Some of the latest information and research into pest, weed and disease management will be presented to farmers at Birchip Cropping Group’s (BCG) Main Field Day next Wednesday.
BCG extension manager Ciara Cullen said BCG’s field research and event program was designed to address the issues, concerns and questions raised by farmers in the Wimmera and Mallee regions.
“As farmers well know, there is always something to worry about when growing crops is your business,” she said.
“BCG aims to arm farmers with information that will help alleviate some of that worry and make informed management decisions.”
Ms Cullen said an excellent line-up of local and inter-state grains industry specialists had been booked for the field day to speak about a range of agronomic issues that were relevant to this season; one which has been particularly conducive to pests and disease.
Horsham-based researcher Dr Piotr Trebicki (Agriculture Victoria) and agronomist Simon Severin (Agritech Rural) will lead an informative discussion about pest management covering pest and beneficial insect identification, spraying thresholds and proactive and reactive control measures including systemic seed treatments and contact and systemic insecticides.
A discussion about crop diseases presented by BCG researcher Cam Taylor will particularly focus on pulse crops, with a pulse fungicide management trial at the Main Field Day site open for inspection.
Wimmera farm consultant John Stuchbury (Agrivision Consultants) will join this discussion which will examine how best to protect valuable pulse crops from disease and what to do when infection occurs.
One of the more challenging weed issues – volunteer wheat in barley (and vice versa) is also being explored at the Main Field Day site.
Field trials exploring options to control volunteer wheat in barley and volunteer barley in wheat will be showcased during the field day with farm consultant and variety specialist Simon Craig (Farm 360) discussing the success or failure of each treatment.
Late season weed control will be addressed by Grain Producers Australia chairman Andrew Weidemann and Jud Wheatley from de Bruin Engineering.
Mr Weidmann, will discuss the use of glyphosate in late season barley crops, including the consequences this practice can have on farming systems and grain markets while Mr Wheatley will focus on opportunities to reduce a paddock’s weed burden with the integrated Harrington Seed Destructor (iHSD) which captures and pulverizes weed seeds during the harvesting process.
Ms Cullen said a full and informative day was promised at the 2016 BCG Main Field Day.
“Other presentations will focus on gypsum management, crop nutrition, crop variety comparisons including recovery after grazing, gibberellic acid use in oats, lentils and vetch, crop nutrition, gypsum management and more,” she said.
The 2016 BCG Main Field Day is at Warmur (18kms south west of Birchip on the Warracknabeal-Birchip road) on September 14. Gates open at 8.15am for breakfast, with trial tours and information running from 9am to 5pm.
Entry is free for BCG members and $50 for non-members, with breakfast and lunch available for purchase on site (proceeds towards the Birchip P-12 School Cambodia project).
For details contact BCG on 5492 2787 or log on at www.bcg.org.au/events.
