Derisking the seeding program

MSF partnering with growers in NSW, Victoria and SA to promote dearly/deep sowing and herbicide safety.

Key objectives

Demonstrate the advantages of dry and early sowing

Explore the fit for deeper sowing and longer coleoptile cereals

Improve farmer understanding of pre-emergent herbicide choices and timing

About the project

MSF is working with growers across NSW, Victoria and South Australia to accelerate the adoption of strategic dry, early and deep sowing approaches, and improve farmer understanding of pre-emergent herbicide safety.

In south-western NSW, we are exploring the fit for early sowing with two different wheat varieties sown at different depths and different times – can conventional wheats be sown deep when sub-surface soil moisture is present, what are the pros and cons for deep sowing?

In the Millewa, we’re exploring the role for deeper sowing using the longer coleoptile variety Calibre, and have set up an experiment into whether deeper sowing improves herbicide safety with commonly used pre-emergent herbicides.

In the SA Mallee, at Meribah and Copeville, we’re investigating deeper sowing with barleys of different coleoptile lengths (Commodus and Maximus) and assessing the impact on crop emergence and herbicide safety.

Sharing Strategies

Crop walks and workshops have been held at each site over the past 12 months, in part to explore 2024 season results, but also to provide an opportunity for farmers to share their sowing strategies and learn from technical experts.

Explore the links below to see photos from each site, as well as relevant podcasts, videos and a 2024 results summary.

Future planning

Thanks to further funding from the SA Drought Hub, experiments in the SA Mallee are continuing in 2025, with Commodus and Maximus again to be sown at different depths at two SA Mallee sites (Younghusband and Waikerie), and sowing depth work expanding to include a sowing depth trial for lentil at Lameroo.

Videos

Virtual field days

Factsheet

Acknowledgments

Working together with farmers

Other MSF Projects