Weedsmart Podcast

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text!In this episode of Regional Update, we hear from Erin Dalton, Baker Ag Advantage, an experienced agronomist working closely with growers in her region to tackle the season’s biggest challenges. Erin shares valuable on-the-ground insights into how local conditions are shaping cropping decisions, the strategies farmers are using to manage weeds, and the role weed management practices are playing in building resilience.Erin brings a full Big 6 approach to the Forbes region pushing the boundaries around knowing what works and continuing to look to the future edge on weed management.  A program of herbicide resistance testing has revealed differences in levels across the region, highlighting differences in management and machinery.  Farming systems and weed control need to evolve, with Erin speaking to tailoring solutions to regional conditions demonstrated with trials – mixing herbicides, adopting other pulses plus testing newer varieties of wheat a

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text!Tom Wolfe pulls back the curtain on the forces driving (and sometimes derailing) new spray technology – and how farmers can cut through the noise to find what will work for them!In this episode of Beyond Resistance, spray technology expert Tom Wolfe tackles one of agriculture’s most complex balancing acts – aligning stewardship, technology, and on-farm practicality. As optical spot spraying, precision application, and automation surge ahead, farmers are caught in the crossfire of competing priorities: herbicide manufacturers pushing product strategies, machinery manufacturers driving rapid equipment innovation, with industry’s shared responsibility for sustainable chemical use. Tom unpacks where these interests converge – and where they collide – revealing the practical realities farmers face when trying to integrate new tools without sacrificing agronomic outcomes or profitability. We explore how stewardship principles can work hand-in-hand wit

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text!Austin Rayner, farm manager with EF Smart Pty Ltd, brings an update from Midwest WA with insights into the weed strategy after a period of soil amelioration investment combined with new chemistry, leading to a low weed seed bank plus leaving plenty of other tools in the toolbox for future management.   While building to this situation using a diverse weed management program based around the Big 6, the Smart's enterprise continues to keep an eye on emerging challenges, ready to overcome through incorporation of all of the weed management tools where you can.You can hear from Austin at the 2025 WeedSmart Week held at the end of July (29th and 30th) in the midwest region of WA at Geraldton!Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website. Don't forget to follow us on our socials: Twitter/X Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Keen for a monthly update? Subscribe here! Got a qu

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text!Our June Regional Update gives us an insight into the Northern cropping region during this year, as crops are being harvested and sown simultaneously with the season presenting a few challenges.  Hear from UQ graduate, Max Schmelzer as he talks about herbicide resistance and tools in the box working to address the weed seed bank across their family farm.A focus on the insights from new technology used helps to address the weed strategy for the future germinations across their dual season enterprise.  Taking note of the data created from weed control applications helps inform potential sources of new outbreaks, adding value to the weed management strategy.  Take a listen!Links and Further Information: WeedSmart Big 6 Case Study: Jamie and Susie Grant, Jimbour Qld  Weed management with a focus on prevention through stubble retention, soil health and rotation of chemicals using sensor spraying and automation.  Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text!In this episode, we hear from our WeedSmart Extension Agronomists, Jana Freebairn and Greg Condon, updating from their respective Southern and lower Northern growing regions.With many farms commencing a dry seeding program to efficiently get across the hectares in what will be a less than ideal start to the winter growing season, the podcast focuses on tactics for short-term management with a long-term weed strategy.   Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website. Don't forget to follow us on our socials: Twitter/X Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn Keen for a monthly update? Subscribe here! Got a question or topic you are interested to hear about? Send us an email See our other Regional Updates and Beyond Resistance podcasts for great stories from across the Australian growing regions. #drivesafe #farmsafe

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text!As our farming environment changes with our management, so to do the plant populations growing across our landscape.  Gazania, a long-term weed within Australia is taking advantage of harsher summers competing well where water is a scarce resource.  Ali Bajwa, weed researcher and Senior Lecturer in Weed Science and Agronomy with @LaTrobe university is aiming to nip gazania in the bud with @GRDC research project (GRDC Code: ULA2402-002RTX).  WeedSmart Extension Agronomist, Chris Davey, introduces the foundation for this GRDC NGN project, putting grower funds to work on preventing gazania from as a hard-to-control weed becoming established in paddock situations.Ali Bajwa describes progress and applicable trial work for managing gazania within broadacre situations, citing prevention is better than the cure.  Coordinated approaches between public and private land managers need to be vigilant from letting this 'pretty and hardy garden escapee&ap

