Crops

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development continues to support the growth and international competitiveness of all crop industries in Western Australia.

With a 2400 kilometre span from its tropical north to its temperate south, WA supports a broad range of cropping industries from rain-fed winter cereals through to irrigated horticultural crops.

In the 2012/13 year the WA cropping industries exported a total of $3.9 billion which comprised: $3.1 billion of cereals, $859 million of pulses, pastures and oilseeds, $142 million of horticultural crops. The major contributors to these exports were wheat ($2.7 billion), canola ($756 million), barley ($377 million), lupins ($42 million), carrots at $48 million, oats ($12 million), and strawberries at $5.5 million.

Articles

Crop-topping pulse crops

28 July 2014

'Crop-topping' is the late application of herbicides to prevent weed seed-set.
Spray-topping pastures

28 July 2014

Spray-topping or pasture topping is the application of a sub-lethal rate of herbicide when grasses are coming into head and flowering.
Control of green bridge for pest and disease management

19 December 2013

In Western Australia's Mediterranean-type climate, the survival of pests and diseases over summer is often critical in determining pest outbreaks and disease epidemics in broadacre crops.
Crop weeds: Hygiene - prevent weed seed introduction

29 May 2012

‘Risk-aware’ growers can implement strategies to reduce and avoid unnecessary introduction and spread of weeds.
Making tough decisions about failed crops

18 August 2017

In poor growing seasons, crops may not be good enough to harvest. Managers need to make some tough decisions, after assessing feed value for livestock, potential weed seed set, level of herbicide
Weed Seed Wizard case studies

15 August 2012

The Weed Seed Wizard is a computer simulation tool that helps you understand and manage weed seedbanks on your farm.
Herbicide application

18 January 2011

Herbicides can be applied by a variety of means including boom sprayers, aerial spraying, misters, blanket wipers, rope wick applicators, weed seekers and back-pack sprayers.
Assessing weed population density

27 January 2011

The most accurate way to estimate the weed population of a paddock is to count the number of plants in an area of known size at a number of locations.
Capeweed reduces crop yield

4 February 2011

In Western Australia, competition from 7-90 capeweed plants per square metre in a wheat crop can reduce crop yield by 28-44% and net return by 25-76%.
Crop weeds: reduce weed seed numbers in the soil

9 December 2010

One method of weed control is to remove weed seeds in the fallow, stubble and pre-sowing phase.