Frost management
Reducing frost risk and managing the damage
The GRDC is committed to helping grain growers in frost-prone areas manage their farm businesses to minimise both the direct and indirect impacts on grain yield and on-farm profitability caused by frost.
Frosts are difficult to predict, understand and manage and can have a significant impact on growers, their families and their communities.
This page provides up-to-date, practical information that can assist growers in making informed decisions that can potentially reduce frost impact on their farm operations.
GRDC is continuing to tackle the complex issue of frost on behalf of Australian grain growers through research, development and extension investments focused on areas such as farming systems, crop genetic improvement, agronomic management, spatial temperature mapping and improved damage assessment tools.
In spring 2024, growers across Victoria, South Australia and southern NSW have experienced frost. Our partners, Mallee Sustainable Farming, conducted a webinar to help growers identify frost and make management decisions. It has been published on YouTube and is available for all growers to watch.
Improved pre-season planning
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Evaluating your approach to business risk can help guide frost management practices
Planning ahead and managing your risk through tactics like crop diversification can potentially help reduce the impact of frost.
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Paddock planning key part of effective frost management
Careful planning, zoning and selection of the right crops are the best options to reduce frost risk.
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Stubble management considerations
Research shows the amount of stubble plays a role when it comes to frost impact.
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Crop and variety choice
Deciding what crop and when to plant.
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Forecasting tools
In-season monitoring can help growers be more prepared. Frost climate maps are available for in-season monitoring.
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Grazing
Grazing crops at the right time can delay flowering and may reduce the impact of frost.
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Tips for identifying frost damage
The extent and nature of frost damage depends upon the plant development stage at which the frost occurs.
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What are the options for frost affected crops?
Here is some information, as well as a calculator to support your decision making around this challenging situation.
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Harvesting and marketing frosted grain
Some tools and information to support your decision making.
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Recovering from frost
It is tough to recover from frost impact, but it is possible with some careful planning.
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Retaining seed from frosted crops
What you need to keep in mind.