Grains

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has significant direct investment in grains research, development and extension capability and activities, research infrastructure and policy development.

The Western Australian grains industry is a major contributor to the agrifood sector and the Australian economy. WA produces on average 18 million tonnes of grains (cereals, oilseeds and pulses) each year. Grain exports generate more than $5.9 billion (five year average) for the WA economy each year – making it the largest agricultural sector in the state, and the fifth largest export industry overall after iron ore, oil and gas, gold and lithium.

WA exports about 80% of its annual grain production to more than 50 countries worldwide. Indonesia is WA’s top wheat export market worth over $880 million per year, followed by China ($750 million) and Vietnam ($610million) over the last five years. WA is the world’s leading supplier of premium malting barley to Japan, China and India, the major supplier of wheat for the Japanese udon noodle market, and a major feed barley supplier to the Middle East.

In the 2021/22 season it is estimated the WA grains industry exported a total of $6 billion of cereals and $3.2 billion of pulse and oilseeds. The major contributors to these exports were wheat ($3.9 billion), canola ($3.0 billion), barley ($1.4 billion), lupins ($200 million) and oats ($160 million).

Grains Research and Industry Development Projects

DPIRD strives to provide essential knowledge and tools to increase profitability, meet market requirements, and improve the economic development of WA.

Research is undertaken in collaborative projects with other state government agencies, universities, CSIRO, grower groups, growers, and commercial partners.

DPIRD Grains priority projects

2024 Crop Sowing Guide for WA

The Crop Sowing Guide for Western Australia is a one stop shop for variety information on all the major crops grown in Western Australia, compiled by officers in DPIRD.

This edition includes the major crops grown in WA – wheat, barley, canola, oat, lupins and pulses. The publication aims to provide information to support growers with decisions on the best choice of variety for each of the major crops for the upcoming season. The lupin and pulse sections also include an “agronomy guide” summary to support management decisions required for these high value industries.

Hardcopies of the 2024 Crop Sowing Guide for Western Australia are available from DPIRD offices and other agribusiness outlets. Learn more

See Also

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Articles

  • Dark leaves with necrosis moving down from the tip of the oldest leaf

    Diagnosing phosphorus deficiency in wheat

    28 November 2013

    Nearly all soils in Western Australia are phosphorus deficient in their natural state but the continual use of phosphorus fertiliser means acute deficiency in broadacre crops is rare, with the exce

  • Plants with fewer tillers and pale older leaves

    Diagnosing nitrogen deficiency in barley

    20 January 2014

    Nitrogen deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in barley especially during cold, wet conditions and in sandy soils in high rainfall areas.

     

  • Phosphorus deficient seedling

    Diagnosing phosphorus deficiency in barley

    20 January 2014

    Nearly all soils in Western Australia are phosphorus deficient but continual use of phosphorus fertiliser means acute deficiency in broadacre crops is rare, with the exception of Darling Range grav

  • Patches of pale stunted wilted plants

    Diagnosing manganese deficiency in oats

    19 June 2015

    Oats are very susceptible to manganese (Mn) deficiency, which produces a condition called 'grey speck'.

  • Oat plants showing symptoms of acute phosphorous deficiency including necosis moving down from old leaf tip

    Diagnosing phosphorus deficiency in oats

    19 June 2015

    Nearly all soils in Western Australia are phosphorus deficient in their natural state but the continual use of phosphorus fertiliser means acute deficiency in broadacre crops is rare, with the exce

  • CSBP oat nutrition trial showing oat crop with symptoms of potassium deficiency

    Diagnosing potassium deficiency in oats

    22 June 2015

    Potassium is required for photosynthesis, transport of sugars, enzyme activation and controlling water balance within plant cells.

  • Smaller paler plants with fewer tillers

    Diagnosing nitrogen deficiency in oats

    19 June 2015

    Nitrogen deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in oats especially during cold, wet conditions and in well-drained soils in high rainfall areas.

     

  • Young leaves turn pale green and wilted, then die back from the tip

    Diagnosing copper deficiency in oats

    19 June 2015

    Most soils in Western Australia were copper deficient in their natural state.

  • After lesions form on middle leaves, pale lines develop on new growth.

    Diagnosing zinc deficiency in wheat

    28 November 2013

    Most soils in Western Australia (WA) were zinc deficient in their natural state.

  • Patches of stunted pale clumpy plants.

    Diagnosing zinc deficiency in barley

    20 January 2014

    Zinc deficiency has become more common in young barley plants emerging in drying soil but this deficiency is usually transitory and disappears when rainfall re-wets the topsoil.

     

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