Grains Convo

In 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 and practical strategies for effective early season weed control. He also shares advice on weed identification, herbicide resistance management and choosing the right control options to protect crop yield potential.Episode links:Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)’s paraquat and diquat new regulations media statementCurrent herbicide resistance status of weeds in WA2026 WA crop sowing guideChemical weed control in canolaHerbicide resistance testing services:University of Western Australia (Crawley, WA)Plant Science Consulting (Adelaide, SA)Charles Sturt University (Wagga Wagga, NSW)

Young 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 Scientist Jason Bradley discuss the cereal diseases growers are most likely to encounter early in the season, how to distinguish disease from herbicide damage and other lookalike symptoms, and why careful monitoring and accurate diagnosis can help avoid unnecessary fungicide applications.Episode links:DPIRD’s Diagnostic Laboratory Services – Plant pathologyPestFacts WA Reporter appNetBlotchBM appSeptoriaTriticiWM appYellowSpotWM app

In this episode, DPIRD Senior Research Scientist Andrea Hills discusses the key diseases affecting broadleaf crops early in the season, including blackleg, downy mildew, ascochyta blight and botrytis. She explains why accurate disease identification and regular crop monitoring are critical, and shares practical advice to help growers make timely management decisions that protect yield.Episode Links:PredictaB (broadacre) diagnosticsDPIRD Diagnostics and Laboratory Services - Seed testing and certificationPestFacts WA Reporter appBlacklegCM appUCIBlacklegCM appSclerotiniaCM appEnjoyed this episode? Visit the Grains Convo podcast on the DPIRD website for related links, show notes and more episodes.

Crops 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 episode Research Scientists Benjamin Congdon, Dusty Severtson and Sveltana Micic discuss what insects (pests and beneficials) growers and consultants can expect to find at crop establishment. They also discuss the importance of regularly monitoring crops and correctly diagnosing the cause of plant damage and not assuming it’s caused by an invertebrate pest or virus. They also mention the importance of targeted and registered insecticide applications if insect pests are accurately identified and plants are not outgrowing damage.Episode Links:DPIRD’s PestFacts WA service Cesar Australia’s Redlegged earth mite hatch tool Cesar Australia’s Beneficials Chemical Toxicity Table GRDC’s Manage turnip yellows virus in canola factsheet DPIRD’s Insecticide spray guides Enjoyed this episode? Visit the Grains Convo podcast on the DPIRD website for related links, show notes and more episodes.