Rolling into town like a caravan of knowledge, Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF) hosted a roadshow across the plains of the SA, Vic, and NSW Mallee region, bringing a festival of projects to the towns of Loxton/Browns Well to Waikerie/Lowbank, Coomandook to Bowhill, and Wentworth to the Millewa. Farmers and researchers alike flocked to community halls and country pubs for a laid-back exploration of the latest R and D results from 2023 trial sites.

Dr. Peter Hayman from SARDI kicked things off, chatting about climate variability and the cool insights from seasonal forecasts. Surprisingly, despite the rising temperatures, rainfall patterns had been hanging tight for the past fifty years.

But let’s not linger on the intro too long. The main stage beckoned, promising a chill vibe of innovation and discovery:

Dr. Therese McBeath (CSIRO) stepped up, shedding light on the potential of long coleoptile cereals for Mallee farming, making way for earlier plantings and deeper soil exploration.

Then, Dr. Jack Desbiolles (UniSA) took center stage, dropping knowledge bombs about ‘inclusion ripping,’ a game-changer for sandy soils that got nutrients down deep.

Joining the jam session, Michael Moodie (Frontier Farming Systems) guided us through the quest for the perfect post-ripping crops, unlocking new frontiers of yield potential with every strum.

Dr. Kenton Porker took a solo, decoding the mysteries of canola establishment, revealing the keys to success hidden within temperature and moisture thresholds.

We grooved into the realm of Variable Rate Technology (VRT) with Peter Treloar (Precision Consulting) and Dr. Sean Mason (Agronomy Solutions), where paddocks became stages for precision agriculture, fueled by a fusion of data-driven insights and innovation.

Then, Dr. Ali Bajwa (LaTrobe Uni) hit us with the lowdown on Gazania (African daisy), a sneaky threat to Mallee farming systems—kind of a buzzkill in this chill scene.

But the real stars of the show? The farmers themselves, turning every session into a celebration of ideas and collaboration, like a crowd at a summer concert the food and refreshments were enjoyed by all.

As seeding season is upon us, MSF remains committed to keeping the farming community connected and informed. While face-to-face events take a breather, stay tuned into MSF’s FarmTalk podcasts for a backstage pass to ag insight, featuring highlights from key projects. And for those itching to hit the fields, mid-season crop walks will soon be on the horizon.

For more info swing by our website, kick back with our podcasts and videos, and embark on an existential journey of discovery as we ride the waves of sustainable farming in the Mallee region, where every session feels like a jam worth attending.