Contents Issues/222jagrn12/222jagrn12.pdf · 2012-09-25 · ‘HP’ – what does it mean? 18 A...

July–August 2012 Australian Grain — 1

July–August 2012

Australian Grain PO Box 766Toowoomba 4350P: 07 4659 3555F: 07 4638 4520E: [email protected]

AdvertisingNorm Neeld(Group Sales Manager)P: 07 4659 3555F: 07 4638 4520M: 0428 794 801

EditorLloyd O’Connell

Associate EditorDavid Dowling

Production and DesignMick Allan

Office ManagerCatherine O’Connell

CONTENTS OF ADVERTISEMENTS are the responsibility of the advertisers. All statements and opinions expressed in Australian Grain are published after due consideration of information gained from sources believed to be authentic. The following of advice given is at the reader’s own risk, and no responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of the matter published herein. No portion in whole or part may be reproduced without permission of the publisher. Copyright 2012.Published by Berekua Pty. Ltd., 40 Creek Street, BrisbaneRegistered by Australia Post Publication No. PP 424022/1581. ISSN 1449–2970.

Published bi–monthly. Grain Yearbook published in April

ContentsEditorial 2Improving grower confidence in managing soil water repellence 4Do crop stubbles release any useful phosphorus? 9New insights into spray irrigation management 10Nip and tuck does wonders for old machine 12High-tech sensor targets weeds for zapping 14Weed seed destructor on course for commercial launch 16Profit strategy embraces dual-purpose crops 17Classic Tractor Tales…

‘HP’ – what does it mean? 18A rising Fordson saves the day in WWII 22No-till crops can improve air quality 24Marketing…

US drought – Aussies’ shout 25Tight global wheat balance sheet 26Canola market outlook 27AWB forecasts 2012–13 wheat pool prices 27

Protein for profit – your guide to measuring protein on farm – Part 1 28Sorghum research has global benefits 30Farming in Foreign Fields…

Lightbars to prescriptions 32Targeting stripe rust? Keep your powder dry until stem elongation 34Controlling stripe rust in dual purpose wheat 35GRDC International Research Review…

California, canola and chromosomal collaborations 36Grains Industry Conference updates… 38GRDC Blackleg Management Guide 40–43District Reports 44

Focus SectionsSouthern Australia Focus Covering cropping systems of Southern NSw, Victoria, South Australia,

western Australia and TasmaniaAssess blackleg risk to canola yields before spraying crops iNew option for mildew control iiGrowers go on mouldboard fact finding mission iiiNuseed celebrates Monola oil partnership with KFC vProbe into insecticide resistance needs grassroots input viSoilborne disease to be focus of symposium in WA viiMillion drum milestone for Central Murray viii

Northern Focus Covering Northern NSw and QueenslandGenes to protect soybeans from flooding and disease iScratching the surface on canopy management ivFirst catastrophic carbon dioxide – now noxious nitrous oxide vFarmers look to secure long-term growth viPhosphine-resistant grain insects eliminated viiPlant genetics the answer to using salty groundwater viii

Timing is the ‘pot of gold’With not quite enough time to be forever chasing rainbows, Badgingarra WA

farmer Andrew Kenny, reckons that the autumn feed gap ‘pot of gold’ can be achieved by sowing your grazing crops at the right time. See page 17. (Photo by Evan Collis)

FRONT COVER

Keep your powder dry until stem elongation

Managing soil water repellence

INSI

DE

Print Post Approved Publication No. PP 424022/1581

JULY–AUGUST, 2012Volume 22, No. 2 — $6.60

Protein for profit

www.ausgrain.com.au

2 — Australian Grain� July–August�2012

Editorial…�

For all advertising enquiries please contact Group Sales Manager

Norm Neeld on 07 5450 1720 or 0428 794 801

E: [email protected]

In this issue…Managing soil water repellenceOver the past decade, farmers cropping water repellent soils have become increasingly frustrated with poor crop establishment and staggered crop and weed emergence. Seeds sown would often not germinate or emerge for weeks – if at all – and this has occurred despite the use of no-till furrow sowing systems.See article � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Page 4

New insights into spray irrigationPacific US Northwest potato and sugar beet farmers who irrigate their crops with sprinklers need to know a lot more than when to turn on the tap. The region’s powdery silt loam soils don’t contain much stabilising organic matter, and existing soil aggregates that facilitate water infiltration can be broken up during irrigation. Afterwards, the loose particles of sand, silt, and clay that remain can dry to form a solid crust that greatly limits infiltration into the soil.See article � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Page 10

‘HP’ – what does it mean?Recently I asked a diverse group of individuals to tell me the first thought that comes to mind when they hear the initials ‘HP’. A rather frivolous request you may think. But have faith in this scribe – there was an intellectual purpose behind this somewhat curious request. You will see how these wonderful two letters of our alphabet can conjure up entirely differing interpretations.See article � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Page 18

Protein for profitIn recent years there has been an increasing uptake of NIR (Near-Infra Red) technology for the measurement of grain protein and moisture on-farm. Although these on-farm meters have a significant cost, they can also provide owners with substantial cost-savings and benefits.See article � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Page 28

HAvINg just returned from an Australian Grain farm study tour to the United States and Canada, I can

report first-hand that a ‘weather wobble’ in the US Midwest can indeed send world grain markets into a frenzy. Dry conditions in the Black Sea region this year have also helped push the grain market up – much like in 2010 – but it’s the massive influence that the US Midwest brings to bear on world markets which has sent grain prices skywards, and into record territory, in recent weeks.

The worst drought in living memory is how some Midwest farmers have described their current (northern hemisphere) summer. Comparisons go back to the Midwest droughts of 1974, 1978 and 1988 – all years when global grain traded at well above average price levels. Profarmer grain Australia estimates that the US drought has knocked up to 25 per cent off their corn crop and possibly 20 per cent less production of soybeans (see pages 25 and 26). In terms of the global grain balance sheet, this is around 100 million tonnes of corn and 10 mt of soybean that won’t make it into the human and livestock food chain.

The global wheat balance sheet also carries some positive news for Australian growers in terms of price. The USDA is currently estimating 2012–13 world wheat production at 665 mt – well down from the 695 mt produced last year. This is also against a global wheat consumption forecast for 2012–13 of 680 mt – in other words, a shortfall of supply versus demand of around 15 mt. And with the current dry conditions in Russia, not forgetting some tough growing conditions in other regions, this supply shortfall could well be bigger putting even more pressure on available wheat stocks (currently estimated at around 182 mt) which should push wheat prices even higher.

Another very positive factor for Australian growers is the USDA forecast that wheat stocks held by the major exporters at the end of the 2012–13 year, will be reduced to around 44 mt. If the USDA forecast is anywhere near accurate, this will be the lowest combined level of wheat stocks held by the US, Canada, EU, Argentina and Australia since the ‘food shock’ of 2007–08 when stocks held by the exporters fell to 31 mt – and prices sky-rocketed.

All we have to do is grow plenty of grain so we can enjoy these prices. Here’s to beautiful spring conditions in your patch.

Lloyd O’Connell

www.ausgrain.com.au

DON’T MISS THE KICK-OFFTime is quickly running out if you’d like to join the

Australian Grain/Greenmount Travel farm and rugby tour to South Africa and South America kicking-off on September 25. This is a fantastic 16 day itinerary taking in some of the best farming and footy the southern hemisphere has to offer.

Phone 07 4659 3555 for more details or see www.greenmounttravel.com.au

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OvER the past decade, farmers cropping water repellent soils have become increasingly frustrated with poor crop establishment and staggered crop and weed emergence.

Seeds sown would often not germinate or emerge for weeks – if at all – and this has occurred despite the use of no-till furrow sowing systems.

Since the early 1990s, the grains Research and Development Corporation (gRDC) and the Department of Agriculture and Food WA has funded research and development into the problem and have created guidelines for furrow sowing, claying and other methods. But water repellence has continued to challenge cropping in many dryland farming areas, particularly in Western Australia.

The increased frequency of dry autumns and reliance on dry sowing to accommodate larger cropping programs has exacerbated the problem and forced growers to start sowing by the calendar date and not when the seed bed is moist enough for germination. Seeding into partially wetted repellent soil is also an issue for grain growers as some seed will germinate, some will partially germinate and perish, and some will remain in dry soil despite subsequent rain.

New areas and parts of the landscape are also exhibiting water repellence problems in the unusually dry seasons – most notably the forest gravel soils in the high rainfall areas of the south-west Western Australian wheatbelt.

Seeding technologies have seen improvements in recent years, with some designs coping with this better than others.

Management optionsManagement solutions for water repellence include

approaches such as claying which has had decades of development, while others are more recent and much less evaluated.

New and revived methods of managing repellence have appeared in recent years which include new wetting agent formulations with spading to mix soil layers deeply which ‘dilute’ repellent topsoil. Inversion ploughing has also been adopted by some farmers to bury seeds of herbicide resistant weeds and the repellent surface soil. We have also developed our understanding of how zero till methods enable better management of repellence. (See article on ‘Water repellence managed by zero-till, stubble’ available at www.getfarming.com.au).

Recent research has been undertaken to see how furrow sowing can be made more effective as a means of harvesting water into the seed row. The urgent need to improve our understanding of this has resulted in the establishment of trials with winged points and boots and the use of banded wetting agents.

4 — Australian Grain July–August 2012

Improving grower confidence in managing soil water repellence

■ By Stephen Davies1, Paul Blackwell1, Derk Bakker1, Craig Scanlan1, Bill Bowden2, Dave Hall1, Peter Newman1 and Margaret Roper3

Department of Agriculture and Food research officer Stephen Davies talking to the West Midlands group of growers and researchers in 2011�

Growers discussing inversion ploughing at a farm field walk near Mullewa, WA�

Shallow claying of a pale yellow repellent sand with pale grey kaolinitic subsoil near Balla, WA�

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grower confidence should increase with the independent advice emerging from this project and direct experience of when and where these different options could be used safely and economically. Current guidelines in the Managing South Coast Sandplain Soils to Yield Potential bulletin provide helpful strategies. growers need good information and technical support about which methods and combinations of methods are more reliable in their environment, soils and financial situations and the associated risks and additional agronomic implications for each approach.

Cost effectiveness of the options vary from long-term amelioration solutions – which are typically slower and more expensive to implement – compared to the short-term mitigation methods which are less expensive and easier to apply to large areas (see Table 1)

Some strategies are applicable to all of the affected soils while others are suited to certain soil types. For example, in the water repellent forest gravels of the south-west of WA, new blanket-applied wetting agent formulations have proven successful but are less reliable on deep sands.

The most effective farm strategies include a combination of methods for both short-term approaches and long-term amelioration methods.

Mouldboard ploughing and spading cause major changes in the distribution of nutrients. Our research to date, suggests this will have the greatest impact on nitrogen management. In the sandy soils where water repellence is occurring, the concentration of soil organic matter and nutrients is typically highest in the surface layer, with low to moderate levels in the subsoil.

Our work has also shown that mouldboarding moves most of the surface soil to between 10 and 30 cm depth and that spading creates a gradational profile – an average between the topsoil and subsoil. This redistribution is particularly important for nitrogen supply as the nitrogen released from soil organic matter is no longer in a concentrated layer where most of the crop roots are. This means higher fertiliser nitrogen rates may be needed for crop establishment.

But the nitrogen supply from soils that have been spaded or mouldboard ploughed may be greater towards the end of the season due to the 10 cm layer of soil below the surface remaining moist for longer.

Grain yield responsesYield responses to different methods are complex –

influenced by crop establishment, weed control and changes in nutrition and plant available water. For example some common


Furrow from knife point with 1 L/ha banded wetting agent after dry sowing and 6 mm of rain�

Furrow from knife point, no wetting agent after dry sowing and 6 mm of rain�

TABLE 1: Principal water repellence management optionsType Management option Approximate cost Longevity Mechanism

Mitigation

Improved furrow sowing*Cost of winged points or

boots, press wheelsShort term, months

grading of repellent soil into ridges and water harvesting

Banded wetting agent$10–12/ha/year; perhaps new

presswheels*Short term, months*

Aids water penetration into furrow base

Blanket wetting agent +/- water absorber

$25–50 /ha/year depending on rate

Short term, 1–2 years*

Aids water penetration into and retention in topsoil

On-row and low disturbance seeding

Possibly disc openers and more precise autosteer

Ongoing*Water entry via remnant root

pathways

Amelioration

Rotary spading $150/ha 3–7 years*Soil heterogeneity provides pathways

for water entrySoil inversion

(mouldboard plough)$70–120/ha lower cost often covered by herbicide savings

Up to 10 years or more*

Inversion of wettable subsoil layer to the surface

Clay spreading or Clay delving

$300-900/ha 10-15 years or moreHigher soil surface area and clay

content masks repellence*Indicates need for further evaluation.

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surfactant formulations can be very effective in improving crop establishment after dry sowing. But when used in much wetter soil conditions the results can be negligible on yield – and even negative in some cases.

Claying is generally very effective for improved crop establishment, yield and better weed control in more humid seasons. But dry autumns following a dry summer can result in early rains being ‘locked up’ as the clay’s unavailable water, rather than germinate the crop.

Additionally, blanket surfactant and claying affects weed germination synchronicity and has positive effects on soil immobile nutrient availability, with some surfactants having negative effects on soil mobile nutrient availability.

Some amelioration methods can result in significant productivity benefits but can be difficult to implement and costly if not done well. Successful soil inversion often results in excellent weed control and yield improvements. But poor inversion, inappropriate timing resulting in wind erosion and seeding too deep, and surface crusting, can all result in a poorer outcome.

Which option suits bestThere are many options growers can use to manage the issue

of water repellence. The challenge is assisting growers to make decisions around which option best suits their needs, soil types, farming systems, budget and circumstances.

A decision support system is currently being developed in conjunction with grower groups and industry which aims to assist growers and grower advisors to make more confident decisions

about managing water repellence. Our research will provide the basis of the decision support tool that includes how nutrient management needs to be modified after inverting water repellent soils.

This decision support tool will include a discussion of significant risks involved in the practice including implementation, financial, seasonal and climate-related risks. The cost effectiveness analysis requires both short and long-term economic analysis and needs to account not only for establishment effects, but also for residual effects, effects on weed management and nutrition management.

The more feasible methods seem to vary markedly, not only with situation but with grower and grower set-up. The project will present options and cost sensitivities – not tight recommendations.

The Department of Agriculture and Food WA team, in collaboration with CSIRO, agribusiness, grower groups and gRDC, are travelling a complex and challenging but stimulating track to a future whereby grain growers are better equipped and more confident to make smart choices in managing soil water repellence.

Acknowledgements; Grains Research and Development Corporation; West Midlands Group; Northern Agricultural Group; Liebe Group; Mingenew-Irwin Group; Yuna Farm Improvement Group; Southern-Dirt; Corrigin Farm Improvement Group; Stirlings-to-Coast; and South West Catchment Council.

1Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA).2Retired to Hovea.3CSIRO Perth. ■


TABLE 2: Options for managing soil water repellence for eastern south coast WAIssue Severity Seasonal

rainfallFurrow sowing

Wetters banded

Wetters blanket

On row seeding

Mould- board

plough

Spading Claying 50–150

t/ha

Claying >200 t/ha

Claying >300

+Spading

Repellence

Moderate <400 X XSevere X X X X XModerate >400 X X X XSevere X X X X X X X

Repellence+ Weeds

Moderate <400 X XSevere X X XModerate >400 X X XSevere X X X X X

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STUDIES funded by the grains Research and Development Corporation (gRDC) are investigating whether crop stubbles offer useful amounts of phosphorus (P) to plants

during the growing season. The research is being conducted by the University of Adelaide which plans to develop a better understanding of how P is released from stubble and then taken up by subsequent crops.

Research student Sarah Noack says a key fertiliser management consideration for growers is just how much P will stubbles supply and when will this P be available to plants during the growing season.

“Many previous studies suggest that the timing and quantities of P release vary and are not well explained by the total amount of P in the residues,” Sarah said. “Stubble type, size, placement and moisture all can significantly influence the timing and amount of P released from stubbles to the soil.

“Our research aims to better identify P forms in crop stubble, understand how these forms influence P release and breakdown from stubble and thereby provide a better estimation of the contribution stubble P makes to subsequent crop P uptake.”

Speaking at a gRDC grains Research Update, Sarah said phosphorus within the stubble can be released directly to the soil as soluble P (where it can be used immediately by the crop or chemically fixed onto the soil) or be absorbed by micro-organisms which can be later released back into the soil.

She said the chemical composition of crop stubble plays

an important role in the rate of nutrient release and that the presence of different chemical P forms in the stubble is likely to influence the proportion of P that undergoes direct release or microbial uptake and decomposition.

Current studies are looking at just how much stubble P is released directly or incorporated into the microbial P pool and subsequently released under paddock conditions.

An experiment has also been established in a paddock at Karoonda in South Australia to measure P release during summer rainfall events. And a current glasshouse experiment aims to determine how stubble placement (surface and incorporated) and size influence the release of stubble P and uptake by a crop. ■


Do crop stubbles release any useful phosphorus?

University of Adelaide research student Sarah Noack is involved in a study which plans to develop a better understanding of how P is released from stubble and then taken up by subsequent crops� (Photo: University of Adelaide)

Studies are investigating whether crop stubbles offer useful amounts of phosphorus to plants during the growing season� (Photo: Sarah Noack)

PACIFIC US Northwest potato and sugar beet farmers who irrigate their crops with sprinklers need to know a lot more than when to turn on the tap. The region’s powdery silt

loam soils don’t contain much stabilising organic matter, and existing soil aggregates that facilitate water infiltration can be broken up during irrigation. Afterwards, the loose particles of sand, silt, and clay that remain can dry to form a solid crust that greatly limits infiltration into the soil.

This means that growers not only need to calculate how much water should be supplied during irrigation, but they also need to ensure that the kinetic energy transferred from each water droplet to the soil surface during irrigation doesn’t contribute to the breakup of the fragile soil aggregates. They also need to develop irrigation protocols that won’t saturate soils or erode valuable topsoil.

Agricultural Research Service soil scientist gary Lehrsch has been studying sprinkler irrigation for more than a decade. He has used his findings to develop numerous irrigation guidelines to protect soil structure, maintain soil quality, sustain soil resources, and increase the odds that water delivered via sprinkler irrigation will reach the root zones of growing crops.

“Sprinkler heads on centre-pivot irrigation systems can be inexpensively and easily modified to adjust the water volume applied per pass and the force with which the water droplets hit the soil surface,” gary says. He works at the ARS Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory in Kimberly, Idaho.

In one five year investigation, gary and colleagues evaluated the effect of sprinkler-droplet kinetic energy on soil crust strength and aggregate stability. They irrigated sugar beet plots using a 152 metre, four-span, lateral-move sprinkler system equipped with sprinkler heads that were positioned 183 cm above the soil.

The sprinkler heads were modified so that irrigations had either low or high droplet energies. The scientists included test plots with nylon covers, which ensured that when those plots were irrigated, the energy in the droplets would be absorbed by the netting and not the soil surface.

After the sugar beets were planted, the plots were irrigated with 15 mm of water at an average rate of 38 mm per hour two to four times per week for five weeks after planting. The team measured surface-soil penetration resistance – which indicates the strength of the soil crust – about four days after the first postplant irrigation and 14 days after the last irrigation.

Water worriesgary and colleagues found that aggregate stability decreased

from 66 per cent to 55 per cent when the irrigation’s droplet energy increased from 0 per cent (in the test plot with the nylon netting) to the lowest rate under investigation. Sugar beet seedling emergence increased 6.4 per cent when droplet energy was reduced 50 per cent from the highest rate studied, an emergence increase that could raise net income for southern Idaho sugar beet growers by nearly $6.2 million every year.


New insights into spray irrigation management

■ By Ann Perry, Agricultural Research Service, USDA

FlOw raTE, aND MOrEAt the Agricultural Research Service’s Northwest Irrigation

and Soils Research Laboratory in Kimberly, Idaho, agricultural engineer Brad King and research leader Dave Bjorneberg compared how irrigation from four commercial centre-pivot sprinklers affected potential runoff and erosion on four south-central Idaho soils.

Though their results were inconsistent, they did observe that at the end of six irrigations, a 50 per cent reduction in sprinkler flow rate reduced runoff and soil erosion 60–80 per cent. They concluded that reducing sprinkler flow rate early in the growing season – before the development of a crop canopy – could help reduce irrigation runoff and soil erosion linked to centre-pivot sprinkler irrigation. In addition, the scientists observed that sprinklers distributing water drops more evenly over the wetted area had the highest runoff and sediment yield. Conversely, the lowest runoff and sediment yields were associated with sprinklers that distributed well-defined rotating streams of water drops, regardless of how much kinetic energy was transferred to the soil by the droplets.

The researchers followed up on this study with a laboratory investigation where they used a laser instrument to measure the size and velocity of individual water droplets distributed by five common centre-pivot sprinklers. They found sprinklers distributing larger droplets did not always transfer more kinetic energy to the soil than sprinklers distributing smaller water droplets.

Given the somewhat contradictory findings, Brad and Dave concluded that much more remains to be learned about how different irrigation sprinklers affect runoff and erosion.

A half-circle spinning spray-plate sprinkler being evaluated on a potato research plot� (Photo: Bradley King)

“We’ve concluded that these droplet-energy restrictions should be in place until sugar beet seedlings have emerged and become established,” gary says. “After that, sprinklers can be reconfigured to apply greater water volumes – at necessarily greater levels of energy – for the rest of the growing season.”

The researchers also observed that after multiple irrigations, soil penetration resistance decreased as droplet size and energy increased, probably because the larger droplets hit the ground with enough force to loosen soil particles and erode surface soil. They saw evidence of this erosion process during late-season irrigations when sediment-laden runoff flowed from row hills into nearby furrows and basins.

gary recommends keeping crop residues on the surface to check erosion and amending soils with organic materials such as manure or whey – the liquid byproduct remaining after cheese is made – to bolster soil-aggregate stability. These recommendations are based in part on his research that showed adding whey to furrows before irrigation increased soil-aggregate stability 25 per cent at the zero to 1.25 cm depth and 14 per cent at the 1.25 to 2.5 cm depth.

Droplet dynamicsIn another project, gary found further evidence that irrigation

comes with costs as well as benefits. “I studied how the kinetic energy in water droplets affects the infiltration of recently tilled soil,” he says. “This is a key aspect of irrigation management, because when water can’t infiltrate into the soil, it can’t enter the crop’s root zone where it’s needed. Instead, it’s lost through runoff.”

Just as important, the runoff increases erosion from the soil surface, which adds to sediment loads – and agricultural

chemicals – in nearby waterways. It also exposes subsurface soil layers that are often less productive because they are less fertile and have poorer structure.

After just one irrigation, gary determined that the impact


Subsurface compaction can be tested by measuring soil penetration resistance with a penetrologger� (Photo: James Foerster)

CS11166_125x186_Chaser Bins_AG.indd 1 16/07/12 8:31 AM

from water droplets delivered by certain centre-pivot sprinklers increased the density of a freshly tilled silt loam by 18 per cent and increased the soil’s water-filled pore space by 35 per cent. In addition, infiltration through certain small pores was reduced by almost 500 per cent – a striking decrease.

