DPIRD researchers, led by Dr Craig Scanlan, have been investigating nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) crop use efficiency, soil storage and yield responses. The current body of evidence used to support N, P, and K decisions is inadequate across a range of situations and this uncertainty has led to some lack of grower confidence in fertiliser recommendations. These decision gaps exist in N, P and K fertiliser management because of climate and systems changes that have occurred after ...
Nov 20, 2019•9 min•Ep. 105
Shrinking the difference between your possible crop yield and your actual crop yield is one way of increasing your profitability. On this podcast the “secret” to reducing your yield gap is exposed and it turns out that for most growers there’s plenty of gains to be made. Contact: Harm Van Rees Harm@cropfacts.com.au Further resources: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2019/02/national-paddock-survey-closing-the-yield-gap-and-informing...
Nov 13, 2019•13 min•Ep. 103
Sandy soils, typical to parts of Western Australia and found in South Australia’s and Victoria’s mallee country, create considerable and costly grain constraints. In WA water repellency, resulting in low nutrient use efficiency and poor crop establishment, affects around 10 million hectares. WA’s annual price tag put on lost production through water repellence is estimated at $250 million. GRDC is investing in a multi-million-dollar soils and crop nutrition strategy aimed at managing nutrition a...
Nov 13, 2019•7 min•Ep. 104
A new grain cleaning method is being trialled in WA to enable growers to further reduce the presence of snails in their harvested grain and oilseeds. It’s a snail roller, in common use in Victoria, but new to WA. On this podcast Nathan Dovey from Stirlings to the Coast Farmers talks about the advantages and some of the drawbacks that farmers will have using a snail roller. Contact: Nathan Dovey 0429 468 030 Nathan.dovey@scfarmers.org.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...
Nov 06, 2019•10 min•Ep. 101
The GRDC’s nutrition decisions following a dry season project is looking at a variety of ways to fix multiple soil constraints – pH, sodicity and salinity. The second year of the five year project has thrown up some interesting results which makes researchers optimistic that they may be able to deliver a sub-soil amelioration package for growers. Contact: Ehsan Tavakkoli 02 6938 1992 Ehsan.tavakkoli@dpi.nsw.gov.au More information: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-paper...
Nov 06, 2019•11 min•Ep. 102
Esperance-based grower Gavin Egan started using clay spreading, delving and deep ripping to ameliorate soil water repellence and compaction issues seven years ago. For Gavin, the results have paid off. What was typical Western Australian flat Mallee country, producing around 2t/ha cereal crops, is now delivering double those yields. This topic was the focus of the GRDC investment Soil Constraints West project. The project is a collaboration between the GRDC and the Department of Primary Industri...
Oct 30, 2019•9 min•Ep. 99
At a glance you can now determine just how much your local climate has changed over the past 60 years. The Bureau of Meteorology has published climate guides based on your Natural Resource Management (NRM) area. The guides are a part of the Federal Government’s Drought Initiative. On this podcast we speak to one of the authors of the guides and he reveals some data that may – or may not – surprise you. Contact: Joel Lisonbee agriculture@bom.gov.au Climate Guides www.bom.gov.au/climate/climate-gu...
Oct 30, 2019•14 min•Ep. 100
Not everyone can be in the Top 20 percent of growers. But YOU can. And the scale of your operation won’t put you into, or keep you out of, that exclusive club. On this podcast, we hear about some practical ways for you to judge and improve your financial performance. And it’s information that you already have. Contact: James Hillcoat 08 8841 4500 Twitter @JamesHillcoat Resources: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/publications/2018/opportunity-for-profit-management-g...
Oct 23, 2019•10 min•Ep. 97
In Western Australia’s eastern wheatbelt the sand plain soils are prone to acidification. To neutralise the acidity grain growers apply coastal lime usually sources from sites hundreds of kilometres away from their farms. However as part of a project initiated by the Kwinana East Regional Cropping Solution Network group research is being done to locate and assess on-farm lime sources as an alternative to coastal lime. Further information: Greg Shea, DPIRD Great Eastern Highway, Merredin WA 6415 ...
Oct 23, 2019•8 min•Ep. 98
An astounding $90 million worth of canola is estimated to be lost from the back of harvesters every year in Western Australia. In this podcast Planfarm consultant and harvest loss expert, Peter Newman, talks about practical steps and resources WA canola and cereal growers can use to minimise harvest losses and maximise capacity. Peter is leading a targeted GRDC extension project on this issue, and has developed a harvest loss calculator and popular Twitter handle for sharing information and solu...
