Season 2023: information for WA farmers

Latest updates and advice

• WA’s 2022 season hit a new record high with total grain production of just over 26 million tonnes. 
• To minimise the risk of soil erosion, growers are encouraged to retain groundcover and delay soil amelioration until the soil is moist. Refer to Crop management section for new research on timing of soil amelioration.
• Worm egg count monitoring of livestock has shown higher than expected numbers of barbers pole worms surviving the summer conditions. To prevent worm problems later in the season, producers may need to monitor worm egg counts and implement an effective autumn drench of lambing ewes and their offspring. See Livestock management section.
• After a dry summer, low dam water levels present increased risk of blue-green algae toxicity for stock even after the algal blooms have disappeared. Landholders can monitor their water quality by sampling and laboratory testing, monitor stock for signs of poisoning and implement measures to prevent and/or treat algal blooms. Refer to Land and Water management section.
• To reduce risk of mice infestations across the grainbelt, growers are encouraged to monitor, report mice activity and bait where necessary. See Mice section. 

Seasonal issues

Mice

Mice populations are widespread and reported in areas where not previously seen. Mice cause damage at all stages of crop development so it is critical to control mice and continue vigilance throughout the season. 

Food resources left in the paddock could sustain mouse breeding, leading to higher mouse numbers at sowing next year. Food on the ground from hail-damaged crops may also have resulted in mice 'hotspots'.

Landholders are advised to:

• monitor paddocks for active burrows and grain storage areas for mice activity. Chew cards cannot be relied upon whilst food sources are high. 
• implement control measures when necessary.
• report mouse activity using the FeralScan MouseAlert app.

Control measures

• Good on-farm hygiene is essential.
• Monitoring and detection:  this can include the use of hole counts, chew cards and trapping to determine mice numbers. Plague level mouse populations are indicated by chew cards with >20 squares per card eaten or active burrow counts of >5 mouse holes per 100m² .
• New baiting recommendations:  From 1 January 2023, 50g/kg zinc phosphide mice bait permits have additional conditions. Bait should be applied only if monitoring has indicated presence of plague level mouse populations. If conditions are met, the department recommends baiting with 50g/kg zinc phosphide. Completed documentation must be provided to suppliers prior to obtaining baits. Landholders are advised to adhere to the strict label requirements governing the use of zinc phosphide bait, using only if these conditions are met, and to ensure livestock and pets are restrained to reduce the risk of poisoning. (Note: Zinc phosphide mouse baits are an S7 chemical and must only be sourced from licenced suppliers and/or manufacturers).

Baiting safety considerations

• Zinc phosphide is registered for in-crop use only and strict baiting criteria have been established to minimise off target impacts. Bait must not be laid within 50m of the crop perimeter or native vegetation.
• Zinc phosphide poses little secondary poisoning hazard and does not bioaccumulate in the environment. However, granivorous birds feeding in crops are at risk if bait is laid on bare ground or if patches of bait are spilled during baiting operations.
• Checking for non-target animal mortalities is a condition for the use of rodenticides. Reports of misuse or wildlife deaths should be forwarded in writing to the Department of Health’s Medicines and Poisons Branch MPRB@health.wa.gov.au.

Resources

• GRDC Mice Portal
• Diagnosing mouse damage
• Economic considerations for mouse control
• FeralScan MouseAlert app

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Livestock management

Current situation

• Pastures are declining but crop stubbles have been providing good quality feed. Some producers are implementing supplementary feeding. 
• Annual ryegrass toxicity issues have been observed in some areas.  Refer to ‘Animal health and welfare resources’ below for information on monitoring, prevention and reporting of Annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) in livestock.
• Worm egg count monitoring of livestock has shown higher than expected numbers of Barbers Pole worms surviving the summer conditions. To prevent worm problems later in the season, producers may need to monitor worm egg counts and implement an effective autumn drench of lambing ewes and their offspring.  Refer to  Sheep worm control and Managing barber's pole worm in sheep.
• Since their detection in Indonesia in 2022, two significant livestock diseases, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD) are a potential threat to Australian producers . Producers should keep up to date with emergency animal disease prevention and preparedness information. See Emergency Animal Disease Hub.

