Member days give farmers an edge to prepare for the 2025 growing season

More than 100 Eyre Peninsula farmers have started planning their 2025 growing season after receiving the latest information from industry experts in soil and crop management.

AIR EP held three Pre-sowing Member Days across the EP at Wirrulla, Kimba and Ungarra earlier this month, attracting 191 farmers, researchers, advisors and industry representatives.

Industry researchers and leaders shared the latest results from AIR EP projects, and the lessons learned from the challenges of the 2024 growing season.

Farmers heard that understanding each paddock’s soil types, nutrition needs, moisture levels, frost risk and chemical residue will be key this season to maximising their chances of improved yields.

AIR EP Executive Officer Naomi Scholz said the events gave members valuable information to inform their on-farm decision-making this year, as well as the opportunity to question industry experts.

“After the challenges of last season, our grower members were particularly keen to understand how they could use the lessons learned from 2024 and the latest in our research findings to start planning for a more productive season this year,” Ms Scholz said.

“The Pre-sowing Member Days brought together farmers, researchers and industry leaders to share valuable knowledge, and give growers the chance to ask questions and dig deeper into the science looking for opportunities to improve their on-farm practices.”

The three days were facilitated by Bill Long, Principal Director of Ag Consulting Co and AIR EP Board Chair. The event program ensured maximum opportunity for attendees to discuss their thoughts, experiences, and ideas, while also hearing the lasts from expert speakers.

Topics covered were broad, ranging from growing legumes on ameliorated sandy soils to reducing frost risk and optimising soil nutrition.

Michael Moodie of Frontier Farming Systems shared his tips for growing legumes on ameliorated sandy soils. He emphasised the importance of understanding each paddock’s specific soil constraints and applying the right amelioration treatment to get the best yield and ground cover results. Timing and crop selection following the ripping phase are also important considerations this season, with pulses demonstrated to do very well following ripping.

Growers looking for information on managing sandy soils and amelioration options can find it in the online Soil Hub (www.soilhub.com.au/EP), with EP site case studies giving an in-depth look at the issue.

Advances in farm technology are always a hot topic, and growers were treated to a robotic weed sprayer demonstration. Jordy Kitschke from Flux Robotics gave an insight into the machine, which can cover 20ha per day over a 24-hour period – and can even run overnight.

Farmers will need to be aware of soil nutrient deficiencies for the coming season. Brett Masters, of EPAG Research, shared the 2025 Soils Surveillance Results, which show potassium deficiencies are being seen across the region, particularly in sandy soils. Sulphur deficiency is also being monitored, especially in canola, and some phosphorus deficiency and Sakura damage has been noted in early established crops through to tillering.

Understanding soil moisture levels is also important this year. Jake Giles from EPAG Research demonstrated that soil water is still in the soil profile following low water use crops such as pulses and wheat cut for hay despite a dry season in 2024. Knowing what soil types are likely to have pockets of stored soil moisture will help growers prepare for seeding.

Growers should remember the ‘4Rs’ in managing soil nutrition, according to the CSIRO’s Therese McBeath – that’s Right Rate, Right Placement, Right Timing and Right Source. She recommends farmers start by setting their yield target for the 2025 season, then work backwards to determine fertiliser rates.

Acting now to improve nutrition and early vigour in the coming season’s crops will give plants an edge to cope better with stresses, James Cant from AGRA Agronomy told members. Understanding how herbicide chemicals break down in certain soil types is also important – and growers who think they might have imidazolinone (IMI) soil residues should look to planting Clearfield or IMI-tolerant crop varieties.

Using a traffic light system for crop selection based on potential frost damage could also help farmers in their decision making for 2025. Rhaquelle Meiklejohn from EPAG Research gave members an insight into the use of frost zoning, and crop selections per zone, including green (no frost risk – peas, quick wheat, slow wheat), amber (medium risk, doesn’t get frosted every year – canola, lentils, barley) and red (high frost risk, almost every year – sheep, summer crop, beans, hay).

The lessons learned from 2024’s growing season was a hot topic, with Andrew Ware of EPAG Research delivering the data and some tips on how to apply it to the coming growing season. Last year, growers reported slow germination and vigour due to prolonged cold conditions. Those who adopted early, shallow sowing achieved better yield outcome.

Canola growers were advised not to chase moisture by sowing canola at depth, with the tactic unlikely to work and the increased risk of reduced yield. Farmers were also encouraged to use the Blackleg CM app to assist in considering management strategies for blackleg disease in canola crops this season.

Andrew Polkinghorne, a 2023 Churchill Fellowship, shared his insights into liquid phosphorous, which is highly responsive in calcareous soils. Farmers unable to grow lupins heard that using liquid phosphorous could deliver improvements.

For more information about AIR EP, its upcoming member events or to become a member, visit the website at AIR EP.