GRDC Podcast

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 Davi...

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 host...

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...

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 an...

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 Regio...

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...

For some grain growers the potential risk of a frost event damaging their cereal crop can result in a conservative sowing strategy. But sowing late to avoid frost damage can result in less than optimal grain yields at the end of the season. In this two-part podcast Matt Gardner form AMPS Research discusses sowing strategies, site elevation and crop monitoring tools and how these variables can help...

In this two-part podcast Matt Gardner form AMPS Research discusses sowing strategies, site elevation and crop monitoring tools and how these variables can help manager frost risk without unnecessarily sacrificing yield. At Matt’s early sowing trial site near Premer on the NSW Liverpool Plains the paddock has a 50-metre variation in elevation. In part two of this podcast Matt moves to the top end o...

Researchers from the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) are in the final stages of identifying a new commercial acid tolerant rhizobia strain for Group F. This strain will offer new hope to southern growers looking to enhance nitrogen fixation of pea, bean and lentil crops in low pH soils. In this podcast, SARDI Senior Research Officer Liz Farquharson takes us through the...

Grain growers in central and southern NSW cannot afford to ignore crown rot inoculum levels in their paddocks. Allowing inoculum levels to build even for just one year can create a problem that may take several years to resolve. In this podcast, Crown Rot scientist Steven Simpfendorfer, from the NSW Department of Primary Industries at Tamworth, explains the case for eternal vigilance. Contact: Ste...

NVT is the largest coordinated field trial work of its kind in the world, with 650 trials per year and 1.3 million plot measurements available. Since 2005, NVT covers; Wheat, Barley, Canola, Chickpea, Field pea, Lentils, Faba beans, Lupins, Oats and more recently Sorghum. All varieties are tested within 2 years of commercial release to help growers and advisers get ahead start on emerging varietie...

A new resource for canola growers will help them better identify insect pests in establishing canola crops, enabling more sustainable and effective control strategies. Find out more on this podcast and watch out for a series of introductory workshops being held across canola growing areas of NSW. To obtain a copy of 'Insect pests of establishing canola in NSW' contact Phil Bowden. Contact: Phil Bo...

We sometimes hear about the rundown of Phosphorus nutrient deep in the soil profile and a deal of research is being conducted right now into Deep P Placement and the benefits derived from that. Well just recently research in south eastern Australia has attempted to address another issue deep in the soil profile and that is soil acidity or low pH and its effect on legume yields. Work undertaken by...

Indonesia is, by far, Australia’s biggest single wheat customer. Each year, on average, Indonesia buys 4.2 million tonnes of Australian wheat, worth 1.2 billion dollars. That’s nearly one quarter of all Australian wheat exports. But the threat from low-cost wheat producers, such as Russia and Ukraine – as well as ongoing competition from premium suppliers like Canada and the US – is putting the sq...

What if you could confidently predict that a decision you made in the paddock today would deliver agronomic and financial benefits three years into the future. In a nutshell that’s what GRDC’s Farming Systems Project is all about – testing real decisions a farmer might take and how that affects the profitability of a farm now and into the future. On this podcast the CSIRO’s Dr Lindsay Bell takes u...

As a form of weed control in crops reducing row spacing can have a significant impact on weed populations. By reducing crop row spacing the biomass of the weed are reduced but what’s even more important is weed seed numbers are dramatically reduced. These were key messages delivered to grain growers at a Weedsmart conference where Paul McIntosh from the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative w...

Soil constraints are reducing grain grower profitability in Western Australia. Soil compaction, low pH and water repellence are estimated to cost the state’s grains industry a billion dollars annually in lost productivity. That is why the GRDC invested in a multi-organisation 5 year R&D program called the Soil Constraints West Initiative. Now in its final year and with up to $33 million invested,...

Changing weather patterns mean WA growers are often attempting to sow and get crops established in a warming and dry period. Although, there is often a reasonable level of subsoil moisture from summer rains, which are more common than in the past, to help boost establishment if accessed by roots. Geraldton and Kwinana East port zone growers are particularly interested in examining the factors that...

WA’s sand plain soils feature multiple constraints including water repellence, acidity and compaction, all focus points of GRDC’s $33-million-dollar investment in the Soil Constraints West Project. Soil constraints result in lost grain production worth more than $4 billion annually, just in WA. A key project outcome is that growers should consider treating multiple constraints over smaller areas,...

After harvest can be a good time to think about your future on-farm grain storage capacity. In this podcast Philip Burrill from Queensland’s department of Agriculture & Fisheries’ post harvest team and a member of GRDC’s national grain storage extension team discusses what to consider when planning new on-farm grain storage and provides tips about storage hygiene. Check out Grain Storage Bunker po...

From time to time a grain grower might be in the position of needing temporary on-farm grain storage. One options for storing grain is a Bunker or grain pad. In this podcast Philip Burrill from Queensland’s department of Agriculture & Fisheries’ post harvest team and a member of GRDC’s national grain storage extension team discusses what to consider if planning to construct a bunker or grain stora...

GRDC funded research is revealing the importance of managing nutrient availability to the crop deeper in the soil profile. On this podcast, David Lester from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), joins Darling Downs farmer John Alexander to talk about the encouraging results of trials in which phosphorus and potassium were placed deep below the soil surface. Links: https://...

This podcast focuses on summer weed identification and control options. GRDC’s Regional Cropping Solutions Network has highlighted the issue of effective summer weed control as a priority. During February, Western Australia grain growers have the opportunity to attend a series of summer weed control workshops to be held in key WA grain growing regions. Andrew Storrie from AGRONOMO is leading the f...

GRDC’s multi million dollar investment in sorghum research is looking for ways to maximise yield and profitability while positioning the crop in total farming systems. One aspect of the research relates to row spacing and tillering and on this podcast two leading researchers, Trevor Philp from Pacific Seeds and Dr Joe Eyre from QAFFI, a research institute at the University of Queensland supported...

There’s increasing awareness of the damage off-target spraying, or spray drift, can do to your own crops and those of your neighbours, sometimes many, many kilometers away. A community in western NSW has decided to act and the steps they’ve taken appear to have had a positive impact on the numbers of spray drift incidences. Called SOS Macquarie, the Stop Off-target Spraying action group has as one...