newsMINGENEW IRWIN GROUP

winter 2015

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SERCS METHANE EMISSION RESULTS

WHEAT MARKET WRAP

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HYOLA TOPS INDUSTRY BLACKLEG RATINGS

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Dates to remember!17 June Advanced Spray Workshop

26 June Post Seeding Dinner

3 July MIG Cattle Comp

29 July Leading Ladies Day

MIG Board Members

Chairman Craig Forsyth 0428 275 035 cdforsyth@activ8.net.auVice Chairman Sally O’Brien 0458 275 049 sally@irwinhouse.net.auSecretary Bob Preston 0427 291 033 muranda2@esat.net.au Ian Thomas 0428 281 222 ianthomasaralet@gmail.com Cliff Harding 0428 558 036 hardfarms@hotmail.comIan Broad 0428 568 568 id.broad@bigpond.comBraden Bagley 0428 726 024 bradenbagley@hotmail.comTim Dempster 0429 958 018 timdempster82@gmail.comHelen Newton 0429 688 702 justcyrus@westnet.com.au

R&D Committee

Chairperson Ian Thomas 0428 281 222 ianthomasaralet@gmail.com Manager Debbie Gillam 0427 281 006 debbie@mig.org.auOfficer Laura Dorman 0409 751 586 laura@mig.org.auCommittee Nick Duane, James Dempster, Rob Holmes, Braden Bagley, Hugh Rowe, Kathryn Fleay, Richard Marsland, Darrin Lee, Luigi Moreschi, Steve Rowe, Scott Morgan, Rob Campbell, Tony Rosser, Owen Mann, Peter Elliot Lockhart, Juliet McDonald and Steve Cosh

Enviro Committee

Chairperson Rachel Bagshaw 0428 008 571 r.bagshaw@activ8.net.auCommittee Zoe Campbell, Hellene McTaggart, Craig Forsyth, Fiona Gibson, Helene Metzinger

MIG Staff

Executive Officer Sheila Charlesworth 9928 1645 0427 281 007 sheila@mig.org.au Finance Officer Sally McTaggart 9928 1645 sally@mig.org.auR&D Manager Debbie Gillam 9928 1506 0427 281 006 debbie@mig.org.auR&D Officer Laura Dorman 9928 1506 0409 751 586 laura@mig.org.auProject Officer Helene Metzinger 9928 1646 0427 281 001 helene@mig.org.auProject Officer Donna Rayner 0428 281 091 donna@mig.org.auCommunication Zoe Campbell 9928 1645 admin@mig.org.auResearch Technical Officer Brooke Forsyth 9928 1506 brooke@mig.org.au 2.

To Members, Sponsors and Supporters

Welcome to the Winter edition of the Mingenew Irwin Group newsletter. After a promising start and good rains during autumn, 2015 has now become a challenging and interesting year. Nonetheless with the endeavour that MIG members and Northern Agricultural Region farmers have adopted new cropping technologies, there are still positives that can be drawn upon.

Regarding the positive theme, the MIG staff still continue to work tirelessly on the Spring Field Day trial site as well as co-ordinating approximately 20 farmer demo trials. Amongst these there is a moisture probe trial that includes collaboration with the Northern Agri Group and Mullewa farmers. One of the positive directions that MIG has undertaken is the collaboration that is happening between MIG, other producer groups and farmers in neighbouring shires.

It has come to my attention that MIG has become a very sought after partner for joint research projects not only in WA but also with other groups across Australia. This is happening because of the hard work of staff, members and supporters. Thank you for this legacy

Over the next couple of months, the calendar is once again very full with farm walks, workshops and get togethers. On 26 June we will once again have our annual “Post Seeding Dinner” at Erregulla Springs. Tim Lefroy will be our guest speaker, wonderful food will be provided by the ladies from the Mingenew Sports Club and once again there will be prizes for the best seeding mishap (or best storyteller!). This year’s event will be extra special as there will be a presentation of the MIG commemorative book. In conclusion I would like to wish everyone the best for the rest of the season and according to an informed but anonymous source the models are still predicting that all is not doom and gloom. Also, from another anonymous source and I quote “50% chance of a good season and 50% chance of a bad season.”

All the best, take care and feel free to call in and talk to the MIG staff.

Craig

It has been a very busy time in the MIG office and at our Main Trial Site with the implementation of our extensive trials program. We have had a constant stream of members, researchers and sponsors calling in for a chat and suggesting new research ideas. I really enjoy these open discussions and encourage all members to drop in and put their ideas forward.

