Fred Morley Centre

Applying critical thinking to improve the profitability, productivity and animal welfare of the Australian broadacre agricultural industries.

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

@brill_ag @DAFFgov @SouthernNSWHub @PhenologyisFun Thanks for sharing the pic's Rohan, great to see the site is up and going! Benefited from the recent rain and relatively mild temp's for this time of year. @DAFFgov @SouthernNSWHub

[Rohan Brill @brill_ag]

Timok vetch V HDL mix, 5 weeks after sowing at Ganmain as part of #FutureDroughtFund #MixedFarmingTrials. To be sown to canola or wheat in 2027

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

@Jessica_Wyse_ @SouthernNSWHub @Gulbali_Inst @CharlesSturtUni The ewes think they are missing out on a treat Jess!

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

How did we manage #MixedFarmingTrials through the dry start to 2025? What decisions were made? What did you do differently? Check out our reflections on · #SNSWInnovationHub website: https://t.co/hDM3SQMf4L #FutureDroughtFund

[Jess Wyse @Jessica_Wyse_]

We welcomed our colleagues from the University of Melbourne, TIA, CSIRO, DPIRD, MLA and GRCD to tour the Long Term Field Trial at Wagga Wagga looking at mixed farming systems and measuring drought resilience.

#MixedFarmingTrials #FutureDroughtFund #SNSWDroughtHubb

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

In May we hadn't sown dual-purpose wheat at our Wagga research site and were wondering how long we would need to be feeding our winter-lambing ewes for. In response @Farm_Link established this trial to see how quickly they could generate winter feed from cereals.

[FarmLink Research @Farm_Link]

FarmLink has responded to the dry start to the season by pivoting our Long-Term Field Trial project.
This year’s trial is investigating the impact of grazing grain crops to provide quick winter feed for livestock. Two varieties of Wheat (Illabo and Scepter), plus Barley (Neo) and Oats (Goldie) are being grazed once or twice before being closed off to flower and set grain.
Feed value and grain yield will be compared between these treatments and an ungrazed control, as well as a treatment that will be grazed right through the season.
Come and see this trial at the FarmLink Open Day on September 12.
Open Day tickets available here https://t.co/RneTcO8xlY

Read more about the Southern NSW Drought Resilient Mixed Farming Systems Long-term Field Trial in the Winter Issue of The Link here
https://t.co/d1rhyv7qNN

This project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

#MixedFarmingTrials @DAFFgov @SouthernNSWHub @Gulbali_Inst

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

Joined by enthusiastic group for the #MixedFarmingTrials August Field Walk at Finley hosted by Southern Growers. @PhenologyisFun led discussion of cultivars and grazing timing. First results at September Field Day on site @DAFFgov @SouthernNSWHub @Gulbali_Inst #FutureDroughtFund

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

Great to meet new staff @Farm_Link & visit 2025 trial site at Temora for the #FutureDroughtFund #MixedFarmingTrials researching forage production options from a late break. 1st results at the Open Day on 12th September. @DAFFgov @SouthernNSWHub @Gulbali_Inst @PhenologyisFun

[Felicity Harris @PhenologyisFun]

Lots of smiles for @CharlesSturtUni student helpers getting a taste of lamb marking action for @DAFFgov @Gulbali_Inst long term field trial this morning! Capturing livestock, pasture and crop production data to improve resilience of mixed farming systems 🐑🌱🌾🍀

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

Cool but clear morning for checking crops
@CharlesSturtUni Ashmont Farm site of the SNSW- #MixedFarmingTrials project. Jess decided to rug up, but nothing deters agronomist Nigel from wearing shorts! #SNSWInnovationHub #FutureDroughtFund #LongTermFieldTrials.

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

Plenty happening at the Long Term #MixedFarmingTrials @CharlesSturtUni Wagga. Emergence finished, lambing 80% done & 150kg urea on crops. Bare lambing paddocks and full hand feeding, waiting for the lucerne to get going. #FutureDroughtFund @DAFFGov @SouthernNSWHub @Gulbali_Inst

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

A great visit to the research farm at Athenry, County Galway on Friday to learn more about their grazing systems trials and look at the equipment & techniques used for measuring sheep intake and methane output. Thanks to the @TeagascSheep team for hosting.

