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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.

Check suitability of spray water in north

Calls to test water quality before using it for application of herbicides and pesticides.

Overcoming phosphorus stress in south-eastern Australia

Phosphorus fertiliser is one of the most important and often limiting nutrients in agricultural production. A new project is testing the potential to improve crop...

Focus on legume crops’ nitrogen fixation in sandy soils

Growers with sandy soils could improve the ability of legume crops to fix nitrogen by addressing some factors unique to their soil type. Good nodulation...

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...
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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.

Narrow row spacings set up ‘opportunity enterprise’

The transition to narrower crop row spacings has led to higher yield potential, reduced in-crop weed pressure and increased plant biomass on Richard Konzag's property...

Researchers profile Red leather leaf disease

New southern research findings have highlighted the grain and hay yield losses caused by a common, yet previously little-known, oat cropping disease – Red leather...

Playing the waiting game on fall armyworm

With maize, fall armyworm’s preferred food source, being harvested, many are now wondering – what will this invasive pest target next?

Chickpea harvest losses reduced with a little air

Modifying headers to include air assist can reduce chickpea harvest losses by up to 90kg/ha in low-yielding seasons
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Weeds, pests and diseases +
Weeds, pests and diseases
Researchers find key herbicide resistance gene

Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative scientists have identified one of the genes that enables annual ryegrass to detoxify and become resistant to different herbicides

Research highlights summer adaption of annual ryegrass

Recent research is investigating whether annual ryegrass as a weed is adapting to Australia's climatic conditions and becoming more productive in the warmer months.

GRDC praises move to import fall armyworm virus

Allowing the importation of a biological control will form as part of research into fall armyworm control options.

New tool guides Russian wheat aphid management

A new predictive tool for Russian wheat aphid (RWA) management aims to help Australian growers avoid yield losses and unnecessary expenditure on control costs. The...

Pre-sowing hygiene to protect next season’s crops

Crop disease expert issues reminder to lower disease risk

Disease check urged before planting 2021 chickpeas

A leading plant pathologist is urging chickpea growers to assess the risk of Ascochyta blight in paddocks and seed before sowing their 2021 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.

Future of herbicide use in the spotlight

Consultant Mark Congreve spoke about the future of chemical use at summer grains event.

Crop disease surveillance continues despite COVID-19

Large numbers of Queensland crops were surveyed and diseases processed in 2019-20, despite travel restrictions caused by the global pandemic. The 2019-20 survey included wheat,...

Confirmation bias plays a role in farm biosecurity

Growers should be aware of how confirmation bias could be associated with their selection of brands, breeds and farming practices such as biosecurity. This means...
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Grain storage +
Grain storage
- Management
- Economics
Strategic approach recommended if harvest is a wet one

Seed testing recommended to ensure quality and vigour if rain is experienced during harvest.

Hygiene and monitoring essential for stored grain

As more grain is stored on-farm, it is essential that it is managed correctly so that the quality does not deteriorate. Storing grain on-farm successfully...

Good grain storage management helps growers grab market opportunities

Grain storage moves beyond feed and seed to offer options for better selling strategies.
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Crops +
Crops
Legumes a winner for Wimmera farming family

Being able to grow a good pulse crop is only part of the story: understanding the market, growing what buyers want and proper handling of...

National program for chickpea breeding launched

A five-year breeding program has been launched, boosting breeding capacity in traditional areas while expanding chickpeas’ geographic reach

New guide to help growers time windrowing in canola

Growers should check new guidelines to support their decision making and minimise losses from poor windrow timing.

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.

Weigh up cover risks

Trial shows mixed farmers could gain.

Consider soil water storage before sowing a grain sorghum crop

Northern region growers are contemplating late sowing options for sorghum.

Fortified wheats show promise on sodic soils

Pre-breeders have developed advanced wheat lines with tolerance to some of the physical and chemical stresses found in areas with alkaline and dispersive subsoils

Master list released: what is next for wheat classification?

The Wheat Quality Australia variety master list for 2020 has been released. Nine newly classified wheat varieties – four feed and five milling varieties –...
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Innovation +
Innovation
How to minimise wind erosion after soil amelioration

Severe wind events in the Western Australian grainbelt in 2020, especially in May, demonstrated that wind erosion after summer/autumn soil amelioration is a serious problem....

Improving crop establishment in non-wetting soil

Long-term fixes to non-wetting soils, such as inverting, mixing and claying by ploughing, spading, delving and clay spreading, are expensive and unlikely to be implemented...

Bridge to wild relatives may break barley’s yield ceiling

A step change in barley’s yield potential in both favourable and drought-affected seasons is being masterminded by South Australian researchers through an ingenious use of...

Lab-to-paddock technology raises wheat breeding bar

A decade of innovation in analytical technology applied to wheat breeding has helped lift yields and resilience in the face of drought and heat stress

WA grain industry plans a carbon neutral future

The Update will cover the science of storing carbon in WA grainbelt soils, the obligation to store carbon for either 25 or 100 years, and...

Grow farm profitability through GRDC Updates

The updates will feature topics selected by local planning committees, offering growers and advisers regionally relevant information designed to improve profitability.

‘Tweaks’ to planting date to lift climate resilience

In a bid to respond to climate change and close the yield gap, growers and researchers across the northern region are exploring the benefits and...

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.
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Farm business +
Farm business
Trainee program future-proofing grains science

An on-the-job training initiative is helping to upskill early career scientists in grains research

Soil front and centre for 2021 Nuffield Scholar

South Australian mixed farmer Josh McIntosh is GRDC’s 2021 Nuffield Scholar

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.

GRDC brings management insights to the land

Western Australian grain growers are encouraged to register early for the upcoming Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Farm Business Updates at Esperance, Goomalling and...

Put safety first this harvest, urges experienced grain grower

NSW grain grower Roy Hamilton is urging his industry colleagues to take extra care with workplace health and safety this harvest.
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Weeds

Researchers find key herbicide resistance gene

22 Jan 2021

Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative scientists have identified one of the genes that enables annual ryegrass to detoxify and become resistant...

Research highlights summer adaption of annual ryegrass

Research highlights summer adaption of annual ryegrass

21 Jan 2021

Virtual fencing adds new strand to farm management

Virtual fencing adds new strand to farm...

08 Jan 2021

Strategies to manage feathertop Rhodes grass

Strategies to manage feathertop Rhodes grass

05 Jan 2021

Seed cleaning helps keep the lid on weed banks

Seed cleaning helps keep the lid on...

18 Dec 2020

Pests

GRDC praises move to import fall armyworm virus

13 Jan 2021

Allowing the importation of a biological control will form as part of research into fall armyworm control options.

New tool guides Russian wheat aphid management

New tool guides Russian wheat aphid management...

16 Dec 2020

Growers urged to bait before planting as mouse numbers rise

Growers urged to bait before planting as...

13 Dec 2020

Early research to guide insecticide use for fall armyworm

Early research to guide insecticide use for...

04 Dec 2020

Minimise mouse risk by reducing food source load this harvest

Minimise mouse risk by reducing food source...

27 Nov 2020

Biosecurity

Crop disease surveillance continues despite COVID-19

21 Nov 2020

Large numbers of Queensland crops were surveyed and diseases processed in 2019-20, despite travel restrictions caused by the global pandemic....

Confirmation bias plays a role in farm biosecurity

Confirmation bias plays a role in farm...

20 Nov 2020

PBRI participates in a global collaboration for plant health

PBRI participates in a global collaboration for...

26 Aug 2020

Long investigation lifts the lid on illegal interstate trade of lupin

Long investigation lifts the lid on illegal...

19 Aug 2020

Nationwide survey provides insights on grain growers’ biosecurity attitudes

Nationwide survey provides insights on grain growers’...

15 Aug 2020

Chemical regulation

Grains industry must be aware of markets changing chemical residue limits

26 Mar 2020

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

Future of herbicide use in the spotlight

Future of herbicide use in the spotlight

31 Aug 2019

Help at hand to optimise spray systems this season

Help at hand to optimise spray systems...

16 Jul 2019

Grain protection expert urges compliance with label directions for haloxyfop herbicides

Grain protection expert urges compliance with label...

03 Apr 2019

Off-label herbicide use not the solution to summer weeds

Off-label herbicide use not the solution to...

04 Mar 2019

Diseases

Pre-sowing hygiene to protect next season’s crops

18 Jan 2021

Crop disease expert issues reminder to lower disease risk

Disease check urged before planting 2021 chickpeas

Disease check urged before planting 2021 chickpeas

11 Jan 2021

Forging a new path in the name of research

Forging a new path in the name...

11 Dec 2020

Some rust resistance genes just keep on giving

Some rust resistance genes just keep on...

23 Nov 2020

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

Stem rust control in wheat – a...

19 Sep 2020