Print This PageA word from Alan Payne, agronomist at Landmark West Wyalong
With canola planting now under way in NSW, we thought it would be interesting to hear from Landmark West Wyalong agronomist, Alan Payne, to share how he is using the Roundup Ready canola system with his clients this season.
“The ease of managing the Roundup Ready system and not having to be concerned with plant back issues provide my clients greater flexibility in the next phase of the rotation,” said Alan.
“I see Roundup Ready canola as a viable alternative to other rotational crops and it provides us with a valuable tool for farming into the future. We have been too reliant on group B chemistries to this point and Roundup Ready provides us with a great alternative”.
Alan believes the technology has reinvigorated the canola industry saying “Farmers are always interested in something new, particularly when it involves GM as it gets everyone talking”.
Landmark is the only licensed technology service provider (TSP) in West Wyalong this season and Alan has seen significant interest in their first season as a TSP.
“I’ve got 14 farmers including myself growing Roundup Ready canola for the first time in 2010 with an average of just over 100Ha per farm. We are targeting our better paddocks to ensure good establishment as to provide us with every chance of achieving some big yields if the season continues to go in our favour. Almost all fields will receive a Trifluralin pre-emergence followed by 1 OTT application of Roundup Ready herbicide given that we are only expecting low to medium weed pressure in paddocks that have been selected to grow Roundup Ready canola,” stated Alan.
Managing herbicide resistance is one of the most common challenges faced by our farmers every day. This is one area that Alan is already seeing a positive influence from the introduction of Roundup Ready technology.
Alan said, “It’s all written out for you in the Roundup Ready canola crop management plan that’s available to every grower as part of the accreditation. All I have to do is follow up with a PRAMOG assessment and their weed management plan is done for the next 12 months, it’s that easy”.
Alan also said that it increases the interaction between the farmer and agronomist.
“I’ve found that we are communicating with clients a bit more now because it is a relatively new system and we want to make sure we get everything right to get the most out of the system” said Alan.
“I am already looking forward to 2011; if we get the opportunity I can see us tripling our area of Roundup Ready canola next year”.
When asked why the system works for him, Alan said “It’s such a simple production system. It gives us a viable long term weed control option and takes pressure off our selective chemistries making them more effective in the following rotation”.
To find your nearest technology service provider please visit www.monsanto.com.au/canolatsps
