Grains Convo
by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Latest episode
Finish the season strong with smarter weed management
Finish the season strong with smarter weed management
About this podcast
The Grains Convo podcast shares independent insights from DPIRD’s research - and a look at the work shaping the future of farming in WA - to help you think through your options and plan ahead with confidence.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 95 episodes
- Finish the season strong with smarter weed management · 25 min · Season 5 Episode 4Managing weeds at harvest and over summer can help reduce weed pressure and protect crop productivity in future seasons. In this episode of Grains Convo, DPIRD research…
- Don't guess, test: What's affecting your crops? · 25 min · Season 5 Episode 3As harvest gets underway across Western Australia, now is the time to assess crop disease risks and prepare for 2027. In this episode of Grains Convo, DPIRD Senior Research…
- Aphids and viruses in canola: lessons from 2026 · 26 min · Season 5 Episode 2In this episode of Grains Convo, DPIRD senior research scientist Dr Benjamin Congdon shares findings from the 2026 aphid and virus surveillance program, including regional…
- Late season pests: what to watch through harvest · 25 min · Season 5 Episode 1Harvest is underway in parts of the WA grainbelt, but there’s still plenty happening on the insect front. DPIRD research scientists Dusty Severtson and Svetlana Micic join Cindy…
- Harvest underway: insights from across the grainbelt · 23 min · Season 4 Episode 4Harvest is already underway in parts of WA, but the 2026 grain season remains a mixed bag across the grainbelt. In the latest Grains Convo, Tim Scanlon speaks with Development…
- After the frost, what happens next? · 22 min · Season 4 Episode 3A freezing night does not automatically mean a damaged crop. The real challenge is knowing where to look, what signs to trust and when the impact is serious enough to change…
- Seeing the unseen: Smarter virus detection for grain crops · 19 min · Season 4 Episode 2Crop viruses can be difficult to identify, with symptoms often mistaken for waterlogging, nutrient deficiency, frost or other diseases. DPIRD research scientist Tim Scanlon…
- Weathering the finish: WA’s seasonal outlook · 17 min · Season 4 Episode 1WA’s grain growing regions are experiencing a season of stark contrasts, with strong rainfall totals in some areas and increasingly dry conditions in others. DPIRD's Dr Meredith…
- Digging into soilborne disease · 24 min · Season 3 Episode 6Soilborne diseases can be difficult to spot, but their impact on crop performance and yield can be significant. In this episode of Grains Convo, DPIRD researchers Daniel Huberli…
- Understanding nematodes in WA grain crops · 20 min · Season 3 Episode 5Not all poor performing crops are suffering from nutrient deficiencies or disease. In this episode of Grains Convo, Senior Research Scientist Sarah Collins explains how plant…
- Early season weeds and new paraquat regulations · 22 min · Season 3 Episode 4In this episode, DPIRD Principal Research Scientist Dr Harmohinder Dhammu discusses the new paraquat and diquat regulations, what the two year transition period means for growers…
- Early cereal disease: Making the right call · 22 min · Season 3 Episode 3Young cereal crops are beginning to emerge, bringing the first signs of disease in some paddocks. In this episode, DPIRD Principal Research Scientist Geoff Thomas and Research…
- Spotting diseases before they cost you yield · 20 min · Season 3 Episode 2In this episode, DPIRD Senior Research Scientist Andrea Hills discusses the key diseases affecting broadleaf crops early in the season, including blackleg, downy mildew…
- What's causing crop damage this season? · 34 min · Season 3 Episode 1Crops are emerging and can be vulnerable to damage from insects or infection from viruses such as turnip yellows virus which is vectored by the green peach aphid. In this…
- Unlocking the full potential of WA soils · 25 min · Season 2 Episode 9New research is showing what's possible when multiple soil issues are addressed together. In this episode, DPIRD principal research scientist Dr Gaus Azam discusses findings from…
- The economics behind nitrogen and rotation decisions · 17 min · Season 2 Episode 8DPIRD economists have analysed how different nitrogen strategies perform under urea prices ranging from $600 to $1,500 per tonne. In this episode, agricultural economist Sud…
- What’s shaping WA’s season ahead · 14 min · Season 2 Episode 7DPIRD research scientists Meredith Guthrie and Steve Bradshaw discuss the 2026 seasonal outlook for WA and how growers can use climate and weather information, and DPIRD tools…
- Balancing yield and profit this season · 23 min · Season 2 Episode 6This episode explores how growers can adjust inputs to maximise economic yield potential, not just crop yield. DPIRD economist Nick Thorsager explains the importance of focusing…
- Getting ahead with lupins · 21 min · Season 2 Episode 5In this episode of Grains Convo, Tim Scanlon speaks with Greg Shea about getting the most from lupins this season. They cover practical agronomy, soil testing and nutrient…
- Getting more from legumes in your rotation · 25 min · Season 2 Episode 4In this episode of Grains Convo, Tim Scanlon speaks with Mark Seymour about how to get the most from pulse crops this season. They cover key decisions around soil type…
