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Tom Wolfe pulls back the curtain on the forces driving (and sometimes derailing) new spray technology – and how farmers can cut through the noise to find what will work for them!

In this episode of Beyond Resistance, spray technology expert Tom Wolfe tackles one of agriculture’s most complex balancing acts – aligning stewardship, technology, and on-farm practicality. 

As optical spot spraying, precision application, and automation surge ahead, farmers are caught in the crossfire of competing priorities: herbicide manufacturers pushing product strategies, machinery manufacturers driving rapid equipment innovation, with industry’s shared responsibility for sustainable chemical use. Tom unpacks where these interests converge – and where they collide – revealing the practical realities farmers face when trying to integrate new tools without sacrificing agronomic outcomes or profitability. 

We explore how stewardship principles can work hand-in-hand with technology, the regulatory and market pressures shaping decisions, and why the right fit for a farm isn’t always the flashiest or most promoted option. This is a candid, insightful conversation for growers, advisers, and industry stakeholders navigating the future of weed control in a world where every spray counts.

2025 GRDC Research Updates Paper 

Agrimetrix Research & Training 

Webinar: Making Every Drop(let) Count – An International Perspective on Spraying Efficiencies

#AskAnExpert: How can I gain more spray efficiency?

#Big6 #sprayefficacy #sprayefficiency #stewardship #weedsmart #innovation

Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website.

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Austin Rayner, farm manager with EF Smart Pty Ltd, brings an update from Midwest WA with insights into the weed strategy after a period of soil amelioration investment combined with new chemistry, leading to a low weed seed bank plus leaving plenty of other tools in the toolbox for future management.   While building to this situation using a diverse weed management program based around the Big 6, the Smart's enterprise continues to keep an eye on emerging challenges, ready to overcome through incorporation of all of the weed management tools where you can.

You can hear from Austin at the 2025 WeedSmart Week held at the end of July (29th and 30th) in the midwest region of WA at Geraldton!

Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website.

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Our June Regional Update gives us an insight into the Northern cropping region during this year, as crops are being harvested and sown simultaneously with the season presenting a few challenges.  Hear from UQ graduate, Max Schmelzer as he talks about herbicide resistance and tools in the box working to address the weed seed bank across their family farm.

A focus on the insights from new technology used helps to address the weed strategy for the future germinations across their dual season enterprise.  Taking note of the data created from weed control applications helps inform potential sources of new outbreaks, adding value to the weed management strategy.  

Take a listen!

Links and Further Information: 

WeedSmart Big 6 Case Study: Jamie and Susie Grant, Jimbour Qld  Weed management with a focus on prevention through stubble retention, soil health and rotation of chemicals using sensor spraying and automation.  

Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website.

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In this episode, we hear from our WeedSmart Extension Agronomists, Jana Freebairn and Greg Condon, updating from their respective Southern and lower Northern growing regions.

With many farms commencing a dry seeding program to efficiently get across the hectares in what will be a less than ideal start to the winter growing season, the podcast focuses on tactics for short-term management with a long-term weed strategy.  

 

Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website.

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As our farming environment changes with our management, so to do the plant populations growing across our landscape.  Gazania, a long-term weed within Australia is taking advantage of harsher summers competing well where water is a scarce resource.  Ali Bajwa, weed researcher and Senior Lecturer in Weed Science and Agronomy with @LaTrobe university is aiming to nip gazania in the bud with @GRDC research project (GRDC Code: ULA2402-002RTX).  

WeedSmart Extension Agronomist, Chris Davey, introduces the foundation for this GRDC NGN project, putting grower funds to work on preventing gazania from as a hard-to-control weed becoming established in paddock situations.

Ali Bajwa describes progress and applicable trial work for managing gazania within broadacre situations, citing prevention is better than the cure.  Coordinated approaches between public and private land managers need to be vigilant from letting this 'pretty and hardy garden escapee' from becoming a persistent perennial stealing precious soil water.  @A1Bajwa @SABE_LaTrobe and @LaTrobe 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-bajwa-686b5a37/ 

Mallee Sustainable Farming: https://msfp.org.au/gazania-wars-5-things-you-need-to-know-about-tackling-a-persistent-weed/

Technical Experts:  Deep Dive Review Paper: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/6/915

Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website.

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The regional update from the southern growing region with WeedSmart Extension Agronomist Chris Davey, providing you with a dry seeding update for 2025, soil moisture observations and challenges for crop health.  

