-
National, 15 Apr 2024Weed control a key focus as new season gets underway
Each year, GroundCover™ follows a group of growers from across Australia as they manage the cropping season. In this first instalment for 2024, staff writers introduce this year’s participants.
-
National, 19 Jan 2024Season-ending rain complicates harvest across the country
Each year, GroundCover™ follows a group of growers from across Australia as they manage the cropping season. In this final instalment for season 2023, they tell staff writers how the season drew to a conclusion.
-
National, 06 Nov 2023Eyes on the sky as drier season affects expectations
Growers from across Australia are reporting drier conditions in season 2023 than the two previous years. As they manage the cropping season, they are managing the return of El Niño conditions, after two very favourable years of La Nina.
-
National, 27 Oct 2023Harvester upgrades keep safety first when logistical pressure is high
An accident when harvesting prompted Broden and Chris Holland to rethink their harvesting strategy.
-
National, 21 Mar 2023Innovation and improvements the way ahead for growers
Each year, GroundCover™ follows a group of growers from across Australia as they manage the cropping season. In this first instalment for 2022, staff writers introduce this year’s participants.
-
National, 04 Mar 2023‘Pupil’ shows what is possible with an award-winning wheat crop
In 2021, Tasmanian grain grower Frank Archer joined a group to learn what others were doing to grow high-yielding wheat. He ‘topped the class’ with a crop that averaged 13.3t/ha.
-
National, 08 Nov 2022Rain sets up season well, but poses challenges
Each year, GroundCover™ follows a group of growers from across Australia as they manage the cropping season. In this fifth instalment for 2022, they tell Nicole Baxter, Melissa Marino and Andrew Cooke how their winter crops are tracking.
-
National, 28 Jun 2022Favourable conditions set up season 2022
Each year, GroundCover™ follows a group of growers from across Australia as they manage the cropping season. In this third instalment for 2022, they discuss how they fared with planting their winter crops.
-
Learning and Development, 04 Mar 2022French grain grower swaps farming for Australian grains research
Pieter-Willem Hendriks left his farm in France to research weed-competitive wheat in Australia
-
National, 03 Mar 2022Growers weigh high cost of inputs with new season promise
Each year GroundCover™ follows a group of growers from across Australia as they manage the cropping season. In this first instalment for 2022, Melissa Marino introduces this year’s participants.
-
GRDC News
GRDC News
Snail and slug baiting methods put to the test
A research project is underway to aid Australian grain growers to manage snail and slug...
Growers given edge in rust ‘arms race’
Grain growers will maintain access to wheat varieties with rust resistance and be able to...
Industry consultant honoured with GRDC award
The 2025 northern GRDC Seed of Light has been awarded to Independent Consultants Australia Network...
Victorian agronomist and scientist each win grains award
Agricultural consultant Cam Nicholson and research scientist Dr Audrey Delahunty each received awards this week...
Acid soil research priorities identified
A National Soil Acidity Workshop held in Adelaide in February has identified and prioritised transformational...
GRDC regional Updates to kick off in Cunderdin
Western Australian grain growers can learn about the latest research and innovations relevant to their...
Strategic grazing with virtual fencing a viable potential weed control option
Targeted grazing using near-commercial virtual fencing devices has emerged as an effective weed control solution...
Making sense of the weather
Recent investments by GRDC in enhanced seasonal forecast information have resulted in a productivity boost...
-
Agronomy
Agronomy
Impact of NVT extends beyond variety selection
The National Variety Trials (NVT) system adds value to the agricultural research pipeline in ways...
Celebrating 20 years of GRDC’s National Variety Trials
Established by GRDC in 2005, NVT has evolved into the largest coordinated variety trial network...
Advancing cereal yield frontiers
GRDC is investing in research to identify agronomic tactics to help growers achieve yield potential,...
The quest for the perfect rhizobia–legume matches
GRDC has made a groundbreaking investment in creating the world’s largest collection of rhizobia, significantly...
Frost research set to target ear architecture
After many years of hearing stories about wheat varieties with different-shaped ears being more tolerant...
Cell membranes key to promising frost approach
The ability of plant cell membranes to flex instead of breaking or bursting at low...
To plant, or not, on late summer rain?
Higher returns are possible from a farming system that can flexibly optimise sowing opportunities throughout...
Managing waterlogging is a long road travelled
Working with South Coast NRM on a GRDC-supported National Grower Network project, the Marold family...
World-first solution to combat spray drift saves growers time, money
The Weather and Networked Data (WAND) system, a pioneering Australian-developed weather data technology, has been...
Waving a WAND to boost spraying certainty
The Weather and Networked Data (WAND) system allows growers to plan their spraying operations with...
-
Grower stories
Grower stories
Time to reflect as growers weigh up mostly positive harvest results
Grain growers from across Australia report on how the season is progressing as they gear...
NVT reflect a ‘team Australia’ approach
For two decades, trial service providers have created the region-specific data on crop performance needed...
