Weethalle

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The Weethalle Regional Site is operated in associations with a group of local farmers. The committee is:

Chairmen: Andrew Luelf 02 6975 6282

Co-ordinator: Brad Davis 02 6895 1050

District Agronomist: Bob Thompson 02 6972 2244

Co-operators: Scott & Steve Rutledge “Anona”

 

The average climatic conditions for the Weethalle Regional Site, from the Bureau of Meteorology at WYALONG POST OFFICE, can be seen in Figure 1 and 2. Figure 1 reveals that the average annual rainfall for Weethalle is 482.7 mm, whilst Figure 2 reveals the maximum and minimum monthly temperatures.

 






The research agenda for 2007 - To be updated soon, keep checking for new information

 

The research agenda for 2006

  1. Long Term Rotation Trial
  2. Main Season Wheat Variety Trial (CWFS)
  3. Barley Variety Trial (DPI Neil Fettell & CWFS)
  4. Small Stripe Rust Trial (CWFS)

The research agenda in the past

In 1999 the Weethalle Regional Site group established a farming systems demonstration to satisfy the questions of local farmers. These questions were: Is continuously cropping sustainable? Will herbicide resistant weeds become an issue with continuous cropping? What crop rotations are the most profitable? What is happening to nitrogen in the rotations? What impact does continuous cropping have on soil chemistry and soil water levels?

The Farming Systems demonstration is located 17km north of Weethalle along the Kikiora Road on the Rutledge family property, "Anona". The demonstration occupies an area of approximately 4.0 hectares and it consists of six farms which employ different crop rotations. Each farm is 100m long and 20m wide - as a demonstration the farms are not replicated. The 6 farmers are:

  • Farm 1 is the traditional phase farming system. Lucerne is long fallowed in June then sown to wheat the following May. The next crop is milling oats and the block is then sown out to lucerne pasture.
  • Farm 2 has a continuous cropping wheat-fallow rotation. Both phases are represented each year. The wheat has 100kg urea applied pre-plant each year. Following harvest the stubble is maintained on the fallow for 15 months (until April), then it is burnt and cultivated prior to sowing.
  • Farm 3 is continuous cropping, rotating wheat with a winter pulse. To date we have used lupins because they cost about the same as wheat to grow, lupins are easy to harvest and management of insect pests in lupins is rather easy compared to other pulse crops.
  • Farm 4 is continuous cereal cropping, alternating between wheat and milling oats. Due to land limitations and our weed management plan only one phase is represented each year.
  • Farm 5 is continuous cereal cropping, alternating between wheat and milling oats with 100kg Urea/ha applied pre-plant each year.
  • Farm 6 is continuous ley farming, where wheat rotates with a subclover ley.

To view the results from this demonstration please go to the 2003-2004 Annual Research Compendium paper.

  • Weethalle Farming Systems Demonstration

Other research and a summary of their results, conduced by the Weethalle Regional Site group since 1999 include:

1999

  • Removal of lucerne by herbicides - this trial evaluated a range of herbicides for their ability to kill established lucerne in an autumn fallow situation. The herbicides which successfully removed the majority of lucerne plants were Lontrol, MCPA amine and Tordon. MCPA amine was the most cost effective option if the survival of an odd lucerne plant could be tolerated.
  • Wheat tillage demonstration - the aim of this trial was to investigate the impact of 4 tillage treatments on wheat yields. In this trial the traditional tillage system produced the highest grain yield (3.6 t/ha) whilst the direct drilled treatment produced the lowest yield (2.98 t/ha). The tillage treatment did not affect the grain quality in terms of protein and screenings.

2000

  • Effect of seeding rate (40, 80 and 120 kg/ha) and fertiliser rate (40, 80 and 100 kg/ha MAP) on Cunningham wheat - this trial revealed a general increase in wheat yields as both the seeding rate and fertiliser rate increased. There was no effect of seeding rate or fertiliser rate on the protein, screenings or test weight of Cunningham wheat.
  • Effect of Tillage and Stubble retention on the performance of cereal crops - the aim of this trial was to evaluate a range of tillage systems in the 400 to 450 mm rainfall zone of the south western wheat belt of NSW. The five tillage systems investigated were:
    1. Stubble retention - direct drill into standing stubble
    2. Stubble incorporation - work once incorporating stubble with chisel plough
    3. No-till - burn stubble and direct drill
    4. Reduced tillage - burn stubble and chisel plough once
    5. Traditional seedbed - burn stubble and 2 to 4 workings
  • The results from this trial, over 3 years, found that the reduced tillage system produced the same wheat yields and gross margins to the traditional tillage system, whilst the other tillage systems had lower yields and gross margins.

2001

  • Ley cropping demonstration - in this demonstration sub clover, vetch and oats were sown in 1998. In 1999 these plots were split into grazed out and hay making plots. In 2000 the six treatments were sown to wheat and in 2001 they were sown to milling oats. The results of this demonstration highlighted the importance of early sowing to maximise the potential for nitrogen utilisation.
  • Silverleaf nightshade demonstration - the aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of herbicides on silverleaf nightshade. The results of the trial have sown that with the use of herbicides the plant population can be reduced from 331 stems in 200 m2 in the control, where no herbicides are used, to 40-100 stems per 200 m2 with the use of herbicides.

2002

  • All trials failed due to the drought.

2003

  • Weethalle Farming Systems Demonstration - details of this trial are given above.
  • Canola seeding rate trial - failed due to the drought.
  • Timing of nitrogen application in canola - failed due to the drought.

2004

  • Canola seeding rates - the aim of this trial is to investigate the yield and oil content of canola at various seeding rates.
  • Nitrogen nutrition of canola - the aim of this trial is to investigate the effect of various rates of nitrogen on canola yields and oil content.
  • Row spacing in wheat - the aim of this trial is to investigate the effect of row spacing on the yield and grain quality of wheat.
  • Row spacing in canola - the aim of this trial is to investigate the effect of row spacing on the yield and oil content of canola.
  • Row spacing in lupins - the aim of this trial is to investigate the effect of row spacing on the yield of lupins.
  • Row spacing in milling oats - the aim of this trial is to investigate the effect of row spacing on the yield and quality of milling oats.