WeedSmart Podcast

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! *This episode of Beyond Resistance was recorded on 11 June, 2026, before the APVMA announced new restrictions for the use of paraquat and diquat products.* In this episode of Beyond Resistance, we're joined by our own Northern Extension Agronomist, Paul McIntosh, and GRDC's Manager of Chemical Regulations, Gordon Cumming....

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this episode of Regional Update we're joined by Rolleston grower, Kurt Mayne. Kurt's main crop is usually chickpeas, although he also rotates through mungbeans, sorghum and barley. Kurt's a big believer in using every tool in the Big 6 toolbox for weed control. In addition to crop rotation, he also aims for zero we...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this episode of Beyond Resistance , we're joined by Adama Market Development Managers, Bevan Addison (WA) and Andre Sabeeney (SA), to discuss how this year's unusual seasonal dynamics and fuel/fertiliser issues are altering regional crop rotations and weed control.  Our guests unpack why maximizing weed control during p...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this episode of Regional Update , we're joined by Joe Koch, a grower from the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. Joe and his family run a mixed "crops and chops" operation in separate high and low rainfall zones. With a rare wet start (200ml from the end of March - April!) under their belts, they've been face...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this episode of Beyond Resistance , Shannon chats with South Coastal Agencies Lead Agronomist Rachel Minnett and Nutrien Farm Services Agronomist Tom Shaw about bridging the gap between university training and practical farm agronomy skills. Tom and Rachel discuss how the WeedSmart Big 6 provide a good reminder to view weed contr...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this episode of Regional Update , we're joined by Will Woolcock, Branch Manager and Agronomist at Nutrien in Emerald, QLD. Will's territory extends about 200km north and south of Emerald, where he's seeing a lot more growers planting chickpeas this year, in response to the current fertiliser cost and supply issues....

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this episode of Regional Update we're joined by Paul "Chippa" Ackland, senior agronomist at Central Ag Solutions in Arthurton SA. Following a very hot summer, some much needed March rain has brought out ryegrass and cape weed germination on the Yorke Peninsula. Paul notes that resistance in milk thistle, wild vetch...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this episode of Regional Update, we're joined by Angus Roberts, a young grower from Dandaragan, WA. Angus chats to host Shannon about his mixed farming operation 160km north of Perth and their history with clethodim resistance.  Since attending Mildura WeedSmart Week in 2022, Angus and his family have aimed to adopt all of t...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! This Beyond Resistance podcast episode featuring experts Richard Holzknecht and Jeshua Smith from VICCHEM is an essential resource for farmers and agronomists looking to optimise their herbicide mix in the tank and ensure every drop counts.  Since spray water typically makes up more than 95% of what goes into a spray tank, the quali...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this episode of Regional Update , we hear from Kate Shooter, an agronomist at McGregor Gourlay based in Toowoomba. Kate shares how conditions are progressing in the Eastern and Western Downs regions of Queensland, particularly in the wake of last November’s hailstorm.  With mung bean planting in full swing and sorghum crops just...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this episode of Regional Update , we hear from Reece Rayson , who continues to make the best out of a couple of below average rainfall seasons, with an eye on the WeedSmart Big 6 to lead the challenge on herbicide resistance.    Reece attended WeedSmart Week 2025 in Geraldton this year, and highlights some of the common factors d...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text!  In this episode of Beyond Resistance , we hear from our WeedSmart Extension Agronomists from the Western and Southern regions on steps to take from this point in the season with cool soft spring finish to the winter growing season and points to think about when considering harvest operations and planning the next season of weed con...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this episode of Regional Update, we hear from Erin Dalton , Baker Ag Advantage, an experienced agronomist working closely with growers in her region to tackle the season’s biggest challenges. Erin shares valuable on-the-ground insights into how local conditions are shaping cropping decisions, the strategies farmers are using to m...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Tom Wolfe pulls back the curtain on the forces driving (and sometimes derailing) new spray technology – and how farmers can cut through the noise to find what will work for them! In this episode of Beyond Resistance, spray technology expert Tom Wolfe tackles one of agriculture’s most complex balancing acts – aligning stewardship, te...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Austin Rayner , farm manager with EF Smart Pty Ltd, brings an update from Midwest WA with insights into the weed strategy after a period of soil amelioration investment combined with new chemistry, leading to a low weed seed bank plus leaving plenty of other tools in the toolbox for future management.   While building to this situat...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Our June Regional Update gives us an insight into the Northern cropping region during this year, as crops are being harvested and sown simultaneously with the season presenting a few challenges.  Hear from UQ graduate, Max Schmelzer as he talks about herbicide resistance and tools in the box working to address the weed seed bank acr...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this episode, we hear from our WeedSmart Extension Agronomists, Jana Freebairn and Greg Condon, updating from their respective Southern and lower Northern growing regions. With many farms commencing a dry seeding program to efficiently get across the hectares in what will be a less than ideal start to the winter growing season, t...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! As our farming environment changes with our management, so to do the plant populations growing across our landscape.  Gazania , a long-term weed within Australia is taking advantage of harsher summers competing well where water is a scarce resource.  Ali Bajwa, weed researcher and Senior Lecturer in Weed Science and Agronomy with @L...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! The regional update from the southern growing region with WeedSmart Extension Agronomist Chris Davey, providing you with a dry seeding update for 2025, soil moisture observations and challenges for crop health.   With negative moisture levels in the soil and limited rainfall over the last 12 months, looking over the spray records wi...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Welcome to 2025! The first Regional Update of 2025 takes us to Lock Valley Farms in South Australia, with Henry Coleman, a mixed operations grower and Youtuber. Documenting his life on the farm alongside his family, he filled us in on the season just been - though dry, he's remaining optimistic this coming year is going to be a...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this episode of the WeedSmart Podcast, we talk about how weed seeds can adapt their dormancy, discussing the selection pressures, interactions with herbicides and the recommended actions from growers to get ahead. We also caught up with Pete for a quick recap of the season in the West, after an explosion of weeds thanks to an esp...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Join WeedSmart Southern Extension Agronomists Jana Freebairn and Chris Davey in discussing the rising resistance to imi’s (imidazolinone) in broadleaf weeds, in 2024 and beyond. Imi resistance is a growing issue within our cropping systems and is becoming ever more important when considering crop rotation, herbicide selection and ye...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Ian Pursehouse is our guest for this episode of the Regional Update. Located in NSW, in West Wyalong, Ian and his family transitioned from a mixed operation to 100% dryland cropping in the late 2010's, and have been learning from every experience since. Ian has a systems-focused approach, with an emphasis on optimising rotation...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! This Regional Update Podcast episode, we're joined by grower Stuart Vlahov from Western Australia. Stu is a grower in Ellendale, WA, around 35kms south-east of Geraldton near Walkaway, who has recently been using two drones to spray crops within his mixed farming operation spanning 3500ha. With bogged crops and wild radish flou...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this episode of the WeedSmart Podcast, we heard from Josh Hollitt, an Independant Agronomist located in the Eyre Peninsula, who is presenting at the upcoming WeedSmart Week in Port Lincoln. Speaking on summer weed control strategies, Josh has over a decade of experience to share and is looking forward to hearing from other grower...