Today let's talk about climate, the increasingly erratic climate of Central Queensland .. and the farming innovations being used to cope with it all.

The "normal"  time to plant sorghum in Central Queensland has been in December and January. Planting up until the middle of February used to be late.

The risk of ergot infestation and midge attack is high in late-planted sorghum in that part of the world but the scientists from the Central Queensland Sustainable Farming Systems Project (CQSFSP) decided to plant trials and see whether reducing the crop's tendency to tiller, and shortening its flowering period, could reduce those risks and extend the safe planting window in the region.

The Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) supported CQSFSP involves some 20 scientists from Queensland's Departments of Primary Industries (QDPI) and Natural Resources and Mines and from the private sector.

Consultants Graham Spackman and Associates collaborate with their QDPI counterparts on the sorghum research.

According to Graham Spackman, the late planting trial built on earlier sorghum research in the CQSFSP, particularly in the areas of varietal choice, row spacing and plant populations.

"Growers had been advised to avoid late planting of sorghum to manage ergot infestation and midge attack," Mr Spackman said.

"If they did consider late planting, recommendations were to plant a low-tillering, early maturing hybrid, with a high midge rating, to increase the plant population and to plant in wide rows.

"These strategies were designed to minimise tillering and shorten the flowering period.

"But their effectiveness had not been field tested. When the opportunity came to plant in late February ­ on the Pukallus family's property at Gindie, we decided to test the strategies. 

Two medium quick maturity sorghum hybrids ­ one low tillering, one high tillering ­ were sown in one-metre, solid and one metre, single skip configurations at four plant populations.

The trials received good rain immediately after planning. The crop grew well during the vegetative stages but suffered moisture stress toward maturity. Some results were as expected, others surprising.

"Overall, the trial provided firm support for previous recommendations," Mr Spackman said.

"The results suggest that, if growers wish to manage the tillering and flowering patterns in late planted sorghum, they will need to consider the tillering characteristics of the hybrid chosen, the row configuration to be used and the plant population they wish to achieve.

 "Importantly, sound planting techniques will need to be used to ensure the target plant population is achieved."