A combination of drought and the soil-borne disease sclerotinia has forced Kumbia farmer Julian Cross to throw his standard rotations “out the window”.

Sclerotinia has become a major problem for peanut growers in the Burnett region which produces 90% of Australia’s peanuts. Outbreaks are more likely in heavier soils and can cause losses of up to 30% in an average year and a complete wipe-out in very wet years.

Despite using fungicides for 30 years, and taking part in research to find effective treatments, Julian said the build-up of the pathogen has kept getting worse on his heavier brown clay forest country.

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