One machine doesn’t fit all farming systems and with that in mind visitors to the 2010 NSW Conservation Agriculture Field Day on Thursday, February 18 will be able to experience new active demonstrations at the Trangie Agricultural Research Centre.

Industry and Investment NSW agronomist Rohan Brill said canola and millet stubble, lime and stock would be used to replicate real-world farming situations.

“Farmers will see how well no-till equipment can handle substantial levels of dry matter, simulating the heavy stubble loads farmers can encounter during sowing,” Mr Brill said.

“Canola stubble on the demonstration site has been dry-sown with millet which responded to summer rains and produced a significant amount of dry matter.

“Another important function farmers will be looking for is the ability of machinery to incorporate pre-emergent herbicides, especially trifluralin.

“Lime will be spread on the site to simulate soil-applied herbicides and growers will get an indication of the level of incorporation conservation farming technology can deliver.”

According to Mr Brill operators of mixed farming systems will be interested to see how well equipment handles soil compacted by stock.

“Tighter soil makes sowing a more difficult operation and part of the site will be deliberately compacted under heavy grazing pressure,” he said.

Visitors to the field day can expect to see soil pits, displays of the latest controlled-traffic and precision agriculture equipment, spray rigs, disc and tyne seeders and hear the latest information on conservation agriculture.

Industry and Investment NSW is a partner with the Conservation Agriculture and No-till Farming Association, Central West Farming Systems and Riverina-based FarmLink Research in running the popular event. For more information on the active demonstration site contact Rohan Brill on 6822 1000 or Greg Brooke 6845 1866.

Farmers and exhibitors can find more information about the 2010 Conservation Agriculture Field Day by contacting CWFS’s Jodie Dean 6895 1015, jodie.dean@industry.nsw.gov.au or CANFA’s Neville Gould 6845 1044, canfa@bigpond.com