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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.
Optimising nutrients for productivity - April 2008
23.04.2008
With costs of fertiliser and input costs a high consideration for the upcoming cropping season, this month’s GRDC Harvest Radio looks at steps to proceed with fertiliser application. Mark Conyers (NSW Department of Primary Industries) examines some of the key considerations for nitrogen and phosphorus application. John Francis (Holmes Sackett and Associates) also considers some of the key economic considerations of input costs to productivity.
For more information contact:
• Mark Conyers. NSW Department of Primary Industries. (02) 6938 1830. email
• John Francis. Holmes Sackett and Associates. (02) 6931 7110. emailAdditional GRDC materials in relation to nutrient management:
• 2008 GRDC Planning Guide to Low Risk Farming
• Ground Cover Issue 69 - Nutrient Management Supplement
• Ground Cover Issue 59 - Nutrient Management Supplement
• NMS00002 - Adoption of improved nutrient management practices
• UM00023 - Synchronising nutrient supply and crop demand in modern cropping systemsData to drive the grains industry
01.04.2008
With the need to understand industry performance, this edition of Harvest Radio focuses on the GRDC Farming Practices Database. This edition outlines some of the key benefits of providing farming practices data from grain and mixed cropping farmers around Australia. Alan Umbers (Project Manager, Farming Practices database) outlines some of the key features of the project including methods to contribute to datasets and reports available to growers as part of the project.
For more information, visit the Farming Practices website at www.grdc.com.au/farmingpractices or contact Alan Umbers on (02) 6295-9428Soil Inoculants - May 2007
13.07.2007
This edition of Harvest Radio discusses the latest developments in soil inoculant research. Sandy Gleddie (Philom Bios) outlines some of the new developments in the pipeline for soil inoculants aimed to boost plant productivity. David Herridge (NSW DPI) also outlines some of new formulations of inoculants available to industry.
For more information contact:
Sandy Gleddie, Philom Bios, 08 8303 7142
David Herridge, NSW DPI Tamworth, 02 6763 1143Pulse Agronomy Trials - May 2007
13.07.2007
This issue of Harvest Radio looks at Pulse Agronomy trials and the relationship to managing disease in the Northern Region. Kathi Hertel and Kevin Moore from the NSW Department of Primary Industries overview some of the key issues to consider including planting populations, variety choice, paddock selection and history. This edition also outlines some of the key strategies to manage disease.
Also refer to the Grains Research Update paper on this topic held at Goondiwindi 2007 at: http://www.grdc.com.au/growers/res_upd/north/n07/ferguson.pdf [PDF 175KB]
For more information contact:
Kevin Moore, NSW DPI, kevin.moore@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Kathi Hertel, NSW DPI, kathi.hertel@dpi.nsw.gov.auCost Effective Fodder options - May 2007
13.07.2007
With a greater focus on pasture production for mixed livestock this issue of Harvest Radio looks at cost effective fodder options including forage brassicas and the benefits for mixed farming systems. Sowing time is discussed with an emphasis on trial results assessing the impact on yields.
For more information contact:
Mike Gout, Seed Force, 02 6944 9001Inoculants a 'new wave' in agriculture
12.07.2007
February 2007 presented by Sandy Gleddie
Philom Bios Australia (PBA) is a joint venture between the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Canadian firm Philom Bios Inc (PBI). In forming PBA last year, the GRDC and PBI sought to introduce new inoculants to Australian growers and to commercialise them and other emerging agricultural technologies.
Sandy Gleddie, PBA's chief executive and a keynote speaker at the 2007 GRDC Adviser Updates, discusses inoculant technology and its potential role in Australian grain production.
Mr Gleddie talks about the drivers of inoculant technology, its platforms, its capabilities and some of the development and marketing challenges.Banking sector confident in grain growers despite drought
12.07.2007
February 2007 presented by Peter Jacobs
Peter Jacobs, head of ANZ Rural Banking and a keynote speaker at Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) updates at Adelaide, Wagga Wagga and Bendigo, discusses grain production from the banker's perspective, the banker's perception of the Australian grain grower as a customer, and how the drought has affected the banks' outlook.Mr Jacobs says that he and his fellow bankers hold individual grain production businesses - farms - in high regard for their capacity to manage financial risk due to a number of factors. In his own words, it is “difficult to go broke in farming”.
One of these factors - a generally high level of farmers' equity in their own businesses - is also a potential risk management tool that Mr Jacobs would like to see farmers use more effectively.Crown rot, Rhizoctonia the diseases to watch in 2007
12.07.2007
February 2007 presented by Dr Hugh Wallwork
Dr Hugh Wallwork, from the SA Research and Development Institute (SARDI), discussed the lessons that could be learned from the drought at the recent Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Advisor Update in Adelaide.The Advisers Updates are aimed at positioning growers for a rapid recovery from the worst drought on record.
Dr Wallwork discussed disease issues for SA growers in 2007. Crown rot growth in plant stems is greatly favoured when cereal plants are under moisture stress, and Dr Wallwork says it will be present in high concentrations in grass stubbles. Take-all inoculum levels are expected to be low over summer, however Rhizoctonia tends to increase in severity following droughts.
Weed biology the missing link to better management
10.07.2007
February 2007 presented by Dr Chris Preston
Dr Chris Preston of the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management (Weeds CRC) - a keynote speaker at the 2007 GRDC Adviser Updates - discusses the need to understand weed biology and behaviour under different farming systems.Dr Preston says that weeds behave differently in traditional farming systems than they do under conservation farming systems such as minimum tillage. With the widespread adoption of no-till, further changes in weed behaviour can be expected - some problem weeds will drop off farmers' radars while others will “step up”.
Understanding weed biology is essential to managing weeds under different farming systems, and Dr Preston says management of weed seed set offers the most practical way of managing weed populations in the long term.
Phosphorus fertiliser still an option
09.07.2007
February 2007 presented by Nigel Wilhelm
Nigel Wilhelm from the SA Research and Development Institute (SARDI) discussed the lessons that could be learned from drought at the recent Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Advisor Update in Adelaide.The Advisers Updates are aimed at positioning growers for a rapid recovery from the worst drought on record.
Mr Wilhelm spoke about crop nutrition in 2007. He said while 2007 is not the year to use phosphorus fertiliser rates to boost soil reserves, growers and their advisers should not rule it out entirely as it is an investment, not a penalty. Major rainfall events over summer will determine crop-available nitrogen levels in the soil. Mr Wilhelm strongly advised soil testing to take the guesswork out of soil nutrient reserves.
