Eastern Riverina grain grower Robert Trethowan got a pleasant surprise when he put the header into his triticale crop this week. The first paddock of a 142ha crop of Bogong triticale averaged 6.86 tonnes/ha. and peaked at 8.3 tonnes/ha on his Morven property, Morveena. The triticale had a test weight of 77.7kg/hectolitre, compared to the minimum industry standard of 65kg/hectolitre. “Going into harvest I thought the crop would yield around 5t/ha so it has been very surprising,’’ Mr Trethowan said.

This was achieved on a low input program using TM Agricultural, an organic registered bio-stimulant product produced by Best Farming Systems, and in a dry spring. Robert and his wife Gayle sold their property at Urana to downsize. And bought Morveena at Morven NSW in early 2014. The sandy loam soils at Morveena had been sown to both a clover based pasture and a cereal crop in 2013. The cereal crop had been frosted and cut for hay.

“I applied a pre-sowing spray of 250mls/ha of TM Ag in a tank mix with 1.5 litres/ha of Roundup in mid May for ryegrass and wild oat control.’’ Mr Trethowan said. “We direct drilled the triticale at 80kg/ha with 80kg/ha DAP into soil moisture with a John Deere 1590 single disc combine on an 18.75cm row spacing.’’ A second application of TM was applied as an in-crop spray with a herbicide for ryegrass, wild oats and broadleaf weeds. The crop was top dressed with 80kg/ha of urea in late August.

Triticale Crop

The triticale was contracted to Blairs Produce, Walla Walla. Blairs grain buyer Sean Blair was impressed with the consistent test weight of the crop. Mr Blair said the Eastern Riverina harvest had been good. With no evidence of frosting, yields of 3-5 tonnes/ha in barley, wheat grading up to AH2 and low screenings des. Mr Trethowan selected Bogong after being impressed by its performance in the region. An early to mid season variety, Bogong is acid tolerant, has good resistance to lodging and high yield potential. Mr Trethowan said straw strength was excellent with no lodging. And there had been no frost damage. “Even though we had a tight finish, the crop was still yielding 3.5 tonnes/ha around the base of trees.’’ he said.

He puts the crop health and yield down to the use of TM Ag. “I started using TM about seven years ago – it made the soil softer and definitely helped with our input costs. But a run of tough years and frosts often limited yield,’’ he said. “The TM is easy to apply, just put the water in your spray tank and go for it. It mixes with every chemical I’ve ever used. “I definitely think the TM has helped. The stubble is big and bulky, the root mass was good, and the soil nice and soft.’’

Mr Trethowan has been using his John Deere 9870 STS, fitted with a 12m front, auto steer and yield mapping, to contract harvest crops at Lockhart, Pleasant Hills and Cookardinia. “At Lockhart, yields were disappointing due to frost and low rainfall. But as you go further east, they got better,’’ he said. “At Pleasant Hills, they were fantastic crops but ran out of moisture and didn’t quite finish.’’ Mr Trethowan plans to graze prime lambs on the triticale stubble. Before applying a pre-sowing spray of TM Ag in autumn and sow triticale again.

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