Lentils can be one of the least competitive crops when it comes to weed control, but good planning can make all the difference.

In this episode of MSF Farm Talk podcast, we revisit the Mallee Research Updates from March, where agronomist and WeedSmart Extension Officer Chris Davey explores practical strategies for managing weeds in lentil crops.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series with Chris Davey on lentil weed management.

Chris explains why lentils are particularly vulnerable to weed pressure and how decisions made before sowing can set crops up for success. He discusses the importance of crop rotation, improving crop competition and addressing soil constraints to give lentils the best chance of establishing and competing with weeds.

The conversation also unpacks the WeedSmart Big 6, a framework for integrated weed management that combines multiple tactics to reduce weed pressure and slow the development of herbicide resistance. From herbicide strategies and double knock tactics to harvest weed seed control, Chris shares practical insights growers can apply to their own farming systems.

Whether you're planning your next lentil crop or looking to strengthen your weed management strategy, this episode offers valuable advice to help improve crop competitiveness and support long-term weed control.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where Chris explores in-crop weed control options and how to maximise herbicide performance.

This podcast episode is supported by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board.

Lentils can be one of the least competitive crops when it comes to weed control, but good planning can make all the difference.
In this episode of MSF Farm Talk podcast, we revisit the Mallee Research Updates from March, where agronomist and WeedSmart Extension Officer Chris Davey explores practical strategies for managing weeds in lentil crops.
This is Part 1 of a two-part series with Chris Davey on lentil weed management.
Chris explains why lentils are particularly vulnerable to weed pressure and how decisions made before sowing can set crops up for success. He discusses the importance of crop rotation, improving crop competition and addressing soil constraints to give lentils the best chance of establishing and competing with weeds.
The conversation also unpacks the WeedSmart Big 6, a framework for integrated weed management that combines multiple tactics to reduce weed pressure and slow the development of herbicide resistance. From herbicide strategies and double knock tactics to harvest weed seed control, Chris shares practical insights growers can apply to their own farming systems.
Whether you're planning your next lentil crop or looking to strengthen your weed management strategy, this episode offers valuable advice to help improve crop competitiveness and support long-term weed control.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where Chris explores in-crop weed control options and how to maximise herbicide performance.
This podcast episode is supported by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board.

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC & SA's low-rainfall Mallee region. For more information visit: www.msfp.org.au/podcast 

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC &amp; SA's low-rainfall Mallee region. For more information visit: <a href="http://www.msfp.org.au/podcast">www.msfp.org.au/podcast</a>&nbsp;

MSF Farm Talk Podcast

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC & SA's low-rainfall Mallee region.

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC &amp; SA's low-rainfall Mallee region.

MSF Farm Talk

Lentil Weed Control Part 1: Soils, Rotation and the WeedSmart Big 6

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, we revisit Mallee Sustainable Farming's Variable Rate Technology Forum held in Lameroo in March, where Kylie catches up with Pete Treloar after a series of pre-seeding VRT workshops across the South Australian Mallee.

Pete shares what recent trial work is revealing about applying phosphorus and nitrogen more strategically using VRT. He explains why many paddocks in a low-yielding season showed little response to additional phosphorus, how test strips can help validate decisions, and why some high-performing soil zones continue to justify greater investment.

The conversation also explores how combining soil moisture, nitrogen testing, yield maps and local knowledge can help growers better target inputs, reduce unnecessary fertiliser costs and improve confidence in variable rate decisions across contrasting seasons.

Whether you're already using VRT or considering where to start, this episode offers practical insights into making fertiliser decisions that are backed by data and local experience.

This podcast episode is supported by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board and the Australian Government through funding from the National Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.

Subscribe to MSF Farm Talk so you never miss an episode!

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, we revisit Mallee Sustainable Farming's Variable Rate Technology Forum held in Lameroo in March, where Kylie catches up with Pete Treloar after a series of pre-seeding VRT workshops across the South Australian Mallee.
Pete shares what recent trial work is revealing about applying phosphorus and nitrogen more strategically using VRT. He explains why many paddocks in a low-yielding season showed little response to additional phosphorus, how test strips can help validate decisions, and why some high-performing soil zones continue to justify greater investment.
The conversation also explores how combining soil moisture, nitrogen testing, yield maps and local knowledge can help growers better target inputs, reduce unnecessary fertiliser costs and improve confidence in variable rate decisions across contrasting seasons.
Whether you're already using VRT or considering where to start, this episode offers practical insights into making fertiliser decisions that are backed by data and local experience.
This podcast episode is supported by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board and the Australian Government through funding from the National Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.
Subscribe to MSF Farm Talk so you never miss an episode!

