2018 Frost trials and seasonal information

What's happening where in WA

Click on the map to view trial information in more detail:

2018 DPIRD and research partners frost trial sites

Site management information for Dale

Trial information

Find out more about this research at the department’s upcoming Dale Frost and Canola field day, near Beverley, on Thursday, 11 October.

DPIRD Dale field day

DPIRD Dale field day program

Screening of frost in cereals - UA00162 - B Biddulph

Trial objectives

1. To assess the genetic variation in commercial material for reproductive frost damage in commercial wheat and barley.
2. Develop a rating system for frost susceptibility of commercial wheat and barley varierties suitable for use by industry.
3. Screening international wheat lines with the Focused Identification of Germplasm Strategy (FIG)S for reproductive frost susceptibility 

Frost tolerance in wheat - PhD project - B Leske

Crop type x time of sowing (TOS) trial - DAW00260 - B Biddulph, R Smith

Trial objectives

1. Within a sowing window compare the relative frost susceptibility of wheat, barley and oats in frost prone landscapes.
2. To develop across a sowing program the most stable and profitable cereal production in frost prone landscapes.

Hypothesis: Wheat is as profitable as barley and oats when phenology matches optimum time of sowing.

Nitrogen x seeding rate trial - DAW00260 - D Nicol

Hypothesis; Changing canopy density with seeding rate and nitrogen changes frost severity, duration, synchronisation of canopy development and frost damage.

Trial objectives

1. Use small plots to investigate the effect of nitrogen and seed rate on frost damage in wheat.

Intensive nitrogen x variety trial - DAW00260 - D Nicol

Hypothesis: Increasing nitrogen increases ground cover, dry matter, synchronisation of canopy tissue sensitivity to frost damage.

Trial objectives

1. This trial will complement concurrent trials at other sites using larger plots investigating frost damage associated with different crop canopies and nitrogen concentration.

Debugging the role bacteria in frost management - K Ryan, B Biddulph

Hypothesis 1: Pseudomonas does increase frost damage (stem damage and floret sterility) in oats and wheat.

Hypothesis 2: A wet canopy does increase frost damage (stem damage and floret sterility) in wheat

Hypothesis 3: Ice nucleators do increase frost damage (stem damage and floret sterility) in wheat

Virtual crop walk

Take a virtual crop walk via our recently uploaded pictures and videos

Dale

Date: 12 April 2018

Field notes:

• First time of sowing going in

12 April birds-eye view of trial

Living Farm sowing the first time of sowing (TOS) at the DPIRD GRDC frost trial site

Date: 26 April 2018

Field notes:

• 3 TOS sown (12/4, 19/4, 26/4)

26 April germinating wheat 

26 April birds-eye view of trial

Date: 17 May 2018

Field notes:

• 5 TOS sown

17 May birds-eye view of trial

17 May birds-eye view of trial 

Date: 28 May

Field notes:

• Seventh TOS sown

Wheat establishment - TOS 5

Germinating wheat - TOS 6

Date: 7 June 2018

Field notes:

7 June birds-eye view of trial

Germination counts in TOS 6 - sown 18th May

Date: 21 June

Field notes:

TOS 6 Final stubble application on bacteria trial

21st June birds-eye view of trial - all 8 TOS in

Date: 7 August

Field notes:

Birds eye view of the trial site

After an additional 76mm in August (until 16 August), the site has a bit of waterlogging damage

Date: 25th October

Field notes:

Site overview

Date: 11th December

Field notes:

Harvesting at the Dale frost research site

Harvest time at the Dale frost research trial site

Follow our researchers and partners on Twitter

• Ben Biddulph, Research officer DPIRD @ben_biddulph
• Dion Nicol, Research officer DPIRD @DionNicol_WA
• Brenton Leske, PhD candidate UWA, Research officer @BrentonLeske
• Kelly Ryan, Development officer DPIRD @kelguest83
• Rebecca Smith, Research agronomist based in York @bec_jenkinson
• Facey Group Wickepin @FaceyGroup
• Kelly Angel, Research officer at BCG @kangel62
• ConsultAg @consultAg

Climate resources

Incidence of frost varies strongly across the agricultural region, with greatest occurrence in the central, eastern and southern parts. The severity map shown below shows how cold it got.

August

Frost severity map 1-19 August

September

Frost severity map 2-9 September 2018

Frost events 5 September 2018

Frost events 6 September 2018

Frost events 15 September 2018

Frost events 16 September 2018

You can use this map to get a general indication of the likelihood of frost for your area for this season. Historical frost risk maps, show the past occurrence of frost risk.

• Frost risk maps shows the average number of low temperature events occuring in the months when crops are at most risk of frost damage from 1975-2014.
• Extreme weather events tool uses data from DPIRD's extensive weather station network to map extreme temperatures, either below or above a specified threshold. It provides real-time information about the location, duration and severity of frost and heat stress events, to help grain growers manage according to reduce their financial impact.

Handy project resources and recent publications

• NEW: Frost Identification Guide for Cereals
• NEW: Frost FAQs
• PestFax Issue 2 April Sowing wheat early? Sow longer season varieties to minimise frost risk.

• In the event that you require additional support for yourself or a neighbour, please access the Think! Mental Health website which has access to check up tools and an array of resources and links to further support.
• Other useful website to access include The National Centre for Farmer Health and ifarmwell.

Investors and partner organisations