Riverine Plains Inc PO Box 214 Mulwala NSW 2647 4/97-103 St Mulwala Phone: (03) 5744 1713 Email: [email protected] Web: www.riverineplains.org.au

Hours: 9am—3pm Monday—Thursday July 2017 Newsletter 9am—2.30pm Fridays A word from the Chair In an age of information overload where email, sms stronger our membership base is, the better chance and social media alerts are so common place they we have of getting your grain levy’s invested back in are almost ignored, and where our desks are so our area. flooded with all manner of publications that it is Recently you would have received the soil carbon impossible to read them all, Riverine Plains Inc must publication explaining soil carbon and summarising strike that happy balance between providing timely the findings from the soil carbon project. I’d like to and relevant information without unnecessarily thank Cassandra Schefe, Bill Slattery and all who contributing to the noise. worked on the project and the publication. The We have been very deliberate and selective with our project was quite a complex one and to be able to communication to members to date and believe that summarise it so concisely and present it so we have the balance right. Similarly we believe that professionally is a credit to all involved. the suite of research projects we are working on are While many in the Riverine Plains region recently relevant and that the mix of extension activities, received enough rain to get some N washed in and field days and updates are valuable to you. keep things ticking along after the dry June, totals However what’s really important is what you think. were variable. Soil moisture could be a key driver of To help us work that out, you will shortly receive a yield this year and we are doing some work looking at survey from Riverine Plains Inc. This will provide you the water holding capacity of different soils and with an opportunity to help guide our future research determining how to manage N to maximise profit and extension activities, while also giving us a from those soil types. It will be interesting to watch snapshot of our membership demographic and an the results from this work flow through. In the insight into your enterprise mix. It is an anonymous meantime jump onto our website and have a look at survey that will take you around 20-30 minutes to the extensive number of weather stations we have complete. It has been 5 years since the last survey placed across the Riverine Plains. They are a really so please take the time to complete it — the useful resource and as well as giving real time information gained is invaluable for guiding the weather info they also provide a snapshot of what group into the future soil moisture levels are doing. The investment in R&D from the GRDC is undergoing I hope your in-crop spraying and spreading programs some significant changes. We have a good continue smoothly. relationship with the GRDC and have a good track Ian Trevethan record of delivering on projects we are involved in. However with the changing environment within the Notice of Special General Meeting organisation it is more important than ever that we Riverine Plains Inc is now a registered charity. In maintain and grow our membership base. The order to set up a research fund, several changes to relationship between the group and its members is the constitution are still required. These changes a two-way one. Riverine Plains Inc provides are outlined in a special resolution (see insert) and incredible value for money for our members but we will be voted on at a special general meeting on 7 also benefit from strong membership numbers. We August 2017, at 5.45pm. Once the constitution has appreciate your membership and ask that if you been amended, the application will be assessed by CSIRO. The documents can be viewed on the have neighbours or friends that aren’t members website www.riverineplains.com.au. please encourage them to consider joining. The

MAJOR SPONSORS

Rainfall deciles in the Riverine Plains - June summary By Dale Grey , Agriculture Bendigo What a difference one dry month makes. June The Youanmite moisture probe decreased was a shocker everywhere, with the majority of dramatically this month losing almost a quarter of locations having lowest on record rainfall. The the profile. The probe stands at 77% full from 30- vast majority of the total was actually dew not 100cm. An early sown canola crop is getting stuck rain. into it with strong water use down to 60cm. Growing season rainfall has pegged back from Dookie Land Management Group probes show 51, average to between decile 2-4, most sites at 59, 69, 69, 70, 76 and 80 percent full from 30- decile 2. The annual rainfall is now below average 140cm. The Riverine Plains LLS Rand probe between decile 2-5, most decile 4. shows a 71 percent full profile from 30-100cm. Euroa dec RRI dec Dookie AC dec Yarrawonga AP dec DPI dec 82016 82039 81013 81124 80109 Jan 2017 59 8 34 6 50 6 34 7 28 7 Feb 2017 34 7 35 7 31 7 17 5 17 6 Mar 2017 30 5 52 8 26 5 37 6 48 8 Apr 2017 103 10 50 8 59 8 50 8 42 7 May 2017 35 4 33 4 32 5 25 4 23 4 June 2017 3 LOR 7 LOR 2 LOR 2 LOR 2 1 Year 264 5 209 4 200 4 166 3 161 4 GSR 141 4 89 2 93 2 77 2 67 2 Jan-Mar 123 6 120 7 107 6 89 6 93 6

