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Agronomy
The Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre helps boost grain sector value

Local croppers deliver quality grain to global markets despite facing climatic extremes.

Growers urged to focus on minimising risks of spray drift this season

Research is continuing into finding spray drift reduction techniques.

Accurate weather forecasting data underpins best-practice weed spraying

It pays to check weather conditions, labels and machinery set-up to prevent spray drift.

Widespread acidic soils impede legume potential

A survey of 300 commercial paddocks in the northern region has shown that acidic soils may be affecting potential legume production

Existing soil-landscape data can predict PAWC

Researchers are working to correlate readily available soil-landscape data to plant-available water capacity, creating a way for growers to use that information to inform cropping...

Crop variety data released to guide 2020 sowing programs

Making decisions about crop varieties is now easier with new NVT data available

2020 South Australian Crop Sowing Guide to inform growers' variety decisions

The 2020 South Australian Crop Sowing Guide is now available to support growers with their variety choices.

Lipid composition clue to frost tolerance

Researchers are starting to unlock the secrets of how frost-tolerant wheat varieties cope with the cold, with the identification of a biochemical pathway unique to...

Frost should not drive input decisions, researchers say

Results from trials across southern and Western Australia have reassured growers that farm input decisions have little impact on the susceptibility of wheat crops to...
Grower stories +
Grower stories
Harvest gains through online networking

@Harvestloss is an exciting twitter platform that has been guiding growers in their quest to reduce grain losses at harvest time.

Confidence in cropping future after two decades of weed management

A 20-year paddock survey has highlighted the changing weed management practices of growers in WA’s northern agricultural region.

Timely safety lessons emerge from header fire

Mallee grower Ian Hastings has devised a new system to enable fire-fighting from the safety of the tractor cabin, instead of standing in the paddock,...

Ripping combination aims to remediate sands

Deep ripping combined with liquid nutrient injection could be the recipe needed to remediate Tristan Baldock’s Mallee-type sands by 2029.

Chickpeas’ chilling tolerance tested to broaden sowing times

Sowing chickpeas earlier than recommended can reduce the risk of terminal drought. However, just how early needs to be balanced against chickpeas’ sensitivity to cold...

Satellite data diagnosing soil constraints

With soil constraints estimated to cost Australian grain growers more than $1.5 billion in lost production every year, researchers at the University of Queensland are...
Weeds, pests and diseases +
Weeds, pests and diseases
HWSC an option to manage wild radish

A new fact sheet from GRDC outlines wild radish’s ecology, herbicide resistance status and management options.

Rust reports spark calls for monitoring

Reports of early infections of stripe rust in some Victorian wheat crops have prompted calls from experts for growers to review their variety ratings.

New tool cuts Russian wheat aphid action threshold guesswork

Scientists have developed a new tool to take action against Russian wheat aphid (RWA).

Common and curious pests unmasked

University of Melbourne postgraduate student Josh Douglas has helped demystify the factors contributing to pest outbreaks and crop damage that could help guide management options...

Stem rust control in wheat – a long-term success story

This year marks the centenary of cereal rust research at the University of Sydney. The primary focus of the work, which was initiated by Professor...

Research to get to root cause of pulse and oilseed diseases

Researchers are seeking to learn more about soil-borne disease causing pathogens in pulse and oilseed crops.

Grains industry must be aware of markets changing chemical residue limits

Trade implications could be felt as grains markets move to develop chemical regulations.

Help at hand to optimise spray systems this season

Northern region croppers have access up-to-date advice on spray systems and regulations.

PBRI participates in a global collaboration for plant health

Plant pests and diseases cause up to 40 per cent of food crop losses every year. International research collaboration through initiatives such as the Plant...

Long investigation lifts the lid on illegal interstate trade of lupin

The extended drought in the eastern states of Australia resulted in shortages of quality stock feed in many regional areas, particularly entering the summer of...
Grain storage +
Grain storage
- Management
- Economics
Improving results for grain storage aeration cooling

Adding aeration to storage facilities is one of the most effective means of maintaining grain product quality. When correctly designed and managed, aeration achieves cooler...

Temporary grain storage tips

Strong crop plantings across much of Australia for winter season 2020 mean growers might need to consider temporary storage for their grain harvest.

Good grain storage management helps growers grab market opportunities

Grain storage moves beyond feed and seed to offer options for better selling strategies.
Crops +
Crops
Drought research probes roots–soil bond

In the continuing quest to develop more resilient grain crops, Australian scientists are investigating the mechanisms that drought-tolerant plants use for survival under water-limited conditions

Roots-soil interplay the new production frontier

University of Adelaide researchers are analysing soils from across Australia in a search for microbes that will boost chickpea productivity

Early sown canola planted into stored soil moisture may hang on and yield better if there is a tough finish

Research demonstrates early-sown canola produces efficient roots to help boost yields.