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

Congratulations to Dr. Mary McQuillan (DVStud), Dr. Thomas Keogh (PhD) & Dr. Amy Bates (PhD) who graduated at the ceremony in Wagga yesterday. We at the Fred Morley Centre are very proud of you! Check out their great work: https://t.co/LXPh3YXq5W

[CWFS @CWFS_Condo]

Managing Lucerne in Low Rainfall Zones: Key Insights for Farmers 🌱

Are you wondering how to control the boom and bust responses of lucerne in low rainfall zones, especially with our increasingly variable climate? 🌦️

At Central West Farming Systems, our field team has been busy taking the second biomass cuts from our long-term lucerne project. We're tracking the climate variability responses over summer for 15 different lucerne cultivars, compared with two widely used control cultivars in the Condobolin region.

With sporadic summer storms across January delivering rainfall to the trial site, we’re closely monitoring how lucerne cultivars respond and utilise this moisture for optimal production. This study is tracking responses over four years, providing valuable insights into how lucerne can perform under shifting climate conditions.

🔍 Stay tuned as we continue to explore which cultivars offer the most resilience and productivity in our farming systems!
Keep upto date with this project work: https://t.co/xatzY5F0k8

#FutureDroughtFund #MixedFarmingTrials #SNSWInnovationHub #CharlesSturtResearch #GulbaliInstitute #AusAg #AusGov #Drought #Management #FarmResilience #ClimateAdaption @DAFFgov @SouthernNSWHub @Gulbali_Inst

[Southern NSW Innovation Hub @SouthernNSWHub]

PhD students! Join a cross-disciplinary research team in 2025 as part of the Southern NSW Drought Resilient Mixed Farming System Trials project https://t.co/yufe4tpean
#MixedFarmingTrials
#FutureDroughtFund
#SNSWInnovationHub
@DAFFGov
@Gulbali_Inst
Thanks to @AgroJAK for the pic!

[CWFS @CWFS_Condo]

CWFS technical staff have been busy finalising the first year of data for the long term lucerne pasture trial at the Fettel Centre across October/November 2024. We are investigating the productive performance of 15 different varieties of lucerne pastures comparing old versus new genetics for grazing varieties and how grazing management practices can be used aligning with varietal selection to build resilience into the pasture phases of our mixed farming system rotations across this 4 year project.
Activities have included the collection of productivity data such as plant establishment counts,  plant biomass, groundcover assessments, forage plant nutrition testing, which were collected prior to simulated "grazing" being undertaken.

The team is looking forward to seeing the end results of the first year and bringing these results to discussions with producer members and stakeholders. Through this trial we aim to bring confidence to our members to apply best grazing management practices that align with their selection of varieties, enterprise objectives and rotation requirements in mixed farming systems.

#FutureDroughtFund #MixedFarmingTrials #SNSWInnovationHub #CharlesSturtResearch #GulbaliInstitute #AusAg #AusGov #Drought @DAFFgov @SouthernNSWHub @Gulbali_Inst

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

Great to hear the breadth of Aus & international sheep research investigating how melatonin could be used to improve sheep production in the future at Wednesday's Seminar. Well done to honours student and veterinarian Dr. Lydia Nicholson who presented latest #CharlesSturtResearch

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

Join the AAAS Qld & NT and AAAS NSW Branches on Wednesday 30th October for their Spring Seminar Series!

[Australian Association of Animal Sciences @AnimalScienceAU]

Opportunities for AAAS members - https://t.co/z6cst2FJx2

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

>80 already signed up for the Sheep repro seminar at Wagga next Wednesday. Please RSVP to [email protected] by 12 October for catering. @Gulbali_Inst @CSU_AgriPark

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

Interested in Sheep Reproduction? Come hear latest research at this FREE seminar at Charles Sturt University, Wagga on Wednesday 16th October. @Gulbali_Inst #CharlesSturtResearch

[Fred Morley Centre @FMCentre]

Interested in Sheep Reproduction? Come hear latest research at this FREE seminar at Charles Sturt University, Wagga on Wednesday 16th October. @Gulbali_Inst #CharlesSturtResearch