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A Travel Report on 35th Californian Alfalfa and Forage
Symposium at Visalia, California, USAPerson Traveling
Luke Kirkby, Production Manager, Premier Seeds Forbes, NSW, 2871RIRDC Publication Number 06/115
September 2006
Traditionally in Australia, Lucerne seed has been grown using border check on sands (SE SA: grades may vary between 1:1,300 – 1:3,500 depending on soil type)(Pengelly, D.
2006, pers. Comm., February 2006) or on clay loams in NSW (Forbes: grades may vary between 1:600 and 1:1,500 )( Green, M. 2006, pers. Comm., February 2006). So, given this, why would farmers attempt growing Lucerne seed in the Riverina? Many farmers are converting their irrigation fields to raised beds. The most common would be 6ft wide.
Under raised bed irrigation systems Lucerne plants do not suffer from being under water for extended periods where they would be if they were under a border check system .
The use of a row cropping production system to produce Lucerne seed has rarely been used in Australia. Soil types in our traditional growing areas also are not suited to the use of raised beds. In the SE of South Australia the soils are predominantly non wetting sand. Beds are not suited to such soils as their ability to maintain the bed formation or structure is limited under irrigated situations. In the Forbes district, the red clay loams do maintain their bed structure but do not ‘sub’ consistently enough to water the whole bed. The soil types used for Lucerne seed production in the San Joaquin valley of California are similar to soil types found in the Riverina where rice production exists, thus the use of a similar production system should enhance the ability of growers in the Riverina to produce Lucerne seed with high yields.
To maximize the benefits of Lucerne seed production under a row cropping system it is critical we enhance our management skills to ensure maximum benefit from the cropping system can be achieved.
New technology is an important
part of Agriculture in Australia. New technologies such as Round Up Ready
Lucerne (RURL) and Salt Tolerant Lucernes may play an important part in
Australia’s agricultural industries in the future. Getting a full understanding
of such technologies which are available during their early development
is critical.
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