One Paddock Challenge
Timeframe: September 2016 to March 2019
Funding source: State Natural Resource Management Program
Project Coordinator: Maddy Wylie
Summary
FBG’s One Paddock Challenge set out to equip farmers with the skills to conduct their own paddock-scale on-farm trials. It also aimed to increase the capacity for peer-to-peer learning.
It was found that farmers had a keen interest in trialling their approaches on a whole paddock scale. This seemed more meaningful than a plot-sized trial as lessons learned could be applied more easily to a farming system than what was perceived as being a more controlled environment. Trials which allowed for discussion and participation from peers, or where something different to the norm was trialled, were those that invoked the most discussion.
A trial management workshop, run by Nigel Metz, was run early in the project to give farmers the framework to formalise their existing on-farm trial endeavours.
Key learnings from the project included highlighting the important of good planning and trial set up as in almost all activities undertaken there were factors which led it to vary from its original plan. While this may not necessarily be an issue, it can take away from the trial’s validity.
The growth in importance of social media and the ease with which farmers can communicate through these channels, particularly through avenues such as Twitter, also open up greater opportunities for the dissemination of ideas, information and the establishment of virtual communities.
Other aspects of the project, such as the development of a new FBG website and seeking alternate sources of funding play into this social media and communication role, as the requirement to be active and relevant in the agricultural research, development and extension space is a vital role for FBG as a grower group promoting and supporting member interests.
Leading on from the conclusion of the One Paddock Challenge, there are a number of avenues that could be explored further, although the enthusiasm of our farmers and their continual drive to learn and improve their all aspects of their farming businesses is ultimately what will drive further grassroots research in the FBG membership area.
Project details and outcomes
Pete and Jolene Daniel – Long Season Canola
Concept: Pete and Jolene Daniel were interested in trialling long season canola due to its extensive root system and ability to access nutrition. Ultimately, the aim was to increase soil carbon levels, and thereby improve water and nutrient-holding capacity.
Findings: The trial paddock was seeded in October 2016 into what was believed to be a good soil moisture profile given rainfall received in that year. However, rainfall did decline from August onwards in that year. Seeding also resulted in clods being brought to the surface and poor seed-soil contact.
Outcome: The paddock was ultimately grazed in February 2016 and not taken through to harvest.
Andrew Wylie – Lawson Grains, Jerry South – Lentils
Concept: Andrew was looking to trial an alternate and profitable break crop to canola in a 100 per cent cropping model operated by Lawson Grains. The most profitable and reliable rotation has historically been wheat, barley and canola. However, there are many benefits to running a more diverse cropping program, and 100 hectares of Hurricane lentils were put into the program in 2017.
Findings:
Lentils did not nodulate well
Early vigour was not strong
Plants did not perform well on some soil types across the paddock
Good fungal control and little in the way of disease or insect attack
The crop was harvested using a rigid front (rather than flex) which resulted in significant amounts of grain being left on the ground
Limited marketing opportunities
Outcome: crop performed reasonably, yielding one tonne per hectare. It warranted further trialling, although using a different variety (Bolt).
Noel Keding – Deep Ripping and Liming
Concept: To trial deep ripping in some mildly non-wetting soils, as well as look at different liming options; Lancelin lime and Hi-Cal lime.
Findings: There was negligible difference between ripped and non-ripped plots, and slower plant establishment on areas that had been deep ripped (some clodding apparent).
Noel thought that he would look at trialling deep ripping again in the future, but would be more selective in site selection, particular given the expense involved in the process, in terms of time and labour. HiCal lime plots performed better overall than those limed with Lancelin lime.
Outcome: Noel has been using liquid fertilisers, Calsap and HiCal, for some years as part of his farming system. He believes this is helping to improve soil health and plant root depth. The lack of difference between root depth in the ripped and non-ripped plots served as validation for some of his farming decisions.
Mark and Mick Lester – Lucerne
Concept: Lucerne is widely regarded as being a good fit for many mixed farming operations. It is a tough perennial pasture, with the ability to produce large amounts of high quality feed as well as building nitrogen within the soil for future use by cash crops. It can help in running down weed seed banks and its deep root system can penetrate hostile subsoils opening up.
Findings: The Lesters used seed they had on hand that they had harvested three years previously. This resulted in patchy germination. The crop was seeded in 2015.
Outcome: The Lucerne stand persisted through the establishment period despite some patchy germination and has been used strategically for the Lester’s grazing operation, as well as being effective in alleviating salinity issues in that area.
