issue 167 november december 2023
This page shows the articles in issue 167 november december 2023 of GroundCover. As articles are developed and published online, the list below will grow until all articles are available.
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Common misunderstandings surround phosphine fumigation
Issue 167, November-December 2023 - 25 Oct 2023Powered fumigation recirculation boxes for large silos aim to allow phosphine to be applied at ground level and distribute gas through the storage more evenly. Recirculation can also be achieved safely and effectively by still applying the phosphine in the storage headspace and using a small fan plumbed between the headspace and base of the silo to recirculate gas.
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Europe looks to update gene editing regulations
Issue 167, November-December 2023 - 24 Oct 2023The Agricultural Biotechnology Council of Australia is an industry initiative established to increase public awareness of, and encourage informed debate and decision-making about, gene technology. The initiative is supported by a number of agricultural sectors and organisations all working to ensure the Australian farming sector can appropriately access and adopt this technology for the benefit of Australian agriculture.
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Expanded market options for better sorghum
Issue 167, November-December 2023 - 23 Oct 2023A sorghum breeding program to improve grain quality alongside a project to explore end-uses for sorghum in food and beverage supply chains has resulted in a net benefit for growers
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Throwing the kitchen sink at Fusarium crown rot disease
Issue 167, November-December 2023 - 20 Oct 2023A strategy that encompasses genetics, breeding, agronomic management and seed treatment technologies is being used to claw back yield losses due to Fusarium crown rot disease in wheat
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The case for high value pulses in WA
Issue 167, November-December 2023 - 19 Oct 2023Best bet agronomic packages that support the inclusion of high value pulse crops in WA cropping rotations have delivered net benefits to growers
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Embracing a data-based approach to optimising soil moisture
Issue 167, November-December 2023 - 18 Oct 2023Assessing the merits of using plant-available water capacity and soil moisture measurement are important parts of making on-farm decisions. Researchers agree that combining PAWC information with soil moisture monitoring can give growers an edge in decision-making, providing valuable information to help with decisions, including what and when to plant, the likely response to mid-season fertiliser applications, and yield predictions.
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Synchrotron looks deep into wheat’s nutritional value
Issue 167, November-December 2023 - 17 Oct 2023GRDC is investing in research to increase understanding and research capacity for developing agronomic methods that can lead to the production of grains with higher nutritional benefit. Using instruments at the X-ray fluorescence microscopy beamline, crop scientists can investigate the concentrations and distribution of micronutrients accumulated in dozens of grain samples in a relatively short timeframe.
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Growers join trials to re-engineer soils and close the yield gap
Issue 167, November-December 2023 - 16 Oct 2023Experimental soil treatments offer options for northern region growers wanting to overcome the constraints of dispersive soils to retain moisture and close the yield gap for their crops. More than 20 growers across Queensland and New South Wales have joined on-farm trials to supplement core experimental sites investigating how to improve soil structure and lift crop yields in the northern region.
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Clarity and communication key to keeping quality staff
Issue 167, November-December 2023 - 09 Oct 2023Farm enterprises that want to attract and retain high-quality employees must adapt to the times and think carefully about their recruitment processes, experts and growers say. They say that farming businesses that focus on team engagement will perform better and be more productive and profitable.
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Skin in the game helps to retain quality farm staff
Issue 167, November-December 2023 - 03 Oct 2023Most of the 11 full-time employees who work on Beau Longmire's 1700-hectare southern NSW grain growing property have some personal investment in parts of the business, and it is this “skin in the game” that he believes helps him to retain quality staff. The approach is currently based on machinery ownership, although Beau sees opportunities for different strategies in the future.