GRDC Podcast

Despite having a better climate for grain production than most of mainland Australia, the average cereal yield in Tasmania is still considered to be well below its potential. In this podcast you’ll hear from GRDC’s MD Dr Steve Jefferies talk about two GRDC investments that are working to address this challenge, to help Tasmanian, and high rainfall zone cereal growers on the mainland, close the yie...

Home gardeners know the benefits of mulch in suppressing weeds, but researchers are also encouraging broadacre grain producers to deprive weeds of sunlight and space and take the pressure off herbicides as the ‘heavy lifters’ of in-crop weed control. While defeating weeds through crop competition isn’t new, Queensland trials have shown that crop density and narrow row spacing have significantly su...

Can you explain the difference between crop varieties that are tolerant, resistant and susceptible to a particular pest? Researcher Kirsty Owen from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) says knowing the difference is critical for producers responding to one of the northern wheat industry’s thorniest problems. The root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus thornei reduces the ability of crop roots t...

Pulse growers would be well aware of the damage Helicoverpa larvae can do to their crops. Fortunately, farmers have access to strong chemistry that can adequately control the pest. But for how long? On this podcast, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) entomologist, Melina Miles, offers us an insight into her research and explains why the Helicoverpa Resistance Management Strat...

According to WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development that estimate of $4.3 Billion in lost production is nearly equal to half the value of the state’s annual grain production, so soil constraint issues are significant. The type of constraints common to the West include water repellency, acidity, subsoil compaction and soil structure decline and the Grains Research & Developm...

To aid Russian Wheat Aphid management planning and development of cultural controls, there is a need to know what role green bridges play in supporting RWA populations. This information will be used to develop predictive models that will estimate seasonal aphid risk within each affected region. Findings by cesar and SARDI will enable researchers to better inform advisers and grain growers about ho...

People tend to see farmers as one large group of food and fibre producers. But have you ever thought about what different individuals they are? How would you encourage these independent, self-sufficient people to adopt change or innovate? Agronomist Cam Nicholson is passionate about providing advice to boost farmers’ profitability and productivity, and one of the keys he uses is to work out the pe...

In this podcast WA Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development research officer and Frost specialist, Dr Ben Biddulph, discusses salvage and harvest options for frost-affected cereal crops as well as what to consider if you intend holding onto seed from a frost affected crop. On the day Ben Biddulph was at DPIRD’s Frost evaluation trial site at Dale about 100k’s east of Perth. Further...

Fifty years ago, the pioneers of zero and minimum tillage cropping systems had a challenging time to convince researchers and growers that these systems had benefits over a tractor and plough criss-crossing a paddock, but in 2018 the conservation farming methods are widely used across Australia. Associate Professor David Freebairn from the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba grew up on...

In a bad year the cereal pest Root Lesion Nematode can cost West Australian grain growers up to $110 million in lost production. The two main species in the West are Pratylenchus neglectus and p. quasitereoides and when seasonal conditions are conducive, the nematodes multiply, compromise growth and starve the crop of nutrients. Dr Sarah Collins is senior nematologist with WA’s Department of Prima...

There’s been a significant change to the National Variety Trials program. It’s now fully managed by the Grains Research and Development Corporation. You might be thinking… wasn’t it always? Well while the NVT program was established by GRDC back in 2005 its only in 2018 that the administration and day to day management of the national comparative crop variety trials program has come under GRDC man...

Fencelines can be a haven for weeds that may also be resistant to glyphosate. On this podcast Weeds Specialist, Tony Cook describes a new, effective treatment for glyphosate resistant weeds in the northern region. Further information: Tony Cook Technical Specialist Weeds NSW Department of Primary Industries 02 6763 1250 tony.cook@dpi.nsw.gov.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...

Respected northern region agronomist, Drew Penberthy outlines some of the agronomic issues to watch out for after drought. And we hear from a farmer who managed the mental health effects of the drought by digging a giant hole. Drew Penberthy Agricultural consultant Penagcon Pty Ltd 0427 255 752 drew@penagcon.com.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sandy soils have constraints that limit crop yield. Low levels of organic matter in these soils restrict the soil’s ability to retain nutrients, compaction hinders root penetration as the plants seeks out those nutrients and water, and the structure of the sand limits its ability to retain water. To help overcome these restrains intervention is needed and in this podcast Therese McBeath describes...

The cereal pest Russian wheat aphid was first detected in Australia two years ago in South Australia’s Mid North and has since made its way into Victoria and southern NSW and across to Tasmania. It’s a major pest of cereal crops that injects toxins into the plant during feeding which retards growth and, with heavy infestations, kills the plant. Entomologist Dr Paul Umina has been closely involved...

The cereal pest Russian wheat aphid was first detected in Australia two years ago in South Australia’s Mid North and has since made its way into Victoria and southern NSW and across to Tasmania. It’s a major pest of cereal crops that injects toxins into the plant during feeding which retards growth and, with heavy infestations, kills the plant. Entomologist Dr Paul Umina has been closely involved...

Dr Angela Pattison’s been delving into an historic bank of chickpea plant varieties, some of which have been grown for hundreds of years in hot, dry places like the Middle East and brought to the Australian Grains Gene Bank in Horsham, Victoria. From there, Angela has selected small packets of seeds to breed and screen for heat tolerance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

Frost is a costly and often unpredictable problem that costs Australian grain growers more than $300 million a year, but the GRDC’s National Frost Initiative is proactively working to develop more frost resistant varieties, identify best frost management practices and to create tools to predict frosts. It’s important to recognise the psychological and financial cost of frost and how devastating it...

Change is a continual process, Nadine says. The key is investing the same amount in people as we do in infrastructure and technology, so that rural industries can move through change events confidently and survive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike says while we have a wealth of knowledge in Australia about above-ground plant components, we don’t understand enough about roots – how variable they are between species and how they respond to different soil conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Using the autopilot from a drone as the ‘brains’ of their vehicles, Martin and his colleagues aimed to prove that mechatronics could reduce damage to crops and soil from humans and large machines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pulse markets were thrown into disarray during last year’s harvest when India imposed tariffs on imports of chickpeas and lentils. On this podcast Chief Executive Officer of AGT Foods Australia Peter Wilson tells us about the current state of play in the pulse market in Australia and overseas. Further information: Peter Wilson, CEO, AGT Foods Australia 07 46306139 email: pwilson@agtfoods.com Learn...

A five-year survey of the entire Australian cropping belt has revealed a sobering picture of growing herbicide resistance in key cropping weeds. Dr John Broster from the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation heads up a joint herbicide resistance monitoring project between Charles Sturt University, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Universities of Adelaide and Western A...

Grain growers attending this year’s Henty Field days had the opportunity to hear timely advice from specialists such as NSW DPI’s southern pastures program leader Nigel Phillips. Nigel was one of four speakers at the GRDC NSW DPI Tough Season Questions Answered forum, held as part of the field days. After addressing the forum Nigel Phillips recorded this podcast and summarised the messages he deli...

Another of the speakers at the Henty Field Days grower forum was NSW DPI’s research agronomist Graeme Sandral. Graeme spoke about the seed quality issues that can result from a tough season and how they impact next year’s grain yield. In this podcast Graeme Sandral also discusses crop nutrition and fertiliser management next season. Graeme points out that because less nutrient will leave the paddo...