GRDC Podcast

Instances of spot form net blotch in barley crops across the low rainfall zones of Western Australia have been increasing in recent years, mainly due to the increased area of barley on barley, and the use of more susceptible varieties in these areas.  

A GRDC investment with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is aiming to quantify the yield impact of spot form net blotch in these low rainfall environments, as well as provide growers critical info on the disease's response to fungicide applications and if one is even needed at all.  

In this episode, we sat down with DPIRD's Geoff Thomas to discuss what they're looking into in terms of stubble and disease carry over, economic analysis, and the impact of variety resistance. 

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Contact: 

Geoff Thomas 

[email protected] 

More information: 

Spot Form Net Blotch Factsheet 

Paddock Practices: Variety selection key to controlling SFNB in low-rainfall barley

Project Code: 

DAW2104-001RTX 

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🎙️ Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with Jan Edwards 

Jan Edwards is the Director of Agronomy and Ideation at Incitec Pivot Fertilisers. In this GRDC In Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, Jan talks about her varied upbringing in different areas of regional Australia and her following career journey.  

Jan has worked in both the private and public sectors and was part of early climate change research. Today, Jan is occupied by team management, planning and improving decision support systems in her role. The conversation concludes with a discussion with a focus on opportunities, which Jan narrows down to efficiency and cost-effectiveness for product development and materials in fertiliser being incorporated into a circular economy.  

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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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Variable rate technology falls under the umbrella of precision agriculture and it includes a range of tools that are not only becoming commonplace, but also constantly evolving. New South Wales grower, Mike Smith has been using variable rate technologies for more than 20 years and has some valuable insights. We visit Mike on his property just southeast of Moree, and he explains how technology and the data it provides helps him increase yields and profitability. 

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Contact:

Angelique McAvoy

[email protected] 

More Information: Society of Precision Agriculture Australia (SPAA)

GRDC Code: SPA2201-001SAX 

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🎙️ Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with Tom and Melissa Andrews 

Tom and Melissa Andrews, founders of Connected Farms, discuss the importance of connectivity in agriculture and how it can improve technology adoption, operational efficiency, farm safety and overall well-being. In this GRDC In Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, The Andrews highlight the role of connectivity in enabling the adoption of AgTech and data-driven decision-making on farms and emphasise how connectivity is the foundation for digital agriculture. 

They share their personal backgrounds in Scotland, northern New South Wales, marketing and the military, and how these experiences have shaped their work in the industry. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the future of connectivity in the grain sector, including the integration of robotics, edge computing, and shared data for informed decision-making. 

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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Wanting to incorporate more legumes into the rotation, West Cranbrook grower Mark Preston has found faba beans were suited to more soil types on his farm than what lupins has been. He did a lot of research before starting to grow the new crop and has found they fit into the operation relatively seamlessly. 

Mark is a member of Stirlings to Coast Farmers and is a part of the cohort of 'Legume Leaders' that has been established by the Grower Group Alliance, with investment from GRDC. 

In this episode, Mark tells us his secrets to success when incorporating faba beans into the plan.   

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact:

Mark Preston 

Grower 

[email protected]

More information: 

Closing the economic yield gap of grain legumes in WA

Legume Leader bios and contact details  

Project Code: GGA2110-002SAX 

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🎙 Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with Maurice Hayes.

Maurice Hayes pioneered a lot of spray machinery and was involved in the evolution of farming towards zero-till practices.  

In this particularly insightful GRDC In Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, Maurice, or ‘Cutter’ as he is well known, shares his remarkable journey in the grains industry, which started off after High School driving tractors and living in a caravan with no electricity.  

Back in his day, R&D was done through networking at the local hotel and he was in an area where people embraced innovation. To this day, Maurice emphasises the importance of perseverance, teamwork and enjoying the journey.  

Maurice believes that the future of farming lies in soil science and nutrition and encourages young people to seize opportunities and contribute to their communities. 

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

Download the transcript for this episode

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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What images or themes come to mind when you think Australian agriculture in 10…20….50 years’ time?  

In this podcast Futurist at Work Futures, Reanna Browne, offers up new perspective and practical advice for the grains industry to approach the future as something in the present, not a distant concept. Reanna was the keynote speaker at the recent 2024 Victorian GRDC farm business updates and encouraged the audience to challenge their assumptions about the future and think about change in practical ways.

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Reanna Browne

Work Futures

[email protected]

GroundCover – Spotlight on high performance farming

GRDC Code: ORM2401-001SAX

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Agriculture and plants have been ingrained in Georgie Pengilley’s life since the beginning on a farm in Tasmania. In this GRDC In Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, Georgie talks about how her career progressed into agronomic research with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, a PhD and to now as the CEO of the Rice Breeding Australia. Georgie, her father and her husband have all been involved in GRDC panels across eastern Australia. She discusses the importance of building relationships, embracing change, and working together to overcome challenges in the industry. Georgie also highlights the need for sustainable practices and the role of genetics in developing varieties that can thrive in a changing climate.

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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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The Australian soybean industry has received a boost with a new online soybean manual and a series of workshops. The initiatives are part of GRDC’s investment which aims to reinvigorate the soybean industry, particularly in the northern region. The investment is also supporting growers to optimise the production and reliability of soybean yield and also identify the key agronomic practice and future opportunities required for the sustainable growth in the Australian soybean industry. GRDC has partnered with Soy Australia, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the NSW Department of Primary Industries to develop the online Soybean Production Manual: A complete guide to growing soybean in Australia. 

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact:

Judy Plath

Soy Australia

 [email protected]

More information:

Soybean Production Manual

Soy Australia

GRDC Codes: DP12111-019RTX, DAQ2111-003RTX

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🎙Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with John Woods. 

John is a business owner and farmer at his home property ‘Booroola’ in Northern New South Wales. He is well known to many in GRDC circles as the Chair of the Grains Research and Development Corporation. 

He is a fun, charismatic person known for his ability to get things done and have a laugh along the way.  

In this chat we chat to him about his tenure as chair of GRDC, his farming business, how he has seen Australian Grain Producers evolve over the years and potentially his most important question: Where is God’s country? 

Download the transcript for this episode

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 Code: HAG2308-001SAX

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