New research insights suggest that deep sown long coleoptile wheat (LCW) varieties is an effective way to avoid rhizoctonia infection. It’s one of the many added benefits of LCW emerging as part of a $12.7 million GRDC investment to provide growers with the knowledge and tools to integrate LCW into their farming systems once the genetics become commercially available. In this podcast we hear all about the rhizoctonia research from two project participants, Dr Jonathan Anderson and Michael Lamond...
Jul 16, 2024•11 min
The GRDC Emerging Leader Award recognises the commitment of a professional with less than ten years’ experience in the grains industry. At the Adelaide GRDC update event in February 2024, Jana Freebairn (nee Dixon) was presented with the Emerging Leader Award for her work as an agronomy consultant helping deliver benchmarking and on-farm management succession services. Since finishing a Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Adelaide five years ago, Jana has quickly become a high...
Jul 09, 2024•11 min
For the 2024 growing season, some Western Australian growers are chasing moisture deeper than ever before, by successfully planting conventional wheat varieties down to around 60 to 80mm. This new thinking stems from positive findings from long coleoptile wheat (LCW) research. In this podcast, we hear from Tammin-based grower, Simon York, and SLR agriculture CEO Michael Lamond, on the benefits LCW will have accessing deep moisture and the success growers are having with planting conventional var...
Jul 02, 2024•13 min
In the Lake Grace area, grower Ed Naisbitt has been growing lupins on the family farm for 40 years. It was a crop initially established by his father, and one that has remained a constant in the rotation as the years have gone by. Ed is a part of the cohort of 'Legume Leaders' that has been established by the Grower Group Alliance, with investment from GRDC. These leaders are sharing their insights on the various legume crops over a seven-part series throughout 2024. In this episode, Ed tells us...
Jun 25, 2024•14 min
Long coleoptile wheat (LCW) varieties are proving to be a good insurance policy to ensure emergence in ameliorated soil. This is one of the many positive findings so far from the national $12.7m GRDC investment to help Australian growers integrate long coleoptile wheat into their farming systems once the genetics are commercially available. In this podcast, we hear from Dr Stephen Davies from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the CSIRO’s Dr Greg Rebetzke o...
Jun 18, 2024•15 min
Does the term 'regenerative agriculture' make you want to high-five the farmer next to you, or send you running for the hills? In this week's podcast we talk to Dr Hanabeth Luke ( Southern Cross University ) and Victorian grain grower and GRDC Southern Panel member Tim McClelland about regenerative agriculture - what it means and what indicators we could use to measure progress towards improved soil health and farm resilience. The research team is looking for a broad range of growers to get invo...
Jun 11, 2024•10 min
🎙️ Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with Steve Madden Steve Madden has over 30 years experience as an agronomist and is the inventor of an insect management device called Crop Capsule. In this GRDC in Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, Steve discusses his career progression, advancements in agricultural technology, using beneficial insects to manage pests in crops, the process in commercialising a product, agricultural community, evolutions and opportunities in the sect...
Jun 09, 2024•41 min
The GRDC Emerging Leader Award recognises the commitment of a professional with less than ten years’ experience in the grains industry. At the Perth GRDC update event in February 2024, Robert Harrison was presented with the Emerging Leader Award for his valuable work in legume and pasture agronomy. Robert is a research scientist at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and Murdoch University. Download the transcript for this episode Contact Robert Harrison , Depar...
Jun 04, 2024•7 min
🎙️ Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with Tony Lockrey Tony Lockrey is both a farmer and agronomist based in the farming community of Moree, New South Wales. Tony's contributions extend beyond aiding farmers with their cropping programs; he has emerged as a prominent figure in fostering safe spaces and facilitating important conversations. In this GRDC in Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, Tony discusses farming practises and cropping rotations in the area, his career pa...
Jun 02, 2024•50 min
Precision agriculture has been around for a while and it's meant to make a difference for the better, but does it always? In this episode we’re joined by two growers in similar parts of South Australia who have different takes on the value of precision ag or PA. James Venning, near Bute, has continually experimented with everything from variable-rate seeders to protein monitors. Nearby at Crystal Brook, Andrew Sargent's family were early adopters of precision ag. Download the transcript for this...
