DISEASE management during a wet year will be one of the hot topics discussed at the annual Southern Pulse Agronomy Pulse Field Day in Rupanyup, Victoria, on October 20.

Southern Pulse Agronomy Project leader, Jason Brand, said the Pulse Field Day was the perfect opportunity for growers to get the latest information on pulse research, disease management and herbicide tolerance among other topics.

“This year’s Pulse Field Day will include a lot of information about the management of wet-weather diseases such as botrytis grey mould in lentils, ascochyta blight of chickpeas, and chocolate spot in faba beans,” Dr Brand said.

“Growers are particularly concerned about these issues given the amount of rain we have had in the region recently, and our researchers and industry agronomists will be on hand to answer questions and give tips and advice about how to manage these.”

A particular highlight of the day will be the new red lentil variety PBA Jumbo2, which is currently showing no signs of disease due to its resistance to botrytis grey mould and ascochyta blight.

Dr Brand said herbicide tolerance in lentils and faba beans would be another topic discussed at the field day, as well as the latest information on lentil, chickpea, field pea and faba bean agronomy.

“Some discussions will focus on the future, including Audrey Delahunty’s presentation on her work developing lentils with improved heat tolerance,” he said.

“Agriculture Victoria’s Regional Research Agronomist Ashley Wallace will also speak about his trial of electronic sensors for the early detection of pulse disorder, a trial that aims to test the utility of sensors to identify and map diseases before visual symptoms appear.

“Grain marketers will also be on hand on the day to give tips and advice, and we’ll also talk about sowing dates and row spacing.”

The field day will be held on Thursday, October 20, from 9am to 1pm at one of Agriculture Victoria’s trial sites 10 kilometres north of Rupanyup – on the corner of Banyena-Pimpinio Road and Stawell-Warracknabeal Road.

For more information and to book for the field day, phone Dr Brand on 0409 357 076.