Blog 2 - West Midlands Group

When soil “wakes up”: Ryegrass responses to amelioration

By Kate Parker & Simon Kruger, WMG

The GRDC funded Soil Water Repellence Project trial sites established across the West Midlands in 2024 and 2025 are primarily focused on how different mechanical amelioration strategies can improve crop establishment and soil function. However, observations from one of this year’s sites have highlighted an interesting side effect of certain soil disturbance types, particularly the response of annual ryegrass in the Fanger ploughed plots.

A Different Kind of Activation

At the Gillingarra site, the Fanger machine, which mixes and loosens the soil through a deep churning action, appears to have activated the soil in more ways than one. By aerating the topsoil and breaking through compacted layers, the implement has stimulated soil biological and physical activity, improving water movement and root access. At the same time, this mixing has disturbed and redistributed the existing ryegrass seed bank, bringing dormant seed closer to the surface where moisture and light conditions favour germination.

Gillingarra site barley crop with ryegrass on 16/07/25 following amelioration.

The result has been a noticeable flush of ryegrass in the Fanger plots compared with other treatments. The Plozza plough, which cuts and inverts rather than mixes the soil, tends to bury weed seeds more deeply and has shown fewer weeds overall. The contrast between the two implements illustrates how soil disturbance style can have very different effects on weed seed dynamics.

Gillingarra gravel site weed counts 2025.

Why It’s Not the Same Everywhere

At other regional sites, the same trend has not been seen. In the 2024-established site (Dandaragan), both the Fanger and Plozza treatments have recorded lower weed numbers than the untreated controls. The difference likely reflects a combination of soil type, background seed bank, and timing of amelioration and seeding operations. Where amelioration occurred later and follow-up management was well timed, weeds were less able to establish before the crop gained ground.

Weed counts at the Dandaragan site 2025 (established 2024).

Similarly, at the 2025 site (Moora) that includes combination treatments such as Plozza + Delver + Horsch and Plozza + Delver + Spader, weed numbers are again lowest in the ameliorated plots. This suggests that soil mixing alone is not the only driver and that site history and timing play a large part in the outcome.

Managing the “Wake-Up” Effect

The flush of ryegrass in the Fanger plots is not necessarily a negative outcome. It shows that the soil has become more active and responsive. The disturbance has released nutrients and exposed seed, temporarily tipping the balance toward weed growth. With follow-up management, this can be a short-lived phase that precedes a more stable and productive soil condition.

Some management options for similar situations include:

Taking advantage of the improved soil condition by following with a competitive crop in subsequent years, once the seed bank is reduced.
Using early weed control post-amelioration to prevent ryegrass from setting seed in the first season.
Considering crop sequencing or rotation to help restore balance and maintain soil benefits without ongoing weed pressure.

It is also important to note that in this case, time constraints around seeding and spraying meant management options were limited. These practical challenges are common and can influence early outcomes, even when the underlying soil improvements are substantial.

Taking the Long View

Across the current network of Soil Water Repellence Project trial sites, amelioration continues to show benefits for crop establishment and overall weed suppression when compared with untreated control plots. The ryegrass response observed in the Fanger plots is a useful reminder that soil change can set off a chain of biological responses, some beneficial and some requiring additional management in the short term.

Over time, as soil structure stabilises and crop competition increases, weed populations are expected to decline. Continued monitoring across these sites will help determine how long these activation effects persist and how they can be best managed to support both soil health and crop performance.

In short, when the soil wakes up, everything within it becomes more active. Understanding and managing that response is part of the process of restoring water-repellent soils to a more productive state.

Infographics simplify potassium management for West Midlands growers

By Simon Kruger, WMG Project Communications Officer

Growers across the West Midlands region are finding that visual tools are helping to make complex soil and nutrient data easier to understand and apply.

As part of the GRDC-funded K Extension Project, West Midlands Group (WMG) has developed infographic-style potassium (K) budgets that turn soil test results, crop uptake, and nutrient recycling data into clear, accessible visuals.

Feedback from local farmers has been positive, with many describing the infographics as clearer and more practical than technical reports or spreadsheets. The visual format helps growers link nutrient data with soil type, crop performance and seasonal variation, providing a starting point for discussion and comparison between paddocks and years.

At the Ballidu demonstration site, hosted by a local grower, these tools have encouraged new conversations around K management. The site was featured as part of the Synergy Consulting spray group crop walk in August, where more than 20 growers from the Wongan Hills–Ballidu area viewed the contrasting responses across two soil types. The event provided an opportunity to introduce the infographic budgets and discuss how potassium interacts with nitrogen, soil constraints and rainfall patterns.