Claire Metzinger, a university student from Reunion Island has just completed a two month study tour with the Mingenew Irwin Group and will be returning to Reunion Island mid-June. These reciprocal arrangements are of great benefit to all and she has been a very valuable team member for MIG. If you know of any young university students that would like to study environmental agriculture for a short term study stay in France, please let me know, email sheila@mig.org.au

We will also be having Curtin final year agricultural student Tristan Wilson-Kerrigan joining us for a week’s work experience from June 22 – June 27. He will be assisting us with plant counts, trials maintenance and GIS projects. Please make him feel welcome when you meet him, he will also be attending our Post Seeding Dinner, Friday June 26.

Please attend our Post Seeding Dinner as we will be presenting special gifts to all members (Please RSVP sheila@mig.org.au so you don’t miss out) Tim Lefroy will be our guest speaker and his topic will be “Young People Remaining in Agriculture”

Our Spring Field Day program is shaping up to be a great event at the Preston family farm “Muranda Plains” to be held Thursday September 3. Sam Bailey is our main guest speaker for this year’s Spring Field Day. Sam is a C6/C7 quadriplegic who has conquered his disability to continue farming, become an ultralight pilot, author and successful speaker. Sam will speak about his inspirational journey and the power of positive thinking to achieve your dreams

The inaugural Leading Ladies Day to be held at Merkanooka Estate will be a very informative and fun day so please come along. Contact Zoe for all bookings and enquiries admin@mig.org.au

Over the next few months MIG will be working with AWE to assist with rehabilitation for well sites that have been decommissioned.

Cheers Sheila, Board and Staff.

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3.

Advanced Spray Application Workshop Presented by Bill Campbell

Date: Wednesday, 17th of June Venue: Preston’s Sheds Erangy Springs Rd, Mingenew Time: 12:00pm – 5:00pm

RSVP: Friday, 12th of June Contact: Laura Dorman 08 9928 1506 Or laura@mig.org.au Catering: Afternoon Tea, with BBQ & Drinks following event Cost*: No Charge thanks to our main funding source GRDC and the Mingenew-Irwin Group.

Topics Covered: • Understanding how nozzles work and how to select, including a

practical demo. • Spray quality and coverage requirements for different application

situations. • Weather conditions, night spraying, minimising drift, influence of

adjuvants. • Examination of different types of sprayers • Assistance with individual boom sprayer set-ups.

The aim of the workshop is to keep it practically focused on what growers/contractors need to be doing in the paddock, for the best possible outcome.

In addition • We will also have a session where each grower will work out their

own nozzle selection.

Main Funding Source

Bill Gordon Consulting Pty Ltd bill.gordon@bigpond.com

www.ispray.com.au

Presented By:

Bill Campbell Email: bill@farmanco.com.au

4.

In January Dr Nigel Tomkins and his assistant Mel Matthews (CSIRO) spent over a month in two paddocks at ‘Avoca’, Irwin monitoring laser systems that measured methane emissions from cattle for the ‘Shrubs for emissions reduction and carbon storage (SERCS)’ project. The two paddocks, each 20 ha in size were set up with water troughs and a holding compound within each paddock. The cattle were allowed free grazing in each paddock for approximately 17 hrs each day before being moved back into their yard. A laser was set up along the laneway so that the laser could alternate and measure the control paddock, background methane and then the SERCS paddock. Another laser was set up to the east of the compound to also read background methane. Methane is a green-house gas that is emitted from stock during the natural digestion process. Research has found that shrubs in the diet can reduce this emission.

Black Angus (Bos taurus) heifers were allocated to the two paddocks. The initial mean (±sem) live weight (LW) was 305.8 ± 110.81 kg from 53 heifers in the

‘control’ paddock and the initial mean (±sem) LW kg from 52 heifers in the ‘SERCS’ paddock was 306.2 ± 109.07. Dr Dean Revell (Revell Science) assisted the project by calculating the Feed On Offer (FOO). The control paddock which consisted of annual grass species (63 %), perennial grasses (23 %) and wild lupins (11 %), had FOO of 2463 kg DM/ha. The SERCS paddock which consisted of annual grass pasture species (52 %), perennial grasses (36 %), wild lupins (10 %) and thistle (2%) had a FOO of 3651 kg DM/ha. The shrubs, which were planted in July 2013 accounted for 5 % of the feed on offer.

Average daily gain was 0.37 kg/d for heifers grazing grass only pastures (control) compared with 0.20 kg/d for heifers grazing the grass/shrubs pasture (SERCS). Mean methane emissions (g/d) were generally similar between the two groups and only during the third week of measurements did the grazing of shrubs (SERCS) appear to reduce methane emissions compared to the control group. Differences in emissions between the groups were apparent both within and between measurement days. Overall, heifers grazing the perennial grass only pasture were shown to have mean methane emissions of 116.4 g/d animal-1 compared to 123.3 g/d animal-1 for heifers grazing a paddock containing a grass/ shrub mix. On an emissions intensity basis these values are equivalent to 7.6 g CO2-e/kg LW and 8.3 g CO2-e/kg LW, respectively.

