The GRDC is pleased to present the Investment Plan 2009-10 (Open and Multi-stage Tenders).

The purpose of the GRDC Investment Plan 2009-10 (Open and Multi-stage Tenders) is to inform our potential research partners about some of the Corporation’s new investment priorities for 2009-10. This document includes only those priorities with open tender and multi-stage tendering procurement methods. Other open tenders and multi-stage tenders may be advertised throughout the year.

So far, the 2008 growing season has not seen significant blackspot in field peas in WA, which is good news for growers in Esperance and the Northern Agricultural Region, where the disease, in its severe form, can destroy an entire crop.

Windblown ascospores, produced by the fungus on the previous season’s infected pea stubble, are the key agent causing blackspot infection of field pea.

Resistant varieties are not available and fungicide control is not economic, hence management has depended on agronomic or cultural practices.

 Dr Kith Jayasena, GRDC supported plant pathologist with DAFWA at Albany, has urged WA growers to be vigilant in checking barley crops for barley leaf rust and adopt a ‘no-nonsense’ approach if found.

He said barley leaf rust had been found in two South Stirling commercial crops and growers finding the pin-sized orange rust pustules on barley leaves would have to spray to protect their crops, as most varieties are susceptible.

Early rust samples analysed by the Cereal Rust Laboratory have sparked concerns that stripe rust, and possibly leaf rust, may hit for wheat crops across southern Queensland and northern and central western NSW this season.

Colin Wellings, University of Sydney plant pathologist said rust detection so early in the 2008 season should raise industry-wide concern and warned growers to plan for control strategies.

Early rust samples analysed by the Cereal Rust Laboratory have sparked concerns that stripe rust, and possibly leaf rust, may hit for wheat crops across southern Queensland and northern and central western NSW this season.

Colin Wellings, University of Sydney plant pathologist said rust detection so early in the 2008 season should raise industry-wide concern and warned growers to plan for control strategies.

“One sample from Marombi wheat at Dunedoo, NSW was infected with leaf rust, and a sample of stripe rust was taken from Tobruk triticale at Young, NSW,” Dr Wellings said.

Canola growers finding Diamondback moth (DBM) grubs in a crop by early August may have a problem, according to entomologist, Kevin Walden, of the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) in Geraldton.

Mr Walden indicated DBM, or Plutella xylostella, has been found in canola crops in the northern agricultural region, which is a concern since yield loss due to plant stress caused by DBM eating canola leaves and stems can be as high as 80 per cent.

“If DBM infests canola early in the season and there is enough warmth to complete three or four generations, numbers can quickly build, exceeding threshold levels,” he warned.

Efficient pesticide application ensures effective spray coverage of the target while minimising off-target effects of the
application. Operation managers and spray equipment operators have a moral and legal obligation to ensure that spray
applications do not impact on neighbouring situations or landowners.

Recognising that correctly identifying crop diseases can be a challenge, GRDC supported Partners in Grain (PinG) is running a series of one day workshops in the WA wheatbelt to demystify them.

With no registered chemicals for controlling bacterial diseases in oats, the most effective options are a two year rotation that includes a non-cereal crop and using certified clean seed.

Weed Seed Wizard, a recently released computer tool, should help grain growers make better weed management decisions.

The underlying message is that to win the war against weeds, growers must fight a long-term campaign against the seedbank hidden beneath the soil.