issue 172, september october 2024
This page shows the articles in issue 172, september october 2024 of GroundCover. As articles are developed and published online, the list below will grow until all articles are available.
GroundCover is also distributed every two months via mail. If you would like to subscribe to receive the hardcopy magazine, visit our subscription page.
-
Australia’s number one weed creeps northwards
Issue 172, September-October 2024 - 16 Oct 2024Growers moving fodder and harvest machinery are encouraged to take extra care to avoid spreading invasive weeds such as annual ryegrass and parthenium. University of Queensland Professor Bhagirath Chauhan says the movement of annual ryegrass-infested fodder and machinery has caused the weed to spread north. The greatest weed threat to New South Wales is considered to be parthenium. Since April 2020, 49 parthenium infestations have been detected and are being eradicated following movements of contaminated hay, grain, vehicles and machinery from Queensland.
-
Time to stop giving weeds a free ride
Issue 172, September-October 2024 - 15 Oct 2024Growers moving fodder and harvest machinery are encouraged to take extra care to avoid spreading invasive weeds such as annual ryegrass and parthenium. University of Queensland Professor Bhagirath Chauhan says the movement of annual ryegrass-infested fodder and machinery has caused the weed to spread north. The greatest weed threat to New South Wales is considered to be parthenium. Since April 2020, 49 parthenium infestations have been detected and are being eradicated following movements of contaminated hay, grain, vehicles and machinery from Queensland.
-
Are potassium needs being met?
Issue 172, September-October 2024 - 14 Oct 2024Growers in the West Midlands region of Western Australia have identified potassium deficiency as a major issue affecting crop yields, leading to a GRDC National Grower Network-invested project to investigate and address this problem through detailed soil and plant testing.
-
Wet springs require proactive Sclerotinia management
Issue 172, September-October 2024 - 10 Oct 2024In wet spring conditions, western Victorian growers cannot be complacent about managing Sclerotinia in canola
-
Assess Sclerotinia risk to assist crop planning
Issue 172, September-October 2024 - 09 Oct 2024Plant pathologists have found that some pulse species are more susceptible than others to the damaging diseases Sclerotinia white mould and Sclerotinia stem rot. The three species of the pathogen found in pulse crops are Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, S. minor and S. trifoliorum. Sclerotinia’s hosts include canola, chickpeas, lentils, faba beans, lupins, vetch, field peas and pasture and broadleaf weeds. Wheat, barley and oats are not hosts. NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development senior plant pathologist Dr Kurt Lindbeck says narrow-leafed lupins and chickpeas are highly susceptible to the disease.
-
Pest resistance raising the knowledge bar for stored grain
Issue 172, September-October 2024 - 08 Oct 2024Ongoing research highlights the growing challenge of managing stored grain pests due to increasing insect resistance to phosphine, a widely used fumigant in on-farm storage. The GRDC's Phosphine Resistance Monitoring Program, led by Dr Manoj Nayak from Queensland's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, has observed that over the past five years, insect pests have become harder to control. This program, running for over two decades, conducts more than 500 tests annually across Australia’s cropping regions, providing critical data on resistance trends and offering practical advice to growers. Despite the rise in resistance, Dr Nayak notes that the successful implementation of a national Resistance Management Strategy, including early detection and alternative treatments, is helping to maintain low resistance levels in Australia. Phosphine remains the preferred, cost-effective, and residue-free treatment for controlling major pest species in stored commodities.
-
Winter canola proves profitable at Weatherboard
Issue 172, September-October 2024 - 07 Oct 2024Ben Findlay’s farm near Weatherboard, Victoria, utilises ungrazed winter canola, specifically the hybrid RGT Nizza CL because its flowering window suits his climate. He finds the winter varieties are about half a tonne per hectare higher yielding than the spring varieties for his area. He sows the variety from late March to early April. After applying a double knock for weeds, he targets 30 plants per square metre (about 1.8 kilograms of seed/ha) and plants as shallow as possible, applying 100kg/ha of monoammonium phosphate with the seed.
-
Pending trials aim to test novel genetics to counter stressful environments
Issue 172, September-October 2024 - 04 Oct 2024CSIRO is seeking to undertake a field trial of genetically modified (GM) canola with increased abiotic stress tolerance. These canola varieties achieve their stress tolerance through the introduction of a gene from yeast. Trigall Australia is seeking to undertake field trials of a GM wheat variety, known as HB4. HB4 wheat has demonstrated an increased tolerance to environmental stress.
-
Australian soft wheat could hit Philippines’ sweet spot
Issue 172, September-October 2024 - 03 Oct 2024Philippines companies are interested in diversifying the supply of soft wheat, used for cookies and cakes, with Australian options being explored. As part of an industry collaboration to revitalise the Australian soft wheat export market, AEGIC wheat experts Dr Siem Siah and Dr Ken Quail visited Manila in May to work with large flour and food companies eager to investigate using Australian soft wheat for Philippines-style sweet products. This research is supported by Grains Australia, and previous research was supported by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
-
NVT data assists crop and variety decisions
Issue 172, September-October 2024 - 01 Oct 2024For almost two decades, National Variety Trials have been taking place across the country, providing invaluable data to assist crop and variety choices. Growers and agronomists, Mick Brosnan, Jeff Muirhead, Chris Seimer, Andrew McLean, discuss the benefits.