Can linseed make a comeback in the western region?

WA trials suggest linseed may have potential as alternative break crop to canola in HRZ.

Consider soil water storage before sowing a grain sorghum crop

Northern region growers are contemplating late sowing options for sorghum.

Lower-risk sorghum provides extra income streams for western Queensland growers

A low-risk alternative to irrigated cotton is performing well in western Queensland.

Hyper-yield push moves to mainland HRZ

Growers have the opportunity to host on-farm trials, join networks and participate in awards as part of a new hyper-yielding crops research project. The research...

Valuable learnings from wheat phenology research

Central Queensland wheat growers can reap a significant yield benefit by identifying the ideal target flowering window for a region and adapting sowing date for...
Innovation +
Innovation
Pros and cons of deep ripping on an angle

Deep ripping on an angle can improve machinery trafficability in many situations, as well as boosting crop emergence. But there is a price to pay...

‘Greenness’ indicates tolerance in wheat varieties

Tools that measure a crop’s ‘greenness’ could help breeding programs to select wheat varieties tolerant to the root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus thornei. Researchers from the...

Taking the footwork out of field work

When monitoring and measuring canola flowering periods, visual assessments and record-keeping need to be carried out every couple of days, which means lots of people...

Gene data to power canola/environment matchmaking

GRDC-invested research is matching genetic data with the phenological behaviour of hundreds of varieties of canola to help identify the best variety for the environment.

Australians not up to the mark on wholegrain consumption

A recent study has shed light on the wholegrain consumption behaviours of Australians, with researchers from the University of Wollongong and the Grains & Legumes...

New AEGIC test to examine the truth of wholegrains

Following the release of a new official definition of what comprises wholegrain flour, the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre has developed a test to verify...

Breeding new grain varieties, such as short-season wheats is important but complex

Geneticists seek to breed new grain varieties to help manage climate change.

Wheat biodiversity delivers when dealing with heat stress

AI breeding strategy for bread wheats uses genomic predictions to find stress solutions.
Farm business +
Farm business
The pitch: agtech start-ups share plans to solve grain issues

The Grains AgTech Showcase free, online event will be held on Wednesday, October 14 is open to grain growers, agronomists, advisers, researchers and industry stakeholders.

Grains entrepreneur GROWS her expertise through AgSkilled

Courses on offer for grains entrepreneurs to develop management skills and network.

Western GRDC Grower Network News

The western region Grower Network groups met to discuss and prioritise constraints and opportunities for the five port zone areas.

Have a say in grains research through Grower Network

Grain growers in the southern cropping region are invited to provide GRDC with ideas to advance their industry.

Fair versus equal: the farm succession juggle

Farm management experts say succession planning should be taken seriously to avoid problems in the future.

Marketing specialist says knowledge rules when selling grain

Developing a marketing plan and building positive relationships with buyers have been highlighted as two ways to minimise downside risk when marketing grain.

Northern

Chickpeas’ chilling tolerance tested to broaden sowing times

23 Sep 2020

Sowing chickpeas earlier than recommended can reduce the risk of terminal drought. However, just how early needs to be balanced...

Satellite data diagnosing soil constraints

Satellite data diagnosing soil constraints

21 Sep 2020

Grain-and-graze canola proves a ‘game changer’

Grain-and-graze canola proves a ‘game changer’

12 Aug 2020

Sowing sorghum in spring offers growers farming system benefits

Sowing sorghum in spring offers growers farming...

09 Aug 2020

NSW grower moves beyond no-tillage to reduce risk

NSW grower moves beyond no-tillage to reduce...

06 Apr 2020

Western

Harvest gains through online networking

05 Aug 2020

@Harvestloss is an exciting twitter platform that has been guiding growers in their quest to reduce grain losses at harvest...

Confidence in cropping future after two decades of weed management

Confidence in cropping future after two decades...

27 Jul 2020

Groundbreaking weeds study highlights changing farming practices

Groundbreaking weeds study highlights changing farming practices

26 Jul 2020

Serradella provides protein kick to wheat crops in WA

Serradella provides protein kick to wheat crops...

11 May 2020

Pasture legumes offer protein boost for subsequent cereals

Pasture legumes offer protein boost for subsequent...

06 May 2020

Southern

Timely safety lessons emerge from header fire

16 Sep 2020

Mallee grower Ian Hastings has devised a new system to enable fire-fighting from the safety of the tractor cabin, instead...

Ripping combination aims to remediate sands

Ripping combination aims to remediate sands

25 Aug 2020

On-farm trials highlight hyper-yield potential

On-farm trials highlight hyper-yield potential

24 Aug 2020

Simple but intensive model lifts farm production

Simple but intensive model lifts farm production

18 Aug 2020

Grower Andrew Weidemann given AM in Queen's birthday honours

Grower Andrew Weidemann given AM in Queen's...

27 Jun 2020