Dry Season Resources

Grower Group Alliance & The South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
  • 5.0 (1)
  • NATURAL SCIENCES

The South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub) is dedicated to sharing information that supports growers in preparing for and responding to dry seasons. In this podcast, you'll hear from growers and industry experts on managing dry season responses, ranging from early planning to tactical decision-making as the season evolves. The SW WA Hub is led by the Grower Group Alliance and funded by the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.

  1. 29 APR

    Use of virtual fencing to build farm resilience

    Virtual fencing could become a game-changer for Australian livestock producers, replacing kilometres of wire and hours of labour with a GPS collar and an app. But its potential goes well beyond convenience. By giving farmers unprecedented control over grazing pressure, virtual fencing is shaping up as a powerful tool for dry‑season management and climate resilience. In this episode, Esperance farmer Simon Fowler and SARDI researcher Bianca Agenbag unpack how the technology is helping producers maximise pasture utilisation, run virtual feedlots through feed gaps, and protect precious feed reserves when seasons turn tough. They also discuss the research underway to help farmers assess whether virtual fencing stacks up economically for their own operations. This episode is brought to you by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and is hosted by Doug Hamilton. Virtual fencing: breaking down boundaries in livestock grazing - SW WA HubVirtually Fence Free project (Future Drought Fund) - NQ Dry TropicsCommercialisation of Virtual Fencing for Livestock - SARDI / PIRSAVirtual fencing for improved drought resilience on South Australian farms - SA Drought HubVirtual fencing for improved drought resilience on South Australian farms - SW WA HubVirtual fencing provides productivity gains from strip grazing in broadacre farming - SW WA HubHub news - Drought Hub

    23 min

  2. 15 APR

    How strategic planning helps farmers stay ahead of uncertain seasons

    Uncertain seasons require clear thinking, not more noise. In this episode, Rod Birch, a grain grower from Coorow, shares his approach to planning for and managing through dry seasons and broader uncertainty. Rod discusses the importance of focusing on core fundamentals, identifying key risks such as lower-than-expected rainfall, input supply and markets, and avoiding unnecessary noise when making decisions. The conversation explores planning across short, medium, and long timeframes, along with the role of good relationships and trusted advice in supporting decision making. While Rod speaks from a grain growing perspective, the principles apply across agriculture, reinforcing that although conditions change, the fundamentals of good planning remain the same. This episode is brought to you by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and is hosted by Dr Mary-Anne Glanzlowe. Links on drought and mental health support - SW WA HubRiskWi$e - The National Risk Management Initiative - Grower Group AllianceNavigating extreme seasonal variability in WA’s Wheatbelt - SW WA HubHub news - Drought Hub

    21 min

  3. 31 MAR

    Optimising limited resources in challenging seasons

    Input constraints are a challenge, not just currently in 2026, but also off the back of dry seasons when financial constraints can dominate decision making. In both contexts, smart allocation can make a real difference to whole of farm performance. In this episode, cropping farmer Dylan Hirsch from Latham WA and CSIRO research scientist Roger Lawes discuss practical strategies for making the most of limited inputs, with a strong focus on the highest input cost of nitrogen. They discuss how ranking paddocks by yield potential using historical data and remote sensing can help target limited inputs, while also considering how growers can adjust crop and rotation decisions when conditions or supply constraints change. Roger then shares insights from the national Grain Automate project, including a new calculator tool to help evaluate precision spraying investments. The conversation highlights the role of farm data in decision making to effectively optimise a constrained resource. This episode is brought to you by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and is hosted by Doug Hamilton. Grain Automate Economic Model Calculator - Grain Automate - GRDC & CSIROSpray Program Calculator - GRDC & CSIROGrain Automate - GRDCHub news - Drought Hub

    27 min

  4. 17 MAR

    2026 Seasonal forecast: It’s going to rain, but when and how much?

    Seasonal climate outlooks can inform planning, but they are only one part of farm decision-making. In this episode, Dr Meredith Guthrie, from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and Phil Smyth, northern Wheatbelt agronomist from Nutrien Coorow, talk about the 2026 seasonal outlook. Meredith explains current climate drivers, how to interpret climate model probabilities and how the potential development of an El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole may result in 2026 looking a bit like the difficult year of 2023. They then go on to discuss what these forecasts may mean for growers, including dry sowing, crop selection, managing input costs, and making the most of early rainfall opportunities. The conversation highlights the importance of using forecasts as guidance while focusing on sound management decisions throughout the season and how there is always space for hope. This episode is brought to you by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and is hosted by Dr Mary-Anne Glanzlowe. Long-range weather, climate and water availability - Bureau of MeteorologySeasonal Climate Outlook - Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentLong-range forecasts: weeks, months and seasons - Bureau of MeteorologyHub news - Drought Hub

    27 min

  5. 4 MAR

    Water quality the hidden driver of spray efficacy

    Water quality is one of the most overlooked factors in spray performance, yet it can have major impacts on efficacy, compatibility and long-term resistance risk. In this episode, agronomist Bill Campbell from Campbell Ag and Damon Cusack from the Fitzgerald Biosphere Group (FBG) discuss how water quality varies across Western Australia and what growers can do to better manage it. They explore common issues including hard water tying up glyphosate, high turbidity reducing the effectiveness of paraquat, and elevated pH shortening the half-life of certain insecticides and fungicides. The conversation highlights key results from FBG’s Water Quality Snapshot project, which revealed significant variability in water sources, even between dams on the same farm. Practical strategies include testing all water sources, ranking them by quality, matching water to product where possible, and investing in storage or treatment systems. The episode also points to useful tools and fact sheets available through the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). A small investment in understanding your water could make a big difference to spray results and farm resilience. This episode is brought to you by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub) and is hosted by Doug Hamilton. Sprayer workshops – filter to “west” region and “workshops” - GRDCWater tests - CSBPWaterSmart Dams: Making Dams Work Again — Fitzgerald Biosphere GroupWater Evaluation Platform - University of Western AustraliaWater quality factsheet - GRDCSpray mixing and batch guides - GRDCWater Smart Dams project - Grower Group AllianceHub news - Drought Hub

