National Hay Agronomy project

Summary

The project is a four year investment by AgriFutures and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), Agriculture Victoria, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and Grower Groups.

Currently gaps exist in Australian export fodder agronomic and pathology knowledge (including hay variety responses to nutrition and plant density, effect of time of sowing on hay quality, impact of diseases on hay quality and yield, optimum timing of disease management intervention and the impact on return ($/ha) of these to name a few).

The project will provide growers with variety selection and nutrition advice. It will provide updated disease management guidelines for oaten hay crops based. It will assess the role of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) as a tool to manage lodging in high yielding environments.

Program

Export Fodder

Research organisation

Western Australian Agriculture Authority, a body corporate established under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007

Objective summary

This project aims to reduce the barriers to adoption of new varieties and agronomic practices by providing growers with research that enables a quick comparison between current and recommended practice. This will be achieved by presenting research in a format that clearly identifies the effect on yield (t/ha), quality (export specifications) and return ($/ha) in the target export fodder growing environments.

Key messages developed and delivered through this proposal will focus on supporting grower adoption (e.g. working with Exporters, regional and local agronomists, farm advisors and grower groups) to deliver a consistent message from regional field trials that compare agronomic practices).

The team will engage with the Fodder Industry across southern Australia via Regional Updates, Industry (i.e. AFIA) and Grower Group events, Spring Field Days, Focus on Fodder, and the regional media.