With grain harvesting underway across much of the country, it is time for reaping what's been sown.
It is also the perfect time to tune into podcasts and videos and to get up to date with the latest grains research, development and extension (RD&E) information.
With growers and operators spending hours in the harvester or truck cab, now is an opportune time to subscribe to the Grains Research and Development Corporation's (GRDC) great range of podcasts.
Or for those times when you are stationary or stuck in the grain delivery queue, it is a chance to subscribe to and watch interesting and informative GRDC videos.
Luke Gaynor, GRDC senior manager extension, says the GRDC's extensive suite of podcasts and videos cover a broad range of topics, and are relevant to different growers' circumstances and interests in the three GRDC grain production regions.
"From fungicide resistance through to frost identification, and from soil acidity through to precision agriculture, a wealth of information is available within these quality digital resources," Mr Gaynor said.
"An impressive line-up of grains industry 'talent' is featured, including researchers, agronomists and growers, who share detailed insights into seasonal issues, ground-breaking research, farm-ready trial results and on-farm experiences."
The GRDC podcast series is updated with weekly episodes collected from across Australia's grain regions and is firmly focused on delivering information to growers and advisers that will help improve profitability.
"The beauty of the GRDC podcasts is that, once downloaded to a mobile device, they are available to be listened to at any time, regardless of your location, whether it be in the farm ute or on the harvester or tractor," Mr Gaynor said.
To subscribe to the GRDC Podcast series, search 'GRDC podcasts' on your podcast app. Or you can listen to individual podcasts (or follow the links to listen on SoundCloud or Apple Podcast) via the GRDC website.
Recently released GRDC podcasts include:
- Optimal flower periods and climate change: Andrew Fletcher, CSIRO – A key consideration when growing a cereal grain crop such as wheat is knowing a variety's optimal flowering period. But what happens when the optimal flowering period moves, as a result of climate change?
- Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network: Kylie Ireland, Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) – Discussing what the network has to offer, and the top five fungicide best management practices.
- Succinate dehydrogenase (SDHI, Group 7) resistance discovered in spot form of net blotch (SFNB) of barley in WA: Fran Lopez-Ruiz, CCDM – Discussing the details of this significant discovery and its consequences for the grains industry.
Mr Gaynor also encouraged growers to subscribe to the GRDC's high quality videos via YouTube.
Recently released GRDC videos include:
- Breeding wheat for a changing climate: Greg Rebetzke, CSIRO – explaining the desirable traits his team are focusing on, and how this research is working to increase wheat yield and profitability in increasingly drier, hotter and variable growing regions.
- Online harvester forum: This online forum, full of practical tips, is designed to help growers measure and reduce their harvest losses, and to understand and integrate harvest weed seed control into their systems and manage harvester fires.
- On-farm chemical safety: On-farm with grower Duncan Young and SafeFarms WA executive officer Maree Gooch, a demonstration of what good on-farm chemical storage and handling looks like, and a discussion of the need for growers to comply with government legislation.
