GRDC Podcast

Esperance-based grower Gavin Egan started using clay spreading, delving and deep ripping to ameliorate soil water repellence and compaction issues seven years ago. For Gavin, the results have paid off.

What was typical Western Australian flat Mallee country, producing around 2t/ha cereal crops, is now delivering double those yields. This topic was the focus of the GRDC investment Soil Constraints West project.

The project is a collaboration between the GRDC and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and aims to help improve soil constraints and lift yields and grain grower returns.

More info:

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils/managing-soils

Related GRDC project codes - DAW00244 Soil Water Repellence and AVP00003-A (RCSN) projects DAW00252, DAW00236

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At a glance you can now determine just how much your local climate has changed over the past 60 years. The Bureau of Meteorology has published climate guides based on your Natural Resource Management (NRM) area. The guides are a part of the Federal Government’s Drought Initiative.

On this podcast we speak to one of the authors of the guides and he reveals some data that may – or may not – surprise you.

Contact:

Joel Lisonbee

[email protected]

Climate Guides

www.bom.gov.au/climate/climate-guides

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Not everyone can be in the Top 20 percent of growers. But YOU can. And the scale of your operation won’t put you into, or keep you out of, that exclusive club.

On this podcast, we hear about some practical ways for you to judge and improve your financial performance. And it’s information that you already have.

Contact:

James Hillcoat

08 8841 4500

Twitter @JamesHillcoat

Resources: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/publications/2018/opportunity-for-profit-management-guideline

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In Western Australia’s eastern wheatbelt the sand plain soils are prone to acidification. To neutralise the acidity grain growers apply coastal lime usually sources from sites hundreds of kilometres away from their farms.

However as part of a project initiated by the Kwinana East Regional Cropping Solution Network group research is being done to locate and assess on-farm lime sources as an alternative to coastal lime.

Further information:

Greg Shea, DPIRD

Great Eastern Highway, Merredin WA 6415

m: 0427 449 398

e: [email protected]

GRDC project code: LIE1803-002SAX USEFUL

RESOURCES: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/publications/2019/locating-and-assessing-on-farm-lime-sources

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An astounding $90 million worth of canola is estimated to be lost from the back of harvesters every year in Western Australia. In this podcast Planfarm consultant and harvest loss expert, Peter Newman, talks about practical steps and resources WA canola and cereal growers can use to minimise harvest losses and maximise capacity.

Peter is leading a targeted GRDC extension project on this issue, and has developed a harvest loss calculator and popular Twitter handle for sharing information and solutions. He also works directly with grain growers.

Further information:

Peter Newman

m: 0427 984 010

ph: 08 9964 1170

email: [email protected]

GRDC project code – PLN1803-001SAX

Join the conversation @harvestloss

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Pulse growers consistently report a greater boost in cereal production following a pulse crop than they would normally get from manufactured nutrients like nitrogen. Why is that? What is so special about the nitrogen delivered to the soil by a pulse crop. Soil scientist Cassie Schefe thinks she has the answer.

Contact:

Cassandra Schefe

0419 238 798

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Decisions around lime applications to acid soils have suddenly become a lot easier with the availability of the iLime Calculator, a smartphone app that is easy to use and reveals the tangible benefits of applying lime over time.

The app can be customised to incorporate your own inputs. On this podcast Chris Gazey, the Soil Science and Crop Nutrition Portfolio Manager with the WA Department of Primary Industries and Region Development, explains how it works and the benefits of the new iLime app.

Contact:

Chris Gazey

0429 107 976

[email protected]

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Fungicide resistance is inevitable. That’s a tough message to accept, but experts say resistance is like a train travelling to a destination – nothing will stop it arriving but we can slow it down.

On this podcast, fungicide specialist, Nick Poole, suggests a new timetable for the fungicide resistance train.

Contact:

Nick Poole

[email protected]

More Information: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2019/02/protecting-the-longevity-of-new-fungicides

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Increasing herbicide use over the last two decades has led to concerns over the potential effects herbicides (and their residues) have on soil health. This concern has led to significant, national GRDC investment over the past five years into the potential impacts of increased herbicide use on key soil biological processes.

This is being achieved by benchmarking the level of herbicide residues in cropping soils and generating new knowledge about the fate, behaviour and risk of herbicides to productivity and soil biological function.

In this podcast we hear the latest project from NSW Department of Primary Industries research scientist, Dr Mick Rose.

Contact:

Mick Rose

[email protected]

More information:

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2019/02/herbicide-residues-in-soil-what-is-the-scale-and-significance

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2018/02/impacts-of-residual-herbicides-on-soil-biological-function GRDC project code: DAN00180

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Big is definitely the case when it comes to spray nozzle sizes, particularly when spraying in sensitive areas during summer. On this podcast, spray expert Bill Gordon details new label requirements, including nozzle sizes, when using 2-4D chemistries.

Bill also re-assures us that it’s still possible to do a good spray job with larger nozzles.

Further Information:

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/groundcover/groundcover-137-november-december-2018/changes-to-2,4-d-registrations

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