Seasonal Update - What's going on across the country (late August)

It’s now late August, and what started off to be a very dry start, has either stayed dry, or become a little wetter in some regions. But how does one region, compare to another? That’s where we come in. 

Along with CCDM’s Mark Gibberd, join Megan Jones as she speaks to three agronomists in late August to find out the current issues of the season and the next management strategy to think about. We'll hear from:

• James Bee, Elders, Albany, WA, on how the season is holding on well despite the driest start to the season on record. Disease pressure is also low, due to mixed emergence which allows airflow through the canopy, and a diverse range of resistant varieties being grown. And with the warm August, to be prepared for aphids and other insects. 
• Jana Freebairn, Pinion Advisory and WeedSmart, Freeling, SA, on how they haven’t cracked decile 1 rainfall for the growing season, and along with the high temperatures and windy conditions, how they're expecting a below average season. Even so, some of the crops look okay in the Lower North and she was surprised to find stripe rust just recently.
• Rohan Brill, Brill Ag, Riverina Region, NSW, on how they've had a decile 6 August with two recent heavy rainfall events, and how he is seeing a reasonable amount of stripe rust, but mostly in susceptible varieties. Also how the temperature has been 1.5 degrees above average, and with the warmth, to monitor paddocks for aphids.

This podcast can be found anywhere where you get your other podcasts from, just search “Crop Disease Podcast”.

Or read about all our agronomy stories in CCDM's blog The Spotlight