GRDC Final Report 2024 - Fallow Management and the Economic Costs

Key Messages to highlight:

1. Growers considering fallow should implement a ‘brown out’ practice, keep paddocks weed free and maintain ground cover. This practice results in the highest amount of stored soil moisture, allows N to accumulate and be available for the following crop and provides an opportunity to control glyphosate resistant ryegrass.

2. Saving 1mm of plant available water costs $4/ha.

3. The cereal on cereal treatment recorded the highest gross margin. Despite the gross margin of the brown out practice being lower than cereal on cereal, feedback gathered from growers during the project suggests it does have a positive economic benefit to the farm system overall. Perhaps fallow is best considered a strategic investment and recorded as an asset on the grower’s balance sheet.