MSF Farm Talk Podcast

A novel approach to weed management in Australia is being investigated with the start of a project that aims to research the management, economic and social benefits of tackling weeds on a broader scale.

The traditional approach to tackling weeds has been to focus on paddock or farm scale management. Instead, this project aims to take an area-wide approach to weed management with the theory being that if the number of weeds over the entire landscape can be reduced, everyone in that area should benefit, especially when dealing with weeds with mobile seed and pollen.

In the Sunraysia region, MSF is working with broadacre farmers, wine grape, dried fruit, citrus and almond growers to trial different weed management practices to control flaxleaf fleabane and especially where some industries share a boundary.

There are a number of potential weed issues related to fleabane’s ability to move across farm borders. This includes herbicide resistance spread, new weeds entering districts and spray drift.

In this podcast we talk to Dr Sonia Graham, Social Scientist from the University of Wollongong, who is researching farmer attitudes to weed management in an effort to understand the drivers of success for implementing an area wide approach. 

For more information about the project visit https://research.csiro.au/weed-awm/

Acknowledgments

This project is supported through funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources as part of its Rural R&D for Profit program and the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Cotton Research and Development Corporation.

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Join Tanja Morgan in the MSF farm talk podcast as she discusses methods to manage sandy soils and soil compaction with Rodrigo de Silva and Therese McBeath, research scientists at CSIRO.

The episode covers identifying soil issues using penetrometers, the importance of understanding soil profiles, and differences between compaction, cementation, and hard setting. Practical tips for farmers on deep ripping, soil moisture considerations, and controlled traffic systems are also explored.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:42 Identifying Soil Compaction Issues

01:25 Tools and Techniques for Measuring Soil Strength

02:14 Understanding Soil Profiles and Ripping Depths

05:13 Compaction vs. Hard Setting and Cementation

07:04 Addressing Hard Setting Soils

11:01 Controlled Traffic Systems and Ripping Strategies

12:51 Economic Considerations and Fertilizer Inputs

13:44 Practical Tips for Farmers

15:34 Conclusion and Farewell

For more info check out the following GRDC factsheets:

The villains of hard subsurface layers in sandy soils click here

Measuring soil strength with a penetrometer click here

A penetrometer is a great tool to have on farm if you are planning on deep ripping. For a small investment you can monitor the compaction in your paddocks and monitor the success and longevity of your ripping operations. 

A simple to use penetrometer can be purchased online at https://bit.ly/3GseNMf

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To manage risk and seasonal variability there needs to be flexibility in grazing management and more information available to address nutritional deficiencies in low rainfall pastures and alternative grazing crops such as pulses.

The first year of results are in for the AWI Feed Nutrition project that aims to identify the nutritional value and mineral content of a range of Mallee pastures and grazing crops including the variance between seasons over two years and develop a dataset of the nutritional value and mineral content of low rainfall pastures for use by producers and industry.

Hamish Dickson from AgriPartner Consulting joins Tanja Morgan, MSF, to share the findings from sampling 11 pasture and crop types in different seasons to better understand the nutritional quality of paddock feed in low rainfall environments. 

First year results are also available in the MSF compendium article available here

This project has been funded by Australian Wool Innovation. 

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In this episode we catch up with Sean Mason, Research Agronomist and Director of Agronomy Solutions and Therese McBeath, Research Scientist, CSIRO, in the rose garden at Waite Institute. 

The 2021 season was once again challenging for many in the Mallee. At the start of  2022. fertiliser prices are high, input budgets are tight and nitrogen supply is unknown with talks of shortages and delays. 

We ask the experts key questions about phosphorous and nitrogen nutrition, where it's possible to make savings and cut back, what to soil test and how different soils will respond differently to nutrient supply. 

You also have an opportunity to ask our experts questions by joining MSF's 'Managing Mallee Soils' Facebook group. 

Click here to join

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We have multiple guests on the show as we take Issue 3 of the Better Frost Decisions newsletter to the air waves. 

Tanja Morgan talks Spring temperature and frost events with Peter Hayman, SARDI Climate Applications. We also take a trip to the regions with an update from the Tooligie frost demonstration with Naomi Scholz; Jess Koch, PA Consultant from Breezy Hill Ag Services talks about frost mapping in the Upper North; we interview Southern SA Mallee farmer Adam Morgan as he talks about how frost impacts his farming system and we finish off with Michelle McClure, Southern Farming Systems, to talk about a new frost economic scenario calculator for growers and advisors. 

