WeedSmart Podcast

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In this episode of Beyond Resistance, Shannon chats with South Coastal Agencies Lead Agronomist Rachel Minnett and Nutrien Farm Services Agronomist Tom Shaw about bridging the gap between university training and practical farm agronomy skills.
Tom and Rachel discuss how the WeedSmart Big 6 provide a good reminder to view weed control as part of a whole-farm system approach, rather than just individual jobs to be done. Rachel remembers carrying around a print-off of the Big 6 in her car during the early days of her career!
Both Rachel and Tom are big proponents of professional development for agronomists at all stages of their career. Tom recommends new agronomists think of their first two years as an apprenticeship, and try and learn as much as possible during this time. Rachel emphasises the importance of confidence, strong communication skills and coming prepared.
Tune in for some great advice for up-and-coming agronomists! And if you're looking for more resources, our website is chock full of articles, webinars, videos and fact sheets to help you call the shots against your weeds.
Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website. 
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Queue up our other WeedSmart podcasts & audio: #RegionalUpdates & #BeyondResistance podcasts for great stories from across the Australian growing regions.  #Paddocktalk fortnightly weed management news & updates for you.
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In this episode of Regional Update, we're joined by Will Woolcock, Branch Manager and Agronomist at Nutrien in Emerald, QLD.
Will's territory extends about 200km north and south of Emerald, where he's seeing a lot more growers planting chickpeas this year, in response to the current fertiliser cost and supply issues. 
The region's current weed challenges are feather top rhodes grass, sweet summer grass and fleabane in the summer, with milk thistle and poppy causing issues in winter.
Will gives advice on fallow and in-crop chemistry and cautions growers against an over-reliance on glyphosate and glufosinate. He'd recommend looking into strategic tillage and crop rotations!
Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website. 
Don't forget to follow us on our socials:
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Bluesky
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Keen for a monthly update?  Subscribe here!
Got a question or topic you are interested to hear about?  Send us an: [email protected]
Queue up our other WeedSmart podcasts & audio: #RegionalUpdates & #BeyondResistance podcasts for great stories from across the Australian growing regions.  #Paddocktalk fortnightly weed management news & updates for you.
#drivesafe #farmsafe

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text!
In this episode of Regional Update we're joined by Paul "Chippa" Ackland, senior agronomist at Central Ag Solutions in Arthurton SA. Following a very hot summer, some much needed March rain has brought out ryegrass and cape weed germination on the Yorke Peninsula.
Paul notes that resistance in milk thistle, wild vetch and tares is a particular issue for the region. While he's been impressed by growers' uptake of harvest weed seed mills, he'd also encourage farmers to consider all of the WeedSmart Big 6 strategies, including diverse crop rotations and increasing sowing rates.
We end with a reminder to check on your mates, especially in these challenging times.
Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website. 
Don't forget to follow us on our socials:
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Bluesky
Facebook
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Keen for a monthly update?  Subscribe here!
Got a question or topic you are interested to hear about?  Send us an: [email protected]
Queue up our other WeedSmart podcasts & audio: #RegionalUpdates & #BeyondResistance podcasts for great stories from across the Australian growing regions.  #Paddocktalk fortnightly weed management news & updates for you.
#drivesafe #farmsafe

Got a question or topic you're interested in? Send us a text!
In this episode of Regional Update, we're joined by Angus Roberts, a young grower from Dandaragan, WA. Angus chats to host Shannon about his mixed farming operation 160km north of Perth and their history with clethodim resistance. 
Since attending Mildura WeedSmart Week in 2022, Angus and his family have aimed to adopt all of the Big 6 strategies to lower their weed seed bank and prevent herbicide resistance. Angus is now a WeedSmart fan and convinced 20 of his mates to join him at WeedSmart Week in Geraldton last year!
Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website. 
Don't forget to follow us on our socials:
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Bluesky
Facebook
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Keen for a monthly update?  Subscribe here!
Got a question or topic you are interested to hear about?  Send us an: [email protected]
Queue up our other WeedSmart podcasts & audio: #RegionalUpdates & #BeyondResistance podcasts for great stories from across the Australian growing regions.  #Paddocktalk fortnightly weed management news & updates for you.
#drivesafe #farmsafe

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This Beyond Resistance podcast episode featuring experts Richard Holzknecht and Jeshua Smith from VICCHEM is an essential resource for farmers and agronomists looking to optimise their herbicide mix in the tank and ensure every drop counts.  Since spray water typically makes up more than 95% of what goes into a spray tank, the quality of that water dictates whether a "chemistry experiment" succeeds or fails in the paddock.  Our speakers explain how common issues like hard water, high pH, and bicarbonates can tie up active ingredients—such as glyphosate and clethodim—before they even have a chance to work. 
By listening to this deep dive, you will learn why "plants don't drink rocks" and how poor water quality can lead to sublethal doses, which inadvertently accelerates the development of herbicide resistance. 
This podcast provides practical, field-ready advice on how to transition from reactive troubleshooting to proactive water management.  
Listeners can gain insights into the benefits of different water sources, the necessity of regular water testing, and the strategic use of conditioning agents like liquid ammonium sulfate (AMS) and citric acid to ameliorate quality issues. Also discussed is how to distinguish between genuine chemical resistance and spray failures caused by poor water, potentially saving growers from unnecessary and costly management changes. Whether you are an agronomist seeking to refine your recommendations or a grower aiming to maximise return on investment and protect the longevity of your chemical tools, this episode offers the technical expertise needed to stay ahead of the curve. 
Resources:
VICCHEM Free Water Quality Test
GRDC Spray water Quality Factsheet
Upcoming GRDC Herbicide Behaviour Workshops 

Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website.
Don't forget to follow us on our socials:
Twitter/X
Bluesky
Facebook
LinkedIn
Instagram
Keen for a monthly update?
Learn more about WeedSmart and the Big 6 framework for proven weed management practices by visiting our website. 
Don't forget to follow us on our socials:
Twitter/X
Bluesky
Facebook
LinkedIn
Instagram
Keen for a monthly update?  Subscribe here!
Got a question or topic you are interested to hear about?  Send us an: [email protected]
Queue up our other WeedSmart podcasts & audio: #RegionalUpdates & #BeyondResistance podcasts for great stories from across the Australian growing regions.  #Paddocktalk fortnightly weed management news & updates for you.
#drivesafe #farmsafe