Glyphosate resistance is on the rise in Australia’s grain growing regions. With 17 key weed species already identified as resistant, sustainable herbicide practices have never been so important. In this podcast Andrew Storrie from AGRONOMO discusses what herbicide resistance (or susceptibility) testing options are available to WA growers. Further information: Andrew Storrie PO Box 5944 Albany WA 6332 Phone +61 (8) 9842 3598 Mobile: 0428 423 577 andrew@agronomo.com.au @AgronomoOz AGSWG web site w...
Jul 24, 2019•8 min•Ep. 73
Grain growers in Tasmania could be averaging cereal yields of 7 tonnes per hectare. The top 10 percent of those growers could be doing double that tonnage. This is a major outcome the Hyper Yielding Cereals project wants to see after 5 years of Research, Development and Extension. This podcast will take you to Hagley in northern Tasmania where the GRDC has invested in a major trial to lift feed wheat and barley yields, as well as improve grain quality and reduce the need for the island state to ...
Jul 17, 2019•17 min•Ep. 72
Researchers at the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries are testing the law of unintended consequences – in this case whether wheat varieties that stay greener longer are also prolonging the feeding of aphids on wheat plants. On this podcast, Entomologist, Melina Miles and her team take us into the tiny world of aphids. Contact: Melina Miles Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) 0407 113 306 melina.miles@daf.qld.gov.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...
Jul 10, 2019•9 min•Ep. 71
After identifying a need to lift cereal yields to take advantage of the extensive soil amelioration work that’s been happening in Western Australia and newfound opportunities to sow early crops, a group of innovative Esperance growers were keen to investigate options. Quenten Knight a member of the Soil Constraints West steering committee and an agronomist with Agronomy Focus in Esperance put together a study tour plan for the group and with a GRDC Grower Development award, the Esperance growers...
Jun 26, 2019•11 min•Ep. 69
For many central western NSW grain growers in 2018, the decision to graze their cereal crops reaped big rewards. But it’s not as simple as letting a mob of sheep loose on your best farming paddock. On this podcast, Peter Matthews, a Technical Specialist with the NSW Department of Primary Industries discusses the tactical and strategic decisions you need to take for a successful cereal grazing program. Contact: Peter Matthews 0427 007 395 Peter.matthews@dpi.nsw.gov.au Resources: Dual purpose crop...
Jun 26, 2019•13 min•Ep. 70
Monitoring a crop is an integral part of a growers integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. Not only does it reveal if any damage is occurring, it also helps in determining pest and beneficial presence and abundance. In this podcast, agronomist Phil Bowden explores these insect monitoring methods in detail, to help growers and advisors make an informed risk assessment and to decide if chemical control is warranted. It’s also detailed in the publication Insect Pests Of Establishing Canola In NS...
Jun 19, 2019•12 min•Ep. 67
The Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) seeder demonstration day was held in April 2019 to compare six commercially-available conventional seeders and precision planters in establishing canola at two sowing rates. In this podcast, the GRDC’s Andrew Etherton talks through the event and the GRDC investment behind it - a four-year industry collaboration aiming to increase the profitability of growers in Australia’s southern and western grain producing areas. The trial data will be analysed later in the gr...
Jun 19, 2019•8 min•Ep. 68
Grain yields in the high-rainfall zone (HRZ) have always posed a paradox, remaining far lower than modelling had predicted. However, that is now changing as a result of a comprehensive new research program covering farm-management practices, soil nutrition and plant biology and the development of tools that are helping to better predict the yield and economic benefits of applying inputs in the high-rainfall zone. Further information: Dr Penny Riffkin Dept. Economic Development, Jobs, Transport &...
Jun 12, 2019•10 min•Ep. 66
It’s actually not about luck. Controlling Crown Rot is about good management. On this podcast, senior plant pathologist, Andrew Milgate, from the NSW Department of Primary Industries, explains that the control of Crown Rot in southeastern Australia needs a specific strategy to prevent inoculum levels climbing to the point that reducing the impact of the disease could take years. Contact: Dr Andrew Milgate Senior Plant Pathologist Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institu...
Jun 05, 2019•12 min•Ep. 65
Hagley in northern Tasmania is the site of an extensive trial dedicated to helping the state’s grain growers to achieve higher yields of quality feed grain. It’s also the location of an annual field day that showcases its research into new cereal lines and agronomy strategies to lift feed grain productivity. On this podcast Tasmanian grower and Southern Panel member Michael Chilvers discusses the major constraints to cereal production in high rainfall areas, and how he is using the latest germpl...
