GRDC Podcast

Angus Butterfield is a Senior Research Agronomist with Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) in north-west Victoria. Originally from Melbourne, Angus found his way into agriculture through a combination of curiosity, opportunity and a growing interest in agronomy. Since joining BCG as a graduate, he has built experience across a wide range of research and extension projects, working alongside growers, researchers and industry partners throughout the Mallee, Wimmera and beyond.

In this conversation, Angus reflects on his journey into agriculture, the
opportunities that come from working in a farming systems group, and the value of being closely connected to growers and the challenges they face. He shares insights into the diversity of projects underway at BCG, from weed management and herbicide resistance through to pulse production, crop establishment and farming systems research.

Angus also discusses the importance of innovation in agriculture, the role research plays in supporting grower decision-making, and why he remains optimistic about the future of the grains industry. From emerging technologies and new crop genetics to the next generation of agronomists, he highlights the opportunities that continue to shape Australian grain production.



This episode explores:

- How a Melbourne student found his way to Birchip and a career in agronomy

- Why working in a farming systems group accelerated Angus' learning and development

- The role BCG plays in connecting research with growers across north-west Victoria

- How growers in low-rainfall environments continue to innovate and adapt

- Current research into weed management, herbicide resistance and future control options

- The opportunities and challenges facing the next generation of agronomists

- What excites Angus most about the future of the Australian grains industry



Watch this episode as a video on YouTube

https://youtu.be/oUJRjJnzi_E

More information

Angus Butterfield, Birchip Cropping Group
https://www.bcg.org.au/our-team/angus-butterfield/

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/agronomy/soil-and-nutrition/trials-assess-the-benefits-of-vetch



GRDC in Conversation is a limited series GRDC Podcast. It features in-depth interviews with growers and other experts in the grains industry who share their expertise, knowledge and experiences by exploring their personal stories, history, influences and motivations. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of GRDC, the interviewees’ employer, institution or other associated parties.

GRDC Project Code:

HAG2507-001SAX
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92,000 hectares of canola has been planted into canola stubble this year. Blackleg pathologist from the University of Melbourne, Associate Professor Angela Van de Wouw, Western Australian agronomist Geoff Fosbery, and plant breeder Raymond Cowley explain why the risks of canola-on-canola far outweigh any short-term benefits.

The Disease Management Extension Network (DMEN) is a GRDC investment bringing together plant pathologists, extension specialists and behavioural scientists to improve disease management outcomes for Australian grain growers and advisers.



Contacts:

Angela Van de WouwThe University of Melbourne

apvdw2@unimelb.edu.au

Geoff Fosbery

Farm Focus Consultants

gf@consultag.com.au

Raymond Cowley

Pioneer Seeds

raymond.cowley@vylor.com

More Information:

GroundCover article Record canola on canola plantings put sector at risk: https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/announcements/record-canola-on-canola-plantings-put-sector-at-risk



Project/Investment Code:

ACO2601-005RTX
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Ben White and Chris Warrick from GRDC’s grain storage extension team discuss practical grain storage best practice, including fumigation timing, safe application of chemicals, ventilation and withholding periods, as well as the effective use of diatomaceous earth (DE) for storage hygiene. They share recent research and practical tips to help growers manage insects, reduce resistance risks and improve workplace safety.

Contacts:

Chris Warrick

Candid Consulting Services

chris@primarybusiness.com.au

Ben White

BM White

ben@bmwhite.com.au

More Information:

The fumigation process in grain storage video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvHTUD6OFnc

Dust masks and eye protection: Grain storage safety essentials video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJBwDfrDyjk

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) application in sheds and silos video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hwEmbmMoaQ

Fumigation timing for stored grain video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntHJMoDGeAA

Project/Investment Code:

PRB2412-001SAX
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James Manson’s pathway into agriculture has been anything but conventional. Growing up in Chiang Mai, Thailand, he spent his early years immersed in a cross-cultural environment before discovering agriculture through an internship with an agricultural development NGO working alongside hill tribe communities near the Myanmar border. What began as an adventure quickly became a passion, leading him to study agriculture and international development before building a career in applied crop research.

Today, James is a Crop Systems Researcher with CSIRO and the 2026 GRDC Emerging Leader for the Southern Region. His research has helped growers better understand faba bean yield formation and now focuses on developing critical period benchmarks for wheat and barley, helping bridge the gap between crop science and practical on-farm decision-making. Driven by a desire to understand how crops work and why they respond the way they do, James is passionate about turning complex agronomic theory into knowledge that growers can use to improve outcomes in the paddock.

In this episode of GRDC In Conversation, James reflects on the experiences that shaped his journey from Thailand to Australian agriculture, the lessons learned working alongside growers, and how curiosity continues to drive his research. He shares insights into crop yield formation, the science behind critical periods, and why understanding the way plants grow can help unlock better decisions across farming systems.

This episode explores:

- How growing up in Thailand shaped James’ curiosity, worldview and approach to agriculture

- The internship that introduced him to agriculture and sparked a passion for research and development

- Why working closely with growers helped shape his career and approach to communicating science

- The journey from Southern Farming Systems to completing a PhD focused on faba bean yield formation

- How critical period research is helping improve decision-making in wheat and barley crops

- The challenge of translating complex crop science into practical outcomes for growers

- What being named the 2026 GRDC Emerging Leader for the Southern Region means to him



Watch this episode as a video on YouTube

https://youtu.be/WW_5rd8DTK0

More information

https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/articles/2026/march/james-manson-farming-systems-research

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/awardsscholarships/young-researcher-wins-emerging-leader-award



GRDC in Conversation is a limited series GRDC Podcast. It features in-depth interviews with growers and other experts in the grains industry who share their expertise, knowledge and experiences by exploring their personal stories, history, influences and motivations. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of GRDC, the interviewees’ employer, institution or other associated parties.

GRDC Project Code:

HAG2507-001SAX
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Welcome to GRDC’s National Variety Trials (NVT) new variety podcast series, where Australia's leading breeding companies share their latest releases for the 2027 growing season.

This podcast focuses on wheat. There is a separate podcast that focuses on barley, canola, chickpea, faba bean, field pea and lentil.

The NVT program is completely independent, funded and managed by GRDC to provide growers with trusted information to assist in variety choice. Note that seasonal conditions can have a more variable impact on variety performance than geographical location. For this reason, choose a variety with an established track record of at least two years of NVT performance data. The risks associated with choosing an untested variety are greater than sticking with one that has a proven track record. Always ask to see the official NVT results when talking to your seed seller.

Contacts:

- Australian Grain Technologies (AGT)

- InterGrain

- LongReach Plant Breeders



More Information:

You can find out more information about the varieties featured in this podcast at www.nvt.grdc.com.au, alongside individual breeder websites.
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