WMG Project Communications Officer Simon Kruger working through some WMG K Infographics with Ballidu grower Corey Mincherton.

Across earlier stages of the project, user testing confirmed that growers value straightforward and visual tools for interpreting nutrient information. Many found the K infographics easier to navigate than data tables, appreciating their ability to summarise soil test and fertiliser data in a way that supports practical discussion. Some early user testing with growers suggested including complementary information such as soil pH, compaction levels or benchmarking data to enhance the tool’s usefulness. These changes have been included in newer versions of the infographic, with other participants noting that results have prompted them to look more closely at sampling depth and nutrient variability across paddocks.

Former WMG Project Officer Melanie Dixon working through an early version of the WMG K Infographic with Warradarge grower Will Browne.

These responses reflect a broader shift toward more informed and strategic nutrient management. Several participants reported incorporating deeper soil sampling, grid mapping and plant tissue testing to refine fertiliser decisions and gain a clearer picture of nutrient cycling across their properties. Others emphasised that while nitrogen remains the main driver of fertiliser programs, understanding potassium’s role in soil productivity is becoming an increasingly important part of whole-farm nutrient planning.

Engagement with the project continues to grow, with strong interest in the infographic approach and an invitation for WMG to present findings at the Synergy Consulting group’s 2026 trials review meeting. Online activity has also been steady, with the project webpage, articles and social media posts collectively reaching more than a thousand growers and advisers.

The K Extension Project is demonstrating how practical communication tools can bridge the gap between research outputs and everyday management decisions. By presenting information in a clear, visual format, WMG is supporting growers to better understand potassium cycling and apply this knowledge to their own farming systems with confidence and context.

Evolving insights from the Soil Water Repellence Project

By Kate Parker & Simon Kruger, WMG

The GRDC-funded Soil Water Repellence Project has continued into its second year, expanding on more than a decade of West Midlands Group (WMG) research into soil amelioration and non-wetting sands. The project is exploring how different approaches perform across sand, sandy duplex, and gravel soils in the West Midlands region, with trial sites established at Dandaragan, Gillingarra and Moora.

Using a participatory action research approach, the project is working closely with local growers to track how amelioration influences soil water repellence, structure, water infiltration, and crop performance over time, and to better understand the practical realities that shape those results.

Shifting Performance Over Time

The 2025 season has provided valuable insight into how amelioration effects evolve beyond the first year. At Dandaragan, where treatments were applied in 2024, both the Plozza Plough and Nufab Rip/Delve (double pass) are now showing clearer benefits. Penetrometer readings indicate that treated plots continue to maintain lower soil strength and allow roots to penetrate more deeply than controls, in some cases reaching over 400mm before encountering resistance.

Penetrometer readings for the Dandaragan site – Year 2 (2025).

Peak biomass at Dandaragan site – Year 2 (2025) *Although not statistically significant, we can see the deep rip/delve treatments are trending higher.

Interestingly, this represents a shift from the first year, when more moderate treatments (such as single-pass or shallower working systems) performed better. As soils have reconsolidated, the initially more aggressive treatments appear to have stabilised, improving both seedbed uniformity and subsoil structure. The finding reinforces the importance of multi-year monitoring, as early establishment benefits do not always predict long-term soil improvement.

At the new Gillingarra site, this season has demonstrated the importance of adapting management to paddock variability. The site features particularly variable sand-over-gravel and gravel soils, deliberately chosen by the host grower to test how different amelioration systems perform under challenging conditions.

The work has highlighted that amelioration is not simply about choosing the right machine, but about planning for what follows. Post-amelioration, the soil was noticeably looser and more “fluffy” than expected, which complicated seeding depth control and affected early establishment. The experience underscored that each amelioration pass changes the physical behaviour of the soil, requiring adjustments in how seeding, nutrition, and weed management are approached.

Although no significant differences in GS30 biomass have been detected statistically, field observations and penetrometer data suggest that treated plots still offered deeper root penetration and greater soil loosening than the controls. The process has provided the host grower with valuable first-hand experience to refine future amelioration programs, including factoring in seeding depth, soil reconsolidation time, and potential weed seedbank activation.

GS30 biomass at Gillingarra sand site – Year 1 (2025).

GS30 Biomass at Gillingarra gravel site- Year 1 (2025).