With negative moisture levels in the soil and limited rainfall over the last 12 months, looking over the spray records will be the key to success to plot the best course of action for the 2025 rotation.  

Knowing the plantback period from last year's herbicide application dates and estimated rainfall requirement to ensure this season's crop health will be a key driver for a successful crop.  

Residual chemicals for particular rotations may present a risk needing to be managed from the outset, especially with limited seed available to provide a better fit to suit the situation.  

Knowing your soil, looking at your records and concentrating on 'how you sow' this year are potential strategies to set up your crop health for winter and spring.  Talk to your local agronomist to check your assumptions.  

Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website.

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Welcome to 2025!

The first Regional Update of 2025 takes us to Lock Valley Farms in South Australia, with Henry Coleman, a mixed operations grower and Youtuber.

Documenting his life on the farm alongside his family, he filled us in on the season just been - though dry, he's remaining optimistic this coming year is going to be a ripper, and has been tackling the ryegrass, brome and legacy weed issues through optimising his rotations.

You can check out Henrys Youtube channel here, Lock Valley Farms.

Latest News and Related Links

Latest Article: Reinventing the pre-seeding double-knock tactic

The double-knockdown tactic is a key component of the WeedSmart Big 6 strategy, which aims to keep weed numbers low, preserve herbicide efficacy and give competitive crops a head start.

Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website.

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Queue up our other WeedSmart podcasts & audio: #RegionalUpdates & #BeyondResistance podcasts for great stories from across the Australian growing regions. #Paddocktalk fortnightly weed management news & updates for you.

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In this episode of the WeedSmart Podcast, we talk about how weed seeds can adapt their dormancy, discussing the selection pressures, interactions with herbicides and the recommended actions from growers to get ahead.

We also caught up with Pete for a quick recap of the season in the West, after an explosion of weeds thanks to an especially wet winter.

If you're interested in finding out more about today's episode, you can catch Dr Gurjeet Gill via our WeedSmart Learning Hub, and watch or read our related content below.

News and Links

Webinar: Beating barley grass despite resistance and dormancy challenges
With Dr Catherine Borger, and Ben Whisson. Join us to hear about the new challenges, and some research and observations about how we will manage barley grass into the future.

Does delayed sowing help manage weed populations? With Dr Gurjeet Gill
The answer to this question is a very simple ‘no’. Waiting for weed seeds with longer dormancy to germinate before sowing costs yield and weeds often set more seed in late sown crops.

Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website.

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Queue up our other WeedSmart podcasts & audio: #RegionalUpdates & #BeyondResistance podcasts for great stories from across the Australian growing regions. #Paddocktalk fortnightly weed management news & updates for you.

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Join WeedSmart Southern Extension Agronomists Jana Freebairn and Chris Davey in discussing the rising resistance to imi’s (imidazolinone) in broadleaf weeds, in 2024 and beyond.

Imi resistance is a growing issue within our cropping systems and is becoming ever more important when considering crop rotation, herbicide selection and yearly environmental pressures.

Jana and Chris share their experiences with imi resistance so far this year in the Southern Region of SA and the Eyre Peninsula, speaking to what they have seen within lentil crops and how the WeedSmart Big 6 can assist.

Delivered by our WeedSmart Extension Agronomists, Header Run videos are created for the on-the-move grower and are suitable for a watch or listen. The video can be found on our website.

Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website.

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Ian Pursehouse is our guest for this episode of the Regional Update.

Located in NSW, in West Wyalong, Ian and his family transitioned from a mixed operation to 100% dryland cropping in the late 2010's, and have been learning from every experience since.

Ian has a systems-focused approach, with an emphasis on optimising rotations to not only control weeds - one of the WeedSmart Big 6 principles - but minimise costs across the board. After a less-than-ideal season with low rainfall and frost, his philosophy of "controlling what you can" and strategic investment have ensured they are prepared for whatever comes next.

Links and Further Information:

GrainGrowers Paddock Perspective with Ian Pursehouse (referenced in Podcast)

The WeedSmart Big 6: Rotate Crops and Pastures                                                                    Weeds love predictable rotations. They find it easy to evolve resistance to herbicides when they are used in a predictable manner. If we mix it up a bit, the weeds get confused and find it harder to adapt to the farming system.

Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website.

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Queue up our other WeedSmart podcasts & audio: #RegionalUpdates & #BeyondResistance podcasts for great stories from across the Australian growing regions. #Paddocktalk fortnightly weed management news & updates for you.

#drivesafe #farmsafe