Wheat

Wheat production accounts for 70% of total cereal production in Western Australia with about seven million tonnes generated annually in a rain-fed system across four million hectares of land.

About 80% of WA wheat is exported - predominantly to Asia and the Middle East - generating $2 billion in annual export earnings for the state.

Yields of WA-bred premium wheat varieties have risen by 1% per year during the past 30 years, 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

Diagnosing zinc deficiency in wheat

28 November 2013

Most soils in Western Australia (WA) were zinc deficient in their natural state.
Diagnosing contact herbicide damage in cereals

28 November 2013

This category includes contact herbicides from a range of chemical groups that require uniform spray coverage to be fully effective.
Diagnosing Group A herbicide damage in cereals

28 November 2013

These are post-emergent grass contol herbicides used for annual ryegrass and/or wild oat control in wheat and barley or non-selective grass control in broadleaf crops.
Diagnosing copper deficiency in wheat

28 November 2013

Most soils in Western Australia (WA) were copper deficient in their natural state.
Diagnosing wheat streak mosaic virus

4 December 2013

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) is a seed and mite-borne virus that infects cereals (including wheat and barley) and grasses.
Diagnosing calcium deficiency in wheat

28 November 2013

Calcium deficiency rarely occurs due to the application of single superphosphate fertilisers (containing 20% calcium), lime and gypsum.
Diagnosing boron deficiency in wheat

28 November 2013

Boron deficiency is rare in cereals in Western Australia (WA) and will impact broadleaf crops such as lupin and canola before affecting cereals like wheat and barley.
Diagnosing take-all in cereals

4 December 2013

A fungal root disease that can cause severe yield losses of wheat and barley especially in medium- to high-rainfall areas.
Diagnosing stem rust of wheat

4 December 2013

Stem rust is a fungal foliar disease of wheat that can cause up to 90% yield loss and also reduces grain quality in susceptible varieties.
Diagnosing potassium deficiency in wheat

28 November 2013

Potassium is a major nutrient that is increasingly required as soil reserves become depleted.