WeedSmart Podcast
235 episodes - English - Latest episode: 24 days ago -Welcome to the WeedSmart Podcast! Each fortnight we'll whip around the cropping regions, focusing on weed control and issues that have cropped up. Your hosts, Siobhon Eacott and Peter Newman, will deliver you snappy, informative updates on what matters in weed control, from the comfort of your tractor, ute, or wherever you may be on the road or farm.
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Episodes
Harvest seed destroying mill technology, with Ben White
March 21, 2018 07:41 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MBHarvest seed destroying mill technology has been the talk of the town among harvest weed seed control enthusiasts. For the podcast, we normally stick to seasonal issues, but in February, the Kondinin Group released a cracker Research Report, "Residue Management at Harvest". In this report, the Research Team (comprising of Ben White, Josh Giumelli and Mark Saunders), tested and reviewed a number of harvest weed seed control tools, including mill technology, which is the focus of this podcast.J...
Disc seeding systems
March 07, 2018 07:26 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MBNearly a year ago, Extension Officer Greg Condon co-hosted a podcast with Jessica Strauss on disc seeding and stripper front systems. It's a bit more of an obscure system, but it sure generated a lot of interest and is currently our most played episode, with more than 750 listens (you can check it out here: https://weedsmart.org.au/podcasts/disc-seeder-stripper-front-systems/). Given the interest, we thought we'd put together another podcast of similar ilk, but this time focusing on disc seed...
The importance of cleaning seed
February 21, 2018 08:08 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBFor many growers, planting seed is just around the corner, but to ensure quality seed is going in the ground, it's important to grade and clean it. In this podcast, we hear from seed cleaning contractor, David Bach who runs Toowoomba Grain and Storage. He explains the process of cleaning seed, why it's imperative and also provides some handy tips on grain storage. We also hear from Michael Meara who farms just south of Toowoomba in the Felton area. He shares a story about when he used a neigh...
Harvest Residue Topper (HRT) and Summer Weeds
February 07, 2018 08:07 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBWe're back for 2018! This is our first podcast of the year and we are excited to get into another year of informative and fun podcasts to ensure you have more crop and fewer weeds! Join your co-hosts Jessica Strauss and Peter Newman to delve into Summer weed management and learn about a mechanical weed tool - the Harvest Residue Topper (HRT).HRT developer Phil Bradley candidly discusses what lead him to build the HRT and provides a great explainer on how it works. We also hear from Bolgart f...
Cropping and Resistance Forum Overview
December 19, 2017 06:52 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MBIn our last podcast for the year, we present an overview of the recent Cropping and Resistance 'Riders of the Storm' Forum which was supported by GRDC and hosted by AHRI and CCDM.There was a great turnout for the 3rd GRDC Crop Protection Forum which was held at Bunya Campus in December.For the past two decades, agronomic practices have dramatically improved the profitability of farming systems, however, there is a steady increase in weeds, disease and pests that threaten crop productivity.The...
Summer fallow management and herbicide resistance in California
December 04, 2017 07:43 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBThis time of year, Summer fallow management is on the radar to ensure weeds are kept at bay and don't rob soil moisture and nitrogen from next year's crops. Ag Grow Director and Agronomist, Barry Haskins goes over some tips for getting summer fallow management right. Podcast co-host Peter Newman also discusses the importance of considering spray drift and how to avoid it. Later on, we hear from Brad Hanson who is a researcher at UC Davis in California. Brad talks about the challenges with res...
HWSC to tackle sclerotinia and the Australian Ground Spray Calculator
November 22, 2017 05:21 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBResearch out of the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM)has indicated that the harvest weed seed control tool (HWSC), narrow windrow burning, also help manage the damaging fungal disease sclerotinia stem rot. Kyran Brooks did his Honours in this research, with supervisors Mike Ashworth (AHRI) and Sarita Bennet (CCDM). The trials found providing temperatures were high enough and reasonably consistent (at least 350°C maintained for 10 seconds), sclerotinia was killed. An important find...
