Wheat

Wheat production accounts for 65% of total cereal production in Western Australia with about ten million tonnes generated annually in a rain-fed system across four million hectares of land.

About 95% of WA wheat is exported - predominantly to Asia and the Middle East - generating $2-5 billion in annual export earnings for the state.

Despite a decline in annual rainfall, the improvement in agronomic practices and development of new premium wheat varieties have enabled an increase in WA wheat yield over the past 30 years at a rate higher than world average.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has a strong research, development and extension focus on wheat production through its long history in wheat breeding - now privatised through Intergrain - and the development of wheat variety management packages for the state’s grain production zones.

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Articles

  • Grain truck unloading

    Snapshot of Western Australia's grain exports

    4 December 2013

    The Western Australian grain industry is a major contributor to the agrifood sector and the Australian economy.

  • MyCrop how to video series

    31 August 2016

    This series of video tutorials has been produced to provide advice about the best ways to monitor and sample crops to diagnose and overcome constraints to crop production.

  • Martin Harries kneeling in a wheat crop

    Focus paddocks 2014 trial report

    18 September 2014

    Management of weeds, disease and nitrogen nutrition are ongoing challenges that limit yield potential.

  • Affected plants are stunted with few tillers.

    Diagnosing cereal cyst nematode

    4 December 2013

    A soil-borne pest affecting roots of cereal crops, cereal cyst nematode (CCN) can cause substantial yield losses, particularly in continuous cereal crops.

  • UAN spray damage in wheat

    Diagnosing foliar nutrient damage in cereals

    28 November 2013

    Post-emergent (mainly sprayed) fertiliser can cause leaf scorching, but affected plants recover without any yield loss.

  • Affected plants stunted with stiff, rolled leaves, which are sometimes darker than those of healthy plants.

    Diagnosing rhizoctonia root rot in cereals

    4 December 2013

    A widespread root disease caused by a soil-borne fungus and generating yield losses of 1-5% in Western Australia each year.

  • Root lesion and burrowing nematodes: diagnosis and management

    10 December 2013

    Nematodes can feed on root tissues of a wide range of plant species and lead to root damage which can result in significant crop yield loss.

  • Barley plant death from Fusilade® spray drift from neighbouring lupin paddock

    Diagnosing Group A herbicide damage in cereals

    28 November 2013

    These are post-emergent grass contol herbicides used for annual ryegrass and/or wild oat control in wheat and barley or non-selective grass control in broadleaf crops.

  • Roots stunted, short and stubby with few laterals.

    Diagnosing pythium root rot in cereals

    4 December 2013

    A widespread fungal root disease that attacks seedlings but which rarely causes large yield losses.

     

  • GrainGuard

    10 December 2013

    GrainGuard is a coordinated and cooperative strategic approach between the grain industry and the Western Australian Government.

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