In this episode of GRDC In Conversation, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Queensland Department of Primary Industries extension officer Henry Baskerville in Toowoomba to unpack the role of extension, soil health and decision making in modern grain farming. 

Although Henry didn’t grow up on a farm, a passion for agriculture, soils and working outdoors led him into the grains industry and eventually into extension. From travelling across Queensland collecting soil samples to working alongside growers on-farm, Henry shares why helping people make better decisions and being part of the learning process is what drives his work. 

The conversation explores grower-led research, soil health challenges, RiskWi$e and how farmers approach risk and decision making. Henry also dives into the future of ag tech, AI, robotics and “digital twins”, while reflecting on why the people in agriculture are what keep him passionate about the industry. 

This episode explores:

- How Henry’s pathway from wildlife science and dairy farming led him into the grains industry and extension 

- Why soil health has become such an important focus across Australian grain growing systems 

- The role of extension officers in connecting growers, researchers and practical on-farm outcomes 

- Why grower-led research and participation creates stronger learning and adoption 

- The importance of collaboration between researchers and growers when designing projects and trials 

- How RiskWi$e is helping growers better understand risk, reward and decision making 

- The hidden complexity behind grower decision making around inputs like nitrogen 

- Why growers often balance profitability with environmental outcomes and long-term soil health 

- The growing role of ag technology, satellite imagery and mapping tools in agriculture 

- How AI, robotics and digital twins could shape the future of farming 

 - Why technology needs to focus on practical decision making rather than just producing more data 

- The value of curiosity, adaptability and learning through doing in agriculture 

- Why the people in agriculture are what continue to drive Henry’s passion for the industry 

Watch this episode as a video on YouTube

https://youtu.be/9ohft-UmPCw

More information 

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/agronomy/soil-and-nutrition/riskwi$e-road-tour 

GRDC in Conversation is a limited series GRDC Podcast. It features in-depth interviews with growers and other experts in the grains industry who share their expertise, knowledge and experiences by exploring their personal stories, history, influences and motivations. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of GRDC, the interviewees’ employer, institution or other associated parties. 

GRDC Project Code:

HAG2507-001SAX

https://grdc.com.au/grdc-investments/investments/investment?code=HAG2507-001SAX

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Pigeon pea, a mainstay crop grown in India, is now being touted as an alternative summer crop for southern Queensland and northern New South Wales as its hardiness to adverse weather conditions is one of its favoured features. GRDC, Woods Seeds and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries have been running trials over several years around the Toowoomba region with Principal Research Scientist Bruce Winter and Angus Woods of Wood Seeds leading the charge. 

Contacts:     

Angus Woods

Woods Seeds

[email protected]

Bruce Winter

Queensland DPI  

[email protected]

More Information:     

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2026/03/pigeonpea-agronomy,-performance-and-system-fit

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2025/08/field-trials-confirm-the-potential-of-pigeonpea-as-a-summer-pulse-crop-for-the-northern-region

https://grdc.com.au/events/past-events/2024/07/grdc-grains-research-update-goondiwindi

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2025/11/pigeonpea-for-central-qld-agronomy-performance-and-system-fit

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/crops/pulses/golden-opportunity-for-the-norths-hot-and-dry-spots

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/crops/pulses/new-broadacre-summer-pulse-crop-for-queensland-and-northern-nsw

Project Code: 

DAQ2511-004RTX

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Gravel and sand mulches are being tested to improve crop emergence in areas affected by challenging soil conditions, including non-wetting soils, waterlogging and salinity with some unexpected results. Ella Shaylor from SLR Agriculture explains how surface mulches can help conserve soil moisture, reduce evaporation and limit the movement of salts towards the soil surface. Local grower Jake Latham shares his experience with persistent patches where crops have struggled to germinate year after year. While gravel has performed well in previous trials, sand mulch is showing particularly promising results— raising new questions about how and why the treatment is working.

This podcast is part of a 6-part GRDC series looking at managing soil constraints in Western Australia. The project adopting innovative solutions for challenging soils is a GRDC investment led by SLR Agriculture.

Contacts:

Ella Shaylor

SLR Agriculture

[email protected]

Jake Latham

Grower

[email protected]

More Information: 

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2026/02/gravel-mulch-improves-cereal-yield-and-water-use-efficiency-on-alkaline-sodic-soils-in-the-eastern-wheatbelt-of-wa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPqOC5zbwC8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foExvBXRFjo 

Project/Investment Codes:

PLT2409-001SAX

SLR25002-001SAX

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Farm automation adoption isn’t just about technology - it depends on people. Dealers are essential in building trust, proving value in local conditions, and supporting farmers through training, service, and confidence-building. Andrew Speed has spent a lifetime in the grains industry and knows first hand not just the frustration of when technology doesn’t hit the mark, but the jubilation when it does. Now working in the precision ag team at RDO Equipment, he joins Conor McGuckian from eastern Australia’s Boekeman Machinery in a frank conversation around how growers can work with their machinery dealers to move towards an autonomous business. This GRDC podcast series is led by the Society of Precision Agriculture Australia as part of the GRDC Grain Automate Initiative.