Moreover, the single irrigation decreased hydraulic conductivity – the rate at which water moves through soil – by an average of 48 per cent in the pores in the study. This decrease could cause soils to become saturated more quickly, which in turn would hasten runoff and decrease irrigation efficiency.

“Now that we know the impact water droplet energy can have on some soils, engineers can design better irrigation systems to minimise the negative effects irrigation can have on infiltration, soil structure, and crop emergence,” gary says. “With this new information, farmers can better manage their spray irrigation systems to maximise infiltration and reduce runoff and irrigation-induced erosion.”

To reach scientists mentioned in this story, contact Ann Perry, USDA-ARS Information Staff, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705-5129; +61 (301) 504-1628. ■


A geotester used to measure the strength of soil crust� (Photo: NWISRL)

A sprinkler head is easily modified� The body (solid black) can house a single spray plate (orange, green, brown, or red) that alters droplet size� The body attaches to either side of the dual-nozzle unit (far left): One side applies less water, usually early in the growing season; the other, more water, usually later in the growing season� (Photo: James Foerster)

Nip and tuck does wonders for old machine

■ By Mary Philp, DEEDI, More Profit per Drop Team

AN analogy to plastic surgery for a centre pivot refit might sound like an outlandish description but essentially it was some simple (although still reasonably pricey) adjustments

that corrected and restored the functions of this ‘old girl’ and gave her a new lease on life.

The ‘Struanville’ irrigation team, consisting of Rob Carter and his son-in-laws, Matt Finch and Scott Smith, acquired the ‘old girl’ when Rob purchased an adjacent farm in October 2009. The 1983 model was showing her age and exposure to bore water with a high salt content over time had left the machine under performing.

Matt and Scott, determined to give her another go, attended a More Profit per Drop (MPPD) Centre Pivot/Lateral Move Training course. From this they corrected sprinkler placement and fixed dropper lengths where needed.

While the pair were happy to continue this gradual servicing they suspected the ‘old girl’ had bigger issues. They decided to

92% uniformity�

74% uniformity�


get an outside opinion and spoke to Dalby, southern Queensland, extension officer Jenelle Hare.

Jenelle organised an initial assessment with the MPPD team, and Pat Daley of Daley Water Services with assistance from the Struanville team. The initial assessment conducted in November 2011, according to procedures set out by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Standard 436.1, revealed the ‘old girl’ was 72 per cent efficient.

This was not surprising given the obvious misgivings of the machine, notably:■■ Uneven dropper lengths;■■ Incorrect sprinkler placement;■■ Water pooling in low spots;■■ Uneven application across machine (ranging from 0 to 74 mm);■■ Insufficient pressure at end of machine; and,■■ Water pooling around tyres.

Pat Daley prepared a report for the Struanville team concluding with prioritised recommendations for rejuvenating the centre pivot.

The Struanville team had to decide whether to spend money on refitting the machine or do away with it. But who has the money to just replace a machine? So the Struanville team shopped around and decided to start off by completing the first of Pat’s recommendations which included:■■ Installing a new sprinkler package with 15 psi regulators; and,■■ Fitting spreader bars on the overhang and last four towers

(two bars on each side of the wheels).Matt and Scott completed the minor procedures over a

period of approximately three days and were pleased with the results. The MPPD team and Pat Daley reassessed the machine on January 10, 2012 and determined the ‘old girl’

was now operating at a respectable 92 per cent uniformity (an improvement of 18 per cent).

Uniformity benefitsSo what is the benefit of improving uniformity? It is not just

cosmetic. Uniform irrigation will lead to better crop performance from a given water allocation and more efficient energy use. The cotton crop which had been replanted shortly before the first assessment, at the second assessment looked good although patchy in a low spot of the field. There had been some concern that the crop may not establish well due to the non-uniform irrigation it initially received. Rain received in early summer assisted establishment. Without rain and without the improvement in the system uniformity the crop may have struggled.

The Struanville team believe it was money well spent on the machine as they hope to achieve better yields in future.

Interestingly, the pivot is operated as a half circle at any given time. Cotton is grown in summer on one half of the circle and a winter crop on the other half. The Struanville team manage the pivot like this to ensure adequate system capacity is available for the crop from the machine and to provide flexibility with decisions in regard to water available.

Another of Pat Daley’s recommendations which the Struanville team is implementing is to fit a manual brush type filter at the pivot tower. Pat emphasises “that a filter is a must for this kind of machine using surface water.”

In the future, the Struanville team think that the pump which supplies the pivot will be where they focus their attention as issues were also identified with the pump during the initial assessment of the centre pivot. But in the meantime, they will enjoy irrigating with the ‘rejuvenated girl’. ■

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WEEDS are the bane of farmers and industry. They cost tens of millions of dollars in control measures, and tanker loads of chemicals are spread across farming

land in the process.But a group of engineers in Toowoomba, Queensland, is

turning this around. They are developing new sensing systems to identify and target hard to kill weeds.

It’s all part of a series of projects that are developing a machine recognition system so weeds in the crop row can be identified and spot sprayed with herbicide.

The work is being done by the National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture at Toowoomba’s University of Southern

Queensland. Contributing to the development are research engineers Steve Rees and Dr Cheryl McCarthy.

Machine vision weed spot spraying systems have been around for a decade or so, although commercial units are not designed for detecting weeds amongst growing crop.

Steve Rees said the current work commenced about 2006 with a project for spot spraying problem weeds in sugarcane rows.

“This project rolled into a second project in 2010, with the support of the Sugar Research and Development Corporation,” Steve said.

“It is to be completed next year and aims to identify guinea grass, green panic, and sorghum in sugarcane rows.”

The project is using image analysis to identify ‘green from green’.

“We are picking green plants out of green rows,” Steve said.This is being achieved with the use of video and theatre-type

lighting units which are mounted under a cover over, or adjacent to, the sugarcane row.

The image equipment can be towed or mounted on a tractor toolbar and can be used until the sugarcane reaches the tractor clearance height.

“We want to analyse the plants in the row in real time, and we are looking for the colour, texture and shape of the plants from the image analysis.”

green panic for instance, has a lighter colour than sugarcane, and guinea grass at this stage of growth is similar in colour. And when identified, the plant is spot sprayed with a jet of herbicide.

Cheryl said the project was going well, and its effectiveness was also being tested on different soil types and with different stubble cover (a trash blanket covered the soil in a crop of ratoon cane).

High-tech sensor targets weeds for zapping

■ By Miles Noller

The research machine at Fairymead near Bundaberg� It distinguishes green weeds from green crop and zaps the weeds� A commercial machine is being planned�

The sugar image analysis software that allows the machine to identify weeds in crop�

Cheryl said colour analysis equipment allowed the filtering-out of the background.

Trials are underway at a Bundaberg sugarcane farm at Fairymead.

“The Sugar Research and Development Corporation will be looking for a working prototype machine from the project,” Steve said.

The best way to identify weeds across industriesA number of technologies are being used to find the most

efficient method of identifying weeds.Cheryl said other research has looked at spectral analysis of

the weed plants, to identify specific weeds in a fallow situation and from that characteristics were identified.

The research is also looking at active triangulation, applying patterns of light and using a camera to determine the shape of the plant, and Steve said work was also progressing on using the combined images of RgB and near infrared to identify weeds, and the use of 3D and colour was also being applied.

Some of this work is also being undertaken for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) which is seeking a system that discriminates weed species found across a number of farming industries.

Such a system would reduce the occurrence of glyphosate resistance, and also reduce herbicide use, reduce the potential for damage from spray drift, and the possibility of herbicide getting into nearby streams, extend the effective life of traditional chemicals, and support minimum tillage and new farming systems.

Integrated Weed Management is being promoted by research and Development Corporations as a way to counter glyphosate resistant weeds, and the current research should allow not only the identification of weeds but also the mapping of these weeds, allowing the farmer to see if weed areas were reducing or getting bigger.

The NCEA researchers are also developing new technology for the Tasmanian pyrethrum industry where Botanical Resources Australia also needs a machine to identify weeds and target them with herbicide.

This article was written by Miles Noller (0407 464 646) on behalf of the National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture at the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba Ph: 07 4631 1871. ■


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We were in the middle of a drought, everything was just falling apart Ian Shippen Sheep and wool producer, Moulamein NSW

“”

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NCEA research engineers Steve Rees and Cheryl McCarthy�


ONE of the most anticipated technologies in Australian agriculture – the Harrington Seed Destructor – has progressed to commercial production.

The grains Research and Development Corporation (gRDC) has awarded the licensing of the innovative HSD technology to de Bruin Engineering of Mount gambier, South Australia.

Designed to destroy weed seeds in chaff during harvest and thereby reducing the potential for weed growth, the first HSD is expected to be commercially available in time for harvest this year.

The HSD is the brainchild of Western Australian grain grower and inventor Ray Harrington, and its development has been funded by the gRDC and assisted by the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI) and the University of South Australia’s Agricultural Engineering department which collaborated on the design.

Towed behind a harvester like a chaff cart, the HSD has been designed around a cage mill crushing unit originally developed for use in the mining industry.

It has been subject to extensive multi-state trials and evaluations, demonstrations and modifications – a process that will continue for the remainder of this year.

gRDC Manager of Commercial Farm Technologies, Paul Meibusch, says the commercial launch of the HSD is a major

advancement for the Australian grains industry in its battle against herbicide resistance in weeds.

“With herbicide resistance becoming an increasingly serious and expensive concern for Australian agriculture – technology such as the HSD is a significant step forward in developing a sustainable and integrated approach to weed management,” Paul said.

“Development of the HSD has been a thorough and exhaustive process, so it is certainly an exciting phase we have moved into with the announcement of the licensing of the HSD technology to de Bruin Engineering.”

De Bruin Engineering spokesman John Millhouse said the company was “looking forward to being involved with the gRDC and the grains industry in the further development, production and commercialisation of the HSD”.

Grower feedbackThe first unit is now in the advanced planning stage, and

de Bruin’s in-house engineers have already made a number of improvements based on feedback from growers and researchers who observed and inspected the HSD during trials conducted last harvest.

Trials, demonstrations and evaluations over the past couple of years have been overseen by AHRI researcher Dr Michael Walsh, who is based at the University of WA. Michael is continuing to assess the efficacy of the unit in reducing weed emergence and he will also be involved in working with grain grower groups across Australia to train potential users of the HSD.

Michael’s research over the past five years has shown that during a grain crop harvest a significant proportion of the seed produced by weed populations (between 73–99 per cent depending on the species) is collected by harvesters and then redistributed back across the field. By intercepting this seed and making it non-viable at this point, a considerable proportion of the following years’ potential weed population is controlled.

Annual ryegrass, wild radish and a number of other grass (wild oats, brome and barley grass) and dicot weeds (many species) are a major limitation to profitable cropping systems in Australia.

This fact was recognised by HSD inventor Ray Harrington when he switched from mixed farming to broadacre cropping some 17 years ago and realised herbicide resistance in annual ryegrass was a serious threat to crop production.

“I decided that if I could manage weed seed set at harvest I would have a chance to combat the weed problem and after looking at all the options and logistics, crushing the seed seemed to be the answer,” Ray said.

Adapting the cage mill technology used in the mining industry for initial experiments, the first seed destructor prototype was developed and tested on Ray’s farm in 2006. Since then, the unit has been progressively modified and a more extensive field testing program has been undertaken by AHRI and Ray with gRDC support.

Ray expressed his gratitude to the gRDC for its investment in development of the HSD, on behalf of growers and the Australian government: “Without the gRDC’s partnership, this project would never have got off the ground.”

De Bruin Engineering can be contacted on 08 8721 3888. ■

Weed seed destructor on course for commercial launch

A prototype of the HSD was involved in trials and demonstrations to growers across Australia late last year�


Profit strategy embraces dual-purpose crops

AFTER successfully grazing barley for the past two years, Andrew and gina Kenny from Badgingarra, Western Australia, have extended their crop-grazing program to

canola and wheat this season.Their strategy is to fill an autumn stockfeed gap as soon as

crops get away after the season break, deferring grazing on pastures for feedbase and stocking rate management, without compromising grain yields at harvest.

Andrew and gina farm with Andrew’s parents Mike and Sara at Badgingarra, 300 km north of Perth. They grazed Baudin barley in 2010 and 2011.

Using canola, barley and wheat crops for sheep grazing this winter will allow them to optimise management of pregnant Merino and Poll Dorset ewes and weaner sheep.

Stocking rates can be reduced in the lead-up to lambing in July to August, and the quality of deferred pasture paddocks can be improved for spring grazing.

“grazing a proportion of our crops allows us to lock up pasture paddocks to provide high-quality and quantity feed for weaners later in spring,” Andrew said.

“We can also manage ewes in smaller groups during the winter months to boost condition score and increase our chances of higher ewe and lamb survival rates and general flock productivity.

“The crop grazing system is contributing to our efforts to boost overall sheep enterprise and cropping production by getting the most out of our feedbase and improving our soils.”

This year, dry seeding of the mid-maturing canola varieties Roundup Ready 404 and Crusher TT started in early May.

These crops were expected to be ready for grazing when plants were at the three-to-four leaf growth stage.

grazing would occur during the crop vegetative stage and up to stem elongation.

About 200 hectares of the Kenny’s 2012 Baudin barley crop was sown 10 days earlier than last year to fast-track its establishment for crop grazing and potentially boost grain yields.

“Sowing date is the key to using crops to fill the autumn feed gap as soon as possible and if there is a late break, the grazing window can be vastly diminished,” Andrew said. ■

Badgingarra farmer Andrew Kenny says sowing date is the key to grazing crops to fill the autumn feed gap as soon as possible� (Photo by Evan Collis)

TrIalS uNDErlINE valuE OF rEDuCINg wEED SEEDS aT HarvEST

Trials across south eastern Australia have demonstrated the importance of targeting weed seeds at harvest to reduce the prevalence of weeds in cropping systems.

Evaluation of three harvest weed seed control systems – chaff carts, windrow burning and the Harrington Seed Destructor (HSD) – has shown that all three systems are similarly effective in reducing the emergence of annual ryegrass and the control of herbicide resistant populations.

The trials in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales during the 2011 harvest produced results consistent with those recorded during trials in Western Australia the previous year.

Supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the trials in the southern and western regions were led by Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI) researcher Dr Michael Walsh, who is based at the University of WA.

“As expected, there were no differences between harvest weed seed control systems in their effect on subsequent annual ryegrass emergence the following autumn,” Michael said.

“All three systems – chaff carts, windrow burning and the HSD – target the chaff fraction during harvest and if they are all working efficiently then they will produce the same result.”

Michael said the average impact of harvest weed seed control across all sites in south eastern Australia was 56 per cent, remarkably similar to the 55 per cent average from the WA trials in 2010.

“We now have a comprehensive data set on the efficacy of harvest weed seed control systems that covers the western and southern Australian crop production regions.”

Michael said targeting weed seeds at harvest was a pre-emptive action against problematic annual weed populations infesting Australian crop production systems. ■

Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative researcher Dr Michael Walsh�

Recently I asked a diverse group of individuals to tell me the first thought that comes to mind when they hear the initials ‘HP’. A rather frivolous request you may think. But have faith in this scribe – there was an intellectual purpose behind this somewhat curious request. You will see how these wonderful two letters of our alphabet can conjure up entirely differing interpretations.

For example, predictively the majority of the group immediately rattled off ‘HP Sauce’, which as everyone knows, for nigh on a century has been embellishing juicy roast beef and succulent T-bone steaks. It has even competed with tomato sauce for the enhancement of the plebeian sausage!

On the other hand, when confronted with HP, the cerebral minds of young fledging bespectacled technocrats automatically switch to Hewlett Packard and that company’s range of computers, printers and all the rest of its doodahs.

HP of course meant hire purchase to the postwar families of the 1950s and 60s, for whom the possession of an Admiral Tv, Silent Knight fridge or a victa lawn mower inevitably involved a visitation to H.g. Palmers, grace Brothers or their equivalents, followed by the signing of the dreaded hire purchase documents.

Tractor historians (worth their salt) would immediately conjure up images of Hart Parr tractors. To a steam boffin, HP would likely be construed as high pressure, but to a bowler hatted UK MP, HP (couldn’t resist that) means only one thing – Houses of Parliament. Which brings us right back to HP Sauce!

But there is an elite group of humanity to whom the digits HP acquire a very different interpretation to those mentioned thus far. I am of course referring to our cherished farmers and that all embracing terminology HORSEPOWER! Yes, even in this

multifarious era of metrication, thanks to the Yanks and their tractor power ratings, good old horsepower remains as relevant today to farmers as it did a century ago. Well, not quite!

To explain and extrapolate it is first necessary to examine the origins of horsepower.


‘HP’ – what does it mean? ■ By Ian M. Johnston

CLASSIC TRACTOR TALES

To vintage tractor collectors the initials HP translate into Hart Parr� These single and twin cylinder tractors were made in Charles City, Iowa� The unit pictured is a two cylinder 1928 Model 18-36, indicating 18 drawbar horsepower and 36 belt horsepower� The drawbar pull was rated at 4075 pounds at 2�97 mph� This fine example of a classic thoroughbred has been restored by Bryan and Norm Mckenzie� (Photo IMJ)

The American Case LA (top) and the Australian Chamberlain 45 KA (bottom) were both popular broad acre tractors in Australia during the 1950s� Both were fuelled by kerosene but the Case featured a four cylinder engine and the Chamberlain an unusual design of horizontally opposed two cylinders� Despite being of similar horsepower, the Case was the more powerful tractor, as indicated by the following table�

Tractor Max HP

Weight Drawbar pull

Speed

Case LA 50.53 7756 lbs 6444 lbs 2.36 mphChamberlain 45KA 47.00 8500 lbs 5800 lbs 2.00 mph

In heavy ploughing conditions the Case would have outperformed the Chamberlain despite the 45KA being the heavier tractor and only a minor difference in horsepower� This emphasises the relevance of the drawbar pull figure�

In the beginningThe dawning of the Twentieth Century saw the

commencement of the tranquillity of the countryside being disturbed by the raucous sounds of the first tractors. The few farmers who could afford and were bold enough to contemplate

the purchase of one of these giant clattering machines, were naturally concerned with the tractor’s ability to pull a plough in comparison with their proven and trusted horse team.

In response, tractor manufacturers arrived at a simple comparison criteria. They stated that a particular model of tractor had the ability to replace a certain number of horses. The terminology utilised by most tractor companies was ‘The number


The Chamberlain Super 90 was one of the world’s most powerful farm tractors during the 1960s and was proudly Australian� The series 2 was powered by a 100 horsepower three cylinder General Motors supercharged two stroke diesel engine and featured nine forward gears� Fully water ballasted the big machine weighed around 6�5 tonnes� It achieved an impressive 8400 lbs drawbar pull at 3�01 mph� This example restored by the author� (Photo IMJ)

Rear view of the Super 90� The massive 23�1 x 26 rear tyres enabled the tractor to transfer all its horsepower to the ground, thus enabling it to achieve the powerful (for the era) drawbar pull� The hand clutch lever is visible to the left of the driver’s seat� Big money is paid by classic tractor collectors for these machines�

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of horses replaced’. Farmers felt comfortable with, and could relate to, this type of down-to-earth analogy.

But as tractor engine and transmission technology advanced, the more scientific and exacting horsepower ratings were universally applied to tractors. Which begs the question – what is a horsepower? (You’ll wish you had never asked)!

The Scottish inventor James Watt (1736–1819), of steam engine fame, experienced frustrating opposition to his doctrine when he stated that in coal mines steam engines were more practical than horses, whilst engaged in the heavy task of raising coal to the surface.

In a practical test he demonstrated that a horse, walking at the rate of 2½ mph could draw 150 pounds of coal (by means of a rope fed through a pulley) vertically at the rate of 220 feet per minute. This equated, so he determined, to 33,000 pounds, raised vertically to the height of one foot in one minute as being one horsepower!

Quite honestly, my limited expertise in the field of mathematics renders me incapable of establishing how my fellow Scot arrived at this conclusion. (Had Watt been enjoying a wee dram or two whilst making his calculations?) Indeed many mathematicians of repute are similarly perplexed. But be that as it may, Watt’s horsepower rating has been and is the basis for a variety of enduring power related measurements, which include an entire range of horsepower standards. Boffins today are generally in agreement that one horsepower equates to 550 foot-pounds per second or 745.56 watts, or one joule per second! (gosh).

So what has all the foregoing mumbo-jumbo got to do with farming and in particular early tractors? Frankly – I haven’t a clue! So let us escape from these realms of theory into the real world of tractors and their relevant horsepowers.

And to forestall an avalanche of protesting letters, let me emphasise that I am aware that we should all be figuring in metric – kilowatts and so forth – but this is an epistle dealing with horsepower and the majority of farmers still refer to the horsepower of their tractors.

Horsepower typesIndicated horsepower is of little interest to farmers, as

it is purely a mathematical figure which indicates the power theoretically developed within the cylinder(s) of an engine.

Brake horsepower is the power developed by an engine at a specific rpm available at the fly wheel and is measured by the resistance to a brake.

Belt horsepower is the actual horsepower developed at the belt pulley and is generally less than the brake horsepower owing to the frictional losses through the gears. But in some early tractors where the pulley is a fixture on the crankshaft, no frictional losses occur. Although not relevant today, belt horsepower rating was important when most tractors were routinely used to drive ancillary machinery such as threshers, pumps, and so on via an endless belt attached to the belt pulley.

Drawbar horsepower was used extensively up until the 1960s and indicated the available horsepower actually at the rear hitch point, but did not allow for wheel slip caused by tyre conditions or soil variances.

Power take off (PTO) horsepower has replaced the belt horsepower in modern times. PTO shafts now do the job of the endless belt and are used mainly for supplying energy to front and rear mounted implements. This measurement is of the power actually available at the shaft and is the figure most relevant to the rating of modern tractors.

RAC horsepower is of no relevance to tractors as it was a figure determined by The Royal Automobile Club and used for taxing British motorists. For the record, the formulae was as follows: Number of cylinders squared x number of cylinders x 0.4.

Added to the above is the need to know if the horsepower in


The German manufactured Lanz Bulldog was a massively rugged tractor which, during the late 1950s, was seldom outperformed during field demonstrations� Its 65 horsepower was somewhat remarkably delivered from the single cylinder two stroke low compression semi-diesel engine� Weighing in at over four tonnes it was able to exert a 7634 lbs pull at 2�51 mph� This outstanding example was restored by Andy and Marnie MacLelland of Woomelang, Vic� (Photo IMJ)�

IaN’S MySTEry TraCTOr QuIZQuestion: Can you identify this strange little tractor?

Clue: It is related to chain saws!

Degree of difficulty: You will either know it straight away from the clue or spend hours with Google – and still not get it!

Answer: See page 48

.

question is maximum or rated. Maximum is determined as being the peak figure achieved for only a brief duration. Rated is a figure that can be sustained over a continuing period.

