Ben Whisson

We're Hiring: Agronomist - Join Cropportunity, part of the ConsultAg group, and help shape the future of broadacre farming. Work with great clients, lead on-farm research, and grow your career in a flexible, supportive team. Apply by Friday, August 22

The @GRDCwest winter wheat trial is up and away in Pingelly. We are investigating the performance of Mowhawk winter wheat & Bannister oats sown in March, April and May. Good emergence in March and April, May treatments waiting for a drink. Stay tuned for the results!

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Road tripping to check out our winter wheat trials @GRDCWest @justinefowler51 @BWhisson @JordanneMedlen @MylesPrassa

Webinar TOMORROW ⏰ "Beating barley grass despite resistance and dormancy challenges" 📆 Wed 26 April, 10 am AWST / 12 pm AEST With @borgercatherine (@DPIRDWA), @BWhisson (ConsultAg) and WeedSmart's @peterdnewman. Register ➡️ buff.ly/3ze5ePB

With limited resources in the bush, this is a problem that needs a solution. #poletopfires @westernpowerwa @MiaDaviesMLA

A new GRDC publication on barley grass management in southern Australia, by Gurjeet Gill and myself. Resistance, dormancy and successful case studies. @DPIRDbroadacre @GroupMIG @SEPWA_ag @FaceyGroup @WANTFA_farming #LIFT @BWhisson @joyce_brad @GRDCWest grdc.com.au/resources-and-…

A great day for sowing @GRDCWest Winter Wheat trials. Warradarge, Cunderdin and Gairdner trials all going in this week. This 1 of 4 trials looking at variety x sowing rate. Thanks @adam_whisson for your help - more time calibrating than sowing.

Good subsoil moisture & with the weekend’s rain it has provided excellent conditions for the @GRDC Winter Wheat Agronomy Project - longer spring lines also included. Nice to see #ValiantCLPlus sown within this window & will monitor closely #ClearfieldPlus @adam_whisson @BWhisson

A great slide from Julia Schortinghuis at the GenAg Kulin conference. Action➡️Motivation➡️More motivation. Most people think Motivation comes first.

Just a reminder that some bugs are harder to kill than others, particularly pre sowing canola so make sure you have the right product on board. Bryobia mite and balaustium mite have hatched and may be a problem.

Reported blockage problems with propyzamide already. In the haste of sowing canola B4 the weekend, a gentle reminder to slow down when mixing and review your choice of filter. As booms get wider the amount of product getting pushed through the filter can cause problems by itself

@agro_brad @NutrienWAagri @tiarna_kanny Hi Brad. What area was that?

Had a fun day yesterday harvesting the P response trial in a newly formed gravel pit (reefinated). 300 kg of what looks like barley and 100 kg of stones. Can’t do much with no water, no soil and no rooting depth.

@LiebeGroup @theGRDC Good podcast Chris and Judy. Big issue down this way also. Listening to those figures, sampling as close to seeding as possible to get an accurate picture also pretty important.

Results of the first 12 months of @theGRDC funded Lupin Establishment Project - delving into several specific factors affecting germination including rotor speed, auger journey & condition, & standard grower practice. Listen today! tinyurl.com/GRDClupins tinyurl.com/y2upz2ud

@Julianne_Hill Probably the 1 weed we are not winning with Julianne. usually washes down a creek after a big rain then goes from there. Most people start by hand picking then after a couple of years eventually give up. Not hard to kill but Germination to seed is too fast.

Is caltrop a problem at your place? Where is it most an issue (pasture/crop/sheds?). And what do you find works best on it? Is it getting worse?

We were searching high and low for RWA in a paddock yesterday north of Esperance. @kingyin_lui finally found some and this video shows just how subtle symptoms can be 🧐 @DPIRDbroadacre

@chaystra @DavidWeith Ha ha sure. As long as you’re honest with me regarding yield potential I’ll be happy to adjust 😂

@DavidWeith @BWhisson might need to revise next years fert program.

Our extensive soil testing of freshly reefinated gravels show surprisingly good soil pH and low soil Al levels. Is it a symptom of extensive liming or poor production history not acidifying the soil? For reference 15% Exc. Al % is non-limiting @GRDCWest

As part of our research program we try to accommodate the timing of the host farmer. Sometimes in less than ideal conditions. Check out the modifications required on our trial sprayer yesterday to aid in drift management! Our agronomists can be just as inventive as our clients 🙈

Moving office (or a house) is always a challenge. We just need to figure out where to hang the sign! Feel free to drop in for a cuppa after seeding. Catch you at 19 Lyall St. South Perth. @ConsultAg @MarketAg_WA