Farm Safety Workshops at Oaklands & Mulwala (19, 20 June)

Farm Safety Workshops

Are you aware of your work health and safety obligations?

The workshop will be presented by Safe Ag Systems and aims to provide participants with an understanding of their legal requirements and enable them to make an educated decision around what they may need to do on their own farms.

Topics covered include:

  • Legislation changes, in simple terms.
  • The common belief “I don’t need anything because I am a single operator, I don’t employ anyone”.
  • Why it’s difficult for farmers to apply the normal WHS methods found in other industries.
  • What are your options?
  • How Safe Ag Systems can help.

The workshop is being held in two locations:

Oaklands on Monday 19 June from 11am – 2pm  (see Oaklands Farm Safety Workshop Flyer)

Mulwala on Tuesday 20 June from 9.30am – 11.30am  (see Mulwala Farm Safety Workshop Flyer)

RSVP to Kate Coffey by email kate@riverineplains.org.au or phone 03 5744 1713.

Nitrogen Efficency Field Day- Tuesday 6 June

IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF NITROGEN APPLICATION

Nitrogen fertiliser is an expensive input and improving the efficiency of in-crop applications can save money and boost production. To help farmers maximise the response to applied nitrogen, local farming systems group Riverine Plains Inc is holding a drop-in Nitrogen Efficiency Field Day at Henty on Tuesday 6 June.

“When it comes to improving the efficiency of nitrogen fertiliser uptake in broadacre crops, one of the simplest things we can do is to ensure our spreading equipment is working as it is designed to” explains Riverine Plains Inc Extension Officer, Dr Cassandra Schefe.

“Many fertiliser spreaders distribute fertiliser unevenly, which can then lead to unevenness in crop growth, development and maturity.  Calibrating equipment helps achieve a more even fertiliser throw, which can then improve yield potential” said Cassandra.

To demonstrate calibration techniques, Russell Nichol, a Fertcare registered calibration specialist, will calibrate 4 machines including an Amazone ZAM Ultra Profis, an Amazone Profis 3600L, Amazone ZA-M 1501 3-point linkage and a Landaco TS10000 trailing spreader.

As he works, Russell will discuss his techniques so that farmers can use them on their own equipment.

Another way to improve efficiency is by timing fertiliser applications to avoid nitrogen losses.

“A proportion of applied nitrogen fertiliser can be lost to the atmosphere as nitrous oxide gas, particularly when conditions are extremely wet. These losses reduce the efficiency with which applied nitrogen can be used by the plant” says Michael Straight from FAR Australia.

“We have just finished a project looking at nitrous oxide emissions in cereal crops, and now have a better understanding of how nitrogen applications can be timed to improve plant nitrogen uptake efficiency, and will be presenting these findings on the day” said Michael.

The day will begin at 9:30am at Peter Campbell’s property “Avondale”, 452 Henty-Pleasant Hills Rd, Henty (Google Maps Reference 35°28’48.6″S 146°52’22.3″E). All are welcome and there is no cost to attend. Morning tea and lunch will be provided – please RSVP to assist with catering.

The day is being jointly held as part of the GRDC project Maintaining profitable farming systems with retained stubbles in the Riverine Plains region, as well as by the Management strategies for improved productivity and reduced nitrous oxides emissions project, supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources as part of its Action on the Ground program.

For further information please see the Nitrogen Efficiency Field Day Flyer 2017 or contact Riverine Plains Inc on 03 5744 1713 or info@riverineplains.org.au.

New publication: Soil Carbon In Cropping Systems

Riverine Plains Inc has just released Soil carbon in cropping systems, which is a new publication designed to help the region’s farmers better understand soil carbon and the role it plays in crop production systems.

The report summarises the key findings from the Riverine Plains Inc managed project Increased soil carbon by accelerated humus formation from crop residues (2012-2015), which specifically aimed to evaluate the potential for soil carbon to be increased by adding stubble residues and nutrients to soils during the summer fallow period.

While the final results from the research trials conducted at Rutherglen, Tocumwal and Culcairn were largely inconclusive when it came to building soil carbon levels from stubble (due to the short-term nature of the project), many other important practical, scientific and economic lessons were learnt along the way. Soil carbon in cropping systems brings together these key lessons, along with farmer case studies and soil science to help local farmers better understand their soil resource.

Soil Carbon in Cropping Systems was funded by the Sustainable Agriculture Victoria — Fast Tracking Innovation Initiative, made possible with the support of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) together with the William Buckland Foundation.

Increased soil carbon by accelerated humus formation from crop residues (2012-2015) was funded through the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture Action on the Ground program with support from project partners: Murray Local Land Services, the North East Catchment Management Authority and the Victorian Irrigated Cropping Council. The  Increased soil carbon by accelerated humus formation from crop residues project

Please follow the link to download a copy of Soil carbon in cropping systems. Alternatively, please contact Riverine Plains Inc on 03 5744 1713 or email info@riverineplains.org.au to order a hard copy version (limited quantity available).