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Grains Research & Development Corporation

GRDC Publications

 

This section contains publications produced by the GRDC. Click on the link below to view more:

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  • Helping Grain Growers Manage Dryland Salinity

    16.04.2009

    It is estimated that around two million hectares of broadacre farmland is affected by dryland salinity, with a further six million hectares at risk. This publication outlines projects in NSW, WA

  • Managing Sclerotinia Stem Rot in Canola

    06.04.2009

    The disease sclerotinia stem rot is caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which can occur on many common
    broadleaf crop and weed species, particularly canola and lupins.

    This fact sheet outlines the Sclerotinia life cycle, Sclerotinia-prone regions and incidence, warning signs, management options and further information sources. 

  • GM Canola - Performance and Experiences in 2008

    24.03.2009

    One of the supporting elements in the canola industry’s strategy to improving productivity is innovation and access to technology. One such technology is GM canola. 

    In 2008, the canola industry planted its first commercial GM canola crop in NSW and Vic following the State lifting of the
    moratoria. This was five years after two genetically-modified (GM) herbicide tolerant types Roundup Ready® and glufosinate resistant InVigor® hybrids were approved for commercial production by the Federal Regulator - Office of the Gene Technology Regulator. In supporting the commercial production of GM canola, the industry adopted a position of market choice which frames the development of on-farm and value chain stewardship and coexistence arrangements across the range of products the industry produces.

  • Raising the Bar with Better Canola Agronomy (October 2008)

    20.10.2008

    This publication aims to increase the reliability of canola production by sharing the knowledge and experience of leading canola producers. The publication also contains the results from the Better Canola demonstration trials which are aimed at overcoming specific issues for canola production.

    Part 1 of Raising the Bar with Better Canola Agronomy provides a general introduction and case studies from Victoria.

    Part 2 of Raising the Bar with Better Canola Agronomy provides a general introduction and case studies from South Australia and Western Australia.

    GRDC Project Code: AOF00006

  • GRDC Cereal Growth Stages Guide (Large: 8MB)

    23.09.2008

    This guide has been produced as part of the GRDC funded project (SFS 00006) examining the role of disease control and canopy management in optimising cereal production in south east Australia. Results are primarily based on information generated in the high rainfall zone in 2003 and 2004, though control sites in the Mallee and Wimmera provided drier environments for comparative data.

    The booklet is designed to give growers greater confidence in identifying the important cereal growth stages and how they relate to the principles of disease management and canopy management.

    This booklet has been published as part of the technology transfer element of a GRDC funded project (SFS 00006). The guide was put together by Nick Poole from the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) and his colleagues, with assistance from FAR’s co-workers on the project. These were at Southern Farming Systems (Col Hacking, Dom Bolton, Wes Arnott & Geoff Dean), Birchip Cropping Group/Wimmera Farming Systems/CropFacts (Harm van Rees, Cherie Bell, & Brooke Thompson), the Harden Management. Group (Jim Wright & Peter Hamblin) and the funding of GRDC.

  • GRDC Grain Market Lingo - What does it all mean?

    23.09.2008

    The future of grain growing enterprises is dependent on the generation of sufficient profits to ensure their long-term viability. The key drivers of profit in a grain enterprise include how much grain can be produced, the cost of producing it and the price received for the grain when it is sold.

    The key drivers of profit and productivity include:
    1. Growing the most profitable rotation or mix of crops
    2. Productivity – turning water into grain
    3. Optimising costs
    4. Marketing
    5. Climate risk management (seasonal forecasts)
    6. Implementation and timeliness.

    Effective management of both risk and profitability is the key to success in farming. Growers need to manage their operation to maximise whole-farm profit not yield. The majority of the GRDC’s investment portfolio addresses these key productivity drivers with the exception of marketing. However as grain markets continue to deregulate growers are now taking more of an active role in price risk management. In light of this increasing trend, the GRDC has prepared this
    booklet which describes the key elements of price risk management available to growers.

    It is hoped that growers will have a better understanding of price risk management after reading this booklet. The booklet also includes a number of case studies on how some grain growers utilise the various marketing alternatives available to help them manage price risk in their farming operation.

  • Rust Management Fact Sheet

    23.09.2008

    Stripe rust has become a major issue in northern New South Wales grain crops and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is bringing in the experts. Attached is a fact sheet produced by the GRDC outliing Rust Management options.

  • Lifting irrigation cropping profitability and WUE

    02.06.2008

    ICF, with the support of GRDC, has prepared 14 case studies of irrigators in the southern Murray-Darling Basin.

    In spite of change and in spite of uncertainty, these irrigation businesses continue to invest in and develop production and management systems that can be viable at much lower water allocations than have historically been available. In doing so, these irrigators can achieve their financial and personal goals, ensure they are part of a vibrant community, and ensure their land is part of a sustainable irrigated agricultural landscape.

    The document can be found at http://www.icf.org.au/pubs_f/licp1.html

  • Plant Breeder's Rights

    29.03.2008

    As part of the National EPR Framework, members of the breeding community including breeding organisations, the GRDC and the seed industry have developed with industry a standardised agreement to licence new varieties to growers. The aim of standardising this agreement is to avoid confusion and reduce the number of different contracts currently being used to licence proprietary varieties to growers. The standardised agreements will increasingly be used by breeding organisations and their commercial agents to licence new varieties in the future. Replicate copies of the standardised agreement are on this web site and information about the Industry Standard PBR Licence Agreement can be found in the PBR Fact Sheet.

  • Managing Sorghum for High Yields

    17.03.2008

    A blueprint for doubling sorghum production.