Title: TRANSCRIPT:
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Last saved by: Craig Bratby
Company: NSW Department of Primary Industries

TRANSCRIPT:  2011 Winter crop review and best bets for 2012
			
Rachael Whitworth and Kieran O’Keeffe
District Agronomists, Murrumbidgee Valley

2 April 2012

Slide 1: Introductory Slide

Welcome to the 2012 NSW DPI irrigated winter crop pre-season meeting for the Murrumbidgee Valley. 

Given the timing of the recent floods, as well as the start of the summer crop harvest throughout the region we were unable to hold our usual pre-season meetings.

This presentation provides an overview of winter crops in 2011 and takes you through some of the key issues to consider for this coming winter cropping season.

Slide 2:  2011 in Review

The 2011 cropping season was characterised by a number of factors:

1) Large rainfall events in February and December: just over 160mm fell in February 2011 and just over 80mm in December 2010. Much of the region therefore started on a full profile of moisture, which negated the need in most cases of pre-irrigating.

2) The season was then followed by a dry winter which made establishment difficult as after emergence the season turned dry. 

3) Lastly Mice caused significant damage at crop establishment. Many crops were baited at least once at sowing. Sodsown wheat crops were the worst affected, with often multiple baiting occurring.

Slide 3: Growing season rainfall for Griffith 2011

This graph shows the growing season rainfall for Griffith from April through to the end of October.

For 2011 the growing season rainfall for Griffith was 194mm, compared to the long term average of 239.7mm. 

After a promising start in early April, rainfall through late April and early-mid May was patchy. The 30 plus mm of rain that fell towards the end of May was a welcome relief. It strengthened the potential of the crops already sown and enabled any remaining area to be sown.

Slide 4: Growing season rainfall for Coleambally 2011

In contrast at Coleambally, a very dry May and June period resulted in patchy establishment. 

This combined with mice damage resulted in poor yield potential in many district crops.

Slide 5:  NSW Rainfall totals for 1st January 2012 to the 22nd March 2012

This graph shows the lead up to the current season.

From the 1st January 2012 to the 22nd March 2012 our area received anywhere from 250 to 400mm of rain, setting up this winter cropping season.

Slide 6: Rainfall outlook from 1st April to 30th June 2012.

This graph shows the rainfall outlook for the next three months from 1st April to 30th June.

The Murrumbidgee Valley is sitting in the  100 -200mm range, which is average to above average for this time of year.

Slide 7:  Wheat options for 2012

After looking at the weather predicted for this region it can give us confidence of moving forward into our winter cropping season.

Whilst varietal choices have already been made we hope this section provides you with some timely reminders, given that there is a large range of varieties.

It is important to:
1) Manage varieties you know – as we have seen with our variety trials management is the key whether it be disease or irrigation
2) Try new varieties, through seed increasing, but you will need to be cautious as there is limited trial data in a lot of cases (seed supplies may limit alternatives)
3) Look for lodging resistance and quality fit – a lot of the new varieties are of APW or ASW quality and often not suited to a fully irrigated environment with weaker straw strength.

Slide 8:  Variety selection

Do you change varieties based on last year – possibly not!

A number of factors need to be taken into consideration with your variety choice. These include:
•	 Seasonal conditions at sowing
•	 looking at rain events in autumn and  soil moisture conditions at sowing  as this will be a big factor if crops go in on time 
•	 Paddock history  
•	 stubble loads.
•	Disease resistances and tolerances for  soil or stubble borne diseases as well as foliar diseases
•	 Herbicide resistance
•	 Seed availability 
•	Quality classification 

Slide 9: Spreadsheet available from high yielding cereal trials

Andrew Milgate has compiled the results of the winter cereal irrigated trials from the past 4 years from 2007-2010.  

The project was designed to identify cereal genotypes which will provide cereal breeding programs with a framework for selection of high yield potential lines grown under irrigation to maximise yield.  

The large irrigated wheat trial was run from 2007-2010 at Yanco, Griffith, Hillston, Coleambally, Deniliquin and Kerang.  

As well as looking at the performance of irrigated wheat, it also looked at barley, durum and triticale varieties in our region. 

It is now complete and an excel spreadsheet tool is available for growers and advisors to use. 

