“Mind the gap”: the message from Nick Poole at BCG’s Main Field Day

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“Mind the gap” was FAR Australia’s Nick Poole’s message to attendees at BCG’s Main Field day on Wednesday the 14th of September at Nullawil. The early onset of stripe rust and other fungal diseases as well as conducive wet conditions, has challenged farmer decision making. The internationally recognised disease expert drew a large crowd eager to hear his advice.

Speaking at the beginning of the day as well in a 45 minute Q&A disease management session with fellow disease experts from Agriculture Victoria Grant Hollaway and Hari Dadu, Mr Poole’s message was clear: “In essence all we have to do is maximise and optimise our economics in this high yield potential season, is to keep those top three solar panels or as we refer to them, the money leaves, protected,” Mr Poole explained.

Chemistry protective not curative

“If Flutriafol was used on fertiliser at sowing, when that third leaf emerges [flag -2], we need to be actively keeping it clean. And while chemistry has improved over the years, they are still better protective rather than reactive/curative,” Mr Poole said. “We need to be looking to get fungicides on before disease appears.”

What went wrong

“So think about what you sprayed and have a look at what looks good and what doesn’t. It will revolve around, I promise you, those top three solar panels. If the top solar panel, flag leaf, is infected then you know you have left those first fungicide decisions far too long, leaving a gap. This is assuming you hadn’t any Flutriafol at the start of the crop, and it’s really not much different with barley.”

Protecting money leaves

Mr Poole explained that if growers want to keep a susceptible crop clean “it’s as simple as saying I need to protect the leaf at growth stage 31,32 and then the flag leaf at growth stage 39, with the gap not to exceed four, at a stretch five weeks,” urging attendees to remember, “mind the gap, mind the gap”.

“What has happened is people who haven’t used Flutriafol, have put it on too early with the broadleaf spray, then decided the flag leaf needs protecting. The gap is too big to protect the money leaves.”

The other point Mr Poole encouraged growers to remember is while Flutriafol applied at sowing has the ability to move up the stem, fungicides applied in season do not, so as the plant continues to grow, leaves emerging after application are not protected. This is where the gap begins.

Genetics and resistance

“We need good genetics or if we are growing a variety that doesn’t have it, we need to protect the money leaves,” Mr Poole said. He also encouraged growers not to overuse fungicides to avoid building resistance to the limited fungicide options we have. “This is another good reason to grow varieties with good adult plant resistance.”

Head wash

“Do I need to apply a head wash” is a question Mr Poole said he has been asked multiple times over the past week, referring to a fungicide after head emergence. His answer is: “First consider what level of infection is under the head. If you are considering a head wash spray, it needs to be applied when the head is coming out, or fully emerged prior to flowering, not once it’s finished flowering, by then the infection has already set up. It also acts to protect the flag leaf again from further infection, generally a high rainfall zone practice. Usually heat and dryness nullify the need in the Mallee but we will likely need to approach things differently this year, under these wetter conditions.”

BCG Main Field Day opening

Professor Tim Reeves from The University of Melbourne fittingly opened the event, having opened BCG’s first main field day 30 years ago. Professor Reeves implored attendees and the wider farming community “not to take BCG for granted, BCG is an amazing resource, make sure you are an active member”. Professor Reeves highlighted the important changes in agriculture the organisation had contributed to over the years and the need to stay connected and motivated moving forward. “I’m excited about the next 30 years. There are many opportunities but we are also living in a riskier world in terms of climate, markets, supply chain issues, conflict, inputs and pandemics. The pandemic put a magnifying glass on things that were unsustainable anyway. We need to be more vigilant and agile than ever.”

Peter Barr

ABC Muster Dogs trainer Peter Barr from Pinnaroo was also a highlight of BCG’s Main Field Day, captivating the audience with his working dog demonstration, his dogs almost appearing spellbound by their master. Peter’s message to farmers looking to train their dog came down to two things: “Make sure they’re your best mate first,” and to “spend the time with them. It doesn’t have to be a lot of time but it needs to be focussed time, where all your attention is on them”.

Ben McEvoy

Former Hawthorn Football Club Captain turned farmer Ben McEvoy’s presentation on how he planned to apply his lessons learnt in football to farming capped off a successful event. Ben McEvoy too believes staying focussed is important both in football and farming and that a success mindset in any team played a major role in future achievements both on and off the field.

BCG research

BCG staff and collaborators were also heavily involved in bringing the organisation’s research to life on the day. Topics covered included GRDC NVT results, pulse agronomy, Septoria management in the low rainfall zone, silicon trials, soil carbon work, BCG’s herbicide matrix, year-round fodder trials and animal biosecurity.

BCG CEO Fiona Best said: “The BCG Main Field Day is our way of connecting with farmers, to showcase the work we do for them and their surrounding communities. It’s as much an educational event as it is a celebration of our work and what we have achieved over the past thirty years. Bringing together such a diverse range of quality speakers is a highlight for BCG as an organisation and we thank our attendees, presenters, collaborators and sponsors for being actively involved in the day.”

-ENDS-

For more information please contact BCG Media and Communications Officer Janine Batters on 0400 504 330.

Professor Tim Reeves from The University of Melbourne fittingly opened the event, having opened BCG’s first main field day 30 years ago
BCG CEO Fiona Best with Dr Dorin Gupta (The University of Melbourne Dookie Campus) and Scarlett Cuthbertson (agricultural science student at The University of Melbourne) discussing one of the many trials BCG is carrying out at their main research site at Nullawil.
The disease management Q&A session was a great opportunity for attendees to get answers from the experts FAR Australia’s Nick Poole and Agriculture Victoria’s Grant Hollaway and Hari Dadu in a hands-on environment.
Attendees were able to see first-hand the research taking place at Nullawil. Topics covered included: GRDC NVT results, pulse agronomy, Septoria management in the low rainfall zone, silicon trials, soil carbon work, BCG’s herbicide matrix, year-round fodder trials and animal biosecurity.
ABC Muster Dogs trainer Peter Barr from Pinnaroo was also a highlight of BCG’s Main Field Day, captivating the audience with his working dog demonstration, his dogs almost appearing spellbound by their master.
Former Hawthorn Football Club Captain turned farmer Ben McEvoy (centre) explained how he plans to apply the lessons learnt in football to farming. He is pictured with BCG CEO Fiona Best (left) and BCG Chair John Ferrier (right).
ABC Muster Dogs trainer Peter Barr from Pinaroo captivated the large crowd at BCG’s Main Field Day. Pictured with his dogs and farmers (left to right), Darren Angel (Birchip), Peter Mullan (Lalbert) and Andrew Lee (Birchip).
FAR Australia’s Nick Poole’s message to attendees at BCG’s Main Field Day on Wednesday the 14th of September at Nullawil was to “mind the gap” to protect the “money leaves”.
The disease management Q&A session was a great opportunity for attendees to get answers from the experts FAR Australia’s Nick Poole and Agriculture Victoria’s Grant Hollaway and Hari Dadu in a hands-on environment.

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