Field Day 2011 Report

Soil, seeds and success: how to get the most out of your farm.

As Dwight D. Eisenhower famously said: farming looks mighty easy when your plough is a pen, and you're a thousand miles from the cornfield.

However farmers understand only too well that farming can be a complicated and risky business that's becoming increasingly technical and is significantly impacted by global trends.
As Dwight D Eisenhower famously said: farming looks mighty easy when your plough is a pen, and you're a thousand miles from the cornfield.

However farmers understand only too well that farming can be a complicated and risky business that's becoming increasingly technical and is significantly impacted by global trends.

On Friday 14 October, over 100 of the region's farmers had the opportunity to get back to basics at Upper Murray Seeds' annual Field Day at Tooma Station, and learn about the latest trends in the fundamental ingredients for farming success: soil and seeds.

Tumut region agronomist Nathan Ferguson provided plenty of food for thought with his '5 Easy Steps' to making money from superphosphate, but with the emphasis on the phosphate (P) rather than the super.

In summary, Nathan's '5 Easy Steps' are:
• Soil testing each year to help monitor and manage soil fertility over a long period of time, using a repeatable sampling method and a single sampling point.
• Plot data over time and manage according to the trends that emerge from the data.
• Match P input to P output plus losses. Take into account stocking rates, product sold, the effects of erosion and stock camps.
• Set a soil target and a stocking rate target based on experience as well as benchmarks.
• Make sure your investment in livestock and fertiliser shows an acceptable return.

Agronomist Don Kirkpatrick's down-to-earth approach proved you don't need to be a rocket scientist to understand soil testing and reassured farmers that most of them intuitively know more about soil health than they think. He said: "It's a balancing act. You need to get all the elements of soil health more or less in balance to have productive soil. Don't over emphasise a few major components of your soil profile, the trace elements are important too."

Upper Murray Seeds' general manager Stewart Sutherland demonstrated the adverse effects of soil compaction on plant productivity and is a strong advocate of deep-ripping his farms on a rotating basis, where topography permits. He explains: "Our deep ripped canola crop is doing much better and has retained more soil moisture than the non-ripped crop. As for pasture, I can't believe how much greener the grass is (where paddocks have been deep-ripped prior to sowing) going into summer. We started off using a smaller tractor but we now use a 200hp tractor with dual wheels and set the tynes around 15-17 inches apart. We generally start ripping just after the first autumn break, before it gets too wet.

"For me, it's all about the '10 per centers', all the little things that add up to make a big difference. Maybe one in five years we waste the deep ripping because it's a wet season, but over 10 years we're going to be 100 per cent better off."

At the thriving pasture trial plots, Upper Murray Seeds' national sales manager Graham Martin, reminded onlookers that as in any business enterprise, ongoing success in farming stems from quality products and good planning. He said: "When it comes to selecting varieties forget the names, look at the germplasm or maturity. The highest price and best varieties need more inputs and sometimes better moisture levels, so they don't fit every situation. Most winter-active fescue on the market are good.... but we happen to think ours (Charlem) is the best! Do your research when it comes to what you are using the paddock for, there's not just one lucerne for all situations such as grazing and hay, although there are some that can do a bit of both."

To top off a great day out, Ian Miller from Jingellic took home a serious new Stihl chainsaw after NAB regional agribusiness manager Barry Membrey drew out his name, and 100-plus people tucked into a healthy lunch (courtesy of the Corryong College Parents' Club) under the shade of Tooma Station's century-old oak tree.