Projects
GRDC Seeder Systems Case Studies
Summary Josh Telfer interviewed Mark Modra for a seeding systems publication being produced by BCG, funded by GRDC. Published in GroundCover Online, 30 January 2022. Check out the story here: https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grower-stories/southern/different-seeding-equipment-for-different-soils
SA Drought Hub: Glyphosate Alternatives
Summary Demo site (small plot replicated trial in reality) at Wangary, alternatives to glyphosate. Above: Ian Richter, SARDI, setting up the herbicide trial at the Wangary site in 2022. Cropping without glyphosate video Play Video Cropping without Glyphosate Fact Sheet
Drought Resilience Practices in Mixed Farming Systems- Cross Hub Project
Summary Demonstration sites to be established in low rainfall farming systems to: 1. Demonstrate practices to improve rotations to increase soil N and reduce grass weeds for wheat production. 2. Determine if there are other measurable benefits to the farming system e.g. biomass production (for livestock feed), weed control and yield from early sowing?
SA Drought Hub Activities 2022: Soil cover to retain water
Summary Demonstration sites to be established in low rainfall farming systems to determine: 1. Can we measure increased stored soil water in strip/disc vs conventional no-till knife point systems? 2. Are there other measurable benefits to the farming system such as soil cover, nutrition, weeds, disease, yield, soil health measures? 3. Are there impacts on…
SA Drought Hub Activities 2022: Best Practice Early Sowing Opportunities
Summary This project aimed to demonstrate and extend the findings of a SAGIT research project conducted in 2019-2021, which found ways to improve plant establishment and crop production by adopting specific early sowing techniques. Separating seed and fertiliser, sowing earlier than district practice, and using longer coleoptile wheat varieties to sow deeper into soil moisture,…
Soil extension support for extreme weather recovery areas of Eastern Eyre Peninsula
Summary Farmers affected by the extreme weather events were invited to express their interest in accessing technical support, soil testing and extension activities with a focus on production outcomes. Support was provided on a ‘first in first served’ basis, until the funds were fully allocated. The funding allows for approximately farm soil tests, technical support…
Eastern Eyre Soil Management Opportunities
Summary Increase soil cover of bare soils over 20/21 summer. Gain increased understanding of summer crops/other activities to affect soil surface cover, erosion potential and plant growth. Overcome physical and chemical constraints to root growth. Measure impact on the following winter crop. Gain increased understanding of suitable cover crop species for Eastern EP. Gain increased…
Promoting best-practice feedbase management to deliver improved drought resilience in low to medium rainfall regions through on-farm demonstrations and case studies
Summary This consortium project will demonstrate the application of best practice pasture management options to deliver enhanced drought resilience. Natural capital will be increased by 1) Extending the pasture growing season. 2) Increasing the ground cover of pastures to protect soils. This will be achieved by using better-adapted pasture species and mixtures and by implementing…
Better summer weed management decisions in Southern and Western Australia
Summary The summer weed app, created to assist with summer weed management decisions under GRDC project DAW00257, will be calibrated using field trials and user tested to estimate economic returns from controlling summer weed populations.
Robust ground cover to enable resilient low rainfall mixed farms
Summary This project will demonstrate, evaluate and communicate farming innovations that are not widely adopted by low rainfall farmers but have been proven in other regions or are close to market. Adoption will build resilient groundcover to protect the natural capital of the 10+ million hectare low rainfall mixed farming region of the Mallee and…