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MORE than 100 farmers and suppliers flocked to the 19th annual YP AG Farmer Technology Day on Wednesday, August 28. 

While it was windy, this didn’t stop attendance at the Paskeville trial site. 

YP AG research agronomist and R&D program manager James Easter welcomed the crowd of farmers, suppliers and other agronomists to showcase the 2024 R&D program. 

“Many thanks also to our co-operator Jason Bussenschutt, who has generously hosted the trial site on his property this year,” James said. 

The YP AG Supersite for the Tech Day consists of nearly 1000 randomised and replicated small plots for research trials.

These are exploring topics such as a comparison of various nitrogen products, new biological seed products, a pre-emergent herbicide matrix, the impact of various times of sowing and broadleaf weed control in lentils, plus the latest in wheat, barley and lentil genetics.

YP AG is also conducting trials at Kadina, Arthurton and Maitland.

The agenda started with agronomist Bri Schaefer discussing alternative forms of nitrogen. She explained how the trial was driven by recent seasons when urea and UAN prices were exorbitant, and availability of both products was limited, leading some growers to trial different sources of nitrogen in their programs.

To explore these options further, YP AG put a range of liquid and granular products, including Corteva’s new nutrient efficiency booster, Utrisha N, to the test in a comparison against standard rates of urea.

While some differences between treatments were evident on the day, the truth will be in the yield and protein data at the end of the season.

Next up, senior agronomist Darryn Schilling discussed the latest varieties of wheat and barley sown at the site, with representatives from Australian Grain Technologies, Intergrain and Longreach Plant Breeders also providing input. 

AGT’s Brad Koster said the company’s new variety of wheat, Shotgun, has been up to five per cent higher yielding than their Calibre variety across trials.

Mr Schilling said more barley malting varieties had been developed to be IMI tolerant.

“It’s also important to explore disease packages for each variety, with stripe rust already being detected in the Mid North in wheat and with the potential for powdery mildew later in the season,” he said. 

Mr Easter took the crowd through a biological seed dressing trial which aims to see where these inputs may fit in dryland cropping. 

FMC representative Clay Sutton spoke about a trial which staggered application timings of the pre-emergent herbicide Overwatch to help reduce transient bleaching symptoms in barley, while also maintaining weed control. 

During lunch, speakers from Bayer, Pioneer and Clear Grain Exchange provided updates on their offerings, then there was a discussion about the recent Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority decision to change regulations about the use of paraquat and diquat.

The next trial showcased was one for current and future varieties of lentils.

YP AG graduate agronomist Liam Bastian and Janine Sounness of PB Seeds spoke about how these could fit in YP cropping systems and they noted that Thunder lentils were still a crowd favourite. 

Agronomist Ryley Newbold then took growers through a trial exploring techniques of broadleaf weed control in XT lentils. 

“Careful consideration and strategic planning are required to achieve adequate weed control while maintaining the highest attainable grain yield possible,” he said.

Next, agronomist Nat Lloyd spoke about a trial on timing of sowing in both metribuzin-tolerant and Thunder lentils.

The first dry-sowing timing had the lentils sitting in the ground for about four weeks until rain fell at the end of May, with the second post season-break timing sown just after this. 

The final, late, timing was in the middle of June when the first two timings had already germinated. 

“This is one of our most visual and applicable trials on display today, we can clearly see dry sown lentils have put on significantly more biomass as they could get up and going before the season dramatically cooled in June,” Mr Lloyd said.

“However, we must remain aware of the risks of dry sowing, especially when herbicide residue is a factor.”

The day finished with agronomist Dom Meaney taking the crowd through a pre-emergent herbicide matrix.

The matrix explored common herbicides used in both cereals and legumes sown at various speeds and depths with two strips of canola sown into it to simulate brassica weed control.

Mr Meaney reiterated the importance of doing the simple things well, such as paying attention to sowing speed and depth and product choice to suit soil conditions at the time of sowing. 

YP AG prides itself on its R&D program, providing a firm point of difference, where clients are welcome to provide feedback and trial ideas to ensure they’re given accurate, relevant and informative advice for their cropping programs.