The 2017 BCG Main Field Day is just six weeks away, and farmers, agronomists and industry are invited to the Curyo main research site on Wednesday 13 September to inspect more than 25 trials.
Spread across two paddocks, trials span Craig Rickard’s lentil stubble paddock and Jim Rickard’s fallow paddock on the Sunraysia highway, approximately 25km north-west of Birchip.
Each year, the BCG main research site moves to a different member’s property, allowing BCG to demonstrate trials in different climates, soil types, weed and disease pressures and farming systems.
Some of the trials at Curyo include NVT canola, barley, wheat, field peas, chickpeas and lentils. Those who viewed the lentil seed coat trial at the 2016 Warmur Main Field Day will see follow up trials this season, while a lentil herbicide tolerance trial is new this year.
GRDC-funded trials through the ‘barley agronomy for the southern region’ project include weed pressure, phosphorus rate and seed size/source interactions to determine the best management package for various barley varieties.
International specialist, Dr. Kelly Turkington from Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, will visit the BCG Main Field Day in collaboration with Agriculture Victoria and share his knowledge on cereal plant pathology and agronomy, as well as his experience and management techniques from Canadian grain farming systems.
New products will also be on display, with ADAMA’s new Veritas® and Ultro® products being discussed by Marketing Development Manager Alistair Crawford.
As part of the GRDC funded ‘Application of controlled traffic farming (CTF) in the low rainfall zone’ project, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF) agricultural economist James Hagan will discuss the economics, system changes and management of controlled traffic in the low rainfall zone.
Attendees can also expect to hear a spring forecast and inspect trials on vetch varieties, early sown wheat with various irrigation rates and sowing time interactions, disease management for crown rot, yellow leaf spot, spot form of net blotch and much more.
The BCG Main Field Day will be held at the Curyo main research site on 13 September. Entry is free for BCG members and $50 for non-members.
Breakfast and lunch will be available to purchase on the day. For more information contact the office on (03) 5492 2787 or visit the website www.bcg.org.au.