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text!The regional update from the southern growing region with WeedSmart Extension Agronomist Chris Davey, providing you with a dry seeding update for 2025, soil moisture observations and challenges for crop health.  With negative moisture levels in the soil and limited rainfall over the last 12 months, looking over the spray records will be the key to success to plot the best course of action for the 2025 rotation.  Knowing the plantback period from last year's herbicide application dates and estimated rainfall requirement to ensure this season's crop health will be a key driver for a successful crop.  Residual chemicals for particular rotations may present a risk needing to be managed from the outset, especially with limited seed available to provide a better fit to suit the situation.  Knowing your soil, looking at your records and concentrating on 'how you sow' this year are potential strategies to set up your crop health for

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text!Welcome to 2025!The first Regional Update of 2025 takes us to Lock Valley Farms in South Australia, with Henry Coleman, a mixed operations grower and Youtuber.Documenting his life on the farm alongside his family, he filled us in on the season just been - though dry, he's remaining optimistic this coming year is going to be a ripper, and has been tackling the ryegrass, brome and legacy weed issues through optimising his rotations.You can check out Henrys Youtube channel here, Lock Valley Farms.Latest News and Related LinksLatest Article: Reinventing the pre-seeding double-knock tacticThe double-knockdown tactic is a key component of the WeedSmart Big 6 strategy, which aims to keep weed numbers low, preserve herbicide efficacy and give competitive crops a head start.Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text!In this episode of the WeedSmart Podcast, we talk about how weed seeds can adapt their dormancy, discussing the selection pressures, interactions with herbicides and the recommended actions from growers to get ahead.We also caught up with Pete for a quick recap of the season in the West, after an explosion of weeds thanks to an especially wet winter.If you're interested in finding out more about today's episode, you can catch Dr Gurjeet Gill via our WeedSmart Learning Hub, and watch or read our related content below.News and LinksWebinar: Beating barley grass despite resistance and dormancy challengesWith Dr Catherine Borger, and Ben Whisson. Join us to hear about the new challenges, and some research and observations about how we will manage barley grass into the future.Does delayed sowing help manage weed populations? With Dr Gurjeet GillThe answer to this question is a very simple ‘no’. Waiting for weed seeds with longer dormancy to

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text!Join WeedSmart Southern Extension Agronomists Jana Freebairn and Chris Davey in discussing the rising resistance to imi’s (imidazolinone) in broadleaf weeds, in 2024 and beyond.Imi resistance is a growing issue within our cropping systems and is becoming ever more important when considering crop rotation, herbicide selection and yearly environmental pressures.Jana and Chris share their experiences with imi resistance so far this year in the Southern Region of SA and the Eyre Peninsula, speaking to what they have seen within lentil crops and how the WeedSmart Big 6 can assist.Delivered by our WeedSmart Extension Agronomists, Header Run videos are created for the on-the-move grower and are suitable for a watch or listen. The video can be found on our website.Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.

Send us a textIan Pursehouse is our guest for this episode of the Regional Update.Located in NSW, in West Wyalong, Ian and his family transitioned from a mixed operation to 100% dryland cropping in the late 2010's, and have been learning from every experience since.Ian has a systems-focused approach, with an emphasis on optimising rotations to not only control weeds - one of the WeedSmart Big 6 principles - but minimise costs across the board. After a less-than-ideal season with low rainfall and frost, his philosophy of "controlling what you can" and strategic investment have ensured they are prepared for whatever comes next.Links and Further Information:GrainGrowers Paddock Perspective with Ian Pursehouse (referenced in Podcast)The WeedSmart Big 6: Rotate Crops and Pastures                                                                     Weeds love predictable rotations. They find it easy to evolve resistance to herbicides when they are used in a predictable manner. If we mix it up a bit, t

This Regional Update Podcast episode, we're joined by grower Stuart Vlahov from Western Australia.Stu is a grower in Ellendale, WA, around 35kms south-east of Geraldton near Walkaway, who has recently been using two drones to spray crops within his mixed farming operation spanning 3500ha. With bogged crops and wild radish flourishing, Stu is employing the two DJI drones for weed control and fertiliser application. Talking with us about the drone's short down time, price, set-up and future applications, Stu is keen to see the space change and evolve.NEWS and LINKSAsk an Expert Article: Can drones provide early warning of herbicide resistance?Tristan Steventon, StevTech drone and data specialist says ultra-high-resolution cameras on drones provide a practical way to rapidly and remotely collect weed data for spray jobs and to monitor changes over time.Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.

