HOW CONSULTANTS DIAGNOSE CROP PERFORMANCE…………….. BACKGROUND CW to WP of NSW No summer cropping/mixed farms Spring………….. This century……………… Keep it simple

NYNGAN RAINFALL

Major constraints to production.. Moisture/weather – winter crops only Cash flow – last 10 years – now in “Recovery mode” Farmers attitudes – attitude to risk/skill set (timeliness) Variable soil type Stubble cover – pulses, hard setting soils Diseases – AB, CR, YLS, RLN Herb resistance/hard to kill weeds Suitable varieties Time………..

HOW CONSULTANTS DIAGNOSE CROP PERFORMANCE…………….. Diagnosis starts before the crop is sown: – Soil testing – Soil moisture levels – Rotational planning – Crop choice – Variety choice – Grower diagnosis!

Yield – few surprise (except canola) Quality Disease loading – CR GM’s Comparative analysis (PAM) Yield maps HOW CONSULTANTS DIAGNOSE CROP PERFORMANCE – POST HARVEST……………..

Tools used at the moment.. Most important – time & eyes & coffee! Shovel Moisture probe – limited role of WUE at harvest Soil testing Tissue testing Planning – rotation, nutrition budgets, stubble loads GM’s/CA Skill level

Tools used at the moment.. Pathology services – not really up to scratch Local DA’s Local networks Local trial results - GOA No models used Reading personality types! Selling skills!

Sowing decision… Starting moisture Crop the previous year – any moisture left at depth? Disease status – testing Crop choice : – no canola unless full v chickpeas – Crop mix Variety choice – – Which one? – How much stubble will be left? – Which can be sown deep – Which one copes with lower moisture levels?

Tools would like in the future.. More accurate weather forecasting Better understanding of canopy management (to cope with our hot springs, growth regulants) More accurate starting soil moisture methods Simpler/more accurate/cheaper soil tests Varieties - highest yielding not always the best PA – will have a role – Cheaper sat/aerial imagery – Greenseeker Frost tolerant wheat World peace………….