The results are not surprising as the shrubs were only constituted 1% total diet of the cattle. However it does show that paddocks in the early stages of shrub establishment can sustain livestock without compromising weight gains or increasing methane emissions. As the shrubs grow and become a greater component of the diet, we would expect that the shrubs would provide more nutrients and supply higher levels of crude protein and minerals. The SERCS project is now winding up but it is hoped that our 7 farmers from across Australia will realise the benefits of planting the shrubs for their animal’s health. Perhaps in 3-4 years there will be an opportunity to repeat the trial to see if well-established shrubs do reduce methane emissions from stock.

CSIRO monitoring equipment

SERCS methane emission results

Cattle Compound - Heifers held in compound so the lasers could read the methane emissions they released.

5.

Syngenta Solutions Development Lead, Ben Parkin, said Boxer Gold continues to be the most flexible solution for Annual Ryegrass control.

“This new registration provides growers with an alternative post-emergent control option and is especially important for growers with Group A and Group B resistant Annual Ryegrass,” Ben said.

Early post-emergent (EPE) application of Boxer Gold can provide reliable control levels when applied with good crop and soil moisture conditions and provides good suppression of surviving plants by reducing panicle numbers and seed-set.

Boxer Gold can be applied 2.5 L/ha early post emergent in wheat and barley only at the 1–3 leaf stage for Annual Ryegrass and, no later than GS25 of the crop. Boxer Gold is compatible with a range of broadleaf herbicide options.

Ben said though the use of Boxer Gold is intended to be part of an integrated weed management strategy that includes varied means to reduce weed survival and seed set, and that Boxer Gold applied pre-emergent IBS will still provide the most consistent performance for Annual Ryegrass control.

“When applied EPE, Boxer Gold can be used strategically to target problem paddocks, however, EPE application should not be the primary means of Annual Ryegrass control. Surviving plants not controlled by Boxer Gold may be stunted and uncompetitive, but can

still set seed.”

Trial results conducted by Syngenta over five years focused on understanding the factors that contribute to good control when Boxer Gold is used EPE.

They found that weed size is important and optimal results were gained when used on Annual Ryegrass at the 1-3 leaf stage. Good soil moisture at time of application is also critical and follow up rainfall within seven days of application is ideal.

NEW registration for Boxer Gold - early post-emergent

Syngenta recently announced that Boxer Gold® is now registered for early post-emergent application in wheat and barley to suppress Annual Ryegrass.

Ben Parkin, Syngenta Solutions Development Lead

6.

Until mid March from the North Midlands region (Mingenew, Morawa, Three Springs, Perenjori, Carnamah & Coorow shires) Summit has processed about 1100 soil samples.

Some interesting facts have come out of this data. The main three factors to examine are phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and pH.

What have soil tests told us this year about pH?Soil pH has been the hot topic around Western Australia for a number of years. DAFWA have expended considerable resources looking at rates, timing and incorporation of lime and have come up with some critical values for soil pH.

Simply put, top soil pH should be kept above 5.5 (in CaCl2) and subsoils above 4.8. In the North Midlands we found that 57% of topsoil samples have fallen below 5.5 and 59% of subsoil samples have fallen below 5.0 as shown by the two pie graphs below.

The graph below shows the effect of declining soil pH on the levels of aluminium. In the graph it is shown that a soil pH above 4.8 rarely shows Aluminium levels above the critical level of 5. The recommendation of maintaining topsoils above 5.5, however, is to allow the lime to trickle down into the subsoil to affect that layer also.

With lower pH there can be resultant higher levels of aluminium which can lead to stunted roots, reducing the plants ability to access nutrients and water. Aluminium levels above 5 can be a problem – although barley, canola and sub clovers can be more sensitive than wheat and oats.

What have soil tests told us this year about potassium?Potassium is a nutrient that can be hard to define, as far as responses go. Some of our soils are deeper sands and hold a limited amount of potassium at depth. Duplex or loamy soils have more potassium at depth within the root zone of most of our crops. Some crops, such as canola and lupins are better able to extract potassium from the soil than, say, wheat or clover.

There was 18% of top soil samples below 40 mg/kg and 34% in the subsoils. Another 28% of topsoils are below 80 and 25% of subsoils. 80 mg/kg is about where cereals stop responding to K and for canola and lupins it is about 40 mg/kg. Some clovers in high rainfall areas (eg Balansa) may respond up to 150 mg/kg in a soil test. These numbers and responses can be a bit rubbery, so reference to your own soil test data is recommended. Sub soil samples down to 30cm are recommended to understand the potassium available at depth.

What have soil tests told us this year about phosphorus?

