News

Winter crop production to jump 53 per cent

Winter cropping July 2, 2020



The ABARES Australian crop report – June 2020 is forecasting a 53 per cent increase in winter crop production in 2020–21, with a 23 per cent jump in the area planted.

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Quick, test your winter weed escapes

Winter cropping June 30, 2020



This winter, researchers are recommending that growers and agronomists consider collecting live plant samples for herbicide resistance testing as a first step to identify and manage herbicide resistance in crop.

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Grower project confirms widespread fungicide resistance to net blotch in southern WA

Fungicides Herbicide & fungicide resistance Winter cropping June 22, 2020



First-year results from a unique project have confirmed fungicide resistance to both spot and net forms of net blotch in barley is widespread in southern areas of Western Australia’s grainbelt, with findings of reduced sensitivity or fungicide resistance the dominant situation.

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Growers warned of potential crop injury if switching herbicides

Post-emergent herbicides Winter cropping June 15, 2020



Grain growers are being warned about the potential injury to young cereal crops should they consider applying 2,4-D as a direct replacement for MCPA phenoxy herbicides.

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Unusual insect activity reported in emerging crops

Winter cropping June 12, 2020



South Australian grain growers are advised to keep an eye on vulnerable emerging crops, with unusual caterpillar and moth activity being reported across the State.

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Support for growers eager to capture crop yield potential

Winter cropping June 10, 2020



With favourable seasonal conditions in the southern cropping region elevating the yield potential of this year’s winter crops, grain growers are eager to meet the nutrient demands of their crops to capture the potential on offer.

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"Movin’ on up – Australia’s winter crop planting set to soar more than 25 per cent

Agribusiness Winter cropping June 3, 2020



Australia’s winter crop planting is set to climb by over 25 per cent this year on the back of widespread and well-timed rainfall across most of the country.

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Call for best practice approach to control mites

Winter cropping May 29, 2020



Western Australian grain growers and advisers are encouraged to have best practice management strategies in place for redlegged earth mite (RLEM; Halotydeus destructor) this season with numbers likely to increase in areas with cold and wet conditions.

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Good news for growers: no evidence of resistance in Lucerne flea

Winter cropping Winter pastures & forage May 20, 2020



Against the backdrop of increasing resistance to pesticides, research has produced some positive news for Australian grain growers. Testing of populations of Lucerne flea (Sminthurus viridis) – a pest that can be found in most grain crops and pastures in southern Australia – has not found evidence of insecticide resistance.

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Early-sown canola may escape blackleg

Fungicides Winter cropping May 19, 2020



Canola crops sown early in warm conditions over recent weeks may escape potentially severe blackleg disease during the growing season.

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First case of resistance in RLEM in Vic

Winter cropping Winter pastures & forage May 4, 2020



Grain growers and advisers are encouraged to revisit their RLEM management strategies following the detection of insecticide resistance in populations of the pest in Victoria for the first time.

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A new strain of salt-tolerant bread wheat will begin field trials this year.

Seeds Winter cropping March 30, 2020



A new strain of salt-tolerant bread wheat with genes that can be traced back to wild relatives will begin field trials in Australia this year.

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Port in shape for first Australian grain exports

Winter cropping March 27, 2020



A project to give South Australian farmers a new way of shipping their grain to global markets is close to commissioning following the delivery of a transhipment vessel.

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Increase pulse inoculant in dry conditions this season

Biologicals Seed treatments & coatings Winter cropping March 26, 2020



Growers planning to dry sow pulses on soils responsive to inoculation this season are encouraged to double the rate of peat inoculant or use a granular inoculant which delivers a high number of rhizobia at sowing to increase the likelihood of successful nodulation and nitrogen fixation.

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First release of genetically engineered moth could herald new era of crop protection

Spring horticulture & viticulture Summer horticulture Winter cropping Feb. 13, 2020



A newly published study reports a successful, first-ever open-field release of a self-limiting, genetically engineered diamondback moth, stating that it paves the way for an effective and sustainable approach to pest control.

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