Southern Farming Systems in Gippsland has been holding a series of ute drives this winter, giving local farmers the opportunity to discuss issues being faced in the paddocks.
The most recent was held in the Giffard/Dutson Downs area.
The waterlogging situation that many in Gippsland have faced in the past few months has further highlighted the need to plan nutrient applications.
Some farmers are now helping their crops come out of the very wet period by flying on nitrogen fertiliser.
For the last few years at SFS’ Bairnsdale trial site, the application of nitrogen has helped cereal trials withstand an extended wet period by encouraging new growth. There was also discussion on the need for micronutrients that are deficient in our Gippsland soils.
Waterlogging has possibly emphasised some of these deficiencies in the crops we observed. To fix this, we need to quantify the correct timing of applications.
Nutrients in the soils of east Gippsland is the one of the focus areas of the topsoils project, where SFS collaborates with the East Gippsland CMA, the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Landcare networks and Greening Australia.
Over the past two years, partners in this project have completed a soil and plant tissue testing program. This was to identify the status of nutrients in the east Gippsland soils and look at what was required to improve the productive potential of the farming land there.
The results highlighted the need to tissue test for micronutrients as a way of correctly identifying levels in the pastures and crops, as well as soil testing.
SFS, through the topsoils project, is establishing a demonstration site at Forge Creek to investigate soil and plant responses to application of limiting nutrients, also looking at the cost effectiveness of application.
The topsoils project is funded through the state government’s land health program and the federal government’s national Landcare program.
