GRDC Podcast

It’s 2024 and we’re looking at similar conditions across a wide portion of the country, particularly in Victoria and South Australia. There is enough soil moisture that self-sown canola will now survive until the sowing window creating the perfect green bridge for both aphids and virus.

To help growers mitigate the risk over the upcoming sowing period, we speak to independent agronomist Craig Davis and research scientist Ben Congdon from WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

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Contact:

Ben Congdon 

Senior Research Scientist, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development 

[email protected]

Craig Davis 

Independent Agronomist

[email protected]

More information:

Insecticidal control of green peach aphid and turnip yellows virus – resistance threats, limitations and future alternatives

GRDC Code: DAW2305-003RTX

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In this podcast, Associate Professor Fran Lopez, Program Leader for Fungicide Resistance Management and Disease Impacts at the Centre for Crop and Disease Management at Curtin University, talks about the importance of rotating fungicides to minimise the risk of fungicide resistance developing in your paddocks. He outlines strategies for growers to implement on farm including planning ahead, understanding regional resistance concerns, disease pressure and risks, fungicide availability and the use of tools such as the AFREN Management Guide and apps to guide fungicide decisions.

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact:

Dr Anna-Sheree Krige

AFREN

[email protected]

Dr Fran Lopez Ruiz

AFREN/CCDM, Curtin University

[email protected]

More information:

AFREN

Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) – Fungicide Resistance

GRDC Code: CUR2302-002RTX

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While previous acid soil testing practice was to not test as deep, new research, has identified greater acidic layering, where crop roots remain under the soil not benefiting from the full potential of amelioration. In this episode, we talk to Mark Richards from NSW DPI, and grower Andrew Lord about the new 5cm rule for testing soil pH. It allows the hidden acidity in lower layers to be recognised and treated, giving growers increased productivity and profit.

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact:

Mark Richards

NSW DPI

[email protected]

More information:

Groundcover – Fixing acidity puts yields on the fast track

NSW DPI – What is an acidic soil?

NSW LLS – Managing soil acidity in the cropping zone

GRDC webinar – Grains Research Update, online – Managing soil acidity – Identifying pH stratification to guide lime rates, acid soil management strategies and cropping programs

GRDC YouTube – Acid soil management: New practices for better soil constraint identification

Weedsmart – Competitive and profitable crops from fixing sub-soil acidity

GRDC Code: UCS2204-001RTX

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In this podcast, University of Southern Queensland’s Centre for Crop Health Director Professor Levente Kiss talks about the challenges of managing powdery mildew in mung bean crops. Recent research trials have further validated the Powdery Mildew MBM management app and shown there is often no economic benefit in spraying the crop.

As Professor Kiss points out, controlling powdery mildew in mung bean is difficult because there are limited fungicide options, and all mung bean varieties are susceptible to some degree. However, planting early is the best non-chemical way to reduce disease pressure, and growers can download and use the Powdery Mildew MBM app to determine if fungicide will deliver a benefit.

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact:

Dr Anna-Sheree Krige

AFREN

[email protected]

Professor Levente Kiss

University of Southern Queensland

[email protected]

Dr Fran Lopez Ruiz

AFREN/CCDM

[email protected]

More information:

AFREN website

Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) – Fungicide Resistance

University of Southern Queensland Centre for Crop Health

GRDC Code: CUR2302-002RTX

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Deep ripping is an expensive investment and a slow process, so it’s important to do it right the first time. Whether a grower is a first time or long-time ripper, it can always be done better. In this episode, Debra Bishop catches up with engineer Peter Nunn from Nufab to discuss all things ripping, as well as grower Brady Green about his first count experience of what to look out for. 

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact:

Peter Nunn

Nufab

[email protected]

More information:

Technology considerations for cost-effective subsoil loosening

If, and when, to deep rip again

GRDC YouTube – Get the most out of deep ripping: Tips on choice, set up and use of deep rippers

GRDC Code: PLT1909-001SAX

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In this podcast, Professor Robert Park, University of Sydney, talks about rusts and managing rusts with fungicides. Until now, there have been very few cases of resistance to fungicide in rusts. However, recent research has shown insensitivity in the barley and wheat leaf rust pathogens to Group 3 DMI fungicides. At this stage, there have been no known in-field failures of fungicides for rust but this does represent a shift.

As Professor Park points out, the foundation of controlling rusts in crops needs to be based on genetics and selecting varieties with high levels of genetic resistance. The other elements of the Fungicide Resistance Five – crop rotation, non-chemical control methods, strategic spraying and rotating fungicide modes of action – are also important when controlling rusts.

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact:

Dr Anna-Sheree Krige

AFREN

[email protected]

Professor Robert Park

University of Sydney

[email protected]

Dr Fran Lopez Ruiz

AFREN/CCDM

[email protected]

More information:

AFREN website

Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) – Fungicide Resistance

University of Sydney Rust Laboratory

GRDC Code: CUR2302-002RTX

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GRDC's Emerging Leader Award for the Northern Region in 2023 was taken home by established research agronomist Mathew Dunn. Mathew has been working as part of a farming systems research team that is looking at identifying agronomic and management factors that drive profit and optimise returns from a long-term, whole system approach. In this episode, we chat with Mathew about his research, as well as GRDC Grower Relations Manager Graeme Sandral about why Mathew was such a worthy recipient.

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact:

Mathew Dunn 

NSW DPI

[email protected] 

Graeme Sandral 

GRDC Grower Relations Manager – North

[email protected]

More information:

GRDC recognises young agronomist as a prominent, emerging leader

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GRDC's National Grower Network Forums or NGNs provide opportunities for growers to meet and inform GRDC face-to-face about issues, constraints or research ideas that are acutely relevant to their farming system and location. The forums are all about designing and delivering research that's been identified and prompted from local grower feedback, drawing together local growers, regional advisors, and industry professionals to discuss local issues in a relaxed and local workshop environment. In this episode, we catch up with Luke Dawson, GRDC's Grower Relations Manager, after a constructive and spirited NGN Forum at Nyabing in WA's south-eastern Wheatbelt. 

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Contact:

Luke Dawson, GRDC Grower Relations Manager - West

[email protected]

More information:

GRDC – Events

GRDC Code: PIW2207-001SAX

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Dealing with sandy soils has long been the bane of many grain growers. But a six-year GRDC investment in sandy soil amelioration in the southern region has come up with a raft of research and grower options which are providing impressive on-farm results. Because of it, affected growers are increasingly turning to deep ripping and spading to improve productivity. In this episode, we speak with some of the experts involved in the project and hear about getting the most out of your sandy soils. 

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact:

Therese McBeath 

CSIRO 

[email protected]

Dr Melissa Fraser  

Soil Function Consulting 

[email protected]

Dr Chris Saunders

UniSA STEM

[email protected]

Royce Pitchford

PINION Advisory

[email protected]

More information:

GRDC – Investment list 

CSIRO – Sandy Soils Southern Region 

GRDC – Trial summary

SANDBOX App

GRDC Code: CSP1606-008RMX 

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Almost six million hectares of WA's sand-plain soils in the medium and high-rainfall zones feature multiple constraints, including water repellence, acidity, and compaction. An estimated 250,000 hectares of those six million have been ameliorated, typically involving strategic one-off deep tillage. A GRDC investment is helping to determine the longevity benefits following soil amelioration, looking at crop rotations, species choice and seedbed preparation. We hear from Dr. Stephen Davies from WA's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, on the project's initial findings. 

Download the transcript for this episode

Contact:

Stephen Davies

DPIRD

[email protected]   

More information:

How does soil amelioration affect weed management?

Unlocking WA soils' potential: Maintaining benefits of soil amelioration

GRDC Code: DAW1901-006RTX

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