Rankins Springs

Rankins Springs Members Information - You must be logged in to access this, click to login.

The Rankins Springs Regional Site is operated in association with a group of local farmers. The committee is:

Chairmen: Michael Pfitzner 02 69634859

Co-ordinator: Brad Davis 02 6895 1050

District Agronomist: Rachael Whitworth 02 69601318

Co-operators: Michael Pfitzner “ Hill End”, David Bartter “Wattle Park”

 

The average climatic conditions for the Rankins Springs Regional Site, from the Bureau of Meteorology at GRIFFITH CSIRO, can be seen in Figure 1 and 2. Figure 1 reveals that the average annual rainfall for Rankins Springs is 406.5 mm, whilst Figure 2 reveals the maximum and minimum monthly temperatures.






The research agenda for 2007 (approx 40KB PDF)

 

The research agenda from 2000 to 2006

The Rankins Springs Regional Site Committee established in 2000 a long term trial to investigate the environmental, biological and economic effect of seven alternative production systems. These production systems vary in the type and amount of inputs they provide, including fertiliser, soil ameliorates, seed dressings and herbicides.

The trial is designed as a randomised block, with each plot 0.3 ha in size and each treatment replicated 3 times (see Trial Plan). The seven systems being investigated in the trial are:

1. Conventional

2. Albrecht

3. Soil Management

4. Alroc Mineral fertilisers

5. Nutri-Tech Solutions

6. BioAg

7. Organics

 

Please refer to the section on the Alternate Farming Systems trial for a full explanation of each system.

 

A Trial plan of the main site is shown below.



With the trial now in its 7th year, after facing 7 difficult seasons, it was voted unanimously at the AGM to change direction in terms of the groups focus. From 2007,the group will be focussing on co-ordinated on farm demonstrations . This would allow a travelling field day in the spring looking at each others ideas including machinery, new varieties, varying inputs and varying systems.  <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

The alternate farming systems site was blanket sown on the 15th May 2007 with Clearfield Jnz wheat using no fertiliser and no pickle at 40 kg/ha. The reason for this is the group can still see the importance of following through on each of these systems, particularly when the season changes, as substantial inputs have gone into some of the systems.

 

The Rankins Springs Regional Site group would like to thank their site sponsors who donate their time, money and products to allow the long term alternative production systems trial to be the success that it is today.

 

 

GRDC, NSW DPI, Elders VP, Rawlinson and Brown, Landmark Griffith, Yenda Producers,  Yenda Fruit & Case Supplies, F & R McNabb Pty Ltd, AWB Seeds, Bayer Crop Science, Dow AgroScience, BASF, Farmoz, CropCare, Nufarm, Syngenta, ECOM Commodities, HiFert, Incitec/Pivot, National Australia Bank, RABO BANK,  Hart Bros Seeds, Austwest Seeds, Pacific Seeds,  Pioneer Seeds and One Steel Metal Land.