Phosphorus is the driver of crop growth in Western Australia. Low plant available P reduces growth of young tissue - including roots - which reduces the plants ability to explore as large a volume of soil as usual. In turn it can’t access water or other nutrients. One major issue with phosphorus is that there is no practical way of topping up levels after the crop has germinated, so you need to get it right at the start. Critical values for P are hard to define without overlaying soil type, rainfall and intended enterprise details on the data. Roughly speaking, from this data, 45% of soil P levels are low this year. 4% are extremely high and a further 23% are high. Some of the low levels may be deeper sands where it is difficult build P levels – a desirable level may be nearer to 12 or 15 than 20 on those soils.

Every year Summit Fertilizers receive thousands of soil samples from across the state. These are always discussed at an individual level with farmers. However there is always some interesting patterns thrown up if we look at the data across a region.

What are our soils are telling us?

5%

22%

30%

43%

pH Levels - TopsoilsNorth Midlands

<4.5 4.5 - 5.0 5.0 - 5.5 >5.5

pH Levels – Topsoils North Midlands

Phosphorous Levels North Midlands

Potassium Levels – Topsoils North Midlands

pHx Aluminium Subsoils

pH Levels – Subsoils North Midlands

29%

30%

19%

22%

pH Levels - SubsoilsNorth Midlands

<4.5 4.5 - 5.0 5.0 - 5.5 >5.5

0

5

10

15

20

25

3.5 4.5 5.5 6.5 7.5

Alu

min

ium

pH

pH x Aluminium SubSoils

18%

28%

14%

10%

30%

Potassium Levels - TopsoilsNorth Midlands

<40 40-80 80-120 120 - 160 >160

34%

25%

11%6%

24%

Potassium Levels - SubsoilsNorth Midlands

<40 40-80 80-120 120 - 160 >160

Potassium Levels – Subsoils North Midlands

10%

35%

28%

23%

4%

Phosphorus LevelsNorth Midlands

<10 10 - 20 20 - 30 30 - 50 >50

7.

MIG research in 2015 has successfully received funding from GRDC and COGGO to increase the intensity of its research into improving grower understanding of stored soil moisture and the soil profile. MIG began research in this area two years ago and is very keen to continue due to the potential benefits for members and others in the Northern Agricultural Region. It has the potential to increase grower confidence by providing valuable reliable information based on facts in an environment where there is uncertainty and increasingly higher input costs.

A soil moisture probe does not make the decision for the grower but it does allow them to make a more informed decision. The focus of MIG’s research is to look at crop potential and the cropping inputs required to meet that potential. A full soil characterisation is in the process of being completed for each site and will allow the plant available water to be calculated and included in the live feed of information from the trial sites.

MIG is working with the other grower groups in the Northern Agricultural Region to deliver these projects and is aiming to increase grower confidence and gross margins by providing live deep soil moisture data and information on plant available water. At each of seven locations a deep soil probe and small plot nitrogen trial have been located and will be closely monitored throughout the season.

In July MIG will host Workshop/field walk sessions to bring together key researchers in this field and growers and test different crop monitoring models against what is happening in the field.

For further information: Debbie Gillam 0427281006 debbie@mig.org.au

Understanding Soil Water

8.

Stock workshops to hone producer skills

The first in a series of workshops aimed at reinvigorating the local cattle industry was held recently at the Forsyth’s property “Avoca” in Irwin.

Based on the “Paddock to Plate” principle, producers assessed both cattle and pasture during the session.

Craig Forsyth spoke about pastures and showed participants how to map grazing areas according to land class capability, determine stocking rates, plan paddock sequences and utilize tactical grazing to maximise weight gain.

Elders auctioneer, Gary Preston then helped producers refine their skills in assessing cattle condition, before validating the assessments with a demonstration of TSI weighing equipment.

The workshop put an emphasis on the benefits of pasture over grain fed cattle in terms of both weight gain and meat quality.

Producers will be able to taste the difference themselves at MIG’s Spring Field Day where tastings will take place under the supervision of Murdoch scientist Peter McGilchrist.

Participants assessing a beast

9.

MIG Trials 2015

NUMBER TRIAL NAME LOCATION RESEARCHER

02MIG15 Long Term fallow management trial Irwin River Station MIG

03MIG15 Tactical Nitrogen using N-gauges and N-calculator MTS Greaves Juliet McDonald, Summit

04MIG15 Tactical Nitrogen using N-gauges and N-calculator HLTS Juliet McDonald, Summit

05MIG15 Lime application and incorporation trial Rowe MIG

06MIG15 Lime incorporation effects on soil nutrients and pH Horwood AgLime, CSBP, Precision Soil Tech, MIG