May 29, 2019•9 min•Ep. 64
Winter wheat varieties allow wheat growers in the Southern Region to sow much earlier than currently practised, meaning a greater proportion of farm can be sown on time. The GRDC’s Management of Early Sown Wheat project focuses on which varieties have the best yield, adaptation in different environments and their optimal sowing window. Associate Professor at La Trobe University, James Hunt, is involved in the project and talks us through the results of an experiment and their significance for gr...
May 22, 2019•11 min•Ep. 63
The Regional Cropping Solutions Network encourages West Australian grain growers to voice local farming concerns and put forward research ideas to help increase grower profitability in their local port zone. In this podcast, WA grain grower and western region RCSN co-ordinator, Julianne Hill outlines the network’s collaborative structure and how it makes the best use of the Grains Research and Development Corporation's investment of grower R&D dollars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
May 15, 2019•9 min•Ep. 61
Managing herbicide resistant weeds has become a major concern for grain growers, especially in the northern region which has the highest number of glyphosate resistant weed species. These are mainly summer weed species. It was for this reason that GRDC invested in the tactical tillage project and called for a non-chemical means of weed control for use in an integrated weed management system. Answering the call, the University of Western Australia proposed it would engineer a machine that could s...
May 15, 2019•14 min•Ep. 62
A new online publication is available for Western Australia’s southern grain growers who have a snail, slug or slater problem in their crops. Crop damage caused by Gastropods and slaters has increased over the past decade and the Albany and Esperance port zone GRDC Regional Cropping Solution Network has identified the issue as an R&D priority. So the Stirlings to Coast Farmers grower group, independent consultants and a Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development entomologist h...
May 08, 2019•10 min•Ep. 58
In this podcast, CSIRO’s Steve Henry outlines the research he has been doing with mice in cropping systems. Part of that project, which GRDC has invested in, involves bait trials aimed at getting better uptake of Zinc Phosphide the chemical used in mouse baits. The podcast was recorded during a break between sessions at the Bendigo Update and starts with an update on the situation in the paddocks at the Bendigo Update, February 2019. Further information: Steve Henry, CSIRO 0428 633 844 steve.hen...
May 08, 2019•10 min•Ep. 59
The push to develop perennial cereals suitable for the Australian landscape is gathering pace with longevity of a new generation of plants being a key focus of researchers. On this podcast Matthew Newell from the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) takes us into the heart of ongoing trial work at the Cowra Research Station. Matthew discusses the significance of home grown Australian perennial crops and explores traits with potential to bring higher returns to growers servicing a range of ...
May 08, 2019•16 min•Ep. 60
Maximising the benefit derived from applied fertiliser has never been more important as nutrient demands increase. Researchers in southern central NSW have tested several different nitrogen application methods and their findings challenge the current industry practice. On this podcast, NSW DPI researcher Graeme Sandral discusses work undertaken over several years and the resulting conclusion that mid row banding of nitrogen has proved to be the most cost efficient application method. Contact: Gr...
May 01, 2019•11 min•Ep. 57
Fungicide Resistance in cereal crops such as barley could become as significant an issue for the Australian grains industry as Herbicide resistance in weeds. Powdery Mildew alone costs many millions a year in crop yield losses according to the industry. Researchers at the Centre for Crop Disease Management, a national research centre co-supported by WA’s Curtin University and the Grains Research & Development Corporation are leading the way in developing new technology and fungicide manageme...
Apr 24, 2019•9 min•Ep. 55
Sclerotinia stem rot costs western and southern canola growers around $59 million dollars in crop losses annually. In today’s podcast, Dr Lars Kamphuis from the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) shares the latest research on pre-breeding efforts to develop resistant varieties. Supported by the GRDC, researchers from the CCDM have sourced diverse canola genotypes from around the globe in a bid to discover germplasm with better genetic resistance. Contact: Carole Kerr, CCDM carole.kerr...
Apr 24, 2019•8 min•Ep. 56
Following a dry 2018 what is the likelihood of disease risk this season. According to the experts, the risk of disease this year can not be ignored. On this podcast, Agriculture Victoria scientists, Grant Hollaway and Joshua Fanning, outline the risks and how to minimise them over the coming months. Contact: Grant Hollaway, Agriculture Victoria grant.hollaway@ecodev.vic.gov.au Resources: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2019/02/cere...
