Grains Convo

Host: DPIRD research agronomist Janette Pratt Guest Speaker: DPIRD research scientist Dr Stephen Davies, CSIRO chief research scientist Dr Greg Rebetzke and SLR Agriculture agronomist Michael Lamond In this episode of Grains Convo, DPIRD research scientist Dr Stephen Davies, CSIRO chief research scientist Dr Greg Rebetzke and SLR Agriculture agronomist Michael Lamond join Janette Pratt to chat abo...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist Cindy Webster Guest Speaker: DPIRD Research Scientist Craig Scanlan and CSBP Research Agronomist James Easton In this episode of Grains Convo, DPIRD Research Scientist Craig Scanlan and CSBP Research Agronomist James Easton join Cindy Webster to chat about soil testing. James details the importance of knowing what the nutrient levels are within the soil profile, as...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Cindy Webster Guest Speaker: DPIRD Research Scientists Alex Douglas and Dr Harmohinder Dhammu  In this episode of Grains Convo DPIRD Research scientist Alex Douglas summarises the major weed trends of 2022 for the WA grainbelt and potential summer weeds for 2023. Research Scientist Dr Harmohinder Dhammu talks about initial findings from a DPIRD research project tha...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Janette Pratt Guest Speakers: DPIRD Research Scientists Geoff Thomas and Andrea Hills In this episode of Grains Convo, DPIRD Research Scientists Geoff Thomas and Andrea Hills discuss the crops diseases that were seen in the WA grainbelt in 2022. They also talk about the implications for the coming season and how to prepare and manage these diseases before seeding i...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Cindy Webster Guest Speakers: DPIRD Research Scientists Svetlana Micic and Dr Benjamin Congdon In this episode of Grains Convo, DPIRD Research Scientists Svetlana Micic and Dr Benjamin Congdon talk about the problematic broadacre pests (and associated viruses) experienced in the WA grainbelt in 2022.  They identify the pests and viruses that are likely to be proble...

Host: DPIRD research agronomist, Janette Pratt Guest Speaker: DPIRD research scientist, Miranda Slaven In this episode of Grains convo we talk about electric weed control which has been trialled in Australia for the first time by DPIRD in a collaboration with WALGA, AGXTEND Europe, GRDC, Wine Australia and the Cotton Research and Development corporation (CRDC). DPIRD research officer Miranda Slave...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Cindy Webster Guest Speaker: DPIRD Research Scientist, Brenda Shackley In this episode of Grains Convo we discuss the recently released 2023 WA Crop Sowing Guide. This annual publication, compiled by DPIRD officers, is a one stop shop for information on varieties for all the major crops grown in WA. The 2023 guide features information on 31 new variety releases, al...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Janette Pratt Guest Speaker: DPIRD Research Officer, Glen Riethmuller In this episode of Grains Convo we talk about minimising grain losses at harvest through harvester setup. DPIRD Research Officer Glen Riethmuller discusses how much grain is lost at harvest, where most of the grain is being lost and setting up harvesters to minimise these losses. 

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Cindy Webster Guest Speakers: DPIRD Research Scientist, Dr Brenton Leske In this episode of Grains Convo we talk about frost, which in WA refers to an event when the screen temperature at a local weather station falls below 2°C. Dr Brenton Leske discusses the impact frost damage can have on crops, how to diagnose frost damage, options available for frosted crops an...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Cindy Webster Guest Speakers: DPIRD Research Scientist Dr Dustin Severtson  In this episode of Grains Convo we talk about a serious pest of canola, and all brassica crops, the diamondback moth.  Diamondback moths lay eggs on canola plants and the emerging larvae feed on plants. In addition to damaging canola crops the diamondback moth is renowned to develop insecti...

Host: Grains Research, Development and Extension Communications Manager, Amber Atkinson Guest Speaker: DPIRD Research Scientist, Dr Yong Han In this episode of Grains Convo we speak with DPIRD Research Scientist, Dr Yong Han, about gene editing technology and  how it will influence the future of plant breeding in Australia. Gene editing technology is different to genetic modification. In this podc...

Host: Grains Research, Development and Extension Communications Manager, Amber Atkinson Guest Speaker: DPIRD Senior Plant Pathologist, Manisha Shankar Western Australian grains researchers have wrapped up a ground-breaking project resulting in 11 new wheat lines with very high levels of resistance to yellow spot. In this podcast, DPIRD Senior Plant Pathologist and Project Leader ManishaShankar dis...

Host: GGA Grains Research, Development and Extension Communications Manager, Amber Atkinson Guest Speaker: DPIRD Research Scientist, Tom Edwards In this episode DPIRD Research Scientist Tom Edwards explains the research he is undertaking in soil management to boost grains productivity. Tom is assisting with a series of trials to help growers manage soil constraints like acidity, compaction, water...

Host: DPIRD Research Agronomist, Cindy Webster Guest Speakers: DPIRD Research Scientists and Plant Pathologists, Geoff Thomas and Dr Kylie Chambers. In this episode of Grains Convo we discuss oat diseases in WA - particularly Red leather leaf (RLL) and oat leaf rust.   Plant pathologist Geoff Thomas summarises the main oat diseases found by DPIRD when conducting widespread surveillance of WA cerea...

Host: DPIRD Research Scientist, Alice Butler Guest Speakers: DPIRD Soils Research Scientist, Dr Gaus Azam Dr Gaus Azam is a Soil Scientist with DPIRD, based in Northam. He was born on a small farm in Bangladesh and went on to study agriculture in both Bangladesh and Thailand, before moving to Australia to undertake his PhD in Applied Soil Physics at the University of Adelaide.  Gaus been with DPIR...

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...