07MIG15 N Responses on different Rotations MTS Prestons Luigi Moreschi, CSBP

10MIG15 Wheat Variety Demo Thomas MIG

11MIG15 Wheat Variety Demo Wasley MIG

12MIG15 Wheat Variety Demo Michael MIG

13MIG15 Wheat Variety Demo Morgan MIG

14MIG15 Wheat Variety Demo Dempster MIG

15MIG15 Wheat Variety Trial HLTS MIG

16MIG15 Wheat NVT MTS Prestons Kaylx

17MIG15 Wheat Frontline agronomy MTS Prestons Christine Zaicou- Kunesch, DAFWA

18MIG15 Maximising Mace MTS Prestons AGT

20MIG15 Barley Variety demo Yewers (Kathryn) MIG

22MIG15 Barley NVT MTS Prestons Kaylx

30MIG15 Canola Variety Demo RR Duane MIG

31MIG15 Canola Variety demo TT Rowe MIG

32MIG15 Canola Variety demo Kelly MIG

33MIG15 RR Canola Variety Trial HLTS MIG

34MIG15 TT Canola Variety Trial HLTS MIG

35MIG15 Canola NVT MTS Greaves Kaylx

36MIG15 Canola RT herbicide Trial MTS Greaves Elders

37MIG15 Canola Variety Comparison Hyola 404 RR Nick Duane Pacific Seeds

38MIG15 Canola Variety Comparison Hyola 404 RR Rob Holmes Pacific Seeds

39MIG15 Canola Variety Comparison Hyola 600 RR Paul Kelly Pacific Seeds

41MIG15 White Lupin vs Albus lupin HLTS MIG

43MIG15 Field Pea CVT HLTS DAFWA

44MIG15 Chickpea CVT HLTS DAFWA

45MIG15 Lentil PBA HLTS DAFWA

46MIG15 Chickpea PBA HLTS DAFWA

47MIG15 Lupin CVT MTS Greaves DAFWA

48MIG15 Historical Lupin Variety trial MTS Greaves John Clements, DAFWA

49MIG15 White Lupin vs Albus Lupin MTS Greaves MIG

51MIG15 Lupin Variety Demo (Spaded) Broad MIG

52MIG15 Lupin Variety Demo Gillam MIG

55MIG15 Delayed Lupin Harvest Trial MTS Greaves MIG

56MIG15 Peola Demo McTaggarts MIG

60MIG15 Pre-Emergent options in Wheat MTS Preston MIG

61MIG15 Post-Emergent radish control in Wheat TBC MIG

62MIG15 Pre-Emergent options in Canola MTS Greaves MIG

10.

MIG Trials 2015NUMBER TRIAL NAME LOCATION RESEARCHER

63MIG15 Canola Herbicide Tolerance MTS Greaves Harmohinder, DAFWA

64MIG15 Pre-Emergent options in Lupins MTS Greaves MIG

65MIG15 Post-Emergent grass control options in Lupins MTS Greaves MIG

66MIG15 Physical and chemical control of Wild Radish in lupins

Chivers Mohammad Amjad, DAFWA

67MIG15 Chickpea Herbicide Tolerance HLTS Harmohinder, DAFWA

68MIG15 Integrated Weed Management Chivers Abul Hashem, DAFWA

69MIG15 RR Canola Herbicide Trial MTS Prestons Harmohinder, DAFWA

70MIG15 Soil Borne Disease Options in Wheat MTS Prestons MIG

72MIG15 Crown Rot control Irwin River Station Daniel Huberli, DAFWA

73MIG15 Opportunistic Sclerotinia in lupins – Ciara Beard, DAFWA

Ciara Beard, DAFWA

74MIG15 Opportunistic Sclerotinia in canola – Ciara Beard, DAFWA

Ciara Beard, DAFWA

76MIG15 Sclerotinia management in lupins Irwin Ciara Beard, Geoff Thomas

77MIG15 Yellow Spot Fungicide Trial MTS Greaves Bayer

79MIG15 Yellow Spot on Wheat Hamersley Curtin University

81MIG15 Soil Moisture Levels under different levels of fallow management

Morawa Ag College Morawa Ag Collge, MIG

82MIG15 Pre Em options after mould boarding, in wheat and other options

MTS Prestons Steve Davies, DAFWA

84MIG15 Cropping options following mould boarding, using varieties with bigger seeds for better establishment

MTS Prestons Steve Davies, DAFWA

91MIG15 Winter crop establishment in Perennial Grass Irwin DAFWA

92MIG15 Field pea vs pasture Holmes Jon Holmes

93MIG15 Pasture variety demo dry sowing evaluation

101MIG15 N Interaction (Moisture Probe) Cosgrove GRDC, Kaylx

102MIG15 N Interaction (Moisture Probe) Morowa Ag College GRDC, Kaylx

103MIG15 N Interaction (Moisture Probe) Holmes COGGO, Kaylx

104MIG15 N Interaction (Moisture Probe) Kupsch COGGO, Kalyx

105MIG15 N Interaction (Moisture Probe) Duane COGGO, Kalyx

106MIG15 N Interaction (Moisture Probe) Cripps GRDC, DAFWA

107MIG15 N Interaction (Moisture Probe) Messina GRDC, DAFWA

11.

join us for the

DINNERPOST SEEDING

Date Friday 26 June

Time 6.30pm

DRINKS & DINNER SUPPLIED (NO CHARGE)

Venue Erregulla Farm (Cobley's) machinery shed

RSVP Monday 22 June

Sheila: 99281645 or email sheila@mig.org.au

All members and sponsors are welcome.

