Almost 50 growers, advisors, industry representatives and researchers came together at Cummins last month to share and hear the latest in soil and crop management research and development.
The annual Ag Innovation and Research Eyre Peninsula (AIR EP) Lower Eyre Peninsula Ag Expo on Tuesday, February 27 provided a showcase of information and experience to assist the region’s farmers with improving their on-farm practices and returns.
AIR EP executive officer Naomi Scholz said the event allowed AIR EP to showcase its work supporting 27 research, development and education projects to assist agriculture and regional communities across EP.
“The total investment in our projects in this region is in the order of $10 million (across 2020-2024), with each project ranging in value from $750 to $1.8m,” she said.
“A pivotal part of the work we do is sharing the knowledge gained through these projects and trials with our farming and rural communities so that we can spread the economic, environmental and social benefits widely and increase the productivity, sustainability and viability of our local industries.”
Among the projects discussed was the liming acid soil research findings from a local Brooker project using faba beans.
Primary Industries and Regions South Australia senior soils research officer Josh Telfer shared that a huge spike in lime spreading since 2015 showed growers were focussed on soil health to improve productivity and profitability.
There was strong interest in how the positive results for faba beans could translate to highly-valuable lentil production in the region.
Andrew Ware from EPAG Research provided a broad overview of research topics, including mitigating frost damage, early canola establishment, dry sowing long coleoptile wheat varieties, blackleg infection and gene resistance, findings from a local pulse trial in an ironstone gravel soil type and nitrogen strategies.
Some of the key findings included that early crop establishment was still best to avoid frost damage, with barley less impacted by frost than wheat, and correlations between soil amelioration and the effect on canopy temperatures, with positive effects of soil amelioration on canopy temperature increases lasting at least two years.
South Australian Research and Development Institute principal scientist in climate applications Peter Hayman shared insights into decision-making based on climate information.
One of his key takeaways for growers was they were able to make some very good farm management decisions based on the climate science available at the time, but the end result of a crop could still come down to luck or circumstances, rather than planning.
He also provided valuable insights for farmers into using climate modelling to predict potential yield gains through nitrogen management and application.
AIR EP will hold annual member days on July 3 for upper EP and July 4 for lower EP.
“As with our recent Ag expo, these days present a fantastic opportunity for farmers to come along and learn more about what’s happening with our projects – and pick up some tips to apply on-farm,” Ms Scholz said.
“We’ll have the Bureau for Meteorology in attendance to demonstrate the use of weather and climate tools currently available on their website, and we’ll continue to look at themes around on-farm decision making and risk management.”