Drawbar pullUp until the 1970s, drawbar pull was an excellent and widely

used measurement to compare a tractor’s field performance alongside those of different models or makes. It was measured in pounds pulled at a given speed. Quite often the results indicated that horsepower was not the determining factor in a tractor’s ability to efficiently pull a specific soil engaging implement such as a plough. Rather, drawbar pull illustrated the ability of the tractor to transfer its engine horsepower to the ground, taking into consideration, weight, traction (wheel spin), gear ratios and engine torque.

Thus a 70 horsepower tractor might well have been capable of out-pulling a different make of 70 horsepower tractor – the drawbar pull being the determining factor.

During the 1970s, US tractor manufacturers seemed to become obsessed with their desire to extract the maximum brake horsepower from their engines, very often at the expense of overtaxed transmissions. Cumbersome counterweights were attached in an endeavour to reduce wheel spin.

The European manufacturers adopted a different and more rational approach. They simply produced more solidly built tractors with better balanced engines having the emphasis on torque rather than horsepower.

Wheel spin of up to five per cent has been proved to be the optimum for pneumatic tyred tractors. Indeed five per cent slippage is not discernible to the eye. It follows therefore that if

wheel spin can be observed by simply looking, then it exceeds the five per cent figure and the tractor is not operating at its maximum efficiency and will be applying excessive stress to the tyres and transmission.

ConclusionBack in the 60s, canny farmers who may have been dithering

whether to purchase a Massey Ferguson 65, a Fiat 513R or a Fordson Super Major, all similarly powered tractors, would have tossed the coloured glossy brochures aside and insisted upon a comparative demonstration. They would have walked alongside a ploughing tractor to see if they could observe wheel spin. They would also have understood the significance of drawbar pull and its relation to horsepower.

Certainly, other factors had to also be considered.■■ How did the price compare?■■ What sort of a trade-in price would be offered on the old

International W30?■■ Was the local dealer a good bloke?■■ Did he support your footy team?■■ Would he deliver the tractor with a full tank of fuel?■■ Could he arrange annual higher purchase payments to

coincide with your harvest returns? or,■■ Did your wife like him?

All important considerations indeed!To add to the dilemma, in 1960 there were no fewer than 22

makes of tractors available in Australia, which accounted for a total of 126 models! A lot of brochures to pour over!

But at least, away back in the ‘good old days’ a farmer didn’t have to concern himself with the design of the cab or the efficiency of the air conditioning. ■


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NEv Anning from Peachester Queensland, became an unwilling ‘guest of the

Emperor of Japan’ for more than three years during WWII.

In 1941 Nev was posted with the 2/26th Queensland Battalion and saw action aplenty in Malaya. Then he was shifted to Singapore – just at the wrong time. The Island colony fell to the Japanese onslaught on February 15, 1942. Just how the Japanese soldiers treated their captives beggars description. There were lengthy death marches, the hell of Changi POW camp – and even worse places.

In 1942–43 Nev was in a party of Aussie POWs mustered as slave labour to build a shrine for the Japanese to honour their war dead at Bukit Timah.

At one stage, the prisoners were ordered to go up to level the top of the steep Bukit Batok hill for the shrine. The Aussies were only able to use hand tools – they worked the top while British POWs were building concrete steps up to the shrine from below.

One incident at the hill caused Nev to reflect back on the days when the bullock teams worked in the district near his home in south east Queensland, between Bald Knob and Peachester. The Japanese had requisitioned a 40 foot long pole that they intended to use as a pedestal or plinth for their shrine. The pole was a really solid piece of timber. It was a hardwood tree, two foot through at the butt and one foot at the top.

The trouble was that it had been dropped off by a truck down at the bottom of the hill on level ground. The 350 feet high hill was as steep as Bald Knob hill.

POW powerThe order came from higher up that the POWs were to

manhandle that pole up the hill. The troops had seen it a morning earlier and had wondered, in Nev’s words:

How the blooming heck are we going to get that up there? The next day the officious little Jap in charge lined up about one hundred of us. There was a one-inch coconut coir rope already hitched to the pole. Came the order: “All men pull”. Well, you never saw such a bunch of jibbing bullocks in all your life. We still hadn’t been ‘trained’ (if that’s the right word) properly to work for the Japanese and everyone was bludging! That little Jap ran along the line with his big stick screaming out we knew not what – the blokes he was hitting were bending their backs and pulling but the instant he was past they jibbed again and stopped pulling.

After an hour of this he was fair frothing at the mouth. We could see trouble looming (we were regularly beaten) so someone said: “Cripes, we’ve got to do something here or we’re really going to cop it. Look, with a hundred blokes, we should be able to break this coir rope.” So everyone got down to it and the word went along: “Now we’re going to give a really big pull this time”. Everyone got down and strained and – ploom.

We broke the rope without even so much as rolling the log over.

So the next thing the little Jap tied a dirty big knot in it, but as


A rising Fordson saves the day in WWII

■ By Graeme Quick

Corporal Nev Anning, QX21371�

Peachester lads in their new army uniforms: This is how Nev Anning, Jimmy Roycroft and Eric Anning looked when they joined up in 1941�

This picture of the Bukit Batong shrine and pole was taken before the shrine was demolished immediately after the Japanese surrender� The original photo is in the Singapore War Museum�

soon as we knew we could break it, well, we were in our glory. One of those rare moments when we prisoners had a win. “All men pull” went down the line again. As soon as he had it tied: Bang!

More knots. This went on till dark. The pole hadn’t been moved an inch, meanwhile the rope was getting shorter and shorter with all the knots.

At dark he must have seen the stupidity in this so finally said: “All the men go home.” A very successful day – we went ‘home’ – as happy as could be, under the circumstances.

The tractor saved the dayNext day they were ordered up the hill again, but this time the

increasingly frustrated Japanese officer didn’t know what to do. It seemed likely that he intended to get another coir rope and have the Aussies pull that pole up.

Nev continues: Fortunately, there was a bloke in the Aussie group who was a farm boy with some tractor experience. Bear in mind that most farm work back home was done with horses pre-WWII – very few of us had any experience or even thought about tractors. Lenny had spotted a tractor at the Singapore Ford Works one time when we were force-marched past the site. So he somehow explained to the Japs that they could use the tractor to haul the pole up. The next day he was permitted to drive the tractor up to the hill. It was a Fordson crawler with a small blade.

Lenny had to cut a zigzag track – he managed to stretch that out to three days to do that. Eventually Lenny hauled the pole up the top. That Fordson tractor definitely saved the crew further punishment – at least that time around.

The sequelThe pole was at the top, but it wasn’t installed. All up it took

the POWs five months to level the top of the hill, prepare the area saucer-like for the shrine, then dig a big hole in the centre for the column. The next thing was to stand the pole up in the hole. With a bunch of ropes and stays, the prisoners managed to erect the pole. Next came the order to concrete the pole in place.

But here comes another funny incident. The Brits below who were building the concrete steps were ordered to mix the cement down there to support the pedestal. From there the mix was passed up in woven fibre baskets, chain-gang style. The Aussie crew up top were to flip the concrete into the hole around the pole. “All men cement in“, came the order. That night some smart alecks went out in the dark looking for white ants. They collected match boxes full of white ants. They found the ants under logs and around decaying building debris. Nev asked them what they were up to: “We’re going to put ants in with the cement tomorrow and they’ll eat the pole down.”

Nev replied: “Cripes, they’ll never survive in there with the cement.”

“Aww well, never mind, it will make us feel better; we’ll be doing our bit for the country.”

That was the sort of humour that kept those half-starved blokes going.

FootnoteNev learned subsequently that the very day after the Japanese

capitulated in August 1945, two British POWs got hold of a tractor and pushed down the shrine and the pole. Whether or not it was the same tractor remains unknown.

Some 22,000 Australian men and women were taken captive at the fall of Singapore and the islands nearby. Only 14,000 returned home. After the war, former prisoners of the Japanese died at four times the rate of other veterans of WWII – such were the privations the Allied prisoners endured.

Story abridged from interviews and material in Nev Anning’s book “A mug from the Bush – Memories of life and war” – 2008 edition, first published by the Peachester Hall Committee in 2001. Nev is a hearty and cheerful 94 year old still living on a horse farm outside Peachester.

This is one of 54 tales in Graeme Quick’s latest book – Tall but True Tractor Tales (Rosenberg Publishing, 2012). If readers have unusual tractor stories, they are invited to send them to Graeme for consideration in book number 13. Contact: [email protected] ■


One of the prewar Fordson Crawlers, a half-track version� Fordsons were notoriously fickle starters�

A 1992 photo of Nev Anning at Bukit Timor on the steps that were built by the British POWs� It can be seen just how tough it would have been for prisoners to manually haul a large log up that steep hill� The war dead shrine they were forced to build at the top was demolished straight after the surrender� Nowadays that hill is the site of a telecommunications tower�

SNOw wHITE…Nev recalls that he copped more beatings with the stick

because he was often inclined to see the funny side of things and couldn’t help stifle a giggle. And besides, those Aussie POWs were witty at times. Some of the remarks they uttered while under threat were really notable – others unprintable.

Anyway Nev saw humour. For example, the Aussies nicknamed one of the officious officers “Snow White”. That was because he wore a white uniform and he had purloined a British pith helmet that was albino white. But when that officer discovered what his nickname was, he was enraged and beat up on prisoners. Apparently he lost face by being called what he discovered was a girl’s name. After that they recoded him as “The Ice Cream Man” – and oddly enough, he was puffed up with that sobriquet.


FOR more than 100 years, farmers in the Pacific Northwest interior of the US have favoured winter wheat/summer fallow production systems. Since rain typically falls during

the mild winters, this schedule gives the growing crops the water they need when they need it. But this rotation can require up to eight tillage passes during the fallow season to control weeds and conserve soil water. Tillage also creates a dry, loose bed of

fine soil particles that is easily carried away by the strong summer winds.

“In the inland Pacific Northwest, when atmospheric levels of PM10 particulate matter – that is, 10 microns or less in diameter – exceed federal limits, it’s usually because of erosion from farm lands,” says Agricultural Research Service scientist Brenton Sharratt. He is the research leader in the ARS Land Management and Water Conservation Research Unit in Pullman, Washington. “Since the US Environmental Protection Agency regulates air quality, farmers in this area are looking for ways to reduce erosion from their fields and assist communities in complying with regulations.”

To help address these concerns, Brenton, ARS agronomist Frank Young, and Washington State University research associate gary Feng conducted an 11-year study that evaluated whether no-till spring cereal rotations could help mitigate wind erosion.

The systems they studied included the typical winter wheat/summer fallow rotation, a no-till spring barley/spring wheat rotation, and a no-till spring wheat/chemical fallow rotation. During the study, they tracked several soil characteristics, including aggregation, moisture, roughness, crusting, and crop residue cover.

Soil properties were measured twice during the study – once after sowing spring wheat and once after sowing winter wheat. Soils are most exposed after sowing, and sowing schedules coincide with the seasons when high winds prevail in the Pacific Northwest.

The scientists found that in the spring, soils in spring barley and spring wheat rotations were wetter than soils in traditional winter wheat systems. In late summer, the no-till spring barley rotation also had more standing stubble than the other two rotations.

Stubble helps keep soil on the ground and out of the air.

Other benefitsResults from the study highlighted other soil-quality payoffs

from using spring wheat/spring barley rotations. Soils had larger and more continuous pore space, higher water-infiltration rates, higher saturated hydraulic conductivity, and higher drainage rates.

given these findings, the team concluded that annual no-till spring cereal crops could significantly improve water infiltration and retention and help retain crop surface residue in the late summer. Farmers could benefit from improved soil quality – and a reduced risk of wind erosion.

“One major windstorm can generate enough airborne dust to exceed air quality standards for PM10,” Brenton says. “But annual no-till cereal crops appear to be a viable strategy that farmers can use to control erosion and meet air quality regulations in the Pacific Northwest.”

The next challenge is finding ways to make annual no-till crop systems as profitable as the current winter wheat/fallow system.

To reach the scientists mentioned in this story, contact Ann Perry, USDA-ARS Information Staff, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705-5129; (+1301) 504-1628. ■

No-till crops can improve air quality

■ By Ann Perry, Agricultural Research Service, USDA

Near Ritzville, Washington, scientists use a wind tunnel to measure wind erosion of soil particles from a recently planted wheat field� (Photo: Brenton Sharratt)

Soybean varieties that grow in rice paddies in Southeast asia could provide much-needed genes for developing soybeans tolerant to flooding – as well as to root rot and

other plant diseases found in waterlogged soils.

Tara VanToai pursued the genes for these traits. She recently retired from the agricultural Research Service’s Soil Drainage Research Unit in Columbus, ohio.

Tara worked with plant pathologist anne Dorrance and soybean breeders Grover Shannon and Henry nguyen in the search for genes that protect against both flooding and plant diseases. anne is at ohio State University’s ohio agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster; Grover and Henry are at the University of Missouri, in Portageville and Columbia, respectively.

The team works on multiple fronts, including molecular plant breeding, with the help of Dna markers, genetic transformation, and soil management – all in an effort to protect soybeans growing on wet soils.

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July–August 2012 Northern Focus Australian Grain— i

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Genes to protect soybeans from flooding and diseases

■■ By■Don■Comis,■Agricultural■Research■Service,■USDA

Tara VanToai, retired ARS plant physiologist, and Thomas Doohan, a student at Ohio State University, collect soybean plants and root samples to analyse them for response to flooding stress. (Photo: Peggy Greb)

Flooding – Vietnam to OhioGrowing up in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, and then

working in ohio, Tara has experienced firsthand the harm flooding does to crop yields. Tara has been studying flood tolerance in soybeans for more than two decades, in greenhouse, lab, and growth-chamber conditions as well as in experimental and farm fields in ohio and in Missouri. She has also studied and collected soybean lines in Vietnam and China, including backyard soybean plants that survived China’s 1991 flood-of-the-century.

She has also collaborated with scientists from australia, brazil, China, France, and Hungary, as well as Vietnam.

Soybeans need new genesTara and colleagues need to incorporate genes from plants

native to other countries to supplement the narrow genetic base of US soybeans and to improve tolerance to wet soil and associated diseases.

The varieties of soybeans used by most american farmers are damaged by even short periods in waterlogged soil. yield losses as high as 25 per cent are estimated in the Mississippi Delta region, asia, and other regions of the world where soybean crops are rotated with paddy rice. The losses are from injuries due to flooding and flood irrigation.

Tests of 21 soybean varieties in flooded experimental fields at Can Tho, Vietnam, revealed three lines of soybean – VnD2, nam Vang, and aTF15-1 – with superior flood tolerance.

Tara and the team did this research with Tran Thi Cuc Hoa and nguyen Thi ngoc Hue – both with the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute, where the experiments were done.

Plants from the three flood-tolerant lines grew tallest and had the biggest seeds and the highest yields.

Lines imported from AustraliaThe 21 lines tested included plants native to Vietnam and

Cambodia and those developed through selection by farmers and gardeners. They also included lines developed by modern breeding practices and imported from australia, China, Japan, and Taiwan.

nam Vang is native to Cambodia, while VnD2 and aTF15-1 are from China and australia, respectively. The initial experiments were done in outdoor ‘screenhouses’, which are greenhouses with screens instead of glass. Tara found that the screenhouses, while not completely duplicating field results, allowed for accurate predictions of flood tolerance in soybeans.

Flood-tolerance is defined as the ability of a plant to survive 10 days of steady flooding during the plant’s critical flowering stage.

For the screenhouse tests, the plants were grown in pots. When each plant was in full bloom, it was placed for two weeks in a bucket of water so that the water level was 2 inches (5 cm) above the soil surface.

In later field tests, the plants were subjected for two weeks to water 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) above the soil surface.

The screenhouse tests killed up to 100 per cent of susceptible varieties. The test accurately identified the top three flood-tolerant lines, later borne out by the flooded-field tests.

Soybean secretsTara has also analysed flood-tolerant eastern gamagrass in the

US for its secrets, one of which turned out to be aerenchyma. This is tissue with air channels that enable roots of plants – rice, for example – to grow under water. These open channels allow flooded roots to ‘snorkel’ air from the above-water parts of the plants. aRS scientists and university breeders have introduced aerenchyma into wheat and corn experimentally.

ii— Australian Grain Northern Focus July–August 2012

Technician G. John Lazur (formerly with ARS) scans soybean roots with winRHIZO software to digitise root growth. (Photo: Peggy Greb)

Ohio State University scientist Liming Chen examines flooded soybean plants. (Photo: Ann Houser)

Tara found that soybean plants that survive flooding use some of the same mechanisms as rice growing in paddies.

The two standbys that rice roots rely on for its ability to grow in water are adventitious roots and aerenchyma. adventitious roots grow out of the plant’s stem near the soil surface. They work in tandem with aerenchyma to provide even more oxygen to flooded roots.

Genes for flood survivalThe scientists are looking for genes that trigger the

development of those two standbys, as well as other flood-tolerant aids.

They found that flood-tolerant soybean lines develop more adventitious roots and more aerenchyma than flood-susceptible lines. Some soybean lines developed adventitious roots as early as two days after being flooded. They discovered that a flood-tolerant South Korean variety, PI 408105a, showed only a 30 per cent yield reduction after 10 days of flooding during the critical flowering stage, while the susceptible US variety S99-2281 lost more than 80 per cent of its yield.

The scientists crossed PI 408105a with S99-2281 to study and transfer the resistance genes.

They evaluated 200 lines from these crosses in fields in ohio and Missouri for two years and identified several lines with a consistent tolerance to flooding.

Dna markers were found that could effectively identify plants that carried the resistance genes. Clear genetic differences were found between the roots of flood-tolerant and flood-susceptible plants.

because the parents PI 408105a and S99-2281 also show differences in resistance to soybean root and stem rot diseases, anne used the same 200 lines of the population to look for genes for root rot resistance.

Are flood- and root rot-resistance genes the same?

“now we’re wondering whether root rot was contributing to the yield reductions we saw in susceptible plants,” Tara says. “Did the tolerant plants do so much better because they were tolerant not only of flooding but also of root rot? are some of the same genes involved?” Tara wonders.

She and colleagues have mapped the genes and found that

there is an overlap of genes for resistance to flooding and wet-soil-borne diseases, which indicates some genes are involved in both, while others are not.

To■reach■scientists■mentioned■in■this■article,■contact■Robert■Sowers,■USDA-ARS■Information■Staff,■5601■Sunnyside■Ave.,■Beltsville,■MD■20705-5129;■(+1301)■504-1651,■E:■[email protected]■ ■

July–August 2012 Northern Focus Australian Grain— iii

Resistance to soybean RustAsian soybean rust, a major disease of soybeans worldwide,

was found in soybean fields in South America in 2000. It was first found in the continental US four years later – most likely its spores delivered by winds of an unusually busy hurricane season.

From 2006 to 2009, ARS plant pathologists Tara VanToai (retired), at Columbus, Ohio, and Glen Hartman, at Urbana, Illinois, and other colleagues at the University of Illinois at Urbana and the University of Missouri at Columbia collaborated with scientists at the Plant Protection Research Institute and the Thai Nguyen Education University in Hanoi, Vietnam, to test 65 soybean varieties for resistance to soybean rust. These varieties included rust-resistant accessions from the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection identified in earlier research, resistant varieties from the Vietnam collection, and susceptible checks.

In all, she and colleagues found that the Vietnamese soybean variety DT 2000 showed the strongest resistance in all five experiments. Response of varieties with known resistance genes varied from experiment to experiment.

Asian soybean rust is constantly forming new strains. “This means that we need to develop standardised ‘tester’ strains so that we can compare results across studies,” Tara says.

The next step will be to identify and map the resistance genes present in the resistant variety found in the Vietnam study and determine their effectiveness against specific soybean rust strains.

Tara says that the rust-resistant soybean varieties from Vietnam may have genes that could be helpful wherever rust strains have a similar virulence to those in Vietnam.

Soybean leaf infected with rust disease. (Photo: Christine Stone)Left – soybean plants after two weeks of flooding stress.

Right – Soybean plants that were not flooded. (Photo: Peggy Greb)

THe wet summer has set northern region grain growers up for a promising winter crop season but a deeper knowledge of canopy management practices will help fulfil crop yield

potential. That’s the view of experienced grain producer and Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) northern panellist, Keith Harris.

Keith, who has many years farming experience including an indepth knowledge of the Liverpool Plains, says canopy management is far more than the timing of nitrogen fertiliser application.

“Too often growers are asked: What do you know about canopy management? and they answer: It is about the timing of nitrogen application to maximise crop yields.

“In fact, canopy management principles target all variable inputs to maximise potential crop yields and farm profitability based on the available soil moisture.”

Keith says successful canopy management practices rely on growers having a thorough understanding of the interactions between plant growth stages, available water, soil and plant nutrient requirements and the potential disease pressure.

Canopy management principles researched in GRDC-supported programs include a multitude of support decisions aimed to optimise grain yields and to maximise the benefits from all inputs, he says.

Successful canopy managementKeith says while nitrogen application rates and timing are

key components of successful canopy management, there are a number of other important influences that need to be considered; including:■■ Knowledge of soil moisture

– environmental conditions– establish start of season available soil moisture– Seasonal forecasts – rainfall predictions.

■■ Crop type– Varietal selection– Sowing time– Seeding rates– Row spacing.

■■ nutrient and disease management– Soil fertility– Soil nitrogen

– Timing of nitrogen– Understanding crop growth stages– Fungicides (heavy plant density crops are more prone to

disease).“Depending upon a grower’s farm location, soil type, paddock

history, crop rotations and available soil moisture these influences vary so it is good practice for growers to discuss canopy management with local agronomists,” he said.

The recent heavy rain and flooding has topped up soil moisture profiles and many northern growers are looking to capitalise on a potentially excellent winter crop season.

Winter crop programKeith says canopy management principles should be taken into

account when growers are preparing their winter crop programs, paying special attention to factors such as:■■ Weed control

– Fallows need to be monitored to protect soil moisture reserves. Fallow weeds will obviously utilise available soil moisture and some have the ability to act as a host plant for many cereal diseases.

■■ Crop selection– before finalising crop selection, consider marketing options

and risk management.– Consider crop rotations and potential disease and weed

issues■■ Seed

– Source good quality seed early. If the previous harvest was wet; supplies of quality seed maybe in short supply.

– Select varieties with good disease resistance. With the potential for a favourable season there is a good chance that the crop canopy will be heavier than normal seasons making it more prone to disease.

■■ nutrient status– Soil test paddocks to determine current nutrient levels.

Remember recent rain or floods may have resulted in some leaching of available nutrients.

– Determine an appropriate fertiliser program with targeted yields in mind.

– nitrogen will be a major fertiliser component in most programs; but consideration needs to be given to the timing of application.

– Given that most catchments are saturated and the potential for further flooding or heavy rain is possible, growers maybe well advised to hold off applying excessive nitrogen until the crop is well established. Minimise the risk of further leaching.

– Minimise the risk of establishing a huge canopy, given good moisture conditions at sowing. It should be remembered that a large canopy will need further good rainfall throughout the growing season.

– applying top up nitrogen at early stem elongation – with a better understanding of the current available soil moisture and with the capability of determining latest weather forecasts – will ensure that the decision to top-dress crops is made with the best available information to meet estimated targeted crop yield.

