GRDC Podcast Grains Research and Development Corporation

Welcome to the first podcast in our new limited series focusing on Nutrition in the West. Each Friday for the next four weeks, we’ll release an additional GRDC podcast covering nutrition topics specifically for Western Australia, as growers gear up for seeding 2023.
The knowledge used to guide phosphorus management in WA agriculture has its origins in field research from 20 to 60 years ago. This long term private-public partnership study, part of a large crop nutrition project, helps provide up-to-date guidelines by revealing the key influences of wheat response to P fertiliser in current cropping systems. 
We caught up with Senior Research Scientist Craig Scanlon from WA’s Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development about what’s driving and influencing yield response to phosphorous fertiliser in current cropping systems – which importantly – now includes climate - in the equation. 

Contact:
Craig Scanlan, Senior Research Scientist – DPIRD
craig.scanlan@dpird.wa.gov.au

More Information:
Optimising fertiliser application – what level of precision can we achieve?

Project Code: UMU1801-006RTX

Forecasting how optimal flowering windows and crop yields will be impacted by the warming climate, and what growers can do about it, has been unexplored – until now. A new economics project under the Optimising Irrigated Grains Initiative, led by Associate Professor Matt Harrison from University of Tasmania, has brought together researchers, farming groups, and industry organisations to compare and predict optimal flowering windows to increase yields.  
It’s the first time contemporary genotypes have been compared across rainfed vs irrigated crops to predict current and future crop flowering windows across several growing regions using real weather and field trial data. 
The project’s focus on real world testing and grower engagement has resulted in a free online tool, Water Can Profit, that calculates farm inputs and helps growers make more profitable decisions. 

Contact: 
Matthew Harrison 
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania 
Email: matthew.harrison@utas.edu.au 
 
More Information: 
WaterCanProfit main website
 
Details on the WaterCanProfit App 
Here is the hint for installation: 
The WaterCanProfit app version 1.2.3(8) is now available for both Android and iOS. Users can download and install the app on their mobile devices to begin using it immediately. We highly recommend downloading the app using the link provided, so that users can receive email notifications about future updates. 


iOS users can download the app by this link. Step 1 is to download TestFlight from the apple store, and Step 2 is to click the link. This video also helps with the installation: No.0.1 iOS Install by link.


Android users can use this link to get access and provide your Gmail (the same gmail you use for the google store) to join an 'internal tester list' to download the beta version of the app. Once your Gmail address has been approved, you will receive an automated email that tell you to download 'App tester' and then find the WaterCan app. This video also helps with the installation: WaterCan Profit Android app test.

We provide a 'User manual' WaterCan_User_Manual1.1.0.pdf to help with your installation and testing of the app (As we still update the software based on user feedback, the instruction may not be fully consistent and updated to date). You can also check GRDC YouTube channel where we present the 5 functions of the app. 

Project Code: UOT1906-002RTX

If you’re a grain grower, an agribusiness practitioner, scientist, or industry expert – GRDC wants you. 
That’s right, GRDC is looking for Regional Panel Members who are willing to share their knowledge, expertise and networks to help facilitate cutting edge research; and in turn bolster on farm profitability. 
GRDC is a world leading grains research organisation, responsible for planning, investing in and overseeing research, development, and extension. 
Regional panels provide a vital link between the broader grains sector and GRDC; and help to identify, prioritise, and support RD&E investments that address regional constraints and opportunities. 
We spoke to Regional Panel Members from across Australia to talk about what the role entails.
 
More Information:
Applications are now open for all the GRDC Regional Panels and for more information head to the GRDC Website.
Applications close Thursday 13 April. 
Becoming a GRDC Regional Panel Member – YouTube

Determining the economic impact of native budworm in wheat crops was not something Dustin Severtson from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) ever expected to be doing. 
But when WA agronomists and growers started reporting the insects feeding off wheat in spring, DPIRD, backed by GRDC investment, launched glasshouse and in-field research to examine why native budworm was moving into this non-traditional cereal crop host. 
Contact 
Dustin Severtson 
DPIRD 
More information 
YouTube Video - Native budworm in wheat
GRDC project code: DAW2106-001RTX 

For many South Australian grain growers, 2022 was a cracker season, but the weather and other factors did lead to some cereal disease.   
So, what does 2023 have in store, and what to do to keep disease at bay? 
This is the second part of a two-part podcast where we do a deep dive to bring you the latest advice. 
In Part two we speak to Sam Trengove, who is an independent consultant on Yorke Peninsula and his business also does research and extension; and we also hear from Associate Professor, Fran Lopez-Ruiz, from Curtin University in Western Australia who is a specialist on fungicides. 
Contact
Sam Trengove, Trengove Consulting 
Fran Lopez, Curtin University - WA 
More Information
Farm Trials data explorer
Project Code: TRE2204-001RTX 

For many South Australian growers, 2022 was a cracker season, but the weather and other factors did lead to some cereal disease.
So what does 2023 have in store, and what to do to keep disease at bay?
Dr Tara Garrard is a cereal pathologist at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), the research division of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions in South Australia.
She has a project looking at Septoria Tritici Blotch, working out how it behaves in low and medium rainfall zones… but Tara says there are other diseases to be aware of as you go into the sowing.
Contact
Tara Garrard, PIRSA-SARDI
Tara.Garrard@sa.gov.au 
Robert Park, University of Sydney
Robert.park@sydney.edu.au
Project Code
TRE2204-001RTX