The initial breakdown of year one Fodder for the Future project results.
Wheat (Agriculture Victoria)
Wheat tiller density is affected by both sowing rate and nitrogen (N) rate, with N having a greater impact.
There was no effect of stem diameter on quality.
Oaten hay (Birchip Cropping Group)
Oaten hay yields were highest for Kingbale, Mulgara, Brusher, Yallara and Wintaroo.
Sowing date had no significant impact on yield or quality between varieties.
There was a yield response to N, but none to phosphorus (P) or potassium (K).
There was no or minimal impact on stem diameter or quality from the application of N, P or K.
Cereals (Irrigated Cropping Council)
Winter trial:
Cereal cutting time impacted yield significantly.
No effect of cereal stem diameter on quality.
Faba beans have potential to yield up to 20 tonnes DM/ha of high quality forage, however, there are significant challenges with ensiling/baling due to high moisture and lodging.
Summer trial:
Sorghum was generally more water efficient than maize.
Sorghum yielded less than maize.
Grain sorghum still shows potential due to the lower cost of production and ability to produce reasonable quality provided yield targets are met.
Yield and quality across all forages decreased with reduced irrigations (as expected).
Cereals (Dookie, University of Melbourne)
Significant trade-offs between cutting time, yield and quality in cereal crops.
Tiller density is affected by increased sowing rate.
No effect of stem diameter on quality.
Vetch (Southern Growers)
Timok had better quality attributes than the woolly vetches.
High sowing rates increased established plant counts but did not have an effect on yield and quality.
An autumn irrigation was associated with better yields in shorter season common vetch cultivars (but no long season woolly pod vetch).
There was a yield increase of two tonnes DM/ha in vetch that was irrigated versus dryland.
Vetch (Rutherglen, Riverine Plains)
Vetch persistence and yield was penalised by wet conditions and subsequently out-competed by the oats.
Earlier sown oats significantly increase silage yield compared to the later sown stand.
Cutting time, sowing date and rate have variable and inconsistent effects on quality of oat/vetch mixes.