To■download■the■GRDC■canopy■management■fact■sheet,■visit■www.grdc.com.au/canopy_mgmt■ ■

iv— Australian Grain Northern Focus July–August 2012

Scratch the surface on canopy management

Successful canopy management involves a broad range of variable inputs, not just nitrogen.

July–August 2012 Northern Focus Australian Grain— v

First catastrophic carbon dioxide – now noxious nitrous oxide

Under the Nitrous Oxide Research Project automated measuring chambers are used to quantify nitrogen losses in terms of kilograms per hectare over the entire growing season.

WHILe traditional greenhouse gas emissions research has focused on carbon dioxide (Co2), data on nitrous oxide (n2o) soil emissions from australian soils is

limited. and according to Professor Peter Grace from Queensland University of Technology, n2o is effectively 300 times more potent than Co2 when it comes to global warming.

Peter who heads australia’s Farming Future nitrous oxide Research Program (noRP) says that is why noRP is so important.

“The program brings together researchers who can measure and model n2o emissions for dryland and irrigated farming (particularly grains, cotton, sugarcane and dairy) from sites right across the country. n2o is a good indicator of overall nitrogen use efficiency, so the research outcomes are a win-win in terms of reducing emissions and increasing profitability.

“We want to develop a range of tools and specific management techniques for each individual land-use type and climatic condition. Farmers and others can use these resources to manage, and hopefully reduce, these potent emissions as well as improving nitrogen use efficiency.”

Agriculture a major sourcen2o is emitted naturally from the microbial processes in the

soil – but the majority of n2o emissions come from human activities, with much of this resulting from agriculture.

n2o research is being conducted at six core field sites including Mackay and Kingsthorpe in Queensland, Tamworth in new South Wales, Hamilton and Terang in Victoria and at Wongan Hills in Western australia.

This spread is important as n2o emissions greatly vary depending on the environment and industry, ranging from from less than 0.03 kg n/ha/day in the coarse textured dryland cropping soils of the Western australian wheat belt to up to 1 kg n/ha/day from fertile soils of south-eastern Victoria under dairy production.

Sugarcane soils are high emittersn2o emissions from australian sugarcane soils are also

considerably higher than other cropping systems. It is thought that this is due to the amount of trash retained in the system and the fact that n2o losses are higher when there is a lot of water in the system.

“The results in northern trials indicate that n2o emissions seem to spike directly after irrigation. When you apply water, whether it is in the form of irrigation or just a higher rainfall zone, there is a greater potential for water logging,” Peter said. “When certain microbes are starved of oxygen, they look for alternative forms of energy, which leads to a faster rate of breakdown and an increased potential for gaseous losses of nitrogen. More water

also means larger crops and potentially more biomass, which is a great source of carbon which drives the whole process, regardless of industry.”

Wheat and cottonTrials conducted in Kingsthorpe on the Darling Downs have

compared n2o emissions in wheat and cotton crops under dryland and irrigated conditions. n2o emissions in wheat trials ranged from 0.23 per cent (of the total nitrogen fertiliser applied) under dryland conditions to 0.38 per cent under full irrigation. a similar range in emissions was found in the cotton trials.

Irrigated cotton farming systems have previously been labelled high-risk agricultural systems with respect to gaseous losses of nitrogen, due to their heavy reliance on nitrogenous fertilisers and irrigation to maintain production levels.

“our field data suggests that cotton and dryland cereal production systems are actually low emitters of n2o, because those cropping systems do not return large amounts of residue and the soil carbon stocks have declined,” Peter said. “While these are relatively small numbers in terms of n2o, they indicate there could be potentially larger emissions of nitrogen compounds, which are not greenhouse gases but still have a major impact on nitrogen use efficiency and profitability.”

With the development of the Carbon Farming Initiative, farmers are trying to retain more carbon in their soils, which then means there is an increased potential for n2o emissions. but Peter maintains there are a range of management techniques that cotton farmers and other farmers more generally, can adopt to reduce n2o emissions from agricultural soils.

“For example, splitting applications of nitrogen fertiliser and increasing irrigation water use efficiency is increasing across the cotton industry and its positive impact on reducing emissions is obvious,” he said. “Changing the type and amount of nitrogenous fertiliser that they apply to their soil may also help reduce potential losses.”

DairyingChemicals such as Dicyandiamide (DCD) are being used in

dairy systems to inhibit n2o production and the results are promising. Trials in the high rainfall zone of Victoria indicate applying DCD to the pastures surface can result in reductions of nitrous oxide of between 35 and 45 per cent. and trials of entec (DMPP) slow-release nitrogen fertilisers in crops in the northern grain region have cut n2o losses from fertiliser by up to 90 per cent.

Practical strategies to reduce nitrous oxide lossesPlanting legumes, reducing nitrogen fertiliser inputs to match

crop demand and improving irrigation practices are all practical strategies farmers can implement to reduce n2o losses.

“australia has a great diversity of soils, a variable climate and vastly different management strategies between regions. That’s why the research is vital if we are to develop evidenced-based mitigation strategies to reduce n2o and at the same time increase nitrogen use efficiency and profitability,” Peter said.

For■further■information■on■the■CCRP■or■any■of■the■funded■projects,■please■phone■1800■638■746■or■visit■www.daff.gov.au/aff

This■case■study■is■part■of■a■series■produced■by■the■Department■of■Agriculture,■Fisheries■and■Forestry■as■part■of■the■Climate■Change■Research■Program.■ ■

vi— Australian Grain Northern Focus July–August 2012

Farmers look to secure long-term growth

MoRe farmers are adopting innovative corporate business models to secure long-term sustainability and growth, according to bDo agribusiness experts.

bDo Partner David Krause said our agricultural industry was starting to think ‘non-traditionally’ when it came to planning for long-term success.

“More family-run businesses within the agricultural sector are beginning to apply strategic corporate models to remain sustainable and profitable long-term,” David said.

“This non-traditional way of doing business is a direct result of an industry coming to terms with ageing farmers, property prices and the ability to fund further development of their existing properties, driving the need for different business models in order to stay competitive well into the future,” he said.

David said business owners were beginning to think innovatively about using existing capital to get the most out of their agricultural operations.

“Increasingly, companies are looking to innovative ways to redistribute their existing capital in order to expand their agricultural operations,” David said.

“We have seen a number of opportunities in the market where family-owned agricultural businesses are entering into sale and leaseback arrangements of land and water assets to fund production assets, such as cattle or orchards.

“This is an example of using the sale of an asset, the property, to fund the growth of the core operations and income-producing assets, such as cattle, while still maintaining control of the property assets.

Distinguishing between asset classes“The innovative operators understand the differences in the

assets classes and how extracting the value of one asset class can be used to maximise returns for their enterprise as a whole.

“another option is for multiple farms to consolidate their land, attracting much bigger investors from both here in australia and overseas,” he said.

bDo executive Director and international business specialist, Cameron MacMillan, said while corporatisation was beginning to gain momentum, there were still reservations within the industry about “selling off” a business that had been family-owned for generations.

“There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the notion of foreign investment,” Cameron said.

“It’s not about selling off pieces of the family business – it’s about managing assets in an innovative way so their value can then be injected back into the day-to-day operations of the business.”

Cameron said the future of our agricultural industry depended on business owners looking to alternative models to secure a sustainable future.

“Foreign investment will almost certainly play a role in securing the future of our agricultural industry,” Cameron said.

“Smart decisions made today will be crucial in sustaining the strength of the industry for generations to come.”

For■more■information■contact■Cameron■MacMillan■at■BDO■Brisbane■on■■Ph:■07■3237■5999.■ ■

THe application of commonly recommended management principles has eradicated a strain of grain storage insects with strong phosphine resistance. It is believed to be the

first time that elimination of on-farm grain storage insects with strong phosphine resistance has been scientifically documented and confirmed in australia and possibly the world.

The achievement – involving more than three years of treatment and monitoring followed by a final check of the farm – was made by Department of agriculture and Food Wa (DaFWa) staff with support from the GRDC.

The strongly phosphine-resistant red-rust flour beetles (RFb) were detected on a farm near Wubin, in the Dalwallinu shire of Wa, through monitoring by DaFWa, conducted with funding by the GRDC and the Cooperative Research Centre for national Plant biosecurity (CRCnPb).

DaFWa grain storage specialist Chris newman, who provides information and training growers under a GRDC funded grain storage project, said the resistant population was confirmed as eliminated after recommended management practices were applied and silos were sealed.

Standard practice does work“The achievement demonstrates that applying standard

management principles works, and by applying them growers will control insects before they have a chance to develop resistance in the first place.”

Chris said the case of strong resistance was one of only a handful which had developed within the past five years.

He said the resistant strain of RFb at Wubin was believed to have developed independently on the farm after the farmer used incorrect phosphine dosing practices to treat the grain – contained in poorly sealed silos – over an 11 year period.

Chris said many strongly resistant strains of insects could be eradicated with label-rate phosphine fumigation, provided the storage facility was gas-tight.

“DaFWa staff took immediate and rigorous action, involving hygiene treatments to remove resistant insect populations in and around silos, and correct phosphine fumigation to eliminate resistance from within the grain bulk,” he said.

“They visited the farm at least twice a year to check on silo hygiene and to ensure fumigations were done correctly,” he said.

DaFWa senior research officer Rob emery said the identification of the resistant strain of RFb and its eradication showed that growers’ money – through the GRDC research levy – was being spent in a way that benefited them directly.

“our project is very applied in that it is focussed on determining resistance by whatever means possible, and then doing something about it,” he said.

“early detection of resistance is one of the strengths of the inspection process we have – we can track the rise of weak resistance and make the grower aware of an emerging problem.

“When strong resistance has been detected we initiate a survey of the area to ensure it hasn’t spread.”

Rob said monitoring for resistance in stored grain insects in Wa was continuing. He said strong phosphine resistance remained minimal in Wa, unlike the eastern states.

“Wa farmers have worked really hard for years to minimise

phosphine resistance and as a result there have only been a few cases of strong resistance reported,” Rob said.

“This gives our grain a unique edge, as it can be marketed as free from pests and contact chemicals.”

Rob said research had shown that strong phosphine resistance developed when the frequency of weak resistance approached 80 per cent of strains tested.

“The frequency of weak resistance across all species in Wa recently reached 45 per cent,” he said. “but 73 per cent of RFb are weakly resistant and therefore this species is at the greatest risk of becoming strongly resistant.”

Treatments used in the eradicationHygiene treatments used at the Wubin farm to eradicate the

resistant RFb population included:■■ Pressure washing inside empty silos, storage surrounds,

handling equipment and machinery;■■ The application of contact chemical insecticide to kill insects in

grain residues at the base of silos, and the removal of waste for burial;

■■ Treating clean, empty silos with diatomaceous earth protectant to prevent reinfestation.

Insect eradication, with phosphine, was ensured by:■■ Silo maintenance including rubber seal replacement on

removable hatches and permanent sealing of other gaps with flexible waterproof sealant;

■■ Silo pressure testing to ensure an extended fumigation period, verified by gas monitoring. ■

July–August 2012 Northern Focus Australian Grain— vii

Phosphine-resistant grain insects eliminated

Good hygiene around grain storage is vital to prevent insect populations developing.

WHILe many broadacre farmers deal with the problems of salinity, it’s also the curse of nSW tomato grower brad Stillard. So much so that he applied for a 2011

nuffield Scholarship to try and help solve the problems salinity was posing.

“We currently grow tomatoes with saline groundwater and I was interested in finding out what I would do if that salinity increased and how I could manage to keep ourselves productive.”

brad grows tomatoes on his barooga property, just across the Murray River form Cobram, with groundwater which has a salinity level of 4.2 dSm. This, brad says, is close to the limit commercial tomatoes will tolerate, so any increase would require an in-depth understanding of salinity and how to manage it successfully.

The good news for brad was that there are excellent examples of saline water management around the world – it was just a matter of jumping on the plane and starting his nuffield journey.

Experienced managers of saline water“I tackled it by going to areas that have been dealing with

saline water for a long time – most of the Middle east have been dealing with salinity for decades and so I went to those sort of places looking for some answers to see how they handle it.”

brad says he decided to not just limit his research to tomato crops, believing there could be plenty of lessons learnt in how other crops are managed in saline conditions.

Interestingly, much of brad’s findings centred on the importance of genetics.

“Most of the key things that I’ve found is that genetics, or salt tolerance, is extremely important – it’s probably 60 per cent of the total of growing a crop, and 40 per cent would be the farmer.

So if you’ve got good genetics, you have good plants in place with good salt tolerance – it makes it a lot easier to deal with salinity.”

Soil conservationbrad says he also studied soil conservation practices, with a

view to assessing how much of an impact his current production system is having on his soils.

“I investigated just how much of an effect on the soil and soil health I’m having and just how much destruction or devastation I’m causing out there. The preliminary research that I’ve done on my own property is that I’m actually not degrading my soil as much as I thought I was – so if I’m getting anything out of this, it’s that perhaps some of my current practices are actually heading in the right direction and it’s just a matter of improving them.”

While the main thrust of brad’s research was the importance of having the right genetics when growing crops in salty water, there’s also the other end of the problem to consider too – the salty water itself.

Back pocket is the main driverbut the primary consideration for most farmers is the

back pocket, and so searching for a solution to desalinate his groundwater proved unviable.

“I purposely didn’t look at reverse osmosis, which is basically filtering out all the salt, because in my business I would examine the cheapest option first and the cheapest option first will be to just modify my current practices.

So I kept my focus on management so someone reading my nuffield report, can go out and do something with my findings.

Down the track if salty water graduates on to be a bigger problem, then perhaps I will have to consider reverse osmosis or another solution.”

Having completed his nuffield report, the challenge for brad of course is to put into practice some of his new-found knowledge.

Salt tolerance under our nosesHe says the way forward may not be necessarily in the

laboratory but perhaps by simply searching for crops naturally suited to salty water.

“I’ve found some canola varieties that are grown in australia – and while they’re not promoted as being salt tolerant – I have seen them in trials demonstrating good salt tolerance.

So I wonder just how many varieties of different crop species that we’re currently growing are actually quite salt tolerant. If we can just identify them and modify some of our management, they could perhaps open up some saline land and more uses for salty water.”

Nuffield■Australia■is■an■organisation■which■provides■opportunities■to■Australian■farmers■between■the■ages■of■28■and■40■to■travel■the■globe■investigating■a■research■topic■important■to■them■and■Australian■agriculture.

Brad’s■Nuffield■Scholarship■was■sponsored■by■Horticulture■Australia■Limited■through■a■voluntary■contribution■from■the■Australian■Processing■Tomato■Growers■and■matched■funding■from■the■Australian■Government.

To■read■Brad’s■report■see:■www.nuffieldinternational.org/rep_pdf/1310104444BradStillardfinalreport.pdfFollow■Nuffield■on■twitter■@nuffieldaust■ ■

viii— Australian Grain Northern Focus July–August 2012

Plant genetics the answer to using salty groundwater

Brad Stillard says there is a lot of untapped potential in using crop species which are naturally tolerant of salty conditions.

Canola growers in the southern cropping region must determine the potential for significant yield losses caused by blackleg infection before investing in and applying post-

emergent treatments.a foliar fungicide has for the first time been registered in

australia for the control of blackleg in canola, but industry authorities advise that careful consideration should be exercised before using the new treatment.

Blackleg experts, with support from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), say the foliar fungicide Prosaro 420 SC (prothioconazole and tebuconazole) is a welcome additional control tool in the industry’s battle against blackleg.

To ensure the industry’s long-term access to the product (which can be used in crops up to the four to six leaf stage in accordance with label instructions), authorities recommend judicious use of the foliar fungicide.

national Brassica Pathology Working Group spokesperson and blackleg authority, Steve Marcroft, of Marcroft Grains Pathology, says as well as being a return on investment consideration, unnecessary applications could eventually lead to potential resistance issues.

“Growers need to be confident that they will incur significant yield losses before investing in this form of control,” Steve said. “If they are growing a cultivar with low blackleg resistance in a high risk situation, applying a foliar fungicide is an additional control option worth considering.”

Steve said it can be difficult for growers to determine from a visual assessment as to whether a significant impact on production was likely to result from blackleg. To assist growers in their assessments and management strategies, the GRDC has released a new Blackleg Management Guide Fact Sheet.

The fact sheet (see pages 40–43 and www.grdc.com.au), sets out all the steps needed to determine whether growers are in a high-risk situation and what practices they can implement or change to reduce or prevent yield loss from blackleg.

Key points■■ Monitor crops to determine yield losses in the current crop;■■ Choose a cultivar with adequate blackleg resistance for your

region;■■ never sow a canola crop into last year’s canola stubble;■■ Relying only on fungicides to control blackleg poses a high risk

of fungicide resistance; and,■■ If monitoring has identified yield loss and the same cultivar has

been grown for three years or more, choose a cultivar from a different resistance group.“It is important for growers to monitor crops each season so

July–August 2012 Southern Focus Australian Grain— i

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Assess blackleg risk to canola yields before spraying crops

National Brassica Pathology Working Group spokesperson and blackleg authority Steve Marcroft.

they know the extent of blackleg infection and can make more informed management decisions,” Steve said.

“Each year paddocks need to be inspected and plants cut open to assess the levels of blackleg infection. The GRDC management guide provides clear advice on how to do this.”

The risk of blackleg infection in crops and potential for yield losses this year is severe due to the increased area sown to canola in 2011 and another large planting this year due to favourable oilseed prices.

Blackleg is the most severe disease of canola in australia. Because it survives on canola stubble, last year’s expansive crop has heightened the risk this season.

Steve said sowing canola on canola could result in the fungal pathogen overcoming cultivar resistance genes, resulting in many cultivars being destroyed and risking the long-term viability of the canola industry.

“Blackleg is managed by breeding disease resistance into canola cultivars and by crop management practices,” Steve said. “But the blackleg fungus is adept at overcoming cultivar resistance, leaving many crops vulnerable to significant yield loss.” ■

ii— Australian Grain Southern Focus July–August 2012

New option for mildew control

WESTERn australian barley growers have a new weapon against powdery mildew thanks to a permit allowing them to use an alternative fungicide to combat the

costly disease.The permit comes as new research reveals the presence of a

recent mutation in Wa strains of powdery mildew apparently responsible for high levels of resistance to triazole fungicides, compared with other states.

The South East Premium Wheat Growers association (SEPWa), with support from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), has been granted one year’s conditional emergency permit approval for the use of spiroxamine (Prosper 500 EC) by the australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines authority (aPVMa).

Professor Richard oliver, from the GRDC-supported australian Centre for necrotrophic Fungal Pathogens (aCnFP), said the permit provided another tool to manage powdery mildew, which caused losses of up to $100 million in Wa last year.

“While dry conditions have limited the development of the disease this season, growers will nevertheless benefit from the availability of spiroxamine – a ‘Group 5’ fungicide with an alternative mode of action new to australia,” he said.

“The availability of spiroxamine will enhance growers’ ability to manage powdery mildew.”

Richard said new research findings by the aCnFP had found that since 2010 Wa strains of powdery mildew contained a mutation which strengthened their resistance to triazole fungicides.

“This explains why Wa isolates of powdery mildew have uniformly more resistance to triazole fungicides than isolates in the eastern states,” he said.

“The findings highlight the importance of growers growing barley cultivars with good levels of resistance and avoiding the use of triazole-based fungicides such as flutriafol and tebuconazole.”

SEPWa president lyndon Mickel welcomed the announcement of the permit allowing the use of spiroxamine for control of barley powdery mildew in Wa, saying it gave growers another tool in the toolbox to manage the disease.

“SEPWa has been working with the GRDC to help the industry introduce new chemicals to help combat powdery mildew,” he said.

“Prosper 500 EC provides an alternative fungicide for the control of barley powdery mildew and should help existing fungicides last longer.”

GRDC western regional panel chairman Peter Roberts said the permit for spiroxamine was providing immediate assistance for Wa growers to manage powdery mildew.

“Collaboration between industry stakeholders and fast-tracking of the permit process by the aPVMa helped achieve this positive result,” he said.

Peter said that in addition to the permit, Wa growers would benefit from the GRDC investing $1.35 million over the next three years with the aim of supporting commercialisation of new fungicide modes of action to help manage powdery mildew.

Permit 13482 for use of spiroxamine in WA barley crops – effective until March 31, 2013 – is subject to strict rules and conditions.

More information about the permit can be found at www.apvma.gov.au/permits or download it from http://permits.apvma.gov.au/PER13482.PDF ■

Canola stalks (right) infected with blackleg. (Photo Ray Cowley, NSW DPI)

For more information see the GRDC Blackleg Management Guide Factsheet on

Pages 40–43 of National Section.

MoulDBoaRD ploughing has been embraced by many growers in Western australia’s northern grainbelt to help manage non-wetting soils and weeds, but is it

suitable for growers in other regions?a small group of southern Wa growers and researchers

recently participated in a tour to address this question and gather information about other practices to manage water repellent soils.

The tour was instigated through the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) Regional Cropping Solutions (RCS) initiative and led by RCS facilitator Julianne Hill.

The group visited the Mingenew farm of grower Stuart Smart, who this year mouldboard ploughed 1500 hectares of land, and has used mouldboarding as a tool for three years.

With the West Midlands Group, the delegation inspected GRDC-supported non-wetting soils trials at the Badgingarra property of Colin Mcalpine.

The group also travelled to the Pingrup farm of Paul Hicks who is developing a seeding system to alleviate non-wetting soils.

lake Grace farmer Mark Pearce concluded there are no ‘silver bullets’ for management of non-wetting soils.

“Mouldboard ploughing is a very effective tool for both weed seed control and non-wetting management,” he said.

“Correctly managed, it is possible to establish a crop on a mouldboarded paddock in the first year which has potential to make the operation break even or close to.

“The soil in Mingenew is very deep which is different to the soil types around where I farm.

“It surprised me how the Badgingarra sands are very non-wetting even in such high rainfall.”

Mark said the type of seeding machine used could make a big difference in managing non-wetting soils, but results seemed to vary between seasons.

Mt Madden farmer lloyd Burrell noted the potential for wind erosion after mouldboard ploughing.

“I learnt that mouldboard ploughing looks exactly the same as clearing new land minus the stumps and rocks!” he said.

“Very, very wind prone ... scary!”Grass Patch farmer Michael Ietto said he learnt that you don’t

just go into a paddock and start mouldboard ploughing without adequate preparation.

“You have to get it set up right to make sure that it turns over the soil right, otherwise you’re just wasting your time,” he said.

“after this trip I would like to try mouldboard ploughing on the deep sand on my property and spading on the sands that are 10 to 14 inches deep to mix up some clay with it.”

July–August 2012 Southern Focus Australian Grain— iii

Growers go on mouldboard fact finding mission

A mouldboard plough in action.

Fiona Hobley, of nyabing, said burying non-wetting soil and weed seeds with mouldboard ploughs was alleviating non-wetting and weed issues.

“But overcoming the non-wetting issue is not a simple task with one solution,” she said.

GRDC western regional chairman Peter Roberts said there was a belief among farmers that mouldboard ploughing was unsuitable in the southern grainbelt due to different soil types and the risks surrounding wind erosion.

“But after seeing first-hand the results achieved from mouldboard ploughing in the northern grainbelt, I believe further investigation of this option is warranted in helping to address non-wetting soils in southern regions,” he said.