Albury AP dec Henty PO dec Corowa AP dec Lockhart BC dec Urana PO dec 72160 74053 74034 74064 74110 Jan 2017 45 7 25 5 29 6 19 5 16 5 Feb 2017 17 4 12 3 19 5 14 4 8 3 Mar 2017 87 9 45 7 59 9 64 9 50 8 Apr 2017 73 8 49 7 44 7 36 7 47 8 May 2017 45 5 36 5 32 5 30 5 34 6 June 2017 8 1 3 LOR 4 LOR 0 LOR 2 LOR Year 275 4 170 2 187 4 163 3 156 3 GSR 126 3 88 2 80 2 66 2 83 4 Jan-Mar 149 7 82 4 107 6 97 6 73 5 LOR = Lowest on Record

AGFLP Scholarship program GrainGrowers Ltd are inviting applications for their The Scholarship program is valued at $10,000. Australian Grain Farm Leaders Program (AGFLP). For further information, please visit the The AGFLP is a national leadership program for GrainGrowers website; www.graingrowers.com.au young Australian grain producers aged under 40 or contact the Riverine Plains Inc Office on 03 years which aims to develop leadership skills, 5744 1713. knowledge and potential. SPONSORS CONTRIBUTORS

 Australian Grain Technologies  Advanced Ag  Hutcheon & Pearce  Baker Seed Co  Advanta Seeds  IK Caldwell  Burando Hill  AvantAgri Australia  Kelvin Baxter Transport  GrainGrowers  AWB  Market Check  Incitec Pivot Fertilisers  Belmores  Nufarm  O’Connors  Cobram Farm Equipment  Onley Consulting  Precision Agriculture  Elders Insurance/Michael Middleton  Rabobank  Pioneer Seeds  Elders Yarrawonga  RSM  Seed Force  Farmanco  Syngenta  The Silo Construction Company  Hunter Rural  Wiesners

Henty N Efficiency Day—Spreader Calibrations & NO2 results Around 40 people attended the Nitrogen Efficiency A presentation was also made at lunchtime by Field day at Peter Campbell’s property near Henty on Michael Straight, FAR Australia on the results from 6 June. the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources The event featured FertCare calibration specialist project Management strategies for improved Russell Nichol, who demonstrated how to calibrate productivity and reduced nitrous oxide emissions. fertiliser to improve the evenness of fertiliser spread. The project aimed to trial, measure and demonstrate Over the course of the day, Russell calibrated 3 on farm practices and technologies to reduce machines, an Amazone ZAM Ultra Profis, an Amazone agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The key Profis 3600L, Amazone ZA-M 1501 3-point linkage findings from the project were; and also demonstrated the correct calibration method for a Landaco TS10000 trailing spreader.  N2O emissions from Australian grain cropping are highly variable due to large variations in soil, climate To test the effective spread width and evenness of and management practices. distribution for each machine, 60 catch trays were lined up across the paddock and collected urea  N2O emissions from dryland cropping are spread from each machine. Fertiliser in the catch particularly low compared with other grain systems trays was weighed and the results graphed using in Australia. specialised computer software.  To optimise N efficiency and reduce N2O losses, we need a good understanding of soil N in the system, On the day, all machines produced uneven ‘pre- and therefore try to synchronise N supply with peak calibration’ tests, with ‘Devils Horns’ shaped crop N demand to encourage greater fertiliser distribution graphs common – this indicates too little uptake. fertiliser was being applied directly behind the spreader.  N loss through N2O emissions is highly dependent on seasonal variability and the soil moisture content After the first test, the spreaders had their spinner at times of fertiliser application. vane location adjusted, and the test was repeated until the optimal settings were found. Post-calibration  The use of tactical N applications with the aid of a testing showed all machines spread at a greater Greenseeker, allowed residual N from previous width and a more even distribution than the pre- crops to be better identified and this allowed calibration test. reduced fertiliser application without compromising yield. The quality and composition of urea being used also  Delaying N applications maintained grain yield but impacts the spread width. Having a higher proportion allowed to make in season decisions around N of fine/smaller particles can reduce spread width application as the season progresses. This allowed relative to samples having a higher proportion of more accurate forecasting of when crop demand for large particles (larger granules usually travel further N is higher (stem elongation). than finer particles). To this end Russell demonstrated the use of a ‘shaker’ or ‘D-  In a wet season N losses will generally be higher. In indicator’ box to estimate granule sizes for urea. The these cases application of early N assisted to D Indicator separates granules according to size; the maintain the crop through wet periods and may be ‘A’ segment collects particles <2mm diameter, 'B' the best strategy in terms of grain yield and quality, collects particles 2-3.35mm diameter, 'C' collects but may also result in elevated N2O losses. particles 3.35-4.75mm and 'D' collects particles > A more detailed summary report of this project will be 4.75mm. The ideal indicator result for urea is for the available in Research for the Riverine Plains, 2017’. B and C sections to each contain 50% of the product. Acknowledgements: The N efficiency day was held as Once the fertiliser particle composition is known, the part of the GRDC funded project Maintaining drop point or spinner vanes can be profitable farming systems with retained stubble in adjusted. Because each machine is different, Russell the Riverine Plains region as well as part of the advised growers to always refer to the set up and Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture adjustment instructions which can be found in the and Water Resources project Management strategies spreader’s operator manual or labelled on the for improved productivity and reduced nitrous oxide machine. emissions. Pre- An example calibration post- test with a calibration Inspecting fertiliser catch ‘Devils fertiliser trays after they were Horns’ distribution passed over by a fertiliser shaped pattern distribution spreader. pattern

RPI secures canola S project Fast Track Ag Stubble Site Riverine Plains Inc has been successful in securing a Early results from the Maintaining Profitable Farming GRDC investment for a 12 month project Southern Systems with retained stubble project have indicated NSW Trials – Optimising crop nutrition in canola. that shortening the length of stubble allows better establishment and growth in the following years crop. Over the past few seasons, farmers in SNSW have been questioning the standard sulfur (S) application The Davis Family is hosting a Fast Track Ag site at rate of up to 24kg S/ha in canola. Canola-wheat is their Rennie farm to evaluate the practical now a key cropping rotation and many paddocks implications of lowering stubble height. The paddock have good history of S application, and there is also is Benito Canola which was sown into a wheat stubble evidence of S accumulation at depth. on 2 May 2017. The wheat stubble had four low stubble height treatments and one high stubble To generate local information, two field trials are treatment (45cm) applied. These were: being conducted and an economic analyses of the response will be completed as part of the project.  Harvest at normal height (45cm), windrow after harvest and bale straw, Field Trial – 1, Howlong, NSW  Harvest at normal height (45cm) A replicated trial will be run at Howlong to determine  Harvest at 30cm, header spreads straw, the response curve for S in canola in a cereal-canola rotation. This will involve five replicates of different  Harvest at 15cm, header spreads straw, rates of in-crop S (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 kg S/ha),  Harvest at normal height (45cm), mulched in April to applied as Sulphate of Ammonia (SOA). The trial is 15cm, taking place in an irrigated paddock, with high rates The cost of the different treatments are presented of nitrogen (N) applied to ensure N supply does not below. limit plant uptake of S. Treatment Cost Field Trial 2 – Yarrawonga, Victoria Harvest then Cost neutral (returns from straw cov- Background nutrition (especially N) may cause a bale straw ered cost of windrowing) variable response to S. If N supply is not optimal, Harvest 45cm - plant S uptake may be less than required. As such, a long none second trial, featuring a detailed study of N x S no loss in ground speed, but use 2-3L/ interactions in canola, has been sown at the Riverine Harvest 30cm ha extra fuel (fuel cost $2.40/ha) Research Centre (RRC), Yarrawonga. This trial has 20% slower harvest speed and use 4- four replicates of canola, over which combinations of Harvest 15cm 5l/ha extra fuel (fuel cost $4/ha) S and N rates will be applied as follows; $35 per ha plus fuel 7-8L/ha depend-  N applied as urea in a split application (50:50) Harvest 45cm- ing on quantity of stubble (fuel cost between 6-8 leaf stage and early bolting at five mulch to 15cm $6.40/ha) rates (0, 40, 80, 120, 160 kg N/ha). Fuel cost was calculated at $0.80/ha.  S applied as SOA at four rates (0, 10, 20, 30 kg S/ The treatments will be taken through to harvest to ha). The S treatments will be applied across the measure yield. suite of N treatments to determine the interaction between N and S. Riverine Plains Inc will also be hosting a field day at this site in conjunction with the Coreen farmer walk This trial will tease out interactions between N supply on 2 August 2017, commencing at 9.30am. and S uptake, to ensure that S uptake is not limited by suboptimal rates of N. The Sustainable Agriculture Victoria: Fast-tracking The Southern NSW Trials – Optimising crop nutrition Innovation Initiative has been made possible with in canola project is an investment made by the the support of the Foundation for Rural and Grains Research and Development Corporation Regional Renewal (FRRR) together with the (GRDC) and will run from 2017-2018. William Buckland Foundation.

Rural Women's Network On 1 July 2017 the Victorian Government will re- activities, publications and resources, and links to establish the Victorian Rural Women's Network. The other useful services. network was first formed in 1986 but lapsed in Rural and regional women can sign up for the Rural recent years. Women’s Network at: http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/ A dedicated website, social media platform and a agriculture/food-and-fibre-industries/rural-womens- regular e-newsletter will keep rural women informed network of upcoming events, grants, scholarships, gatherings,

EDITORIALS

Australian Farmland Values Report 2016 The value of farmland underpins farming businesses increased in Victoria (+12.9%), Queensland (+10.3%), and rural communities. Understanding farmland value New South Wales (+10.1%), Western Australia (+3.1%) is important because it reflects the strength and and South Australia (+1.4%), but fell in Tasmania (- confidence of agricultural industries. 0.4%) compared to the previous year. The 2016 Australian Farmland Values report provides The beginning of 2016 was characterised by analysis at a state and regional level and is based on challenging seasonal conditions for much of Australia data compiled since 1995. on top of a dry spring and summer in 2015. The analysis tracks the median price of commercial Purchasing activity at the beginning of the year was farmland in dollars per hectare by eliminating, where somewhat subdued in most states as farmers weighed possible, metropolitan and small block sales as well as up the likelihood of rainfall and commodity price sales where one party has compulsory powers. movements for 2016. The analysis draws on over 230,000 transactions, Favourable seasonal conditions in the second half of accounting for 278 million hectares of land with a 2016, combined with strong beef, lamb and wool combined value of $132 billion over 22 years. prices drove land values higher on the east coast of The national median farmland price increased by 9.3% Australia. in 2016. This follows a 5.3% increase in 2015 and a To download your state 6.8% increase in 2014. summary, visit The performance of farmland prices in different states www.ruralbank.com.au was mixed in 2016. The median farmland price

Silver Celebration for Uptake

Uptake™ Spraying Oil celebrates 25 years!! First used spreading, particularly on grasses, than other crop oils, commercially in 1992, Uptake Spraying Oil has which had to be applied at significantly higher rates become a stalwart in the industry; a reputation built on than Uptake Spraying Oil to achieve the same results. trust and performance. One of the key points of Many retail and independent consultants will only differentiation is that Uptake Spraying Oil provides recommend Uptake Spraying Oil based on the decades reliable performance at 0.5% v/v, offering a cheaper of consistently reliable performance across varying cost per hectare (versus cost per litre). seasonal conditions. Uptake Spraying Oil is unique to Dow AgroSciences - “Using a tried and true, premium crop oil concentrate, there is NO replica of Uptake Spraying Oil in the where one is required, is the only way to ensure the market. It has six core ingredients, as opposed to only best outcome. At the end of the day it’s all about the one or two for most adjuvants. This formulation herbicide performance, so why put that at risk” ensures consistent results in all conditions. Poor questions Mr Bryce Sturgess, Dow AgroSciences adjuvant quality has been identified as the root cause Business Manager. in numerous poor spray jobs, as well as crop damage and yield loss. Uptake Spraying Oil provides Independent studies have repeatedly shown that superior spreading and wetting, Uptake Spraying Oil provides better spray retention and particularly on grasses.

Goldacres - 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours Congratulations to our company founder John Richards who has been awarded a Medal (OAM) of the order of OAM medal Australia in the General Division, for service to the recipient community, and to the manufacturing sector. and Goldacres John was nominated by his late brother Edward who company received the same award in 2015 for his service to founder, Veterans and their families. John Richards.

Farm Safety Worshops—summary Two farm safety workshops were held at Oaklands and Where business conduct recklessly exposes a person Mulwala on the 19th & 20th June. The sessions to injury or death (Category 1), fines are up to $3 covered a range of legislative issues regarding farm million for corporations, $600,000 for individuals and worker health and safety. The key points were; $300,000 for workers. Where failure to comply with a Agribusiness employs 2% of the workforce but health and safety duty exposes a person to injury or accounts for 22% of injuries and deaths. The high rate death (Category 2), the fines are half those of of injury has identified Agriculture (and Road Category 1. Where a business fails to comply with a Transport) as ‘focus’ industries by Safe Work Australia. health and safety duty, fines are up to $500,000 for a corporation, $100,000 for individuals and $50,000 The main causes of injury/death in agriculture include; for workers. tractor accidents, electrocution, asphyxiation (working in confined spaces), drowning (in tanks) and crush To protect a business entity from Category 1-3 injuries. There is a higher risk of accidents in farming penalties, businesses must have a safe system of because of the range of activities being undertaken. work in place and be able to show that it is current. A system of work is a set of procedures according to As a PCBU (person conducting a business or which work must be carried out. Safe systems of undertaking), farmers have a primary duty of care work are required where hazards can’t be eliminated under the 2012 Workplace Health and Safety Act to and some risk still exists. ensure workers and others are not exposed to a risk to their health and safety. The Act applies equally to all Workplace inspectors can enter a property without businesses, whether large or small, and includes warning to conduct an inspection and can enter a public and private companies, partners in a farm office (even in a private residence) to inspect partnership, sole traders and self employed people, as records. well as other types of organisations. Small family Farmers need to put in place strategies to limit risk. farms will no longer be treated differently to large Currently only around 1% of farm businesses have corporations in terms of their safety obligations. adequate safety plans. The challenge is to find a way A PCBU must meet their obligations, so far as to meet health and safety obligations with the often reasonably practicable, to ensure the health and limited financial and human resources available. safety of all workers (including family members) as Other Key points well as visitors and volunteers. A PCBU has a ‘duty of care’ under work health and safety legislation to; Contactor insurance is different to farm safety  Provide and maintain a working environment that is obligations. The farm business is responsible for the safe and without risk to health safety of the contractor operating any equipment  Provide and maintain plant, structures and systems owned by the farm business. This includes trucks, of work that are safe and do not pose health risks harvesters, pumps, water tanks, welders, augers etc.  Ensure chemicals are used, handled, stored and Be aware that insurance claims may inadvertently transported safely trigger notifications to Work Safe Australia  Provide adequate facilities for workers’ welfare Consider a recreational use policy for farm visitors.  Provide adequate information, instruction, training or supervision for workers A safety system is a form of insurance and can protect  Consult & work with workers on health and safety the business (and it’s entities) from legal action, fines  Monitor the health of workers and the conditions of and other penalties by demonstrating that all the workplace reasonably practicable measures have been taken. A The PCBU must also ensure safety system also places the onus for safety onto  safe systems of work everyone involved in the business.  safe use of plant, structures and substances Thank you to Caroline Graham of Safe Ag Systems  notification and recording of workplace incidents who presented the sessions. Safe Ag Systems is a If an incident occurs, the onus is on the business subscription based farm safety program designed to operators to prove that safe systems were in place. help broadacre grain farmers meet their work and This includes the use of safety policies, procedures safety obligations. For further information visit; and inductions for new employees or contractors. www.safeagsystems.com. Inductions should also take place when using new NSW businesses can access more information at equipment or when the work changes substantially (ie http://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/health-and-safety/ before sowing, spraying/spreading or harvest). industry-safety/farming. Businesses may also apply Verbal instructions/inductions/policies/procedures for up to $500 in rebates from the NSW Small can too easily be challenged. A paper-based or Business Safety Rebate System. electronic system is a better option, but it must be Victorian famers can visit the Worksafe website kept up to date. A system where people sign off after http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/pages/safety-and- reading policies/procedures/inductions is preferable. prevention/your-industry/farming

