into feed and lessons learnt

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: Barley Disease Management

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: Optimising plant establishment, crop densities and row spacings to maximise yield

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Video: Herbicide tolerance of pulse and oilseed crops

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: XC & CT Canola Technologies IWM Trial

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: Barley Variety by Management

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: Intercropping to exploit rainfall for profit

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: GrainSearch Barley & Wheat Evaluation Trials

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: Visual indicators of soil condition on the soil surface and clover roots

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: Visual indicators of soil condition in plants and the pasture

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Video: Visual indicators of soil condition in the paddock

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Video: Improving faba bean nodulation on acid soils

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Video: 2020 Pre-Emergent Herbicide Trial – SFS Inverleigh Trial Site

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Video: 2020 Faba Bean Disease Management Update – Hamilton Branch Trial Site

This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Video: 2020 Canola Disease Update – Lake Bolac Trial Site

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Video: Introduction to the Winter Crop Walk Video Series

SFS Winter Crop Walk Video Series has been developed in the response to improvements in our communications with members and partners and COVID-19 restrictions, you can't come to the trials we will bring the trials to you.

Podcast: Effect of Stubble on N Tie Up

James Hunt, La Trobe University
This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Podcast: Maximising Canola Profitability

Penny Riffkin, Agriculture Victoria
This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Podcast: New Pasture Research

Lisa Miller, SFS
This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Podcast: Hyper Yielding Cereals Project

Ian Herbert, SFS
This content is for SFS members only. Find out more about SFS membership, or if you are a member.

Podcast: SFS Cereal Variety Trials

Jon Midwood, SFS
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Video: Southern Farming Systems Sowing Operations 2016

Follow a day in the life of sowing trials at SFS this season.

Video: GCTV19: Different Seeders Different Yields

Paul Breust discusses the 2015 Seeder Demo Day, April 2016.

Video: Harvest Weed Seed Control for the high rainfall zone

SFS's Aaron Vague summarises the current Harvest Weed Seed Project.

Video: Pastures In Crop Sequencing for the high rainfall zone

SFS's Simon Faulkiner and Gorst Rural's Craig Drum discuss the Pastures in Crop Sequencing Project.

Video: GCTV19: Dual Purpose Wheat shows real promise for mixed farm enterprises in HRZ

Annieka Paridaen formerly of SFS discusses Dual Purpose Wheat.

Video: Direct heading canola in the western districts of Victoria

SFS looks at the benefits of direct heading canola in western Victoria.

Video: Testing water rates penetration of canola canopy for desiccation sprays

SFS's compares water rates to desiccate weeds under a canola canopy.

Video: GCTV: SFS Seeder Trials 2015

SFS's Paul Breust summarises the Inverleigh Seeder Demonstration.

Video: Late-season nitrogen application

SFS's John Midwood discusses the results of late-season nitrogen application trials.

Video: Online Farm Trials 2014

Ag Consultant Cam Nicholson talks about SFS's recent involvement in the Online Farm Trials Project - funded by GRDC (March 2014).

Video: GCTV15: Dual Purpose Wheat

SFS's Annieka Paridaen discusses the results of spring sown winter wheat.

Video: GCTV15: Dual Purpose Canola

Dual purpose Canola featuring grower David Brady and SFS's Annieka Paridaen.

Video: Harvest the time to get on top of resistant weeds

Dr Chris Preston discusses strategies to combat weeds at harvest.

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