By James Taylor
The Birchip Cropping Group has planted its presence in the North Central again this season.
The Fodder for the Future project, a collaboration between BCG and Murray Dairy, is bringing applied research to the region thanks to a trial at BCG’s Mitiamo research site.
Its objective is to address challenges around the fodder market to benefit broadacre and dairy farmers in cereal, vetch and mixed species hay crops. Mitiamo is an ideal location because it’s in a region where both cropping and dairy industries co-exist. The soil and climate conditions at Mitiamo provide an opportunity for field trials to deliver relevant findings for North Central growers.
The Fodder for the Future trials will measure how agronomic practices impact on yield and quality of hay. BCG will investigate the effect of variety, plant density, sowing date, fertiliser and cut timing. The trials were sown on the 30th of April and 2nd of June and have established well despite the slow start. The varieties included are outlined in Table 1. To assess the effect of plant density on quality and stem diameter, some varieties were sown at different seeding rates.
Table 1 Fodder for the Future trial details
| Varieties and sowing date trial | ||
| Cereal | Vetch | Mixed species |
| Kingbale oats | Popany* | Popany vetch and Wintaroo oats |
| Yallara oats | Morava | Popany vetch and Hayman peas |
| Wintaroo oats* | Timok | ATR Bonito canola and Wintaroo oats |
| Brusher oats | Volga | ATR Bonito canola and Timok vetch |
| Bannister oats | RM4 | |
| Mulgara oats | Benetas | |
| Spartacus CL barley | ||
| RGT Planet barley* |
* varieties with different sowing rates (plant density) treatments also included.
Nutrient management is also being trialled with various nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium inputs in Wintaroo oats. The oats will be measured for hay yield, stem diameter and feed test quality at various dates. Another trial in Popany vetch, will measure the effect of various phosphorus and potassium levels on yield and feed test quality.
BCG’s work on pulses in the region will continue too. The Mitiamo site also hosts a trial on broadleaf control in lentils and field peas. A variety trial will measure yield, flowering date and biomass of field peas in the North Central. Sheep producers will be interested in legume pastures being trailed for their ability to maintain a natural seed bank.
The Mitiamo site will be on display at a Crop Walk. Keep an eye on the BCG website, www.bcg.org.au, for more details. Results will be presented to BCG members at Trial Review Day.
