Time is one of our most precious commodities, therefore we appreciate it when farmers take time to conduct their own paddock trials with Beaulieu R.U.M.. On his 1,100 acre Lake Bolac, VIC, property, David Lowing has just completed a 2 year R.U.M./urea comparison on a wheat crop.

"Briefly, I used the same 17ha paddock in both years, splitting it in half for R.U.M. and urea, then reversing it the following year", David explained.

"In the 2000 season I limed both sides at 2.5 tonnes/ha and applied 100kg/ha double super in June. In July I sprayed R.U.M. at 5L/ha on the western side and deep-banded 100kg/ha urea on the eastern side.

Our annual rainfall average is 23 inches and we probably got less than that for the season. When we checked the yield, the western side (R.U.M.) went 4.82 t/ha and the eastern side came in at 4.3 t/ha. A difference of over half a tonne/ha. protein was the same for both sides.

In the 2001 season we burned all the stubble and started with a clean paddock. This time the same rates of R.U.M. and urea went on the alternate sides of the paddock. I changed to 100kg/ha DAP instead of double super in search of extra Nitrogen but both sides got the same.

This year the R.U.M. side yielded 4.01 t/ha and the urea side 3.58 t/ha.

Again, nearly half a tonne/ha in favour of R.U.M.. Both sides scored the same protein and both were slightly frost-affected."

David commented on the economics, "The R.U.M. at less than $25/ha certainly had a cost advantage over urea... and there was nearly 12% difference in yield."

David Lowing

'Karmala' Merino Stud

Lake Bolac VIC

Seed dressing with R.U.M. seems to be a hot topic lately. Alan Wallin, our R.U.M. 'guru' on the Darling Downs reckons that, faced with the high costs of buying pre-treated grain, some farmers are adopting the '10% scheme'. That is they buy enough of the expensive pre-coated stuff to sow about 10% of their selected acreage.

The resulting 'clean' seed is then reserved to plant next year's crop. They then seed dress enough grain with R.U.M. to do the remaining 90%. Personally I wouldn't be surprised if they find that the R.U.M.-treated grain is as good, if not better than the pre-treated stuff. We'll see.

Seems about time we told you about that humourist Max Hall, the onion grower in South Australia. Anyway, he rang to say that Ruth, the charming Mrs Hall, has been preparing their flower-garden for a family wedding. "Wherever she's used R.U.M. there's been an immediate response", report Max. "And believe me, there's some parts of that garden that used to have concrete for a cousin". We don't think he was joking.

Our hard workers in the Beaulieu R.U.M. office have had their heartstrings tugged by a young Charmaine Hoppe of Toowoomba West in QLD. Although only 10, Charmaine (her mates call her Charlie) works hard each year as a junior entrant in the Pony Clubs of QLD Personality Quest to raise funds for Riding for the Disabled, QLD. We're happy to send them some R.U.M. for their charity auction.

Cheers, Choc