GRDC Driving Agronomy Podcasts
GRDC Research Update Podcasts are available in MP3 file format. You need to have Windows Media Player or other media player software that supports MP3 file format. Windows Media Player comes installed on most Windows computers. If the links below do not work, you can download Windows Media Player for Windows and Macintosh users from Microsoft website.
Beating insect resistance in storage
30.01.2012
In what could be a documented world first, an insect strongly resistant to phosphine has been eradicated from a farm in Western Australia. On this program Chris Newman from DAFWA explains how it was done.
Contact: Chris Newman (08) 9366 2309. Email: chris.newman@agric.wa.gov.auGRDC Strategic Plan
12.12.2011
A new strategic plan is being developed and the first round of consultation is taking place now with R&D agencies. Consultation with growers will begin in February. The plan incorporates six key themes which will help focus research, development and extension to deliver the best outcomes for growers
Contact: Stephen Thomas (02) 6155 4500 s.thomas@grdc.com.au
Audio: GRDC Strategic Plan
Resistant Brome Grass
05.12.2011
Brome grass has joined the list of weeds resistant to glyphosate. Resistant brome grass has been found on a farm in South Australia. On this program, Chris Preston reminds us of the need to adopt weed control measures that don’t only rely on glyphosate.
Contact: Associate Professor Chris Preston (08) 8303 7237. Email: Christopher.preston@adelaide.edu.au
Audio: Resistant Brome Grass
Grain and Graze 2
05.12.2011
Grain and Graze 2 has been underway for around a year and the results of the first twelve months work are about to be compiled. On this program we find out about the Grain and Graze project and how farmers can become involved at a local level.
Contact: Tanya Robinson (02) 6166 4500. Email: t.robinson@grdc.com.au
Audio: Grain and Graze 2
New Vetch Varieties
21.11.2011
New varieties of vetch are being developed with improved grain and dry matter production making them more attractive as a dual purpose break crop. On this program, scientist Rade Matic outlines the benefits of vetch in terms of nitrogen production, increasing yield in following cereal crops and as a grazing option for livestock producers.
Contact: Rade Matic 0408 826 550. Email: rade.matic@sa.gov.auAudio: New Vetch Varieties
Genes Found to Block Yellow Spot
13.11.2011
A team of scientists around Australia is working on a genetic answer to yellow spot disease which causes so much damage to Australian wheat crops. The team has uncovered 5 genes in Australian international germplasm which show resistance to yellow spot. While commercialisation is a long way off, considerable progress is being made in the pre-breeding phase funded by GRDC.
Contact: Dr Manisha Shankar (08) 9368 3533. Email: mshankar@agric.wa.gov.au
New Pulse Varieties
31.10.2011
A range of new pulse varieties have been released for next season. On this program we get an overview of what’s new for next year from Pulse Australia’s Gordon Cumming
Contact: Gordon Cumming 0408 923 474. Email: pulse.gordon@bigpond.com
Audio: New Pulse Varieties
Bridging the Weater Gap
24.10.2011
In Grant Beard’s words, he is trying to bridge the gap between weather forecasts and climate outlooks. His work on a new forecasting model will in time allow aggregated rainfall forecasts out to about four weeks – a big improvement on the current one week forecasts. Find out where things are up to on GRDC Driving Agronomy.
Contact: Grant Beard (03) 9669 4527. Email: g.beard@bom.gov.au
Audio: New Weather Forecasts
William Farrer in the 21st Century
17.10.2011
As every Australian school child knows (or should know) William Farrer revolutionised Australia’s wheat industry by making European wheat grow in Australian conditions. What Farrar did was adjust the flowering time of wheat. His work continues to this day and on this program we speak with a modern day equivalent of William Farrar about the discovery of the flowering gene and what that will soon mean to Australian wheat growers.
Contact: Ben Trevaskis (02) 6246 5045. Email: ben.trevaskis@csiro.au
The Best Investment You Will Make
10.10.2011
It’s John Harvey’s mission to make the levy every grain grower pays the best investment they make year on year – better than shares, banks or property. Just how he will do that is the subject of this edition of GRDC Driving Agronomy. A key says John is adoption. Making sure that growers are able to translate the results of research into real and practical changes on farm.
Contact: John Harvey (02) 61664500. Email: j.harvey@grdc.com.au
