BCG to deliver research for Mallee farmers in Manangatang

The BCG/GRDC Grains Research Update and the BCG Mallee Research & Demonstration Field Day will be held at Manangatang on Tuesday 19 August 2008.

BCG/GRDC Grains Research Update - Optimal inputs for profitable farming

P revisited - Dr Nigel Wilhelm, SARDI Using new P test for cost effective rates How much P is enough? Free P from mineralisation. How much and how to release it?

Soil Organic Matter – What are the real benefits? - Dr Jeff Baldock, CSIRO How much moisture can you store in different soils Increasing soil OM – how and is it cost effective? Is stubble management important

Variable rate – is it cost effective? - Rick Llewellyn, CSIRO Is soil mapping really necessary? What can yield maps tell us? Best nutrition strategies for different soil types

Plus special Farm Business Management Feature supported by Commonwealth Bank Agribusiness

Global Economic Trends and the Grain Markets - CBA Senior Economist

Taking the business seriously - Phil O’Callaghan The need for planning is as important as ever ORM How do we plan for the future Understanding and quantifying the risks

Research Update supported by AGA, Case IH , GPS-Ag, AWB Seeds, CBA Agribusiness, MSF.

BCG Mallee Research & Demonstration Field Day

"Farmers are under ever increasing pressure to make well thought-out, cost-effective, tactical decisions to ensure the most is made of every dollar spent. BCG is working with farmers and industry to generate relevant research results for Mallee farmers via trials conducted in the Mallee," said Fiona Best, BCG Extension Manager. "The discussion generated at BCG field days is a very important part in providing information for farmers to take home and implement."

"The site has a large barley agronomy trial investigating a number of new barley varieties, their performance at different row spacings and their tolerance to various herbicides. Fluid phosphorus is being compared to granular forms of P, which is also being tested under dry and wet sowing conditions. A risk management demonstration is a feature at the site, exploring the implications of a high crop input approach versus adopting a low input strategy and the implication of each strategy. IMI tolerant canola and mustard is showcased along with a number of different crop types that may be options for Mallee farms into the future depending on their performance," Fiona said.

BCG invites you to meet at the trial site, 'Kookimba', Cocamba-Miralie Rd, Manangatang at 1.30pm on 19 August after the conclusion of the GRDC Farmer Updates. The field day agenda is designed to ensure farmers walk away from the afternoon with some key strategies to help them address BCG's 2008 theme - 'Changing Climate, Changing Practices'.

Entry for BCG members is FREE, and $20 for non-members (or $10 if you have attended the GRDC Farmer Update that morning).

Program

Facilitated by Fiona Best

2.00 – 2.15	Welcome      Fiona Best, Brian Barry, Ian McClelland
2.15 – 3.00	Barley agronomy trials – row spacing, varieties and herbicide tolerance      Kate Burke, David Moody and Danny Conlan
3.00 – 3.20	Ryegrass control in the Mallee – what’s new!      Simon Craig, Justin Whittakers, Gerard Bardell
3.20 – 4.00	Risk management trial – what did we learn from last year?      Fiona Best, James Hunt, Peter Walch, Brian Barry, Rob Sonogan
4.00 – 4.30	Nutrition management trials - P response to dry v wet sowing, early v late sowing PLUS different P sources      Simon Craig, Nigel Wilhelm, Rob Sonogan
4.30 – 5.00	IMI – tolerant canola trial      Wayne Burton
5.00 - 5.30	Optional tour – what else is at the site?      James Jess
BBQ and refreshments at Brian Barry's woolshed