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Demos and trials
BioAg continues to participate in ongoing demonstrations with growers and independent trials where needed. The coming season is no
different, with both long term trials and demos in pastures being planned or continued. We are part way through a 3 year wheat and canola trial using a liquid biostimulant program, as part of Farmlink programs being run at Temora. Initial observations have been promising.
Building a feed wedge
While this season’s rainfall has extended pasture growth; it is traditional that livestock operations start to run short of good pasture any time from late summer through to late winter. Spring reserves are grazed down, while cold weather reduces the amount of new vegetative growth.
Post-harvest – a key period for orchards and vineyards
Post-harvest is an important period for perennial tree crops and vines. This is when carbohydrates and nutrient reserves (like nitrogen) are replenished prior to dormancy. These reserves are then used at bud or flower burst and the start of the next season.
Post-harvest applications of nutrients and biostimulants ensure adequate levels of nutrients are available and accessed by your trees or vines. Application immediately after harvest also avoids the rush or non-application of required nutrients later in the season due to overly wet conditions.
Area Manager focus – Slobodan Vujovic
Slobodan Vujovic recently joined BioAg as Area Sales
Manager for SE Victoria and Tasmania. He has over twenty-five years experience in Australian agricultural industries within government research organisations, various primary industry associations and the private sector. Slobodan has extensive knowledge in general agronomy, soil health, pest and disease management, ag bio-security, and irrigation.
BioAg program underpins oaten hay success
Colin Falls is a fourth-generation farmer with a property at
Dingee, Victoria, that has been in his family for over 100 years.
Over the last 20 years, Colin, in partnership with his son Jacko,
has been working with BioAg and hence has an excellent frame of reference to base his observations.
Powered by Watts
Antony Isles, a BioAg client of 10 years, is delighted that his 2,500 acre ‘Green Trees’ property at Black Springs, south of Oberon, is powered by Watts, not Amps. Watts being BioAg Agent Andrew Watt. Andrew and his wife Rhonda have been working with BioAg for 22 years,
overseeing clients like Antony and helping him turn this run-down farm into a fodder producing Cattle property.
Duck island connection
There is a natural connection between Duck Island and BioAg. We both question convention and apply solutions to problems based on evidence. Duck Island is a large grazing property in the Upper South East of South Australia, situated on the saline soils of the Ninety Mile Desert.
Capital P in Broadacre Cropping and Pasture
In broadacre cropping and pasture, the last two seasons in Victoria and New South Wales have been exceptional. As a result, when considering your fertiliser requirements for 2022, it is important to consider the amount of nutrients your crops or livestock have removed. Phosphorus is a critical nutrient for high yielding crops and pastures. It is typically tightly bound in soils
P fertilisers’ continued price rise
In our Spring newsletter, we discussed the increasing prices of phosphate fertilisers. Prices have continued to climb, and from what we hear, starter fertiliser is now over $1,500 per tonne, and SSP is over $600 per tonne.
BioAg program improves citrus crop yield
A Riverina citrus grower has been convinced that a biological approach to soil improvement is a safer, cost-efficient, and sustainable method of horticultural production. In an established orchard that Russell Vardanega acquired several years ago, yields were reduced with; inhibited crop growth, insignificant canopy coverage, small leaves with evident nutrient deficiencies and a low rate of new growth and poor numbers of generative organs. These factors resulted in a dramatic yield reduction achieving only 10-15 t/ha, compared to a potential yield for planted varieties (Navels and Valencias) of 50 t/ha.
Farewell to Ivan Mitchell
Ivan Mitchell, one of two agents who have been with BioAg for our entire journey since the company was founded in 1999, retired at the end of June. He leaves a number of long-term customers who have been with him, some for the entire 22-year period, and they are as sad as we are to see him go.
Clean coastal catchments project
BioAg is participating in the Livestock Fertiliser Stewardship Group for the NSW Government funded Clean Coastal Catchments (CCC) project. The project addresses the management of excess flows of fertiliser, nutrients, and effluent into our coastal waterways and how this can be reduced. It is being run and coordinated by the NSW DPI over a ten-year lifespan, ending in 2028.
Maximising nutrient use efficiency
Prices for most agricultural commodities and inputs are close to record highs. As such, it pays to maximise the effectiveness of crop nutrients that you apply, be it a winter crop, summer crop or perennial system. This is referred to as maximising Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE).
Improving your broadacre crops
In broadacre cropping, fungicides are sprayed to reduce the impact of disease in growing crops. This provides an obvious benefit to a crop, but it is possible to get added benefit by feeding and stimulating the crop at the same time as applying the fungicide.
High cost Phosphorus in 2022 season
International fertiliser prices remain high. At the time of writing, domestic prices are over $900 per tonne of MAP or DAP. It means the cost of chemical fertilisers will be high for autumn pasture applications and crop sowing. At these prices, growers need to be aware of the cost of P lock up with water-soluble fertilisers and the alternatives available.
How to get more from your Lucerne
Lucerne is a versatile crop. With adequate soil moisture, it provides good grazing and feed quality. With spring in the air, it’s time to start planning, whether it be for hay and/or seed production. The first key step is understanding your soil nutrient status. A soil test is a low-cost and highly effective management tool that will identify impediments to your production goals.
Choosing Phosphate fertiliser
This season many growers will invest in fertilisers and for growers who have experienced great crops, fodder or livestock production, there will be a need to replenish soil nutrients. When it comes to applying phosphorus to soils there are numerous fertilisers available. At BioAg our range of natural phosphate fertilisers are based on our microbially digested reactive phosphate rock – BioAgPhos.
2020 Crop case study
Agostino Galluzzo, owner and manager of Galluzzo Produce in the Riverina, operates a mixed farming enterprise including sheep, beef, pigs and irrigated and dryland cropping. As a former potato and onion grower, Agostino is fully aware of the importance of soils in delivering optimal yields.
The importance of BioAg, even in a good year
When planting his 2020 canola crop, Andy trialled Soil & Seed in one test paddock and there was a noticeable difference in root development as the crop emerged. Balance & Grow was later applied to the same paddock, and that particular crop continued ahead of other paddocks although there wasn’t an immediate transformation after this application. At about 15% flowers, Andy applied Fruit & Balance to the test paddock, and reported that they kept a better, brighter colour while flowering when compared to other areas on the farm.
Setting up for success in 2021
Last season’s harvests were some of the best-experienced across the market. The downside is that the harvested grains and cereals will have drawn down on your soil nutrients. Having completed soil tests many growers will have observed this in their results and will be considering the next steps.
Setting key milestones in planning 2021
Planning the future activities and needs of the farm, and for future crops, is a key part of managing risk and providing the best opportunity for maximised returns. Each year set achievable targets and milestones of your own, such as: