CENTRAL Queensland grain growers keen to keep pace with cost-effective in-crop weed control technology are invited to attend a series of five on-property CQ Sustainable Farming Systems (CQSFS) meetings to be held from June 7 to 11.
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) principal experimentalist Maurie Conway said the district meetings would provide growers with an update on summer weed control strategies and an insight into new herbicide products.
Mr Conway said the future of the CQSFS program funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation, DEEDI Agri-Science Queensland and Fitzroy Basin Association would be outlined by project leader Dr Richard Sequeira.
The next phase of the CQSFS project which has been an industry role model delivering innovative agronomic best practice would focus on crop sequencing technology starting from July 1 this year.
This new farming systems project – one of seven launched across the grain growing regions of Australia – is called “Crop sequencing for more profitable farming in CQ”.
“Crop sequencing is all about using a strategic approach to develop more cost-effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions to weed, nutrient and water management,” Mr Conway said.
“This approach is based on the adoption of the most appropriate crop sequences to deal with emerging issues such as Feathertop Rhodes grass weed control given our highly variable rainfall and climatic conditions,” Mr Conway said.
Agri-Science Queensland principal weeds research scientist Vikki Osten and Crop Optics representative Kevin Bradley will discuss and demonstrate a 12m Weedseeker boom. Another Weedseeker with shielded spray units purpose built for the DEEDI Emerald weed research team will be on display.
Weedseeker technology uses infra-red detection units to activate herbicide spray nozzles only when the units detect target weed plants. The Weedseeker fitted with shielded sprayers can apply selective and non-selective herbicides for in-crop, inter-row zonal weed management.
Weedseeker technology has the potential to slash herbicide use by 50 to 90 percent significantly reducing off-farm movement of chemicals from the Fitzroy Basin catchment.
Mr Conway said growers would also hear about new summer weed control options from NuFarm representative Darren Young who will discuss DST (double salt technology) and new glyphosate products, wetters, adjuvants and mixing order.
Four of the on-farm shed meetings on June 7 to 10 will start at 2pm and conclude with a barbeque at 5.30pm and the Callide meeting will be from 7am – 12noon.
Kilcummin Monday June 7 – David and terry Daniels, Tarvellon, Kilcummin
Capella Tuesday June 8 – Ivan Gowlett, Eldorado, Capella
Southern Highlands June 9 – To be advised
Dawson Valley June 10 – Brendan Conway, Wongalee, Theodore (Colombo Rd)
Callide Valley June 11 – Geoff and Tim Brosnan, Plainland, Biloela (Jambin-Dakenba Rd)
For catering purposes Fax 4983 7459 and for further information contact Maurie Conway 4983 7414; Doug Sands 4983 7436; Max Quinlivan 4983 7424; Darren Aisthorpe 4992 9124.
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