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

  • Soil water tool

    9 June 2015

    Plant available soil water graphs show the amount of soil water accumulated from the start of summer (1 November) through the grain growing season and can be used as a tool in the seasonal decision

  • Potential yield tool

    9 March 2016

    The potential yield tool uses seasonal rainfall and decile finishes, calculated from historical data, to calculate the maximum wheat yield possible in the absence of any other constraints.

  • Wheat yield potential, sowing time and management in season 2019

    31 May 2019

    Much of the Western Australia's wheatbelt has experienced a very dry 2018–2019 summer leaving very little stored moisture at present (DPIRD, May seasonal report 2019). Yield potential varies signif

  • Image of wheat head following misting of water in the glasshouse

    Wheat grain quality - falling number and pre harvest sprouting resistance

    8 May 2014

    Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a common quality constraint of wheat that can result in downgrading of grain quality upon receival.

  • Annual ryegrass

    Annual ryegrass

    6 October 2011

    Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is one of the most serious and costly weeds of annual winter cropping systems in southern Australia.

  • Wheat with Yellow Spot

    Wheat disease ratings

    22 June 2014

    When selecting a wheat variety to implement in a farming system, it is important to be aware of the variety's disease package to plan management options. The disease resistance ratings for wheat va

  • Cover of the 2022 WA Crop Sowing Guide with Rod and Andrew Messina of Mullewa in front of their seeding rig

    2022 Crop Sowing Guide for WA

    8 November 2021

    The crop sowing guide for Western Australia is a one stop shop for variety information on all the major crops grown in Western Australia.

  • An air seeder seeding on stubble

    Frost risk – manage wheat variety and sowing time

    14 December 2010

    Wheat is highly susceptible to frost damage between ear emergence and flowering – often termed reproductive frost.

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    Aphid feeding damage to cereal crops

    14 February 2011

    Adult and nymph aphids suck sap with large populations limiting grain yield and size, especially winter and spring infestations.

  • Barley yellow dwarf virus infection of oats

    Managing barley yellow dwarf virus and cereal yellow dwarf virus in cereals

    13 December 2012

    Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and cereal yellow dwarf virus (CYDV) are found damaging cereal crops worldwide. They infect wheat, barley, oats and grasses and are transmitted by aphids.

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