GRDC Podcast

Even though consultants haven’t traditionally seen discussions with growers about stress management and mental health as part of their role it actually makes good business sense.

The ‘slow creep’ of drought-related stress is detrimental to growers if unaddressed, but supporting growers to understand and manage their stress helps to prevent developing mental health problems, while also supporting future relationships and business outcomes.

Consultants are skilled to support grower’s decision-making, and this becomes crucial in adverse times to assist them to understand the facts, their options and ways of making informed decisions.

Contact:

Letitia Cross, Rural Mental Health Coordinator

02 6757 0221

[email protected]

Resources:

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2020/02/droughts-drain-driving-profit-through-supporting-good-mental-health

Rural Adversity Mental Health Program RAMHP coordinator

www.ramhp.com.au

Beyond Blue help line 1300 224 636

Lifeline 13 11 14

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Rhizoctonia will cause yield losses especially where cereal crops have had a dry finish, but because this disease doesn’t like moist soils, those growers who have received late spring rains are unlikely to notice any impact. What this season does emphasise, however, is the need to monitor crops as what might appear completely healthy above ground could be significantly impacted below ground.

One of the country’s leading authorities on rhizoctonia is Alan McKay, principal scientist soil biology and molecular diagnostics with the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), which is the research division of the SA Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA). In this podcast, Dr McKay discusses rhizoctonia identification and management.

Contact:

Dr Alan McKay

South Australian Research and Development Institute

(08) 8429 2216

[email protected]

Useful resources:

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/factsheets/2016/02/rhizoctonia

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An estimated 12.5 million hectares of sandy soils in southern and Western Australia are deemed at moderate and high risks of water repellence. In this podcast, researcher Dr Jack Desbiolles from the University of South Australia evaluates the effectiveness of available soil wetter chemistries and seeding tactics to improve crop productivity in non-wetting sandy soil.

The research findings explored in this podcast are the result of two field trials that were run in 2018 and 2019, made possible through GRDC investment. The trials were conducted in a 270mm growing season rainfall zone at Murlong on the Eyre Peninsula, namely a soil wetter evaluation trial and a seeder strategy evaluation trial, aiming to compare a number of seeding strategies.

Contact:

Dr Jack Desbiolles

Agricultural Machinery Research and Design Centre

[email protected]

Useful resources:

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2020/02/seeder-based-approaches-to-reduce-the-impact-of-water-repellence-on-crop-productivity

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We all look for disease ratings when selecting a variety. Is it moderately resistant (MR) or moderately susceptible (MS)? What do MR and MS and all of the other designations actually mean? When it comes to pulses, in the past those ratings have meant different things to different people – but now a uniform description has been developed. Agriculture Victoria plant pathologist, John Fanning explains how it will work.

Contact:

Josh Fanning

[email protected]

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A key consideration when growing a cereal grain crop such as wheat is knowing a variety’s Optimal flowering period.

With that knowledge sowing times can be planned to minimise risks such as frost damage and heat stress, and maximise crop productivity. But what happens when the Optimal Flowering Period moves, as a result of climate change.

Contact:

Andrew Fletcher, CSIRO Agriculture and Food

08 9333 6467

[email protected]

Resources:

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2020/03/what-are-the-optimal-flowering-periods-for-wheat-across-western-australia-and-how-will-they-change-with-potential-climate-change https://www.nvtonline.com.au/crop-guides/wa/

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/publications/2020/2020-western-australian-crop-sowing-guide

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Accessing the latest information on fungicide resistance has never been easier – thanks to the newly established Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN). In this podcast, Dr Kylie Ireland from the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) discusses what the network has to offer, and the top five fungicide best management practices.

AFREN has been established by the GRDC to develop and deliver a fungicide resistance management guide, workshops, information sessions and webinars, as well as crop-specific factsheets, updates and email alerts.

The project brings together regional plant pathologists, fungicide resistance experts, and communication and extension specialists from across the country.

Project partners include AgCommunicators, Agriculture Victoria, CCDM, Centre for Crop Health at the University of Southern Queensland, Department of Primary Industries and Research Development (DPIRD) in Western Australia, Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) Australia, Independent Consultants Australia Network (ICAN), Marcroft Grains Pathology, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) which is the research division of Primary Industries and Regions SA, and the University of Melbourne.

Contact:

Dr Kylie Ireland

Extension Coordinator, CCDM, Curtin University

[email protected]

More information: www.afren.com.au

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Frost damage to Canola is a significant annual issue for the nation’s grains industry. Spring frosts in particular are the most economically damaging for growers as crop yields and quality are developing at this time.

In this podcast NSW DPI crop physiologist and frost researcher Dr Rajneet Uppal discusses when and where to search within a canola crop for frost damage, how to identify pod damage and recommendation for minimising frost risk generally.

Dr Uppal’s work is being conducted as part of the NSW DPI and GRDC Grains Agronomy and Pathology Partnership (GAPP). Her work is pioneering infield testing methodologies to help better understand the impacts; single and multiple frost events occurring at different growth stages in canola have on grain production.

Contact:

Dr Rajneet Uppal, Crop physiologist

NSW Department of Primary Industries

Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute

0403 896 513

[email protected]

Useful resources: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/publications/2019/frost-identification-guide-for-canola-and-pulses https://youtu.be/6uruleESKk8 https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2019/02/effect-of-heat-stress-on-canola-grain-yield-and-quality

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A missing link will soon be added to the pulse chain. A new and quite simple way of measuring the quality of pulses on farm is being developed that has the potential to add some serious cash to the bottom line of farmers. Work is being undertaken at the Agriculture Victoria laboratory at Horsham in Victoria, where this podcast was recorded.

Contact:

Cassandra Walker

[email protected]

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Western Australian growers are urged to be on alert following the discovery of succinate dehydrogenase (SDHI, Group 7) resistance in spot form of net blotch (SFNB) in barley crops in the WA grainbelt.

The resistance has been uncovered by the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM), which is a co-investment by the GRDC and Curtin University.

In this podcast, CCDM researcher Dr Fran Lopez shares the details of this significant discovery and its consequences for the grains industry.

Contact details:

Dr Fran Lopez

[email protected]

More information: https://grdc.com.au/news-and-media/news-and-media-releases/national/2020/september/sdhi-resistance-in-sfnb-of-barley-discovered-for-the-first-time-in-australia

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Deciding on what portion of your winter cereal crop will be cut for hay, can be a complex decision. One important factor is the amount of nutrient that is exported in the hay and the cost of replacing that nutrient.

On this podcast, crop nutrition specialist Rob Norton discusses some of the critical issues you need to keep in mind when deciding your hay cutting strategy.

Further information:

Rob Norton

[email protected]

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