Seeding decisions in the Mallee

Achieving a balance between erosion risk and early sowing benefits

Match sowing to paddock potential
Farmers aim to align sowing decisions and inputs with the soil’s capacity, prioritising early sowing where responses are most reliable rather than using a blanket approach across all paddocks.
Balance production with erosion risk
Groundcover and erosion risk are treated as core components of sowing decisions, particularly on sandy soils, where protecting soil health is considered part of successful establishment.
Use multiple decision factors, not one trigger
Sowing decisions are based on a combination of stored soil moisture, soil type, paddock history, weed pressure, crop choice, seasonal outlooks, and operational constraints rather than a single rule or forecast.

Project Overview

Farmer Perspectives on Early Sowing in the Victorian Mallee

This fact sheet summarises farmer feedback from the 2026 Mallee Research Update (MRU) workshops held across the Victorian Mallee, focusing on seeding decisions in environments where growers are balancing early sowing opportunities with erosion risk.

Farmers in the region are aiming to capture the establishment and yield benefits of earlier sowing while managing the risk of wind erosion, particularly on sandy soils and low groundcover paddocks. Feedback highlights that sowing decisions are not based on a single rule, but instead involve multiple considerations including stored soil moisture, soil type and productivity potential, groundcover levels, paddock history, weed pressure, crop choice, and seasonal conditions.

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Options for Managing Mallee Seeps and Dryland Saline Landscapes Across the Victorian Mallee

Key learnings from 6 years of Nitrogen x Crop Rotation Trials at Gol Gol

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Explore Key Categories

Building Soil Function

Strategies like ground cover and amelioration to enhance soil structure and fertility.

Soil and Carbon

Exploring carbon farming practices to boost soil health and reduce emissions.

Soil for Drought Resilience

Addressing land degradation challenges, including saline soils and Mallee seeps, to improve resilience to dry conditions.

Soils and Cropping

Integrating soil management with agronomy for improved crop productivity and sustainability.

Soils and Livestock

Optimising livestock and pasture systems to enhance soil quality and pasture performance.

Wind Erosion

Reducing the risk of wind erosion to protect topsoil, improve land productivity, and support long-term farm resilience.

Frequently asked questions

Ask Charlie Carbon: Your Soil Questions Answered

Why is soil health a major focus for MSF?
Healthy soils are vital for sustainable farming. MSF promotes practices like soil amelioration, cover crops, and carbon farming to improve soil structure, fertility, and resilience against erosion and salinity.
What is a Mallee Seep?
A Mallee Seep occurs when a perched water table brings saline water to the soil surface, creating patches of unproductive land known as saline scalds. These can significantly reduce crop and pasture yields.
How does MSF help farmers manage Mallee Seeps?
MSF offers tools like the Mallee Seeps Decision Tree, research insights, and practical guidance to help farmers identify, assess, and rehabilitate areas affected by Mallee Seeps.
What does MSF do?
MSF conducts innovative on-farm research, hosts educational events, and provides resources to address key challenges like soil health, drought resilience, and sustainable farming practices in low-rainfall regions.
Who is Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF)?
MSF is a farmer-driven organisation dedicated to improving the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of low-rainfall farming systems in the Mallee region through research, education, and collaboration.

Seeding decisions in the Mallee

Match sowing to paddock potential

Balance production with erosion risk

Use multiple decision factors, not one trigger

Project Overview

Farmer Perspectives on Early Sowing in the Victorian Mallee

Rate our resource

Options for Managing Mallee Seeps and Dryland Saline Landscapes Across the Victorian Mallee

Key learnings from 6 years of Nitrogen x Crop Rotation Trials at Gol Gol

Leave the first comment (Cancel Reply)

Join the Conversation & Share with Your Community

Explore Key Categories

Building Soil Function

Soil and Carbon

Soil for Drought Resilience

Soils and Cropping

Soils and Livestock

Wind Erosion

Frequently asked questions

Why is soil health a major focus for MSF?

What is a Mallee Seep?

How does MSF help farmers manage Mallee Seeps?

What does MSF do?

Who is Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF)?

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