Richard Hayes

@lawbal44 What clovers are on the list for this year Lawrence?

Annual clover seed trip to Corowa got extended to Melbourne to pick up a lounge for daughter no 2 Wednesday. Apple Maps got creative on the return journey today but it was good to see some green down south this year. Storms chased me home and hit just after I got unloaded.

Our most recent study, Failures in the Australian pasture seed market after 30 years of Plant Breeder’s Rights. Similar failures likely exist in some crop spp. and in other countries where similar laws exist. connectsci.au/cp/article/77/…

"It's taken 100 years for perennial grains to get where they are today. By collaborating, we ensure it won't take another 100 to make real progress." Dr Amir Amanov He and Dr Fayzulla Abdullaev are visiting from Uzbekistan to talk global perennial research and tour DPIRD sites.

@lawbal44 Must be the season for it. We have just finished sowing 40 ha near Crookwell, and I have just placed my order for seed for next year to replenish the stocks. Also crutching Wednesday!

Planted 36ha of pasture last week. Burnt the last paddock, 13ha, this afternoon. Work it tomorrow to stir in some lime and sow on Tuesday. Then it’s back to sheep work, crutching 😬, and catch up on some post emergent sprays.

...The project was also an opportunity for some great interstate pasture research collaboration, e.g. @Daniel_Kidd01 We don't do enough of it these days!

A new study of the phenology of serradella cultivars. Legume diversity can only be achieved if there are a range of cultivars with diverse traits available to facilitate broad adaptation. Flowering time informs cultivar choice. dx.doi.org/10.1002/csc2.7… @SuzBoschma @newellm_matt

🌾 Big news! The 2026 Australian Agronomy Conference is heading to Darwin - for the first time ever! Join Agronomy Australia to shape this landmark event in the Top End. #Agronomy26 (2024 Conference attenders are already members) 👉 agronomyaustralia.org/membership-app…

A new study out reporting pasture response to lime and P fert at 5 sites in the Central Tablelands of NSW, monitored over 12 years. Trials were run over 40 years ago, but results are as relevant now as ever. Check it out: publish.csiro.au/CP/CP24336

A great new study from Pete Innes demonstrating the vernalization (cold) requirement of Mtn Rye. doi.org/10.1093/aobpla… This basic research is essential in developing viable perennial grain crops for regions such as Aus. @KeithPembleton @newellm_matt

@rattle_ya_dags @keepthesheepWA What is often overlooked is the huge potential for soil degradation if livestock are removed from the agricultural regions. The likely outcome will be more intensive annual cropping, leading to d'land salinity etc. Livestock are needed to keep perennials in the landscape.

I may have missed @keepthesheepWA convey but I helped get this convoy of Australian sheep off the vessel to a country that appreciates the quality of our Australian sheep and are willing to make changes and face many challenges to meet our requirements, standards and regulations!

@brill_ag In our study of soil variability, Colwell P was the most variable of the factors we measured. We found you have to work hard and use good sampling methodology to achieve 15% precision. link.springer.com/article/10.100…

Variation in Colwell P, perhaps even a greater magnitude than pH

@brill_ag @theGRDC Especially important if you have subsurface acidity, as under-doing half the paddock won't hit the mark because the lime won't move vertically.

@rickchayes @theGRDC Makes me think we should at least be pulling the trigger sooner, aiming to keep 100% of the paddock (rather than paddock average) above a threshold

We did 12 separate soil tests from a 1 ha @theGRDC trial site last year on red loam soil. Interesting to see the variability in results in a small area. Best to lime to the average or the lowest?

More results from @newellm_matt of recent perennial wheat grazing experiments, demonstrating perennial crops grown in mixtures with legumes used for grazing and grain. publish.csiro.au/AN/AN24246

@AndrewNixon22 Based on the work of Jason Condon & Helen Burns we are aiming for pH 5.8. Bigger investment but growers are seeing the longer term benefits, more yield & less variation.

Lime spreading & incorporation in full swing with areas of favourable moisture. Lime rates calculated using CEC & target pH following 5cm segmented soil testing. An expensive process but proven to reduce stratification & lift yields. Horsch Tiger mixing lime to 230-250mm depth.

@agronomybrady Sad story indeed. A very effective weed. It is possible to bring that country back to production but takes effort. More worrying is the impact on native grasslands, as fewer control options are available.

@rickchayes Richie Unfortunately the love grass story is not a pleasant one It has exploded &beyond control It has turned productive and profitable land into derelict grassland When the local council takes it off the noxious weeds list it says something Should have been controlled 30yr ago

For those on the Monaro, or interested in African Lovegrass control, this is one for the diary...

Harvest of our perennial Mtn Rye blocks began today at Orange Agricultural Institute. Good stand of white clover under the crop, which will lift forage quality for grazing after harvest. Interesting the diversity of seed colour in this year’s crop

@Binnicreeklamb @newellm_matt 4 years is usually the most you could hope for, unless the stand is managed for chicory seedling recruitment.

@rickchayes @newellm_matt As a grower of a Lucerne, chickory and sub clover mix. I understand how Lucerne can shorten the chickory stands length. I have noticed a lot of Lucerne surviving and the stand becoming a good Lucerne clover mix for a few more years. For how long can a chickory clover stand last?

Hot off the press, our new study comparing legumes for chicory pastures. We compared arrowleaf, balansa, sub clover & lucerne at 2 sites. We found sub clover was the best companion for chicory. Its broadly adapted and grazing tolerant. authors.elsevier.com/c/1kHl2_QPXMpx… @newellm_matt