Stirlings to Coast Farmers are pleased to be a part of a larger Grower Group Alliance led project examining agronomic factors for frost risk mitigation. Funded by GRDC, this project aims to build knowledge informing grower and advisor decisions relative to current seasonal events. A priority is to support and engage with growers inexperienced with frost and underprepared to manage effects on their profitability.

Project Background:

The Grower Group Alliance (GGA) will collaborate with grower groups, DPIRD and consultants to extend outcomes of previous frost R&D investments plus further develop knowledge around decisions relative to current seasonal events. In 2021 SCF will be hosting a demonstration trial to test the hypothesis that wheat is as profitable as barley, oats and break crops when phenology matches the optimum sowing time for areas at risk of frost.

TRIAL OBJECTIVES:

• Within a sowing window, compare the relative frost susceptibility of wheat, barley, oats and break crops in frost prone landscapes.

• To develop across a sowing program the most stable and profitable cereal production in frost prone landscapes.

Project METHODOLOGY:

Site Selection

A trial site has been selected on a frost prone soil type in a low lying part of the landscape at Amelup. The site was chosen due to host farmer observation that the paddock is frosted in most years.

Treatment List

Trial Layout

The trial will have two sowing times to highlight the value of matching crop phenology with the optimum sowing time. Living Farm will manage the small plot trial at Amelup, with SCF assisting with some of the trial observations and assessments. Senior research scientist Rebecca Smith from Living Farm will be presenting at the trial site during the 2022 growing season. Keep an eye out for what should be an excellent field walk later this year.

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