The Short Straw - Farming the Dry By Lisa Castleman Riverina Local Land Services, Wagga Wagga P: 0427 201 963 E: [email protected]

Measured rainfalls for June were extremely low, and livestock class other than a dry wether and will be frosts have been relentless. Cold ground temperatures virtually inaccessible to grazing cattle due to the low slow plant growth while freezing can be a major plant grazing height and bite size. Leaving hungry animals stress (although most of our pasture and crop plants on a low-feed pasture will further deplete the available are well adapted to frosts in the vegetative state). pasture and will also make it harder for the pasture produce useful growth when it rains. Pasture growth also slows down very quickly once available soil moisture has been exhausted. Not all In dry times, grazing animals will use more energy farms across the region have good soil moisture at moving across a paddock looking for food, further present and some pastures are literally at a standstill, running down energy levels and fat stores. A hungry waiting for rainfall before growth can resume. animal will spend a longer time grazing—an animal grazing between dawn and dusk should indicate that Perennial pastures have a crown system where the pasture cannot supply their nutritional demands. carbohydrates or their energy is stored. This makes them more resilient in dry times as long as the crown Local Land Services promote the use of Stock (partly above ground and below ground) is protected. Containment Areas for agricultural and environmental Producers should try to ensure that not all new growth outcomes. Stock Containment Areas protect the buds are grazed off repeatedly, as this will run the pasture base and protect the ground cover over the perennial’s energy store down. longer term. Producers can pro-actively move stock out of a pasture before the levels decline too low Root systems are unable to actively exchange (though moving stock in the middle of lambing or nutrients across the root membrane without moisture, calving is not a good time, so these decisions will so a moisture starved plant quickly becomes hungry often have many considerations). It is always hard to for nutrients. A common query is whether fertiliser will predict how long a dry period will persist. The ideal help plants facing nutritional stress. The proviso is Stock Containment Area will consider the availability that any drought stress must be alleviated first. of stock watering points, proximity to haysheds and Granular fertiliser can sit on the ground in wait for a grain storage and the convenience for the farm labour rainfall event, but the plant cannot access the force. fertiliser’s nutrients without soil moisture present. So a fertiliser application may make sense over the Weeds deplete soil moisture and often seem to have growing season, but isn’t likely to alleviate a feed the edge on growing crops or pastures. While a run of shortage when conditions have already dried out. frosts can limit opportunities for weed control, consider the cost of not spraying on the moisture When facing a dry month, ensure the nutritional bank. Consider instead the suitability of herbicide requirements of grazing animals are met. If feed-on- choice when frosts are the reality, and avoid spraying offer in the paddock is low i.e. 500-1000 kg Dry when there are ‘inversion events’ to manage the risk Matter/hectare (below 2.5cm or an inch in height), of spray drift. As always, read the label and seek your then this is well below the requirement for every agronomist’s advice in challenging conditions. Canola white leaf spot There has been an increased incidence of canola 1cm in diameter and coalesce to form large irregular- white leaf spot in southern Australia. shaped lesions. Mature lesions often have a brown margin. White leaf spot lesions do not contain White leaf spot normally only occurs on oldest leaves pycnidia (black dots). near the soil surface. Occasionally it moves up the canopy, infecting younger leaves and reducing the leaf White leaf spot spores survive on canola stubble, and area significantly – this is when yield loss may occur. It are often wind-borne. The disease is not usually seed- is not well understood why it can become more severe borne, but it can spread by infected seeds or infected in individual regions and seasons. Nutrient-deficient debris. Comprehensive information on management canola crops can be more severely affected by the of white leaf spot, blackleg and other canola diseases disease. can be found in the GRDC’s Diseases of Canola and Their Management: The Back Pocket Guide, which White leaf spot symptoms include greyish white-light can be viewed and downloaded via https:// brown leaf and stem lesions. Leaf lesions can be up to grdc.com.au/GRDC-BPG-CanolaDiseases.

