Stripe rust is becoming more apparent but not to the same levels as last year.
Aphid numbers are building in some areas. Other insects are being monitored.
Sheep markets are a pain point with producers trying to decide the best course of action with the current low returns.
Brown manuring is underway and hay cutting has started in some areas largely driven by growth stage as a result of time of sowing or more northern regions. Harvest preparations are on the maintenance schedule.
Cereals are at stem elongation, some canola is flowering and pulses are still growing slowly.
Net form net blotch (NFNB) and Septoria are present in barley and wheat respectively. Fungicide plans are being actioned where risk is greatest. Stripe rust has also been detected in other regions, but this is 2-3 months later than last year in commercial crops.
Red leather leaf is present in oats and prothioconazole applications are occurring.
Drier weather has seen the disease threat lessen a little for diseases that like cool wet conditions, but there is still a need to be vigilant.
Preparation for grain storage is commencing with thought going into grain hygiene and silo bag needs.
Black keeled slugs are still causing many issues where they are found. Particularly if management was compromised due to access issues for spreading bait. No crop type has been safe.
Blackleg levels in canola are very high in some Wimmera crops due to high pressure and early sowing.
Powdery mildew in wheat has been reported about two weeks earlier than last year in the Mallee.
Net form net blotch (NFNB) and Septoria are present in barley and wheat respectively. Fungicide plans are being actioned where risk is greatest.
In the northern Mallee there has been some crop wilting despite good moisture—suspect compaction is the cause. It is a good time to check and identify areas that can be managed out of season. Other than that, growers are quietly positive about the season.
Urea was going out before rain this week with growers recognising opportunities given crop need and the seasonal outlook. Supply may be a concern for those who have not organised early in the short term.
Some regions are having access issues again due to rain, it is likely track renovations will likely be on the cards
again this summer.
Mice continue to be a problem in isolated regions, some have baited three times.
Considerations of fungicide plans are already 1occurring with recent weather.
Sowing is continuing with growers 60 per cent (Wimmera)—100 per cent (Mallee) through their program.
Crops are needing moisture. Earlier sown crops into moisture growing well later sown crops are still trying to establish.
Supplementary feeding sheep is ongoing while we wait for crops to be ready to graze.
Slug management in some areas is ongoing, good results from high rates (20kg/ha) but justifying the economics in these more variable risk areas is difficult.
Some are considering N decisions in canola and hay oats where crops were sown early.
14.3.23 Special Technical Bulletin – Seed testing, sowing rate calculations and answers to additional questions from TRD 2023.
Fusarium Head Blight (FHB): BCG released a special technical bulletin in January 2023, on seed quality and testing seed following the wet spring of 2022. Fusarium Head Blight (Fusarium pseudograminearum) (FHB) was an issue for some due the conditions during flowering and grain fill however don’t underestimate the impact stripe rust which may have been a major contributor to poor grain quality.