For more information, including an update from Birchip Cropping Group, check out Issue 3 of the Better Frost Decisions newsletter online here

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In this episode Tanja Morgan catches up with Therese McBeath, CSIRO farming systems scientist and MSF Specialist Director, for an interesting chat about what CSIRO research is happening in the Mallee, what research problem Therese would like to solve if money were no object, how farmers will adapt to lower rainfall seasons and we welcome Therese to the MSF Board. 

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In this episode we talk to David Schubert, Ag Consultant with Dodgshun Medlin, who has been working on a novel pasture seeding demonstration, north of Lameroo on behalf of Mallee Sustainable Farming. 

David talks about the key features and results of the demo that was first established in 2018 by sowing a hard seeded species sown with a crop with emergence expected in the following year. This was compared to sowing an annual medic variety in 2020. Regeneration of both treatments was also compared.

The Dryland Legume Pasture Systems (DLPS) project aims to boost profit and reduce risk in medium and low rainfall areas by developing recently discovered pasture legumes together with innovative management techniques that benefit animal and crop production and farm logistics.

This project is a five year Rural R&D for Profit funded project supported by GRDC, MLA and AWI; and involving Murdoch University, CSIRO, SARDI, DPIRD; Charles Sturt University and grower groups including MSF.

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In the latest MSF Farm Talk Podcast we catch up with two Pinnaroo farmers, Wade Nickolls and Skeet Lawson as well as Research Agronomist, Michael Moodie.

Wade and Skeet were involved in the Pinnaroo Pulse Check Group which is part of the GRDC Southern Pulse Extension Project which started in 2017 and has just wrapped up now after 3 years. There were two groups in the Victorian Mallee and two groups in the South Australian Mallee. The Southern Pulse Extension Project is proudly funded by GRDC, executed by MSF and led by Birchip Cropping Group.

In the second half of this episode, we caught up with MSF’s Key Research Agronomist, Michael Moodie, Frontier Farming Systems. Michael has been carrying out lots of research work across the Mallee and facilitating the Millewa Pulse Check Groups.

The Pulse Check groups allowed growers to network and compare their experiences, challenges and findings in their local area plus share practical knowledge to bridge gaps where research in the low-rainfall zone is lacking when it comes to pulses. Attendees varied between experienced pulse growers and those new to growing pulses in the Mallee.

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In this episode we caught up with Jamie Wilson (more commonly known as Wilbur) from Pioneer Seeds Australia at the Farming in the Future Forum and MSF Mallee Research Update in Parilla which was in partnership with the Mallee and Coorong Landscapes Advisory Committee and Pioneer Seeds Australia. 

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Our guest on this week's MSF Farm Talk Podcast episode is someone extra special to MSF. Meet Ian Hastings! 

Ian Hastings is a fourth generation farmer operating 4,000ha in a family business around the Ouyen area (Victorian Mallee). 

In this episode Ian tells us his MSF stories and also outlines some handy mice control tips for mallee farmers to keep in mind for this year.

Ian has been active in many agricultural organisations including being the past President of the Victorian Ground sprayers Association and was honoured with a life membership upon his retirement from the Presidents role.

MSF is also incredibly proud to have awarded Ian with Life Membership at our recent Mildura Mallee Research Update and AGM. 

Ian contributes substantially to the local community holding positions such as President of the Local RSL sub-branch and Ouyen Farmers Festival Committee member.

He is a past President of the VFF Grains Group (2003-2007) and served on the VFF Board of Management from 2003-2007.  From 2002-2009 Ian was a member of the Grains Council of Australia and served as Deputy Chair from 2005 -2009.

Ian was an inaugural Board Member of Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc in 1998 and remained a Victorian farmers’ representative until 2002. He re-joined the Board in 2008 becoming Vice Chair in 2009 and is a member of the Executive, Finance & Audit and RD&E committees.

Ian Hastings involvement with MSF began prior to the organisations inception when he attended pre-formation meetings. Ian's board service commenced in 1997/98 and continued through to 2002 when he resigned to enable full commitment to his new role as VFF President. In 2009 Ian was invited to rejoin the board and soon after he was appointed Chairman, a role that he continued on with until 2018.

Ian has been instrumental in many achievements for MSF. Recent examples that require acknowledgement include his commitment and passion for attracting research into the Mallee to deal with ‘Sandy Soils’ and ‘Mallee Seeps’ challenges. Ian's dedication to ensuring attention to the constraints of farming sandy soils resulted in funding for a large project that would not have been as significant without his leadership.

Ian Hastings is a fierce and passionate advocate for Mallee and Dryland Farming and we can't thank him enough for the value and contributions he has added to MSF over the years.

Congratulations Ian for your well deserved MSF Life Membership Award and thanks for joining us on the MSF Farm Talk Podcast!

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