Technical Bulletin No 3. 27.5.21

• Cereals range from Z31/32 through to head emergence depending on location and sowing date. Canola
  growth stages are also variable.
• Stripe rust has been reported and is being proactively managed.
• Mice are present in patchy numbers; some baiting is occurring where damage is significant.
• Lentil prices have meant cleaning and selling some lentils has been worthwhile.
• Resistance testing of weed escapes, particularly ryegrass will help with planning

• 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.

In This Edition:

Germination testing for seed
Sowing Windows
Group 14 spikes
Lambing
BCG Research Update – New project looking at slugs