Further tactics to minimise frost damage on the Eyre Peninsula

Previous frost work on the EP has been well received and has assisted in filling key agronomic knowledge gaps around frost mitigation in crop, however, it has been identified that further gaps in knowledge exist. This project will build on successful work and engagement already conducted on the EP through a number of mechanisms, including:

• Developing and extending tools available for frost management.
• Continued monitoring of soil amelioration sites for further understanding of the effects of amelioration on frost incidence.
• Various extension activities including field days and timely pre-season and post frost event workshop activities.

This project will be led and developed with AIR EP through involvement of local agronomists, researchers and growers ensuring a holistic and grower ready approach is demonstrated in the trials. This will help to ensure there is increased knowledge and confidence in frost identification and mitigation strategies, reducing potential losses to frost on the EP.

2024 trial site

Location: Near Hincks Conservation Park, Tooligie Hill

Trials: 

• Treatments have been sown across two frost risk zones (moderate frost risk and high frost risk). The medium and high frost risk trials were sown on 29 April - irrigated 250L per 18m² plot (TOS 1) and on 20 May 2024 (TOS 2). TOS 2 was not irrigated and so effective plant establishment was in June.
• The pulse trial has been sown with beans, lentils, peas (and canola).
• Temperature loggers have been situated in the two amelioration sites, in ripped /unripped/clayspread/spaded (by hand) at BoM height, canopy height and ground level.
• Temperature loggers were situated across the soil profile at 30, 20, 10, and 5cm depth and 10, 20, and 30 cm height (for a week or so) tracking heat of soil x air heat flow.

Results from the previous project:

Frost Tactics Final Report June 2024

2025 Trial Site

The 2025 frost trials consist of:

1. Cereal Phenology/ Mixture trials sown in Red and Amber zones, adjacent to our 2024 trials (only a few hundred metres from last year’s trials into canola stubble).

• • Two times of sowing – TOS1 22 April – irrigated in furrow. TOS 2 Sown 12 May and allowed to establish with season opening rain.
  • The high levels of soil water repellence and wind on the sandy soil led to uneven establishment. However, this presented the opportunity of observing several establishment dates for each variety. To capitalise on this, areas within each plot with differing phenology were identified and weekly observations of growth stage and harvest cuts have been collected.

2. Cereal Phenology/ Mixture trials sown in Red and Amber zones on another frost prone area – to use for field days as well established examples of the role phenology can play in frost management decisions.
3. Pulse/ Canola trials sown in Amber and Red zones on the second site area – TOS 1 23 April – irrigated in furrow. TOS 2 sown 13 May and allowed to establish with season opening rain. This site established well.

At each of the cereal trials – we have a 12-treatment nutrition treatment – with foliar applications occurring on 23 September, the week where the worst frost events were experienced.

2025 Extension

The Lock/Murdinga/Tooligie crop walk was held on 7 October 2025, with a total of 20 people made up of 9 farmers, 5 advisors, 4 researchers and 2 industry reps, visiting two of GRDC Frost Tactics trial sites (cereal phenology in high and medium risk zones and break crops in high and medium risk zones).

Andrew Ware presented the learnings from the frost research that has been undertaken on EP for the past 4 years, as well as updating other research across Australia. Ed Hunt, farm consultant and frost steering committee member assisted on the day.

Key messages included combining strategies, focus on high-risk areas and frost ID.

Above: Andrew Ware, of EPAG Research, presenting at the GRDC Frost cereal trial site on 7 October 2025 as part of the AIR EP Lock/Murdinga/Tooligie crop walk.