In this week's podcast, machinery specialist Jack Desbiolles from the University of South Australia runs through important considerations for seeder set-up when sowing long coleoptile wheat varieties. 

The work is part of a major national GRDC project, led by CSIRO, exploring integrating long coleoptile wheat into Australian farming systems. 

Research partners include the University of Melbourne, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, SLR Agriculture, DPIRD, the University of South Australia, and EPAG research. 

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact: 

Dr Greg Rebetzke 

[email protected] 

More information: 

GRDC project code: CSP2212-007RTX 

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Listeners are advised that this podcast contains references to suicide

There’s no shortage of stressors in farming, and while crop destruction is often clearly visible, the impact on grower mental health can be less apparent.     

Although awareness and access to rural mental health services is growing, agronomists can sometimes find themselves on the frontline witnessing or discussing issues with growers that go beyond the paddock. 

In this GRDC podcast, University of South Australia Associate Professor Kate Gunn shares her insight on how agronomists can handle tough conversations with growers who could be experiencing mental ill health. 

If you or anyone you know needs help you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. 

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Contact 

Dr Natasha Caulfield 

Program Manager, University of South Australia 

[email protected]

More information 

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Significant research is underway to help Western Australian farmers sustain their own on-farm nitrogen factory though growing and harvesting pasture legume seed. 

The Harvestable Annual Legume Options (HALO) project is a Western Australian Agricultural Research Collaboration project with GRDC investment.  

It brings together the pasture legume breeding, agronomy and bio-economic modelling expertise of Murdoch University, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development DPIRD and CSIRO. 

In this podcast, research scientist at DPIRD and Murdoch University, Robert Harrison, shares the latest update on this multifaceted project. 

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact 

Robert Harrison, Research scientist 

DPIRD and Murdoch University 

[email protected]

More information 

GRDC investment code 

UMU2303-005RTX

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Wheat powdery mildew is becoming increasingly difficult to manage, in part because there’s widespread resistance to the available chemicals. So, what to do? It’s a complex matrix of deciding whether it’s worth growing a disease resistant variety which doesn’t yield so well or go with the susceptible variety and hope your fungicides will do the job. 

There is some hope on the horizon in the form of new products, but they’re specific to mildew so you’d still need to apply your other fungicides ... and of course that’s an additional cost. 

In this podcast we hear from agronomist Sam Trengove in the Southern Region, who has headed a GRDC investment looking at this issue and from FAR Australia’s Nick Poole who also works with the Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN). 

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact: 

Nick Poole, FAR Australia

[email protected] 

Sam Trengove, Trengove Consulting Pty Ltd

[email protected] 

More Information: 

Understand how fungicide resistance develops

Project Code: CUR2302-002RTX 

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Warm conditions across much of Western Australia and variable rainfall in 2024 contributed to mixed levels of fungal disease severity in the State’s cereal, pulse and oilseed crops.

With this in mind, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in Western Australia, with investment from GRDC, is urging growers to start thinking about their integrated disease management strategies for the 2025 season as soon as possible. 

In this episode, DPIRD plant pathologist Geoff Thomas joins us to discuss the problematic diseases from 2024, and how to get ahead of them for the 2025 growing season.

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact:

Geoff Thomas 

DPIRD 

Plant pathologist 

[email protected] 

More information:

Paddock Practices: Start managing 2025 disease risks now

Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network 

Decision support tools aid disease management decisions

Project codes

DAW2104-001RTX, DAW2104-002RTX, DAW2404-005RTX

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In this episode of GRDC In Conversation, host Oli Le Lievre chats with Merrie Carlshausen, a former nurse turned essential advocate for farming communities in Western Australia.  

Merrie shares her journey from her beginnings in nursing to her work with rural financial counseling and the Liebe Group, where she has facilitated impactful change in farming practices and family dynamics. Merrie highlights the importance of succession planning, the role of family meetings, and the collaborative nature of farming families.  

She discusses her work with the Rural Financial Counseling Service, her contributions to the Liebe Group’s research efforts, and her commitment to empowering women and youth in agriculture. Through her stories and insights, Merrie provides invaluable advice on navigating family relationships in farming and staying adaptive to agricultural innovation. 

Download the transcript for this episode 

Watch this episode as a video on YouTube 

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: HAG2308-001SAX 

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Chris Warrick and Alex Conway are part of the GRDC's grain storage extension team. Their task is to help growers with their on-farm storage, as well as undertake development activities to try and understand tools and equipment that can be used to better store grain on-farm. 

On this podcast episode, Chris and Alex talk about three topics on grain storage - fumigating and venting in grain bags, recirculation systems for large storage when fumigating with phosphine, and monitoring grain temperature in storage.  

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact: 

Alex Conway 

GRDC Grain Storage Extension Team  

[email protected]

Chris Warrick 

GRDC Grain Storage Extension Team  

[email protected]

More information: 

Stored Grain Information Hub

Project Codes: 

PRB2011-001SAX 

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In this episode, we sit down with David Tropiano, a grain farmer from Mullewa, WA, as he shares his journey from a reluctant start in farming to running a multi-generational operation.  

David opens up about the realities of farming in Western Australia, from handling different soil types and the competitive land market to the impact of weather on crops.  

He also reflects on the evolution of farming practices, the importance of long-term leasing agreements, and how he and his family are planning for the future. 

Download the transcript for this episode 

Watch this episode as a video on YouTube 

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: HAG2308-001SAX

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According to Dr Greg Rebetzke, Chief Research Scientist at CSIRO, plant breeding is the key cornerstone of modern agriculture. Unless we have the best varieties, giving us the capacity to breed high yielding crops, then there's greater risk in farming. This podcast delves into the history of plant breeding and Dr Rebetzke brings us up to date with the latest research into breeding and explains plant genetics. 

Download the transcript for this episode

Watch the video here https://youtu.be/66ZNzwRi278  

Contact:

Dr Greg Rebetzke, Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO

[email protected]

More Information:

Breeding investments

Plant Breeding: securing the world's future food production capability

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In this episode of GRDC In Conversation, host Oli Le Lievre speaks with Fiona Dempster, a researcher and grower from Mingenew, Western Australia. Fiona’s unique background in natural resource management and her ongoing research with the University of Western Australia bring fascinating insights into the intersection of scientific study and hands-on farming.  

Fiona shares her journey from city life in Perth to rural farm life, her work on projects that tackle herbicide resistance and risk management in grain farming, and her role in the BeefLinks project, which aims to improve cattle industry practices. Her work highlights the importance of connecting research with practical on-ground needs, and she emphasises the complex decision-making growers face every day. 

Download the transcript for this episode 

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: HAG2308-001SAX 

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