BRINKWORTH cropper Justin Wundke was quick to get out and spray weeds after the severe storms last week subsided and the sun came out.
With wife Beck, parents Dennis and Karen and brother Bradley, Justin crops 2200 hectares of owned, sharefarmed and leased land, and runs a 500-ewe prime lamb enterprise.
Justin said crop growth was slightly later than last year due to a dry start, but he has received 135 millimetres in the growing season and 220mm for the year.
“Our crops are set up for a good spring, so hopefully it’s a good one,” he said.
This week Justin was out top-dressing crops with urea, while on the look-out for Russian wheat aphids.
“Thankfully the recent cold, wet weather has slowed activity, so there are only low levels,” he said.
Justin said he was taking the “wait and see approach” until spring – a direction encouraged by SARDI.
If spraying is then required, he plans to use aphicide Pirimor, as it was less harmful to beneficial insects.
Alisha Fogden
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
