2017 presented its fair share of challenges that made agronomic decision making far from straight forward.
Stubble management at sowing was an initial struggle for many growers after the bumper crops last year and made for a very smoky April despite a lot more reluctance from growers than in the past. The big stubble load from 2016 also contributed to a range of other issues right throughout the season, like reduced herbicide efficacy and, of course, mice.
The big impact that mice had at sowing caused headaches. Re-sowing after significant mouse damage, or applying more nutrition to boost remaining crops instead, was a difficult decision faced by many that a very dry June did nothing to simplify.
Frost was another big issue that caused significant – but variable – damage. 2017 was unusual in both the frequency and the severity of frosts, which unfortunately occurred at just the wrong time for crop development. The BCG research site in Corack recorded -5°C temperatures overnight three times in a single fortnight in August, with nine out of 14 days below 0°C. As well as direct damage to crops and consequent yield loss, many growers reported that frosts’ negative effects on spray efficacy had resulted in poor grass control.
Strangely enough for a frosty year, heat stress was another challenge – in the week after the BCG Main Field Day at Curyo in mid-September, there was a frost on Sunday and temperatures reached 37°C on the following Saturday.
To cap it all off, harvest brought rainfall that broke daily records across the state; golf ball sized hail in around Banyena, Wycheproof, and Charlton; and damp and humid conditions that increased the risk of shot and sprung grain.