HWSC Workshop overview and update on sowthistle management
November 08, 2017 06:29 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MBWith the help of GRDC, Planfarm recently held Harvest Weed Seed Control (#HWSC) workshops in Western Australia. All the current approaches to HWSC were discussed in detail. In this podcast, Jessica Strauss is joined by two co-hosts, Peter Newman (AHRI, WeedSmart, Planfarm) and Nick McKenna (Planfarm) where they provide an overview of the learnings from the workshops. We hear from Goomalling farmer John Even who attended one of the workshops. He talks about his approach to weed control, includ...
Autonomous farm machinery and spray drift tips
October 25, 2017 03:31 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MBIt's that time of year already where farmers are getting out their spray rigs and dealing with in-crop weeds. While it is a busy time of year, it's essential to ensure you're across good spraying technique to ensure spray drift does not occur. Spray drift expert Mary O’Brien explains wind inversions and provides tips for avoiding spray drift. You can follow Mary on Twitter at @spraydriftgirlAutonomous farm machinery is the topic of the moment. The possibilities to do seem endless, but how far...
Harvest tips, crop topping + trifluralin resistance
October 12, 2017 06:14 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBDevelopment Officer at Merredin Research Station Glen Riethmuller gives some useful insights into harvesting low, crop lifters and also discusses crop topping. We also hear from Meckering farmer Darren Morrell. He recently received resistance test results which showed one of the farms he is leasing has 80% trifluralin resistance. Darren talks about what tactics he'll be using to get on top of the weed problem he is now facing. Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget y...
Virtual fencing + Grain & Graze update
September 27, 2017 05:50 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBJessica Strauss is joined by co-host Greg Condon who is one of the AHRI extension officers and also runs Grassroots Agronomy with wife Kirrily. Greg and Jessica discuss some of the upcoming technology in the ag space. In light of the technology theme, we hear from CSIRO farming systems scientist Rick Llewellyn about virtual fencing and its applications. The CSIRO and Agersens have been working on virtual fencing for a decade with assistance from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resourc...
WeedSmart Week Part 2
September 12, 2017 07:32 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBIn Part 2 of our WeedSmart Week coverage, hear from Day 2 of the Farm Visits, featuring Stephen Hatty (@stephen_hatty); Ben Cruikshank (@ganmain) and Dan Fox (@dfox05). We also hear from attendees on the day including Di Holding. A variety of farming systems are explained, with tactics like the use of stripper fronts; chaff lining; chaff decks; disc + tyne seeding discussed. Music: bensound.com Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.
WeedSmart Week in Wagga Wagga - Part 1
August 31, 2017 07:28 - 37 minutes - 26 MBWeedSmart Week in Wagga Wagga was a cracker of an event. We're so thankful to all the contributors, including the stakeholders, the AHRI and WeedSmart teams, the presenters and farmers, and also those who attended. We had a Forum Day on Day 1, followed by farm visits on Day 2 & 3. In this podcast, Jessica Strauss and Peter Newman reflect on the event itself and we also hear from farmers and attendees on the first farm visit day. Warwick and Di Holding, as well as Mark and David Taylor's farm ...
WeedSmart Week Preview
August 16, 2017 07:18 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MBToday is the last day to register for WeedSmart Week in Wagga Wagga, which kicks off next Monday, August 21! In this podcast, Jessica Strauss and Peter Newman give a preview of some of the presentations and farm visits which will be occurring over the three-day event. Grassroots Agronomy and AHRI team member Greg Condon chats about his presentation, which will look at crop competition and disc and stripper front systems. Marrar farmer, Daniel Fox, talks about how he's implemented narrow rows,...
Spraying Out A Failed Crop
August 02, 2017 05:44 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBIt's been a tough season in many parts of the country for farmers. In particular, the northern wheatbelt in Western Australia hasn't received decent rain, leading to some farmers considering whether it's worth keeping the crop or if they should spray it out. In this podcast, hosted by Jessica Strauss and Peter Newman, you'll hear from Planfarm agronomist Richard Quinlan. He gives an overview of the season so far and provides timely information on spraying out failed crops. You'll also hear fr...
SwarmFarm robotics and resistance testing
July 19, 2017 07:58 - 36 minutes - 25 MBWhat will the future of agriculture look like? One of the founders of SwarmFarm Robotics joins us on the podcast to discuss the robots they're releasing into the agricultural community and what applications they currently have and may have in the future. We also chat about the Quick Test for testing herbicide resistant weeds and check in with Peter Boutsalis from Plant Science Consulting about what he's finding out about resistance out on farms. WA farmer Ben Webb also gives a seasonal overvi...
