Gavin Beeck is not someone who likes to rely on guesswork when it comes to determining the nutrients needed to improve soil health on his Gnowangerup farm.

Grains industry and entomology authorities have urged southern growers to intensify their approach to snail control.

While soil sampling can be perceived as a time-consuming chore, one grower says the practice has given him the knowledge needed to address costly crop constraints

Spraying specialist Bill Gordon looks at the issues governing effective spray operations

Recent field days in south-eastern Australia have given growers the opportunity to consider options for growing soybeans

Emerging cereal crops are a focus as the winter cropping cycle moves into full swing. Variety selection and fungicide protection options at sowing have been locked-in for the 2012 season.

- Longreach Crusader and Kennedy were the most consistently high yielding APH varieties across irrigated experiments (in which diseases were controlled). Longreach Crusader had less lodging than Kennedy under high N rates. Lower quality varieties Merinda (AH) and GBA Ruby (AGP) yielded well in some environments with minimal lodging.

- Varieties responded differently to various canopy management techniques (delayed N application and plant growth regulators) in this first year of testing, and further research is needed to identify the best agronomic strategy for different varieties under high yielding conditions.

- Experimental varieties exist that possess substantially higher yield potential and lodging resistance compared to the best APH commercial varieties, but they have poor grain quality.

- An 8.01 t/ha commercial irrigated wheat yield was verified by weigh-bin at Brookstead, using Longreach Crusader in conjunction with several canopy management techniques.

New research comparing upfront and in-crop fungicide control of stripe rust in two popular wheat varieties has pinpointed timing as a key influence on effective control.

Your GRDC working with you

GRDC needs your feedback to develop the five year strategic RD&E plan 2012-2017 'Your GRDC Working With You'. This Plan will outline how GRDC will invest your levy, along with the Australian government's contribution, in innovative research, development, extension, communication and commercialisation for the greatest benefit for you.

To visit the full webpage click here

Growers are urged to control the ‘green bridge’ now and choose disease resistant crop varieties, after wheat stem rust, barley leaf rust and powdery mildew were found in Western Australia’s southern cropping regions.