Other mouldboarding researchPeter said the GRDC was investing significant funds into

projects aimed at improving crop profitability from non-wetting soils, and was keen to extend to all growers the knowledge generated from research and grower experience.

“The GRDC supports two major five-year projects in Wa which are investigating potential solutions to water repellence,” he said.

“These include a project led by Stephen Davies, of the Department of agriculture and Food (DaFWa), which aims to enable growers to identify their water repellent soils, choose

which management option best suits their needs and is likely to be economically sensible.

“a project led by Margaret Roper of CSIRo is complementing the DaFWa research by exploring management techniques promoting water infiltration into non-wetting soils.”

Peter said that in addition, five smaller GRDC-funded trials investigating non-wetting soils, and management tools to address them, were taking place in the western part of the Kwinana Port Zone.

“The one-year trials were initiated after four out of five GRDC RCS networks in Wa identified non-wetting soils as a priority for local growers,” he said.

The RCS initiative aims to reduce the time it takes for new varieties, practices and technologies to be adopted, with the ultimate aim being to increase the profitability of the australian grains industry.

GRDC natural resources senior manager Martin Blumenthal warned that mouldboard ploughing was a high risk activity from a soil erosion point of view.

“Remember that the soil is our most precious resource,” Martin said. “Ground cover protects soil from erosion and it is important to maintain ground cover for as much of the year as possible.

“If mouldboard ploughing has to be used, do it at a time that will still maximise annual ground cover and when wind erosion is a lower risk.” ■

iv— Australian Grain Southern Focus July–August 2012

Mingenew grower Stuart Smart speaks with southern WA farmers and researchers about seeding technique following mouldboard ploughing.

NuSEED, a wholly owned subsidiary of nufarm limited, rcently celebrated its partnership with KFC as the food company changes its cooking oil to 100 per cent

australian high oleic canola oil.nuseed’s specialty canola oil, Monola, is a key part of KFC’s

commitment to develop a closer association with australian farmers and use local suppliers where possible across the spectrum of its menu.

In an event held at nufarm’s laverton north site, KFC marketing, technical and supply chain representatives shared with nuseed and nufarm staff the various aspects involved in making the switch to high oleic canola.

In welcoming everyone, nufarm CEo Doug Rathbone said that partnerships with organisations like KFC are important and valuable.

“When businesses like KFC commit to using our specialist seed products it gives us the confidence to continue to invest in seed technologies that add value and solve problems throughout the supply chain,” Doug said.

“The development of Monola has taken more than 10 years. Way back at the start, we had an idea of what it could do and be, but it has taken a lot of hard work and vision to realise its potential.

“This decision from KFC is significant for australian agriculture. It creates more opportunity for our farmers, giving them another option for high value crop production.”

Consumer research conducted by KFC found that improving the health profile of cooking oils was one of the most significant things the company could do to improve customer satisfaction.

Monola oil performs at much higher temperatures than regular canola oil. This stability at high temperatures and pressures has enabled KFC to use Monola oil to cook chicken, with added health and handling benefits, whilst keeping the same taste that consumers demand.

nuseed’s speciality oils manager, Travis Rankin, said that nuseed’s strategic position has helped KFC achieve its ambition to build its relationships and understanding of australian farmers in relation to its supply chain.

“We have worked very closely with the KFC team over the past two years to build confidence in the reliable supply of Monola. We have learned a lot about our end customer and KFC has taken the opportunity to more closely understand its supply chain,” he said.

Travis also launched the KFC nuseed Monola Grower of the Year award which will be given to a Monola grower in each production state who demonstrates sound sustainability and agronomic practices, good crop performance and loyalty to the Monola program.

“We are very excited to see this partnership with KFC come to life. The benefit to our farmers and the potential for further innovation is a great opportunity,” he said.

The Nuseed groupnuseed, a wholly owned subsidiary of nufarm limited, is a

global seed and traits company focused on the enhancement of food and feed value through seed technology.

The company develops unique and proprietary sunflower,

sorghum and canola products which are marketed in more than 30 countries.

nuseed has a significant genetics pipeline plus targeted trait development, and is facilitating growth in high value seed treatment segments. ■

July–August 2012 Southern Focus Australian Grain— v

Travis Rankin, Nuseed specialty oils manager, launches the KFC Nuseed Monola Grower of the Year Award.

Left to right: Nikki Lawson, KFC Chief Marketing Officer, Doug Rathbone, Nufarm CEO, Angeline Achariya, KFC Chief Food & Innovation Technical Officer and Michael Clark, KFC Chief Supply Chain Manager.

Nuseed celebrates Monola oil partnership with KFC

RESEaRCHERS are seeking input from farmers and advisers to assist with their ongoing investigations into insecticide resistance in broadacre agricultural pests.

Entomologists engaged in research projects funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) are searching for locations where growers have experienced chemical control difficulties or failures when dealing with insect pests, particularly mites and aphids.

The research being led by cesar* and the university of Melbourne, in collaboration with entomologists across australia, aims to identify areas at risk and provide early detection of resistant populations.

Insecticide resistance increasingaccording to cesar’s Dr Paul umina, insecticide resistance is an

increasing issue for the grains sector.“Entomologists suspect that the problem is more extensive

than has been scientifically confirmed. We are therefore keen to map the geographical spread of the problem throughout australia’s cropping and pasture regions,” Paul says.

“a number of important crop pests have developed resistance due to the over-use and heavy reliance on chemicals. This includes Helicoverpa, diamondback moth, silverleaf whitefly, Western flower thrips, and several species of mites and aphids.

“Early detection of insecticide resistance in the field will allow management strategies to be implemented by growers to not only reduce pest damage, but minimise the risk of further spread,” Paul said.

CSIRo research scientist Dr owain Edwards is encouraging grain growers, farmers and agronomists in Western australia to provide information that could assist industry with developing a greater understanding of insecticide resistance.

owain, who is particularly interested in resistance in mites and aphids, said researchers wanted to hear from anyone who has

experienced problems with insect pests which appear to have some resistance to insecticide.

Researchers also want to hear from landholders who have paddocks that have been subjected to heavy sprays in recent years so insect pest populations can be assessed to determine whether resistance is building or not. If growers or advisers know of a paddock with control failures in the past, they are also encouraged to make contact.

RLEM resistanceowain said resistance in the redlegged earth mite (RlEM) was

concerning. Resistance in RlEM was first discovered in australia only a few years ago on a property in Wa, and since then this resistance has spread across numerous properties, spanning a distance of hundreds of kilometres.

This resistance in RlEM has been found to have a genetic basis where the resistance is passed on to future generations of mites, meaning it can potentially persist in the field indefinitely.

In 2010 pirimicarb resistance was also detected for the first time in australia in populations of green peach aphid. There is already resistance to synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates in green peach aphids in australia.

This is of particular concern to oilseed and pulse growers as this chemical has until now been seen as a fall back for aphid populations resistant to other chemical groups, according to owain.

any information obtained by the researchers from growers and advisers will be kept confidential. If resistance is detected alternative control options can be provided.

Reports can be made directly to Dr Owain Edwards on 08 9333 6401 or email [email protected].

More information on integrated pest management is available from the GRDC via www.grdc.com.au/pestlinks.

*cesar is a science-based company that delivers environmentally sustainable management solutions in agricultural pest control and wildlife conservation. ■

vi— Australian Grain Southern Focus July–August 2012

Probe into insecticide resistance needs grassroots input

In 2010 pirimicarb resistance was detected for the first time in Australia in populations of green peach aphid.

AuSTRalIan and international scientists will gather in Fremantle later this year to present research findings on soilborne diseases.

The 7th australasian Soilborne Diseases Symposium will be held at The university of notre Dame from September 17 to 20.

It is being sponsored by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the australasian Plant Pathology Society, Curtin university, the Department of agriculture and Food (DaFWa) and Bayer CropScience.

organising committee convenor and DaFWa senior scientist Bill Macleod said keynote and invited papers would be presented on topics vital to improving soil health and reducing crop losses from soilborne diseases.

Keynote speakers include:■■ uS plant pathologist and rhizoctonia expert Timothy Paulitz, of

the uS Department of agriculture (uSDa) agriculture Research Service, who will speak about ‘Biological suppression of fungal root disease’;

■■ Robin oliver, technical manager in Syngenta’s Product Safety organisation, who will discuss ‘Chemical control and fate of chemicals applied in soil’; and,

■■ aarhus university associate Professor Sabine Ravnskov, of Denmark, who will present the paper ‘Beneficial interactions between plants and soil microbes’.“other speakers will include australian scientists involved

in research, development and extension under the GRDC’s Soil Biology Initiative II program which involves 15 projects and more than 500 crop sampling sites,” Bill said.

The australasian Soilborne Diseases Symposium will include an optional overnight field trip visiting agricultural, horticultural and natural ecosystems in the Perth hinterland and the Wa wheatbelt.

For more information or to register for the event visit www.asds7.org

Information about the GRDC Soil Biology Initiative II is available at www.grdc.com.au/soilbiology and the GRDC Soil Biology Supplement at www.grdc.com.au/Ground-Cover-96-Supplement ■

July–August 2012 Southern Focus Australian Grain— vii

Soilborne disease to be focus of symposium in WA

Rhizoctonia evident in a lupin crop.

Wheat roots showing severe rhizoctonia symptoms.

MoRE than one million drums will avoid landfills thanks to the efforts of some passionate locals doing their bit for the drumMuSTER program.

The Central Murray Regional Waste Management Group has processed nearly a third of all drums recycled through the program in Victoria, preventing 1234 tonnes of waste from clogging up landfills.

Their contribution has also gone a long way for drumMuSTER moving towards recycling 20 million drums nationwide later this year.

Central Murray Regional Waste Management Group Executive officer Karen Fazzani said the million drum milestone was fantastic news.

“It’s something we’ve been promoting regularly and I’m happy to be involved,” she said. “Councils have been really supportive in the program. In the past we’ve put ads in the paper and we have a fortnightly column that helps promote the program.”

But she said there was still plenty of work to do.“We know there are still drums out there, there’s always room

to collect more,” she said.drumMuSTER’s Victorian Regional Consultant John Knight

knows firsthand how vital the group’s work has been to the program over the past 12 years.

“The group has managed around 25 sites for drum deliveries since starting the program back in 1999,” he said. “They’ve been pretty good to work with and have been fantastic for getting a handle on where the drums are.”

“I am very happy at the tremendous progress they have made at keeping plastic and steel drums out of landfills and diverting

them into recycled material. This achievement has been an enormous boon for both the community and local environment.”

“I’d also like to give a big thanks to everyone who has supported the drumMuSTER program by bringing in their drums. We couldn’t have done it without their vital contributions.”

“More drums are likely to come through the region as rice farming returns to the region after the huge amount of rain we have received in the past year,” he said.

Since its inception in late 1998, drumMuSTER has collected and recycled more than 19.2 million empty agvet chemical containers and transformed them into practical items such as fences, wheelie bins and road signs.

For any further information on the drumMUSTER program, call 1800 008 707 or log on to www.drummuster.com.au ■

viii— Australian Grain Southern Focus July–August 2012

Million drum milestone for Central Murray

drums collected by council (since 1999)…

■ Wakool Shire (NSW) – 60,558.

■ Buloke Shire – 376,033.

■ Loddon Shire – 156,204.

■ Gannawarra Shire – 75,239.

■ Swan Hill Shire – 349,908.

■ Total – 1,010,942 or 1234 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill and recycled.

drumMUSTER’s Victorian Regional Consultant John Knight (left) and Culgoa Landfill operator Henry Doyle.

THIS is the worst drought in the US for over 60 years according to some observers. If that is the

case, there will not be anyone who was farming or trading grain the last time we had a drought of this severity. That makes it a little harder to guess what the fallout will be.

Comparisons to this year’s US drought are being made with the droughts of 1988, 1977 and 1974.

As recently as April/May the projections were for record corn and soybean crops in the US this year. We are now looking at losing a massive 100 million tonnes from the corn crop (20–25 per cent), and 10 mt or more (15–20 per cent) from the soybean crop.

The August USDA Report will be keenly awaited to get the USDA take on how many acres of corn have been abandoned, and what the yields are like on what was left for grain.

Soybeans are now also coming under similar pressure as the drought seems to be persisting into the critical stages for that crop as well.

Meanwhile the market is trying to find the price levels at which demand is reduced to pull supply and demand back into balance. In the case of corn, current price levels do seem to be reducing demand, with a slowdown in ethanol production and a drop in export demand.

For soybeans it looks like prices will need to go higher. China continues to buy US soybeans at current prices, and soybean crushing demand has remained solid. One of the issues for soybeans is that demand for soymeal continues to rise as it is needed to replace declining production of DDg (Dried Distillers grain) as ethanol production slides.

Global wheat cropIn its August Report, the USDA is expected to pull back on its

production forecast from Russia, currently set at 49 mt. As well there are concerns about final production numbers for Europe as wet conditions reduce both yield and quality. Here in Australia, WA is seen as having a total crop of 10–11 mt, down from 15 mt last year. That will come into play as well for wheat, barley and canola projections.

EU rapeseedThe wet finish to the season in the EU has added another

800,000 tonnes to current production estimates, which will in turn add further pressure to volumes required for import.

At 19 mt the crop will come in 1 mt ahead of current USDA projections, but would still represent the fourth year in a row of declining production, which has been a driver of increased EU imports in the last couple of years.

With good crops forecast for Canada – and a big crop here in Australia again – canola production is looking robust. Demand into Europe is also being pegged back by a softening in demand for fuels as they go deeper into recession, making it harder for canola prices to keep up with rising US soybean prices.

Canadian crop recordThe Canadians remain on track to produce a record grain crop

this year at around 60 mt. Unlike the US corn belt, Canada is having a good season, and crop conditions are good.

Canola production is estimated at 16.5 mt, wheat at 27 mt, barley 9 mt and pulses around 5 mt.

US crop progressThe condition of the corn crop fell

a little more, but with so much of the crop now in trouble, the ratings cannot get a lot worse. Around 24 per cent of the crop is now good to excellent, down from 26 per cent last week, and 48 per cent is poor to very poor, up from 25 per cent last week. The soybean crop condition slipped two points to 29 per cent good to excellent, with 37 per cent poor to very poor, up from 35 per cent last week.

Twenty eight per cent of the spring wheat crop is now harvested, making the condition ratings less relevant. In fact there was a slight improvement with 63 per cent good to excellent, up three points. This fits with the good conditions being seen in Canada as well. ■


marketing

www.profarmer.com.au August 1, 2012

US drought – Aussies’ shout

SOME wHEaT HIgHlIgHTS ■ The wheat market lifted 8.25 USc/bu for the week ending

July 30, with December closing on 927.25 USc/bu.

■ Higher temperatures in Western Europe were seen as assisting their early harvest but early yields are disappointing.

■ With over 80 per cent of the Ukraine crop harvested, yields were put at being down 22 per cent on last year. Russian yields are running 35 per cent under 2011 with 21 per cent of the crop harvested.

■ The market has been speculating that Russia will institute export bans again, but it is more likely that exports will be ‘slowed’ rather than banned. Russia will also sell grain from intervention stocks to keep prices under control.

■ Wheat buyers are seen as stepping up their orders in case of supply issues.

■ Private forecasts are putting the Australian crop at 23 mt, down from the current USDA estimate of 26 mt.

COrN HIgHlIgHTS ■ Corn prices lifted 28.5 USc/bu for the week ending July 30,

pushing to new record highs.

■ Early in the period corn prices pulled back from record highs as traders took profits.

■ No relief to the drought was ever on the cards though and the market recovered to new records late in the period.

■ Some US feed companies are admitting to importing cheap Brazilian corn.

■ Export sales of US corn are also weakening.

■ Final corn production will depend both on yields (estimated now to be as low as 122 bushels per acre, ie 7.7 t/ha) and final acres harvested with large areas being cut for fodder.

THE global wheat market should be factoring in concerns about wheat supply for some time. This will underpin wheat futures, and therefore our prices, and give wheat its

own reasons for trading at high levels independent of corn and soybeans.

global wheat production first broke through 600 million tonnes in 1997–98 when extremely high wheat prices triggered a surge in global output. The 610 mt crop ended up 21 mt ahead of the previous record level set in 1990–91. Production surged ahead of consumption by close to 35 mt.

That 1997–98 record was not beaten until 2004–05, when we grew 626 mt. The new record was 16 mt above the previous one, and production moved ahead of consumption by 19 mt. It was a price spike in late 2002 that drove the 2003 lift in output.

The collapse in wheat stocks into 2007–08, which drove wheat to all time record prices, created a boom in wheat production that took record production from 626 to 683 mt in 2008–09. That 57 mt surge in production pushed consumption ahead of production by 40 mt. The lift in output was repeated the next year with another 2 mt being added to the record, and a further 35 mt being added to global stocks.

That surge in production resulted in the low prices received for our 2009 harvest, with relief only arriving in 2010 with the Russian drought.

Just two years after the last record in production was set, a new record was set at 694.7 mt in 2011–12 (up 9.1 mt on the previous record). But this time production only just matched consumption. Sure, consumption hit an all time high as high corn prices pushed endusers from corn to wheat, but even a correction back closer to trend on consumption growth for 2012–13, is still leaving us with a current estimate of 680 mt for consumption.

We are not used to setting a new production record without that being associated with a very significant surplus between production and consumption.

So we roll into 2012–13 with production forecast at 665.3 mt, with arguably as much as 5 to 7 mt still to come off that total just to account for a drop in output from Russia and Australia, compared to current USDA projections.

We also have ongoing high corn prices that will try and see wheat replace corn again, potentially pushing wheat consumption up a little from current estimates. We could end up with a 20 to 26 mt gap between production and consumption this year, from the current projection of 14 mt, if we lose another 5 to 7 mt off production, and add a couple of million tonnes to consumption.

What about next year?A repeat in 2013–14 of this year’s output – which is likely to be

the fourth largest ever – will simply add fuel to the fire as global stocks continue falling sharply. Even a 30 mt surge back to the current production record might not prevent stocks from declining.

Even setting a new record level of production might generate a surplus but would be unlikely to push stocks above 2009–10 levels.

If stocks are to be restored to May 2012 levels after the 2013–14 season, global production in that year will have to top 707 mt, or some 13 mt more than the current record. It would imply a year on year lift in the global wheat crop of some 45 to 50 mt.

The market will be watching nervously to see what happens with winter wheat acreages in drought stricken US later this year, and will be watching closely to see how northern hemisphere

crops develop in early 2013. Only when a strong surplus is looking likely in 2013 will the markets be able to relax and let wheat prices ease.

If production in 2013 is no better than 2012, global stocks will push down towards 150 to 160 mt. At those levels we are getting within 12 months of the 135 to 125 mt levels that pushed prices to new highs for our harvests in 2002 and 2007.

Global weather and priceWe have drought in the US being compared to 1988, 1977

and 1974. We have just had the coldest temperatures in Alice Springs since 1977 on the back of a burst of cold Antarctic air pushing up from the south. Seems to be all similar.

The 1974, 1977 and 1988 US drought years are all years where global production of wheat fell short of global consumption, much as we are seeing this year.

High wheat prices were a feature of all of those years, with fob prices running well ahead of five year averages except in 1977 (prices were still high though, at double prices from five years earlier).

Whichever way we look at it, 2012 is set to be similar, with production falling short of consumption and prices being well clear of the five year average harvest price – but not a new record harvest price.


marketing

Tight global wheat balance sheetFIGURE 1: 2012–13 forward wheat pricing

FIGURE 2: Production vs consumption (mt)


marketing

CanolaAnyone looking for canola prices to rally just because soybean

prices are lifting might be disappointed. The link between soybean and canola prices is not perfect, and to a degree canola has delinked in recent weeks.

One reason is that a prime driver of soybean prices is not soyoil, but soymeal. Demand for soymeal is increasing as production of Dried Distillers grain declines on the back of falling corn use for ethanol.

We also have the issue of a big canola crop in Canada which is currently in good condition, and a limit on the import demand into the EU as economic conditions pull back demand for fuels including biofuels, and as the end to their season helps hold rapeseed production in Western Europe at least.

So far new season canola has traded up to $600 per tonne. In 2008, when all commodities ran to peak prices in July and August, canola peaked at $632 per tonne. We have gone very close to that level this time around, with currency probably being a factor in limiting how high we can go against Winnipeg futures.

On the futures charts, spot canola peaked at CAN$657.20 per tonne in the week of July 6. The mid year peak in 2008 was CAN$700. The drivers for canola prices are very different this time around (eg crude oil prices), so the market has done very well to get to the level it has.

The only time canola traded above $600 per tonne was the period in late 2007 and early 2008, when we had drought and shorts in the market. A more relevant measure for high canola prices is the peak of the commodity boom in July/August 2008, when the $632 price was achieved.

Be wary of expecting the market to trade above its recent highs, even if US soybeans do continue to rally. Prices for our canola above $600 per tonne should be seen as a bonus, not an expectation, when planning your sales program for the 2012–13 crop.

Canola market outlook

Supplied August 1 by Profarmer Australia� Information available at www�profarmer�com�au or call 1300 302 143

AWB forecasts 2012–13 wheat pool prices

ON August 2, AWB today released its first price estimates for the 2012–13 AWB Wheat Pools. Benchmark grade APW2 was forecast at $350 a tonne (FOB, excl gST).

Noodle grade ANW1 was estimated at $355 a tonne in the Western pool, APW1 at $345 a tonne in the Eastern pool and APW1 at $340 in the South Australian pool. All prices are FOB and exclusive of gST.

AWB also launched an early commitment premium (ECP) of $15 a tonne to those farmers who make the early decision to contract into the 2012–13 AWB Wheat Pools, with the ECP contract available from August 2 for a limited period.

AWB’s Richard Williams said the 2012–13 Estimated Pool Returns (EPR) are calculated with reference to the outlook for domestic and international market dynamics encompassing production, demand, stocks, price and currency.

“The current wheat market is characterised by high prices due to drought in the US corn belt and reduction in Black Sea crops,” Richard said.

With the global wheat supply and demand situation tightening we expect Australian wheat values to be well supported until we have a clearer picture of the actual production levels of Black Sea wheat crops, impact of Canadian deregulation on trade flows and production of our own crop.

“There still remains further risk in northern hemisphere spring wheat crops, and given a tight global balance sheet, harvest progress in winter wheat crops will be watched closely for any quality concerns.

Australian spring conditions will be critical“Australian weather during August and September will be

critical for the global wheat market this season given reliance on Australia’s exportable surplus to meet global demand.

“Forecasting 2012–13 wheat prices is extremely challenging as international wheat prices remain extremely volatile and we expect non market fundamentals, such as continued global financial uncertainty especially in the EU, to continue to influence markets going forward,” Richard said.

“The $15 dollar a tonne early commitment premium represents the value we believe we can extract from our global footprint and insights, forward derivative and currency markets via structured hedge programs, and greater forward planning for logistics efficiency. AWB’s relationship with Cargill has brought a renewed effort to open new markets and deliver premiums to Australian farmers.”

