Vic Hub SW Node, Southern Farming Systems

draws a crowd to AgriFocus field day at Streatham

Keynote sessions themed around weed control & management techniques in a cropping system

Vic Hub Director Dr Sara Hely and Adoption Officer Rhiannan McPhee were at the South-West Node’s AgriFocus Field Day.

AgriFocus Co-ordinator Michelle McClure, said the unique field day, now in its 14^th year,  is Southern Farming Systems’ leading technical event for high rainfall zone (HRZ) farming systems, providing access for farmers and agronomists to the latest research and expertise.

Held at the SFS Streatham trial site on 16 October, keynote sessions were themed around weed control and management techniques in a cropping system, with Dr Chris Preston, University of Adelaide and Boonderoo Pastoral Company Farming Systems and Nuffield Scholarship on Pulse Supply Chains with Lachie Seears, Lucindale Farmer.

Michelle said the “choose your own adventure matrix” was filled with presentations in the field offering both proof-of-concept in trials, and key information from leading experts.

AgriFocus trials featured included:

• Soils – Soil ameliorants of lime and gypsum Nathan Robinson CERDI, Soil Pit with Richard MacEwan
• Cereals – Varieties, Disease management and resistance ratings update, Nutrition
• Canola – Varieties, Disease management with Marcroft Pathology, Weed management, Plant densities
• Faba Bean – Varieties, Disease management, Weed management
• Vetch – Management for hay production with Matthew Sparke
• Crop Sequencing – exploring crop rotation, diversity, intensity, sequence, end use and more
• Carbon Farming Outreach Program – SFS is collaborating with Grower Group Alliance for the delivery of the national Industry-led Carbon Farming Outreach Program (CFOP). Delivered with funding support from the Commonwealth of Australia through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Carbon Farming Outreach Program.
• Meat & Livestock Australia NLIS & eID update and programs
• Fertiliser Additives with Biolink 4 Plants & Animals
• Plus exhibits from SFS partners, including machinery from Premier Partner Swayn and McCabe Claas Harvest Centre

“If you are farming in the high rainfall zone, this annual field day is not to be missed! To have access to research trials in your own backyard is priceless,” Michelle said.