New Weather Stations Welcome – new sponsors New weather stations have recently been installed Riverine Plains Inc welcomes The Silo at Bungeet, Miepoll, Rutherglen, Telford, Yabba Construction Company as Sponsors. South and Howlong, and data from these stations We also welcome AvantAgri Australia and Kelvin is now available for public access though the Baxter Transport as Contributor ponsors. Riverine Plains website; www.riverineplains.org.au. These new stations complement the existing Northern NSW Study Tour network of weather stations located at Barooga, Berrigan, Culcairn, Lockhart, Pleasant Hills, Rand 15 growers will be heading along to the Northern and Henty (funded by NSW Local Land Services NSW Study Tour from Sunday 20 to Friday 25 through the Australian Government’s National August. We look forward to providing a newsletter Landcare Program) as well as stations at Dookie, report following the trip. Yarrawonga and Redlands, (funded by GRDC through the Maintaining Profitable Farming Diary Dates—2017 Systems with Retained Stubble Initiative). Tuesday August 1 Stubble Project Paddock Each weather station (except Dookie, Yarrawonga Walks, Coreen/ Rennie & Henty and Redlands) now provides growers with more Wednesday August 2 Stubble Project Paddock live data than was previously available, including Walks, Yarrawonga & Dookie access to current weather conditions, soil moisture levels, spray conditions, grain harvesting Monday August 7 Special General Meeting, RPI fire safety data and frost conditions. Office, Mulwala, 5:45 pm. RPI Committee meeting 6pm. To access the weather stations, head to our website’s home page and click on the link through Thursday 10 August In-Season Update, Mulwala to the weather stations. Here you will find links for Sunday 20 August - Friday 25 August NNSW Bus all weather stations connected to the Riverine Trip Plains Network, which you can then bookmark in 19-21 September Henty Field Days your browser. Because of the changes to the weather page on our website, you may also need Thursday 28 September Spring Field Day to reset the links in your browser. October Stubble Project Paddock Walks (TBA) Acknowledgements: The Bungeet and Miepoll Thursday 2 November Gerogery Field Day weather stations were installed through the support of the Goulburn Broken CMA through funding from the Australian Government’s Committee Contacts National Landcare Programme. The weather stations at Howlong, Rutherglen, Telford and Chairman Ian Trevethan 0428 265 015 are funded through the GRDC Deputy Chair Adrian Clancy 0417 690 117 through the Maintaining Profitable Farming Treasurer Barry Membrey 0400 872 799 Systems with Retained Stubble Initiative. Research Peter Campbell 0427 293 715 Extension Adrian Clancy 0417 690 117 Please Note: The Berrigan weather station has Immediate Past Chair and been recording inaccurate rainfall results for the Public Officer John Bruce 0428 315 814 past few months due to a blockage. This has now Committee Lisa Castleman 0427 201 963 been fixed. Paul Gontier 0429 388 563 Adam Inchbold 0418 442 910 Fiona Marshall 0427 324 123 Grower Bulletin Eric Nankivell 0428 914 263 The first edition of the Grower Clare Robinson 0428 339 821 Bulletin for 2017 was emailed to all Andrew Russell 0417 401 004 members and sponsors on 19 Curt Severin 0427 294 261 June. If for some reason you did not Jo Slattery 0427 261 640 receive it, please contact the office Brad Stillard 0427 733 052 Executive Support to check the email address we have Dale Grey 0409 213 335 on file.