Apr 17, 2019•9 min•Ep. 53
Just how close is Australia’s grains industry to being able to incorporate robotics into a weed control program? Well a lot closer than perhaps many people think. On this podcast we speak with Guy Coleman from Sydney University on the practical advancements in the field of robotics and discover that making face recognition software applicable to weeds is one of the final hurdles. Contact: Guy Coleman 02 8627 7157 Guy.coleman@sydney.edu.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...
Apr 17, 2019•14 min•Ep. 54
Impact of cotton production on grain production in the north. Transitioning from dryland cotton back into a cereal or pulse crop can be problematic for growers with residual issues associated with the harvested cotton crop. On this program Jon Baird from NSW DPI at Narrabri discusses trials he has undertaken on differing sowing options following a cotton crop. Contact: Jon Baird 02 6799 1520 Jon.baird@dpi.nsw.gov.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Apr 10, 2019•9 min•Ep. 52
Early sowing of canola has clear advantages as is reflected by the number of growers choosing to position their canola seeding program first. On this podcast, NSW DPI Agronomist, Col McMaster outlines the latest research findings and reminds us of the key issues to consider. Contact: Col McMaster, NSWDPI colin.mcmaster@dpi.nsw.gov.au Resources 10 tips to early sown canola guide: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/publications/2018/ten-tips-to-early-sown-canola Learn ...
Apr 10, 2019•11 min•Ep. 51
In frost-prone areas, it is important to have a comprehensive frost management strategy as part of annual farm planning. In this podcast, Dr Ben Biddulph from Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) shares his considerations and pre-seeding checklist for grain growers. Contact: Dr Ben Biddulph DPIRD ben.biddulph@dpird.wa.gov.au More information: Frost Damaged Crop Salvage Options And Seed Retention podcast: https://grdc.com.au/news-and-media/audio/po...
Apr 03, 2019•8 min•Ep. 44
Inspired by what he saw a neighbouring doing and with GRDC's investment in the Soils Constraints West project & DPIRD support, Corrigin based grain grower Simon Wallwork bought a mouldboard plough from the UK and began a soil amelioration program that is resulting in improved water penetration and better grain yields. Note: related GRDC project codes - DAW00244 Soil Water Repellence and AVP00003-A (RCSN) projects DAW00252, DAW00236 Further information: Simon Wallwork email: swallwork@westnet...
Apr 03, 2019•11 min•Ep. 45
Western Australian grain growers face a lot of constraints when it comes to the soils they work to grow the grain we demand.In this podcast we’ll look back at the recently concluded Soil Constraints West project, a GRDC 5 year investment to improve soil structure and health, thereby lifting productivity and growers’ profitability. Leader of the Subsoil constraints component of the project is David Hall from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Esperance office. Further...
Apr 03, 2019•14 min•Ep. 46
When used strategically, soil amelioration can help grain growers overcome a suite of soil and agronomic constraints, including acidity, water repellence and high weed populations. In this podcast the focus is on crop establishment challenges after soil amelioration, including the use of pre-emergent herbicides. Tom Edwards, a research officer from Western Australia’s Dept of Primary Industries and Regional Development has been part of the statewide Soil Constraints West project an investment by...
Apr 03, 2019•10 min•Ep. 47
As part of the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s investment in the Soil Constraints West project, water harvesting on sodic soils is one of the many facets of research this 5 year project has focussed on. In this podcast Dana Mulvany, a research officer from Western Australia’s Dept of Primary Industries and Regional Development, talks about her work researching sodic soils in low rainfall environments and the impact of water harvesting on crop yields. Further information: Dana Mulva...
Apr 03, 2019•12 min•Ep. 48
Hydrophobic, or water-repellent soils are soils coated in organic compounds, which prevent water from properly infiltrating the soil. Usually affecting sandy soils, these compounds can come from plant wax and oils, or microorganisms in the soil, causing patchy and staggered crop establishment for grain growers. In this podcast, Dr Stephen Davies from WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development talks to Lucinda Jose about outcomes from the Soil Constraints West project that can...
Apr 03, 2019•10 min•Ep. 49
Soil is made up of organic and mineral particles and in between these particles are tiny air pockets containing water, soil microbes and fauna. These are essential components for healthy soil and root and crop development. When soil is compacted, the air pockets are squeezed out, compressing the particles closer together making it firmer and more difficult to penetrate. This in turn creates a hostile environment for roots and soil fauna. In this podcast, Wayne Parker, from Western Australia’s De...
Apr 03, 2019•10 min•Ep. 50
