14.3.23 Special Technical Bulletin – Seed testing, sowing rate calculations and answers to additional questions from TRD 2023.

• Seedling survival seems dependent on soil type with the most vigorous crops being sown before the ANZAC day rain and into sandy soil types.
• Early frost damage is being observed.
• Growers at Horsham and BCG researchers have observed slug activity in the Wimmera.
• Based on the late start and low rainfall to date, growers are reviewing their nitrogen strategies on a paddock-by-paddock basis.

• Growers are checking cereal growth stages to ensure timely and appropriate post-emergent chemical applications.
• Urea is being sourced and topdressing is underway in some areas.
• Mice activity is low pressure and isolated
• As part of its monitoring project, BCG has detected elevated populations of black keeled slugs around Horshammmmmm

• Recent rains have lifted spirits, helping to consolidate crop growth and encourage timely urea applications.  

• Wind damage in light soils has led to patchy canola losses and re-sowing with cereals in parts of the Wimmera.  

• Staggered crop emergence remains a theme although some regions are reporting more uniform growth.  

• Welcome rainfall tallies of around 30mm were received across much of the region over the weekend.
• Consideration is being given to cutting cereal crops for hay due to strong prices.
• Regular paddock inspections to assess crop and weed growth and for pest activity and disease.
• Data from long term soil moisture sites indicates infiltration ranging from 20 to 60cm depending on soil type and rainfall. Without follow up rain, crops are likely to continue to use shallower moisture reserves.

In the northern Mallee, reports of Etiella and Heliothis may create more activity in the coming days and weeks. For the southern Mallee, most growers are looking for more rain to protect yield potential, and late fungicide sprays have gone out on wheat.

In the Wimmera (North, Central and West) soil moisture levels are good (explained later in this bulletin) and there are isolated reports of armyworm activity that warrant some monitoring, particularly in cereal on cereal rotations.

Some action points from recent BCG events: leave the fenceline and get out into your crops to assess for potential frost or heat stress damage, adjust your header set up ready for the coming months, succession planning is an ongoing process and farming is about decision making and we can only influence the quality of our decision making by acting more consciously on the best available knowledge.