The 2012–13 season will also be the first time AWB will provide guaranteed payment dates to add some certainty to farmers’ budgeting plans. In line with this, the finalisation date of the pools has been brought forward to the end of February 2014.

“We will update our estimates regularly right through the production and marketing cycles of the 2012–13 season crop, which is generally a period of 18 months beginning in August – so we are forecasting a long way forward,” Richard said. ■

IN recent years there has been an increasing uptake of NIR (Near-Infra Red) technology for the measurement of grain protein and moisture on-farm. Although these on-farm

meters have a significant cost, they can also provide owners with substantial cost-savings and benefits.

The purpose of this article is to provide information for grain growers who are considering the purchase of an on-farm NIR instrument. In this article, we discuss to two key points;■■ Why? – Common reasons prompting farmers to invest in on-

farm measurement; and,■■ How? – Things to consider when selecting an on-farm NIR

analyser.

Why? Reasons to measure protein and moisture on farm

Storage: If you are storing grain on-farm it is essential that you segregate grain as it is placed into storage, otherwise you run the risk of devaluing your grain by mixing high value product

(such as prime hard wheat) with lower value grain.There are many factors that determine the quality and ultimate

value of your grain, but protein is a key factor, as is an acceptable moisture.

Out loading and delivery: Money is not made until the grain is delivered and has been classified. It is therefore important to measure grain as it is being out loaded to ensure that each truckload earns the maximum possible return.

The effective measurement and blending of grain at out loading allows you to squeeze every last dollar of value from your crop.

Autonomy: Measuring protein and moisture on-farm gives you greater control over your operations.

Having accurate results on-farm in a matter of minutes saves you valuable time during harvest. No more travelling to the nearest depot with your samples to get results can mean you spend more precious minutes managing your harvest as efficiently as possible.


Protein for profit – your guide to measuring protein on farm – Part 1

POINTS TO PONDEr… ■ You wouldn’t store wheat and barley in the same silo, so

why would you risk mixing high-value grain with low value grain in the same silo?

■ If you don’t blend your grain to maximise the value before delivery to a bulk-handler, then you are leaving money on the table for the bulk handler (who will blend grain prior to export/delivery to their customers).

■ What would it be worth to achieve an extra hour of harvesting each day?

■ The differences in technology between NIR instruments now used at grain receival sites and the traditional, portable/on-farm/handheld moisture meters can lead to quite different readings on the same sample of grain. By using the same NIR technology on-farm it is possible to ensure that your moisture measurements are identical to your local silo. On-farm and accurate moisture and protein measurement

puts you in the driver’s seat at harvest�

Grain segregation capability is essential to maximise marketing opportunities�

If you don’t blend your grain you are leaving money on the table for the bulk handler�

Moisture: Most NIR protein meters also measure moisture. When you have confidence that your moisture measurements are correct and that your grain won’t be rejected at receival, you have confidence to begin harvesting. That can mean more hours harvesting – earlier starts, later finishes and getting your crops off faster.

How? Things to consider when choosing an on-farm NIR instrument

As with any product type, NIR protein and moisture meters range in price and quality, and it is important to choose the right tool for your purpose.

For many users the over-riding requirement is the accuracy of the instrument – “Does the instrument measure the same as my depot?”

This is probably the most important factor in selecting an NIR instrument. It is a good idea to check which brand of instrument your bulk handler/depot is using before choosing an instrument.

Some technical aspects of the instrument that you should consider when comparing instruments:■■ Which grains/products does the instrument measure?■■ Is the instrument portable?■■ What power supply does the instrument need?■■ Does the instrument measure whole grain or do samples have

to be ground?■■ What warranty and support is offered with the instrument?■■ What servicing/maintenance is required?

When deciding which instrument to purchase and which supplier to choose, consider the support you will receive from your supplier:■■ Is the supply of test equipment an important part of the

supplier’s business?

■■ Will the supplier be able to help me with technical issues?■■ Does the supplier offer lease finance to help spread the cost of

the instrument?While it is easy to be put off by the cost of an NIR instrument,

it is important to consider what financial benefits the instrument can bring to your farming operation.

The worksheet in Part 2 of this article (in the September–October issue) will help you to estimate the return on investment for your farm.

NEXT ISSUE: In the next issue we crunch the numbers to explore whether an on-farm NIR instrument can increase your profitability.

Further information: Graintec Scientific – Ph: 1300 640 299, www.graintec.com.au ■

One of the most important factors in choosing a protein meter is making sure it measures the same as your local delivery point�

Infratec™ SofiaOn-farm grain analyserW Wheat and barley – protein and moisture

W Canola – oil and moisture

W Results aligned with ALL bulk handler receival sites

Questions? More information?

[email protected]/sofiaPhone: 1300 360 848See how it works

Why Infratec Sofia?Infratec Sofia calibrations are based on those used in the Infratec™ 1241 grain analyser, the analyser used exclusively by ALL Australian bulk handlers. So the results you get on-farm with Infratec Sofia are what you will see at receival.

• Results in less than 3 minutes.• Stable calibrations – no adjustments required.• Upgradeable with new crop calibrations.• Compact and mobile (240VAC/12VDC), weighs 9kg.• Comprehensive support and back up Australia-wide.

A TEAM of Queensland scientists is blazing a trail of genetic innovation in grain sorghum which has significant implications for securing food supply for some of the

world’s poorest nations.Queensland government Department of Agriculture,

Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Science Leader Dr Rex Williams says that within the sorghum research group of the Queensland government /University of Queensland partnership are some of the world’s foremost sorghum genetic researchers and their work has major implications for poorer nations in terms of food security.

“By combining traditional plant breeding, gene technology and bioinformatics the group is improving our basic understanding of the sorghum plant but it is also delivering tangible benefits,” said Rex.

These benefits for the Australian rural economy include the development of new sorghum lines with characteristics that can grow and produce sorghum food grains in increasingly drier and harsher environments. And these benefits are being shared more widely, with sorghum breeding lines from the program finding their way across the oceans and starting to make a positive contribution to global food security.

A staple food for 750 million“This work has significant implications for some of the poorer,

drier parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America where sorghum is a staple food for over 750 million people,” Rex says.

“globally the crop has a value of around $70 billion and its relative drought and heat resistance have made it a very useful food crop in hot and semi-arid environments. In northern Australia, sorghum is the most widely grown summer grain crop covering an area of over 700,000 hectares and with a value of $350 million. It is grown mainly for livestock feed and with a significant potential as a source of bio-fuels with very little of the crop exported.”

Dr David Jordan, a plant breeder and molecular biologist from Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (a Qld government/University of Queensland partnership) says that a major focus of the group’s work is to use new genetic technologies to make the most of the crops’ amazing genetic diversity.

One of the exciting resources the team has developed recently is a large nested association mapping (NAM) population. This is a set of sorghum lines developed by conventional breeding methods to be adapted to Australian environments but containing genes from diverse sorghum from all around the world. It is one of only two such resources in a major crop species – the other being a maize NAM population developed by Dr Ed Buckler at Cornell University in the US.

Library of natural diversityDavid says the NAM population, combined with new DNA

technologies, provides Queensland scientists with a very powerful resource to identify the genes controlling important traits such as drought and heat tolerance and improve digestibility. “It’s like a library of the natural diversity of the crop,” he said.

A key part of this research is an initiative to re-sequence the genes of the NAM sorghum lines and the breeding lines and diverse sorghum lines from around the world. This work is partly funded by Australian grain growers through the grains Research and Development Corporation (gRDC). “This sequence information provides us with the capacity to identify genetic differences between lines that are potentially associated with traits of interest,” David said.

“The power comes from putting the performance information from the lines in the NAM population together with the genetic information.


Sorghum research has global benefits

Dr Sidi Coulibally, Mr Alan Cruickshank and Dr Niaba Teme are working on international collaborative research projects to help improve sorghum production in some of the world’s poorest countries�

Dr David Jordan is helping to unlock the amazing genetic diversity of sorghum�

“There are around 35,000 genes in sorghum and in most cases we have very little understanding of what they do,” says Dr Emma Mace of Queensland government’s DAFF. “genes are very much like words in a foreign language – gene sequence information is like having a dictionary to help us understand what the words mean. One other interesting aspect of the work is that because other food species such as sugarcane, rice, maize, wheat and barley have a similar genetic code, we can use information we learn in sorghum to help us understand those other crops.”

The ‘stay-green’ traitAn example using this integrated approach to understanding

important traits in sorghum is a project trying to identify the genes responsible for the stay-green drought resistance trait.

Dr Andrew Borrell is a crop physiologist from QAAFI and Associate Professor at UQ and leads the stay-green gene discovery project and says that plant breeders have been selecting for this drought adaptation trait for more than 30 years. This project is a partnership between Australian (QAAFI/DAFF) and US (Texas A&M University) scientists.

“As the name suggests, plants with stay-green retain greener leaves and stems during grain filling when water is limiting,” says Andrew. “Crop physiologists began working with plant breeders to better understand how stay-green works and why it results in higher grain yield under drought. It looks like stay-green modulates a number of key processes in plants, including root growth, canopy architecture and the water-use-efficiency.”

But sorghum is only the starting point to better understand drought adaptation in other crops.

“We call sorghum a model crop because it provides tremendous insight into how drought adaptation works at a general level,” says Andrew. “And the discovery of genes and gene networks controlling drought resistance mechanisms in sorghum provide clues as to which genes are important for drought-proofing other cereal crops.”

The global implications of stay-green are beginning to have a major impact internationally.

For example the group is conducting a project funded by the Generation Challenge program to improve drought adaptation of sorghum lines from Mali in western Africa. The team are incorporating stay-green drought adaptation from lines developed in Australia into lines adapted to conditions in Mali with the aim of enabling sorghum farmers in that country to

produce more food in drier times. As well as providing breeding lines, the project is also providing training for African researchers in sorghum drought breeding and physiology.

“Our team is also working with colleagues in India to develop drought-adapted sorghum to enhance grain yield and fodder quality,” says Andrew, “and elite Indian lines containing stay-green are looking promising in field trials run in central-western India – a region of about 250 million people who rely on sorghum as a staple.“

Focus is on Australian farmersThe primary focus of the sorghum group is improving the

productivity and profitability of Australian farmers by licensing sorghum lines to commercial seed companies that use them to make improved commercial hybrids.

Plant breeder Alan Cruickshank of DAFF’s Agri-Science QLD says that in the past four years the team has licensed over 400 breeding lines to Australian and international seed breeding companies (including over 20 lines to France) with almost every sorghum grain produced in Australia now carrying genes from germplasm released by the program. The material is also attracting significant interest from overseas commercial programs including North and South America and Europe.

They are also working closely with plant pathologists to identify lines with resistance to stalk rot and other plant diseases that can cause the plant to lodge (fall over) prior to harvest and sorghum ergot which causes a gel-like substance in the head which can affect grain quality. Other collaborations are developing lines that are more heat tolerant and those that are more digestible for livestock.

Their two major successes over the past 25 years include developing midge-resistant sorghums (midge being a small red fly whose juvenile larvae eat the soft developing grain) and developing drought-resistant lines by incorporating the stay-green trait.

The midge-resistance alone meant huge reductions in chemical use for the industry and is measured to have returned a 17 to 1 benefit to cost ratio to the industry and with a flow-on to the regional economy estimated to be in the order of $48 million for every 10 per cent increase in sorghum production. ■■


Dr Andrew Borrell, QAAFI, Dr Sidi Coulibally and Dr Niaba Teme of Mali, Dr Barbara George of DAFF, Qld and Dr David Jordan, QAAFI� The researchers are helping to incorporate the stay-green trait into sorghum lines in Africa�

Dr Emma Mace says that research into the sorghum gene sequence information will help us better understand other food crops�


Farming in Foreign Fields…a focus on the successful endeavours of innovative farmers around the world

TOgETHER with his son-in-law Kyle Shepard, Tom Baughman runs a unique operation split between cash grain and vegetable crops near Napoleon, Ohio in the midwestern

United States. “We’ve put a lot of money into technology in the past 10 years, but it’s paid off,” says Tom.

Tom’s a second-generation grower of carrots, parsley, red beets and potatoes, primarily grown on contract for the Campbell Soup Company which has a soup processing plant in Napoleon. Tom’s father, Ted, began growing vegetables for the soup giant in the early 1960s soon after the plant was built in this area of table-top flat fields with black sandy soils conducive to vegetable production.

Tom expanded the operation to include fresh market green beans grown for another food distributor, and corn and soybeans.

Today, the 1620 hectare operation includes about 1215 hectares of corn and soybeans, with the balance split among carrots and green beans, plus the other vegetable crops.

His adoption of technology started with a simple lightbar. After using it for 800 hectares of chisel ploughing, Tom did the calculations that easily showed a payback. “It wasn’t hard to see the savings in going from a two-foot overlap to one,” he says.

The economic benefits of that lightbar, along with the insight

from yield maps generated by his combine, started a journey of precision farming progress that now includes RTK autoguidance on five tractors and a combine, and prescription-based applications of nitrogen and fertiliser as well as variable seeding rates for corn, soybeans and green beans.

As Tom and Kyle worked their way through the various stages of autoguidance accuracy, they and about 15 neighbouring farmers decided to form their own RTK network, rather than each investing in their own base stations. It was a success, and the independent company serves nearly 100 farmers in the area with RTK signal subscriptions.

The autoguidance obviously benefits all their tillage and seedbed preparation efforts, enabling their move to strip-till for ground going into corn. After autumn ripping and in-row nitrogen and fertiliser application, they plant directly into the strip the next spring, thanks to the repeatable RTK accuracy.

It also has helped contribute to yield gains in the vegetable

Lightbars to prescriptionsA progression of technology keeps this

diversified US operation timely and efficient

Kyle Shepard and Tom Baughman with several key pieces of equipment – their three-row carrot harvester and their Steiger 500 Quadtrac tractor� Their primary tractors are equipped with RTK autoguidance, and they use prescription-based variable-rate planting for their corn, soybeans and green beans�


crops, where the straight rows, consistent row-to-row spacing and precise harvesting puts more crop in the containers. “We’re no longer running row-crop cultivators into very expensive commodities,” Tom says, of the elimination of cultivator blight.

“RTK is very important to us for cultivating, spraying and harvesting vegetables.”

Prescriptions paying big dividendsTheir prescription-based planting of corn and soybeans is

the latest part of a progression in planting efficiency. They saw the potential of more accurate planting with the first crop of soybeans they planted using a Case IH 1200 Series Early Riser planter in place of a drill.

“When we were done, we had six mini-bulk containers full of soybeans,” Kyle says. “We looked at each other like we had forgotten something, but we saved that much seed, just by accurately planting 180,000 seeds per acre (445,000 seeds per hectare).

“We were putting on too much seed in soybeans,” Tom adds. “Now we’ve dropped down to 140,000 seeds on our good black soils and our yields are just as good if not better.”

Yield zone mapsWith over 10 years of history in yield maps, Tom and Kyle

have identified yield zone maps in their fields. A consultant takes their input, including their yield goals for each field, and develops prescriptions for each field. Their AFS Pro 600 monitors automatically vary the seed populations plus liquid starter fertiliser rates as the 1200 Series planters move through the field.

“That’s the powerful part of all this,” Tom says. “We’re putting this high-priced seed in areas where we think we’ll get the best bang for the buck.”

While the vegetables aren’t planted variable rate – Tom uses simple specialised planters for most of them – the crops do benefit from timeliness at all steps, thanks in part to a small army of tractors.

There are 23, all red, on Baughman Farms, ranging from an old Farmall Super C to a new Steiger 500 Quadtrac.

The fleet includes four old International Hydros, three International 756s, a 1466, an MXM125 and an MXM190, and Magnum models including a 335, 315, 290, 180 and a 7220. A new Puma 165 CvT promises to replicate the old Hydros’ smooth stepless ground speed but with much greater power and efficiency.

“We’ve used it on the potato windrower, and on the potato harvester where we need to vary the ground speed and keep the RPMs up. It worked slick,” Tom says.

Kyle says at peak times during harvest, every tractor is hooked up to something, including grain carts to keep their Axial-Flow 8120 combine busy.

State of the art planting capabilityLike a lot of farmers, Tom and Kyle decided to add to their

planting capacity because of recent challenging spring weather.

After getting shut down for three rainy weeks in May in 2010 before getting all their corn in, and renting an additional planter to finish their weather-delayed 2011 planting, they have opted for three 1200 Series Early Riser planters – a 1200 16/31 split-row pivot transport planter dedicated to soybeans, a 1250 12-row front-fold planter for green beans and corn, and a 1250 24-row front-fold planter for corn.

“We have a lot of planting capability,” Tom acknowledges, “but it’s all about timeliness. These planting windows are getting shorter.”

Tom and Kyle are longtime users of Case IH planters. Among the advantages of the 1200 Series planters, they say, is the ability to plant any seed size.

“We always had to specify ‘medium rounds’ for example, but now we get ungraded seed. It’s easier,” Kyle says. “These planters do a good job no matter what the seed size. And with that bigger seed disk, we can run a little faster if we need to and still get good singulation,” Tom adds.

Equipped with AccuRow row shut-offs, the planters provide additional seed savings by eliminating overlap at row ends.

With this much equipment, Tom and Kyle say good support from their Case IH dealer and competitive CNH Capital financing helps them keep everything going.

A mechanical engineer by education, Tom has also developed their in-house capabilities to fabricate and modify much of the specialized vegetable equipment.

The vegetable crops demand a lot of attention, from near constant scouting throughout the growing season to timely sprayings, cultivations and harvest. But all planting and harvest is mechanical, Tom notes, and he has the equipment and crews it takes to make it all happen.

“It’s diversity,” he says. “Over the years, it’s helped having both types of crops. It’s a lot of work, and a lot of risk, but it’s been good.”

After 12 years with vegetables, Kyle, who grew up on a cash grain farm, likes the pace and the variety. “Now that I’ve done this, I think I’d get bored just growing corn and soybeans,” he says.

This article first appeared in the Case IH North American edition of Farm Forum, Spring 2012. ■

Carrot harvesting on Baughman Farms in the 1960s included a pair of Farmall tractors, a 560 and a 300, and a one-row harvester� Today, they’re still harvesting carrots using red tractors, with technology including autoguidance on the tractor and automatic height sensors and row finders on their three-row carrot harvester�


IT’S that time of the year when thoughts are turning to protecting susceptible wheat varieties from stripe rust. Putting a cereal fungicide in with a herbicide spray during the tillering

phase has the benefit of being very cheap – but that’s about all it has going for it – so don’t do it unless you have a good reason!

According to NSW DPI cereal pathologist Steve Simpfendorfer, “The top three leaves in wheat are the highest yield contributors – so the aim of any stripe rust management strategy in susceptible varieties is to keep these leaves largely clean of infection. A fungicide applied at gS25 (mid-tillering) with a herbicide gives no protection of these important leaves as they are not yet emerged. When they do emerge they are subject to infection from whatever is about at that time and the grower has already used one fungicide spray,” he said.

Delaying the first fungicide application to gS32 – when the Flag-2 leaf has emerged – protects this leaf from infection as well as reducing the time and subsequent disease build-up until the second spray is applied (if one is needed) at full flag leaf emergence (gS39).

In trial results reported at the 2012 goondiwindi gRDC Update, delaying the first spray from gS25 until gS32 returned an additional $55 per hectare under high disease pressure and $42 per hectare under moderate disease pressure in the MS variety Ellison in 2011.

“Applying the first spray with a herbicide around gS25 means that the two leaves below the flag leaf are unprotected for an extended period until the second spray at gS39,” says Steve. “This exposes the middle canopy to stripe rust infection. Tank-mixing a fungicide with a broadleaf herbicide spray should not be considered by growers as a key to spray timing for the control of stripe rust in susceptible varieties. Yes, it logistically fits better and is cheaper because it saves a pass across a paddock, but the timing with most herbicides is simply not compatible with the key proven critical growth stage of around gS32 for the first fungicide application for stripe rust in most situations.”

Equally, in at-risk crops where disease is present and there is little genetic resistance, growers should not delay their herbicide spray until later, as this may also compromise the crop.

The aim of the gS39 fungicide spray is to protect the flag leaf and lower canopy up to full head emergence when most varieties can genetically protect themselves through the expression of Adult Plant Resistance genes.

Under high disease pressure, bringing the second spray earlier than gS39 can compromise late season protection.

No yield benefits“Additionally,” Steve points out, “no significant yield benefit

was obtained at any of the 13 trials sites in 2011 from any of the fungicide strategies aimed at controlling stripe rust in the MR variety EgA gregory.

“Even at the highest pressure site for stripe rust in 2011, there was no benefit from even the full disease control (Intake + foliar sprays at gS32 + gS39). None of these sites were complicated by infection from yellow spot – a different stubble-borne leaf disease to which EgA gregory is susceptible. In terms of just stripe rust, management in the MR variety EgA gregory was not warranted in 2011.

Early (gS25) fungicide application for yellow spot has also been disappointing in recent research conducted by grower groups (Northern grower Alliance and grain Orana Alliance).

Yellow spot primary infection comes from spores produced on wheat stubble which can produce and release spores for a few seasons. New leaves which emerge after inclusion of a fungicide in a tank-mix with a herbicide at around gS25, are unprotected.

This means that in a stubble retention system, these new leaves can become rapidly infected off the standing stubble if adequate moisture is available.

This fact limits the efficacy of early fungicide applications.

Further information: Steven Simpfendorfer 02 6763 1261 [email protected] ■

Targeting stripe rust? Keep your powder dry until stem elongation

THE MONEy lEavES arE OuTJohn Cameron, from ICAN, summarises some of the issues

discussed at recent GRDC disease management workshops.

Grain fill doesn’t start until after flowering. As a result, yield is strongly influenced by how long and how much green leaf area is maintained after flowering during grain fill. Most green leaf area in a wheat canopy post flowering is in the top three leaves – the Flag, Flag-1 and Flag-2. These three leaves all emerge during the critical stem elongation phase between growth stages GS31/32 and GS39 – by which time the flag on the main stem has fully emerged.

When dealing with a foliar disease like stripe rust, it is critical to know that the fungicides only act to protect the leaf from disease and don’t cure existing infections for which symptoms already exist. It’s also critical to understand that rust diseases are highly mobile and can and will blow in on the wind from adjoining crops. So if growing a variety with lower levels of genetic resistance to stripe rust, and that crop or crops around it are taking disease, it’s important to act quickly to protect the key leaves formed during stem elongation – if the crop is at the right growth stage. Vigilant scouting is needed.

In a high yielding dryland wheat crop in the northern region, most problems with stripe rust in a susceptible variety would be adequately dealt with by two well timed sprays – with the first at GS31/32 and the second at GS39 when the flag is fully emerged.

In a season where there is a tight finish to the season, a spray at around GS32 will often see the crop through as the flag leaf generally won’t last as long if there is a terminal drought, and dry finishing conditions will also not favour a big epidemic.

Barley diseases are a bit more difficult to time. The flag is tiny and far less important than in wheat – the F-1 and F-2 leaves are both more important than the flag. The other difference with barley is the very large area of the flag sheath. So in barley, there are two main timings that are further apart than in wheat.

As a result, it’s a bit harder to bridge the gap with fungicides in barley, but in general a GS32 and a GS49 spray when the flag leaf sheath is fully emerged at ‘awns peep’ on the main stem are good timings for barley.

