Dual-purpose Cereals for Improved Productivity, Soil Health and Pasture Management
Grazing- 24 June
10 ewes and lambs were put in on Jon Fullers Clearfield Stilleto wheat.
Grazed Clearfield Stilleto wheat. 
Ewes grazing Jon Fuller's paddock.Emergence counts– 16 June
BCG staff members Fiona Best, James Jess and Janine McIntyre and Rainbow Landcare Coordinator Heather Drendel completed emergence counts at all sites.
Dry matter cuts– 16 June
BCG staff members Fiona Best, James Jess and Janine McIntyre and Rainbow Landcare Coordinator Heather Drendel undertook dry matter cuts at the early sown paddocks (Corey's and Jon's).
Sowing - April/May
- David Stasinowsky sowed Hindmarsh barley – 30 May
- Rob Robinson sowed Clearfield Stilleto wheat – 25 May
- Jon Fuller sowed Clearfield Stilleto wheat – 2 May
- Corey Smith sowed Hindmarsh barley – 25 April
Project meeting – 27 March 2009
A project meeting was held in Rainbow to work out sowing plans.
Soil sampling– 11 February 2009
BCG staff James Jess and Fiona Best soil sampled at all four demonstration sites. Deep N and topsoil tests were taken across each site.
Trial sites identified – 28 January 2009
Four paddocks in the Rainbow district have been selected as trial sites for this project. A paddock-scale experimental design has been developed with collaborating growers to trial dual-purpose cereals in the Mallee environment.
Funding announcement - 11 November 2008
BCG and the Rainbow and District Landcare Group have received funding to research the potential of dual-purpose cereals in the southern Mallee.
In the last decade of below average rainfall, livestock have been an important component of farm businesses in the southern Mallee, providing cash flow and income when crops have underperformed. Grain prices have been relatively low for much of this period, and feeding sheep grain at times of the season where other feed was not available was a profitable undertaking. However, with recent increases in grain price, feeding sheep grain is less profitable, and alternative feed sources need to be found to cover the feed gap which can occur in late autumn and early winter.
In high rainfall zones, grazing of livestock on cereal crops prior to the end of tillering (Zadoks growth stage 30) has provided valuable feed at a critical time with little or no reduction in subsequent grain yield. This project will investigate the potential of this practice in the southern Mallee.
In 2009, four experimental sites will be established in farmer paddocks in the Rainbow district. These paddocks will be sown as per usual farming practice, and following crop establishment, an area will be fenced off and grazed according to best practice. Sheep weight gain and condition will be recorded, as well as crop dry-matter accumulation and grain yield in grazed and un-grazed areas. A fifth site will trial summer-active Sudan grass as a grazing option.
Results will be presented through regular BCG and Landcare communications, including this website. A crop walk of all sites will be organised in winter 2009 following grazing.
Funding for this project has been provided via a Sustainable Practices Grant from the National Landcare Program of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
For more information about this project contact BCG on 03 5492 2787.