The Moora site, hosted by local grower John Minty, was the focus of the WMG & Summit Crop Walk earlier this season. The event, held in collaboration with Summit Fertilizers, drew a strong turnout from regional growers keen to see how nutrient management interacts with soil amelioration.

Discussions centred on how deep ripping and inversion treatments can influence the distribution of nutrients through the profile, particularly potassium and nitrogen, and how this affects crop performance over time. NDVI imagery and Peak biomass data supported these observations, showing more even crop growth and stronger biomass development in ameliorated plots compared with the control. While the trial comes to mature, the late-season contrasts are helping growers visualise how amelioration can complement broader soil fertility strategies.

Peak biomass at Moora site – Year 1 (2025).

Across all three sites, field observations remain a vital complement to laboratory results. At Gillingarra, for instance, laboratory testing showed little to no surface repellence, yet on-ground inspections revealed limited water movement in bare soil, with moisture following last year’s furrows. In contrast, areas retaining stubble cover demonstrated more even infiltration, confirming that surface management continues to influence soil wetting behaviour even after physical amelioration.

Looking Ahead

The second year of the Soil Water Repellence Project has reinforced that improving non-wetting soils is a process of refinement rather than a single-step fix. Grower involvement continues to be central to the project’s success, with each site offering unique lessons that extend beyond machinery choice.

Whether it’s managing a looser seedbed post-amelioration, adjusting nutrition strategies, or planning for weed control in disturbed soils, this season’s findings show that success depends on understanding how amelioration reshapes the whole farming system.

Monitoring will continue through 2026, with economic and agronomic analyses to be completed once the full dataset is available. The insights already emerging are helping local growers and advisers take a more informed, system-wide approach to tackling soil water repellence across the region’s variable landscapes.

Exploring potassium uptake in Balllidu

By Kate Parker, WMG Project Officer

Plant tissue testing at peak biomass this season has shed light on how soil type, fertiliser rates and rainfall interact to influence potassium uptake in crops at two GRDC funded K Extension Project Ballidu trial sites. Both sites were located in neighbouring paddocks, with Site 1 on a yellow sand and Site 2 on a sand over gravel.

Five potassium (K) fertiliser rates were applied across treatments — 0, 25, 37.5, 50 and 75 kg/ha — to assess crop response. Tissue samples were taken at GS30 and again at peak biomass to help understand how applied potassium and seasonal conditions affected plant nutrition.

Early growth (GS30) results

The early-season tissue tests taken at GS30 showed little separation between treatments, suggesting that differences in applied potassium were not yet reflected in the plant tissue. This may indicate that K availability early in the season was not limiting, or that the plants had not yet developed sufficient root mass to capture treatment differences. In many sandy soils, K uptake often becomes more distinct later in the season once soil moisture and root depth increase.

Figure 1. Site 1 Potassium plant tissue % at GS30.

Figure 2. Site 2 Potassium plant tissue % at GS30.

Peak biomass results

By peak biomass, clearer differences began to emerge — particularly at Site 2.

At Site 1 (yellow sand), potassium concentrations ranged from 1.28 % to 2.61 %, with Treatment 3 (50 kg K/ha) showing the highest value and Treatment 5 (37.5 kg K/ha) the lowest.
At Site 2 (sand over gravel), levels ranged from 1.16 % to 2.27 %, with a gradual increase in tissue K up to the higher fertiliser rates, aligning more closely with applied potassium.

This alignment at Site 2 may reflect the stronger nutrient-holding capacity of the subsoil clay and the impact of additional nitrogen (N) applied by the grower during the season. Following agronomic advice, extra N was applied at Site 2 to support crop growth and to balance the interaction between nitrogen and potassium — an important consideration in high-rainfall years when leaching and nutrient dilution can occur.

Figure 3. Site 1 Potassium plant tissue % at Peak Biomass.

Figure 4. Site 2 Potassium plant tissue % at Peak Biomass.

Conclusions

High rainfall through winter likely contributed to nutrient movement and potential K losses on the lighter-textured yellow sand, helping to explain why Site 1 did not show the same clear response pattern. In contrast, the sand over gravel profile at Site 2 may have helped retain more potassium in the root zone, allowing the applied rates to translate more directly into plant uptake.

While early tissue tests didn’t reflect fertiliser rates, by peak biomass the sand-over-gravel site began to show a clearer trend of increasing K concentration with higher applied rates. This highlights the role of soil type, rainfall, and nutrient balance in determining how effectively potassium fertiliser is taken up by the crop.

