In this edition...
Frost ID Guide for cereals
A new guide has been published to assist cereal growers to identify frost damage and consider crop management decisions. The guide will assist growers to make a timely, correct assessment of their crop so they can consider a range of management strategies to optimise their business margins.
Department notifies growers of Doppler radar outages
Grainbelt growers are advised that the Bureau of Meteorology has announced planned outages for its three DPIRD Doppler radars, with upgrade work to begin this month.
DPIRD’s 2018 winter/spring insecticide guide is now available
Up to date seasonal insecticide spray guides are provided by DPIRD every year to help growers and consultants manage insect pests in canola, lupin and cereal crops. The 2018 winter/spring insecticide guide is now available and can be downloaded for free at the department’s website.
Look out for rusts and other foliar diseases in your crops
Weather conditions in many areas this year have been conducive to disease. Diseases can cause significant yield or quality losses. Monitoring crops is crucial in spring. It is recommended to walk through crops every week or fortnight as early disease detection makes control easier.
New technologies for crop protection
Crop protection has become very challenging for growers as the need to monitor larger properties increases. Recent advancements in technology, and a reduction in costs associated with it, is leading to the development of online tools and mobile apps that can provide effective and efficient solutions to some of these challenges.
Mobile labs improve grain research integrity
Grains sampling and analysis can now be carried out in specialised laboratories in the field, improving the integrity of research.
Scientists receive research scholarships to enhance WA grains production
Three scientists dedicated to pursuing research into key issues that will generate wide-ranging benefits to the Western Australian grains industry, have been awarded post graduate scholarships.
PestFax partnership proves to be productive
Grains pest and disease monitoring and reporting in Western Australia has been boosted by a new collaboration involving the DPIRD’s PestFax service. The department has joined with leading global online farm information management provider Agworld and Elders agronomists to enhance weed, pest and disease field intelligence.
Field tour delves into soils research
DPIRD hosted a delegation of Australia’s leading soils researchers on a soils field tour to Meckering recently. Researchers visited a range of research sites demonstrating soil amelioration treatments aimed at managing common soil constraints including water repellence, subsoil acidity, compaction and nutrition.