Stu and Leanne Bee – Vetch
Concept: The Bees were looking for more robust legume-based options to reintroduce nitrogen into their soils without the expense of having to plant and establish Lucerne. The appeal was to look at an annual legume where the seed source is cheaper or could be grown on-farm or regenerated after three or four seasons. Woolly pod vetch best fit the brief. In addition, research by DPIRD scientist, Dr Angelo Loi has demonstrated that it can provide enough nitrogen for up to three subsequent seasons.
Findings: A dry start to the growing period meant that establishment was slow. Additionally, the paddock was grazed in June 2017, impacting on early season biomass. It didn’t really recover. While the paddock used for the trial had some set-backs, it was not representative of how vetch has performed on the Bee’s farm as a rule.
Its use as a weed management tool cannot be underestimated either. It enables grasses to be sprayed out in the paddock, while sheep continue grazing. This allows the paddock to be utilised to a greater extent while decreasing the weed burden.
Outcome: Stu and Leanne continue to use woolly pod vetch (such as Capello or RM4) as part of their rotation for the following reasons:
Versatile high production, low input crop
More tolerant of acidic soils than most grain legumes
Nitrogen fixing benefits
Weed control options
Brad Bailey – Airseeder Demonstration
Concept: Brad had been considering changing over his existing Flexicoil ST830 airseeder bar due to increasing requirements for repairs and maintenance, both in terms of money and time spent repairing it. He was also looking to increase accuracy of seed placement and ensure good germination.
Given the large outlay required in the investment, Brad was keen to compare some different options on his own farm, working in with some neighbours. This was a demonstration of different owner-operator seeding set-ups. It encouraged discussion and participation.
Findings: On 2nd June 2017, four different airseeders were part of the community-based airseeder demonstration. Brad’s Flexicoil bar was used, as well as the McKinlay family’s Bourgault 8910 Culti Drill, Mick and Mark Lester’s Ausplow DBS D300-44, and Tim Bock’s Chamberlain 275 unit. In 2018, the Chamberlain machine was replaced by Mal Smith’s Vaderstadt Seed Hawk SH1220.
Outcome: Along with other grower-led seeder demonstrations, the results of the trial undertaken did not directly influence the purchase decision. However, the gathering of farmers for the event, as well as subsequent field walks encouraged engagement in the peer-to-peer learning experience allowing growers to gather, discuss and learn from one another in an informal environment.
Wade Brown – vetch pastures
Concept: For his One Paddock Challenge, Wade was looking to grow vetch under-sown with canola. The paddock chosen had some issues with grass weeds, and he wanted to add some natural nitrogen back into the cropping system, as well as filling the spring feed gap.
Findings: The trial paddock was sown to vetch under-sown with canola to alleviate some subsoil compaction as well as providing some bulk to the pasture base. However, the implications of its inclusion were not measured as part of this activity.
The plant stand established well in 2017 and in September was grazed with 1200 ewes and lambs before being sprayed out.
In 2018, the subsequent wheat crop yielded 0.8t/ha more than the average of other wheat crops on the Brown’s farm, with good protein and a grade of H2 on average. The wheat crop was not top dressed.
Outcome: For the Brown family, this system works very well in their predominantly sheep focussed enterprise. It provides a break in their cropping system for weed and disease management, although they do forgo cash income for this phase as they use the vetch as a pasture to wean lambs onto.
Damon Parker – liquid carbon farming systems
Concept: In 2012, the requirement to outlay money on new fertiliser infrastructure at an outlying block was the catalyst, along with a dissatisfaction with the performance of the status quo, for Damon to consider his fertiliser options. Damon was interested in enhancing the soil system by adding carbon and other stimulants to the subsoil.
Additionally, the enhancement of carbon in building soil capacity cannot be underestimated in increasing both food production, but also in ameliorating the effects of climate change.
Findings: In 2012, Damon converted his farm to a whole systems liquid carbon approach. He received widespread recognition in his agronomy support network in 2015 and 2017 for the marked increases in his wheat, canola and lupin yields.
Outcome: As Damon had been operating for several years in this manner across his whole farm, the paddock chosen for the One Paddock Challenge did not have a strict control strip. In order to have some comparison, a compromise was made whereby fertiliser was not applied to a two-hectare strip in 2017 and comparing against the area next to it. As it turned out, 2017 proved to be a good farming year for the Parker family and there was not a marked difference between the two sites.