Oct 16, 2019•11 min•Ep. 96
Pulse growers consistently report a greater boost in cereal production following a pulse crop than they would normally get from manufactured nutrients like nitrogen. Why is that? What is so special about the nitrogen delivered to the soil by a pulse crop. Soil scientist Cassie Schefe thinks she has the answer. Contact: Cassandra Schefe 0419 238 798 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Oct 09, 2019•10 min•Ep. 94
Decisions around lime applications to acid soils have suddenly become a lot easier with the availability of the iLime Calculator, a smartphone app that is easy to use and reveals the tangible benefits of applying lime over time. The app can be customised to incorporate your own inputs. On this podcast Chris Gazey, the Soil Science and Crop Nutrition Portfolio Manager with the WA Department of Primary Industries and Region Development, explains how it works and the benefits of the new iLime app. ...
Oct 09, 2019•10 min•Ep. 95
Fungicide resistance is inevitable. That’s a tough message to accept, but experts say resistance is like a train travelling to a destination – nothing will stop it arriving but we can slow it down. On this podcast, fungicide specialist, Nick Poole, suggests a new timetable for the fungicide resistance train. Contact: Nick Poole Nick.poole@faraustralia.com.au More Information: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2019/02/protecting-the-l...
Oct 02, 2019•11 min•Ep. 92
Increasing herbicide use over the last two decades has led to concerns over the potential effects herbicides (and their residues) have on soil health. This concern has led to significant, national GRDC investment over the past five years into the potential impacts of increased herbicide use on key soil biological processes. This is being achieved by benchmarking the level of herbicide residues in cropping soils and generating new knowledge about the fate, behaviour and risk of herbicides to prod...
Oct 02, 2019•8 min•Ep. 93
The GRDC is leading a $16 million project focused boosting the resilience of mixed farms via successful incorporation of pasture legume species currently not widely grown. In today’s podcast, Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development senior research scientist, Angelo Loi, shares his key steps to successful sowing and establishment of pasture legumes in summer/autumn. Contact: Dr Angelo Loi, DPIRD angelo.loi@dpird.wa.gov.au More information: Twin sowing and sum...
Sep 25, 2019•12 min•Ep. 90
Big is definitely the case when it comes to spray nozzle sizes, particularly when spraying in sensitive areas during summer. On this podcast, spray expert Bill Gordon details new label requirements, including nozzle sizes, when using 2-4D chemistries. Bill also re-assures us that it’s still possible to do a good spray job with larger nozzles. Further Information: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/groundcover/groundcover-137-november-december-2018/changes-to-2,4-d-registrations Learn...
Sep 25, 2019•12 min•Ep. 91
A leading science communicator says rather than educating the general public about farming, farmers should ensure that urban people trust farmers to have their best interests at heart. Heather Bray, from the University of Western Australia, says trust in farmers is more important than how deeply city people understand the business of farming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 18, 2019•11 min•Ep. 88
Sandy soils account for five million hectares of Australia’s southern grain growing region. Crop water use and productivity on these sandy soils are commonly limited by a range of soil constraints that affect root growth. In this podcast we hear from CSIRO’s Senior Research Scientist Dr Lynne Macdonald who leads GRDC’s sandy soils program in the southern region. The program aims to improve the diagnosis and management of underperforming sandy soil in the Southern Region. Project code: CSP00203 L...
Sep 18, 2019•11 min•Ep. 89
Liming to maintain good soil pH levels and avoiding yield losses is just as important as applying fertiliser for maximising yields. If growers let soil pH levels in the topsoil run-down (pH in CaCl2 < 5.0) they are at risk of creating soil acidity issues at depth which are harder and more expensive to treat. In general, not enough lime has been applied frequently enough to address acidification occurring within the whole soil profile, so soil test to depth and calculate lime requirements for ...
Sep 11, 2019•12 min•Ep. 86
Research undertaken by the Northern Grower Alliance has cast new light on the timing and method of nitrogen application. On this podcast, NGA’s Richard Daniel outlines the latest thinking when it comes to applying nitrogen to crops. Contact: Richard Daniel 0428 657 782 Richard.daniel@nga.org.au Links: https://grdc.com.au/news-and-media/news-and-media-releases/north/2017/08/tips-for-developing-an-effective-nitrogen-strategy-its-all-about-the-rate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Sep 11, 2019•8 min•Ep. 87
A common pest for canola growers to monitor each Spring is the Cabbage Aphid. DPRID research officer Dusty Severtson describes where within the crop to check for the aphid and the use of monitoring tools such as the Crop Scout app to accurately calculate aphid numbers. Contact: Dusty Severtson Research Officer – Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development m: 0427 196 656 email: dustin.severtson@dpird.wa.gov.au Further information: https://grdc.com.au/CropAphidsBackPocketGuide Lea...
