issue 169, march april 2024
This page shows the articles in issue 169, march april 2024 of GroundCover. As articles are developed and published online, the list below will grow until all articles are available.
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Novel flowering genes to expand lupin production
Issue 169, March-April 2024 - 03 Apr 2024Genetic bottlenecks often arise in the domestication of crop species and narrow-leafed lupin is a unique case. Modern varieties are dominated by one flowering gene, which has limited its role in cropping systems. A dedicated team is building on their train of discovery for lupins to mine genetic resources for more flowering variability to ultimately deliver better adapted narrow-leafed lupins for Australian growers.
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Strong yields open new chapters in cereal story
Issue 169, March-April 2024 - 01 Apr 2024In his first year in the GRDC Hyper Yielding Crops program, sixth-generation Tasmanian beef producer and grower achieved the highest-yielding crop of wheat in Australia. The yield came with plenty of rainfall over his 330ha enterprise, but it was also aided by agronomic practices he employed as part of the program.
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Engagement in trials creates a cereal contender
Issue 169, March-April 2024 - 29 Mar 2024Encouraged by a record-breaking wheat yield achieved as part of the 2022 GRDC Hyper Yielding Crops program, Tasmanian grower Hamish Yaxley has increased his overall cereal planting by 40 per cent and is now experimenting with new cultivars. He has been impressed by the results with a new, slow-maturing winter wheat variety.
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Soil survey aims to help growers make informed decisions
Issue 169, March-April 2024 - 27 Mar 2024The federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry wants to target its investment to help farmers make well-informed soil management decisions. To this end, it is supporting regional soil coordinators to undertake a national survey to collect information on the soil issues and topics that farmers feel sufficiently well-informed about and those issues where greater support is needed.
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Health benefits one reason to love legumes
Issue 169, March-April 2024 - 25 Mar 2024Most Australians are falling short of the recommended 50 grams of legumes in their diet per day. To understand the current legume market, the Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council conducted a comprehensive analysis of the category across major supermarkets in New South Wales in October 2023.
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Could manure be the magic ingredient to improve yields?
Issue 169, March-April 2024 - 22 Mar 2024Long-term farming systems research shows that growing one crop a year with high levels of nutrients produces the highest returns.
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On-farm storage essential for timely harvest
Issue 169, March-April 2024 - 20 Mar 2024New storage complexes and nutrient management plans reflect how both farming innovation and wider industry changes are playing out for Central Queensland growers Gordon, Meredith and Rohan Staal.
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Lupins to be fortified for disease resistance
Issue 169, March-April 2024 - 18 Mar 2024Renewed vigour is being applied to narrow-leafed lupin development with a major cross institutional project upping the ante for disease resistance. Four high priority diseases will be the focus of the investment with the aim of investigating new means of increasing the speed and accuracy of screening, identifying new genes and developing new molecular genetic tools for breeders.
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Barley grass stripe rust variants characterised by increased virulence
Issue 169, March-April 2024 - 15 Mar 2024BGYR (barley grass stripe [yellow] rust), was first detected in Australia in 1998, predominantly affecting wild barley grass weed species. Through comparative greenhouse studies, the Plant Breeding Institute established that the BGYR+ variant has shown increased virulence on several barley varieties at seedling growth stages.
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Prevention the key to biosecurity when sowing
Issue 169, March-April 2024 - 13 Mar 2024To minimise the risk of plant pathogens and pests spreading through the transportation of seed, there are a few simple farm biosecurity practices that can boost farm hygiene when planning to sow winter crops. Prevention is better than cure, so taking the time to plan will help minimise problems down the track.