DPIRD Grains Industry Day 2021
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Grains Industry Day was an interactive forum to hear from DPIRD’s leading researchers and discuss challenges from the 2021 season.
Held at Optus Stadium on December 7, the day comprised of five agronomic sessions to reflect on the 2021 growing season. In the videos below you’ll hear from leading DPIRD researchers, providing their latest research outcomes.
2021 Seasonal Review |DPIRD Senior Research Scientists, Ian Foster and Dion Nicol | 28 mins
- Growing season rainfall in 2021 was above average for most of the agricultural area, especially the south.
- Rainfall pattern is consistent with a high-production year.
- Late season temperatures have been cool to mild, with reduced heat impact on crops.
- Frosts have occurred, more to the north-east than usual.
- IOD-negative event has almost finished.
- A La Nina event is underway in the Pacific Ocean.
- Summer rain outlooks for WA are mostly neutral, in contrast to eastern Australia.
Pests, Weeds and Diseases – lessons learnt from a wet year PART 1 | DPIRD Senior Research Scientists, Dusty Severtson and Catherine Borger | 29 mins
- Entomology Lessons from a wet year (in-season and out)
- Native budworm / Native budworm on wheat
- Locusts
- Fall armyworm
- Weed control in a wet year
- Soilborne pathogens in 2021 and next year
- Above ground diseases in a wet year
Pests, Weeds and Diseases – lessons learnt from a wet year PART 2 | DPIRD Senior Research Scientists Daniel Huberli and Geoff Thomas | 27 mins
- Entomology Lessons from a wet year (in-season and out)
- Native budworm / Native budworm on wheat
- Locusts
- Fall armyworm
- Weed control in a wet year
- Soilborne pathogens in 2021 and next year
- Above ground diseases in a wet year
DPIRD Wheat Agronomy |DPIRD Senior Research Scientists, Dion Nicol, Jeremy Curry and Brenda Shackley | 37 mins
Key topics:
- New release summary: Faster release of varieties, with risks of limited/incorrect information
- Capturing the best sowing opportunities for wheat
- The fit of winter wheats in WA
Variety trait improvement through biotech |DPIRD Research Scientist Yong Han | 13 mins
Summary:
- Gene editing for crop improvement is robust, with a positive response among the research community, breeding industries and funding agencies.
- Efficient editing platforms have been established for WA’s major crops at DPIRD.
- Advanced crop lines with improved traits have been developed and will be transformed to superior varieties with greater profitability.
Canola Pathology for 2022 |DPIRD Senior Research Scientist, Geoff Thomas | 15 mins
Potential issues 2022
- Increased area of canola in 2021 and predicted high 2022 canola area
- Proximity to 2021 stubble – blackleg spores mainly from first year stubble
- Retained seed – need seed dressing
- High input costs &/or supply issues – pressure on making disease control decisions
- Sclerotia in soil from canola & pulse crops
Canola – Agronomy update and disease implications from a greater sowing area | DPIRD Research Scientist Jackie Bucat and Jeremy Curry | 26 mins
- Early sowing research
- Pushing yields with nutrition
Click here to download Jeremy Curry’s presentation
Heavy soil: alkaline, sodic and dense, a challenge for yield improvement | DPIRD Research Scientist, Wayne Parker | 22 mins
- Ripping not providing yield increase.
- Surface applied gypsum helps soil properties.
- Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP) greater than 10%good measure of responsiveness.
- Mounding without covers ineffective.
- Surface mulching promising.
Opportunities to Improve Barley Yield – theory and practice |DPIRD Senior Research Scientists, Blakely Paynter and Hammad Khan | 42 mins
- Sowing Date: mid-April to mid-May is the target sowing window, with an appropriate maturity variety to manage risk.
- Plant density: low to medium rainfall – 130-170 plants/m2; medium to high rainfall – 180-220 plants/m2.
- Grain protein: greater than 11.5% grain protein crops are closer to max N yield.
- N decisions: bigger N response in crops sown before mid-May.
- Regulation: Moddus Evo® may be needed to protect grain yield.
- Variety: check out the DPIRD 2022 Crop Sowing Guide Soil Bucket: remove constraint by amendment and amelioration.
- Competition: minimise the weed burden before planting barley.
Nutrient management after soil amelioration | DPIRD Senior Research Scientist, Craig Scanlan | 25 mins
- Deep ripping a compacted soil changes the yield and economic response to applied N.
- Tillage x nutrient interactions depend on the level of soil constraint. Interactions occur when ameliorating severely constrained soils.
- Potassium is the most likely nutrient limiting yield post soil amelioration.
- Economic case for ‘capital’ applications if K post amelioration.
- Possibly greater yield gains from K than observed in DPIRD field trials: Split applications as done for N.
- Lupins in the rotation can improve K supply on deep sands.