Sep 04, 2019•10 min•Ep. 84
Snails may be slow to move, but they are quick to survive baits during late Spring and Summer. This surprising development has been revealed as a result of research into snail mortality on the York Peninsula. This fact and several other tips for managing snails are explained by entomologist Helen Brodie on this podcast. Contact: Helen Brodie 08 8429 0557 Helen.brodie@sa.gov.au Link: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/groundcover/groundcover-138-january-february-2019/autumn-baiting-ti...
Sep 04, 2019•12 min•Ep. 85
Nitrogen fertiliser is arguably a farmer’s biggest variable cost, year on year. Providing the correct amount of nitrogen to a growing crop is the key to success. But how best to deliver that nitrogen without seeing it lost to the environment before it reaches the crop? That was the key question for some recent research in western Victoria – research that is still ongoing in many parts of the southern and northern region. Contact: Ash Wallace ashley.wallace@ecodev.vic.gov.au More Information: htt...
Aug 28, 2019•9 min•Ep. 82
Farmers in blackleg prone areas of Australia are generally competent in managing the disease in their canola crops. That is until the recent advent of blackleg infection of the upper canopy. This new way blackleg has developed ways to attack canola crops is the focus of this podcast featuring Steve Marcroft from Marcroft Pathology. Contact: Steve Marcroft 03 5381 2294 0409 978 941 steve@grainspathology.com.au https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/story/5956950/plan-to-beat-upper-canopy-blackleg-infect...
Aug 28, 2019•11 min•Ep. 83
Valuable frost research is equipping grain growers with practical information on how to identify frost damage in cereal crops. In this podcast WA Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development research officer, Dr Ben Biddulph, discusses what to look for, when and where, to identify frost damage. According to Dr Biddulph grain growers need to be alert, but not alarmed about frost, and know what management options are available to reduce or mitigate frost risk. Further information: D...
Aug 22, 2019•6 min•Ep. 81
With water such a valuable commodity nowadays, it’s little wonder that irrigators ask themselves whether they are better off selling their water or using it to grow out a crop. It’s a tough question. So GRDC last year asked the Irrigated Cropping Council to see if they could come up with some answers. Contact: Damian Jones 0409 181 099 Damian.jones@irrigatedcroppingcouncil.com.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 21, 2019•10 min•Ep. 79
Blackleg is a common yet economically serious canola disease in Western Australia (WA). While it has the potential to cause severe yield loss, the good news is that it can be successfully managed. Dr Ravjit Khangura from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is an expert in this area, and advocates an integrated disease management approach. Dr Khangura joins Deb Bishop to discuss blackleg management tactics and GRDC resources that are available to help WA growers ...
Aug 21, 2019•7 min•Ep. 80
Trials are underway to determine accurate control thresholds for Russian Wheat Aphid under Australian conditions. The national trials are also looking at the potential impact of the insect on Australian yields. On this podcast, SARDI Entomologist Maarten van Helden discusses this important work. Contact: Maarten van Helden, SARDI maarten.vanhelden@sa.gov.au Resources: Russian wheat aphid green bridge surveillance https://youtu.be/xA2RB5Mw5jE Russian Wheat Aphid: Tactics For Future Control https:...
Aug 14, 2019•10 min•Ep. 77
Diamondback Moth is an occasional pest of canola, but severe infestations of adults and/or caterpillars can cause up to 80 per cent yield losses in canola and other brassica crops. This pest can also rapidly develop insecticide resistance and an integrated pest management plan is advised for sustainable control. Further information: Dusty Severtson Research Officer – Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development m: 0427 196 656 email: dustin.severtson@dpird.wa.gov.au Resources: GRD...
Aug 14, 2019•8 min•Ep. 78
This episode is focussed on the second research component of the Frost Mapping project, assessing frost damage before its visible to the naked eye, using the Electromagnetic spectrum. This is a collaborative project involving Mick Faulkner, the University of Western Australia, Agriculture Victoria and grain growers, including David Mitchell from Mintaro in South Australia’s north eastern grain growing zone. The Frost Mapping project is one of a number of projects related to GRDC’s key investment...
Aug 07, 2019•12 min•Ep. 75
