Online Grower Shedmeetings

Video Roadshow

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:01:00 +1000

From Mossman to Maryborough, this Virtual Bus Tour video presentation features over 20 on-farm demonstrations of best practices from across the state. Attendees will be able to choose from a range of subjects.

What you will see...

Reducing tractor hours with controlled traffic and minimum till on both small and large farms.
Bulk storage, transportation and sub-surface application of fertiliser.
Banded and sub-surface application of mill mud.
Spray calibration and improved nozzle technologies to reduce off-target losses for pesticide application.
The interaction of trash management and legume fallow on nitrogen cycling.
Compost theory and practice.

Attendees will be polled on the effectiveness of the video format and their preferred presentation styles. Each attendee will receive a DVD of the full presentation.

Hi, Iʼm Henry Thomas.

I created several of the CANEGROWERS Virtual Bus Tour DVDs.

I am investigating whether videotaping and presenting what a farmer would expect to see and hear on a bus trip or field day is as effective as being there in person.

While this is a busy time of the year for growers, I think this is an exciting project, so I hope you can join me.

A. Bundaberg

Presentation & Morning Tea (2 hours)
Date: Wednesday, 20th October - 9:30 am
Place: DPI Shed, 49 Ashfield Road, Kalkie
RSVP: 4151 2555

B. Childers

Presentation & Supper (2 hours)
Date: Wednesday, 20th October - 4:30 pm
Place: CANEGROWERS Isis, 48 Churchill Street, Childers
RSVP: 4126 1444

C. Maryborough

Presentation & Supper (2 hours)
Date: Thursday, 21st October - 4:30 pm
Place: CANEGROWERS Maryborough, 106 Bazaar Street, Maryborough
RSVP: 4121 4441

Efficient Surface Application with Tony Chapman

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:01:00 +1000

Tony Chapman demonstrates his efficient surface fertiliser applicator. Its three rows on a trailer, so he doesn't need a big tractor to pull it because of the weight. I holds three tons, and has load cells under it so he can weigh and calibrate it easily. The fertiliser is dropped in bands above the stool and is watered in each night. For road travel he has made it on a turntable so he can turn it long-ways so its legal to travel along the road. There is one locating pin, and the turntable cane be pushed around into position by hand. The draw bar then shrinks up to make it easier for turning in the field.

Basic Insect Identification with Hugh Brier

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:03:00 +1000

This is a quick introduction to the most important insect pests you need to be able to identify in your soybean crop.

This presentation by Hugh Brier (Senior Entomologist, QPIF/DEEDI) was part of a Soybean & Pulse IPM training course provided to growers by AOF, Pulse Australia and GRDC.

Beat Sheet Sampling with Hugh Brier

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:02:00 +1000

Hugh Brier describes the need for beat sheet sampling in crop to identify insect pests. First you need to do a cursory inspection and look for what stage the crop is at. But to estimate the number of insects you need to sample at least 5-6 sites with 4-5 samples per site. The reason is because insects are not uniformly distributed across your crop. They tend to occur in hot-spots. Finally you need to know how to identify which insects are actually pests.

This presentation by Hugh Brier (Senior Entomologist, QPIF/DEEDI) was part of a Soybean & Pulse IPM training course provided to growers by AOF, Pulse Australia and GRDC.

Bug Checking with Hugh Brier

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:01:00 +1000

Hugh Brier demonstrates how to use a beat cloth to sample insects in your crop. You generally need to take 4-5 samples per site and 5-6 sites per paddock.

This presentation by Hugh Brier (Senior Entomologist, QPIF/DEEDI) was part of a Soybean & Pulse IPM training course provided to growers by AOF, Pulse Australia and GRDC.

Ground Water Monitoring with Russell Jorden

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:06:00 +1000

A piezometer is a small-diameter observation well used to measure the hydraulic head of groundwater in aquifers. Russell Jorden has several of these on his Burdekin property. They have data loggers to track fluctuations in ground water levels over time. He also takes water samples which he tests for salinity. Rising water tables are a concern in the Burdekin and Russell monitors his irrigation to reduce losses to improve his furrow irrigation efficiency.

Water Quality Testing Lab with Sonia Hesp

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:05:00 +1000

Sonia Hesp shows us the Palintest she uses in her water quality testing lab to test farmer water samples for nitrates and phosphate in their runoff. Over 10% of farmers in the Burdekin district test their runoff for nutrient losses on a regular basis.

Water Sampling Trailer with Chris Hesp

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:04:00 +1000

Chris Hesp presents the Mulgrave Area Farm Integrated Action (MAFIA) groups water sampling trailer. The trailer enables growers to monitor runoff from their blocks when irrigating to assess the nitrate and phosphate content of the runoff. All run-off water on Chris' farm is collected in recycle pits and re-used on the farm.

The trailer is fitted with a solar power ISCO Avalanche refrigerated pumping sampler. Being mobile, the unit can easily be moved to any site within the MAFIA grower group area. It was used to monitor runoff from a dunder application trial which showed that more nutrients were present in the final draining than in the first flush.

Green Cane Trash Blanket with Chris Hesp

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:03:00 +1000

In this clip, Chris Hesp explains that the long rows and flat conditions of typical Burdekin farms makes it difficult to cut green and flood irrigate. Most of the farmers in his area have tried trash blanketing, however the cane tends to get waterlogged, and turns yellow from fertiliser loss due to de-nitrification. So the idea is to rake every second row and get the flood irrigation water through quicker.

Enviroscans and Lysimeters with Chris Hesp

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:02:00 +1000

Chris Hesp describes how his irrigation scheduling is done with Enviroscans. He has two in the furrow system and four on the overhead system. They are installed in the top 100 metres and the bottom 100 metres of the paddock. He also has Lysimeters, at a 1.5 metre depth to intercept any water that is beyond the depth of crop roots.

Lysimeters are used to help understand the amount of water and nutrients going to deep drainage and help calculate water balances for the crop. The data collected has been used to ground truth irrigation simulations using SIRMOD.