Grains Convo

In this episode, DPIRD Senior Research Scientist Andrea Hills discusses the key diseases affecting broadleaf crops early in the season, including blackleg, downy mildew, ascochyta blight and botrytis. She explains why accurate disease identification and regular crop monitoring are critical, and shares practical advice to help growers make timely management decisions that protect yield. Episode Lin...

Crops are emerging and can be vulnerable to damage from insects or infection from viruses such as turnip yellows virus which is vectored by the green peach aphid.       In this episode Research Scientists Benjamin Congdon, Dusty Severtson and Sveltana Micic discuss what insects (pests and beneficials) growers and consultants can expect to find at crop establishment. They also discuss the importanc...

New research is showing what's possible when multiple soil issues are addressed together. In this episode, DPIRD principal research scientist Dr Gaus Azam discusses findings from the Soil Water and Nutrition Management (SWAN) investment. From soil reengineering to large scale grower trials, Gaus shares insights into building more productive, resilient soils that can support stronger crop performan...

DPIRD economists have analysed how different nitrogen strategies perform under urea prices ranging from $600 to $1,500 per tonne. In this episode, agricultural economist Sud Kharel discusses the findings, which compare common crop rotations across multiple WA environments and soil types using decades of weather, price and production data.  Sud explains the difference between fixed rate and economi...

DPIRD research scientists Meredith Guthrie and Steve Bradshaw discuss the 2026 seasonal outlook for WA and how growers can use climate and weather information, and DPIRD tools, to support decision making throughout the season. The episode explores current rainfall conditions, the potential development of an El Niño and positive Indian Ocean Dipole later this year, and what those climate drivers co...

This episode explores how growers can adjust inputs to maximise economic yield potential, not just crop yield. DPIRD economist Nick Thorsager explains the importance of focusing on return on investment, particularly in seasons with high input costs and variable rainfall. The discussion highlights practical ways to balance risk and reward, using tools, data and whole-farm thinking to support more c...

In this episode of Grains Convo, Tim Scanlon speaks with Greg Shea about getting the most from lupins this season. They cover practical agronomy, soil testing and nutrient decisions to maximise nitrogen benefits and manage input costs. The discussion highlights how lupins can set up following crops and support better returns over multiple seasons. Episode links: Producing Lupins  Crop Sowing Guide...

In this episode of Grains Convo, Tim Scanlon speaks with Mark Seymour about how to get the most from pulse crops this season. They cover key decisions around soil type, inoculation, nutrient management and crop selection to reduce risk and maximise returns. The discussion highlights how pulses can improve soil health, manage weeds and deliver valuable nitrogen benefits for following crops. Episode...

With diesel prices and input constraints front of mind, making the right call on deep ripping has never been more important. In the latest Grains Convo episode, Tim Scanlon speaks with Wayne Parker about the EasyDiesel Calculator, a simple tool designed to help growers understand the financial impact of deep ripping before committing valuable resources. Episode links: Easy Diesel Calculator DPIRD/...

In this episode of Grains Convo , host Tim Scanlon speaks with DPIRD Senior Research Scientist Jackie Bucat about managing canola under tight seasonal and input constraints. With rising costs and uncertainty around rainfall, Jackie outlines strategies to help growers make sound decisions. Episode Links: Crop Sowing Guide Potential yield tool Rainfall to date tool Soil water tool WA crop sequence c...

In this episode of Grains Convo , Cindy and Janette are joined by Dr Dion Nicol to explore practical strategies for nitrogen management across the WA grainbelt. Dion outlines how growers can approach pre-season planning and adapt in-season decisions to improve returns, with a focus on allocating nitrogen where it is most likely to deliver yield and gross margin benefits. He also emphasises the imp...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Cindy Webster Guest Speaker: DPIRD Entomologist Svetlana Micic In this episode of Grains Convo, Cindy Webster hosts DPIRD Entomologist Svetlana Micic, as they discuss a new invertebrate project that DPIRD is working on, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Cindy Webster Guest Speaker: DPIRD Research Scientist Chad Reynolds In this episode of Grains Convo, Cindy Webster hosts DPIRD Research Scientist Chad Reynolds, from the Soil Science portfolio.  Chad has been involved in an 11-year farm-scale experiment investigating liming in low rainfall regions, he goes through some of the most important findings from the experim...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Janette Pratt Guest Speaker: DPIRD Senior Research Scientist Dr Marty Harries, Senior Development Officer Megan Abrahams and Research Scientist Steph Boyce In this episode of Grains Convo, Janette Pratt hosts Dr Marty Harries, Senior Development Officer Megan Abrahams and Research Scientist Steph Boyce, as they dive into an update of the WA Farming Systems Project....

