Farmers' Newsletter No 182, Autumn 2010

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IRRIGATION INDUSTRY NEWS

New chairman for IREC (827 k)

High security irrigators regroup (1.4MB)

Soybean growers join forces (1.25 MB)

Soy Australia is a new industry organisation representing soybean growers, processors and end-users.
The organisation will be an active partner in the Australian National Soybean Breeding Program – ensuring the availability of new varieties of high yield and desired quality suited to Australia’s production environments.
Soybean growers are encouraged to become members of Soy Australia, and have their say in the development and advancement of the industry.

RESEARCH TO LIFT PRODUCTIVITY & EFFICIENCY

Centre pivot irrigators under the microscope (1.5 MB)

Centre pivot and linear move (CPLM) irrigation will be financially viable if the capital costs plus the operating costs associated with irrigation are less than 25% of the projected/budgeted gross income.
Achievable target yields under CPLM on suitable soils with sufficient water were found to be 6.0–7.0 t/ha for wheat and 18–20 t/ha for lucerne.
The viability of an investment in CPLM is most sensitive to changes in gross income (ie price and yield), so the best strategy is to maximise income – don’t reduce costs at the expense of income.
Dispersive, heavy, clay soils will limit the ability to maximise income from a CPLM system – these soils have a propensity to waterlog, reducing the likelihood of consistently achieving maximum yields.
The system needs to be able to supply peak crop water demand to maximise income. In the southern Riverina, towable pivots irrigating two or three circles of winter crop should have a design capacity of 15 mm/day and a pivot irrigating one circle of summer crop should have a design capacity of 17 mm/day.
Capital costs make up more than 50% of the annualised total cost of CPLM systems. Total costs (per hectare or megalitre) will be reduced if capital costs are spread over more hectares and more megalitres – use the machine as much as possible.

Barley proves valuable for irrigation rotations (2.15 MB)

Barley is proving to be a good option for cropping rotations in the irrigation areas of the southern Murray-Darling Basin, with its shorter growing season and generally lower input costs, compared with other cereals.
Trials over the last two seasons show good results for malting and feed grades of barley.
Fairview has been a standout performer for malting varieties under full irrigation, and Capstan has proved to be a high yielding feed variety with excellent lodging resistance.
Sowing rates need to be determined according to the variety being sown and the irrigation plan for the season.

Canopy management for high production cereals (1.42 MB)

Modifying nitrogen application timing from a single upfront application to a split application resulted in no significant variation in yield or grain protein.
The three plant growth regulators tested affected time of plant maturity, plant height, lodging and grain yield.
The plant growth regulators applied at first node (DC31) maintained or increased yield compared to the untreated control, while Ethephon applied at awn peep (DC49) decreased yield.

Biochar - a means of storing carbon? (1.47 MB)

Biochar is a form of charcoal resulting from the burning of organic materials at high temperatures under low oxygen conditions.
There is great interest in biochar production as a means of carbon storage of material that would otherwise be dealt with as waste (and most likely burnt).
A research project has commenced at CSIRO Griffith to investigate the potential use of local agricultural waste products to produce biochar, and the potential use of the resulting biochar as a soil amendment.

Results for Kerang Trial Block (1.44 MB)

A range of cereals was assessed for potential fodder production, and generally a mid-March sowing gave the best result, with total dry matter production throughout the season ranging from 12–18 t/ha with this sowing time. However, high temperatures during germination decreased establishment rates in some plots.
Barley results were disappointing, with an average yield across all treatments of 4.2 t/ha. Late rains and high shoot counts led to significant lodging with many varieties.
Commercially available canola varieties were trialed, with the average yield across the block being 4.3 t/ha. Conventional varieties topped the yields over the herbicide tolerant varieties, however, the top performer of the trial was a roundup ready variety.

Legume crop options for fodder (880 k)

A preliminary trial has shown that good dry matter production can be achieved, with limited irrigation, from a range of forage legumes including peas, vetch, clovers and medic.

PRODUCTS & PROJECTS

Soybean agronomy book (1.3 MB)

Assisting grain growers in a changing climate (1.4 MB)

The Grains Industry Climate Initiative will ensure grain growers across Australia are provided with information, training opportunities and access to decision support systems to help them to make business decisions with the impacts and implications of climate change taken into account.

STUDY, TOURS & FIELD DAYS

A farmer’s view of climate change (1.45 MB)

Nuffield Scholar, Jennie Hawkins believes addressing climate change will be a balancing act between recognising ‘big picture’ implications for the future of agriculture, sharing information and technology to assist poorer nations, and trying to make a living from farming when commodity markets are so competitive.
On a national level Ms Hawkins believes farmers need to get involved in the climate debate and help develop Australian policy with a long-term outlook. While agriculture is effectively only a small part of the ‘climate change problem’ it is potentially a significant part of the solution through opportunities to sequester carbon.

POLICY AFFECTING IRRIGATORS

Murray-Darling Basin plan - Adapting to less water (1.5 MB)

A draft plan for management of water in the Murray-Darling Basin will be announced in July 2010.
The plan will set limits on the amount of water that can be diverted for irrigation.
Only months out from the announcement, the plan as yet does not specify the extent to which current water allocations will be reduced, in order to meet requirements for environmental water.

REGULARS

Chairman’s foreword (1.3 MB)

IREC Executive Committee (432 K)

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