May 28, 2024•19 min
🎙️ Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with John Hamparsum John Hamparsum farms on black soil plains near Gunnedah, New South Wales, in partnership with his sister. His father purchased the property from a soldier-settler in 1961 and it is now 1500 hectares of mostly irrigated land. In this GRDC in Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, John discusses his family history, the challenging period and learnings following his fathers passing, sustainable farming practices, soil hea...
May 27, 2024•40 min
Research into snails over the past decade has largely focussed on baiting and while a lot has been learned, baiting is only one part of an effective integrated management strategy for snails. That's why a new national GRDC investment is tackling the snail problem from multiple angles by combining technology and biological research to inform control management. The project is being led by the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Research and Development Institute or SARDI, and involves...
May 21, 2024•12 min
🎙️ Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with Matthew Durack Matthew Durack started his career as a Veterinarian, but always wanted to try his hand at farming. When he was offered the management position on a property near Moree, New South Wales, he jumped at the opportunity and has been addicted ever since. In this GRDC in Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, Matthew discusses decision making and learnings throughout his career, water-use efficiency, challenges and opportunit...
May 19, 2024•50 min
What are the reasons to use fallow in rotations and just what is the economic value of this farming practice? These are just some of the questions asked by growers in the west – questions that are now being answered by a current GRDC investment - Maximising the profitability of fallow. Dr Darren Hughes from Laconik – is leading this investment – and has some advice for growers on how to get the most out of fallow. Download the transcript for this episode Contact Dr Darren Hughes darren.hughes@la...
May 14, 2024•12 min
🎙️ Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with Ben taylor. Ben Taylor returned to the family farm near Condamine in 2000. They operate a structured cropping program in their broadacre operation and have some irrigated country. In the last ~20 years, they have invested heavily in a levelling program to mitigate the impact of Summer storms on their dryland country. In this GRDC In Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, Ben discusses their long-term farming decisions and investment,...
May 12, 2024•43 min
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a dry start to Western Australia's 2024 growing season. It's a prediction that’s seeing many growers kick into gear early with dry seeding. But without the knock down herbicide opportunity, growers are relying heavily on their pre-emergent herbicide choice to remove weeds from the system after the breaking rain. In this podcast, we hear from consultant Blake O’Meagher and research agronomist Dr Mike Ashworth on their recommendations to growers and the lat...
May 07, 2024•10 min
🎙️ Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with Stuart and Lyndall Tighe Stuart and Lyndall Tighe found home farming in Moree, New South Wales. They built their farming scale through share-farming, contracting and more recently a direct to customer business model. In this GRDC in Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, Stuart and Lyndall Tighe discuss their backgrounds, supply chain optimisation and farming models, business ownership and growth, developing a product their customer ...
May 05, 2024•1 hr 1 min
A cohort of Legume Leaders has been established by the Grower Group Alliance in Western Australia, with investment from GRDC and the help of grower groups located from Yuna to Esperance. The Legume Leaders will be sharing their insights over a seven-part series, which will be released throughout 2024. In this introductory episode, we’re joined by GGA project manager Daniel Kidd and DPIRD senior research scientist Mark Seymour to discuss the benefits and constraints to adoption of grain legumes i...
Apr 30, 2024•17 min
🎙️ Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with Greg Rummary Greg Rummery is an agronomist at Walgett, New South Wales. He has 30+ years experience in dryland grain production and pasture management in northern and western New South Wales. In this GRDC in Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, Greg discusses how the area manages their variable environment, the evolution in farming practises in the area, his role in transitioning the science to practical on-farm solutions, farming ...
Apr 28, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Autumn and Winter waterlogging is relatively common in WA’s Albany and Esperance port zones, but it can severely impact grain production. But new research is giving growers greater confidence to sow late season cereal varieties or reseed in a challenging season. The research, made possible with GRDC investment, involves Stirlings to Coast Farmers, Fitzgerald Biosphere Group and Southeast Premium Wheat Growers Association (SEPWA). In this podcast, Lizzie Von Perger from Stirlings to Coast Farmers...