Further information: John Cameron 02 9482 4930


THE high incidence of stripe rust in dual purpose cereal crops has prompted calls for growers to consider varieties with higher rust resistance ratings.

Dr Rohan Rainbow, grains Research and Development Corporation (gRDC) senior manager, plant health says there are good varieties available with excellent rust ratings.

“Rust resistance is particularly important when growing long season cereals as they enter the “green bridge” danger period when rust spores can be over-summering on weeds and volunteer cereal plants,” Rohan said.

With severe and early onset of stripe rust costing grain growers up to 45 per cent of yield in moderately susceptible wheat varieties, new research is exploring grazing and fungicidal control measures.

Maurie Street, grain Orana Alliance (gOA) chief executive officer is leading research into the effect of grazing dual purpose wheats in central west NSW.

“One of the greatest shortcomings of current dual purpose wheat varieties being selected and grown by central west NSW growers is the inability to couple high quality grain with good levels of stripe rust resistance,” Maurie said.

“Lower resistance and the longer growing season of these varieties could expose these varieties to even higher damage than their shorter season counterparts.

“Of more concern to some growers is the haven that these varieties form to harbour and breed up the disease to wreak havoc on neighboring wheat crops in the spring.”

The current recommendation of grazing is common for infected dual purpose crops that are infected with stripe rust in the autumn, Maurie said.

He says grazing helps control rust through two pathways:■■ Removal of the inoculums via grazing of the infected material

and inoculum sources for subsequent infections; and,■■ Opening the crop canopy to accommodate better airflow and

circulation, which reduces disease development by lessening the extent and length of time the leaves are wet.

Positive and negative impactsMaurie says the gRDC-supported research shows grazing can

have a significant impact up to 0.5 tonnes per hectare but can be either positive or negative.

“Over two seasons the impact of grazing has been variable,” Maurie said.

“In 2010, which was a very wet year, grazing had a positive impact upon yield up to 0.5 tonnes per hectare.

“But in contrast in 2011 (quite a dry year) grazing had a negative impact upon yield of 0.45 tonnes per hectare which is counterintuitive to what we would predict.”

Maurie said while the results were based on limited trials and seasons – where Jockey seed treatment was used on Wedgetail dual purpose wheat – it did not delay stripe rust onset or offer any yield or quality advantages over standard seed treatments in two trials over two seasons.

“But these trials were sown in late April/early May, in both situations where there was minimal early season infection,” he said.

“In 2010 there were significant spring infections of stripe rust pathogen and in 2011 the infection at any stage was negligible.”

Maurie said one of the most interesting outcomes in both

trials was the positive response in yield to application of fungicides just prior to grazing.

In both years there was a negligible level of leaf disease at the timing of this application yet the crop responded to the fungicide, he said.

“We are unsure why the crop responded when there was no apparent disease,” Maurie said.

Grazing management more impact on yield“The trials indicated yield impacts from grazing were most

likely not related to any level of stripe rust control but more to do with the effect of grazing on the crop canopy and water use efficiencies.”

He says this makes sense as no major yield-contributing leaves such as the flag leaf are present during the autumn period so this discounts the possibility of yield loss from autumn disease.

“Defoliation though disease or grazing at these stages was not hugely detrimental to yield otherwise dual purpose crops would not be as successful as they are,” he said.

“Unfortunately these results do not encourage growers to control autumn infections of stripe rust, which could be having a much higher hidden cost.

“Increases in overall disease level and pressures in the whole community increases the likelihood of a resistant strain developing and increasing control costs over all wheats – grazed or not.”

Maurie says a recent reduction in the labeled grazing withholding period of Intake in-furrow will allow for use in dual purpose crops.

This use may improve autumn control of the disease over that of the previous standards, he said.

“This new option now gives growers the motivation to have an autumn control measure in place reducing the resistance threat to the whole industry.

“But improved varieties – coupling good milling quality grain with increased resistance in a dual purpose wheat – will be the best outcome.”

For more information on GRDC investments, visit www.grdc.com.au ■

Controlling stripe rust in dual purpose wheat

Current dual purpose wheat varieties generally struggle to couple high yields with stripe rust resistance�


In ternat iona l Research Rev iewTo help our grain industry remain targeted and competitive Australian Grain, with the assistance of the GRDC, investigates recent advances in international grains R&D.

MY general field of research is the genetics, genomics and evolution of Brassica species. This includes the major crop and oilseed species, Brassica napus,

Brassica juncea and Brassica rapa, and their wild relatives – which present an untapped and diverse genetic resource for oilseed breeding and improvement.

I am particularly interested in understanding the evolution of genes that control yield-traits such as flowering time and pathogen and microbe responses in Brassica napus.

Following on from my involvement in the recent sequencing of the B. rapa genome, and my travel to China early in 2011 on an AAS Travel Award, I am also involved in a large-scale, international collaboration to be the first research team to decipher the whole genome methylation sequence of B. napus. This will enable us to understand the epigenetic regulation – that is, the study of heritable changes in gene function that occur without a change in the DNA sequence – of important agricultural traits.

The opportunity to travel to the PAgXX conference in California allowed me to meet with my international collaborators to discuss the progress in this work. I also presented a poster on my research to many other international experts in the field of genetics, genomics and epigenomics in both the plant and animal sciences.

As animal epigenetics research has advanced well beyond that for the plant sciences – but now use the same technologies and analysis methods – this has provided a unique opportunity to learn from animal epigenomics experts.

Conference highlights and benefitsThe PAgXX Conference allowed me to gain knowledge into

the current work and technologies used by other researchers in my field – which I can apply to my own research. This was especially useful when learning of new automated root phenotyping developed by the Benfey Laboratory (North Carolina) and methods of genotype to epigenome comparisons being done at the SALK Institute (see box story).

I hope to apply these same methods towards genotype, phenotype and methylation analyses in Brassicas.

CalIFOrNIa, CaNOla aND CHrOMOSOMal COllaBOraTIONS

Pictured are arabidopsis seedlings, including wild-type Columbia-0 and various mutants� The arabidopsis seedlings have been treated with flagellin solution – a bacterial elicitor�

Various species of Brassica seedlings are grown for DNA extractions and genetic diversity analysis at the University of Queensland�

In January 2012, University of Queensland researcher Alice Hayward, traveled to San Diego, California – with the assistance of a GRDC Travel Award – to attend the 20th Plant and Animal Genome Conference. Alice also presented a poster at the Conference titled: Characterisation of SYMBIOSIS genes in Brassica species (see box story).

Alice outlines some of the highlights of the Conference and how some of the research presented can have far-reaching benefits for future Brassica research in Australia and ultimately the Australian grain industry.


In ternat iona l Research Rev iewTo help our grain industry remain targeted and competitive Australian Grain, with the assistance of the GRDC, investigates recent advances in international grains R&D.

I also gained insight into the activities of the international canola genetics research community including work underway by the Multinational genome Sequencing and SNP genotyping Consortia. As our UQ-based lab is involved in research work with both of these groups, it was important to learn of their progress and plans and coordinate these with our own research.

I also met with the international operations manager of Illumina, whose technology I rely on heavily for sequencing and genotyping efforts. This should help to further cement my relationship with Illumina for troubleshooting and ordering purposes.

I was also able to meet with my international collaborators including Prof Jinling Meng from the Huazhong Agricultural University in China, to discuss current and future project directions and develop new ideas for future funding applications.

As a result of this I plan to apply for the Australia-China Young Scientists Exchange program from the Australian government in order to visit Prof Meng later in the year.

My experience at the Conference extended my contact base, which has relevance to the analysis quality of my current research as well as the development of new ideas and improved directions for my work.

Canola traits under the microscopeMeeting with epigenetics researchers from the SALK

Institute at PAgXX has provided an opportunity for me to establish collaborative relationships with these experts to apply their knowledge to my sequencing and analysis of the canola methylome.

This will help to identify agricultural traits that are dependent on differences in DNA methylation patterns (a method used to regulate the expression of genes) between genotypes and cultivars. Ultimately this will identify those genes where regulation is important to canola grain characteristics.

My meeting with Prof Meng at PAgXX also inspired new collaboration ideas with his group in China – specifically we plan to develop research into branching regulation in canola, which is important for grain yield.

Along with two other researchers who attended PAgXX, I also met with international collaborators from the canola sequencing and genotyping consortia. This is leading to the publication of a consensus B. napus genome sequence as well as development of a collaborative 60K Illumina Infinium genotyping chip for B. napus that will be available publicly for trait mapping, diversity and association studies.

Supporting international collaborationsAs a researcher I have found it is invaluable to be able to

meet with potential collaborators in person for discussing possible research projects. It provides an insight and a connection that is much harder to establish without face-to-face contact.

The maintaining of a connection between the industry, the breeders and the research community is important to support real-world benefits from grains research.

POSTEr PrESENTaTIONCharacterisation of SYMBIOSIS genes in Brassica species

The majority of higher plants can form symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi in the soil. A core set of genes (SYMBIOSIS genes) required for this interaction were more recently recruited by legumes for symbiotic association with nitrogen fixing bacteria known as rhizobia.

Members of the Brassicaceae constitute the most diverse collection of agriculturally important crop plants. These species possess homologues for many of the SYM genes yet generally do not form either of these associations.

Our hypothesis is that Brassica SYM genes function in other plant-microbe interaction pathways in Brassicas.

Joint UQ authors of the PAGXX Conference Poster: Alice Hayward, Guru Vighnesh, Sarah Lorberg, Yue Jiang, Christina Delay, Jessica Dalton-Morgan, Emma Campbell, David Edwards and Jacqueline Batley.

aBOuT THE SalK INSTITuTEThe Californian-based Salk Institute for Biological Studies

is one of the world’s pre-eminent basic research institutions, where internationally renowned faculty probe fundamental life science questions in a unique, collaborative, and creative environment.

Focused both on discovery and on mentoring future generations of researchers, Salk scientists make groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of many human, animal and plant diseases by studying neuroscience, genetics, cell and plant biology, and related disciplines.

Faculty achievements have been recognised with numerous honours, including Nobel Prizes and memberships in the National Academy of Sciences. Founded in 1960 by polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk, MD, the Institute is an independent nonprofit organisation.

Flowering Lotus japonicus plants including wild type plants and mutants for nodulation genes� Plants were grown at 25°C in a growth chamber at the University of Queensland�

glOBal graIN PrICE vOlaTIlITy ON THE HOrIZON

The combination of growing demand, drought-impacted supplies and the global credit crunch will continue the volatility in grain prices over the next 18 months.

And with the clock ticking towards deregulation of the Canadian wheat market at midnight tonight, the Australian grains industry is facing new competition into our Asian export destinations.

The forecasts were heard by more than 700 registered delegates at the Australian Grains Industry Conference (AGIC), held from July 30 to August 1 at the Crown Conference Centre, Melbourne. The AGIC theme for 2012 was: The Commodities and Investment Jigsaw: Piecing it Together.

Presentations by Deputy Chief Executive Officer of ANZ, Graham Hodges, and Alex Duncan of US-based firm McDonald Pelz Global Commodities, both forecast short-term uncertainty in the global grains market despite a strong outlook in the long-term thanks to a growing population of middle class consumers in developing countries.

The current drought in the US on the back of crop failures in Argentina and Brazil has driven global grain prices to record levels, providing an opportunity for Australian industry to capitalise on its good season.

Federal Agriculture Minister Senator Joe Ludwig delivered the opening address, outlining the Commonwealth Government’s plans for research and development, market access, and the delivery of a National Food Plan.

POrT rEFOrM NEEDED TO BOlSTEr graIN PrOFITS

More competitive and less stringently regulated ports are needed to improve the profitability of the Australian grains industry.

The call came from Alison Watkins, Chief Executive of Graincorp Operations, and Philippa Purser, Managing Director, Cargill Australia, who both presented papers at AGIC.

Alison said the supply chain could account for up to 40 per cent of the cost of delivering grain from farm to the customer – a cost ultimately borne by the farmer – and improved efficiency between farm and port were needed to improve profitability across the sector.

Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Water, Senator Barnaby Joyce, also called for investment in Government rail infrastructure, particularly a new inland rail route from Brisbane to Melbourne to link eastern grain areas to port.

Senator Joyce said changes were needed to the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) to ensure greater scrutiny of sale of Australian farmland to overseas investors, especially state-owned enterprises.

Philippe de Laperouse, Managing Director of HighQuest Partners LLC, told AGIC that investor interest in agriculture, combined with global population growth and increased

urbanisation, would continue to drive up farm land values around the world.

Philippe said institutional and strategic investors had been joined by smaller groups, such as pension funds, in investing in agriculture in recent years, and forecast 8–10 per cent returns over the next 10 years.

grDC FIvE yEar STraTEgIC PlaN PuTS grOwErS FIrST

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) announced at AGIC the research areas it will focus on over the next five years to help Australia’s 22,000 grain growers grow the best possible crops. GRDC Managing Director John Harvey launched the GRDC’s Strategic Research and Development Plan 2012–17 to AGIC delegates.

GRDC is one of the world’s leading investors in grains research, development and extension (RD&E) and is responsible for planning, investing in and overseeing RD&E to deliver improvements in production, sustainability and profitability in the Australian grains industry.

Priority research areas in the plan include ■ Meeting Market Requirements; ■ Improving Crop Yield; ■ Crop Protection; ■ Profitable Farming Systems; ■ Maintaining the Farm Resource Base; and ■ Building Skills and Capacity.

John told the conference the plan was a result of extensive consultation with grain growers, the research community, government agencies and the wider grains industry.

“The focus of the plan is really about effectively getting the outputs from research into growers’ hands,” John said. “This is because GRDC knows that the investment it makes in RD&E can only be of benefit to the industry if it helps growers to do something better on their farm.”

Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, who opened the Australian Grains Industry Conference in Melbourne, welcomed the GRDC’s strategic research and development plan.

“The government is a strong supporter of rural research and development, investing about $700 million a year,” Minister Ludwig said. “Across Australia over 22,000 grain growers work the land to grow the best crop possible and access to world-leading research, development and extension from the GRDC is a vital ingredient to their success.

“Over the term of this plan, the Australian Government and growers – through the GRDC – will invest over three quarters of a billion dollars in RD&E to benefit the growers and the broader grains industry.”

Minister Ludwig said he was pleased that delivering the outputs of research to growers was a focal point of the plan.

“Last week I released the government’s rural research and development policy statement and that included ways to increase adoption,” he said.

“I am pleased that the GRDC is looking at this.


Grains Industry Conference updates ...

“Research, development and extension can benefit growers, but also the wider grains industry and the general community by improving farming practices, acting to sustain natural resources, plant better seeds and produce a more valuable grain product.

“This plan outlines how the GRDC will invest the grower levy, along with the government’s contribution, in innovation of the greatest benefit of Australia’s grain growers.”

The GRDC’s Strategic Research and Development Plan 2012–17 is available on the GRDC website at strategicplan2012.grdc.com.au

lONg TErM agrICulTural OuTlOOK(Supplied by Profarmer Grain Australia)

AGIC delegates heard that projections for peak global population in about 40 years at 9 to 9.5 billion people (currently about seven billion) remain unchanged, and therefore projected demand for food remains unchanged.

We currently produce about 2.3 billion tonnes of grain from 13.8 million square km of arable land. Land is not the issue long term. Even without pushing over South American rainforest, we have 48.8 million square km of agricultural land that could be brought into production, mainly in the Former Soviet Union, Brazil and East Africa. The catch is that food growing has to be profitable for that land to be set up for production.

Over the next 40 years production will need to increase to 3 bt. Current trends indicate that another 450 to 500 million tonnes can be produced, which still leaves us 250 mt short. That is where the biofuel debate comes in. We currently use 275 mt per annum for biofuel, basically from a low base in 2005. It all began in the EU with the use of rapeseed for biofuel and quickly moved to ethanol from corn in the US.

The argument put to the conference by Alex Duncan from McDonald Pelz, was that the use of grain for biofuels is unsustainable. It actually developed from government funded projects and programs to find a use for excessive grain stocks that built in the 1990s. The unintended consequence is that biofuel now competes with the food chain for grain.

The message seemed to be that at the right price food

production will expand, and that pressure will come to bear to close off the use of grain for biofuel. The end result is that we will produce enough food to match the population in 40 years time.

Weather is a factor that we cannot control, and it is inevitable that production will be linked to weather. Right now there is little capacity to cope with droughts, and probably buffer reserves of grain do need to be held to cover for weather aberrations.

Climate change got a mention. The debate seems to be moving away from what is causing it, to the reality that it is happening, possibly naturally, and it will have an impact on global food production as rainfall patterns change.

LogisticsStorage and logistics is another factor that is hampering current

food supply. Careful planning can mitigate the impact of annual production fluctuations, but many countries lack the infrastructure to handle grain stocks. For example, in India big losses occur due to bad storage (rodents, insects, weather damage), and they also lack the ability to move grain to where it is needed. This continues to leave global supply at risk in low production years.

Overall technology will have to play its part in lifting global output – as it has done for the past 10,000 years. A big breakthrough would be N fixing cereals to reduce the need for N fertilisers, and better drought resistance.

In terms of protein, the world’s fisheries are not going to be an ongoing source of cheap protein. More land based protein from soybeans and pulses will be needed to replace cheap fish.

Irrigation will have to also play a part in lifting global food output. Around 16 per cent of the global crop area is irrigated and it produces 36 per cent of the total harvest, but 55 per cent of water is wasted on delivery because of poor irrigation techniques and infrastructure. Overhauling irrigation practices will contribute to increased grain production.

The take home messageThe short term message seemed to be that production will

increase in response to higher prices. Higher prices will trigger the developments needed to lift output (eg bring in more land, improve storage and logistics, pay for new technology). Higher prices will also squeeze biofuels out, and buffer stocks will be needed to provide food security.


Grains Industry Conference updates ...

INTErNaTIONal INTErESTDelegates to AGIC included 60 international visitors from

countries including the United States, Canada, Vietnam, India, Singapore, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, France and Indonesia.

Conference organiser Rosemary Richards said the AGIC program was aimed at generating debate among key industry figures and facilitating new trade and investment opportunities for the industry.

Attendees covered all levels of the grains industry supply chain, from production to logistics and marketing of grain.

AGIC was hosted by leading grain industry associations Australian Oilseeds Federation, Grain Trade Australia and Pulse Australia.

GRDC Managing Director John Harvey (left) and Chairman Keith Perrett at the Australian Grains Industry Conference in Melbourne�


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Blackleg ManageMent guideFACT SHEET

Level 1, tourism house | 40 Blackall Street, Barton act 2600 | po Box 5367, Kingston act 2604 | t +61 2 6166 4500 | F +61 2 6166 4599 | e [email protected] | W www.grdc.com.au

Cut a plant at the crown to assess internal infection.

Blackleg is a sexually reproducing pathogen that will overcome cultivar resistance genes. Fungal spores are released from canola stubble and spread extensively via wind and rain splash. Therefore the disease is more severe in areas of intensive canola production.

key Points

� Monitor your crops to determine yield losses in the current crop.

� choose a cultivar with adequate blackleg resistance for your region.

� Never sow your canola crop into last year’s canola stubble.

� relying only on fungicides to control blackleg poses a high risk of fungicide resistance.

� If your monitoring has identified yield loss and you have grown the same cultivar for three years or more, choose a cultivar from a different resistance group.

steP 1: Use Table 1 to determine your farm’s blackleg risk

steP 2: Determine each paddock’s blackleg severity

Table 1 Regional blackleg factors.

Environmental factors that determine risk of severe blackleg infection

Blackleg severity risk factor

High risk Medium risk Low risk

Regional canola intensity (% area sown to canola) above 20 16-20 15 11-14 11-14 10 6-9 5 below 5

Annual rainfall (mm) above 600 551 -600 501-550 451-500 401-450 351-400 301-350 251-300 below 251

Total rainfall received Mar–May prior to sowing (mm) above 100 above 100 above 100 above 100 91-100 81-90 71-80 61-70 below 61

Combined high canola intensity and adequate rainfall increases the probability of severe blackleg infection.

� assess the level of disease in your current crop. Immediately after windrowing (swathing), pull 50 randomly chosen stalks out of the ground, cut off the roots with a pair of secateurs and, using the reference photos in table 2, below, estimate the amount of disease in the stem cross-section. Yield loss occurs when more than half the cross-section is discoloured.

� a dark-coloured stem is a symptom of blackleg (table 2). Stem cankers are clearly visible at the crown of the plant. Severe cankers may cause the plant to fall over as the roots become separated from the stem.

� If you have identified that you are in a high-risk situation (Steps 1 and 2), use Steps 3 and 4 to reduce your risk of blackleg for future seasons.

Table 2 Paddock blackleg severity.


Yield loss occurs when more than half of the cross-section is discoloured.

wesTern anD soUThern regions

QuaNtIfY the rISK, paddocK BY paddocKBlackleg can cause severe yield loss, but can be successfully managed. use this guide to determine whether you are in a high-risk situation and what practices you can change to reduce or prevent yield loss from blackleg. Follow the four steps, in sequence, below.

MANAGING BLACKLEG DISEASE IN CANOLA


steP 3: Management practices can reduce the risk of blackleg infectionIf your crop monitoring (see Step 2) showed yield loss in the previous year, the following practices can be used to reduce blackleg severity. complete the following process for each canola paddock to be sown.

� for each of the seven management factors listed below, circle where each canola paddock fits to determine the risk of blackleg. for example, Blackleg rating: if your cultivar is av-Garnet, circle Mr indicating a low risk of blackleg; or distance from last year’s canola stubble: if your proposed canola crop is 200 metres away, high risk is indicated.

� complete all seven management factors to determine which practices are causing increased risk and how they can be reduced. for example, for distance from last year’s canola stubble, choose a different paddock, at least 500m away from last year’s stubble, reducing the risk from high to low.

WaRning: ‘canola on canola’ Will cause a signiFicant yield loss and Will Reduce the eFFective liFe oF canola cultivaRs and Fungicides.

Blackleg management practices that determine risk of blackleg infection, from highest to lowest effectiveness are:� Blackleg ratingsthe cultivar blackleg rating is the most important blackleg management tool. If your previous crop had a high level of disease, choose a cultivar with a higher blackleg rating.


VS S-VS S MS-S MS MR-MS MR R-MR R*VS = very susceptible; S = susceptible; MS = moderately susceptible; MR = moderately resistant; R = resistant; P = provisional rating

� distance from last year’s canola stubblethe distance of your current crop to last year’s canola stubble will determine disease severity. Never sow your canola crop into last year’s canola stubble. distances from last year’s stubble up to 500m will reduce blackleg severity.


0m 100m 200m 300m 400m 500m >500m

� Fungicide useSeed dressing and fertiliser-applied fungicides will reduce the level of blackleg infection. foliar fungicides in addition to seed/fertiliser fungicides will further reduce the level of blackleg. fungicides are not a cure for blackleg. fungicides should only be used where yield loss from blackleg is likely. If severe yield loss is likely fungicides will reduce, but not avoid, yield loss.Reliance on Fungicides to contRol disease Poses a high Risk oF Fungicide Resistance.

Medium risk Low risk

No fungicide Seed/fertiliser fungicide Seed/fertiliser fungicide + foliar fungicide

� years of same cultivar grownthe blackleg pathogen will overcome cultivar resistance genes if the same genes are used each year. By sowing a cultivar based on different resistance genes, the ability of the pathogen to overcome resistance will be reduced. all cultivars have been placed into different blackleg resistance groups based on their resistance complement (see table 3). If you have:

� high or increasing levels of blackleg in your crop (from monitoring disease levels each year); � used the management practices outlined here in Step 3; and � sown cultivars from the same resistance group in close proximity (within 2km) for three or more years,

then sow a cultivar from a different resistance group (see next page – Blackleg resistance Groups).


Sown the same cultivar- resistance

group for more than 3 years

Sown the same cultivar-

resistance group for 3 years


resistance group for 2 years


resistance group the previous year

Sown cultivar from a different

resistance group

� distance from two-year-old canola stubbleStubble older than two years produces fewer blackleg spores and will normally have minimal effects on blackleg severity, even where canola is sown into two-year-old stubble. however, two-year-old stubble may cause disease if inter-row sowing canola (see below, canola stubble conservation) or if the cultivar resistance has been overcome.


0m 100m 250m 500m >500m

� canola stubble conservationStubble destruction is not effective in reducing blackleg infection. Inter-row sowing canola into two-year-old canola stubble where germinating seedlings are immediately next to standing stubble may result in higher levels of blackleg infection.


Inter-row sowing Disc tillage Knife point tillage Burning/ burying tillage

� Month sowncanola is most vulnerable to blackleg as a seedling. If crops are sown early into warmer conditions and get through the seedling growth stage quickly, they may escape high blackleg severity.


June to August May 15 to 31 May 1 to 14 April 15 to 30


Table 3 2012 blackleg ratings and resistance groups. (Note: Only resistant cultivars MR and above can be classified for resistance groups.)

Genotype Blackleg resistance ratingbare seed

Blackleg resistance rating + fluquinconazole (Jockey®) Resistance group Type

Conventional varietiesHyola® 50 R R (P) DHyola® 433 R-MR R (P) DVictory® V3002 R-MR R-MR (P) C High stability oilSARDI 515M MR MR (P) G Industrial mustardVictory® V3003 MR R-MR (P) C High stability oilAV-ZirconA MR R-MR AAV-GarnetA MR R-MR (P) ABGCB™ Taurus MR (P) CVictory® V3001 MR R-MR A High stability oilCB™ Agamax MS MR (P)CB™ Tango C MS (P) MR (P)Triazine tolerant varietiesHyola® 751TT R R (P) DMonola™ 707TT R-MR (P) R-MR (P) F High stability oilMonola™ 506TT R-MR (P) R-MR (P) F High stability oilMonola™ 605TT R-MR (P) MR (P) D High stability oilThumper TTA R-MR R-MR (P) EBonanza TTA MR (P) R-MR (P) CFighter TTA MR R-MR (P) Not screenedHyola® 555TT MR R EJackpot TTA MR (P) R-MR (P) EHyola® 444TT MR MR (P) DATR-GemA MR (P) MR (P) ADATR-StingrayA MR R-MR (P) CCB™ Henty HT MR-MS (P) MR (P)Crusher TTA MS MRATR-MarlinA MSCB™ ScaddanA MS MR (P)ATR-SnapperA MS MR-MSCB™ Jardee HT MS MR (P)Tawriffic TTA MS MR (P)CB™ Junee HT MS-S MS (P)CB™ Mallee MS-S MS (P)ATR-CobblerA MS-S MR (P)CB™ TelferA MS-S MR-MS (P)CB™ TanamiA S

Table continued over pageVS = very susceptible; S = susceptible; MS = moderately susceptible; MR = moderately resistant; R = resistant; P = provisional rating, there is insufficient data to meet National Blackleg Rating protocols. Growers should be cautious until sufficient data are available; Not screened: cultivar was not screened due to operational error, data will be available in 2013.

= low risk = medium risk = high risk

steP 4: Blackleg resistance groupsall cultivars have been placed into groups (a to G) based on their resistance complement (see table 3). Some cultivars may belong to multiple groups. the blackleg fungus will most likely overcome resistance if you sow cultivars with the same resistance complement in close proximity for three years or more. By rotating resistance groups growers can avoid resistance breakdown and reduce disease severity.

how to use blackleg resistance groups

� use Steps 1 to 3 to identify if you are in a high-risk region (adequate rainfall and high canola intensity) and monitor your crops to determine blackleg severity.

� If blackleg is not severe in your crop, continue with current management techniques as outlined in Step 3.

� If you have high blackleg severity and have used the same cultivar for three years or more, identify the resistance group of your current cultivar from the blackleg ratings in table 3.

� Select a cultivar from a different resistance group. If your current cultivar belongs to multiple groups, do not choose a cultivar from any of these groups.

July–August 2012 Australian Grain — 43produced BY WWW.coRetext.coM.au

Disclaimer Any recommendations, suggestions or opinions contained in this publication do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Grains Research and Development Corporation. No person should act on the basis of the contents of this publication without first obtaining specific, independent professional advice. The Corporation and contributors to this Fact Sheet may identify products by proprietary or trade names to help readers identify particular types of products. We do not endorse or recommend the products of any manufacturer referred to. Other products may perform as well as or better than those specifically referred to. The GRDC will not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred or arising by reason of any person using or relying on the information in this publication.CAUTION: RESEARCH ON UNREGISTERED PESTICIDE USE Any research with unregistered pesticides or of unregistered products reported in this document does not constitute a recommendation for that particular use by the authors or the authors’ organisations. All pesticide applications must accord with the currently registered label for that particular pesticide, crop, pest and region.Copyright © All material published in this Fact Sheet is copyright protected and may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the GRDC.

useFul ResouRces

canola best practice management guide for south-eastern australia

Ground cover direct, 1800 110 044, www.grdc.com.au/bookshop

Managing blackleg and sclerotinia in canola: the back pocket guide

Ground cover direct, 1800 110 044

MoRe inFoRMation

steve Marcroft03 5381 2294 [email protected]

Blackleg resistance ratings and national variety trialswww.nvtonline.com.au

australian oilseeds Federation – agronomy centrewww.australianoilseeds.com

Table continued from previous page

Genotype Blackleg resistance ratingbare seed

Blackleg resistance rating + fluquinconazole (Jockey®) Resistance group Type

Clearfield® system varietiesHyola® 575CL R R EHyola® 474CL R (P) R (P) EXCEED™ OASISCL R-MR R-MR (P) DG Juncea canolaPioneer® 46Y83 (CL) MR R-MR (P) Not screenedPioneer® 43Y85 (CL) MR APioneer® 45Y82 (CL) MR-MS MR (P)Pioneer® 44Y84 (CL) MR-MS MR (P)Pioneer® 43C80 (CL) MS R-MR (P)Pioneer® 44C79 (CL) MS MR-MS (P)Roundup Ready® varietiesHyola® 505RR R R (P) DHyola® 404RR R R DCB™ FrontierRR R-MR (P) R (P) DIH50RR R-MR (P) MR (P) AGT MustangA MR R FPioneer® 43Y23 (RR) MR FVictory® V5002RR MR (P) R-MR (P) AB High stability oilGT CobraA MR (P) MR (P) AGT CougarA MR R-MR ACGT ViperA MR (P) MR (P) FPioneer® 46Y20 (RR) MR MR ABCGT ScorpionA MR-MS MRGT TaipanA MR-MS RPioneer® 45Y21 (RR) MR-MS MR (P)Pioneer® 45Y22 (RR) MR-MS MR (P)Victory® V5001RR MS MR High stability oilCB™ EclipseRR MS-S MS

acknowledgements: the National canola pathology Group

Blackleg resistance group monitoringrepresentative cultivars from all blackleg resistance groups are sown in trial sites in all canola-producing regions across australia and monitored for blackleg severity. these data provide regional information on the effectiveness of each blackleg resistance group and are available on the Nvt online website (www.nvtonline.com.au).

Western region

NORTHThe four week dry spell ended on June 8 with good rainfall

across all areas. This allowed a restart of seeding with most finished by around June 20. Some growers with 40 to 60 mm in the two rainfall events prior to May 10 were able to get most of their crops sown and growing during the dry spell. A small number of these crops subsequently died and have been resown.

Most crops are well developed but lack bulk due to enduring the long hot dry period in May.

Some lupin crops that were sown down onto moisture have emerged poorly due to insufficient soil moisture to complete germination. very few have been resown but 20 per cent of the region’s lupins have lower than ideal plant density. Best crops are flowering and late sown are six to eight leaf.

Wheat is generally very good. Development is mostly early tillering and some at flag leaf stage where early rains were enough to get the crop up.

Windrow burning has given spectacularly clean crops for the growers that have been doing it for four years or more.

Recent rains have topped moisture up but the rainfall tallies across the whole region are between 130 and 180 mm for the year which is well below average, particularly for the coastal areas.

grain prices are trending the right way at the moment giving a welcome confidence boost. Crops across the region are generally quite good but are a month behind in development and will need good September rain to get to average yields.

Peter Norris Agronomy For Profit and Synergy Consulting, Geraldton

July 12, 2012

SOUTH COASTSeasonal conditions on the South Coast have turned around

during the past two months. A 21 day dry period with no rain from May 15 to June 6 resulted in challenging seeding conditions and some patchy crop emergence on non wetting sands and heavy clay soils. But since June 6, rainfall has been very good across the whole region with total falls from June 6 to July 14 ranging from 50 mm to over 150 mm.

In coastal areas – after receiving over 150 mm of rain – some water logging damage is now becoming evident. Nitrogen use


District Reports…July–August 2012

Low bulk/biomass crops emerged during the May hot dry conditions� This photo was taken July 11, 2012�

Urea going on in the rain at Binnu, July 10, 2012�

Crusher canola sown March 27, 2012�

efficiency is low due to leaching and denitrification. As a result, more top up nitrogen may be required in these areas.

In all other areas particularly the Mallee, crops are looking excellent. A week of warm weather in the first week of July saw daily maximum temperatures between 18–22°C which resulted in very good crop growth.

Late March sown canola is now at full flower, whereas the majority of May sown canola is now either at elongation or 5–10 per cent flower. Early May sown barley is at Z30 to Z32 and the early sown wheat is at Z30.

Most growers are now at the tail end of post emergent weed spraying and are now busy applying post emergent nitrogen applications and revising rates to take advantage of what is shaping up to be an average to above average season.

In areas where mice were a problem, the cold wet weather in combination with multiple baitings, has finally tamed these destructive beasts,. The other agronomic issues that are looking problematic at the moment are aphids in canola and barley leaf rust in susceptible varieties.

Otherwise the 2012 season is going to a plan. Hopefully the rainfall continues into spring and we can capitalise on good season potential especially with the recent spike in grain price.

Quenten Knight, Agronomist, Precision Agronomics Australia

July 26, 2012



Seasonal rainfall across the grain regions – 25 year averages and year to dateBrought to you in association with 25yr

Annual Average

(mm)

2012 rainfall to date (mm)

Summer Autumn Winter Spring25yr

Annual Average

(mm)

2011–12

25yr Annual

Average (mm)

2012

25yr Annual

Average (mm)

2012 to date

25yr Annual

Average (mm)

2011

Emerald Qld 559 576 247 350 114 255 66 95 120 81Toowoomba Qld 670 470 265 330 140 135 86 131 176 186Roma Qld 594 492 238 550 133 94 75 80 139 143Goondiwindi Qld 630 325 242 360 140 80 101 65 141 251Narrabri NSW 661 359 235 197 130 89 132 120 163 329Gunnedah NSW 682 390 232 371 132 77 128 39 184 321Dubbo NSW 621 514 196 291 136 212 129 86 157 239West Wyalong NSW 450 228 112 149 92 47 118 67 127 196Wagga Wagga NSW 547 470 129 193 117 271 154 73 146 211Swan Hill Vic 335 179 74 82 70 76 94 53 98 91Bendigo Vic 543 344 114 140 112 117 176 121 142 146Horsham Vic 385 186 86 42 77 73 133 101 110 95Lake Bolac Vic 562 246 129 48 104 123 160 98 154 112Murray Bridge SA 367 324 65 93 75 159 124 130 102 86Kadina SA 344 214 56 79 78 88 117 98 91 62Cummins SA 391 214 50 45 84 78 173 121 83 80Esperance WA 613 329 76 107 141 128 254 157 140 186Wagin WA 409 145 43 115 95 62 180 74 86 167Northam WA 405 158 41 55 87 24 195 95 81 129Mingenew WA 368 162 31 22 93 25 181 121 63 88Moora WA 393 214 40 104 94 17 187 109 71 102Mullewa WA 330 137 50 13 96 27 138 98 46 60Last�rainfall�reading�July�31,�2012.

Condingup growers Joe and Troy Della Vedova compared Scope barley growth between unspaded and spaded non wetting sand� The results speak for themselves�

Southern region

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

WeatherTemperatures during May were average to below average

across most of the state and below average during June. A number of centres recorded their lowest daily maximum temperature on record for May on the 24th.

Numerous frosts were recorded in many districts of the state during the second week of June.

May rainfall was generally below average. The widespread rainfall event towards the end of the month was patchy bringing heavy rainfall to some areas and only light falls to other regions.

Rainfall during June was generally average to above average across the state. Areas in the north east of the Upper North and Northern Mallee received below average falls.

CropsA large proportion of the crop was sown dry in all areas of

the state during May. Then widespread rain on May 24 and 25 enabled many areas to complete seeding by mid June.

The majority of seeding was completed by the end of June – two weeks or more later than the optimum.

Crop growth and emergence has been slowed by marginal moisture during May and below average temperatures during late May and June.

Dry sowing and the relatively late opening rains gave little opportunity for control of weeds before seeding and high levels of grass and broadleaf weed have emerged in some crops.

With well below average May to June rainfall in the northern part of the Upper North many growers in this area reduced their intended crop area by 10 to 30 per cent.

The reduction in the area sown to wheat across the state was not as great as anticipated prior to sowing.

The emergence of the dry-sown crops has been staggered and areas of some dry-sown canola crops have been re-sown.

Canola area is upDespite the later than ideal break to the season, the area sown

to canola has increased.Some growers in the lower rainfall areas reduced their

intended area sown to canola, particularly on Upper Eyre Peninsula and the Mallee.

A range of insects and other pests have damaged emerging crops and control measures have been necessary to reduce

seedling losses. Millipedes and earwigs have become new pests of canola crops. Slugs and snails are an increasing problem across the state.

Early sown (late April) cereal crops are at the mid to late tillering stage, but the majority of cereal crops are only at the 1 to 4 leaf stage.

Early sown canola crops on Eyre Peninsula have cabbaged and are at 90 per cent ground cover. Later sown crops are at the 2 to 4 leaf stage.

Post-emergent herbicides have been applied to early sown canola and pulse crops, with the majority of herbicide application occuring in mid July.

Post-sowing nitrogen fertiliser has been applied to some early sown canola and cereal crops.

PasturesSown pastures have grown very slowly in most areas and were

not grazed until mid July.Pasture feed supplies are extremely low in the Mid and

Upper North and Mallee regions. good germination of pasture has occurred, but cold conditions in June have slowed pasture growth.

Most livestock producers have continued supplementary feeding stock to maintain condition.

Pasture that germinated in late April became moisture stressed during mid May, but good rains in late May and June have allowed these to put on reasonable growth.

Supplementary feed supplies have been exhausted in most areas of the state. Additional areas have been sown for hay to replenish supplies.

Michael Wurst Farming Systems Consultant, Rural Solutions SA

July 3, 2012

Northern region

NEW SOUTH WALES

The state highlights■■ Winter crop planted area is an estimated 5.11 million hectares,

with an estimated 4.07 M hectares of winter cereal and 1.04 M hectares of pulses and oilseeds.

■■ An estimated 94 per cent of potential plantings were sown by the end of June. Around 252,720 hectares of cereals remained to be sown during July, with the bulk of this either wheat or barley in the north-west. Some of this area may now be fallowed through to summer crops in northern NSW or long fallowed through to the next winter crop in the centre and south.

■■ Canola plantings are estimated at 664,600 hectares, down slightly on the May estimate but still a record planting.



■■ Chickpeas are again the dominant pulse crop in NSW with estimated plantings of 222,095 hectares. This is well up on last season plantings of 146,460 hectares.

■■ Weed control and nitrogen topdressing will be the major priorities in all crops during July and August.

Seasonal conditionsSeasonal conditions continue to be variable across the state,

with June rainfall being patchy across most regions. The early June rain was critical for the north-west plains where surface soil had dried out and halted sowing operations.

Further good rainfall followed in mid June for much of the central and south eastern regions allowing sowing to be completed in these regions. The western Riverina and Lower Western areas were struggling in late June with rainfall urgently needed to ensure crop establishment for later sown crops.

good rainfall during July consolidated crops and gave some reprieve from the frosty conditions through June.

Regions that received better rainfalls in the first week of June were the north western districts of Moree, Walgett, Narrabri and gunnedah (12–30 mm). The rest of the state received lighter falls but were still welcomed as they allowed sowing to continue.

Central and southern eastern NSW received further good falls through mid June (10–28 mm). In Central NSW the best rainfalls for June were recorded around Forbes 47 mm, Parkes 46 mm, Cowra 63 mm, Dubbo 42 mm and Young 57 mm.

Further south in the western Riverina, rainfall has continued to be well below average with griffith and Deniliquin recording only 12 mm for June.

Many areas recorded severe frosts through June that have slowed both crop and pasture growth. Nitrogen topdressing of cereal and canola crops commenced during June in the more favourable central and south eastern areas.

WheatCurrent estimates of 2.93 million planted hectares of wheat

are 7 per cent below the 3.13 M hectares forecast for the same

time last year. An estimated 2.88 M hectares were harvested in 2011. Crop establishment and growth is variable across the state, with later sown crops struggling due to a cold frosty, drier June in some regions.

The major emphasis currently is for weed control and early nitrogen application to boost crop growth and yield potential.

Barley There is an estimated 641,540 hectares sown this season –

around 13 per cent less area than last year. About 93 per cent of the barley crop was sown by the end of June.

OatsThe estimated sown area of oats this season is 375,620

hectares. This is slightly less than the 388,000 hectares sown in 2011. Dual-purpose oat crops have provided valuable feed on the slopes and tablelands were pasture growth had been stalled by cold, frosty and dry conditions.

TriticalePlanting estimates are around 118,350 hectares – about

the same as last season. The major production areas remain in the eastern Riverina and South West Slopes where planting conditions were good.

Cereal rye The estimated planted area is 3100 hectares with most of this

grown in the Coonabarabran, gunnedah, Cowra and Wellington districts.

CanolaThe area sown to canola this season is estimated at 664,600

hectares. Emergence and crop establishment have been variable. Some crop area will be abandoned in the Murray valley due to extreme moisture stress. Flowering has commenced in early sown crops in the north and central west, ranging down to 4–6 leaf on crops that were sown a little later and have struggled in dry, cool/cold conditions. Soil nitrogen levels are low and topdressing is now widespread. Fungicide has been applied to high risk crops to prevent potential crop losses from blackleg.

There is a full profile of soil moisture under most canola crops so yield potential is still good at this early stage of the season.

PulsesThe 2012 winter pulse planted area estimate is 372,965

hectares – up substantially on the 295,000 sown hectares in 2011. Pricing against wheat and canola and sowing opportunities have governed the area sown to individual pulses this season.

Chickpeas have returned to favour with the availability of good quality seed of the newer disease resistant varieties. Chickpeas comprise around 60 per cent of all pulse sowings in NSW. Establishment of all pulses has been excellent and the yield potential is currently good.

NSW grains report NSW Department of Primary Industries

July 3, 2012



DARLING DOWNS

Winter cropsCereal crop plantings are at about 70 per cent of the large

2011 area whilst the chickpea planting is much larger and similar to the record 2010 planting area. The current stronger prices have encouraged some late winter planting which is still occurring. Emergence has been slow due to the wet and cold conditions, and the late June rain has split many growers planting operations – so there are two distinct winter crop plantings.

On the Western Downs yellow spot has appeared, especially where wheat has been planted on last season’s wheat ground, but to date no stripe rust has been seen. This has led to some fungicide applications in with the herbicide. There has been leaf rust on earlier sown oats. Chickpea crops are still in the emerging to mid vegetative stage and with early preventative fungicides being used, no leaf disease has been seen yet. But there has been some phytophthora damage and some waterlogging losses, and on the eastern Downs, light frost damage and some mouse damage.

Summer outlookThe late harvest is continuing as growers battle the showery

weather. Yields continue to be good but quality is being affected, with colour downgrades in the cotton and concerning dead grain levels in the corn.

With the cut off approaching for early cotton seed orders, the currently low price of cotton is reducing the planned dryland acreage, and at this early stage some country in 2012–13 may switch from cotton back to grain or pulses.

Hugh Reardon-Smith Agronomist, Landmark Pittsworth

July 16, 2012

SOUTH BURNETT

Key issues■■ Wet, wet and wet.■■ Peanut harvest still underway. ■■ Some winter crops drowned out.■■ Wheat, barley and chickpeas planted.■■ A degree of optimism regarding grain prices.

Another summer season is drawing to a close. The wet weather has delayed harvest of all crops. It is one of the wettest winters for decades.

To have peanuts still waiting to be harvested in mid July is unheard of. Last year growers commented that it was their latest harvest, but this year it was even later for some growers due to a late planting and wet harvest conditions. The continued rain will have affected yield and quality. Peanut prices for this last season have been very good with many crops making over $1000 per tonne.

Sorghum crops have been standing for weeks to be harvested. Pigs and birds have taken their toll in some crops.

The main corn harvest has not started yet. The good news is that the corn price has started to lift and those growers who have not contracted can take advantage of this.

Winter crops overall are handling the wet conditions OK. Some have been replanted and others have wet patches where the crop has died out. There are quite a few late plantings as growers could not get on the ground any earlier.

Ian Crosthwaite BGA AgriServices, Kingaroy

July 17, 2012



aNSwEr TO IaN’S MySTEry TraCTOr QuIZ

It is a 1954 Stihl Model 144 powered by a one cylinder air cooled diesel. Better known for its range of chain saws, the german firm of Andreas Stihl Maschinenfabrik produced a range of technically superb lightweight tractors in the 1940s and 50s. Howard Pryor is the owner and driver of the unit pictured. (Photo: IMJ)

aDvErTISErS’ DIrECTOryBankwest Business ...................................................... 15

Boss Engineering ....................................................Insert

Case IH ......................................................................OBC

Charlton’s Fishing .......................................................... 8

Coolamon Steelworks ................................................. 11

CropCare ........................................................................ 3

Dinner Plain ................................................................. 21

Dupont ......................................................................... 13

Foss Pacific ................................................................... 31

Geronimo Farm Equipment ........................................ 21

Jaylon Industries .......................................................... 19

Landpower .................................................................... 5

Monsanto ...................................................................... 7

Neils Parts .................................................................... 19

New Holland ............................................................... IFC

Study Tours .................................................................IBC

Victorian Chemicals ................................................Insert

Westfield Augers .......................................................N, S

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