Better Agriculture Podcast Episode 2 - June 2023

Bayer Crop Science Australia

Episode #2: Mix it up for long-term weed management Australia has one of the highest numbers of herbicide resistant weeds in the world and it’s estimated that they cost our farmers hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Tune into this episode of Better Agriculture to learn all about the weed challenge and what our farmers and innovators are doing to respond to Australia’s increasingly herbicide-resistant weeds. Show notes Host Ed Gannon is joined by Ken Young, Senior Manager of Biosecurity and Regulation at the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Bayer Crop Science’s Head of Agronomic Solutions ANZ Weed Management, Michael Rouch, to discuss: • [03:43] What is a weed? • [04:42] The cost of weeds to Australian farmers and Australia’s economy • [05:29] Herbicide resistance • [08:43] Innovation at Bayer • [10:15] Non-chemical methods • [14:22] The factors at play in selecting herbicides • [15:45] The Herbicide Innovation Partnership between Bayer and GRDC • [24:13] Educational component of the Herbicide Innovation Partnership • [26:54] AI and digital technology farming technologies • [28:46] The future of weed management • [30:25] Will we ever get rid of weeds? Guest details Ken Young is Senior Manager of Biosecurity and Regulation at GRDC. Ken works alongside industry and government stakeholders to identify gaps in agricultural research and development and oversees the investment by Australian grain growers in managing biotic threats. Michael Rouch is Head of Agronomic Solutions (ANZ) – Weed Management and Digital at Bayer Crop Science where he is responsible for the development of new herbicides in Australia and New Zealand. Prior to moving to Melbourne to take on his managerial role, Michael conducted field trials in New South Wales for 30 years. Resources and further information: • GRDC publication on the cost of weeds (referred to by Michael Rouch): https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/publications/2016/03/impactofweeds • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resources Economics and Sciences (ABARES) ongoing weed impact research: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/invasive-species/distribution-and-impacts#economic-impacts-of-vertebrate-pest-animals-and-weeds-in-australia • The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s approach to weed management: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/pest-animals-and-weeds • Bayer and GRDC’S Herbicide Innovation Partnership: https://www.bayer.com.au/en/major-herbicide-research-effort-enters-new-phase • A recent article on Australia’s ongoing response to herbicide resistant weeds: https://www.weedsmart.org.au/content/are-we-gaining-ground-against-herbicide-resistant-weeds/ • WeedSmart is celebrating 10 years as the industry voice delivering science backed weed control solutions to growers and advisors for long-term profitability in Australian Agriculture: https://www.weedsmart.org.au/