Ongoing monitoring, including yield and soil K changes post-harvest, will help determine whether these tissue test trends translate into productivity gains, and how future fertiliser decisions might be fine-tuned for Ballidu’s variable soils.

Fine-Tuning for Harvest Success

By Simon Kruger, WMG Project Communications Officer

Around 60 growers came together at Velyere Farm, Dandaragan for a GRDC Harvester Set-Up Workshop hosted by Facey Group and supported by the West Midlands Group (WMG). The event formed part of a statewide GRDC series designed to help growers prepare for the 2025 harvest season through practical demonstrations and discussion.

An excellent turnout for the Dandaragan GRDC Harvester Set-up Workshop at Velyere Farm

The workshop focused on three key areas: measuring harvest losses, harvest weed seed control, and fire prevention and machinery maintenance. Speakers included Ben White (Kondinin Group), Brett Asphar (Independent), Kassie van der Westerhuizen (Planfarm), Murray Skayman (Harvest Specialist), Peter Newman (Planfarm), and Peter Broley (Primary Sales Australia).

The New Holland CR10.90 supplied by local grower Nigel Wilson

Growers were encouraged to see harvest set-up as both a way to improve profitability and to better understand their machine’s true capacity. Demonstrations using drop trays showed how to quantify grain losses in kilograms and dollars per hectare, helping operators identify whether losses stem from the front or the machine itself. While some attendees voiced concern about “losing harvest time” to repeated checks, presenters noted that a couple of tray drops a day, morning and midday, is usually enough to stay on top of losses without slowing progress.

Presenters highlighted that modern automation systems can deliver excellent performance when calibrated correctly, though misconceptions persist that they “don’t work”. Calibration, familiarity, and understanding system limits were stressed as key to getting the most from these technologies.

Presenter Brett Asphar getting into the Case 9250 session

The hands-on sessions also covered mechanical fine-tuning, particularly for the John Deere S790, Case 9250, New Holland CR10.90, and D140 MacDon front, exploring concave configuration, dense-pack performance, and front-end loss points. Growers shared experiences with modifying concave elements to reduce fuel use, noise, and grain losses under variable moisture conditions. The key takeaway: machines built for international crops often need small local adjustments to perform at their best in Australian cereals and seeds.

Participants were encouraged to ‘climb in’ and have a good look during the hands on sessions

Fire prevention, rodent control, and pre-harvest maintenance were also covered. Keeping machines clean, avoiding over-tight stop bolts, maintaining correct sieve clearance, and managing crop residue build-up were highlighted as simple ways to reduce fire risk and mechanical strain during long harvest days.

Presenter Ben White led the session on header fronts and front end losses

A Successful Day for the Region

It has been some time since a Harvester Set-Up Workshop was held in the West Midlands, and the strong turnout and enthusiasm showed how valuable these events remain for local growers.

WMG extends sincere thanks to:

Peter Rathjen and the Velyere team for hosting the event on their outstanding property and providing the green header and front.
John Scotney for bringing the red header and front.
Nigel Wilson for supplying the yellow header.
Jen from Jenovation for providing a wonderful morning tea and lunch.
The Facey Group team, the GRDC presenters, and contributors from Primary Sales Australia, Kondinin Group, and Planfarm for delivering such a practical and insightful day.
And to GRDC for supporting this important workshop in our region.

EO Report: October 2025

By Gabby Carrivick, Executive Officer

As we head into October and look forward to some warmer weather and the start of harvest, it’s been another busy and productive period for the West Midlands Group (WMG). Our focus remains on supporting members through practical, regionally relevant research and engagement that builds resilience across our farming systems and communities.

Getting the GRDC Harvester Set-up Workshop started at Velyere Farm, Dandaragan

Over recent weeks, WMG’s strong industry partnerships have been on full display. Our hosting of the Dandaragan GRDC Harvest Set-Up Workshop brought growers together to share ideas and prepare for a safe, efficient harvest season and is a great example of how collaboration and experience-sharing keep our region ahead of the curve. Last week’s Kayanaba Rd NVTs and Legumes Tour continued that momentum, giving members a first-hand look at variety performance in local conditions and helping inform crop and variety choices for next season.

Reviewing canola varieties at the first stop on the Kayanaba Rd NVTs and Legumes Tour

At the same time, our involvement in the GRDC RiskWi$e initiative continues to ensure that West Midlands growers have a voice in national conversations around on-farm decision making and risk management. These opportunities remind us of the value of being part of a wider network that recognises the realities of our region’s farming systems.

