GRDC Podcast

How similar is herbicide resistance in Canada compared to Australia? Research Fellow and weed scientist at the University of Western Australia, William Kramer, shares his global perspective on this challenging issue for growers and his journey in genomics research to better understand what genes are involved in resistance.

William is part of the GRDC Weed Management Initiative research team, run in partnership with The University of Western Australia, The University of Adelaide, Charles Sturt University and The University of Queensland.

Contact:

William Kramer
University of Western Australia
william.kramer@uwa.edu.au

More information:

https://www.ahri.uwa.edu.au/us-phd-graduate-to-join-ahri-to-deliver-herbicide-technology-program/

Investment code:

SPP2502-001SAX
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growers and agronomists in the southern cropping region discuss how they are maximising their dual-purpose crops using the information found in the GRDC publication “20 Tips for dual-purpose crops”. This practical guide is the result of a GRDC investment led by CSIRO. Hear from growers Ben Lane, Max O’Connor and Brad Cavanagh as well as Delta Agribusiness agronomists, Tim Condon and Ben Lenehan.

Contacts:

Tim Condon

Delta Agribusiness

tcondon@deltaag.com.au



Ben Lenehan

Delta Agribusiness

blenehan@deltaag.com.au



More information:

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/publications/2025/20-tips-for-dual-purpose-crops

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/farm-business/business-management/dual-purpose-canola-adds-$1.6-billion-to-farmers-returns

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grower-stories/national/dual-purpose-crops-drive-mixed-farm-resilience

https://www.deltaag.com.au/

Project/Investment Code:

CSP2106-009RTX
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you know if it’s worth spraying fungicide on canola to keep diseases like Sclerotinia at bay? Maurie Street, from Grain Orana Alliance in Dubbo and Rohan Brill from Brill Ag in the Riverina, have been conducting field trials on the yield response to different spraying scenarios when dealing with Sclerotinia and discuss the logic behind making decisions at the beginning and even in the middle of a growing season.

Contacts:

Maurie Street

Grain Orana Alliance

maurie.street@grainorana.com.au



Rohan Brill

Brill Ag

rohan@brillag.com.au



More Information:

SclerotiniaCM app: https://www.dpird.wa.gov.au/online-tools/sclerotinia-cm--sclerotinia-management-app/

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/weeds-pests-diseases/diseases/do-canola-fungicide-applications-always-pay

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/announcements/fungicide-use-may-be-placing-canola-production-at-risk

https://grdc.com.au/news-and-media/audio/podcast/2021/fungicide-resistance-in-canola-crops-with-dr-steve-marcroft

https://afren.com.au/fungicides-available-for-australian-grain-crops-and-their-modes-of-action/

https://afren.com.au/research-fast-tracked-to-arrest-rising-blackleg-resistance/

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/weeds-pests-diseases/weeds/grdc-builds-a-team-australia-to-bolster-weed-research
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With seasons and environmental challenges often stacked against them, the Schaefer family’s determination to succeed in a sustainable manner has seen them adopt technologies, including precision agriculture practices. Robin’s long family association with farming in the northern Mallee region of South Australia has meant pivoting the business several times to keep pace with technology. His experience in transitioning from a precision agriculture model to an automated one is aligned with the principles of the Grain Automate initiative. This GRDC Grain Automate podcast series is led by the Society of Precision Agriculture Australia or SPAA, as part of the GRDC Grain Automate Initiative.

Contact:

Robin Shaefer

Grower around Loxton, northern Mallee district

robin.schaefer@bullaburra.net.au

More Information:

https://grdc.com.au/news-and-media/audio/podcast/2026/grain-automate-from-data-to-decisions

https://grainautomate.grdc.com.au

https://grdc.com.au/research/partnerships-and-initiatives/major-initiatives/grain-automate

https://grdc.com.au/news-and-media/audio/podcast/2026/grain-automate-getting-started-with-autonomy

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/innovation/precision-agriculture-and-machinery/are-you-ready-for-autonomy

https://grainautomate.grdc.com.au/resources/case-studies/simple-approach-key-to-variable-rate-success-on-branson-farms

https://grainautomate.grdc.com.au/resources/articles/grain-automate-project-round-up

https://www.netimes.com.au/2025/07/23/the-latest-in-ag-tech/

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/innovation/precision-agriculture-and-machinery/momentum-builds-for-on-farm-task-automation

https://grdc.com.au/events/past-events/2026/04/grain-automate-national-webinar-getting-automation-farm-ready

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/announcements/grdc-invests-$35m-to-drive-machine-automation-and-intelligent-technology-for-grain-growers

https://grdc.com.au/events/past-events/2024/08/paving-the-way-for-on-farm-autonomy?



Project Code:

SPA2404-002RTX
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Rick Llewellyn is the recipient of the 2026 Grain Research and Development Corporation, Seed of Light South Award for his contribution to the grains industry. As a Senior Principal Research Scientist with CSIRO based out of South Australia's Waite campus, Rick has made it his mission to move the industry forward over a stellar career in the research field.   GRDC Seed of Light Award recognises outstanding individuals who have significantly contributed to communicating research outcomes to grain growers and others working across the grains industry.

Contact:

Dr Rick Llewellyn 

CSIRO 

rick.llewellyn@csiro.au

 

More Information:    

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/awardsscholarships/csiro-scientist-receives-grains-industry-awards
                                                                                                                        https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/awardsscholarships/celebrating-seed-of-light-csiro-recipients

https://grdc.com.au/about/rd-and-e-capacity-and-ability/awards              
grdc-seed-of-light-award.pdf   
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices