GRDC Podcast

A GRDC investment focused on grower decision making for summer spraying has revealed several insights into the behaviours that motivate different spray decisions. It’s hoped that the outcomes of this research will help growers to better understand what might be affecting their decision making and influencing the effectiveness of their spray programs. This podcast will be followed by a series of workshops to be held mid-2024, that will include planning and management tools and strategies for growers.

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Sandy Kimber

Hart Field-Site Group

[email protected]

Lynette McLeod

UNE

[email protected]

Spray Drift

Hazardous inversion

Workshop details to be published on the GRDC website later this year.

GRDC Code: HFS2306-002SAX

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Although it may be native to the northern region, the Rutherglen bug has, in recent years, changed its behaviour and its diet has expanded. It can now do significant damage to a range of summer crops. Very little is known about the ecology of the Rutherglen Bug; and as part of a GRDC investment, CSIRO has partnered with New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and the University of Queensland to help the industry better understand and improve its management. In this episode, we hear from Dr Hazel Parry, a research scientist with CSIRO and leader of this project, about this native bug that seems to have a taste for the exotic.

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Contact:

Dr Hazel Parry

CSIRO

[email protected]

Dr Zorica Duric 

NSW Department of Primary Industries 

[email protected] 

More Information: 

The main source of project information is the webpage on the CSIRO Agroecology team website – this is also where handouts are available for download. 

The Beatsheet

Project Code: CSP2104-007RTX

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Incorporating readily available organic-soil ameliorants to boost productivity of sandy soils, has been the focus of a three-year GRDC investment in the medium to high rainfall zones of Western Australia's Wheatbelt. The experiments, using organic ameliorates such as hay, stubble straw, and manure, monitored effects of amelioration on crop growth and yield with results varying across trial sites. The trials and investment are almost complete with data currently being collated for year three.  

We talked to Professor Richard Bell from Murdoch University, and Veronica Crouch, the Executive Officer from the Corrigin Farm Improvement Group, who explain how the locally led trials, utilising readily available products on-farm, were eagerly adopted by this grower-driven, inspired group.

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Contact:

Veronika Crouch, Corrigin Farm Improvements Group

[email protected]

Richard Bell, Murdoch University

[email protected]

More Information:

GRDC

Corrigin Farm Improvement Group

Facey Group

West Midlands Group

GRDC Code: CFG2003-001SAX

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A trial near Bolgart in WA is showcasing historic wheat varieties, allowing growers to look back in time to measure yield and genetic gains that wheat breeders have achieved over the past 50 years. The trial site features 48 varieties starting from the late 60s, up to the most recent varieties of two to three years ago, including bread wheat, Clearfield-tolerant wheat, and udon wheat varieties.

The different varieties see improved grain size, disease resistance, weight, and crop height, bringing with them harvesting changes over the years. GRDC has a long history in wheat breeding and pre-breeding, including partnerships with wheat breeding companies.

In this episode, we caught up with AGT wheat breeder, Dion Bennett about the trial’s revelations over half a century.

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Contact:

Dion Bennett, Wheat Breeder 

[email protected] 

More Information:

AGT wheat varieties

GRDC Code: AGT2108-001RTX 

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🎙️ Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with David Robb.

David Anthony Robb is an Irrigation Advisor for Goanna Ag. He is also a grain producer, agricultural enthusiast, and UQ Agribusiness & Agricultural Science graduate. In this episode of GRDC In Conversation, David talks about life growing up on his family’s grain and cattle property west of Goondiwindi. David spent 14 years working on the farm before pursuing university and challenging himself to grow beyond the family business.

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GRDC Code: HOA2202-001SAX

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Gas-tight sealable silos are the preferred system of grain storage and like all on-farm machinery, they require an annual maintenance health check, including pressure testing the silo. How can we ensure our silo’s health and avoid problems such as weather damage, wear, corrosion, deterioration to inlet and outlet seals and leaks? In this episode, we hear from GRDC's Grain Storage Extension team members, Ben White and Alex Conway on a detailed rundown and timing for that all-important annual silo maintenance checklist.

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Contact:

Ben White, GRDC Grain Storage Extension Team 

[email protected]

Alex Conway, Toowoomba QLD  

[email protected]  

More information:

GRDC Stored Grain webpage

Stored Grain homepage  

Grain Storage Extension Team hotline – 1800 WEEVIL (1800 933 845) 

GRDC Code: PRB2011-001SAX

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🎙 Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with Paul McIntosh. 

Mention the name Paul McIntosh to anyone in the northern grains industry and it’s almost guaranteed to invoke a smile, a humorous quip or an anecdote about his seemingly-boundless agronomic knowledge. 

Mr McIntosh, or Macca as he’s better known to many, is one of the region’s most recognised and respected agronomists and has been a luminary in broadening the understanding, adoption and community recognition of best practice farming throughout his 40-year career. 

In this GRDC In Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, Paul discusses his work as an industry development agronomist and how the grains industry has changed over the years.

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GRDC Code: HOA2202-001SAX

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Phosphine fumigation is commonly used in gas-tight, sealed silos to control weevils in grain. While phosphine is dangerous, it can be used safely with responsible handling and management. In this episode, we chat with Grain Storage Extension Project lead Chris Warrick, along with Alex Conway about the significant safety around phosphine, including masks and meters, which remains the most relied upon fumigant to control stored grain pests in Australia’s grain production systems.

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Contact:

Chris Warrick – National Coordinator, GRDC Grain Storage Extension Team 

[email protected]   

Alex Conway – Queensland project delivery officer 

[email protected]

More information:

GRDC Stored Grain webpage

Stored Grain homepage

Grain Storage Extension Team hotline – 1800 WEEVIL (1800 933 845)

GRDC Code: PRB2011-001SAX

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🎙️ Today's 'GRDC in Conversation' podcast interview is with Mark Swift.

Mark Swift and his family farm 13 different cereal, oilseed, pulse and fibre crops across 4,000 hectares at Parkes, in Central West NSW. In this GRDC In Conversation episode with Oli Le Lievre, Mark discusses the family’s farming operation, the intellectual and physical challenges of farming, and the balance of technology, tradition, and innovation in agriculture.

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

GRDC Code: HOA2202-001SAX

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