ODay2017

Ladies Tour

Understanding the Australian Pulse market

Phil Bowden, Pulse Australia
Australia produced a record pulse crop in 2016 around 4.4Mt of chickpeas, lentils, faba beans, field peas and lupins. This compares with 4.1Mt of canola. The on-farm value of exports from these crops was $3.1B (compared to canola of $2.1B), but the pulse market can be volatile depending on production in India. Markets for our pulses is export driven, prices depend on the supply in India and supply depends on the monsoon rains. High prices for our lentils and chickpeas, has been the result of poor monsoon in 2014-16. Farmers know there are many advantages to having pulses in the cropping rotation, but care needs to be taken in maintaining high standards of production and harvesting to ensure that delivery standards are met, so that markets will be assured of our quality product. There is greater interest in new pulse foods, such as the healthy snack foods from chickpeas and faba beans, and lentil beer. The International Year of Pulses in 2016 was estimated to have increased consumption of pulses in western countries by around 20%. The future looks bright as consumers become aware of the health benefits of pulses in western diets, and traditional markets in the Sub-continent and the Middle Eastern countries are also increasing their demand for protein foods. Population growth in India will increase demand for pulse protein.

pH Stratification impacts on pulse production

Helen Burns, NSW DPI
Knowing the pH profile of your soil is critical when planning to sow acid sensitive pulses like lentils, chickpeas, vetch, faba beans and peas. Soil sampling across the region has identified both increased acidification of our soils along with variation in pH depending on soil depth. Typical approaches to soil sampling (ie collection of a composite sample of soil from 0-10cm) does not pick up variation in pH in 5cm increments down to 20cm which, if low in pH, can impact significantly on nodulation and pulse crop performance.

The ‘Watchout’ Broadleaf Diseases this Season

Kurt Lindbeck, NSW DPI
Each season presents its own spectrum of disease issues in crops.  An overview will be provided of the important disease issues that have been identified in broadleaf crops this season and management strategies this coming spring. There will also be a focus on Lupin Anthracnose – how to identify it and what to do if you.

Paddock Demonstrations – Paddock 13
Soil sampling & infield pH testing

Helen Burns, NSW DPI
Using simple pH test kits, you can quickly gain an understanding of the pH profile of your soil. Using a hand-held soil sample probe and an off the shelf pH test kit you can identify pH horizons, appreciate the importance of incorporating lime (rather than surface spreading) and design your paddock management plan to assist crop type selection and achieve optimum crop performance. Participants will take home a pH test kit provided by Riverina LLS to get started immediately!

Sub soil pH amelioration

Richard Lowrie, NSW DPI
FarmLink is involved in a GRDC funded NSW DPI project (DAN00206) focused on correction of serious subsoil pH issues at depths of 10-30 cm through deep placement of lime and organic ameliorants. NSW DPI has designed and built a modified deep ripper (3-D Ripper) for the project which will be on display. Understanding the chemical and biological changes and crop response process when ameliorants are placed at depth is being monitored for at least five years at sites at Dirnaseer and near Binalong, which were established in 2016. The effort and expense involved in ameliorating subsoils puts increased focus on the need to address surface pH issues in an ongoing and effective manner.

Afternoon session

Grid mapping for variable rate lime and P applications

Eva Moffitt, Precision Agriculture
Grid soil mapping is a high-resolution method of accurately and directly measuring within-paddock variability of soil health and/or nutrition levels. Extensive grid mapping over the 2016/17 season revealed a high-level of within-paddock pH and phosphorus variability is common across broadacre cropping areas in southern and central NSW. Results demonstrated that pH (CaCl2) and Colwell P levels are driven by a combination of both underlying soil characteristics and past management practices. Quantifying spatial variabilities through grid soil mapping enables growers to confidently match inputs to requirements through variable rate applications of soil ameliorants and fertilisers. This produces a two-fold benefit of both increasing productivity through the targeted alleviation of yield constraints and improving input use efficiency through the potential reduction or reallocation of resources.

Relationships Between PAWC, Soil Physio-Chemical Properties and Landscape Position

Mark Glover, CSIRO PAWC

How well you understand your soil – its structure, chemistry and position in the landscape – impacts your ability to manage your farming system to maximise its potential. Introducing the factors of soil formation and their relationship to landscape position. Plus defining plant available water capacity, plant available water and the soil physio-chemical properties that influence them. Together these factors lead to a discussion on how these soil properties relate to landscape position, and by analogy, production potential.

Making mobile & data tech work on your farm

Ian Ware, APA Sound

Connectivity is critical for the adoption of new technology into your farming enterprise. This session will cover internet and connectivity options including new technology to improve reception, as well as exploring methods of optimising your current connection to make to most of it.

Paddock Demonstrations

Paddock mapping & variable rate spreading

Tony Dickson, Precision Agriculture and Clare Robinson, Hutcheon & Pearce
Field demonstration and explanation of paddock grid mapping and EM38 surveying. Gain a better understanding of how field mapping is conducted and the data made available for variable rate lime and P applications. After you have mapped the soil variation in your paddock the technology exists to apply fertiliser, lime and P, at rates targeted to the specific deficiencies or constraints of the paddock zones. See the John Deere variable rate spreader technology in the paddock!

Correctly identifying footrot & managing your biosecurity obligations

Liz Braddon, LLS 
Demonstrating through the examination of the sheep’s foot how to identify various symptoms so that producers’ will be able to recognise suspected footrot lesions and seek professional advice for confirmation.  This will incorporate a discussion on general farm biosecurity and the new requirements for on farm biosecurity plans recently announced by the Livestock Production Assurance Scheme.  Each participant will obtain an on-farm biosecurity template that will assist them to meet their obligations under the LPA system from 1 October 2017.