GRDC Podcast

Sclerotinia stem rot is a canola disease that is challenging to manage

In an ideal world, Australian growers would have access to canola cultivars with resistance to sclerotinia stem rot. And that’s exactly what researchers at the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM), a co-investment of GRDC and Curtin, are trying to develop. In this episode, we’re joined by Senior Research Fellow and Project Lead, Mark Derbyshire, to find out how.

Contact:

Mark Derbyshire, CCDM

[email protected]

More information:     

New breeding lines and field screening methods for developing sclerotinia stem rot resistant canola cultivars

Project Code:

CUR1403-002BLX

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Precision weed management is where optical sensors and remote and sensor weed mapping systems are used to target weeds and therefore cut herbicide costs. GRDC is investing in a series of case studies to explore the benefits and costs related to precision weed management technologies. One of those case studies is Warakirri Cropping, one of Australia's largest grain growers with 11 cropping farms across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. We chat to a few of the Warakirri team, including Junior Assistant Farm Manager, Patrick Anderson, Farm Manager, Jono Robinson, Southern Regional Manager, John Stevenson and Warakirri Cropping's Sustainability Officer, Jess Sleigh.

Contacts:          

Jess Sleigh, Sustainability Officer, [email protected]

John Stevenson, Farm Manager [email protected]

Watch the video:

https://youtu.be/AleO-NRv5EM

Project Investment Code:          

SRE2310-001SAX

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Ray Harrington has always had an eye on the battle taking place in the fields of Aussie agriculture, the war on weeds and pests. So, he and a group of like-minded farmers, researchers and innovators took up the torch to solve it once and for all.

In this episode of GRDC’s In Conversation, host Oli Le Lievre speaks with Ray about his journey to inventing the Harrington Seed Destructor, one of the most effective tools in dealing with weed resistance in the market. In their chat, they cover the significant issues facing farmers today including weed management, herbicide resistance, declining rural communities and succession. Ray insists the key is for the next generation to have a plan for the future, and he shares the significance of community in farming life.

Please be advised that today's conversation includes more colourful language than usual, which may be inappropriate for some listeners.

GRDC Project Code: HAG2308-001SAX

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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Sclerotinia in lupin is a sporadic disease found across the WA grainbelt. When weather conditions favour disease spread, it can cause significant loss of yield and grain quality.  

With GRDC investment, collaborative research by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, the Centre for Crop and Disease Management, and the Mingenew-Irwin Group has been looking at ways lupin growers can learn to recognise risky scenarios and employ management strategies to reduce impact of the disease. 

To find out what the team has discovered, we’re joined on this episode by DPIRD research scientist Ciara Beard.

Contact: 

Ciara Beard 

Research Scientist, DPIRD 

[email protected] 

More information: 

Sclerotinia management in WA’s lupin crops  

Lupin sclerotinia disease risk assessment guide 

SclerotiniaCM - Sclerotinia Management App  

Project Codes: 

DAW2104-002RTX 

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A GRDC National Grower Network investment, based in Western Australia, has been working to improve knowledge of fallow management and the economic value of fallows in cropping rotations.

Through this project, it has been identified that there are four key objectives growers should take into account when considering fallow – profitability, moisture, weeds, and nitrogen.

In this episode, Laconik founder Darren Hughes explains that by understanding these objectives, growers will be in the best place to understand the most profitable fallow strategies they should consider this year.

Contact:

Darren Hughes

Laconik

[email protected]

More information:

Fallow Management and the Economic Costs

Maximising the profitability of fallow

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Neil Wandel moved to Esperance in 1979 with his wife, one kid, and another on the way. Their operation was a tough lot to crack, but through gumption and careful planning, they navigated the highs and lows of starting a successful farm before becoming Esperance Quality Grains.

In this episode of GRDC’s In Conversation, host Oli Le Lievre speaks with Neil on how the many years of working in the grain industry have affected the community of Esperance. Neil shares his story of dropping out of school to help his father on the farm before beginning his own journey in Western Australia. He highlights the importance of working with your neighbours, seeking leadership roles, the joys of working alongside family, and planning for an increasingly challenging industry.

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.

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Svetlana Micic has spent the past 22 years as an entomologist with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, where she has been an exceptional communicator of GRDC-invested project work around insect pest monitoring, surveillance and integrated pest

That dedication to ensuring information is shared with those who need it most has led her to be highly respected by growers, agronomists and consultants.

It’s also the reason why she was named GRDC’s 2025 Seed of Light recipient for the West at the Grains Research Updates in Perth.

Contact:

Svetlana Micic

DPIRD

[email protected]

More information:    

Western Seed of Light, Emerging Leader announced at GRDC Update

Visit link:

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An ambitious GRDC investment, being led by the University of Adelaide, is working to develop new high yielding soybean varieties for a broader range of growing environments.

Worth $6 million, this significant investment builds on the achievements of past breeding programs and will accelerate the delivery of new varieties to growers by ‘speed breeding’ - harnessing new technology to improve germplasm evaluation and other key breeding processes.

In this podcast, we hear from lead breeder University of Adelaide, Dr Anh Pham, as well as grower and Soybean Industry Development Officer at Soy Australia, Judy Plath.

The University of Adelaide is keen to hear from growers about the problems they are facing so please contact Dr Anh Pham directly by emailing [email protected]⁠

Contact

Dr Anh Pham

Soybean breeder

The University of Adelaide

⁠[email protected]⁠

Judy Plath

Soybean Industry Development Officer

Soy Australia

⁠[email protected]⁠

More information

GRDC invests $3 million in soybean breeding

Visit https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/announcements/grdc-invests-$3-million-in-soybean-breeding for more info.

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Tom Longmire from Beaumont, Western Australia, has dedicated himself to driving sustainability and efficiency on the family farm through innovation. Through combining his learnings from Marcus Oldham College and his experience working farms across Australia, he is discovering exactly how cutting-edge technology and data-driven decision-making can improve the farm for years to come.

In this episode of GRDC in Conversation, host Oli Le Lievre chats with Tom about his passion for precision agriculture and emerging technologies, which have positioned him at the forefront of modern farming. He delves into how his family has been integrating autonomous farming equipment and variable rate fertilization to optimize productivity. He also discusses the challenges and opportunities of adopting new technologies and how

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

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Each year, the GRDC Seed of Light Award recognises the outstanding contribution, dedication, and commitment of individuals to communicating research outcomes to people working in the grains industry.

At the Goondiwindi GRDC Grains Research Update event in March 2025, Mark Congreve was presented with the prestigious award for his valuable work in the agricultural extension space. Mark is a senior consultant at Independent Consultants Australia Network (ICAN) and in this podcast he shares his thoughts on the changing landscape of agricultural extension, and what the Seed of Light award recognition means to him.

Contact

Mark Congreve

Senior Consultant, ICAN

[email protected]

More information

Industry consultant honoured with GRDC award

Cam Nicholson: 2025 Seed of Light award – South

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