PRODUCERS in the West Midlands are reminded to closely monitor sandy soils, as conditions from the 2021 season continue to create groundcover challenges.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has been working with the West Midlands Group and producers to investigate widespread areas of sandy soils with low groundcover at risk of soil erosion.
DPIRD research scientist Geoff Moore said the widespread occurrence was unexpected, given the favourable growing conditions in 2021.
"We have been looking at an area from Gingin, north to Allanooka near Geraldton, and west of the Darling Fault line to investigate the causes and develop a path forward," Mr Moore said.
"A common denominator across all the sites investigated was high grasshopper numbers during last year's growing season, along with other contributing factors like a false break,over-grazing or a low pasture seed bank which tended to be site specific.
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"A number of producers were proactive in spraying for grasshoppers and/or over-sowing pasture paddocks - sometimes with whatever seed they had on hand."
Mr Moore said early autumn rain this season had resulted in germination of annual pastures and the warm conditions had supported good growth of sub-tropical grass pastures.
"Some of the previously-affected paddocks have good seedling numbers and a good pasture seed bank, which should result in adequate groundcover this year given good grazing practices," he said.
"However, for some paddocks or areas within paddocks which have low seedling numbers, this is likely a sign of a low pasture seed bank.
"For these areas, supplementary over-sowing of a cereal-pasture mix is recommended."
DPIRD has encouraged producers to be proactive and have a plan in place to prevent wind erosion and maximise soil productivity for the 2022 season.
Entomologist Svetlana Micic said the wet summer going into last season had provided the sand grasshopper with ideal conditions to breed and their feeding damage decreased pasture productivity.
"We have recently received reports of grasshopper hatchings, so we are encouraging growers to monitor and control grasshoppers if pastures are not out-growing damage," Ms Micic said.
