Grains Research and Development

GRDC Update Papers

Grains Research Update Logo

This page contains papers from the GRDC Update series for both growers and advisers.

Click here to view the WA Crop Updates 2013 web app or view the 2013 WA Agribusiness Crop Update Papers here

For further information on Updates, please visit the following pages:

To view any paper in full, click on the links below:

Region (0 selected) Expand filters

Select: All / None

Year (0 selected) Expand filters

Select: All / None
  • Adoption and management practices of dry seeding across the WA wheatbelt

    Research Updates

    Grains

    Article Date
    29.04.2013
    GRDC Project Code
    WAN00020
    Presented At
    2013 WA Agribusiness Crop Updates

    KEY MESSAGES
    • Farmer’s perceive that dry sowing can improve overall farm productivity
    • The proportion of wheat dry sown within a farm is 40% in the low rainfall zone compared with 26% and 23% in the medium and high rainfall zones.
    • When growers dry sow they are most concerned about weed control, poor emergence and the risk of frost.

  • Success Neo Insecticide controls diamondback moth in canola

    Research Updates

    Grains

    Article Date
    29.04.2013
    Presented At
    2013 WA Agribusiness Crop Updates

    KEY MESSAGES
    In 2012 two insecticides, each representing a new mode of action, were approved for use against diamondback moth (DBM) in canola. While DBM has been difficult to control with older organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids, spinetoram (Success™ NEO from Dow AgroSciences) and emamectin benzoate (Affirm® from Syngenta) are highly effective and with careful management will continue to provide canola growers with cost-effective DBM control for many years.

  • Transform TM Insecticide sulfoxaflor for control of aphids in canola in WA

    Research Updates

    Grains

    Article Date
    29.04.2013
    Presented At
    2013 WA Agribusiness Crop Updates

    KEY MESSAGES
    Four trials commissioned by Dow AgroSciences studied the efficacy of TransformTM on three species of aphids attacking canola in Western Australia (WA). These data shows that Transform is effective on damaging populations of aphids in canola at rates between 100 – 200 mL/ha. Transform contains a brand new insecticide and will be a valuable tool for canola growers with anticipated registration in mid 2013.

  • A meta-analysis of 30 years of DAFWA's field trials on fungicide management of yellow spot septoria nodorum blotch disease complex of wheat in WA

    Research Updates

    Grains

    Article Date
    02.04.2013
    GRDC Project Code
    DAW00207
    Presented At
    2013 WA Agribusiness Crop Updates

    KEY MESSAGES
    • Average yield loss from YS-SNB disease complex in wheat over thirty years of DAFWA’s field trials in WA was 11.5% equating to 302 kg/ha or $75 /ha. Yield effects in individual experiments ranged from -300 to 1760 kg/ha.
    • The higher rainfall zone suffers greater yield losses from YS-SNB disease complex than medium and low rainfall zones.
    • Application of one fungicide spray can recover some of this loss to provide economic returns (break even yield ~ 60 kg/ha) in high and medium rainfall zones, but is unlikely to be economic in the low rainfall zone.
    • Differences in response to fungicide product (tebuconazole, propiconazole or newer products) were not clearly evident in yield response, whereas higher rates, regardless of fungicide, significantly increased yield response in the high rainfall zone.
    • A significant yield response was evident when disease level was at least 10% leaf area affected on the second top leaf at the time of spray.
    • The more rain-days (having at least 2 mm per day) the crop received in the 10-day period after spraying, the greater the yield response.

  • What to do with a wet summer: summer weeds, soil water, and subsequent crop yield

    Research Updates

    Grains

    Article Date
    02.04.2013
    GRDC Project Code
    CSP00127, CSP00128, LIE00006
    Presented At
    2013 WA Agribusiness Crop Updates

    KEY MESSAGES
    • Summer rainfall in excess of 25-30 mm in a single event is usually stored in the subsoil, so a rainfall event of 100 mm would leave about 70 mm in the soil. Rainfall events smaller than 25 mm are generally completely evaporated prior to sowing. Later rainfall is more beneficial, particularly on heavier soils.
    • Summer weeds are effective in scavenging soil water and nitrogen.
    • Residue management has little impact on stored soil water at sowing.
    • Increased soil water at sowing may lead to higher yields, particularly in soils with higher soil water holding capacity, or in dry growing seasons.
    • Summer weed control is necessary in about 40% of years in the Northern Agriculture Region, and 60% of years on the south coast, and on average gives a positive economic return.

  • Pre-harvest weed control in Canola: Roundup Attack with IQ inside; registration update

    Research Updates

    Grains

    Article Date
    27.03.2013
    Presented At
    2013 WA Agribusiness Crop Updates; 2013 Victorian GRDC Grains Research Update for Advisers
    Region
    West, South

    AIMS:
    A submission has been made to the APVMA for registration of Roundup Attack with IQ inside used pre-harvest in canola – a new use pattern for Australian canola growers.
    Trials demonstrate good levels of annual ryegrass seed set control – providing growers with another tool for weed seed management.
    Application can be made over the top of standing canola (prior to direct harvest) or applied under the windrower/swather with specialized spray equipment.

  • Grazing crops in a dry year

    Research Updates

    Grains

    Article Date
    27.03.2013
    GRDC Project Code
    FGI00007
    Presented At
    2013 WA Agribusiness Crop Updates

    KEY MESSAGES
    Grazing of cereal and canola crops in winter reduced grain yield by between 8 and 21% at seven of eleven sites. Grain yield was unaffected by grazing at four of eleven sites.
    Late and/or heavy grazing of a crop increases the risk of incurring a yield penalty. Low rainfall may also be a factor.
    Grazing needs to be carefully managed when grazing crops to avoid costly yield penalties in years (such as 2012) when grain prices are high.

  • Grower adoption and implementation of strategies to manage soil water repellence in farming systems

    Research Updates

    Grains

    Article Date
    27.03.2013
    GRDC Project Code
    DAW00204
    Presented At
    2013 WA Agribusiness Crop Updates

    KEY MESSAGES
    • Growers are tending to adopt a combination of short-term mitigation and long-term amelioration management options for managing water repellent soils both of which can improve crop establishment and productivity.
    • Wetting agents, paired row seeding and other mitigation options can improve whole farm income because they are used over the whole seeding program. Amelioration options such as spading or mouldboard ploughing often give greater and longer-lasting yield increases and are profitable but are slow and costly to implement.

  • Managing nutrition on soils that have been treated for water repellence by cultivation

    Research Updates

    Grains

    Article Date
    27.03.2013
    GRDC Project Code
    DAW00204
    Presented At
    2013 WA Agribusiness Crop Updates

    Key messages
    • Nitrogen derived from soil organic matter was most available in mouldboard treatments.
    • Moderately water repellent soil has reduced soil nutrient availability though has not had a negative impact on crop establishment.
    • Mouldboard ploughing and rotary spading have had a major effect on root distribution in the 2nd year after tillage.

  • Moddus Evo: Controlling plant growth for reduced lodging and improved yields

    Research Updates

    Grains

    Article Date
    27.03.2013
    Presented At
    2013 WA Agribusiness Crop Updates

    KEY MESSAGES
    • Moddus Evo reduces lodging and can increase yields
    • Application timing and concentration of Moddus Evo is critical
    • Moddus Evo should not be applied to plants under stress
    • Moddus Evo has improved formulation stability and plant uptake