Apr 23, 2024•12 min
🎙️ Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with Tom Coggan. Tom Coggan is a fifth-generation farmer at Meandarra, Queensland, with integrated enterprises of cropping, cattle and sheep. Tom has recently returned to the farm and has a Masters in Agribusiness. In this GRDC in Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, Tom discusses the importance of communication, his approach to managing their biggest asset being people, his aspirations in the family business, succession and evolution o...
Apr 21, 2024•44 min
Carbendazim is a broad spectrum fungicide used to control a range of diseases on pulses. But as a schedule 7 chemical with restrictions on its use, there's growing uncertainty about maximum residue limits in some international markets. In this podcast, GRDC ‘s Gordon Cumming and Agriculture Victoria’s Dr Joshua Fanning, discuss the current situation on Carbendazim use in Australia and alternative chemical options. Dr Fanning is leading national research on integrated disease management strategie...
Apr 17, 2024•12 min
🎙️ Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with Anna Madden. Anna Madden and her husband Steve own and operate an irrigated farm in Wee Waa, New South Wales. While studying Rural Science, a lecturer told Anna about the role plants will play in feeding the world's growing population, and so her career projection pivoted from the livestock industry into plants and she hasn’t looked back. In this GRDC in Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, Anna discusses her career progression, me...
Apr 14, 2024•52 min
The Australian Synchrotron in Melbourne is a super high-tech operation that produces powerful beams of light a million times brighter than the sun. In a partnership between GRDC, the University of South Australia and the University of Queensland, researchers have been given access to the Australian Synchrotron and it's giving them a perspective on soil they've never had before. They're using the Synchrotron's imaging and medical beamline to produce high-quality 3D imagery of roots growing direct...
Apr 09, 2024•16 min
Tammin grower was an early adapter of the SwarmBot technology from SwarmFarm. GRDC’s GrainInnovate program has played a key role in supporting SwarmFarm’s progress and with Brad only the third person in WA to bring a bot on-farm, he has been able to harness the power of this innovation to streamline his farming operations, reduce costs, and minimise environmental impact. We spoke to Brad at a field day held on his farm as part of the 2023 Australian Precision Agriculture Symposium, hosted by SPA...
Apr 02, 2024•10 min
This summer has seen high numbers of fall armyworm (FAW) across Queensland and Northern New South Wales. In some late sown crops, FAW has had a disastrous impact and caught many growers and advisers off-guard. Dr Melina Miles, Principal Entomologist at the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, shares her insights on what can be done to manage this pest in such a challenging season, and what it means for future plantings. Download the transcript for this episode. Contact: Dr Melina ...
Mar 26, 2024•9 min
Net form of net blotch is an important foliar fungal disease of barley and its impact on yield and decreased profitability has prompted a new GRDC co-investment: Integrated management strategies for net form net blotch in low, medium, and high rainfall zones. This investment aims to develop and deliver cost effective integrated disease management strategies across the northern and southern regions. Nick Poole from FAR Australia gives an insight into the disease and the new research development a...
Mar 19, 2024•18 min
Raising the bar on crop nutrition in northern New South Wales is the aim of a new partnership between Outlook Ag and GRDC. Field trials have been established to help combat very area-specific problems and improve yield in a range of crops. In this episode, we speak with three of the lead consultants from Outlook Ag – Mitch Cuell in Narrabri, Greg Giblett on the Liverpool Plains, and Greg Rummery in the Northwest. Download the transcript for this episode Content: Mitch Cuell Outlook Ag mitch@outl...
Mar 12, 2024•13 min
It’s 2024 and we’re looking at similar conditions across a wide portion of the country, particularly in Victoria and South Australia. There is enough soil moisture that self-sown canola will now survive until the sowing window creating the perfect green bridge for both aphids and virus. To help growers mitigate the risk over the upcoming sowing period, we speak to independent agronomist Craig Davis and research scientist Ben Congdon from WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Develop...
Mar 05, 2024•21 min
In this podcast, Associate Professor Fran Lopez, Program Leader for Fungicide Resistance Management and Disease Impacts at the Centre for Crop and Disease Management at Curtin University, talks about the importance of rotating fungicides to minimise the risk of fungicide resistance developing in your paddocks. He outlines strategies for growers to implement on farm including planning ahead, understanding regional resistance concerns, disease pressure and risks, fungicide availability and the use...
Feb 29, 2024•18 min