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERTIM LEFROY (Young West Australian of the Year)

12.

MIG Cattle Competition Pasture vs Feedlot

Friday July 3rd, 2015 at 1:30pm

At The Grange, Midlands Rd, Irwin

If you have stock (sheep or cattle), come and join the discussion!

The second workshop of the series will include:

TSI demonstration

Condition assessment and scoring

Weight gain comparisons (pasture vs feedlots)

Pasture discussion

Prizes to be won!

Food and drinks provided.

Please RSVP for catering purposes to 9928 1645 or helene@mig.org.au by June 30, 2015.

13.

Mingenew Shire leads way in securing farms

The Shire of Mingenew has received funding of $3,643 for a Rural Watch program in the latest round of State Government crime prevention grants.

The Rural Watch program will involve the purchase of static security cameras by the Shire who will also encourage farmers to communicate with their neighbours and display Rural Watch signage.

Farmers will be able to loan one of four static Farmcams from the Mingenew Shire, in return for a small bond.

Those farmers will then be responsible for monitoring camera footage and providing any relevant evidence to local Police.

Member for Moore Shane Love said the project had relevance across all farming communities and he congratulated the Mingenew Shire for taking the initiative in securing the crime prevention funding.

“The Shire will act as lead facilitator in this program, working with the local Police and encouraging the farming community to let neighbours know of their whereabouts and report suspicious looking vehicles,” he said.

“Crime prevention requires a coordinated approach.”

The State Government allocated a further $1.05 million for crime prevention grants in the 2015/16 budget, which builds on the $1.05 million allocated the previous year.

Police Minister Liza Harvey said the Government was dedicated to making communities safer through tough laws and providing police and other organisations with the resources they needed to combat crime and antisocial behaviour.

The latest round of Liberal National Government crime prevention grants awarded more than $368,000 to 18 community organisations and local governments.

14.

Hyola tops industry blackleg ratingsHyola canola varieties have been rated the highest in the industry for blackleg resistance in a recent GRDC publication. All Hyola varieties currently on the market achieved either the top rating of Resistant (R) or the second highest rating of Resistant-Moderately Resistant (R-MR) in the organisation’s 2015 autumn blackleg management guide.

The annual fact sheet helps growers determine whether they are in a high-risk situation and what practices they can change to reduce or prevent yield loss from blackleg, a potentially devastating disease.

Justin Kudnig, canola manager at the company which markets the product, Pacific Seeds, said along with yield and oil, blackleg resistance is a key trait to consider when selecting a cultivar. “We believe, along with high yield and oil, another trait of equal importance for Australian canola growers is to have the highest levels of inbuilt blackleg resistance,” he said.

Mr Kudnig said industry agronomists and consultants continued to use the GRDC blackleg management guide as it empirically assisted growers with making informed decisions on varietal selections.

Pacific Seeds conducts blackleg screening of its lines at its Toowoomba, Queensland facility and also in the field. Mr Kudnig said it “continues to invest significantly in research” at its world-class blackleg screening glasshouse facility and in its intensive field screening program across Australia. “We set out to build an industry leading intensive blackleg screening program that it employs for all its parent lines and new hybrids under development.”

He said this resulted in Hyola hybrids again topping each herbicide tolerance group in Australia with the highest

adult resistance ratings possible in the industry, including the new Roundup-Triazine (RT) dual herbicide tolerance category. “This is a major credit to our diligent and focused research team.”

According to Mr Kudnig, growers have another clear advantage with Hyola hybrids – the different combinations of blackleg groupings enable growers each year to effectively use Hyola hybrids for ongoing blackleg resistance management.

The GRDC fact sheet outlines four steps to follow for successful management of blackleg. It summarises the process in five key points: monitor your crops in Spring to determine yield losses in the current crop; choose a cultivar with adequate blackleg resistance for your region; never sow your canola crop into last year’s canola stubble; relying only on fungicides to control blackleg poses a high risk of fungicide resistance; and, if your monitoring has identified yield loss and you have grown the same cultivar for three years or more, choose a cultivar from a different resistance group.

15.

Claire Metzinger, a French student from Reunion Island, has recently been with MIG doing a 3 month work experience placement.

In the last year of her Civil and Environmental Engineering degree at the University of Reunion, Claire is passionate about sustainable agriculture and has chosen MIG to gain some practical experience in this field.

During her stay, she has assisted on various projects including: grain storage, stock handling, water monitoring, trialing new forage shrub varieties, SERCS (Shrubs for Emission Reduction and Carbon Storage) as well as research trial planning and implementation or even assisting in the organisation of the Mingenew ANZAC Centenary.

