WeedSmart Podcast

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! It's been a tough season in many parts of the country for farmers. In particular, the northern wheatbelt in Western Australia hasn't received decent rain, leading to some farmers considering whether it's worth keeping the crop or if they should spray it out. In this podcast, hosted by Jessica Strauss and Peter Newman,...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! What will the future of agriculture look like? One of the founders of SwarmFarm Robotics joins us on the podcast to discuss the robots they're releasing into the agricultural community and what applications they currently have and may have in the future. We also chat about the Quick Test for testing herbicide resistant weeds an...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this choc-a-block podcast, hosts Jessica Strauss and Peter Newman investigate chaff lining and chaff carts, get an overview of WeedSmart Week and a seasonal overview of cotton. Mick McClellend farms in the Mallee in Victoria and has been using chaff lining in his farming system for the last three years. He gives an overview of th...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Hosts Jessica Strauss and Peter Newman provide a national seasonal update in this podcast. With dry conditions affecting many parts of Australia, we check in with agronomists Richard May from the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, Andrew Somervaille from the Northern Region and Pete gives some insights into how to manage weeds which...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this week's podcast, we hear from Esperance farmer Mic Fels who discusses the cost-effective weed management practices he is using on both his Esperance farm and Three Springs property. We also hear from Northern Grower Alliance CEO Richard Daniel. He talks about the issues with glyphosate resistance in the northern region a...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Peter Newman is back from the Global Herbicide Resistance Challenge Conference with an overview and an interview with Aaron Hager from the University of Illinois. We also chat with Adama Market Development Manager Bevan Addison about applying post-emergent herbicides and some of the implications when there are patchy rain conditions...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! One system which some might consider a bit more obscure is that of a disc seeder and stripper front combination. While it's not a new concept, it's not used as much in Australia, as it is in other parts of the world. That could potentially change though, with those who are using it finding they're having a win with we...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Sometimes outsourcing some of the big jobs on the farm can be of real benefit. Whether it's because you don't have your own spray rig, or you simply want to rake back some hours to do other things, using a contractor to spray weeds is worth considering. In this podcast Jessica Strauss chats with spray contractor Andrew Irv...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! If Yaseen Khalil’s recent research is anything to go by, trifluralin would make a wonderful dye and is just about as hard to wash off stubble as it is clothes. Yaseen is completing his PhD at UWA under Ken Flower and has done some fantastic research to help understand which herbicides wash off wheat residue with rainfall and which a...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Sleep. It's something essential to human survival and most people would say they love a good nap! Turns out weed seeds tend to like to take a rest too, but they prefer the depths of the soil, rather than a comfy bed/couch/passenger car seat. Anyhoo, while the seeds are hibernating, much like bears(not really like bears), it can...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Correct early crop sowing strategies can be unravelled by a frost event later in the season. In this podcast, we get a preview into the topics which will be covered in our March 22 webinar. Early sowing is a proven strategy that can be used to minimise the weed burden and maximise crop yield – the question remains how to manage fros...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Join your hosts Jessica Strauss and Peter Newman in the first podcast for March! Spraying weeds and choosing seeds are the hot topics this podcast. We chat with Nufarm Australia Spray Application Specialist Bill Gordon, who gives some great tips and insights on correct set-up. Rohan Brill also joins us for insight on choosing canola...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Dr Chris Preston chats to us about correct pre-emergent herbicide use and Colin McMaster discusses how treating Summer weeds while they're small has benefits for your back pocket, by ensuring nitrogen and soil moisture is kept available for your crops! Music: bensounds.com WeedSmart Week 2026 is heading to Griffith, NSW, August...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! It's the first podcast of 2017 and we're excited to be chatting with Andrew Storrie from Agronomo and the Australian Glyphosate Sustainability Working Group about Summer Weeds. Peter Newman and Jessica Strauss catch up too and chat maximising soil moisture to get the best crop possible! Music: bensounds.com WeedSmart Week...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Harvest is done and dusted for the majority of growers across the nation. In this Christmas edition podcast which is our last for the year, we catch up with Nick McKenna from Planfarm, who caught up with growers in WA's Esperance region on their use of chaff lines and tram lines. We also hear from farmers in that region. Our No...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! In this second podcast focusing on harvest Peter Newman and Jessica Strauss discuss harvest losses and chaff carts, talking to guests Kondinin Group's Ben White, and Agpro Management owner Ed Riggall. For more details on chaff carts, take a look at AHRI Insight #74 here. WeedSmart Week 2026 is heading to Griffith, NSW, August 1...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! With harvest kicking off across Australia, we check in with Warren Treasure who is using an  iHSD. John Broster talks about the research he and Michael Walsh conducted on catching weed seeds and we hear from Ray Harrington on the history of the Harrington Seed Destructor and where it is today. WeedSmart Week 2026 is heading to Griff...

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text! Over the last few weeks the parts of Western Australia have been impacted by frost, while some growers in the East have had to deal with floods. In this first AHRI WeedSmart podcast, we look at what this means for growers, as well as checking in with some new research on 2,4-D. WeedSmart Week 2026 is heading to Griffith, NSW, August...