Wheat

Wheat production accounts for 65% of total cereal production in Western Australia with about ten million tonnes generated annually in a rain-fed system across four million hectares of land.

About 95% of WA wheat is exported - predominantly to Asia and the Middle East - generating $2-5 billion in annual export earnings for the state.

Despite a decline in annual rainfall, the improvement in agronomic practices and development of new premium wheat varieties have enabled an increase in WA wheat yield over the past 30 years at a rate higher than world average.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has a strong research, development and extension focus on wheat production through its long history in wheat breeding - now privatised through Intergrain - and the development of wheat variety management packages for the state’s grain production zones.

Articles

Carbon farming: liming and carbon sequestration

18 October 2013

Acid soils cause significant losses in production and biomass, which restricts the ability to sequester carbon.
Breakeven yields of grain crops

13 June 2017

Before committing resources to late sown or emerging crops, carefully consider its yield potential and risks to achieving that yield. If the expected yield is greater than the variable cost breakev
Western Australian wheat industry

1 November 2013

Wheat is the major grain crop produced in Western Australia making up 65% of annual grain production and generating A$2-5 billion for the State economy each year.
Crop diseases: forecasts and management

11 December 2013

Information is provided here to assist management of diseases and viruses that occur in broadacre crops grown in Western Australia - cereals (wheat, barley, oats and triticale), pulses (field pea,
Wheat yield potential, sowing time and management in season 2019

31 May 2019

Much of the Western Australia's wheatbelt has experienced a very dry 2018–2019 summer leaving very little stored moisture at present (DPIRD, May seasonal report 2019). Yield potential varies signif
Wheat grain quality - falling number and pre harvest sprouting resistance

8 May 2014

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a common quality constraint of wheat that can result in downgrading of grain quality upon receival.
Annual ryegrass

6 October 2011

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is one of the most serious and costly weeds of annual winter cropping systems in southern Australia.
2022 Crop Sowing Guide for WA

8 November 2021

The crop sowing guide for Western Australia is a one stop shop for variety information on all the major crops grown in Western Australia.
Frost risk – manage wheat variety and sowing time

14 December 2010

Wheat is highly susceptible to frost damage between ear emergence and flowering – often termed reproductive frost.
Aphid feeding damage to cereal crops

14 February 2011

Adult and nymph aphids suck sap with large populations limiting grain yield and size, especially winter and spring infestations.