Quick links to projects

Caring for Our Country – SUBS

WNRM – SCIP5

GRDC – Profitable Crop Sequencing in WA

Grain & Graze II - Summer and Twin Sowing

Grain & Graze II - Integrating Livestock into No-Tillage Systems

Over the last 10 years the Facey Group farming community have witnessed a change in most mixed enterprise farming operations to focus more heavily on broad acre cropping.   The group’s trials and demonstrations have grown with this new outlook while promoting continued education and investigation into livestock development.

For more information on the Cropping or Sheep and Pastures arms of the group please follow the links.

Projects 2012

Caring for Our Country – SUBS

This is a one year project that is available to 5 Facey Group Members (a total of 25 farmers across the areas of Dumbleyung, Wagin-Woodanilling, Katanning, West Arthur and Wickepin)

The project provides an opportunity for growers to gain knowledge at sites on farm through use of EM and RM mapping and soil analysis as well as aid in interpretation of the collected data.

The information allows farmers to then undertake demonstrations of relevant interest relevant to their enterprise. Demonstrations are not specific however must take into account improving soil health (eg. soil acidification, soil carbon content and erosion).

As the progress takes off in 2012 we will be able to provide more specific information on the demonstrations tested and analysed.

Contact details:

Dumbleyung Landcare: 9863 4225

Wagin-Woodanilling Landcare: 9861 2222

Katanning Landcare: 9821 4327

West Arthur Landcare: 9736 2004

Facey Group: 9888 1223 or sac@faceygroup.asn.au

Project Completion Date: 2013

WNRM – SCIP5

The project aims to increase the knowledge of growers within the region in relation to wind erosion, water erosion, soil acidity and soil organic carbon. The project focuses on management changes farmers can employ to reduce the impact of erosion and increase the levels of soil organic carbon.

The project is broken into 3 key focus demonstrations:

Crop Rotation Demonstration

Commenced in 2011 with 2 sites (Yealering and Wickepin)

The demonstration sites have been set up with knowledge gained from the groups recent Rotations for Profit demonstration which ran for 7 years as a small plot trial. The aim of the Crop Rotation Demonstrations is to be of farmer scale and increase grower awareness about crop rotation and the effect on soil properties.

In 2011 the sites each planted (using farmer equipment) four plots of approx. 0.5ha of wheat, canola, lupins and brown manure. Monitoring has been completed throughout the year on the plots. In 2012 the sites are to be sown to a cereal and monitoring will continue during this year to establish rotation information.

Soil Acidity Demonstration focusing on Lime Application

To commence in 2012 at 2 sites (Yealering)

The demonstration sites were selected based on the ability to achieve a lime response and testing the stabilisation of the soil pH and therefore crop growth and soil stability.

The sites will all be applied with varying rates of lime up to 5/t ha and monitored for soil and pH response.

Biochar Demonstration

To commence in 2012 at 1 site (TBC)

A demonstration will be set up to determine the effectiveness of increasing soil carbon and soil stability through crop growth. The demonstration will be monitored following the completion of the project to fully understand the effect of Biochar on organic carbon and will further test the theory that Biochar is a suitable inhibitor of soil diseases and pests such as nematodes etc.

Project Completion Date: 29 March 2013

GRDC – Profitable Crop Sequencing in WA

Aims of the project; why are we here?

The project aims to answer some of the questions that we have asked. We aim to track the real situation of break crops over a wide range of farms in WA to see where and when they deliver a real benefit.

We aim to investigate what information is most important when planning crop sequences and how this information should be presented so this it is easily utilised.

A focus paddock model is being employed so that farmers, consultants and researchers can interact, share their knowledge and learn from each other while ensuring the outputs are directly relevant to you and your farm.

The Facey Group and the GRDC Crop Sequencing Project...

·         10 farmers

·         3 paddocks per farmer are intensively monitored for 5 years

The project commenced in 2010 however preliminary results are still being analysed.

Project Completion Date: 30 June 2015

Grain & Graze II.  Summer & Twin Sowing

This project aims to increase the adoption of introducing legume species into pastures.

*Cuballing – Summer Sowing Demonstration 2010/11

The demonstration was developed to test the increase in available seed using two seeding dates. Plots were seeded to Serradella Pod (20 & 40kg/ha rates) of varying rates of seed and Alosca (0 – 10kg/ha) on 25^th February 2011. The remained of the plots were seeded with either the Farmers Pature Mix (50kg Oats, 5kg Canola, 15kg Dalkeith) + Nodulaid or Dalkeith Clover at 15k/ha + Nodulaid on 29^th April 2011.

*Kulin – Twin Sowing Demonstration 2011

Two demonstrations were completed at this site:

1.            Wedgetail Wheat undersown to Serradella Pod

2.            Wyalkatchm Wheat undersown to Serradella Pod

The demonstration aims to provide an alternative grazing source however the results will not be seen until further monitoring into 2012.

*Dumbleyung – Twin Sowing Demonstration

Demonstrations to be completed on 2012 and 2013

Project Completion Date: 31 December 2013

Grain & Graze II.  Integrating Livestock into No-Tillage Systems

The project aims to increase the knowledge of any impact that livestock grazing may have on a no-tillage cropping system.

The project involves 2 farmers from the Facey Group each with 2 sites. The 2 sites have been selected accordingly (1x light soil, 1 x heavy soil).

The project involves grazed and un-grazed plots within these sites to collect data on soil, stubble, compaction etc.

At the early stage in the project we are awaiting to gain preliminary analysis on data collected.

Project Completion Date: April 2014