Welcome to our July
“The Paddock Post” 

It’s been another busy few weeks across the region, and there’s plenty coming up over the rest of winter. This edition includes details of upcoming workshops and field days, updates from current projects, and a few opportunities that may be worth a look. Take a few minutes to have a read, and if you’re heading along to one of the events, we look forward to seeing you there.

At the top of the page, you’ll find a series of clickable headings that allow you to jump straight to the sections that interest you, without having to scroll through the entire newsletter.

Information

• APVMA Paraquat changes
• Sheep and goat owners eID transition reminder
• Variable rate technology for nitrogen application to improve on-farm N use efficiency in a drying climate – a tutorial
• Podcast Corner

Good nutrient management is important both for profit and the environment! In this hands-on workshop organised by Oyster Harbour Catchment Group, attendees will explore how nutrients cycle on their farm and soil, and learn how to manage them more effectively. The day covers:

• Understanding nutrients and how they cycle – with a focus on N, K and S

• Why soil biology and healthy plants are essential for effective nutrient management

• The Nutrient Cycling Capacity of your soil

• The 5 Nutrient Buckets Model for thinking about and managing soil nutrients

• Using soil tests, tissue tests and visual diagnosis for assessing nutrients

• Integrated Nutrient management: the steps to success

• Options for managing nutrients – nitrogen, potassium and sulphur

A free morning tea and lunch are provided. Registration is essential. If possible please bring along a shovel full of your own soil!!

 For questions please contact Lorna McDonald ~ nrmo@ohcg.org.au

Products remain available, but use is now much more restricted and requires stricter safety measures to protect workers and the environment. Old labels will be phased out over a transition period (around 2 years for full implementation of some changes).

* Containers must now be compatible with closed mixing and loading systems to reduce user exposure during handling.

* Many uses removed — Only specific situations and lower application rates are retained (mainly certain pre-sowing, spot treatments, spray-topping in pulses, and desiccation uses).

* Stronger PPE requirements depending on application method (e.g. enclosed cabs for broadacre spraying, specific respirators like PF10/PF50, gloves, face shields, double clothing layers for hand wands).

* Daily exposure limits for hand-held spraying.

* Mandatory spray drift restraints and downwind buffer zones (often 100–325 m for sensitive areas like water bodies).

* Re-entry intervals added (0–11 days depending on rate and activity).

* Withholding periods clarified or added (e.g. 14 days harvest withholding for spray-topping certain pulses; grazing intervals for livestock and horses).

RATE CHANGES

Paraquat only products

– Aid to cultivation (crop, pasture or fallow establishment) up to 231 g ac/ha

– Fallows at rates up to 770 g ac/ha for optical spot sprayers (30% area treated)

– Firebreaks, non-agricultural situations (around sheds, roadways, paths) up to 1140 g ac/ha

– Peanuts at rates up to 231 g ac/ha

– Rice (post-sowing, pre-crop emergence) 200 g ac/ha

– Spray topping to reduce annual ryegrass seed set (select pulses) 200 g ac/ha

Combination products containing 115 g/L diquat and 135 g/L paraquat

– Aid to cultivation (crop, pasture or fallow establishment) up to 251 g acs/ha

– Market gardens, nurseries, pre-emergence weed control (vegetable crops) at rates up to 251 g acs/ha (Spot-spray only)

– Potatoes (early emergence general weed control) at rates up to 251 g acs/ha (Spot-spray only)

– Public service areas and rights of way 800 g acs/ha

From 1 July 2026, all sheep and goats leaving your property must be identified with an
eID tag.

Older stock born before 1 January 2025 can be identified with either a yellow eID or their year of birth colour eID tag if they were bred on your property. Stock not bred on your property, that don’t already have an eID tag, are identified with a pink post-breeder eID tag.

For more information, phone 1300 926 547, email eIDTeam@dpird.wa.gov.au or go to
dpird.wa.gov.au/eid-sheep-and-goats

Variable rate technology for nitrogen application to improve on-farm N use efficiency in a drying climate – a tutorial

Looking to improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce input costs? This practical video tutorial provides a simple, cost-effective introduction to implementing Variable Rate Technology (VRT) for nitrogen fertiliser application on-farm. Through a step-by-step approach, growers will learn how to begin using VRT to better match nitrogen rates to production zones across their property.

With nitrogen remaining one of the largest input costs in dryland farming, and ongoing global pressures influencing fertiliser prices, improving application efficiency is becoming increasingly important. VRT offers growers an opportunity to optimise fertiliser use, reduce unnecessary expenditure, and support more resilient farming systems, particularly in increasingly variable and drying seasonal conditions.

Watch the video to learn how VRT can help you make more informed nitrogen management decisions on your farm.

As always we would like to thank our sponsors for their contribution to the SCF community.