Northern Victorian grain grower Murray Gilby has slashed his fertiliser bill in half and increased grain yield and profit after switching to a soil rejuvenator. Mr Gilby, of Kotupna, has also been able to reduce screenings in cereal crops and cut fungicides and insecticides from the agronomic program after using the organically certified TM Agricultural. “We are on a mission to reduce inputs by as much as we can,’’ he said. “There has been a huge saving in fertiliser. Up front, the bill this year is $25,500 – down from $67,000.’’

The Farm

Murray, his wife Denise and son Colin farm “Jubilee Park’’, 1200ha of oilseed, cereal and pulse crops at Kotupna, east of Echuca. Bordering the Wakiti Creek, the property is set in a 450mm rainfall zone, comprises self mulching grey and red loams, and carries a 296 ML irrigation entitlement. For the past six years, the family has used TM Ag, which uses plant extracts to stimulate indigenous soil microbes.

Last year, average grain yields on dryland wheat and barley crops were up by one tonne a hectare on just 215mm of growing season rainfall. Screenings were less than one per cent. The TM Ag is applied pre and post sowing at 250mls/ha in conjunction with top-dressed liquid nitrogen. Single super is applied at 50kg/ha on barley, 80kg/ha on canola and 60kg/ha on wheat.

“We have gone from using pickles and in-furrow fungicides in the wheat and barley to none,’’ Mr Gilby said. “We have pushed our fertiliser inputs back to 50% or less and reduced nitrogen top dressing by 25%.’’

History – Switching from conventional

During the 1990s, high input crops were consuming up to 120kg/ha of DAP and MAP, while 100 litres/ha UAN was applied through the boom in two passes. “We were getting the yields but then they plateaued, and I began asking myself questions,’’ Mr Gilby said. “I knew there was something going on below the ground but wasn’t sure what. Soil tests were telling us there were massive amounts of phosphorous locked up and there was a trace element inbalance.’’

Mr Gilby had switched from conventional to no-till practices in 1989 by modifying the undercarriage of a G-series John Shearer combine set on a 35cm row spacing and trailing harrows. Through stubble retention, he was able to shift organic soil carbon from less than 1.0 to 2 per cent in three years. Mr Gilby spent almost four years visiting field days to find the answers on the soil deficiencies. He rejected various alternatives as they were unable to be tank mixed.

Where it all started

Six years ago, Murray and Colin came across Best Farming Systems and the TM Ag product at the Henty Machinery Field Days. “I was impressed by the fact TM Ag was a natural product which could be tank mixed with a herbicide,’’ Mr Gilby said. “I have done away with fungicides and insecticides to protect the beneficial insects so it appealed to me.

“We started on a big scale, treating 160ha of barley, wheat and canola with pre and post sowing applications of 250mls/ha. Half the paddock had TM Ag applied and the balance was the control. “At harvest we saw a yield increase of 200-300kg/ha in cereal crops and 200kg/ha in canola in a dry year.’’ Protein in the barley was 1-1.5 per cent less, just making into malt grade, while neighboring crops went 13.5 per cent or higher.

“We have seen remarkable differences. At sowing the soil conditions are good, fuel usage has reduced by 5-10 litres/hour. There is better seed and soil contact, and soil flows around the tynes rather than cracking,’’ Mr Gilby said. “The biggest thing is none of the wheat and barley exceeded 1% screenings, and there is none going out the back of the header either.’’

The Gilbys use a Horwood Bagshaw scaribar with press wheels and set on a 30cm row spacing in a zero-till system with full stubble retention. This year, they will sow 120ha of Sturt TT and ATR Stingray canola, 450ha of Ventura, Young and Scout wheat, 300ha of Commander and Hindmarsh barley, and 330ha of Kasper field peas.

Mr Gilby is out in the paddocks regularly with a shovel in hand checking soil structure. He said moisture infiltration and rooting depth had improved. “The hard pan has softened, reducing wear and tear on the machinery,’’ he said. “We are decreasing our carbon footprint which may open potential for future carbon trading.

“We may have no livestock on top of the ground but we have now got biology by the millions more than ever in the soil – it’s about sustainability and profitability.’’

Media Release By
Kim Woods | Director
Outcross Media | www.ogacreative.com.au
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