Riverine Plains Blog

Key messages:

• canola crops are especially vulnerable to sulfur deficiency
• leaching and high rates of plant removal over the past few years have likely reduced soil sulfur levels
• incremented soil testing to a depth of 60-80cm will identify the quantity and location of sulfur in the soil
• understanding what’s in the ‘bank’ can help farmers make timely and economical fertiliser decisions

Sulfur (S) is an important nutrient for grain crops as it is used in chlorophyll formation and plant development. Canola has a higher requirement than wheat or legume crops for sulfur thanks to its oil and protein production.

Key Messages:

• Mice and rats have become a more persistent problem over the past few years
• monitoring is key to understanding the scale of the problem and helps indicate when additional control is required
• timing mouse bait application is critical to protecting crops when populations are high.

Mice populations have traditionally followed a boom-and-bust type pattern, however over the last decade or so they have become a more persistent problem.

Key messages

• Understanding the scale and depth of soil constraints is key to an effective amelioration program
• Incremental sampling to depth provides more information than traditional 0-10 cm tests
• Seek advice before beginning an amelioration program

Summer and early autumn provides an opportunity for Riverine Plains farmers to treat soil constraints, such as acidity and sodicity, between winter crops.

So, what are the issues to consider?

Key Messages

• Phenoxy herbicides can cause significant off-target damage to susceptible summer crops
• Volatilisation of herbicide from the treated plant occurs more frequently during summer, when temperatures are higher
• Before using volatile herbicides, check with your neighbours about proximity to susceptible summer crops
• Always check with your agronomist to see if there are less volatile alternative products available

Non-intentional herbicide drift from Group I herbicides such as 2,4-D and other compounds occurs regularly across Australia, with cotton, grapes, soybeans, sorghum, forage brassicas, horticultural crops (i.e tomatoes) and other broadleaf species being especially susceptible.

Key Messages:

• High-moisture grain is not safe to store without aeration or drying, but can be temporarily held in silos with aeration cooling before being dried or blended
• It’s important to regularly monitor stored grain temperatures to avoid spoilage
• Do not store high moisture grain infected with fungi or moulds

With wet and cool weather continuing to complicate harvest, growers may be thinking about their options for managing higher moisture grain (either this year or in future seasons).

So, what are the key things to consider?