Paddock Chat

This episode marks the beginning of a 4-part series of episodes West Midlands Group are releasing in collaboration with the Society of Precision Agriculture Australia and Mallee Sustainable Farming.

SPAA is Australasia’s leading independent advocate and facilitator for increased research, extension and adoption of precision agriculture, delivering industry wide value across different sectors.

MSF are a grower group bringing farmers and researchers together to build more efficient, profitable and sustainable farming businesses in the low-rainfall Mallee region across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Consultant and farmer Peter Treloar joins MSF’s Jay Cummins, sharing his practical experiences in helping Mallee farmers navigate their on-farm development and application of precision ag systems.

Peter and Jay’s insightful conversation hits on many typical on-farm issues in precision ag and answers some key questions such as what equipment to use and how to get it to work in the best possible way to help make better informed decisions and reduce some of the stresses in farming decisions.

This podcast has been made possible by SPAA with funding from the FRRR Future Drought Fund.

“SPAA is Australasia’s leading independent advocate and facilitator for increased research, extension and adoption of precision agriculture, delivering industry wide value across different sectors.”

SPAA would also like to acknowledge their principal sponsors: John Deere, CNHi, Manutec, and Elders.

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In this episode WMG Comms Officer Simon Kruger & Mixed Farming Systems Officer Melanie Dixon are joined by Geoff Moore, Research Scientist at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. 

When grasshopper issues first arose in the 2021 season in the West Midlands region, Geoff was the first respondent on the ground with the WMG team and our affected members. Geoff specialises in legumes, pastures, livestock feedbase and groundcover among many things, and chats with us as part three in our series focusing on positive producer responses to 2021 seasonal grasshopper and groundcover issues. 

After monitoring the areas of greatest risk in our region and producing several case studies investigating the response to grasshopper, groundcover and soil erosion, Geoff is able to provide some more background on both producer and department response, as well as detailing several key short, mid and long term tactical and strategic options for dealing with groundcover issues.

Geoff and DPIRD have kindly provided some links to extra resources for producers who may be interested in the topics covered during the conversation or those that are hoping to mitigate similar problems in this and coming seasons.

Useful Links:

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/pastures/stabilising-sandy-pasture-paddocks-low-groundcover

• Tagasaste management with Bob Wilson
•  Pasture Cropping - An introduction to the concept and EverCrop project 
• Pasture Cropping - Experiences of innovative growers  
• Pasture Cropping - Results from the Moora focus site with David Ferris 
• Key steps for successful establishment of sub-tropical grasses with Phil Barrett-Lennard 
• Identifying sub-tropical grass seedlings
• Sub-tropical grass establishment - machinery demonstration
• Producer perspective
• Assessing sub-tropical grass establishment
• Saponins and grasses
• Ketosis in cattle with Marion Seymour

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Communications Officer Simon Kruger and Mixed Farming Systems Officer Melanie Dixon recently sat down with local farmer and WMG member Don Bradshaw.

Don is the Manager at ‘Jutomara Park’, a grazing operation running cattle only, predominantly brought down from Yanrey Station near Exmouth for backgrounding. 

Recalling a series of events over the previous seasons including the effects of cutworm, unseasonal rainfall and increased grasshopper numbers, Don noticed a perfect ‘low groundcover’ storm was developing in the early stages of the 2021 season.

Don's timely and decisive management has turned bare patches and paddocks with low groundcover into highly productive pastures, and not only has he placed 'Jutomara Park' in a great position for the coming seasons, but he is also one of the farmers highlighted in a DPIRD grower focus case study on stabilising sandy pasture paddocks with low groundcover in the West Midlands region.

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/pastures/stabilising-sandy-pasture-paddocks-low-groundcover 

Not only is this story an excellent example of proactive and practical responses to groundcover issues, but it is also a perfect example of the value of local knowledge and strength of community ties in the region. 

This episode is the second in a series of episodes that focus on positive responses to low groundcover within the West Midlands region, so be sure to look out for the next episode featuring Geoff Moore of DPIRD.

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Communications Officer Simon Kruger and Beef Industry Development Officer Erin O’Brien recently sat down with local farmer and WMG member Steele Rudd.

Steele runs ‘Our Selection’ at Eganu, a mixed enterprise farm, consisting of a continuous cropping program combined with a cattle operation rotationally grazed across improved perennial and annual pastures.

Steele’s proactive response to high grasshopper numbers and an increase in bare patches in the 2021 season has paid dividends, and not only has he seen some great results from strategic oversowing of cereals and perennials management, but he is also one of the farmers highlighted in a recently released DPIRD focus case study on stabilising sandy pasture paddocks with low groundcover.

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/pastures/stabilising-sandy-pasture-paddocks-low-groundcover 

This episode marks the beginning of a series of episodes that focus on positive responses to low groundcover within the West Midlands region, so be sure to look out for the upcoming episodes featuring Don Bradshaw of Jutomara Park and Geoff Moore of DPIRD. 

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It is believed that ancient South American cultures would use a rudimentary form of biochar to increase soil productivity thousands of years ago. Fast forward to the present day and the word Biochar is used to describe a substance that looks almost like charcoal, but that is actually biomass carbonized and made into a solid material, used in a multitude of ways from filtration to improving soil function and fertility.

