Many growers are currently facing the challenges that come with paddocks that are split. Some nearly ready for harvest, others showing significant regrowth. In this episode, we talk about the ins and outs of managing regrowth in crop during harvest and hear from Matthew Sparke, an agronomist with Sparke Agricultural and Associates based in Victoria, and harvest specialist, Kassie Van Der Westhuizen.

Contacts:    

Matthew Sparke

Sparke Agriculture

[email protected]

Kassie Van Der Westhuizen

One Shot Harvest

[email protected]

More Information:  

GRDC Harvester Guide

GRDC website

Project Investment Code: 

PRS2005-001SAX

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Permanent tramlines in a controlled-traffic farming system offer a range

In this episode, we’re joined by Bindi Isbister from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and grower Cameron Johnson as part of a GRDC series looking at managing soil constraints in Western Australia. Together, we talk about the process of renovating these tramlines to keep them flat and even, as well as the different machinery options to get the job done.

Contact:

Bindi Isbister

DPIRD (WA)

[email protected]

More information:     

Permanent tramlines in CTF systems need maintenance    

Renovating to prevent tramline erosion is now a key

Developing a controlled traffic (tramline) farming system

Project Code:

PLT2409-001SAX

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Much like mechanics might have cars in a less-than-ideal state, agronomists often have the messiest crops, with their attention going to their customers first. Kojonup grain farmer and agronomist Courtney Piesse isn’t too worried though, as his own agronomy business keeps the bills paid and his mind connected to the people and innovation alive in the industry.

In this episode of GRDC In Conversation, host Oli Le Lievre chats with Courtney about pivoting from his dream of being a fighter pilot to returning to ag, and his love of applying agronomy skills to care for different crops across the vast state of WA, from wheat in the Great Southern to irrigated horticulture in the far north.

More information:

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

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Vibrant, colourful blooms and an attractive daisy-like appearance make them a popular choice for gardens and landscaping. But unfortunately, quick growing gazanias are actually a weed, one that's jumped the fence and is now invading the paddocks of grain growers. GRDC has identified gazania as a weed threat and is responding by investing in research to determine its distribution and abundance, review current control methods, and inform management strategies for the grains industry. In this podcast we hear from Dr Ali Bajwa, senior lecturer in weed science and agronomy at Melbourne's La Trobe University and South Australian grower Robin Schaefer on this episode.

Contact:     

Dr Ali Bajwa, La Trobe University

[email protected]

Robin Schaefer, Bulla Burra Grower

[email protected]

More Information:

Garden beauty turns into paddock pain

Project Investment Code:  

ULA2402-002RTX

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Groundbreaking innovation tends to happen through multidisciplinary approaches and a range of expertise. That statement has never been truer than in a new national project bringing together precision technologies, remote sensing, and modern machine capabilities with knowledge of weed ecology and population dynamics to predict the emergence of weed patches across paddocks. This project is part of the Grain Automate

Contact:      

Dr Mike Ashworth 

Tom Giles 

Grower and GRDC western panel member

More Information:

Machinery innovations to revolutionise weed control
Partenerships and vision are key to an autonomous future

Geco Agriculture

InFarm

Bayer Crop Science

Project Investment Code:      

UWA2307-005RTX

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Shannen Davies’ idyllic childhood in Geraldton gave her a deep connection to the regions, and an appreciation for the innovation and growth happening in the farming space. Knowing agriculture has an incredible story to tell, Shannen uses her role as Communications Manager at InterGrain to ensure the groundbreaking research and innovation is given the platform it deserves.

In this episode of GRDC In Conversation, host Oli Le Lievre chats with Shannen about her life-changing Nuffield scholarship journey and her infectious excitement for the grains industry, which she says is on the cusp of the next breeding revolution.

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.

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Have you ever wondered how to collect the perfect sample of cereal rust? This is the episode for you. Listen as Matthew Williams and Margarita Pietilainen from the Australian Cereal Rust survey team at the University of Sydney’s Plant Breeding Institute give a detailed description on how to gather and prepare rust samples from the paddock for postage. You’ll also hear from Dr Mumta Chhetri who leads the project. They analyse up to 1700 rust samples per year sent by growers and their agronomists from all over Australia, a vital GRDC investment.

Contact:

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This episode explores the rise in fungicide resistance in Australian crops like wheat and barley by discussing work being done at Horsham Smart Farm in the Wimmera region of Victoria. Scientists from the Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN) including plant pathology research leader Dr Joshua Fanning and research scientist Melissa Cook are intentionally creating conditions to attract diseases to help decipher which varieties are more susceptible to disease.

The Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension

Contact:         

Dr Joshua Fanning

Plant Pathology Research Leader, Agriculture Victoria

[email protected]

More information:      

AFREN website

Horsham Smart Farm

Groundcover article - Finding strategies to preserve disease resistance

GRDC - Wheat disease update- rust and Septoria

Project Code:

CUR2302-002RTX

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With farming roots deep in the south coast of WA, Julianne Hill’s career path has taken many twists and turns. Supporting farmers to reach their full potential has always been her focus, and that’s helped greatly by the long-term relationships she’s built over many rides in headers and cups of tea around kitchen tables. Having led the GRDC grower networks for more than a decade, she knows the impact meaningful research can have on on-farm outcomes. 

In this episode of GRDC In Conversation, host Oli Le Lievre chats with Julianne about the challenges of starting farming from scratch, the loss of identity she felt after selling her farm and what life after farming looks like for Julianne, which is just as energised as ever! 

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. 

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Think twice when it comes to prophylactic spraying. That's the advice to southern growers this season. When disease pressure is low, reducing spraying means reducing costs. But just how should growers make the often-risky decision not to spray? To find out more we spoke to Nick Poole from FAR Australia and the Australian Fungicide Resistance Network, otherwise known as AFREN. 

Contact:

Nick Poole 

FAR Australia & AFREN 

[email protected]

More Information:  

AFREN

FAR Australia

Project Investment Code:

UR2302-002RTX

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