WMG has continued to build strong connections across research and industry this month. A visit from DPIRD’s new Executive Director for Broadacre Systems, Dr Kaara Klepper, and her team opened valuable discussions on future collaboration and innovation for our region. At the same time, our attendance at recent Feedlotting Workshops in Moora helped indicate the ongoing appetite among our mixed farming members for practical, profit-focused insights in the transition from live sheep export. Engagements like these, together with our participation in the CBH pre-harvest meetings and the AAGI Experimental Design Workshop, help keep WMG closely linked with both industry and research partners while ensuring our own trials remain rigorous and relevant.

Behind the scenes, the team continues to make good progress on WMG’s strategic priorities. We’re broadening our collaborative RD&E work to address emerging local challenges, tightening internal systems around governance and financial management, and strengthening member engagement through events, digital platforms and targeted communications. These areas might not always be visible day-to-day, but they’re essential to maintaining WMG’s strong foundation and long-term capability.

Simon and Gabby completing peak biomass cuts at our Grain Legumes Project trial site in Moora

While a lot of the work I have been undertaking over the past month has involved being in the office, on the phone or in front of a laptop, I relish the chance to head out to several of our trial sites when the opportunity arises. The team were recently completing peak biomass cuts at our GRDC funded, GGA led Grain Legumes Project chickpea site and I was pleased to see the significant progress the chickpeas have made in this later stage of the season, despite the very wet start. Our field observations and results to date are positioning this site as a key demonstration for coming seasons considering the increased interest in high value grain legumes recently.

As harvest approaches, our focus is turning to finalising this season’s trials, collecting data and preparing for our 2026 research and extension activities. It’s a busy but exciting time, with plenty of analysis, planning and engagement ahead, and no shortage of opportunities to continue building on the strong work already underway.

Finally, I’d like to thank our staff, members and partners for their ongoing support and involvement. The collaboration and openness across this region are what make WMG such a strong and connected group. Here’s to a safe and successful harvest, and a return to some warmer weather.

Amelioration and Nutrition in Focus: WMG & Summit Crop Walk at Minty’s

By Kate Parker & Simon Kruger, WMG

On 20 August, growers gathered at the Minty family’s property on Rowes Road, Dandaragan, for a dedicated crop walk highlighting soil amelioration work and nutrient management research. The event was run in partnership with Summit Fertilizers and drew a strong turnout, with 39 farmers and industry representatives braving the mixed weather to take part. Even Daisy, Summit Fertilizer’s Area Manager and WMG Board Chair Alana Alexander’s sausage dog made an appearance!

Summit Fertilizer’s Area Manager & WMG Board Chair Alana Alexander introduces the Summit trial site.

The afternoon provided a valuable opportunity to:

Walk through the full Summit Fertilizers trial site.
Take a closer look at the soil amelioration machines that worked the paddock earlier this year.
Hear insights from the Summit team, Julian from BiOWiSH Technologies, JP from Horsch, and the WMG team.

Summit Fertilizers Trials

The program began with Summit presenting their nitrogen × sulfur ratio trial, which is comparing three nitrogen rates and three N:S ratios. A DCD inhibitor was included across treatments to reduce leaching risk, alongside demonstrations of a Crop X weather station.

The Summit team also outlined two additional trials:

BiOWiSH fertiliser trial – a biological coating designed to improve nutrient availability in the root zone. While not a “silver bullet”, the product is being tested in 14 WA trials to assess how it can support fertiliser efficiency.
H2Optimise soil wetter trial – evaluating placement of a wetting agent, either behind the press wheel or with the seed, to improve crop performance.

Attendees make their way through the crop to the Summit trial site.

Tracking Soil Amelioration & Water Repellence at Minty’s

The West Midlands Group is following the amelioration work at the Minty’s as part of the GRDC-funded Soil Water Repellence Project. Earlier this year, multiple tractors and implements were working across the paddock, creating the opportunity to collect valuable mid-season data.

Key findings presented included:

Soil tests confirmed a MED score of 2 in the surface, showing water repellence that the amelioration treatments aim to reduce.
Penetrometer readings showed compaction at 400–450 mm in the control, while ameliorated treatments allowed roots to penetrate much deeper.
Establishment and weed counts were stronger across all ameliorated plots compared to the control.
GS30 biomass results showed minimal differences at this stage, though greater separation is expected later in the season.
NDVI imagery from the past three months was displayed, highlighting crop growth trends.

