Rotate crops and pastures
Crop and pasture rotation is the recipe for diversity!
Weeds love predictable rotations. They find it easy to evolve resistance to herbicides when they are used in a predictable manner. If we mix it up a bit, the weeds get confused and find it harder to adapt to the farming system.
As well as confusing the weeds, diverse crop and pasture systems increase the range of weed control options that we have up our sleeve. For example, a pasture phase includes grazing animals and the ability to spray top the pasture. And what is better than rotating to a break crop? Rotating to a double break crop. Two break crops in a row is a great way of smashing the weed seed bank, setting the paddock up for a long crop phase.
Articles
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News
Australian grain growers tackle herbicide resistance
Australian grain growers are responding to the challenge of increasing herbicide resistance in weeds head on through the adoption of integrated weed management practices. Read More...
Ask an Expert
How to beat barley grass in two years
Barley grass control requires a two-year, multi-pronged strategy using crop competition, herbicide-tolerant crops and effective in-crop herbicides. Read More...
Ask an Expert
How effective is a legume pasture phase for ryegrass control?
A single species pasture legume such as serradella can make a large dent in the seed bank of annual ryegrass and other grass weeds. Read More...
Case Studies
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Case Study
Tom Lampe, Narrabri NSW
Tom and Nikki Lampe, Narrabri use livestock to kept weeds at bay in their fallow cropping paddocks and minimise compaction using 'coolers'. Read More...
Case Study
Single family, Coonamble NSW
The Singles gain good weed control year round using crops and fallow in both winter and summer on their farm near Coonamble. Read More...
Case Study
Jason Rogers, Moree NSW
Keeping weed numbers down, managing patches and minimising weed seed set has been a high priority for Jason Rogers, Moree. Read More...
Videos
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Webinar
Can intercropping help with weed management?
Diverse rotations are a key aspect of the Big 6 and intercropping, despite its challenges, can provide opportunities for improving soils, weeds and risk management. Read More...
Webinar
Mixed farming – does it really help control resistant weeds?
Greg Condon and Craig Drum discuss the weed challenges their clients have been experiencing, and how introducing livestock has helped solve these challenges. Read More...
Video
Rod Birch on how the Big 6 is keeping weeds at bay at Catalina Farms
Rod Birch (Coorow, WA) gives an overview of what Big 6 principles are working for them. He also explas how they're approaching weed control at new property acquisition, 'Koobabbie', which hadn't changed hands for 115 years. Read More...
Fact Sheets
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Fact Sheet
Farm Practices Survey Report 2021
The report provides information on the adoption of a range of weed management practices on Australian grain farms. Read More...
Fact Sheet
Maximising crops and minimising weeds with smart phase farming
View the data from this research as presented at the GRDC Update (West) on 22 April 2022. Read More...
Fact Sheet
Farm Business Management Factsheet
Crop and pasture rotation is the recipe for diversity! Weeds love predictable rotations. They find it easy to evolve resistance to herbicides when they are used in a predictable manner. If we mix it up a bit, the weeds get confused and find it harder to adapt to the farming system. As well as confusing […]...