Upon her return in June, Claire will present some of the projects’ results to her university as part of her final report.

It is very exciting to see foreign students choosing regional WA as a study destination and MIG is already organising a reciprocal visit.

MIG has gone international

Analysing the insect trap captures Monitoring the water levels and quality in the region

16.

What can SprayWise do for you?

• Farm specific 14 day weather forecasts and historical weather observations for the last 14 days

• Hourly forecasts of rainfall, temperature, wind direction, wind speed and relative humidity for the next 10 days

• 12 hourly forecasts for the following 10-14 day period

• Presents weather as graphical meteograms, maps and animations

• Provides location specific forward estimates of Delta T values

• Provides 5 day sunrise and sunset times

To find out more about SprayWise visit, www.spraywisedecisions.com.au

Spraywise SprayWise Decisions is an innovative online decision tool that helps rural landholders and contractors to better plan and match the timing of chemical applications to prevailing local weather conditions. It is developed and maintained under contract by GrainGrowers and supported by Nufarm for Australian farmers, advisers, contractors, agricultural retail chains and other interested users.

17.

The next few months are an important period for the wheat market. A number of events will be playing out which could influence prices in Australia for the 2015/16 crop year. The US winter wheat crops are nearing harvest with a few key uncertainties yet to play out. US winter wheat production is expected to be higher this year with downside yield scenarios diminishing as harvest quickly approaches. Above average rainfall in many of the winter wheat regions over the past few weeks is raising significant quality concerns, predominantly in the hard red winter wheat (HRW) regions. If the damage is limited to parts of Texas and Oklahoma it’s unlikely to have a big impact on the market, but if the heavy rains continue, issues may emerge in Kansas which could provide support to the market.

Winter wheat harvest is also approaching in the Black Sea and many parts of Europe with conditions still pointing to above average yields albeit slightly lower than last season’s large crop. Rainfall over the first 2-3 weeks of June will be important to watch, especially in Southern Russia and

France where the crops are still looking for finishing rain. The EU and Black Sea crops have very good yield potential and with average rain over the next 2-3 weeks it could be realised. Good crops in traditional importing countries such as Morocco, Algeria and Turkey could reduce their import requirements which will negatively impact on export demand for the EU and Black Sea.

Spring Wheat planting is well ahead of schedule in Canada and the US with drier conditions allowing growers to get the crop in with minimal delay and well ahead of last year’s pace. The downside of this is that subsoil moisture levels in Canada are lower than last year which means the crop will become more reliant on in crop rain over the next 3 months. In Russia conditions are the reverse in some of the spring wheat regions with excessive moisture slowing down the planting pace. It’s still anticipated that most of the intended spring wheat area will go in and a solid moisture profile could help support production over the longer run.

The market is also trying to digest the recent forecast for an El Nino in 2015 and how this may impact on Australian and Argentinean wheat production. There has been adequate moisture across Australia to see a

large percentage of the crop planted whilst planting of the Argentinean crop will start to pick up pace in June. The Australian wheat crop has plenty of potential but as per normal the key driver of yields will be late Winter/Spring rainfall.

The impact of last year’s large crops around the world has kept downward pressure on wheat markets over the last 12 months. As we head into the 2015/16 season there is still plenty of weather to watch and information for the market to digest, not only in wheat but also for row crops, in particular US corn, which is also heading into key growth phases.

Wheat Market Wrap

18.

CBH - Geraldton Office News

The CBH Office in Geraldton has the pleasure of welcoming Kylee Nelson to the role of Business Relationship Manager. Kylee is taking over from Claire Sullivan who is heading off on maternity leave in early June.

Kylee grew up on a mixed farming enterprise in West Brookton. Kylee has had a long history of working with CBH, initially as a harvest casual in her school holidays and later in quality management roles at Metro Grain Centre and Australian Grain Centre. Most recently Kylee has held the role of Technical Marketing Officer in the Marketing & Trading team in West Perth in 2013. In this role Kylee specialised in protein and oilseed quality, testing and end user customer requirements. Kylee is looking forward to learning more about the grower-facing side of CBH’s marketing and trading

CBH employs 10 Business Relationship Managers (‘BRMs’) in regional areas across Western Australia. In the Geraldton Zone your local BRMs are Leith Teakle and Kylee Nelson. BRMs

are primarily grain marketing specialists who can assist growers with market information, grain pricing with CBH and information on CBH’s product such as Pre-Pay Advantage and Harvest Pools. Further, please treat your BRM as your ‘first port of call’ for any CBH enquiries – they may not be able to help you themselves, but can put you in touch with the right person within CBH.

Kylee can be contacted on 9921 9415 or 0408 909 533. Please make Kylee welcome to the area!

19.