Monitoring will continue through peak biomass, anthesis, and harvest, with follow-up soil testing planned to measure changes in water repellence.

The inclusion of several of the soil amelioration tools used at the site added extra value and talking points for attendees.

Economics – Lessons from 2024

As the 2025 site is still developing, WMG shared results from the 2024 Soil Water Repellence Project site at Creagh’s near Dandaragan. That trial compared the Plozza Plough, Plozza Fanger, and Nufab Ripper (single and double pass) against untreated strips.

Results showed every machine increased yield and gross margin over the control. Key takeaways included:

Yields: Control ~1.6–1.8 t/ha, Plozza ~3.2 t/ha, Fanger ~3.0 t/ha, Nufab ~2.8 t/ha.
Net benefits after investment: Plozza ~$491/ha, Fanger ~$322/ha, Nufab ~$268/ha, Nufab double ~$147/ha.
All machines broke even within the first season.
A dry September favoured efficiency, with the Plozza Plough converting more biomass into grain. In a kinder finish, the rankings may shift.

These findings underline the importance of considering machine design, cost, and seasonal conditions when investing in amelioration.

Machinery and Discussions

Growers also had the chance to engage directly with JP Coetzer from Horsch, Ben and Sean Plozza from Plozza Plows, and with some details sent through from the Lienert Engineering team on their clay delver. Questions ranged from cost and performance to soil mixing depth and management of gravel and rocks, sparking valuable conversations around practical implementation.

The Horsch Tiger and Lienert Clay Delver created plenty of discussion from the crowd.

Take-Home Messages

Early results at Minty’s show improved establishment and reduced compaction following amelioration.
Economic analysis from 2024 demonstrated that all tested machines returned a profit in their first season, though outcomes varied by design and seasonal finish.
Long-term monitoring through to 2026 will give growers greater confidence in which strategies hold up across soil types and conditions.

Acknowledgements

WMG thanks Gavin Minty for hosting and bringing the amelioration gear together, with John Minty joining in spirit from Scotland. Thanks also to Alana Alexander and the Summit team for their collaboration, Jim Hamilton for providing his Horsch Tiger, and everyone who contributed to the discussions on the day.

Soil CRC Delegates Explore Sandy Soils in the West Midlands

By Kate Parker & Simon Kruger, WMG

Following the national Soil CRC conference in Perth, researchers and PhD students travelled north on 28 August for a field trip through the West Midlands region. Coordinated with the West Midlands Group (WMG), the tour highlighted the area’s characteristic sandy soils and ongoing research partnerships between growers, industry, and scientists.

Soil CRC delegates get their first look over the Wathingarra trial site.

Digging into Local Soils at Velyere

The first stop was the N-Banking trial site and soil pit at Velyere Farm, Dandaragan. Discussions were led by Bindi Isbister (DPIRD/Agrarian Management) alongside farm representative Arie Madlener. The site is exploring how different nitrogen application strategies perform under local conditions, with treatments ranging from grower practice through to nitrogen banking and yield-potential approaches

Bindi Isbister presenting at the Velyere soil pit session.

Key themes included:

Compaction and water repellence, managed through deep ripping and spading, often timed in summer to maximise response.
Soil acidity and liming, with pH shifts being tracked through seeding and ripping trials. Bindi showed the difference “on vs off the line” in pH, root growth, and crop establishment.
Nutrient dynamics under high rainfall, where leaching drives the need for split applications of nitrogen, although operational logistics often dictate timing more than strategy. Variable rate technology could improve efficiency, but cost and capacity remain barriers.
Emerging nutrient issues, with manganese deficiency expected to become more common as liming lifts surface pH.
Future opportunities, such as post-emergent ripping, though timing and integration with lime incorporation remain open questions.

The soil pit gave delegates a practical view of how soil layers, acidity, and root development interact with management choices

Wathingarra Stacking Amendments Trial

The group then travelled to the Wathingarra long-term trial site in Badgingarra, supported by the Soil CRC through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. Here, WMG and Murdoch University are trialling stacking combinations of soil amelioration and organic amendments on deep red sands with severe water repellence

Simon introducing typical pasture varieties and systems of the region to Soil CRC delegates. Photo courtesy of Soil CRC.

The experiment, established in 2021, combines deep tillage (mouldboard ploughing, rotary spading, shallow tillage) with organic amendments (compost, frass, biochar, zeolite, gypsum, clay, Ironman gypsum). WMG is following a subset of 18 treatments in detail.

