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Research highlights summer adaptation of annual ryegrass

Research is investigating whether ryegrass is adapting to Australia’s climatic conditions and becoming more productive in the warmer months.
Read full storyCSIRO DEVELOPS ‘GENE SANDWICH’ TO ENHANCE WHEAT RUST RESISTANCE

Australia is expecting a strong wheat crop this year, but that would be threatened if a large outbreak of wheat rust occurred. However, researchers at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, led an international effort to develop wheats with a stronger and potentially more durable level of resistance against rust diseases by “stacking” five resistance genes together.
Read full storyGreat leap forward in innovation and choice for South Australian Farmers

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 storyResearchers investigating virus outbreak in faba beans

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 storyGene search aims to combat heat stress in canola

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 storyMore grain in the bin, more dollars in the pocket with harvester forums

Grain losses during harvesting equate to significant lost income for growers across Australia every year. To support growers in their efforts to reduce harvest losses and improve operations at harvest time, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is hosting a series of free-of-charge harvester forums.
Read full storyNew South Wales leads expected winter crop bounce back

Australian winter crop production is forecast to increase by 64 per cent in 2020-21, with New South Wales expected to have its second biggest winter crop in a decade.
Read full storyNew variety transitions quinoa from boutique to broadacre

A new open access quinoa variety developed in Australia is set to boost opportunities for farmers to grow the popular superfood, with increased production potential for both local and international markets. As the first public, non-contract variety in Australia, “Kruso White” may be the key to transitioning quinoa from a niche, cottage crop to wider adoption across Australian broadacre farming environments.
Read full storyPotentially destructive Russian wheat aphids found in WA's south-east

A foreign and potentially destructive pest has been detected in Australia's largest grain-growing state. Russian wheat aphids have been found on farms near Esperance in Western Australia's remote south-east. It is the first time the pest has been found in WA.
Read full storyDigging deeper to understand crop performance: Rhizoctonia

Why do cereal crops planted early into warm and moist soil appear healthy at the start of the season and then begin to show uneven growth from mid-winter to spring?
Read full storyFree kick for ryegrass control

Wheat and canola crops offer growers some really practical options to improve crop competition against weeds, particularly grasses, and vastly reduce weed seed set.
Read full storyCanola growers urged to monitor for blackleg in upper canopy

Canola growers are being encouraged to closely monitor crops for signs of blackleg infection in the upper canopy to avoid costly yield loss this season. Effective disease management will be critical for growers across the northern cropping region banking on a productive 2020 winter cropping season following the recent run of dry years
Read full storyKeep an eye on Russian wheat aphid as crops develop

Grain growers in Victoria and Tasmania are advised to continue monitoring crops for Russian wheat aphid (RWA) but only consider treatment if infestations are approaching potentially damaging levels. Colder conditions since March – in comparison with 2019 – are likely to have slowed aphid population growth during establishment and early tillering stages.
Read full storyWinter crop production to jump 53 per cent

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.
Read full storyQuick, test your winter weed escapes

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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