    33 min

  6. 17 FEB

    Managing livestock health and disease during dry seasons

    Livestock monitoring and management is crucial for keeping animals healthy and productive during extended summer periods. In this episode, we are joined by Dr Izzy Drage, Field Veterinary Officer at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), and Katherine Davies, Senior Development Officer in DPIRD’s Animal Systems group. They bring valuable experience in livestock health and practical on‑farm management. We discuss the practical and strategic approaches to managing livestock during prolonged dry and hot periods, touching on water management, feed planning, disease observation and prevention, and long-term climate resilience for livestock. This episode is brought to you by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and is hosted by Dr Mary-Anne Glanzlowe. Livestock nutrition in dry seasons with hay, silage and containment feeding - SW WA HubWaterSmart Dams: capturing and keeping water in dams - SW WA HubManaging heat stress in sheep, beef and dairy cattle - SW WA HubAnimal biosecurity - DPIRDAnimal welfare in emergencies - Heatwave (and dry season) - DPIRDAnnual ryegrass toxicity in livestock - DPIRD"Condition scoring of sheep" factsheet - DPIRD"Confined paddock feeding and feedlotting of sheep" factsheet - DPIRDDPIRD Diagnostics and Laboratory ServicesDPIRD field vet contactsElectronic identification for sheep and goats in Western Australia - DPIRDThe Emergency Animal Disease Hotline – how does it work? - Animal Health AustraliaEmergency animal disease preparedness - DPIRD"Growing weaner sheep" factsheet - DPIRDHypocalcaemia in sheep - Agriculture VictoriaLivestock ownership, identification and movement in Western Australia - DPIRDLupinosis - DPIRDPrevent chemical residues in livestock - DPIRDReportable animal diseases – Western Australia - DPIRDSaltland GenieSeason agricultural region - DPIRDSheep dry season management - DPIRDSheep feeding and nutrition - DPIRDSheep reproduction and genetics - DPIRDSheep tools, resources and calculators - DPIRDSignificant Disease Investigation Program - DPIRDSupplementary feeding and budgeting - DPIRDWater for livestock - DPIRDWaterSmart Dams – Making Dams Work Again - Grower Group AllianceWaterSmart Farms – water security and resilience in a drying climate - DPIRDHub news - Drought Hub

    33 min

  7. 3 FEB

    Managing farming risks with soil surveys

    Quality soil data and precision agriculture can reduce risk and improve farm performance. This episode kicks off our new Innovation series, dropping every second instalment of the Dry Season Resources podcast. This series is hosted by Doug Hamilton, Innovation Specialist with the Grower Group Alliance and the SW WA Hub. In this episode, Doug is joined by Aidan Sinnott, consultant and director at VRT Solutions, and Giles McMeikan, agronomist at Farmanco. Both bring extensive experience in precision agriculture and the handling, processing, analysis and interpretation of on-farm datasets. They explore how soil surveying can be used to manage risk in modern farming systems, soil surveying technologies available to farmers, how soil data can help improve water use efficiency, and the practical implementation of variable rate technology (VRT). The conversation highlights the importance of well-managed on-farm data, strong collaboration between agronomists and precision agriculture consultants, and ensuring VRT does not compromise key profit drivers such as time of sowing. This episode is brought to you by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub) and is hosted by Doug Hamilton. VRTS Web Tools DirectoryFostering the adoption of variable rate fertiliser application for improved nutrient use efficiency - SPAAHub news - Drought Hub

    35 min

  8. 17/12/2025

    Salinity in the Wheatbelt: insights from four decades of research

    More than one million hectares of broadacre farmland are estimated to be affected by dryland salinity in Western Australia, causing significant production losses. In this episode, Dr Richard George from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) reflects on four decades of work tackling dryland salinity across Western Australia. He unpacks the complexity of salinity in the Wheatbelt, tracing its historical roots and examining the pressures of land clearing, climate, and agricultural practices on salinity levels, and outlines practical management strategies that have emerged from years of research. The conversation also looks ahead, highlighting the potential of water‑smart farming approaches to better manage water in a drying climate and support more resilient agricultural systems. This episode is brought to you by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and is hosted by Dr Mary-Anne Glanzlowe. Sandy soils series: Re-engineering sandy soils into productive land - SW WA HubDrought Resilience in Action webinar series: Making the most of salinity - Facey GroupManaging soils - DPIRDWaterSmart Farms – water security and resilience in a drying climate - DPIRDHub news - Drought Hub

    42 min
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About

The South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub) is dedicated to sharing information that supports growers in preparing for and responding to dry seasons. In this podcast, you'll hear from growers and industry experts on managing dry season responses, ranging from early planning to tactical decision-making as the season evolves. The SW WA Hub is led by the Grower Group Alliance and funded by the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.

Information

  • Creator
    Grower Group Alliance & The South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Grower Group Alliance & The South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
  • Show Website
    Dry Season Resources

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