Technical Bulletin No 8. 12.8.2021

• 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.

• Recent rainfall across the region has provided a welcome boost to yield potential for 2025.
• Growers are finalising winter weed control programs.
• Cereal crops currently range from mid tillering to early stem elongation.
• Reports of stripe rust around Boort and Nullawil
• The BioScout unit installed at the BCG Main Site, Birchip has detected low levels of rust spores (see below).

• Monitoring, seed germination and emergence remain the top priorities for most growers across western Victoria.
• Growers are assessing plant densities of any emerged crops, particularly canola, and adjusting their yield potential expectations.
• After watering germination test areas, some Wimmera growers have elected to re-sow some canola paddocks because less than 5plants/m² could be found.
• With some rain on the forecast this weekend, growers are taking a positive and prepared approach to potential next steps for crop management, particularly regarding inputs for nutrition, pest and weed control.
• Lamb prices are expected to remain strong through spring.

In This Edition:

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

• Canola windrowing is complete or underway in most regions
• Hay quality has generally been good due to a drier curing period
• Despite lower growing season rainfall, most regions are generally in a good position for harvest
• Growers are organising harvest priorities and logistics, particularly those still bailing hay while also starting to harvest canola and barley
• Cropping plans for 2024 are being reviewed as final passes on paddocks occur, taking account of weeds, disease and other risks