Grains Convo

In this episode of Grains Convo, DPIRD senior research scientist Dr Benjamin Congdon shares findings from the 2026 aphid and virus surveillance program, including regional differences in green peach aphid activity and the spread of turnip yellows virus across WA. Discover why the timing of infection matters, how to identify potential virus problems and what the latest research means for management...

Harvest is underway in parts of the WA grainbelt, but there’s still plenty happening on the insect front. DPIRD research scientists Dusty Severtson and Svetlana Micic join Cindy Webster and Janette Pratt to discuss the pests growers are seeing now, including armyworm, diamondback moth, native budworm, aphids and redlegged earth mite. They unpack what to look for through harvest, the importance of...

Harvest is already underway in parts of WA, but the 2026 grain season remains a mixed bag across the grainbelt. In the latest Grains Convo, Tim Scanlon speaks with Development Officer Alison Lacey, who draws on DPIRD’s regional intelligence network to unpack what’s happening across WA’s grain growing regions: where crops are performing strongly, where low rainfall and subsoil moisture are limiting...

A freezing night does not automatically mean a damaged crop. The real challenge is knowing where to look, what signs to trust and when the impact is serious enough to change course. DPIRD frost researcher Brenton Leske joins Tim Scanlon to examine what frost is doing across the WA grainbelt. They discuss how to assess affected areas, monitor crop recovery and weigh up difficult decisions such as c...

Crop viruses can be difficult to identify, with symptoms often mistaken for waterlogging, nutrient deficiency, frost or other diseases. DPIRD research scientist Tim Scanlon speaks with plant virologist Dr Chi Cao about new diagnostic methods making virus detection faster, more precise and more comprehensive. Discover how improved testing can identify multiple viruses at once, uncover unexpected an...

WA’s grain growing regions are experiencing a season of stark contrasts, with strong rainfall totals in some areas and increasingly dry conditions in others. DPIRD's Dr Meredith Guthrie joins Tim Scanlon to unpack the season so far and what could lie ahead for spring, harvest and summer. They discuss rainfall and soil moisture across the grainbelt, the risk of frost, the climate drivers influencin...

Soilborne diseases can be difficult to spot, but their impact on crop performance and yield can be significant. In this episode of Grains Convo, DPIRD researchers Daniel Huberli and Ahmed Saad discuss key soilborne diseases affecting WA crops, including rhizoctonia, crown rot and take-all. Learn what symptoms to look for, how to get an accurate diagnosis and the integrated management strategies th...

Not all poor performing crops are suffering from nutrient deficiencies or disease. In this episode of Grains Convo, Senior Research Scientist Sarah Collins explains how plant parasitic nematodes affect WA grain crops, why the symptoms are often mistaken for other problems and how growers can identify infestations early. Discover why digging up roots is just as important as inspecting crops from ab...

In this episode, DPIRD Principal Research Scientist Dr Harmohinder Dhammu discusses the new paraquat and diquat regulations, what the two year transition period means for growers and practical strategies for effective early season weed control. He also shares advice on weed identification, herbicide resistance management and choosing the right control options to protect crop yield potential. Episo...

Young cereal crops are beginning to emerge, bringing the first signs of disease in some paddocks. In this episode, DPIRD Principal Research Scientist Geoff Thomas and Research Scientist Jason Bradley discuss the cereal diseases growers are most likely to encounter early in the season, how to distinguish disease from herbicide damage and other lookalike symptoms, and why careful monitoring and accu...

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...