Grains

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has significant direct investment in grains research, development and extension capability and activities, research infrastructure and policy development.

The Western Australian grains industry is a major contributor to the agrifood sector and the Australian economy. WA produces on average 13 million tonnes of grains (cereals, oilseeds and pulses) each year. Grain exports generate more than $4 billion (five year average) for the WA economy each year – making it the largest agricultural sector in the state, and the fourth largest export industry overall after iron ore, oil and gas, and gold.

WA exports about 80% of its annual grain production to more than 50 countries worldwide. Indonesia is WA’s top wheat export market worth over $0.5 billion per year. WA is the world’s leading supplier of premium malting barley to China, the major supplier of wheat for the Japanese udon noodle market, and a major feed barley supplier to the Middle East.

In the 2014/15 season it is estimated the WA grains industry exported a total of $3.7 billion of cereals and $790 billion of pulse, pasture and oilseeds. The major contributors to these exports were wheat ($2.7 billion), barley ($905 million), canola ($710 million), oats ($83 million) and lupins ($77 million).

2023 Crop Sowing Guide for WA

The Crop Sowing Guide for Western Australia is a one stop shop for variety information on all the major crops grown in Western Australia, compiled by officers in the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

This edition includes the major crops grown in WA – wheat, barley, canola, oat, lupins and pulses. The publication aims to provide information to support growers with decisions on the best choice of variety for each of the major crops for the upcoming season. The lupin and pulse sections also includes an “agronomy guide” summary to support management decisions required for these high value industries.

Hardcopies of the 2023 Crop Sowing Guide for Western Australia are available from DPIRD offices and other agribusiness outlets. Learn more

See Also

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Articles

  • Large round hay bales

    Oats: hay production

    1 November 2013

    There are specific requirements for hay for the export market that are different to usual on-farm requirements.

  • An eye level picture of a green oat crop with pannicles fully emerged. The foreground is focussed on pannicles.

    Oats: essentials

    1 November 2013

    Oats in Western Australia are grown for grain, hay, grazing or silage. Each year between 250 000 and 350 000 hectares are sown for grain production, and 113 000 hectares for hay production.

  • Affected plants are stunted with few tillers.

    Diagnosing cereal cyst nematode

    4 December 2013

    A soil-borne pest affecting roots of cereal crops, cereal cyst nematode (CCN) can cause substantial yield losses, particularly in continuous cereal crops.

  • At head emergence, each grain is replaced by brown to black powdery spores

    Diagnosing smut in oats

    22 June 2015

    Loose smut (Ustilago avenae) and covered smut (Ustilago hordei) of oats are both externally seed- borne diseases with similar symptoms which are difficult to distinguish in the fi

  • Oat paddock showing red tinge of rust infection

    Oats: leaf diseases

    8 November 2013

    Major leaf diseases of oats are stem rust, leaf rust, barley yellow dwarf virus and septoria avenae blotch; their severity changes with seasons.

  • UAN spray damage in wheat

    Diagnosing foliar nutrient damage in cereals

    28 November 2013

    Post-emergent (mainly sprayed) fertiliser can cause leaf scorching, but affected plants recover without any yield loss.

  • View across an oat crop with pannicles fully emerged.

    Oats: paddock selection

    1 November 2013

    Successful crop establishment is the key to maximising crop yield potential.  Focus on paddock selection, the use of good quality seed, optimising seeding rate, depth and spacing, and matching vari

  • At the field trials fo the new oat variety Durack

    Durack: A short season oat with milling grade potential or dual purpose for hay production

    5 September 2016

    Durack was launched in September 2016 as a candidate milling variety with potential for use in oaten hay production.

  • Patchy growth, with plants in poor areas stunted with pale older green leaves with yellow/orange -red ends

    Diagnosing zinc deficiency in oats

    22 June 2015

    Oats are more susceptible to zinc (Zn) deficiency than wheat or barley.

  • Nitrogen deficiency symptoms, note water weeds and puddle

    Diagnosing waterlogging and salinity in oats

    19 June 2015

    Waterlogging and salinity often occur together. Oats are very waterlogging tolerant but are more susceptible to salinity damage than wheat and barley.

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