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In-season update – Mulwala, 8 August

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Riverine Plains Inc will host its annual In-season Update at the Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort on Thursday 8 August, 2019 from 9am – 1pm.

This all-important spring rainfall outlook will be delivered by Agriculture Victoria Seasonal Variability Agronomist, Dale Grey who will speak via videolink. Riverine Plains Inc Project Officer, Jane McInnes, will also provide a snapshot of current soil moisture availability, using data from the Riverine Plains weather station network, to help understand how much water is currently being held across the region’s soils.

James Manson from Southern Farming Systems will discuss the long-term economics and impact of harvest weed seed control techniques using results from a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) project (also involving Riverine Plains Inc).

Nick Ennis from Lawson Grains will also discuss the application of precision agriculture technologies for targeted soil amelioration.

Based on experiences from a recent trip to Canada and the US, Riverine Plains Research Coordinator, Dr Cassandra Schefe will also present her observations on cover cropping, soil research, regenerative agriculture as well as pulse research and development.

Dr Cassandra Schefe and Jane McInnes will also provide an update of Riverine Plains Inc current local research program, while Riverine Plains Inc Project Officer Kate Coffey will review the economic results from a GRDC project looking at applying sulphur to canola crops in southern NSW.

For catering purposes, pre-registrations for the In-Season Update must be received by 5 August 2018. Cost is $25 for Riverine Plains Inc members and $35 for non-members (payable online or on the day) and includes morning tea and lunch. To register, contact Fiona Hart at info@riverineplains.org.au or phone 03 5744 1713.

For further information, please download the In-season update 2019 Flyer.

After lunch a Soil Health Workshop will take place from 1.30pm – 3.30pm.  Farmers are invited to discuss the importance of soil health as well as how to improve the local relevance of soil improvement research. Further information is available via the Soil Health Workshop flyer.

New On-farm Weather Stations at Miepoll & Bungeet

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28 November, 2017

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Farmers in the Riverine Plains region now have free access to two additional weather stations and moisture probes, installed at Bungeet and Miepoll, as part of a project facilitated by local farming systems group, Riverine Plains Inc.

Riverine Plains Inc Research and Extension Officer, Dr Cassandra Schefe, explained that access to real-time weather information was important to help farmers manage their spray and fertiliser applications, harvest fire risk and also their response to damaging environmental events such as frost.

“Weather patterns, topography and soil types all vary across a region and while there are official BOM weather stations located at Shepparton, Yarrawonga, Wangaratta and Benalla, these may not reflect conditions at individual locations across the Goulburn Broken catchment” she said.

“Local weather stations, such as those recently installed at Bungeet and Miepoll, can act to fill the void across the region and work to help farmers save time when making decisions” she added.

The on-farm weather stations continuously record air temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed and direction: this data is then used to calculate Delta T for spraying, fire safety during grain harvest, as well as frost risk. Soil moisture probes installed at varying depth increments at the sites also provide information to help farmers monitor crop water use and fertiliser application.

The new weather stations at Bungeet and Miepoll complement Riverine Plains Inc’s existing weather stations located at Barooga, Berrigan, Culcairn, Henty, Howlong Lockhart, Pleasant Hills, Rand, Redlands, Dookie, Rutherglen Telford, Yabba and Yarrawonga.

Information from the Goulburn Broken CMA funded Bungeet and Miepoll weather stations, and the entire Riverine Plains Inc weather station network, is available for free public access via the weather page at riverineplains.org.au. Simply select the nearest location then save to your smartphone, tablet or computer.

The Miepoll and Bungeet weather stations were installed through the Improving fertiliser and chemical use through local real time weather and soil information for farmers of the productive plains project. The project was funded by Goulburn Broken CMA through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

For more information please contact Riverine Plains on (03) 5744 1713 or visit riverineplains.org.au.

Riverine Plains Inc is an independent farming systems group specialising in farmer driven research and extension across north-east Victoria and southern New South Wales. For more information, or to become a member, please visit www.riverineplains.org.au

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More Information or Interview:

Cassandra Schefe, Extension Officer, Riverine Plains (03 5744 1713 / 0419 238 798)