Wagga WeedSmart Week; chaff lining + carts + cotton update
July 05, 2017 05:48 - 45 minutes - 30.9 MBIn this choc-a-block podcast, hosts Jessica Strauss and Peter Newman investigate chaff lining and chaff carts, get an overview of WeedSmart Week and a seasonal overview of cotton.Mick McClellend farms in the Mallee in Victoria and has been using chaff lining in his farming system for the last three years. He gives an overview of the successes he has had using it. Tom Lewis from Tecfarm manufactures chaff carts. He chats about the benefits of using one for weed control. Chaff carts can be used...
Dry Season Special
June 21, 2017 07:59 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBHosts Jessica Strauss and Peter Newman provide a national seasonal update in this podcast. With dry conditions affecting many parts of Australia, we check in with agronomists Richard May from the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, Andrew Somervaille from the Northern Region and Pete gives some insights into how to manage weeds which are moisture stressed and gives an overview of the season in WA.Music: bensound.com Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follo...
Mic Fels talks weed management and Richard Daniel gives a seasonal update
June 07, 2017 06:51 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MBIn this week's podcast, we hear from Esperance farmer Mic Fels who discusses the cost-effective weed management practices he is using on both his Esperance farm and Three Springs property. We also hear from Northern Grower Alliance CEO Richard Daniel. He talks about the issues with glyphosate resistance in the northern region and how to manage them, as well as gives a seasonal update of his patch.Music: bensound.com Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can foll...
Post-emergent spraying and Global Herbicide Resistance Challenge Conference udpate!
May 24, 2017 06:37 - 26 minutes - 18 MBPeter Newman is back from the Global Herbicide Resistance Challenge Conference with an overview and an interview with Aaron Hager from the University of Illinois. We also chat with Adama Market Development Manager Bevan Addison about applying post-emergent herbicides and some of the implications when there are patchy rain conditions.Music: bensound.com Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.
Disc seeder & stripper front systems
May 10, 2017 06:23 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBOne system which some might consider a bit more obscure is that of a disc seeder and stripper front combination. While it's not a new concept, it's not used as much in Australia, as it is in other parts of the world. That could potentially change though, with those who are using it finding they're having a win with weed management, soil moisture and reduced soil erosion. While Pete Newman is trying to keep his RV on the road in America on holiday, AHRI extension officer and Grassroots Agron...
Spray contracting and getting a double knock right
April 26, 2017 07:24 - 23 minutes - 16 MBSometimes outsourcing some of the big jobs on the farm can be of real benefit. Whether it's because you don't have your own spray rig, or you simply want to rake back some hours to do other things, using a contractor to spray weeds is worth considering. In this podcast Jessica Strauss chats with spray contractor Andrew Irving out on his property in Tammin in Western Australia. Co-host Peter Newman discusses the benefits of using a spray contractor and also gives some timely tips on double kno...
Herbicides and stubble – some wash off, some don’t
April 13, 2017 05:09 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MBIf Yaseen Khalil’s recent research is anything to go by, trifluralin would make a wonderful dye and is just about as hard to wash off stubble as it is clothes. Yaseen is completing his PhD at UWA under Ken Flower and has done some fantastic research to help understand which herbicides wash off wheat residue with rainfall and which are more tightly bound.Your hosts Peter Newman and Jessica Strauss chat with both Yaseen and Ken to find out more about this research. Yaseen compared Sakura, Trif...
Seed dormancy & herbicide application
March 29, 2017 07:16 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBSleep. It's something essential to human survival and most people would say they love a good nap! Turns out weed seeds tend to like to take a rest too, but they prefer the depths of the soil, rather than a comfy bed/couch/passenger car seat. Anyhoo, while the seeds are hibernating, much like bears(not really like bears), it can have real implications on your crop. AHRI researchers Danica Goggin and Mechelle Owen give us an insight into why seed dormancy can be an issue. Your hosts Peter Newma...
Grow A Crop Worth Frosting
March 15, 2017 08:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBCorrect early crop sowing strategies can be unravelled by a frost event later in the season. In this podcast, we get a preview into the topics which will be covered in our March 22 webinar.Early sowing is a proven strategy that can be used to minimise the weed burden and maximise crop yield – the question remains how to manage frost risk?ConsultAg Agronomist Garren Knell (who will be on the webinar too) and farmer Gary Lang discusses mitigating the risks of frost with your hosts Jessica Strau...
