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

Factors affecting grain crop seed germination

14 April 2015

There are many aspects to consider when seeding grain crops at the break of the season.
Barley variety fact sheets

11 April 2016

Comparing the latest barley varieties with commonly grown, established varieties can be confusing.
2019 Barley variety sowing guide for Western Australia

7 October 2014

Assisting barley growers to make the right variety decision for their farming system.
Underground storage of grain

14 October 2013

Some time ago several Western Australian farmers have stored grain underground with minimal deterioration for up to 11 years.
Grain storage: maintaining grain quality

14 April 2015

Grain stored on farms for seed or livestock feed is an important investment. Protecting the grain from insect attack can be regarded as an exercise in income protection.
Factors affecting grain crop field establishment

23 April 2015

The field establishment of grain crops is the percentage of the sown seed that goes on to produce established plants. At sowing, management and environment are the key issues.
Barley production - harvest and grain quality

5 December 2013

Maintaining the quality of grain that has been grown is all about the correct and timely harvesting of the grain and its management and storage once removed from the paddock.
Immobilisation of soil nitrogen in heavy stubble loads

14 April 2014

Soil microbes often require nitrogen (N) to breakdown organic matter in soil.
Diagnosing manganese deficiency in barley

20 January 2014

Manganese deficiency in barley is widespread but confined to small soil related patches that have declined as soils have acidified.
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.