Trial Update – 29 June 2026
Our 2026 research trials are emerging well, with crops now up and out of the ground despite another wet week across the region.
To give growers a closer look at the work happening in the paddock, we’ll be shining a spotlight on a BCG trial in each edition of eNews. We’ll catch up with our research team to hear what they’re working on, what they’ll be measuring in the coming weeks, and what they’re most excited to learn this season.
We spoke to Zoe who is managing the Hugh D.T. Williamson Foundation project- Making Hay While the Sun Shines: Dual Purpose Wheat in Mallee Systems, to find out how the trial is progressing.
What is the project aim?
The project aims to assess yield and quality of wheat varieties under a range of systems for dual purpose use, providing industry with greater knowledge and confidence in risk management and mid-season decision-making. The project will evaluate three wheat varieties across four management systems. These combinations will be assessed for adaptability, productivity and their role in risk management strategy, hopefully adding another tool to the farmers toolbox.
What have you been doing?
In terms of what I’ve been up to in the field it is still early days! Emergence counts have been done on all the systems, and the earlier times of sowing have been “grazed” with the trusty slasher. Biomass cuts have been sent off for feed analysis to establish the value generated from grazing. The earlier sown varieties are in stem elongation, and the later are currently tillering.
What excites you about this trial?
Livestock and their nutrition are a personal interest for me, so I am always excited when I get to talk about the value of managing livestock alongside broadacre cropping. However, I am really looking forward to demonstrating how much value or risk-aversion we can squeeze out of one treatment and if it is viable to be translated on farm. There are so many end-uses involved in this project, so I will have a lot of milestones to look forward to.
Want to know more? We will be presenting the results of this trial at our Main Field Day on 9 September in Curyo. Register here!
This trial is funded by the Hugh D.T. Williamson Foundation.