Contacts:   

Conor McGuckian

Boekeman Machinery

[email protected]

Andrew Speed

RDO Equipment

[email protected]

More Information:

Grain Automate website

Major initiative: Grain AutomateGrain automate project round up

Momentum builds for on-farm task automation

GRDC invests $35M to drive machine automation and intelligent technology for grain growers

Grain Automate webinar: getting automation farm-ready

SPAA webinar: Paving the way for on-farm autonomy

The latest in ag tech comes to grain

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Weeds can be especially challenging in High Rainfall Zones, where favourable growing conditions can drive significant weed pressure. Agronomists Luke Wilkins and Candice Robinson share their insights about proactive weed management strategies for tough seasons, including crop competition, herbicide rotation, harvest weed seed control and emerging technologies. They also discuss changing rainfall patterns, paraquat restrictions, brome grass and the role of research in developing future weed control options.

Contacts:   

Luke Wilkins

Bawdens Rural Trading

[email protected]

Candice Robinson

Seftons

[email protected]

Project/Investment Code:

SPP2502-001SAX

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The GRDC investment ‘improving surface and subsurface water management across the medium and high rainfall zones of Australia’ is investigating the benefits and challenges of different drainage options across different production regions, cropping systems and soil types. Grower Jeremy Whyte and agronomist Quenten Knight discuss how landforming uses natural and constructed gradients to assist excess water to flow off paddocks, thereby reducing ponding and waterlogging, and increasing yields. This podcast is part of a 6-part GRDC series on managing soil constraints in Western Australia.

Contact:  

Jeremy Whyte

Warakirri Cropping

[email protected]

Quenten Knight

Agronomy Focus

[email protected]

More Information:

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/announcements/drainage-that-delivers-new-tools-for-profitable-water-management

Project Code:

PAP2510-001RTX

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Dr Lisle Snyman always knew she wanted to work in plant science. Growing up in South Africa, Lisle honed her pathology skills from a young age, cumulating in an esteemed career that has seen her work across the

Contact:  

Lisle Snyman

QLD DPI                       

[email protected]

More Information:    

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/awardsscholarships/scientist-and-grain-storage-expert-net-grdcs-major-northern-awards

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/awardsscholarships/grains-research-and-industry-champions-acknowledged

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How similar is herbicide resistance in Canada compared to Australia? Research Fellow and weed scientist at the University of Western Australia, William Kramer, shares his global perspective on this challenging issue for growers and his journey in genomics research to better understand what genes are involved in resistance.

William is part of the GRDC Weed Management Initiative research team, run in partnership with The University of Western Australia, The University of Adelaide, Charles Sturt University and The University of Queensland.

Contact:   

William Kramer

More information:

https://www.ahri.uwa.edu.au/us-phd-graduate-to-join-ahri-to-deliver-herbicide-technology-program/

Investment code:

SPP2502-001SAX

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Growers and agronomists in the southern cropping region discuss how they are maximising their dual-purpose crops using the information found in the GRDC publication “20 Tips for dual-purpose crops”. This practical guide is the result of a GRDC investment led by CSIRO. Hear from growers Ben Lane, Max O’Connor and Brad Cavanagh as well as Delta Agribusiness agronomists, Tim Condon and Ben Lenehan.

Contacts:         

Tim Condon

Delta Agribusiness

[email protected]

Ben Lenehan

Delta Agribusiness

[email protected]

More information:     

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/publications/2025/20-tips-for-dual-purpose-crops

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/farm-business/business-management/dual-purpose-canola-adds-$1.6-billion-to-farmers-returns

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grower-stories/national/dual-purpose-crops-drive-mixed-farm-resilience

https://www.deltaag.com.au/

Project/Investment Code: 

CSP2106-009RTX

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How do you know if it’s worth spraying fungicide on canola to keep diseases like Sclerotinia at bay? Maurie Street, from Grain Orana Alliance in Dubbo and Rohan Brill from Brill Ag in the Riverina, have been conducting field trials on the yield response to different spraying scenarios when dealing with Sclerotinia and discuss the logic behind making decisions at the beginning and even in the middle of a growing season.

Contacts:            

Maurie Street

Grain Orana Alliance

[email protected]

Rohan Brill

Brill Ag

[email protected]

More Information: 

SclerotiniaCM app: https://www.dpird.wa.gov.au/online-tools/sclerotinia-cm--sclerotinia-management-app/

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/weeds-pests-diseases/diseases/do-canola-fungicide-applications-always-pay

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/announcements/fungicide-use-may-be-placing-canola-production-at-risk

https://grdc.com.au/news-and-media/audio/podcast/2021/fungicide-resistance-in-canola-crops-with-dr-steve-marcroft

https://afren.com.au/fungicides-available-for-australian-grain-crops-and-their-modes-of-action/

https://afren.com.au/research-fast-tracked-to-arrest-rising-blackleg-resistance/

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/weeds-pests-diseases/weeds/grdc-builds-a-team-australia-to-bolster-weed-research

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