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Integrated Crop Protection: Sydney Basin

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25.01.2022 Terminating buckwheat with frost. We planted it in late autumn (29 April in Richmond NSW) to see how much frost would be required to winter kill the cover crop. The buckwheat grew slower in the late autumn - winter conditions and didnt flower after 80 days. June was warmer than normal and the site didnt get a good frost (-3C) until mid July. Frosts of -0.5C didnt knock the crop around. For those not wanting to use herbicides this is an option going into winter.

23.01.2022 Orthman strip till set up (2 rows) with Val's fertiliser bin allowing one pass soil prep and fertiliser application in the strip.

23.01.2022 Looking forward to the farm walk this afternoon 4-6pm. Come along and see biofumigation in action and softer soil tillage practices. http://www.soilwealth.com.au/events/farm-walk-richmond-nsw/

23.01.2022 The Rutherglen Bugs had moved out of the Sweet Corn this week, having sucked the tassles dry. They have now massed in the Caliante mustard trial plot. There is some severe damage in the headlands, but it is better they are here than in the crops. We incorporate this trial in 3 weeks time so we are not too worried about the damage. Sometimes plants stressed by insects produce more of the chemicals that we want for weed and nematode control.

22.01.2022 The Soil Wealth-ICP project has arranged for Val and Sam to try out some strip tillage gear on their vege farm at Richmond, NSW. First go at it on cultivated ground and then on brassicas. Val and Sam will to using it to plant some of their corn. keep an eye out for a farm walk in late November to have a look at the results. Thanks to Stephen Robertson from Muddy River Equip for helping out.

20.01.2022 Check out the webinar on managing insect pests in greenhouses presented by Andy Ryland http://www.soilwealth.com.au//managing-insect-pests-in-gr/

19.01.2022 Again this week there are very high numbers of Heliothis punctigera eggs and larvae in most crops. These pictures show how they target the Sweet Corn silks on the cobs and the Pumpkin flowers. The larvae in the top of the cob have been sprayed earlier with the biological insecticide Vivus, a baculovirus-based biological control. They will become infected and end up like the dead larvae in the fourth picture. The Beneficial insects will feed on the eggs as well as very small larvae and the Vivus does not harm them.

18.01.2022 Val & Sam Micallef looking after their soil using next gen compost https://anlscape.com.au//veggie-growers-and-next-gen-compo

18.01.2022 Orthman strip till set up (2 rows) with Vals fertiliser bin allowing one pass soil prep and fertiliser application in the strip.

17.01.2022 Masterclass in soilborne disease management 30-31 August - couple of places left- info here http://bit.ly/2xby3v1

16.01.2022 Here is a short video on the achievements of the Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection projects over the last three years. https://youtu.be/gkRsEL6O6ZE

15.01.2022 Don and Vicky Micallef started growing vegetables on the banks of the Hawkesbury River in 1987. Starting with 20 hectares the Micallefs supplied vegetables to the Sydney markets. The intensive vegetable farm, now run by brothers Val and Sam Micallef, has grown to 30 hectares and focused on a range of winter crops as well as growing sweet corn over summer. Val and Sam are looking for new ways to improve their soil while also reducing costs. Working with the Soil Wealth and I...ntegrated Crop Protection team they are keen to trial the use of strip tillage in their production system. The first test will be coming out of lettuce into sweet corn this summer. Instead of multiple passes and aggressive tillage with the rotary hoe they will see how strip tillage works for them. Not only will it reduce the number of passes and hence costs but also will allow more timely operations when the weather is less favorable. At the end of the corn crop Val and Sam will again try strip tillage to establish their brassica crops for winter. Further down the line the boys are interested to see how it might allow them to use more cover crops and possibly band compost in the crop row. You can follow the progress of the potential benefits of strip tillage on the this Facebook page.

15.01.2022 Heavy Heliothis activity this week in the Sydney Basin. Despite the rain today the eggs will hatch over the coming weekend. Bt sprays early next week will catch the larvae as they hatch.

13.01.2022 no-till pumpkins looking good. Come and have a look on Monday 12 Dec @ farm walk http://www.soilwealth.com.au/events/farm-walk-richmond-nsw/

12.01.2022 hear Kelvin Montagu talking cover crops before the farm walk

11.01.2022 Sorghum cover crop (80 t/ha fresh weight) being mulched and incorporated using a spadder at yesterdays farm walk

09.01.2022 This is a Heliothis larvae heavily infected with NPV, a very effective biological control. This infected larvae will spread more virus to infect other Heliothis caterpillars. The virus is only harmful to Heliothis caterpillars.

08.01.2022 The no-till pumpkin crop is just about ready for harvest. Val and Sam mulched the previous brassica crop and after a few weeks direct sowed the pumpkin seed into the soil without any cultivation. The result is a good looking crop. Keep an eye open and we will update with the final yield.

07.01.2022 A practical Cover Crop Coaching Clinic - Monday 27 August, Mangrove Mountain, NSW. Leading grower Darren Long and researcher Kelvin Montagu will help you select and manage cover crops to deliver the most benefits. Rego @ http://bit.ly/2M3yAJv

06.01.2022 Biofumigant (caliente and nemat) being grown to manage soilborne diseases - came and have a look and hear about the management of this specialised cover crop. http://www.soilwealth.com.au/events/farm-walk-richmond-nsw/

06.01.2022 Weed management both in the crop and outside is very important for good Integrated Crop Protection. Flowering weeds in the headlands provide nectar for pest butterflies. The nectar provides the protein they need to produce viable eggs, which they will then lay in the crop.

06.01.2022 More of the Rutherglen Bug swarms.

04.01.2022 | Alert Glendenning residents and visitors | People living and visiting the Glendenning area of western Sydney are asked to keep an eye out for brown marmorated... stink bug, following their detection. NSW DPI staff said people can help us look for brown marmorated stink bugs by inspecting plants in their gardens. Look out for the distinctive alternating light and dark bands on their body. If you think you have found a brown marmorated stink bug, catch it in a container and call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881. Clear photos can be emailed with a brief explanation of where you found it and your contact details to [email protected] http://bit.ly/2kgenE9 #biosecurity Greater Sydney Local Land Services

02.01.2022 Phacelia tanacetifolia sown 29 April 2019 at Richmond NSW

02.01.2022 This spadder was demonstrated at a field day in Sydney on Monday. It was compared to two other common pieces of tillage equipment for incorporating some cover crop examples.

01.01.2022 Heliothis are active on Sweet Corn now. At the ICP demo farm we are using a biological pesticide containing NPV, a Heliothis specific virus to manage it.