Fitzgerald Biosphere Community Collective Lotterywest grant success!

The Fitzgerald Biosphere Community Collective (of which FBG is a key member) recently received the fantastic news that it had been successful in obtaining a Lotterywest grant for $178,906 which will go towards a project to improve community engagement with the Fitzgerald Biosphere and promote its environmental importance.

Representative of the Collective was honoured to be meet with Shelley Payne MLC at the Fitzgerald Hall to discuss some of the issues currently being faced by the Biosphere and some of the ideas for the new project going forward.

We can’t wait to share more details as they emerge, including the appointment of a Biosphere Communication & Extension Coordinator. Watch this space!

Deep ripping the right soil can pay off this season, despite fuel prices

DPIRD research scientist Bindi Isbister said with recent diesel price hikes and hard soils from a dry summer increasing draft and fuel use, many growers were asking whether it was still worth deep ripping.

“Despite the high cost of fuel, if you are deep ripping a soil type that typically has a good yield response then it is still economically worthwhile,” Ms Isbister said.

“For example, for good sandplain that has a 600 kilogram per hectare wheat yield response, deep ripping is worthwhile. Even at a fuel cost of $3 per litre, with a wheat price of $330 per tonne, the additional return from deep ripping is $28 per hectare in the first year.

“This was based on the estimated cost of deep ripping to 55cm for labour, wages and depreciation of $62 per hectare and a fuel use of 90 litres per hectare.

“The benefit of deep ripping commonly persists for at least three years, therefore, the cumulative three-year additional return is $183 per hectare with the ripping cost spread over that time.

“If a minimal yield response is anticipated, for example 400kg per hectare, and the optimal ripping costs are $132 per hectare at a fuel price of $2 per litre and wheat price of $330 per tonne, then the cost of ripping is about the same as the returns from additional yield in the first year.

“In this case, a profitable response is dependent on the residual benefit of ripping in the second and third seasons, so it is higher risk for more limited return.”

Ms Isbister analysed cereal grain yield responses to ripping at two different depths, 30-40cm and 55-60cm, incorporating data from historic and current DPIRD and Grains Research and Development Corporation trials.

“Due to limited summer rainfall in some regions, the soil is very dry and hard so it may not be possible to rip below the hard pan that typically extends to 60cm,” Ms Isbister said.

“Research has shown, particularly in low rainfall regions, if the hard pan is not removed completely due to shallow ripping, there can be a greater risk of the crop haying off early in a dry spring.

“So if you intend to do the job, do it properly and rip deep enough to remove the subsoil compaction layer, or wait for another opportunity.

“Some areas have received good rainfall over the last month and this provides an opportunity to effectively rip and remove those deeper hard pans, on responsive soil types.

“Many growers may be leaving more fallow this year due to the high cost of inputs, so this is a good opportunity to deep rip in spring when soil moisture is at an optimal level to achieve good ripping depth.”

Ms Isbister said where possible, growers should avoid ripping rocky areas that increased the risk of machinery breakages, especially if using the same tractor for seeding.

“It is worthwhile for growers to do their own sums, taking into account the expected soil type response and cost of ripping to the optimum depth,” she said.

Growing faba beans on the South Coast

 Faba beans gaining traction on the south coast

Emma Pearse2, Carla Milazzo1, Sarah Belli2 and King Yin Lui1

Research Scientists, 1Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD)  2.previously at DPIRD

Interest in producing faba beans has increased in recent years among south coast grain growers seeking an alternate break crop to canola in a cereal dominant farming system. We believe the term ‘failure beans’, coined in the late 2000s, is no longer appropriate with the availability of new varieties with improved disease resistance, greater adoption of soil amelioration practices, and better legume agronomy.

In order to shake this reputation, we have compiled the publication, ‘Growing faba beans on the south coast of Western Australia’ that includes tips on establishment, inoculation, weed control, disease management, harvesting and much more. This document was produced through the Regional Research Agronomy project, a GRDC and DPIRD joint investment. Included in the document are fifteen case studies from growers across the south coast region (Albany and Esperance port zones) of WA. These case studies capture various soil types and rainfall zones, and highlight different ways that faba beans fit into our farming systems. The ability for growers to learn from other growers can be limited by time and geography. We hope that by having these case studies in one place others can find common ground. The publication is available for electronic download at https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/grains-research-development/regional-research-agronomy-project on the DPIRD website and limited hardcopies available at your local DPIRD office.

We believe faba beans are a good fit for growers who are looking for a legume that:

·       fits into 100% cropping and mixed farming systems

·       has a higher yield potential than other pulses

·       fixes nitrogen for itself and subsequent crops

·       can be sown early, dry, and to depth to chase moisture

·       tolerates waterlogging better than other grain legumes

·       offers robust genetics with improved disease resistance or improved tolerance to imidazolinone (IMI) and other herbicides

·       is a break crop for root lesion nematode (RLN; Pratylenchus neglectus)

·       can be sown and harvested using existing machinery and equipment used for cereals.

