THE Far East Agriculture Research (FEAR) Group is roadtesting decision support tools as part of the Department of Agriculture and Food's (DAFWA) eConnected Grainbelt project.
The Royalty for Regions funded project aims to connect growers and promote a range of DAFWA decision support tools that can give growers confidence when making decisions depending on seasonal conditions.
As part of the project, DAFWA is working with FEAR Group and another 13 grower groups to install and record information from 11 weather station and moisture probes that are currently being installed across the Wheatbelt and Great Southern.
Over the next two years, growers will participate in six events to analyse the station and probe information and interrogate the data against current seasonal conditions and grower practices through yield calculators including Yield Prophet, Productionwise and iPaddock as well as a range of other paid apps and websites available.
As part of the field day at Moorine Rock last week, Planfarm agronomist Dani Whyte took FEAR Group members through a range of DAFWA decision support tools including a statically modelled weather information, soil water levels, water use efficiency and potential yield.
Growers were then taken to FEAR Group president Ian Maddock's farm near Moorine Rock, where the weather station and soil probe have been installed.
The station is located alongside of the paddock, with the soil probe installed between 20-40 metres into the paddock.
The canola paddock where the station has been installed has been sown to wheat for the last three seasons.
It was sown on April 14 with Sturt canola with 55 kilograms a hectare of MAP and 30kg/ha of urea, with an additional 65kg/ha of urea applied in late June.
Prior to installation, soil testing is undertaken to gauge any sub-soil constraints, saline or aluminium issues.
Data is transmitted from the station regularly, allowing for up-to-date weather and soil information.
Using the DAFWA soil and weather modelling, the crop now has enough nitrogen applied and soil nitrogen for a one tonne a hectare yield, which is considered "good" for the location.
Ms Whyte said the tools would increase in accuracy with the more data collected over the coming seasons.
As they are statistically modelled on previous seasons, growers still need to account for severe frost events, abnormally dry finishes, pest infestations and extreme temperatures.
"These tools are designed to give growers confidence when it comes to making decisions such as their seasonal yield potential and whether they invest in additional fertiliser spend," Ms Whyte said.
"However, you can't take away from the gut instinct of farming and having that knowledge of what your own farm can grow."
