HOW CONSULTANTS DIAGNOSE CROP PERFORMANCE……………..

BACKGROUND• CW to WP of NSW• No summer cropping/mixed farms• Spring…………..• This century………………• Keep it simple

NYNGAN RAINFALL

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Major constraints to production..

• Moisture/weather – winter crops only • Cash flow – last 10 years – now in “Recovery mode”• Farmers attitudes – attitude to risk/skill set (timeliness)• Variable soil type • Stubble cover – pulses, hard setting soils• Diseases – AB, CR, YLS, RLN• Herb resistance/hard to kill weeds• Suitable varieties• Time………..

HOW CONSULTANTS DIAGNOSE CROP PERFORMANCE……………..

• Diagnosis starts before the crop is sown:– Soil testing– Soil moisture levels– Rotational planning– Crop choice – Variety choice – Grower diagnosis!

• Yield – few surprise (except canola)• Quality • Disease loading – CR• GM’s• Comparative analysis (PAM)• Yield maps

HOW CONSULTANTS DIAGNOSE CROP PERFORMANCE – POST HARVEST……………..

Tools used at the moment..

• Most important – time & eyes & coffee!• Shovel• Moisture probe – limited role of WUE at harvest

• Soil testing• Tissue testing • Planning – rotation, nutrition budgets, stubble loads

• GM’s/CA• Skill level

Tools used at the moment..

• Pathology services – not really up to scratch• Local DA’s• Local networks• Local trial results - GOA• No models used• Reading personality types!• Selling skills!

Sowing decision…• Starting moisture• Crop the previous year – any moisture left at depth?

• Disease status – testing• Crop choice :– no canola unless full v chickpeas– Crop mix

• Variety choice – – Which one?– How much stubble will be left?– Which can be sown deep– Which one copes with lower moisture levels?

Tools would like in the future..

• More accurate weather forecasting• Better understanding of canopy management (to cope

with our hot springs, growth regulants)

• More accurate starting soil moisture methods• Simpler/more accurate/cheaper soil tests• Varieties - highest yielding not always the best• PA – will have a role – Cheaper sat/aerial imagery– Greenseeker

• Frost tolerant wheat • World peace………….