News

New organic herbicide great for tree crops

Knockdown & pre-emergent herbicides Nov. 26, 2020



Grochem Australia has launched a new non-selective, organic herbicide in what it describes as a major breakthrough for the horticulture sector.

Read full story

All farmers encouraged to map crops to prevent spray drift damage this season

Post-emergent herbicides Nov. 25, 2020



All cropping farmers are being encouraged to play their part in preventing off-target spray drift damage by mapping their fields this season.

Read full story

Serpentine leafminer detected in SE Queensland

Spring horticulture & viticulture Summer horticulture Tropical agriculture & sugar cane Nov. 25, 2020



Serpentine leafminer has been found in a commercial vegetable crop in the Fassifern Valley

Read full story

BOM's outlook suggests a wet summer. But never rule out fire

Agribusiness Nov. 25, 2020



Summer is set to be wet, according to the official outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). Despite it being relatively dry over the past few weeks the La Niña declared back in September is still strong, according to BOM senior climatologist Andrew Watkins. At the moment, short-term climate drivers are conspiring to keep things dry, giving farmers a handy window to try and get the crop out.

Read full story

Agchem Safety Week – Industry Insights 24 Nov

Agribusiness Rural Business Nov. 12, 2020



Agsafe to host virtual presentation of two passionate advocates.

Read full story

Great leap forward in innovation and choice for South Australian Farmers

Winter cropping Nov. 2, 2020



South Australian growers will have access to GM crops from next season after Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham declared that all of mainland South Australia’s farmers would be allowed to commercially cultivate the crops.

Read full story

We’re back! Australia on track for above-average winter crop

Agribusiness Oct. 22, 2020



Australia is on track for a major recovery in grain production, with the winter harvest set to come in at above-average levels, according to just-released forecasts by agribusiness specialist Rabobank. In its Australian Winter Crop Production Outlook 2020/2021, the agribusiness bank says after three successive years of below-average production due to drought in many parts of the country, Australia’s “long-awaited grain production recovery is here”, with the nation expected to harvest 47.4 million tonnes of winter grains, oilseeds and pulses this year.

Read full story

Corteva’s new organic insecticide

Spring horticulture & viticulture Summer horticulture Oct. 20, 2020



In a commitment to the sustainability of Australian farmers, Corteva Agriscience has launched a new organic insecticide. Entrust Organic is a naturally derived insecticide, based on metabolites produced by the fermentation of naturally occurring soil organisms. Its favourable environmental and end-user safety profile offers many benefits to growers wanting effective control of damaging pests.

Read full story

DPI 'Farms of the Future' Breakfast Webinar Series

Business solutions & technology Technology in agriculture Oct. 15, 2020



As part of the NSW Government's Regional Digital Connectivity program, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has set up three commercial demonstration 'Farms of the Future' sites across NSW to showcase currently available farm connectivity and sensor technology.

Read full story

First fall armyworm detected in NSW between Moree and Boggabilla

Summer cropping Oct. 13, 2020



A pest which has the potential to destroy crops has been discovered in New South Wales for the first time. Growers in northern NSW have been urged to be on the lookout for fall armyworm in crops following the positive identification of a single male moth trapped between Moree and Boggabilla on Tuesday.

Read full story

Researchers investigating virus outbreak in faba beans

Winter cropping Oct. 12, 2020



A combination of a wet start to the year and the perfect breeding ground for aphids may have been responsible for unusually severe outbreaks of viruses in faba bean crops in northern New South Wales this season.

Read full story

Stacking the odds against awnless barnyard grass this summer

Herbicide & fungicide resistance Oct. 9, 2020



Sometimes herbicide resistance comes with a fitness penalty that growers can use as an Achilles’ Heel to drive down weed seed production. Unfortunately, glyphosate resistance seems to confer no such disadvantage on awnless barnyard grass. In a recent random survey of summer-growing weeds in the northern grains region, 36 per cent of awnless barnyard grass (Echinochloa colona) populations proved resistant to glyphosate.

Read full story

Gene search aims to combat heat stress in canola

Winter cropping Oct. 2, 2020



Identifying the genes that make canola heat tolerant is the aim of a five-year Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) research project now underway, with field trials planted in New South Wales and Western Australia in 2020. The long-term objective of the research (full story available in GroundCover™ online) is to provide heat-tolerant germplasm to plant breeders.

Read full story

Potential to expand horticultural industries in Northern Australia

Agribusiness Tropical agriculture & sugar cane Oct. 1, 2020



Northern Australia has long been regarded as an important gateway to the Asian market. However, due to Australia’s focus on supplying the domestic market, horticultural industries in the region have yet to take full advantage of international market opportunities.

Read full story

Updated risk management advice for Septoria

Fungicides Sept. 29, 2020



Growers in the high rainfall zones of southern Australia have a new resource to help guide their management when it comes to the serious wheat disease Septoria tritici blotch (STB).

Read full story