Spray Drift And Crop Competition
March 03, 2017 03:55 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MBJoin your hosts Jessica Strauss and Peter Newman in the first podcast for March! Spraying weeds and choosing seeds are the hot topics this podcast. We chat with Nufarm Australia Spray Application Specialist Bill Gordon, who gives some great tips and insights on correct set-up. Rohan Brill also joins us for insight on choosing canola seeds and the benefits of crop competition! Our webinar series is also kicking off for 2017 next week! If you'd like to register for the March 7 webinar with Roha...
Pre-emergent herbicides and ensuring summer weeds are kept at bay
February 15, 2017 07:27 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MBDr Chris Preston chats to us about correct pre-emergent herbicide use and Colin McMaster discusses how treating Summer weeds while they're small has benefits for your back pocket, by ensuring nitrogen and soil moisture is kept available for your crops! Music: bensounds.com Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.
Summer Weeds
February 01, 2017 04:39 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBIt's the first podcast of 2017 and we're excited to be chatting with Andrew Storrie from Agronomo and the Australian Glyphosate Sustainability Working Group about Summer Weeds. Peter Newman and Jessica Strauss catch up too and chat maximising soil moisture to get the best crop possible!Music: bensounds.com
How to control summer weeds
February 01, 2017 04:39 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBIt's the first podcast of 2017 and we're excited to be chatting with Andrew Storrie from Agronomo and the Australian Glyphosate Sustainability Working Group about Summer Weeds. Peter Newman and Jessica Strauss catch up too and chat maximising soil moisture to get the best crop possible!Music: bensounds.com Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.
Weed control in the Esperance region & Northern Region Update
December 20, 2016 03:27 - 55 minutes - 38 MBHarvest is done and dusted for the majority of growers across the nation. In this Christmas edition podcast which is our last for the year, we catch up with Nick McKenna from Planfarm, who caught up with growers in WA's Esperance region on their use of chaff lines and tram lines. We also hear from farmers in that region. Our Northern Region Extension Officer Paul McIntosh officers his insights into Grain Sorghum too. It's our last podcast for 2016, so come along for the ride! Learn more abo...
Learn how to prevent harvest losses
November 30, 2016 06:56 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MBIn this second podcast focusing on harvest Peter Newman and Jessica Strauss discuss harvest losses and chaff carts, talking to guests Kondinin Group's Ben White, and Agpro Management owner Ed Riggall. For more details on chaff carts, take a look at AHRI Insight #74 here. Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.
Harvest Part 2 - harvest losses & chaff carts
November 30, 2016 06:56 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MBIn this second podcast focusing on harvest Peter Newman and Jessica Strauss discuss harvest losses and chaff carts, talking to guests Kondinin Group's Ben White, and Agpro Management owner Ed Riggall. For more details on chaff carts, take a look at AHRI Insight #74 here http://ahri.uwa.edu.au/chaff-carts-good-for-the-crop-and-the-sheep/ You can find out more details on the Research Report from March 2014 which was discussed with Ben White here: www.farmingahead.com.au
Crushing weed seeds using the iHSD
November 15, 2016 06:00 - 45 minutes - 31 MBWith harvest kicking off across Australia, we check in with Warren Treasure who is using an iHSD. John Broster talks about the research he and Michael Walsh conducted on catching weed seeds and we hear from Ray Harrington on the history of the Harrington Seed Destructor and where it is today. Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.
Harvest Part 1
November 15, 2016 06:00 - 45 minutes - 31 MBWith harvest kicking off across Australia, we check in with Warren Treasure who is using the iHSD. John Broster talks about the research he and Michael Walsh conducted on catching weed seeds and we hear from Ray Harrington on the history of the Harrington Seed Destructor and where it is today.
Frost, floods and 2,4-D
October 26, 2016 05:50 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBOver the last few weeks the parts of Western Australia have been impacted by frost, while some growers in the East have had to deal with floods. In this first AHRI WeedSmart podcast, we look at what this means for growers, as well as checking in with some new research on 2,4-D. Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.