Soil Chat - A farmer friendly guide to sub soil management in the upper north of South Australia. This pod cast is made as part of our Soils Knowledge project and released in conjunction with our literature review 'Addressing our sub-soil yield limitations by digging up the answers of localized soil constraints'. 
This interview was recorded with Beth Humphris and Ed Scott, on the 12th of April 2022.

Soil Chat: A Farmer Friendly Guide to Soil Management

Soils Chat: Project Overview

This podcast will focus on the use of precision ag mapping to identify and ameliorate pH variation economically. 
In this podcast we will walk through the in’s and outs of using pH mapping to identify and apply lime where it is needed most. We go back in time, looking at an initial pH map collected in 2015 and follow the paddock management through to 2021. 

The case study is available from the following link: https://bit.ly/3VDM9Ru

Soil Chat: pH Mapping

This podcast will focus on understanding water movement through different soil profiles across the upper north. 
We start south of Jamestown, looking at clay based soil profile, then move across to the Booleroo area on a lighter, alkaine soil type, before finishing at Wandearah on a sandy soil. 
Using some simple simulations, the case study exemplifies how water movement is changed due to different soil textures and constraints. This is then related back to how the water harvesting ability of soils translates directly to yield. 

The case study is available from the following link: https://bit.ly/3XtGkXT

Soil Chat: Water Infiltration

This podcast will focus on demonstrating vetch mix options to reduce soil erosion whilst maintaining good nitrogen fixation. 
The case study compared sole vetch, a common pasture rotation across the upper north, with a vetch / barley or a vetch / brassica mix. The document begins by considering what wind erosion is and what conditions lead to soil losses. It then takes a deep dive into two projects which were completed last year. The first follows a broad acre sole vetch compared to a vetch barley. The second project was a plot trial considering various desiccation timings and grazing intensities for a sole vetch versus a vetch, brassica mix. 

The case study is available from the following link: https://bit.ly/3LBQbVQ

Soil Chat: Soil Erosion

This podcast will focus on amending sub-soil constraints including pH stratification, excess sodium and chloride and compaction layers on a clay dominant soil. Unlike the other case studies, this project is still running, set to be completed by the end of this year. 
The trial site is located between Melrose and Booleroo on a particularly constrained soil type, common to marginal rainfall areas where limited water infiltration leads to the accumulation of unfavorable chemicals throughout the profile. We wanted to test if deep ripping to incorporate soil ameliorants such as lime, gypsum and organic rich products would speed up the process of correcting constraints in marginal areas where there isn’t enough rainfall to flush products through the profile. 
Various rates and combinations of ameliorants were applied to the trial site before an agriplow was used to rip at two depths – 30 and 60 cm – either with or without incorporation. 

The case study will be available from the upper north farming systems website, under the resources tab by the end of this year.

Soil Chat: Deep Ripping

Soil Chat: Saline Soils

The latest podcast from Upper North Farming Systems discusses the challenges of managing summer weeds, focusing on species like fleabane and feathertop Rhodes grass.

In this podcast we hear from Mark Congreve, from ICAN Rural. Mark is a senior consultant based in the north and has been working on these hard to kill weeds for more than fifteen years. 

We also hear from Beth Humphris, an agronomist from Elders Jamestown, and the lead for the Summer Weeds trial on behalf of the Upper North Farming Systems Group. 

Both Beth and Mark share insights from trials aimed at improving weed control methods in northern and southern Australia. Topics include the use of residual herbicides, optical sprayers, and the impact of dry conditions on herbicide effectiveness. This podcast also covers the importance of timely spraying and the role of crop rotation in managing weed populations.

This podcast is part of the Summer Weeds Project, which has been completed by Upper North Farming Systems and funded by GRDC . 

Upper North Farming Systems would like to extend their appreciation to the landholders for their willingness to participate in this project, as without them it would not be possible.

This podcast is hosted by Kerrie Lush (Robertson) from The Podcast Station.

Demonstrations of residual summer weed control for the Mid North, South Australia

Formed in 2001, the Upper North Farming Systems (UNFS) Group conducts research trials and provides extension and networking opportunities for farmers, agronomists, researchers and primary industry.

The UNFS Group covers a diverse geographical area in the Upper North Region of South Australia. The region is bordered to the north and east by the pastoral zones and extends south to the higher rainfall zones and encompasses the towns of Booleroo Centre, Crystal Brook, Hallet, Jamestown, Laura, Peterborough, Nelshaby, Orroroo, Quorn and Wilmington.

The group aims to undertake regular events for its members and the broader agricultural community in the region including workshops, crop walks and Hub events. The feature event on the calendar is the annual member’s expo which is held in August at Booleroo Centre.

UNFS

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