One of the key impacts of climate change is its inevitable threat to the agricultural industry and food security as a whole. As the focus of WMG Cropping Systems Officer Md Zahangir Hossain’s recently completed PhD, Biochar’s use as a soil amendment has the potential benefits of bigger yields, healthier soils, lower acidity levels, richer microbial activity, and better water retention to name just a few.

This episode forms an introduction of sorts to one of our newest team members Zahangir, while Executive Officer Nathan Craig also joins the conversation, bringing his technical expertise and knowledge to help us delve deeper into Biochar as a soil amendment, its benefits and limitations, and how WMG will be innovatively utilising it within the Future Carbon Project. 

For more information on Biochar, the Future Carbon Project or any of Zahangir’s work, be sure to get in contact with us at [email protected]

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In this episode, Daniel Real, Feedbase Pastural Researcher at the Department of Primary Industry & Regional Development (DPRID) joins us to talk about the Feed365 project and solving a common problem for farmers in the West Midlands region and across WA: early and late season feed gaps. 

Daniel joins WMG Graduate Communications Officer Simon Kruger and Mixed Farming Systems Officer Melanie Dixon to give our listeners an insight into Feed365, the first phase of research, and how this innovative and far-reaching project will be working with farmers across WA, aiming to eliminate the need for confinement feeding in periods of low feed quality and availability.

Our conversation with Daniel was recorded in two parts, firstly in the field investigating trial sites and followed up with a recorded zoom call.

For more information on the Feed365 project be sure to check out the DPIRD website, or get in contact with us at [email protected]

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Amelia Nolan, Program Manager at The Livestock Collective (TLC) joins the podcast to talk with us about the importance of developing widespread knowledge of the ins and outs of the Australian livestock and broader agricultural industries.  

WMG Beef Industry Development Officer Erin O’Brien chats with Amelia about her story, role at TLC and her wealth of knowledge concerning social license and the importance of the community getting access to information that is real and authentic, from all along the agriculture supply chains, from the people actually involved in the industry. 

This edition of Paddock Chat is a companion episode to our Seasonal Updates Festival and Amelia’s dynamic and informative presentation can still be viewed right here (Beginning at 29:50). 

Resources: 

https://www.goodmeat.com.au/ - MLA: Australian Good Meat 

https://www.thelivestockcollective.com.au/ - The Livestock Collective  

https://www.redmeatgreenfacts.com.au/# - Red Meat Green Facts 

https://www.learnaboutwool.com/ - AWI: Learn About Wool 

https://livecorp.com.au/ - Livecorp: For industry who want to see consumer feedback 

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Dr. Mike Ashworth, Research Agronomist at the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative and Matt Willis, Market Development Agronomist at Bayer Crop Science join the podcast to share their knowledge and strategies for weed control in your farming system.   

WMG E.O Nathan Craig leads these 2 special guests on a deep dive into the key elements of an effective herbicide strategy based on the research they have been working on over the last few years. 

This special bumper edition of Paddock Chat contains not only great conversation, but also a wealth of topical and timely information.  

For ease of listening and navigation we have provided some timestamps for this episode: 

• 01:06 – 06:30 Introduction – What’s Your Role in the Agricultural Industry?  
• 06:30 – 15:15 Bayer Trials & Key Findings in the West Midlands & Northern Ag Region  
• 15:15 – 23:22 AHRI Trials & Key Findings in the West Midlands & Across WA  
• 23:22 – 41:05 What Could This Season Bring? What Should I Be Considering? 
  • 23:32 – 32:19 Early Break  
  • 32:19 – 42:08 Late Break  
• 42:08 – 44:18 Where Can I Go for More Information?  
• 44:18 – 45:52 Conclusion – What Keeps You Interested in Agriculture?  

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In this episode of PaddockChat, Executive Officer Nathan Craig talks with former WMG Graduate Project Officer Adam Anfuso about the Long Season Wheat Project.

• Which was the best preforming variety?
• How far did the wheat roots actually penetrate into the soil?
• Should we be growing Long Season Wheat varieties more?

Nathan and Adam guide us through how we can effectively use our sandy soils down to and below 2 metres, focusing on the concept and results of the 2021 WMG Long Season Wheat Project.

Adam's work on this trial has been a major focus of his master’s degree at the University of Western Australia and this podcast is a special companion piece to Adam’s presentation during the WMG Seasonal Updates Festival 2022. This project is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the West Midlands Group.

For more information on this project, you can find a comprehensive write-up in the WMG February Quarterly 2022, or watch Adam's live stream during Day 1 - Session 2 of the Seasonal Updates Festival 2022 on the WMG Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Part 2 of To Chickpea, or not to Chickpea.

In part 2 of this episode, Nathan Craig (WMG Executive Officer) continues his conversation with Mark Seymour & Harmohinder Dhammu from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, talking yield and weed control considerations in chickpeas.

This is part 2 of a special two-part episode, so if you've missed part 1, be sure to download and listen to it now:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1067260/10154438

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