Slide 10: High Yielding cereal trials 2007 -2010

The top 10 named wheat varieties from the high yielding trial are graphed here. As an example out of the trial you can see that a lot of the varieties we know or are used to have topped the trials.

Over 60 unreleased lines have higher yields than these varieties so lets hope some of these make it to commercialisation.

Slide 11: Cereals (irrigation) to consider for 2012

Willbriggie: Wheat - Early Season, 2011
This graph show the results of an irrigated early wheat NVT trial at  Willbriggie last season. 

Keep in mind it is one season’s data and it is important to consider looking at the long term comparisons of the variety trials. 

It was sown on the 10th May and had an average yield of 5.9 t/ha. The trial was sown into moisture and irrigated twice in the spring. 

Last years data indicates that there was very little difference between varieties, showing management is the key to varietal performance.

Slide 12: Willbriggie - Wheat - Main Season, 2011

This graph show the results of an irrigated main wheat NVT trial at Willbriggie last season.

It was sown on the 1st June and had an average yield of 4.86 t/ha. The trial was sown into moisture and irrigated twice in the spring. 

Again keep in mind it is one season’s data and it is important to consider looking at the long term comparisons of the variety trials. The main trial at Willbriggie last year also shows very little difference between varieties, showing management is the key to varietal performance.

Slide 13: Many factors determine yield

Many factors determine yield with variety choice a small part of the puzzle.

As grain growers you are trying to manage as many of these factors as possible to get the best result.

Slide 14: Cereal options to consider in 2012 from NVT trial data

It is important to manage the varieties you know. This slide shows cereal options to consider in 2012 from NVT trial data and local commercial experience.

Slide 15: CANOLA options 2012

Given the early break and the full profile of moisture available, and price prospects for canola compared to wheat, canola will be a popular option. 

Keep in mind though with canola:
1) There are a lot of varieties on the market (61).
2) There is often no local trial data available and none specific to irrigation – it is often the case of using commercial experience with a variety.
3) Dryland NVT trials in the south yielded just over 3t/ha – but it is important to use long term data as the best guide. 
4) This long term data can be found on the NVT website – with a summary of trials available from District Agronomists.

Slide 16: New Varieties

This slide shows the extent of the new canola varieties available in 2012

Slide 17: Canola picks for 2012: from NVT trial data

This slide shows the canola picks for 2012 from NVT trial data and local commercial experience.

Slide 18: Canola management tips for 2012

To get the most from your canola in 2012 you should be:

1) Treating your  seed/fertiliser for blackleg and choosing varieties with some level of resistance.
	you can get a copy of the 2012 ratings for blackleg from your District Agronomist.

2) Don’t skimp on sowing rates- and remember to target 40 plants/m2

Slide 19: Irrigated Pulse options for 2012

As far as other break crops go you have the pulse options.

Keep in mind that they do not like wet feet though.

You could consider :
Faba beans – 	Fiesta VF, Farah.

Chickpeas – 	Desi – PBA Slasher, PBA Boundary.
                    		Kabuli- Genesis 090 .

Field peas – 	White – SW Celine.
                     		Dun -  PBA Percy, PBA Oura

Slide 20: Gross Margin Comparisons @ March 2012

This slide shows gross margin comparisons between different winter crops.

It is to be used as guide only and adjusted to your own situation.

This spreadsheet is available via email from Kieran and Rachael.

Slide 21: CropMate

Lastly you may or may not have heard of the program Cropmate.

It is basically a tool to analyse climate and weather information to help make informed decisions during the crop cycle developed by NSW DPI using information provided by QLD Climate Change Centre of Excellence & BOM, funded by GRDC.

Slide 22: CropMate VarietyChooser

There is also a free VarietyChooser App for your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

As seen in this slide it helps you to choose varieties of barley, canola, chickpea, oats, triticale and wheat based on NSW DPI’s variety guide. 

Slide 23: End slide

Where to for more information?

Contact:		NSW DPI, Griffith 	02 6960 1300

Kieran O’Keeffe	kieran.okeeffe@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Rachael Whitworth	rachael.whitworth@dpi.nsw.gov.au

For more information on any of the topics you have seen in this presentation please contact either Kieran or myself at the Griffith Office.