BCG members had the opportunity to hear the results from a range of 2018 research trials at the annual BCG Trials Review Day last Friday, February 15. The day attracted a crowd from across the Wimmera, Mallee, North Central and beyond.
Invited presenters and BCG researchers presented on topics covering pulse, cereal and canola variety performance, the status of insecticide resistance, managing early sown wheat, getting the best from plant establishment, climate update and results and more.
BCG Research and Extension Officer, Genevieve Clarke shared results from trials investigating early sowing of winter wheat varieties.
Ms Clarke said from two years of trials (2017 and 2018), we have seen two very different seasons.
“If considering sowing wheat early, it is important not only to understand your stored soil moisture levels but also the rainfall that is received in that early break,”
“10mm may not be enough moisture at sowing to establish a crop early, particularly on heavy soil types” she added.
In his presentation, BCG’s Cameron Taylor urged growers to think strategically about canola sowing dates to get the most out of the variety chosen and to mitigate risks such as frost damage or moisture stress.
“Over the last four years, fast to mid-fast developing varieties are best suited to Mallee and Wimmera environments when sown at the correct time to ensure flowering in the optimal window” he said.
BCG research staff have been selecting research sites for 2019 and will host its main research site on the Sunraysia Hwy, approximately 5km west of Birchip. The core Wimmera research site is still being determined.
The site selection process entails finding out about paddock history including herbicide history to understand residual risks, weed type and pressure, soil type, rotation history and planned crop type (around trial site) for the current year.
BCG is again offering a soil sampling service which is about to get underway. Soil sampling allows inputs to be more accurately managed. Given the poor performance on crops in many regions, there may be some applications of fertiliser last season that have gone unused.
Soil sampling allows for a better understanding of the soil profile including moisture and nutrition location, thus leading to informed decision making throughout the year. If this service could benefit your business, call the BCG office to book your paddocks in.
For further information please contact the BCG office on 03 5492 2787.
BCG will be at the Wimmera Machinery Field Days, please come in and visit us at the RuralBank tent.
This article was published in The Weekly Advertiser.
