It has been many years since growers across Australia started changing their practices and systems to better retain and integrate stubble.
And, while it is well understood the benefits of maintaining ground cover, especially throughout the Wimmera and Mallee during summer, growers continue to fine tune their farming system to get the most out of it.
BCG extension leader Ciara Cullen met with BCG research leader, Claire Browne and business development and innovation manager, Cameron Taylor to discuss the changes to farming systems and the profit drivers behind moving to no-till and retaining stubble for sustainable agricultural practices.
Ms Browne said that each farming business and system is different in how they manage stubble and manage the trash flow the subsequent year.
“Stubble management begins at harvest time,” she said.
“It is important to understand your machinery’s capabilities of what stubble loads it can and can’t handle,” Ms Browne elaborated.
Mr Taylor explain that on the Taylor family farm in Rupanyup they have trialled many different options for managing stubble and closely consider their weed management strategies at this time.
“We generally narrow windrow burn and carry out a strategic cultivation when required as part of a flexible management approach,”
“Last year we also trialled a chaff line system on six paddocks,” Mr Taylor highlighted.
“It is all about finding the balance between herbicide resistance and stubble retention,” he said.
This is one of the things growers are currently assessing in their businesses, the pressure of herbicide resistance but with the drive to want to retain stubble where possible.
To listen to this podcast click the link below.
This BCG in Focus podcast was funded by the Federal Governments National Landcare Program 1 in conjunction with the Wimmera CMA.
https://soundcloud.com/bcg-birchip/bcg-in-focus-profitability-in-retained-stubble-systems