While the 2020 season was drier than average on the south coast, faba bean crops in our case studies averaged almost 2 t/ha. The main variety was PBA Samira and most crops were dry sown in April. Challenges in the season included pressure from cowpea aphid due to early drought stress, high weed pressure due to late germination (dry start), waterlogging in the high rainfall areas and hot, strong winds impacting pod set and causing necking.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the growers involved in the case studies and for their time and expertise, as well as Mark Seymour for his knowledge and guidance. For more information please contact Vanessa Stewart (vanessa.stewart@dpird.wa.gov.au) or Megan Abrahams (megan.abrahams@dprid.wa.gov.au). 

Important disclaimer

The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.

Copyright © State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development) 2021

Carbon for Farmers Voucher Program

Here is a link to the ‘Carbon for Farmers Voucher Program’ - Carbon for Farmers Voucher Program | Agriculture and Food.

Voucher value: $10,000 ($1,000 in-kind requirement)

What for: Allow eligible farmers to seek advice on making the right investment decisions round integrating carbon farming into their business

Where: South West Land Division

The vouchers can be used to engage agronomists or other advisors with expertise in carbon, natural resource management and other specialist areas.

NOTE: Service Provider Directory – DPIRD is compiling a list of independent professional service providers for distribution to participants in the Carbon for Farmers Voucher Program. Professionals can request inclusion in the Service Provider Directory.

Opened on 25th February and closes 5pm (AWST) Friday, April 1st (no joke 😊).

For broader information on Carbon Farming here is the main DPIRD page - Carbon farming | Agriculture and Food.

Spring Field Day 2021

Read about our recent Spring Field Day held on Wednesday 8th September here

Thanks to:

1. Andrew Wylie - Lawson Grains (breakfast)

2. Ian Donaldson - Rabobank (rural property market)

3. Mal & Mel Smith

4. Brad & Jess Bailey

5. James Lyall - Viridis Ag

6. Jeremy Curry - DPIRD Esperance

7. Svetlana Micic - DPIRD Albany

8. Kyran Brooks - Foreman Rural, Nutrien Ag

9. Graham Laslett - Combined Agronomic Services

10. Mic Fels - iPaddock Industries

11. Rodney Scott, Dane Robertson - CBH

12. Jerramungup DHS P&C (catering)

13. Kemp & Bev Brooks - bus

14. Jacup BFB - fire shed

One Paddock Challenge 2020 - Final Report

Throughout 2020, FBG worked with 8 different farmers in the Jerramungup area to look at the different on-farm trials and approaches that were are being undertaken.

These broadly fell into 3 categories:

1. Soil Amelioration

2. Precision Ag

3. Legumes

The final report can be accessed here

We thank our funding partners Lawson Grains and Viridis Ag for their financial support for this project.

We also express our gratitude to the farmers taking part - your generosity is always appreciated and the learning opportunities are invaluable!

2020 Spring Field Day Wrap Up

Read about our recent Spring Field Day held on Wednesday 9th September here:

Thanks to:

1. Rabobank

2. Pip Payne (Living Farm) and Georgia Trainor (Intergrain)

3. Andrew Wylie (Lawson Grains, Jerry South)

4. Michael Swarbrick

5. Jeremy Lemon (DPIRD)

6. Sue Middleton (Rural Edge)

7. Colin Green

8. Johnny Inferarra and Stephen Hill (McIntosh & Sons)

9. Philip Honey (Stirlings to Coast Farmers)

10. Rodney Scott and Suzanne Butter (CBH Group)

11. Gairdner P&C

12. Richard Surridge and Reaghan Shalders

2020 Spring Field Day

Join us for the upcoming Spring Field Day which will this year be held in the Gairdner area.

Master Class in Saltland Management for WA

Expressions of Interest are currently being sought to run this highly interactive and entertaining workshop in Jerramungup this SEPTEMBER!

This workshop will involve skills development in the latest knowledge and technology management and extension:

• Farmer knowledge and site visits

• Group challenge on a real site

• Saltland Genie App and Website

• Access to key resources, including: reference material, publications
  and equipment for on-site assessment and decision making

• Water and soil monitoring, training and analysis

• EM38 training and result interpretation

• Economics and Whole Farm Analysis

• Fully catered

It will involve interaction with internationally recognised researchers including:

• Dr Ed Barrett-Lennard, DPIRD - Agronomy and Water Use

• Dr Hayley Norman, CSIRO - Livestock Production and Utilisation

• John Simons, DPIRD - Hydrologist

For further details or to secure your place, please contact:

FREYA SPENCER (GILLAMII CENTRE) on 0437 248 206 or at admin@gillamii.org.au
Or
REAGHAN SHALDERS (FBG) on 08 9835 1127 or at nrmprojects@fbg.org.au

This program is made possible with the support of:

• The Gillamii Centre

• DPIRD

• CSIRO

• State NRM Program

• South Coast NRM

• National Landcare Program

2014-19 FBG Achievement Report

The six years between 2014 and 2019 were busy ones for the FBG. We delivered more than 21 projects worth $2.5 million across a wide range of areas and funding programs. We’ve compiled these projects and our key events into our 2014-2019 Achievement Report, the link for which is provided below, for your information:

2014-19 FBG Achievement Report