GRDC Podcast

Farm automation adoption isn’t just about technology - it depends on people. Dealers are essential in building trust, proving value in local conditions, and supporting farmers through training, service, and confidence-building. Andrew Speed has spent a lifetime in the grains industry and knows first hand not just the frustration of when technology doesn’t hit the mark, but the jubilation when it does. Now working in the precision ag team at RDO Equipment, he joins Conor McGuckian from eastern Australia’s Boekeman Machinery in a frank conversation around how growers can work with their machinery dealers to move towards an autonomous business. This GRDC podcast series is led by the Society of Precision Agriculture Australia as part of the GRDC Grain Automate Initiative.

Contacts:

Conor McGuckian

Boekeman Machinery

conor@boekemans.com.au



Andrew Speed

RDO Equipment

Andrew.Speed@rdo.com.au



More Information:

Grain Automate website

Major initiative: Grain AutomateGrain automate project round up

Momentum builds for on-farm task automation

GRDC invests $35M to drive machine automation and intelligent technology for grain growers

Grain Automate webinar: getting automation farm-ready

SPAA webinar: Paving the way for on-farm autonomy

The latest in ag tech comes to grain
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Weeds can be especially challenging in High Rainfall Zones, where favourable growing conditions can drive significant weed pressure. Agronomists Luke Wilkins and Candice Robinson share their insights about proactive weed management strategies for tough seasons, including crop competition, herbicide rotation, harvest weed seed control and emerging technologies. They also discuss changing rainfall patterns, paraquat restrictions, brome grass and the role of research in developing future weed control options.

Contacts:

Luke Wilkins

Bawdens Rural Trading

lukew@bawdensrural.com.au

Candice Robinson

Seftons

candice@seftonagronomics.com.au



Project/Investment Code:

SPP2502-001SAX
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The GRDC investment ‘improving surface and subsurface water management across the medium and high rainfall zones of Australia’ is investigating the benefits and challenges of different drainage options across different production regions, cropping systems and soil types. Grower Jeremy Whyte and agronomist Quenten Knight discuss how landforming uses natural and constructed gradients to assist excess water to flow off paddocks, thereby reducing ponding and waterlogging, and increasing yields. This podcast is part of a 6-part GRDC series on managing soil constraints in Western Australia.

Contact:

Jeremy Whyte

Warakirri Cropping

jeremy.whyte@warakirricropping.com.au



Quenten Knight

Agronomy Focus

Quenten@agronomyfocus.com.au

More Information:

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/announcements/drainage-that-delivers-new-tools-for-profitable-water-management



Project Code:

PAP2510-001RTX
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Dr Lisle Snyman always knew she wanted to work in plant science. Growing up in South Africa, Lisle honed her pathology skills from a young age, cumulating in an esteemed career that has seen her work across the
globe. Eventually settling in Warwick, Queensland, as a principal plant pathologist for the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Lisle has been awarded 2026 GRDC Seed of Light North Award for her contribution to the grains industry. GRDC’s 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. Projects of note include GRDC- related research initiatives including three Net Blotch Consortium projects, national net form net blotch pathotyping and National Variety Trials disease screening.

Contact:

Lisle Snyman

QLD DPI

lisle.snyman@dpi.qld.gov.au

More Information:

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/awardsscholarships/scientist-and-grain-storage-expert-net-grdcs-major-northern-awards

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/awardsscholarships/grains-research-and-industry-champions-acknowledged
https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/weeds-pests-diseases/diseases/new-rusts-a-continual-threat-to-cereals-industry
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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
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