Management resources

• Sheep feeding and nutrition
• Supplementary feeding and feed budgeting for sheep
• Management tools and calculators for sheep
• Grazing stubbles and dry pastures
• Confined paddock feeding and feedlotting of sheep
• Farm recovery after fire

Animal health and welfare resources

• Sheep worm control
• Managing barber's pole worm in sheep
• Annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) in livestock
• Emergency Animal Disease Hub
• Managing flystrike in sheep
• Flystrike management tools
• Diagnosing ergot in feed grains
• Is your livestock fit to load? (PDF from Meat & Livestock Australia)
• WA livestock disease outlook: a monthly newsletter for producers
• Condition scoring sheep
• Welfare decisions for sheep and cattle
• A national guide to describing and managing beef cattle in low body condition (PDF from Meat & Livestock Australia)

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Crop management

Current situation

• WA’s 2022 season hit a new record high with total grain production of  just over 26 million tonnes.  Refer to GIWA crop reports.
• To minimise the risk of soil erosion, growers are encouraged to retain groundcover and delay soil amelioration until the soil is moist. Refer to Timing tips for deep tillage media release and Managing wind erosion. 
• Efficient nitrogen application and management can reduce costs, boost production and reduce greenhouse gas production.  Consider your requirements for nitrogen application rates, timing, source and placement to match to crop needs.  Refer to Agriculture Victoria: Nitrogen fertilisers — improving efficiency and saving money.
• To reduce risk of mice infestations across the grainbelt, growers are encouraged to monitor, report mice activity and bait where necessary. See Mice section.  

Management resources

• 2023 WA Crop sowing guide
• GRDC Research Updates 2023: Timing tips for deep tillage media release
• Managing wind erosion
• Summer weeds information
• Green bridge management over summer
• GRDC Deep ripping fact sheet
• Seeding into deep ripped or renovaDiagnosing ergot-infected grain
• PestFacts WA
• Russian Wheat Aphid: production pest
• Farm recovery after fire
• Cropping paddocks after fire
• Diagnosing ergot-infected grain

Keep updated and report

• Learn about the latest pests and diseases activity in WA and how to identify and manage them by reading the PestFacts WA e-newsletter.
• The PestFacts WA map provides a visual display of current and historical insect or plant disease activity reported in WA.
• The PestFacts WA team welcomes all insect and plant disease reports, and identification requests, so we can continue providing risk alerts to the WA grains industry.  Download and use the new free PestFacts WA Reporter app for both Apple and android devices. The new version replaces the previous PestFax Reporter app, so once the new app is downloaded, please delete the older PestFax Reporter app. 

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Land and water management

• After a dry summer, low dam water levels present increased risk of blue-green algae toxicity for stock even after the algal blooms have disappeared. Landholders can monitor their water quality by sampling and laboratory testing, monitor stock for signs of poisoning and implement measures to prevent and/or treat algal blooms Refer to Managing blue-green algae on farms in Western Australia.
• To minimise the risk of soil erosion, growers are encouraged to retain groundcover and delay soil amelioration until the soil is moist. See information and options for preventing, reducing or managing wind erosion in cropping and pasture systems and GRDC Research Updates 2023: Timing tips for deep tillage
• Plan for and invest in reliable on-farm water supplies.
  • Groundwater desalination on farms in Western Australia: Please remember that you must submit a notice of intent to drain or pump water – desalination (NOI), together with the neighbour comments, to the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation at least 90 days before intended discharge.
  • It is time to maintain roaded catchments and dams. Plan now for new dams and roaded catchments.

Management resources

• Ranking option for soil amelioration (ROSA) tool
•  Managing wind erosion in south-western Australia
• GRDC Research Updates 2023: Timing tips for deep tillage
• Managing blue-green algae on farms in Western Australia

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WA’s rural support services

• For assistance in recovering from fires, refer to Farm recovery after fire.
• Rural Aid provides assistance for primary producers and now has counsellors located in the WA wheatbelt.
• For more information on other support services available to help people in rural areas of WA find the assistance they need to deal with stressful situations, please view WA's rural support services webpage and directory. 

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Climate situation and outlook

• Dry conditions have prevailed over most of the agricultural area for December to January. Root-zone oil water storage is well below average for the agricultural area although DPIRD soil moisture probes indicate some water remaining at depth.
• Daytime temperatures have been above normal away from the south coast, although with fewer extremes. In comparison, last year’s summer was similarly dry but much hotter in the west.
• The Bureau’s rainfall outlook for March 2023 , updated 23 February, indicates neutral chances of exceeding median rain for most of WA, meaning little effective rain. The ECMWF multi-week rainfall outlook  from 27 February indicates normal to dry conditions for March
• DPIRD’s Statistical Seasonal Forecast (SSF) for March to April 2023 based on January global conditions, has a has a neutral to wetter rainfall outlook for most of the region, with poor to medium predictive skill. See the Seasonal climate outlook newsletter for the latest situation and forecast information.
• The Bureau's seasonal rainfall outlook for March to May 2023 is indicating below normal rainfall likely over most of WA; past accuracy of the model for this period is moderate (55 to 65% consistency). See the BoM’s seasonal outlook video for more details.

Contacts