From Trial Strips to N Decisions: VRT Forum Insights

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, PIRSA’s Amanda Schapel shares insights from the long-running, collaborative, Soil CRC Sandy Soil Project. The project is investigating how clay and organic amendments can improve the productivity and resilience of sandy soils through literature reviews, pot trials and long-term multi-site field research.

Amanda explains why sandy soils can behave so differently depending on factors such as depth to clay, grain size and rainfall environment, while also outlining the multiple constraints often present in sandy systems, including compaction, acidity, water repellence, and poor nutrient and water-holding capacity.

Drawing on a review of 89 projects and 270 treatments, the episode explores how organic amendments can rapidly improve deep sandy soils, although benefits may decline after several years, while subsoil clay provides a slower but more persistent productivity response. Amanda also discusses the performance of novel amendments including bentonite, zeolite and compost products, highlighting the importance of matching amendments to specific soil constraints and balancing long-term benefits with cost-effectiveness.

Project page with additional resources including research report, fact sheets and webinars: https://soilcrc.com.au/projects/new-amendments-for-sandy-soils/

This work has been supported by the Cooperative Research Centre for High Performance Soils, whose activities are funded by the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program.

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, PIRSA&rsquo;s Amanda Schapel shares insights from the long-running, collaborative, Soil CRC Sandy Soil Project. The project is investigating how clay and organic amendments can improve the productivity and resilience of sandy soils through literature reviews, pot trials and long-term multi-site field research.
Amanda explains why sandy soils can behave so differently depending on factors such as depth to clay, grain size and rainfall environment, while also outlining the multiple constraints often present in sandy systems, including compaction, acidity, water repellence, and poor nutrient and water-holding capacity.
Drawing on a review of 89 projects and 270 treatments, the episode explores how organic amendments can rapidly improve deep sandy soils, although benefits may decline after several years, while subsoil clay provides a slower but more persistent productivity response. Amanda also discusses the performance of novel amendments including bentonite, zeolite and compost products, highlighting the importance of matching amendments to specific soil constraints and balancing long-term benefits with cost-effectiveness.
Project page with additional resources including research report, fact sheets and webinars:&nbsp;<a href="https://soilcrc.com.au/projects/new-amendments-for-sandy-soils/">https://soilcrc.com.au/projects/new-amendments-for-sandy-soils/</a>
This work has been supported by the Cooperative Research Centre for High Performance Soils, whose activities are funded by the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program.

Sandy Soils, New Solutions: Insights from Soil CRC Project

Mallee Sustainable Farming Research Officer Louise Brok shares insights from the Millewa long-term crop rotation trial established in 2025 in the Victorian Mallee. The trial is evaluating pulse-inclusive farming systems, featuring 50% legumes across five fully phased rotations over four years. The project is investigating profitability, nitrogen fixation and fertiliser requirements, and groundcover retention. Designed for the low-organic-carbon sandy soils of the region, the work aims to test and validate farming systems that improve both productivity and resilience in high-risk environments.

Despite an extremely dry 2025 season — with crops dry sown on 5 May and receiving only around 90 mm of growing-season rainfall — the trials still delivered valuable early insights.

This episode explores the first-year results from the crop rotation and legume integration trial, along with additional demonstrations including wheat–vetch intercropping with varying vetch termination timings and a MAP fertiliser rate demonstration.

📄 Year 1 Results Fact Sheet: Millewa Fact Sheet Year 1
📋 Legume based cropping systems project page: Legume Based Cropping Systems - Mallee Sustainable Farming

This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.

Mallee Sustainable Farming Research Officer Louise Brok shares insights from the Millewa long-term crop rotation trial established in 2025 in the Victorian Mallee. The trial is evaluating pulse-inclusive farming systems, featuring 50% legumes across five fully phased rotations over four years. The project is investigating profitability, nitrogen fixation and fertiliser requirements, and groundcover retention. Designed for the low-organic-carbon sandy soils of the region, the work aims to test and validate farming systems that improve both productivity and resilience in high-risk environments.
Despite an extremely dry 2025 season &mdash; with crops dry sown on 5 May and receiving only around 90 mm of growing-season rainfall &mdash; the trials still delivered valuable early insights.
This episode explores the first-year results from the crop rotation and legume integration trial, along with additional demonstrations including wheat&ndash;vetch intercropping with varying vetch termination timings and a MAP fertiliser rate demonstration.
📄 Year 1 Results Fact Sheet:&nbsp;<a href="https://msfp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Millewa-Fact-Sheet-Year-1.pdf">Millewa Fact Sheet Year 1</a> 📋 Legume based cropping systems project page: <a href="https://msfp.org.au/projects/legume-based-cropping-systems/">Legume Based Cropping Systems - Mallee Sustainable Farming</a>
This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.

Lentil Weed Control Part 1: Soils, Rotation and the WeedSmart Big 6

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