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Janette Pratt Guest Speaker: DPIRD Principal Research Scientist Dr Catherine Borger and Research Scientist Miranda Slaven In this episode of Grains Convo, Janette Pratt hosts Catherine Borger and Miranda Slaven as they explain how electric weed control compares to traditional herbicide methods in terms of effectiveness and sustainability for grain crops in WA. They...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Janette Pratt Guest Speaker: DPIRD Research Scientist Hamid Shirdelmoghanloo In this episode of Grains Convo, Janette Pratt hosts DPIRD Research Scientist Hamid Shirdelmoghanloo , as they discuss one of three projects DPIRD is involved in looking into oat yield and pathways, particularly focusing on the ‘Yield per se’ project. Hamid then delves into some of the reas...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Cindy Webster Guest Speaker: DPIRD Senior Research Scientist Ben Congdon In this episode of Grains Convo, Cindy Webster hosts DPIRD Senior Research Scientist Ben Congdon, as they discuss what exactly turnip yellows virus is, and how to diagnose it in the field.  Ben also addresses how green peach aphids contribute to the spread of the virus in WA, management strateg...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Cindy Webster Guest Speaker: DPIRD Manager of Crop Protection Portfolio, Senior Research Scientist, Dr Helen Spafford In this episode of Grains Convo, Cindy Webster hosts the Manager of DPIRD's Crop Protection Portfolio, Dr Helen Spafford, as they discuss Fall armyworm.  They go through what it is, whether should growers be worried about it, and when it was first de...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Cindy Webster Guest Speaker: DPIRD Research Scientist Ahmed Saad In this episode of Grains Convo, Cindy Webster hosts DPIRD Research Scientist Ahmed Saad, as they go through exactly what Rhizoctonia is and whether growers should be worried about it. Ahmed then delves into typical management strategies, before discussing a new project which is fully funded by DPIRD,...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Cindy Webster Guest Speaker: DPIRD Principal Research Scientist David Hall In this episode of Grains Convo, Cindy Webster hosts DPIRD Principal Research Scientist David Hall, as they discuss sodic soils and David's work spanning 30-years (and counting) in this space.  David then delves into where sodic and alkaline clay soils occur most throughout WA, and explains t...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Janette Pratt Guest Speaker: DPIRD Principal Soil Scientist Dr Gaus Azam In this episode of Grains Convo, Janette Pratt hosts DPIRD Principal Soil Scientist Dr Gaus Azam , as they discuss honour of the Recognising and Rewarding Excellence Award and how Gaus has spent his travel bursary thus far.  Gaus then delves into the first leg of his trip, Germany, and shares a...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Cindy Webster Guest Speaker: DPIRD senior research scientist Dusty Severtson In this episode of Grains Convo, Cindy Webster hosts DPIRD research scientist Dusty Severtson, as they discuss Dusty's research in broadacre grains entomology and the exciting possibilities of using drones in this field.   Dusty then looks to the future and discusses whether there is scope...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Janette Pratt Guest Speaker: DPIRD Entomologist Svetlana Micic In this episode of Grains Convo, Janette Pratt hosts DPIRD Entomologist Svetlana Micic, as they discuss a new fly biocontrol program which has commenced on the South Coast, and how to manage snails in broadacre crops.  Svet delves into the types of species growers are most likely to find, goes through th...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Janette Pratt Guest Speaker: DPIRD Senior Research Scientist (Climate) Meredith Guthrie and the Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist, Jonathan How. In this episode of Grains Convo, Janette Pratt hosts DPIRD Senior Research Scientist (Climate) Meredith Guthrie and the Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist, Jonathan How . Meredith goes through the latest se...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Cindy Webster Guest Speaker: DPIRD Research Scientist and wheat commodity lead, Dr Dion Nicol In this episode of Grains Convo, Cindy Webster hosts DPIRD Research Scientist Dr Dion Nicol. Dion goes through the reasons why heat stress is a constraint to wheat yield potential, and shares insights into the ways to mitigate the impacts of heat stress.  Dion then delves i...