On Wednesday 22 July BCG held what is likely to be their biggest growing-season event for 2020, the BCG Industry Crop Walk at Whirily.
55 agronomists, advisors and agricultural industry representatives registered and attend the annual crop walk to view the trials undertaken by BCG for industry partners alongside some BCG member-funded projects.
“It’s not an easy process to plan an event in the current social climate, and all the BCG Staff involved did a great job in presenting the site, representing the organisation and helping to put on an impactful event” – Tom Draffen, Senior Manager Extension and Communication, BCG
The interactive, in-paddock event provides an opportunity for BCG to ensure that relevant technical information, research and new product knowledge is accessible to Agricultural advisors who have a key role in the advancement of farming practices.
“The BCG Industry Crop walk is always a professionally run event. All who attend get great value for their time spent in the paddock” – Kent Hair, Area Business Manager, FMC Crop Protection.
The crop walk included presentations and opportunities for Q&A’s with representatives by BCG industry partners FMC, ADAMA, Nufarm and Intergrain.
Due to the current border closures Kate Maddern, BCG stepped in to present on integrated weed management practices for brome grass in canola, as project lead Dr Gurjeet Gill, University of Adelaide was unable to travel from South Australia.
Similarly, Dr Mark McLean from AgVic was unavailable on the day and was replaced by representatives from BASF who were happy to be given the opportunity to engage with key agricultural stakeholders. “It’s great to see such a good turnout of agronomist and consultants from the region” – Ash Knight, Area Sales Manager Mallee and Sunraysia, BASF
The trial site was immaculately presented for the crop walk this year – and special thanks is given to YBS Ag Supplies, Birchip for their time slashing at the site as part of their new sponsorship agreement with BCG.
“A neat well-presented site and a well-run day with good communication in difficult conditions” – Mark Slatter, Field Development Lead, Nufarm
Managing the COVID-19 restrictions
Good communication and clear guidelines were the key strategies for ensuring that the day was able to be held in within the current restrictions. Group sizes were limited to meet DHHS guidelines and registration was a must for the event, and the need for social distancing was always communicated and enforced.
Prior to the event, attendees were notified of their starting stations and provided a map with site movement outlines and BCG staff were allocated to each station to ensure that groups were aware of their next stop.
Registrations were taken at the gate on the day and hand-sanitiser was available at every station. Attendees were also able to register for a contact-free afternoon tea pack prior to the event.
Industry products on display
Presenters: Mark Slatter and Royden Hearn
Topic: Pre-emergent and in-crop chemistry for use in Kingbale (IMI tolerant) oats
Products on display: Sentry
Active: Imazapic & Imazapyr
Group: B
Use: For the control of ryegrass, barley grass and brome grass in all pulse crops
Key Messages:
Nufarm have been conducting trials on Kingbale oats for several years to develop the herbicide registration.
It is anticipated that Sentry herbicide will be registered in early 2021 for application at a pre-sowing timing.
To ensure crop safety and avoid any residues in hay or grain; it’s important that only the registered product is used at the recommended timing.
Presenter: Ash Brooks
Topic: New single-gene IMI tolerant oaten hay variety
Product on display: Kingbale (IMI tolerant oats)
Use: For use where there are IMI residue concerns from previous crops
Key Messages
Intergrain have developed a world first IMI tolerant oat variety; called ‘Kingbale’ scheduled for launch in 2021.
Kingbale is a mid-flowering, CCN resistant variety with early vigour. Preliminary data shows Kingbale has similar disease and agronomic profile to Wintaroo
It is important to note that delays may occur and Kingbale may not be released if a Sentry® registration is not received.
Presenter: Kent Hair
Topic: New grass pre-emergent herbicide options for wheat, barley and canola,
Product: Overwatch
Active: Bixlozone
Group: Q
Use: For the control of ryegrass, barley grass and brome grass in all pulse crops
Key Messages:
Overwatch is developed around a new group Q molecule, making it a unique weed control option in the Australian broadacre market.
The mode of action means it will control Annual ryegrass and herbicide resistant biotypes. This will provide a new option in many parts of Australia where some current herbicides are losing their effectiveness.
Presenter: Al Crawford
Topic: New grass weed pre-emergent chemistry for use in pulses
Product on display: Ultro
Active: Carbetamide
Group: E
Use: For the control of ryegrass, barley grass and brome grass in all pulse crops
Key messages:
Pulses are all tolerant of Ultro, so crop damage should be rare.
Ultro provides the best control of annual ryegrass when used pre-emergent.
Ultro has relatively high-water solubility, so is more effective on weeds like brome grass that tend to bury themselves in the soil.
BASF
Presenters: Jack Daniel & Ash Knight
Topic: Good stewardship of chemicals to preserve key modes of action
Product on display: Systiva
Active: FLUXAPYROXAD
Group: 7—Fungicide
Use: For the control of a range of seed and foliar fungal diseases of barley and wheat and the suppression of Rhizoctonia root rot in barley and wheat.
Key Messages
SDHI chemistry is a key tool for controlling major foliar, seed borne and soil-borne diseases in barley.
Without good stewardship and controlled use of this mode-of-actions, growers risk higher tolerance levels and less robust protection.
Integrated approaches by diversifying fungicide applications, as well as ensuring good coverage when seed dressing is an important step in preserving our key chemistry mode-of-action.
Industry Site Trials
IWM practices for brome grass management in canola
Presenter: Kate Maddern, BCG
Funding body: University of Adelaide
Key Messages
Brome is germinating later and growers may miss a knockdown opportunity or pre-emergence chemistry control if germination occurs outside of residual period.
Crop competition is becoming an increasingly important tool to reduce seed set. Factors that are being investigated to improve competition in this trial are time of sowing, variety and seeding rate.
Brome requires three years of control (no seed set) to deplete the seed bank, it is important to ensure that you control it in rotations that it is easier
Currently there are low levels of herbicide resistance in brome, so it important to rotate modes of action in rotations where you have options to protect the chemistry to do so.
This trial looked at using group A, C and D chemistry across four different herbicide treatments to investigate different pre-emergence and post-emergence options that aren’t Group B chemistry.
BCG Herbicide MatrixPresenter: Kelly Angel
Funding body: BCG members
Key messages:
The use of group G herbicides prior to planting or in fallow situations in glyphosate mixes is a common practice in many areas of Australia.
The key benefits they offer include:
- Enhanced control of certain weeds, often hard to kill with glyphosate alone
- Historically have had none or minimal residual activity
- Offer rapid brownout – which in some situations is a good thing – visually pleasing.
Rapid brownout can increase risk in using group G products to achieve maximum kill because they work so fast as a contact herbicide that they can in fact limit effective translocation of systemic herbicides like glyphosate and reduce efficacy – particularly on stressed or larger weeds under warm or high light intensity situations.
There are also risks with reduced grass control with addition of some group G herbicides – this is more of an issue in summer.
Improving performance of group G/glyphosate mixes can be achieved by a number of things including
- Spraying late in the day under lower light intensity or when it is overcast much like the suggestions for paraquat.
- Using high water rates for good coverage – 70L-150L on most labels recommended.
- Avoid spraying stressed/large weeds
- Keep spray mixes simple – avoid additional products that may further antagonise the mix
We are now seeing a new wave of group G herbicides coming through that have quite changed use patterns offering increased residual activity so it pays to have a look at what these can offer as a spike – but also touch base on the key considerations for use.
This trial has been set up as a matrix with crop types running east west, and herbicides applied over the top north south.
