The
Mallee Farmer
Contents Dunmunkle Creek biolink project
1
Land Protection Incentive Scheme
2
Athel Pine in the Victorian Mallee
4
Break crops in the Mallee
6
Summer weed control strategies 8 Mallee farming research and demonstration projects 10 Profitable broadleaf crop sequencing
12
Crop insects: what to expect this spring
14
Landcare links
16
Revegetation works
18
A profitable and sustainable feed source
20
Monitoring the success of revegetation in the Mallee 22 Grazing Cereals
24
Paddock zoning and Yield ProphetTM combined 27 The Mallee’s hidden treasures 29 Flood-affected farmers helping the environment
ISSN: 1839 - 2229
Cover Image Rob Stewart preparing a site for saltbush plantings, which were planted with funding from the Mallee Land Protection Incentive Scheme (LPIS). The LPIS opens in August.
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A New Era For Mallee Farmers
Welcome to the first edition of the new-look Mallee Farmer proudly produced by the The Mallee Catchment Management Authority. The CMA will endeavour to continue the tradition of providing Mallee farmers with important information on research, projects and events across the region.
The Mallee CMA recognises the work done by the Department of Primary Industries in producing The Mallee Farmer in previous years and the Authority plans to carry on DPI’s commitment to delivering interesting and engaging content. In this edition, The Mallee Farmer features details on: • how locals can access funding for on-ground works such as stock containment areas, saltbush and dune reclamation through the 2011 round of the Mallee Land Protection Incentive Scheme; • summer weed control strategies • and how various methods impact on soil health; DISCLAIMER The information in this document has been published in good faith by the Mallee Catchment Management Authority (CMA). This publication and the information contained within may be of assistance to you but the Mallee CMA Board and staff do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purpose and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence that may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. You should obtain specialist
• what crop insects you can expect to see in your paddocks this spring, and why not all crop insects are pests; • an update on how Landcare groups across the Mallee are travelling, as well as a look at how the Red Cliffs Secondary College is revamping Landcare as we know it; and • how a field trial at Walpeup is exploring the use of perennial shrubs as an alternative fodder option. Thank you to those who have supported this edition of The Mallee Farmer by submitting articles and photographs, including staff from the Mallee CMA, Landcare, DPI, Birchip Cropping Group, Mallee Sustainable Farming, the University of Melbourne, Dodgshun Medlin and others. On behalf of the Mallee CMA Board, I hope you enjoy this edition of The Mallee Farmer and look forward to the next edition in March 2012. Sharyon Peart Chairperson Mallee CMA Board. advice on the applicability or otherwise of the information in this document. Neither the Mallee CMA nor any of the agencies/organisations/people who have supplied information published in the Mallee Farmer endorse the information contained in this document, nor do they endorse any products identified by trade name. The information in this document is made available on the understanding that neither the Mallee CMA, nor any the people who have supplied information published in the Mallee Farmer will have any liability arising from any reliance upon any information in this document.