NSW producers considering late sowing barley in consideration of the dry start to winter have been advised to take paddock selection and seed quality into account.

With the lack of substantial winter rainfall, many growers have dry sown a proportion of their winter cereal crop and are now waiting on rain before committing to further plantings.

As the sowing window becomes later, growers are increasingly looking to barley as a late sowing option. In some cases this might also be to increase the level of stubble cover to reduce the risk of erosion and runoff in bare paddocks.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Research Agronomist, Rick Graham said barley is considered a lower fertiliser input crop, which is seen as more adaptable and tolerant of short seasons, in comparison to spring wheat varieties.

“When deciding to late sow, growers need to take into account paddock selection and history as the impact of potential weed problems and any sub-soil constraints are likely to be amplified in a dry season.

“Growers will need to consider seed quality, particularly seed size and germination percentages, when looking at late sowing options and adjust seeding rates accordingly,” said Rick.

Growers currently have access to a number of late sowing/early maturing barley variety options, which are photoperiod sensitive, enabling them to speed up development when sown later.

To read the full article visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/media-centre/releases/2018/considerations-for-late-sown-barley-crops.

Wool held over for the new selling season was significant this week, with 43,880 bales offered.

The softer market tone that was evident in the previous sale, was apparent from the outset and corrections were felt across the entire merino spectrum.

As is often the case in a falling market, it was off-style types, wools with poor additional measurement results and those carrying excessive VM that were most affected. By the end of the week prices had generally fallen by 50-90 cents, with some off-style types over 120 cents cheaper.

The NRI lost 62 cents for the series, closing at 2026. Many sellers were reluctant to accept the reduction in prices, lifting the national passed in rate to over 15%.

Skirtings also suffered large corrections, prices generally fell by 50-100 cents, however oddments attracted excellent support, with most types only 5-15 cents weaker.

Next week is the final sale before the annual three-week recess. Quantities have slightly reduced, currently there are 41,431 bales rostered.

Source AWEX

30,439 bales were offered to the trade and strong demand was evident from the outset. The majority of the merino spectrum was swept further into record territory and by the final hammer prices had generally risen by 40-60 cents, leaving the NRI 43 cents dearer at 2,076.

The skirting market behaved very similarly to the fleece, small impurities e.g. colour or cott, were basically overlooked as buyers scrambled to secure meaningful quantity. Prices generally increased by 40-80 cents, wools finer than 18 micron and those carrying less than 4% vegetable matter recording the largest gains.

The crossbred sector had another week of mixed results, 30 to 32 micron again failed to attract strong support and recorded little movement. 25 to 28 microns on the other hand, were strongly contested, pushing prices up by 25-55 cents. A limited offering of oddments received solid support, which was reflected in the three carding indicators rising by over 11 cents.

Next week will see 27,270 bales rostered for sale Nationally. Source AWEX

A greedy Senepol/Angus cross steer has recorded a whopping 4.6kg daily weight gain during the Callide Dawson Beef Carcase Competition in Queensland, the highest mid-term weight gain in its 30 year history.

The 24-month-old steer, one of three entered by first time exhibitors Clayton and Sarah Maynard, Southern Star Rural, Canowindra NSW, currently leads the pack of 143 competition steers at the 53 day mark of their feedlot preparation.

Senepols are leading the way for breed results too with the top four exhibits doing 3.41kg/day, ahead of the overall competition average of 2.87kg/day.

Owner Clayton Maynard from Canowindra, integrated Senepols alongside a composite breeder herd when he began his operation eight years ago, with this indulgent steer sired by 5 Star 130509.

Clayton credited genetic selection as the secret to the steer’s surprising success having been a middle of the range animal when he left for the competition.

“At the time I didn’t think this particular steer was a stand out, he wasn’t an overly big calf and was middle of the range for weight,” he said.

“I think we are doing a good job, but entering a competition like this provides positive afirmation on the decisions we have made. I think that’s vital for decision making down the track.”

A selection of quality Senepol and Senepol/ Angus and Senepol/Charolais bulls are available for sale from Southern Star Rural in Canowindra. Call Clayton Maynard on 0439 029 204 for more information.

This week saw the Northern region market close at 1892 (down 16) cents, the tone did however turn positive by the end of the sale, and so much so, that the Western Region recorded gains of 15-30 cents for the day. The selection continues to consist of many lower yielding, poorer style wools, which buyers are struggling to average into their purchases.

The skirting market had a steady week with not much movement recorded, although there was strong interest in wools carrying less than 3% VM and those possessing excellent AM results.

After being the best performing sector in recent weeks, the crossbred market lost ground for the first time in five weeks. The broadest microns were hardest hit, with 30 micron dropping by 35 cents and 32 micron falling 10- 20 cents.

There were minimal movements in the oddments, with the exception being the Western region where corrections brought prices back into alignment with the Eastern states.

Quantities reduce next week, currently 38,292 bales are forecast for sale.

Source AWEX

The 2018 Winter crop variety sowing guide is available. The aim of this annually updated guide is to help grain growers and their advisers make better cropping decisions and higher profits from winter crops.

Download the guide at https://www.dpi. nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/ guides/publications/winter-crop-varietysowing- guide.

 

Aussie farmers struggling to keep on top of pests and weeds will have access to a wider range of chemicals thanks to a $1.78 million Coalition Government investment.

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, David Littleproud said the third round of the Agvet Chemicals Grants Program would deliver 26 grants to address a range of priority uses.

“We need to give farmers the tools to stay ahead of the game and do what they do best, farm,” the Minister said. “This round will unlock access to a range of chemicals which include applications for fodder beets in the dairy industry, mushrooms, green tea, quinoa and papaya.”

“These include Targo to manage mites in cocoa crops, Sero-X to manage mirids in lucerne crops, Vivado to manage cobwebs in mushrooms and Amistar to manage leaf blight in sweet corn.”

“The previous two rounds of the program awarded 100 grants to RDC applicants totalling $4.11 million and have already resulted in improved chemical access.”

For more information, visit agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/ag-vetchemicals/improved-accessagvet-chemicals/agvetassistance-grants.