Riverine Plains Blog

Key Points:

• Check crops now for signs of cereal rust and other diseases 
• Time fungicide applications to protect the yield-producing leaves  
• Rotate fungicide groups to reduce the risk of resistance developing 

Given early disease build up in areas of NSW and Victoria, ongoing wet conditions and the widespread planting of susceptible cultivars, Riverine Plains region growers are encouraged to inspect crops now for signs of rust and other cereal diseases.  

Key points 

• The past few seasons have likely increased sclerotinia loads across the region 
• Sclerotinia develops under specific moisture and temperature conditions 
• In high-risk years, a preventative fungicide should be applied at 20-30% bloom  

While sclerotinia stem rot is best known as a disease of canola, it can also cause damage to peas, beans, sunflowers, soybeans, chickpeas and lupins. 

Key Points:

• Use pesticides judiciously to prevent resistance developing 
• Use a range of strategies to manage pest populations 
• Consider resistance testing on suspect populations 

While we might defer a lot of our pesticide management decisions to our advisors, as farm business managers (and spray applicators), we ultimately have the final say in what goes onto our paddocks and when.  

After two years of above-average rainfall, slugs are again making their presence known across the Riverine Plains, especially in canola. The moist conditions experienced in Spring (and, for that matter, harvest/Summer) have created ideal breeding conditions for slugs. Damage is being reported in previously unaffected areas and has been severe enough to require re-sowing in some canola paddocks.