Securing the Future of the Lucerne Seed Industry

Summary

The Australian lucerne seed industry, while relatively small, plays a vital role in supporting broader pasture-based agricultural systems across the country. As a mature and technically demanding industry, it relies on a highly skilled network of growers, agronomists, researchers, seed marketers, entomologists, data analysts, and processing experts.

Due to its size, however, the industry has faced ongoing challenges in attracting and retaining agronomic advisors, which presents an urgent need to upskill the next generation of post-graduate researchers and agronomists to ensure continuity and capability in lucerne seed production.

Compounding this issue are growing agronomic challenges, including:
• The potential deregistration of diquat and paraquat, the only registered herbicides for winter cleaning of lucerne seed crops.
• Increasing pesticide resistance among key insect pests
• Deregistration of Chlopyrifos, limiting our insect pest management resources

Lucerne seed agronomy is a complex field that presents more challenges than traditional broadacre cropping. Factors such as limited chemical options, irrigation complexities, and a high pest burden make it uniquely demanding. As a result, the time required to gain adequate knowledge and confidence is significant – double the time generally required in broadacre and pasture agronomy.

Over the past decade, the industry—particularly through AgriFutures’ investment—has generated significant research in agronomy and entomology. However, there is now a need to ensure that this research is translated into practice and that new advisors and researchers are equipped to take the industry forward.

This project proposes a two-year development and extension program aimed at building the capacity of agronomists and researchers working in lucerne seed production. It will focus particularly on integrated pest management (IPM), including the control of lucerne seed wasp, while also addressing broader crop management challenges.

Program

Pasture Seeds

Research Organisation

Lucerne Australia Inc.

Objective Summary

By the end of the project, advisors and researchers working in the lucerne seed industry will be confidently applying best-practice crop management, including sustainable herbicide use and IPM strategies for lucerne seed wasp.