Earlier this year we reported the good news that the Lower Eyre Agricultural Development Association (LEADA) had been successful in securing funding from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) for its project aimed at improving the water use efficiency of farming systems on Lower Eyre Peninsula.

One way that LEADA is tackling this challenge is through a field research program targeting a range of canola and malting barley agronomic issues.  The SARDI Crop Improvement research team in Port Lincoln completed sowing of field trials at a number of sites on Lower EP by the end of May for this program.

As we had last year, a major LEADA Focus trial and demonstration site has been established near Cummins, thanks to the kind cooperation of the Burns family.  This 2 ha site is clearly visible from the Tod Highway, about 5 km south of Cummins, and promises to be a hive of research activity through the coming months.

Canola trials at this site have been determined in conjunction with GRDC’s “Better Canola” program, and will look at effects of seeding rate, seed size and farmer retained versus commercial canola seed.  Another trial here will investigate the grazing potential of canola, by cutting a range of varieties at late cabbage stage and comparing final seed yield with uncut controls.  The value of Jockey® seed dressing for blackleg suppression in a range of canola varieties will be assessed in a trial at the Cummins site, and repeated at Wanilla and Yeelanna.

Alternative oilseeds to canola, namely linseed and mustard (canola oil quality and biodiesel types), have also been sown at the LEADA Cummins site.

Canola varieties for the southern EP are being evaluated in a joint trial at Wanilla with the Cummins Landmark agronomy research team.

Barley trials established at the Cummins Focus site and at Butler include an investigation of nitrogen management for malting barley production and a comparison of fungicide spray strategies for spot form of net blotch control.  Trials at Wanilla and Greenpatch will attempt to shed light on the frustrating problem of black tip in barley, and a harvest grain survey is also planned to assist this.

Other trials at the LEADA Cummins site include variety comparisons of wheat and a range of pulse crops, as well as pasture legumes and grasses.

A LEADA field day will be held in spring to allow growers to see and hear about the work in progress, and give you the opportunity to comment on management issues you would like to see targeted in the research and demonstration program in future.

In the meantime, if you would like more information on the LEADA field trial program, please contact either Kieran Wauchope at the Port Lincoln Rural Solutions SA office on 8688 3409, or Jo Crouch or me at the SARDI Field Crop Improvement Centre in Port Lincoln, on 8688 3431.

AUTHOR: Jim Egan, Senior Research Agronomist, SARDI
CONTACT: Jim Egan, SARDI Field Crop Improvement Centre Port Lincoln, Telephone 8688 3431 or Email egan.jim@saugov.sa.gov.au