Managing Frost Risk: A guide for Southern Australian Grains
Despite minimum temperatures increasing on average, frost is here to stay, according to Chief Authors of the GRDC-funded Managing Frost Risk: A guide for Southern Australian Grains, SARDI’s Melissa Rebbeck and Garren Knell of WA-based ConsultAg.
“Even with climate change, it’s the extremes in weather we need to be concerned about,” Melissa said.
“With crops flowering earlier into known `frost windows’ and changing agronomic practices, we have seen some of the most devastating frosts in the last five years.
“There is no magic bullet for frost risk but this guide shows that informed choices on sowing times, crop selection and soil treatments can make a difference.”
Kapunda farmer and Chair of the GRDC Southern Regional Panel, David Shannon, told the forum the frost risk guide was a watershed.
“The book covers the full spectrum from understanding and estimating exposure of crops to frost risk, to identifying weather patterns implicated, to practical agronomic approaches to lessen the risk of frost damage and ways of dealing with frost-damaged crops,” David said.
“It’s well-grounded, capturing more than a million dollars worth of GRDC-funded field work in SA, WA and Victoria.
“Incorporated are the results of farmer surveys and insights from the country’s leading frost researchers responsible for driving the SA and WA GRDC funded projects.
“The authors have paid attention to the specifics – for example the links between sowing times, yield, crop maturity and the risk of exposure of crop flowering times to known frost windows.”
Mr Shannon said the book was loaded with handy look up tables such as one that rates the success of attempted frost reduction approaches from soil treatments to blending varieties.
“Results from grower-led research involving soil surface treatments by clay delving or spreading will be of interest,” he said.
“Field research has confirmed such soil treatments can increase soil moisture, which in turn aids heat retention, and it’s possible to reduce the risk of frost damage by up to a very useful 80%.
“A helpful section covers how to identify frost-damaged crops so that quick decisions can be made to lessen the financial impact and recover the business.
“The more tools and information, the better equipped the grains industry will be to minimise the risk.”
This book is available from Roseworthy Information Centre or your local PIRSA/ Rural Solutions SA office. Struan - 8762 9100, Keith - 8755 3166, Mt Gambier - 8735 1300
“Even with climate change, it’s the extremes in weather we need to be concerned about,” Melissa said.
“With crops flowering earlier into known `frost windows’ and changing agronomic practices, we have seen some of the most devastating frosts in the last five years.
“There is no magic bullet for frost risk but this guide shows that informed choices on sowing times, crop selection and soil treatments can make a difference.”
Kapunda farmer and Chair of the GRDC Southern Regional Panel, David Shannon, told the forum the frost risk guide was a watershed.
“The book covers the full spectrum from understanding and estimating exposure of crops to frost risk, to identifying weather patterns implicated, to practical agronomic approaches to lessen the risk of frost damage and ways of dealing with frost-damaged crops,” David said.
“It’s well-grounded, capturing more than a million dollars worth of GRDC-funded field work in SA, WA and Victoria.
“Incorporated are the results of farmer surveys and insights from the country’s leading frost researchers responsible for driving the SA and WA GRDC funded projects.
“The authors have paid attention to the specifics – for example the links between sowing times, yield, crop maturity and the risk of exposure of crop flowering times to known frost windows.”
Mr Shannon said the book was loaded with handy look up tables such as one that rates the success of attempted frost reduction approaches from soil treatments to blending varieties.
“Results from grower-led research involving soil surface treatments by clay delving or spreading will be of interest,” he said.
“Field research has confirmed such soil treatments can increase soil moisture, which in turn aids heat retention, and it’s possible to reduce the risk of frost damage by up to a very useful 80%.
“A helpful section covers how to identify frost-damaged crops so that quick decisions can be made to lessen the financial impact and recover the business.
“The more tools and information, the better equipped the grains industry will be to minimise the risk.”
This book is available from Roseworthy Information Centre or your local PIRSA/ Rural Solutions SA office. Struan - 8762 9100, Keith - 8755 3166, Mt Gambier - 8735 1300
ph.1300 364 322
Last Updated: October 31, 2007