Lessons aplenty in levelling
The benefits of levelling melon holes were discussed when the Yarrie Lake Landcare Group travelled...
Opportunity knocks for mungbeans this season
Mungbeans have been exceptional this season for south-eastern Queensland growers Peter and Kylie Bach, with...
Futureproofing weed management
Data for future weed solutions is being collected by Terry Antonio and his SwarmBot
On-farm advocacy prompts national project
Trials testing long coleoptile wheat have had an unexpected benefit, showing that deep sowing can...
Winter canola proves profitable at Weatherboard
Ben Findlay’s farm near Weatherboard, Victoria, utilises ungrazed winter canola, specifically the hybrid RGT Nizza...
Growers networking to master faba beans
Faba bean growers are tapping the experience of researchers, agronomists and fellow growers to improve...
-
Weeds, pests and diseases
Weeds, pests and diseases
Diversity is a defence against weeds
A diverse crop sequence can cost-effectively help reduce the annual ryegrass population. From 2014 to...
Planning and timing the key to hitting summer weeds
Timing is a key factor in the control of summer weeds, which should be sprayed...
Growers warned of increased mouse activity
The National Mouse Group warns of increased mouse activity reports in the Darling Downs and...
Pressure building to find new control strategies for aphids
The need for an integrated strategy to control blue-green aphids has been heightened by the...
App helps mungbean growers manage powdery mildew
The PowderyMildewMBM app has been helping mungbean growers across Queensland and New South Wales better...
Rustproofing cereals to protect harvests
Wheat diseases cost Australian cereal growers about $1 billion a year. Stripe rust is the...
Eyes on exotic pests
Despite Australia’s stringent pre-border and border controls, exotic pests still pose a threat. Early detection...
Integrated approach to pests on-farm
To ensure pest control strategies are effective, it is crucial to diversify the approach taken...
Grains industry scores A-plus for chemical residue compliance
Australia’s grains industry has a 99.2 per cent compliance rate with national maximum residue limits...
EU changes residue limit for haloxyfop on canola
The EU has announced it intends to reduce the MRL for haloxyfop on canola from...
-
Crops
Crops
Hardy barley proves its worth in rotation trials
Long-term farming systems experiments support barley as a profitable inclusion in canola and wheat rotations
Award-winning crop takes topsy-turvy seasonal conditions in its stride
Minhamite grower Tim Whitehead has won a GRDC Hyper Yielding Crops initiative award for his...
Legumes may push a system closer to yield potential
In high-yielding environments, adding more nitrogen fertiliser may not be enough to maximise returns in...
National initiative to enhance N fixation in pulses
The National Nitrogen Fixation Project will develop superior nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) strains for chickpea and...
Understanding canola establishment to optimise yields
Establishment of any crop is foundational to its performance and, ultimately, its yield. A major...
Enquiring attitude opens opportunities
Have-a-go attitude is surprising Chloe Rout in the avenues and opportunities it can open for...
Brainstorming with other growers a path to progress
Minhamite grower Tim Whitehead has won a GRDC Hyper Yielding Crops initiative award for his...
Decline in wholegrain bread
Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend that Australian adults eat six servings of grains daily, preferably as...
-
Innovation
Innovation
Autonomy proves a game changer
Speaking at a GRDC/Society of Precision Agriculture Australia webinar, Tom Longmire said a SwarmFarm robot...
Are you ready for autonomy?
With automated on-farm solutions for farm tasks now available, it is worth considering if you...
Drought-tolerant crop research
A canola variety modified to tolerate the herbicide glyphosate has been placed on the Office...
120 years of wheat in 100 metres
An extraordinary set of Australian wheat varieties dating back 120 years is being grown at...
Grains steps up preparations for GHG monitoring
With the grains industry, like agriculture more broadly, facing increasing pressure to know its carbon...
Fostering high-impact innovation in heat tolerance
GRDC has long maintained an extensive investment portfolio looking to improve the heat tolerance of...
Vale Alan Robson – a champion for agricultural science
Alan Robson, foundation director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture, has...
Research enthusiast sees value in ground-truthing
Seven years ago, a forward-thinking mixed farmer from southern New South Wales applied to become a...
-
Farm business
Farm business
Study tour unveils new perspectives
A GRDC study tour for grain growers and advisers to WeedSmart Week on the Eyre...
Building resilience in a mixed farming business
As we confront changes in climate, resilience of production systems and farm businesses is becoming...
Ten tips to reduce the risk of harvester fires this season
Recent GRDC Harvester Set-up Workshops run across Australia’s grain growing regions have highlighted the importance...
Selecting grain protectants this harvest
GRDC's latest cereal protectants offer enhanced pest management. Key for growers: rotating Spinosad, Deltamethrin, Fenitrothion,...
Give grain storage a pre-harvest health check
GRDC Grain Storage Extension team project lead Chris Warrick said the biggest challenge of storing...
Pest resistance raising the knowledge bar for stored grain
Ongoing research highlights the growing challenge of managing stored grain pests due to increasing insect...