Entomologists, with the help of growers and grower groups, are looking at whether chaff lines and other harvest weed seed control are having an impact on invertebrate populations in a paddock. Survey work is underway to find out if insect behaviour and movement are affected by extra chaff left in the paddock after harvest. On this podcast, DPIRD entomologist, Svetlana Micic takes us into the paddock to explain what she thinks may be happening.

DPIRD researchers, led by Dr Craig Scanlan, have been investigating nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) crop use efficiency, soil storage and yield responses. The current body of evidence used to support N, P, and K decisions is inadequate across a range of situations and this uncertainty has led to some lack of grower confidence in fertiliser recommendations. These decision gaps exist in N, P and K fertiliser management because of climate and systems changes that have occurred after most crop nutrition knowledge was first documented in WA.

Sandy soils, typical to parts of Western Australia and found in South Australia’s and Victoria’s mallee country, create considerable and costly grain constraints. In WA water repellency, resulting in low nutrient use efficiency and poor crop establishment, affects around 10 million hectares. WA’s annual price tag put on lost production through water repellence is estimated at $250 million.

Shrinking the difference between your possible crop yield and your actual crop yield is one way of increasing your profitability. On this podcast the “secret” to reducing your yield gap is exposed and it turns out that for most growers there’s plenty of gains to be made.

A new grain cleaning method is being trialled in WA to enable growers to further reduce the presence of snails in their harvested grain and oilseeds. It’s a snail roller, in common use in Victoria, but new to WA. On this podcast Nathan Dovey from Stirlings to the Coast Farmers talks about the advantages and some of the drawbacks that farmers will have using a snail roller.

The GRDC’s nutrition decisions following a dry season project is looking at a variety of ways to fix multiple soil constraints – pH, sodicity and salinity. The second year of the five year project has thrown up some interesting results which makes researchers optimistic that they may be able to deliver a sub-soil amelioration package for growers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The GRDC is leading a $16 million project focused boosting the resilience of mixed farms via successful incorporation of pasture legume species currently not widely grown. In today’s podcast, Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development senior research scientist, Angelo Loi, shares his key steps to successful sowing and establishment of pasture legumes in summer/autumn.

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.

A leading science communicator says rather than educating the general public about farming, farmers should ensure that urban people trust farmers to have their best interests at heart. Heather Bray, from the University of Western Australia, says trust in farmers is more important than how deeply city people understand the business of farming.

Research undertaken by the Northern Grower Alliance has cast new light on the timing and method of nitrogen application. On this podcast, NGA’s Richard Daniel outlines the latest thinking when it comes to applying nitrogen to crops.

Liming to maintain good soil pH levels and avoiding yield losses is just as important as applying fertiliser for maximising yields. If growers let soil pH levels in the topsoil run-down (pH in CaCl2 < 5.0) they are at risk of creating soil acidity issues at depth which are harder and more expensive to treat. In general, not enough lime has been applied frequently enough to address acidification occurring within the whole soil profile, so soil test to depth and calculate lime requirements for 0-10cm, 10-20cm and 20-30cm, not just the top 10cm of soil.

A common pest for canola growers to monitor each Spring is the Cabbage Aphid. DPRID research officer Dusty Severtson describes where within the crop to check for the aphid and the use of monitoring tools such as the Crop Scout app to accurately calculate aphid numbers.

Snails may be slow to move, but they are quick to survive baits during late Spring and Summer. This surprising development has been revealed as a result of research into snail mortality on the York Peninsula. This fact and several other tips for managing snails are explained by entomologist Helen Brodie on this podcast.

Farmers in blackleg prone areas of Australia are generally competent in managing the disease in their canola crops. That is until the recent advent of blackleg infection of the upper canopy. This new way blackleg has developed ways to attack canola crops is the focus of this podcast featuring Steve Marcroft from Marcroft Pathology.

Nitrogen fertiliser is arguably a farmer’s biggest variable cost, year on year. Providing the correct amount of nitrogen to a growing crop is the key to success. But how best to deliver that nitrogen without seeing it lost to the environment before it reaches the crop? That was the key question for some recent research in western Victoria – research that is still ongoing in many parts of the southern and northern region.