Western Australia
February 23, 2018

Western Australian lupin growers are set to benefit from a new resource to be launched at the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Grains Research Update, Perth.

The GRDC Grains Research Update is WA’s premier grains research forum and will be held at Crown Perth on February 26 and 27.

The new lupin GrowNotes™ is a digital resource aimed at boosting growers’ profitability by providing the latest research and information about planning agronomy pre-sowing, during the growing season, at harvest and when considering marketing.

WA is the nation’s biggest producer and exporter of lupin grain, which is estimated to be worth about $120-150 million to the State’s economy annually.

GRDC Western Regional Panel chairman Peter Roberts (pictured) said lupin is the State’s most valuable pulse crop and research during the past few decades had underpinned the highly successful modern wheat-lupin cropping rotation system.

“Lupin is uniquely suited to the acid and sandy soils found across large tracts of WA’s grainbelt and has a key role in breaking cereal disease cycles and adding fixed nitrogen to soil for broadacre cropping systems,” Mr Roberts said.

“Early research into lupin led to significant tracts of previously unproductive soils being opened up for crop and cereal production in this State.

“More recently, lupin tonnage has been hit hard by poor seasons in the northern agricultural area, where traditionally most of the lupin crops are grown. 

“However, some of the newer varieties have performed well in central and southern regions and may in future contribute more to production than has occurred in the past.”

Mr Roberts said the GRDC western region lupin GrowNotes™ resource would help growers maximise profitability by providing them with the latest information gathered from research, development and extension (RD&E) providers – ranging from pre-breeders through to research agronomists.

“The publication includes detailed information about immediate lupin crop management issues, including variety selection, paddock conditions that suit lupin, fertiliser use and disease and weed management,” he said.

“It also delves into a detailed analysis of marketing tactics and selling principles and provides comprehensive links to wide-ranging resources and key GRDC and industry contacts.

“Those seeking very specific information about an issue can use the online links to further information, including GRDC and stakeholder research papers, final reports, videos and podcasts.”

There is also scope within the publication to provide feedback about its content.

The GRDC western region lupin GrowNotes™ is available at https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grownotes/crop-agronomy-regional/lupin-western-region-grownotes 

More information about the GRDC Grains Research Update events is available at: http://www.giwa.org.au/2018researchupdates or www.grdc.com.au/updatedates. Alternatively, contact convenor the Grain Industry Association of WA (GIWA) on 08 6262 2128 or researchupdates@giwa.org.au

Website: http://www.grdc.com.au

Published: February 23, 2018