News from Smyth Agri

Smyth Agri Services are proud to be appointed distributors of soon to be locally manufactured DEF fluid NOXout from Axium Industries.

Smyth Agri Services recently procured its first shipment of NOXout available in IBC’s and 200ltr containers.

NOXout is manufactured to the relevant ISO specs and is tested in an independent laboratory in Melbourne. ISO spec 22241 sets out the quality parameters that all DEF fluid should meet. NOxOUT is suitable for use in any engine from any manufacturer that uses selective catalytic reduction as a method of reducing emissions.

Axium Industries Urea is purchased direct from the manufacturer overseas (No SCR grade Urea is manufactured in Australia) this allows for consistent quality and very competitive pricing.

NOXout is manufactured in batches then sent away in samples for testing only then is a batch allowed to leave the factory for use.

Bob Preston from Axium Industries

recently appointed Smyth Agri Services as the local NOXout distributor. Bob is in the process of getting a plant up and running in the Mid-West and will manufacture product that is made in the same high quality way using proven manufacturing practices. NOXout is the first of a number of products from Axium Industries to be released to the local market. Greenline Industries is the parent company of Axium Industries and have been manufacturing DEF fluidin Australia since 2013. Greenline Industries have been manufacturing to ISO specification 22241 since inception.

20.

For further details email enquiry@graingrowers.com.au or contact your local GrainGrowers Field Officer (details at www.graingrowers.com.au/about/ourteam).

COMMUNITY PROMOTION As an additional community benefit GrainGrowers is providing the opportunity for local grower and production groups to benefit from a rebate on each unit sold. On purchasing a GrainVantage unit growers may nominate their local grower or production group to benefit from a $500 cash rebate paid direct to the nominated group.

To be eligible for the rebate purchasers must be referred to GrainGrowers by the nominated group. GrainGrowers will then contact the prospective purchaser and on completion of the purchase automatically make payment to the group. This offer is open to all grain producers regardless of membership with GrainGrowers.

COMMUNITY PROMOTION As an additional community benefit GrainGrowers is providing the opportunity for local grower and production groups to benefit from a rebate on each unit sold. On purchasing a GrainVantage unit growers may nominate their local grower or production group to benefit from a $500 cash rebate paid direct to the nominated group.

To be eligible for the rebate purchasers must be referred to GrainGrowers by the nominated group. GrainGrowers will then contact the prospective purchaser and on completion of the purchase automatically make payment to the group. This offer is open to all grain producers regardless of membership with GrainGrowers.

GrainGrowers and Perten Instruments Australia have worked together to develop the next generation NIR instrument for protein, moisture and oil content in whole grains and oilseeds.

The GrainVantage instrument provides grain producers with a lightweight and highly portable NIR designed for Australian conditions. Weighing 7kg the unit is capable of operating from 240v, 12v or internal battery providing maximum flexibility whether used from the header seat, chaser bin or at a silo.

The design matches Australian conditions with rugged optics and an automated dust shutter to ensure reliable, low maintenance operations.

GrainVantage units are delivered fully calibrated against National Measurement Institute (NMI) certified IM 9500 Analyser ensuring accurate data.

GrainVantage units are competitively priced at $9950 exl GST, which includes a 12 month warranty. Product delivery and additional sample cells are not included in this price.

21.

RamSelect WorkshopConfident ram selection and purchase

Rams are purchased on one day of the year but their effect on your flock

lasts for many years

Make sure you buy the right genes for production, quality and disease

resistance

More wool * More meat * More lambsMERINOSELECT and LAMBPLAN breeding values help to

select rams that will breed the best progeny for youRamSelect - a 1 day practical workshop building confidence to;

• select rams for all breeds• define your breeding objective• assess rams using figures and visual assessment• prepare for the auction or selection day• invest in rams for production and profit

Hosted by: Anthony Thomas, Hill Padua MPM

Where: Strutton Road, Three Springs WA 6519 (for directions please visit http://www.hillpaduampm.com.au/contact-us/)

When: Monday 20 July 2015

Time: 10.30am for 11.00am start

Cost: $50 per business (includes catering)

RSVP: Meghan Cornelius, DAFWA on 0477 748 430 or meghan.cornelius@agric.wa.gov.au Anthony Thomas on 0427 541 155

22.

Date: 29 July 2015Where: Mingenew Rec CentreTime: 9.00am registration, 2.30pm finishCost: $30 members, $60 non members A delicious 2 course lunch will be served with complimentary wine/champagne, morning tea included Door prize thanks to Cranmore Home, Wines thanks to Lancaster Wines

RSVP: To book tickets please call Zoe on 99281645 or admin@mig.org.au

KEY NOTE SPEAKER

Nyree-Jane Taylorprofessional dancer, stylist,artist and farmer

Topics include:• benchmarking• what sets the top producers apart

• grain marketing strategies

23.

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