Soil amelioration treatments from 2021 still visible at the Wathingarra site.

Findings to date show:

Amelioration treatments consistently outperform untreated controls.
Compost has provided strong early benefits, though its effects fade without reapplication.
Frass and biochar showed little impact when first applied, but by 2024 had increased serradella biomass by up to 58% and boosted nutrient uptake.
Outcomes are strongly rainfall-dependent, with wet years delivering the greatest returns.
Mouldboard treatments are increasing carbon in the 10–30 cm profile, while surface-applied frass and biochar have raised carbon in the top 10 cm.
Two years of serradella have already lifted organic carbon levels above baseline testing done in 2022

Linking Research with Regional Context

For many delegates, the field trip offered an important opportunity to connect their research focus with the practical realities of farming in sandy soils. Conversations at the Velyere soil pit and the long-term dataset emerging from Wathingarra showed how collaborative approaches between farmers, grower groups, and researchers can bridge scientific innovation and applied outcomes.

The tour concluded with discussions on how learnings from the West Midlands region could inform broader Soil CRC research efforts across Australia before a stop in New Norcia and back to Perth.

Potassium in Focus at Ballidu Crop Walk

By Kate Parker & Simon Kruger, WMG

On 14 August, growers attending a Synergy Consulting spray group crop walk made a stop just north of Ballidu to visit the West Midlands Group’s new potassium trial site on Corey Mincherton’s farm. The site is part of the GRDC-supported K Extension Project, which is investigating how potassium behaves across contrasting soils in the West Midlands and encouraging farmer discussion on nutrient management.

The visit was made possible through the support of Chris Wilkins and the Synergy Consulting spray group, who included the site as part of their mid-season walk. The group, which draws farmers from the Wongan Hills and Ballidu area, provided an excellent opportunity for WMG to connect with local growers, introduce the project, and gather feedback.

WMG Project Communications Officer Simon Kruger presenting to the Synergy Consulting spray group at the trial site.

Why Potassium is on the Radar

Potassium (K) is a key nutrient for crop performance, but many Wheatbelt farms are in negative balance, removing more in grain, hay, and straw than is being replaced with fertiliser. While deep soil cores (30–90 cm) often show reserves, topsoil levels (0–30 cm) are frequently low, limiting early growth. On sandy soils, leaching compounds the challenge of ensuring plants have access to enough potassium through the season.

The Ballidu Demonstration Site

The Ballidu site was established across two contrasting soil types:

Deep yellow sand
Sand over gravel with a clay loam base

Potassium treatments (0, 25, 37.5, 50, and 75 kg/ha K) were spread post-seeding. Soil cores and Colwell K tests were taken before seeding and again mid-season, with GS30 plant sampling used to check uptake.

What Growers Saw on the Day

Participants compared establishment and biomass differences across the two soil types:

Deep sand showed greater variability in growth, reflecting its weaker nutrient-holding ability.
Sand over gravel was more even, although potassium movement and availability shifted differently across the profile.

NDVI imagery highlighted further contrasts, including the re-emergence of a historical nitrogen banking trial that had not shown up for several years until this season’s rainfall filled the profile.

An infographic-style potassium budget was briefly introduced to growers at the stop, outlining the relationship between applied fertiliser, crop uptake, and recycling potential through stubble. This concept was picked up in more detail during a follow-up discussion with Corey.

Ballidu growers looking through and discussing the latest results from the K Extension Project at the field walk.

Building on 2024 Learnings

The stop also reflected on results from last year’s WMG potassium trials at Dandaragan and Badgingarra:

Biomass was the main driver of potassium uptake, with crop type mattering less than overall growth.
Around 30 kg/ha of K was the “sweet spot” for wheat in 2024 conditions.
Fertiliser product and placement mattered less than getting the rate right.

These findings provided a framework for what to watch in 2025 at Ballidu.

Take-Home Messages

Bigger crops cycle more potassium, as biomass drives nutrient return to the soil.
Soil type makes a difference, with sandy profiles behaving differently to gravelly soils.
Stubble counts, because retaining stubble helps recycle potassium back into the system.
Keep it practical, as farmers value clear, visual tools to guide decisions.

Corey & Simon looking through the K budget infographics and latest NDVI and field data.

