Grains Convo

Host: DPIRD research agronomist, Janette Pratt Guest speaker: DPIRD research agronomist, Alex Douglas In this podcast we focus on the weed Matricaria in the Western Australian wheatbelt.  Previously the weed Matricaria was mostly found in the Eastern wheatbelt but in recent years it has been spreading into the central and eastern wheatbelts as well. In this podcast, DPIRD research agronomist Alex...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Janette Pratt Guest Speaker: DPIRD Epidemiologist, Jean Galloway In this episode of Grains Convo we focus on blackleg in canola and blackspot in field peas. You'll learn about the disease risk forecasts, now available on the DPIRD website , for blackleg in canola and blackspot in field peas. Risk forecasts provide a sowing guide to avoid early disease infection in...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Cindy Webster Guest Speakers: DPIRD Research Scientists, Geoff Moore and Svetlana Micic In spring 2021 there were widespread areas of bare, or low groundcover, sandy soils in the West Midlands region of WA. This was unusual due to the favourable growing conditions experienced in the previous year. Investigations by DPIRD and the West Midlands Group found that high...

Host: DPIRD Research Scientist, Alice Butler Guest Speaker: DPIRD  Agricultural Scientist,  Mandy Curnow Mandy Curnow is an Agricultural Scientist with DPIRD, based in Albany. She has worked on various livestock research and Landcare projects throughout her career.  More recently Mandy has focused her research on greenhouse gas accounting for mixed farming enterprises. In this podcast you'll learn...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Janette Pratt Guest Speakers: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Cindy Webster DPIRD Research Agronomist Cindy Webster discusses the recently renamed PestFacts WA service. Previously known as the PestFax service, this interactive service provides timely information and advice on pests and diseases threatening crops and pastures throughout the grainbelt. PestFacts WA is upg...

Host: DPIRD Research Scientist, Alice Butler Guest Speaker: DPIRD Senior Soils Research Scientist, David Hall In this podcast DPIRD Research Scientist Alice Butler chats with DPIRD Senior Soils Research Scientist David Hall about how sodic soils are formed and the different management options for these soils. David currently leads up the Sodic Soils project, funded by GRDC, where he and his team a...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Cindy Webster Guest Speakers: DPIRD Research Scientist, Svetlana Micic  DPIRD Research Scientist Svetlana Micic discusses the importance of correctly diagnosing snails, their impact on crops and the importance of managing snails before they lay their eggs. Egg laying can occur anytime from mid-March to mid-April depending on rainfall.    Episode Link:  DPIRD’s Iden...

In this podcast, Alice Butler speaks with Steve Davies about his pathway to becoming a Senior Research Scientist working on soils in Geraldton, and what inspired his career in this field. Steve explains his understanding of water repellence on sands versus gravels and discusses the new SoilsWest eBook, Soil Water Repellence, that he contributed to. Steve currently works on the Post Amelioration Pr...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Janette Pratt Guest Speakers: DPIRD Epidemiologist Jean Galloway and  Entomologist Dusty Severtson. In this episode you'll learn about important early warnings for diseases and insects, and the new technologies that are being researched to aid in crop monitoring. We also discuss why it's necessary to monitor crops and identify some key resources to learn more about...

Host: GGA Grains Research, Development and Extension Communications Manager, Amber Atkinson Guest Speaker: DPIRD Senior Research Scientist, Mark Seymour In this episode DPIRD Senior Research Scientist, Mark Seymour, explains the work he’s doing with chickpea crops. If you’ve been considering growing chickpeas, Mark offers some expert advice on soil types, treating the seed with fungicide and weed...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Cindy Webster Guest Speaker: DPIRD Research Scientist, Sarah Collins DPIRD Research Agronomist, Cindy Webster provides an informative overview of Root lesion nematodes (RLN) and their impact on crops and pastures. In this episode you'll learn about the effect a green bridge will have on RLN for season 2022 and key management strategies.

Host: Grains Research, Development and Extension Communications Manager, Amber Atkinson Guest Speaker:  DPIRD Research Scientist, Jeremy Curry Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a common quality constraint of wheat that can result in downgrading of grain quality upon receival. In WA, the falling number test is conducted at receival sites where suspected pre-harvest sprouting damage has occurred, deter...

Host: DPIRD Research Scientist Information Delivery, Alice Butler Guest Speaker: DPIRD Portfolio Manager, Soil Science & Crop Nutrition, Chris Gazey  December 5, 2021 is World Soil Day and to celebrate, we invited DPIRD’s Soil Science and Crop Nutrition Manager Chris Gazey to the podcast.  With more than 40 years’ industry experience, Chris reflects on some of the milestone findings throughout...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist Alex Douglas Guest Speaker: DPIRD Research Scientist Dr Catherine Borger It is easy to focus on understanding and implementing weed control tactics. However, it is also important to consider aspects of weed biology and ecology. Ongoing weed control cannot be successful until we understand how weeds grow and interact with other species, including crops, management pr...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Janette Pratt Guest speaker : DPIRD Research Scientist, Svetlana Micic Australian plague locusts (APL) and native grasshoppers have the ability to cause significant damage to crops and pastures. While normally present in low numbers, favourable weather conditions can result in large increases in the populations of both insects.   In this podcast, DPIRD research sci...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Cindy Webster Guest speaker : DPIRD Research Scientist, Dr Benjamin Congdon  Turnip yellows virus (TuYV, formerly known as beet western yellows virus) is an obligate plant parasite transmitted exclusively by aphids, specifically the Green peach aphid. TuYV systemically infects canola plants and cannot be sprayed-out post-infection like a fungal disease. DPIRD resea...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Cindy Webster Guest speaker : DPIRD Technical Officer, Alan Lord DPIRD (with co-investment from GRDC and other funding bodies) conducts invertebrate trapping surveillance each year to monitor the potential risk of destructive pests to WA crops. One of pests surveyed is the native budworm ( Helicoverpa punctigera ). DPIRD carries out both manual and automated pherom...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Janette Pratt Guest speaker: DPIRD Plant Pathologist, Ciara Beard Sclerotinia stem rot is a fungal disease of canola and lupin that can cause significant yield loss. Yield losses can be severe in years of higher moisture and cooler conditions which favours disease development. With foliar fungicide applications not always economical, the decision to spray or not to...