In this episode of the WeedSmart Podcast, we heard from Josh Hollitt, an Independant Agronomist located in the Eyre Peninsula, who is presenting at the upcoming WeedSmart Week in Port Lincoln. Speaking on summer weed control strategies, Josh has over a decade of experience to share and is looking forward to hearing from other growers and agronomists in the region.We also heard from co-host Pete Newman about his panel, focusing on HWSC and challenges growers have faced. If you're attending WeedSmart Week, take a listen to his tips and tricks to get the most out of the event!If you're looking to secure tickets to WeedSmart Week, please find them here! We will also be recording the speaker presentations, so if you can't make it, make sure you stay tuned into our Twitter, @WeedSmartAU, or sign up for our Newsletter here to get our content in one place!Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.

This week on the Regional Update, we are joined by former agronomist and grower Vicky French.With nearly 10 years of experience working for Elders as an agronomist, and now a grower with her husband in Derrinallum,  Victoria, Vicky French has a wealth of knowledge to share - and will be doing so at WeedSmart Week this July!Vicky will be speaking about glyphosate resistance and the strategies they have implemented to control ryegrass and wild radish, and gave us a small look into that talk on this episode.If you're interested in hearing grower experiences like Vicky's, come along to WeedSmart Week, July 29-30, at Port Lincoln, SA. Early bird tickets are available until June 28! Grab yours here.Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.

Joining us on this extra-long episode of the WeedSmart Podcast was Mike Bell, who shared his extensive experience of soil nutrition and more recent work into P&K deep placement in the northern regions. We also talked with Kurt Mayne, a grower from Rolleston, QLD, who has been implementing a deep placement regime into his operations, and heard about his recent experience with milk thistle.NEWS and LINKSCrop Competition: Improving soil health gives the crop the best chance at competing against weeds. Learn all about crop competition with our free online course via our Learning Hub, Crop Competition 101.WeedSmart Week:Get tickets to the annual WeedSmart Week event! Held in Port Lincoln on July 29-30, the latest knowledge and advice around the WeedSmart Big 6 will be shared, with a focus on experiences from the Eyre Peninsula and southern region.GRDC Deep placement update paper:Take a read of Mikes’ paper on deep P&K placement, or the fact sheet available here.Kurt Mayne's WeedSmart Feature:Kurt and

This week on the Regional Update, we are joined by agronomist Angus Dalgliesh.Angus is an agronomist with Nutrien Ag Solutions who has recently moved from Dalby to Cloncurry in north-west Queensland, taking on the challenge and opportunity in the burgeoning cropping region. Though weeds aren't a problem at this early stage, growers are finding an overabundance of rats impacting their systems, to which Angus is keen to find a solution for.Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.

In this episode, we talk to Bevan Addison of Adama about pre-emergent herbicide options in canola, and getting the best out of products.We also spoke to Senior Research Officer Mechelle Owen, who works within the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI) to monitor herbicide resistance and development.NEWS and LINKSWebinar: Achieve effective pre-em weed control while protecting the crop at seedingJoin WeedSmart Extension Agronomist Greg Condon, FMC's tech specialist Mark Yerbury, and ICAN's herbicide technology expert Mark Congreve in a discussion about getting the best out of your pre-emergent.WeedSmart Week:Get tickets to the annual WeedSmart Week event! Held in Port Lincoln on July 29-30, the latest knowledge and advice around the WeedSmart Big 6 will be shared, with a focus on experiences from the Eyre Peninsula and southern region.Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.

This week on the Regional Update, our new podcast host (and WeedSmart Communications Lead) Siobhon Eacott talked to Farm Manager Cameron Jenkin.Cameron manages the wheat and chemical fallow operations of Mark and John Flannagan near Pindar, 125km east of Geraldton in WA in the low rainfall zone.The Flanagan's have recently employed the services of an autonomous sprayer, named Alfie, who roams the 44,500ha property for primarily spot spraying.Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.

In this episode, we look at management strategies for glyphosate resistant weeds.We're joined by University of Adelaide researcher Chris Preston, who recently presented on the topic at the GRDC Crop Updates in Dubbo.We're also joined by Delta Ag agronomist David Strahorn who speaks about the current state of glyphosate resistance in his patch.NEWS and LINKSWebinar:Spot Spray technology – opportunities & challenges incorporating the latest camera/optical spray equipment: Extension agronomists Greg Condon and Peter Newman spoke to representatives from Millers/McIntosh, John Deere, Goldacres and Croplands to understand the latest spot spray technology.Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.

This week on the Regional Update, we are joined by grower and agronomist James Kearines.James is an agronomist with Elders near Lake Cargelligo in central NSW, where he specialises in broadacre dryland agronomy, mainly dealing with the major crops of wheat, barley, canola, oats and pulses.His family also manages a number of farms in the area and along with cropping, they also have a few Black Angus cattle.After a below average year in 2023, James is excited for what 2024 might bring after receiving between 200 and 260 millimetres of summer rain.Learn more about WeedSmart by visiting our website. Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter too.