Farmer Reflections: Corey’s Perspective

A follow-up session with host farmer Corey Mincherton also provided valuable insights into how research translates on farm:

On extension tools: Corey rated the infographics as simple and effective, far easier to digest than reports. “Farmers like pictures,” he said, noting they made comparisons straightforward without demanding extra time.
On soil testing and mapping: Corey is moving to a more intensive soil sampling program. In addition to routine 0–30 cm testing, he has begun grid sampling to 100 cm and has completed full soil characterisation on several paddocks. These provide detailed maps for K, lime, and manganese, which he has already found useful. His aim is to extend this work across the whole farm in the coming years to guide variable-rate applications and other managements of the soil.
On potassium management: While acknowledging cost is the main driver, Corey is moving towards variable-rate K. He rated his knowledge of K cycling as “5 out of 10”, recognising the limits of time when managing a mixed operation. Crop-specific K requirements remain a gap he would like to explore further.
On broader constraints: Compaction and water use efficiency remain bigger concerns than potassium alone. “We farm for dry years, not wet ones,” Corey said, noting deep ripping, liming, and improving organic carbon as his main strategies, with K management layered on top.
On trial design: He suggested a timing trial for K application would be more useful than further rate trials, reflecting the practical decisions growers face each season.

Next Steps

The Ballidu site will continue to be monitored through 2025, with yield and stubble assessments to come. The Synergy Consulting spray group stop gave growers an early look at how potassium is tracking across rates and soils, while Corey’s reflections reinforced the importance of farmer-friendly tools and practical trial design to support nutrient management decisions.

WMG Shares Risk Reward Tool Project Learnings at National Soil CRC Conference

By Simon Kruger, WMG Project Communications Officer

West Midlands Group (WMG) Project Communications Officer Simon Kruger recently presented on one of the group’s recently completed capacity-building projects, the Risk Reward Tool Project, at the Soil CRC Conference in Perth on 27 August. The Soil CRC funded project was led by WMG with collaborators Corrigin Farm Improvement Group (WA), Central West Farming Systems (NSW) and Charles Sturt University (NSW). The project was the first Soil CRC project to be led by a grower group.

WMG Project Communications Officer Simon Kruger presenting at the 2025 Soil CRC Conference.

The project set out to improve how research is communicated to farmers. It recognised the role of grower groups as the conduit between research and farm businesses, and focused on practical ways to help farmers weigh up risk and reward. Rather than building a new website or app, the team concentrated on strengthening the capability inside grower groups so that information is clearer, more consistent and easier to use.

Three farmer-facing formats were created and tested. An infographic provided a quick check of relevance. A four-page synthesis outlined fit, effort, likely benefits and any red flags. A full technical report remained available for those who wanted detailed methods and analysis. This tiered approach matched the way many farmers work through decisions, moving from awareness to evaluation and then, if appropriate, to trialling or adoption.

A concise Writing Guide (available from the Soil CRC Knowledge Hub) was developed alongside the formats. This proved to be the most important outcome. The guide explains which format to use when, sets out what to include, and offers plain language prompts so reports are easier to compare and apply. It standardises scope, method, context and limitations, and includes a simple partial-budget style summary so assumptions are visible and numbers can be checked against local conditions. The guide now serves as an onboarding tool for new staff and a quality reference for experienced communicators, helping groups maintain consistency when teams change.

The work drew on farmer input gathered through WMG, Corrigin Farm Improvement Group and Central West Farming Systems during 2023. Feedback pointed to the need for shorter, more visual summaries, local context and clarity around economics, as well as openness about what did not work. These points were built into the guide and the examples.

Former WMG Project Officer Melanie Dixon working through a project infographic with WMG member Will Browne.

Testing with real projects showed several clear results. The tiered model saved time because many readers found the infographic or four-pager sufficient for next steps. Context was crucial, especially local agronomy cues and a straightforward economic summary in the synthesis layer. The project also confirmed that habits can be hard to shift, which is why a practical guide and worked examples were necessary to sustain change across multiple projects and partners.

WMG reported that the package has already helped with internal consistency and staff development. The Writing Guide gives new project officers a clear starting point and supports collaboration between groups and researchers. The formats were used across field days, discussion groups and newsletters, and were found to reduce document hunting and make follow-up conversations more focused.

Although the work was designed for grower groups, the approach has broader value. Research teams can use the synthesis document as a stable middle layer between a paper and a paddock, which helps with comparison across sites and seasons. Advisers and other organisations can use the same structure to present updates with assumptions in view, supporting due diligence on farm.

With the project now complete, WMG and partners noted that the main achievement was not a new platform, but a practical method that strengthens the path from research to application. The Writing Guide and templates are being embedded into WMG project planning and delivery so that clarity and consistency start from day one.