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

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
Primary Industries Development 2023 Research Trials Map

22 January 2018

In 2023, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is conducting more than 250 research trials across the state.
Residual herbicides - carryover and behaviour in dry conditions

8 June 2018

The term 'residual' applies to a number of herbicides that have a long lasting activity in the soil. These herbicides are often applied directly to the soil prior to planting crops, pre-emergent.
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.
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.
Effect of spray-topping on pasture legumes

28 July 2014

Spray-topping is a very effective method for managing annual grass seed set in pastures.
Crop-topping pulse crops

28 July 2014

'Crop-topping' is the late application of herbicides to prevent weed seed-set.
Soil inversion to ameliorate soil water repellence

19 December 2010

One-off soil inversion results in the complete burial of the water repellent topsoil in a layer typically at a depth of 15 to 35 cm, and brings to the surface a layer of wettable subsoil.
Windmill grass

23 May 2012

Windmill grass (Chloris truncata) is a native species and is the tenth most common summer weed species in the Western Australian wheatbelt.
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.