Australia
June 24, 2015

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) will raise the bar on crop productivity next month when some of Australia’s leading grains researchers visit Moree and Coonamble for the annual GRDC Grain Research Updates to equip growers with practical management advice in areas such as soil nutrition, weed control and grain storage.

With crop profitability largely hinging on yield, addressing productivity constraints can make a significant difference to business’ bottom lines as well as the long-term sustainability of the farming system.

GRDC manager regional grower services—north, Sharon O’Keeffe (pictured), said accessing up-to-date agronomic research findings was the first step towards implementing targeted management practices to boost crop yields and addressing common queries over crop nutrition strategies, crop rotation options, improving water use efficiency and residual herbicide use.

“Farming is rapidly evolving with the research and development community continually working to provide solutions for production challenges faced by growers,” Ms O’Keeffe said.

“Often even small changes in management practice can translate into valuable additional dollars in growers’ pockets and the GRDC Grain Research Updates are an ideal forum to learn what’s new in farm-ready research, access best practice management advice and challenge current practices.”

The Moree Update will be held on Tuesday July 28 at the RSL between 9am and 3pm and will cover a variety of topics including management of the potentially devastating pest root lesion nematodes and restoring profitability to affected paddocks; the latest in crown rot research and its implications for stubble management and sowing; the what, where and why of testing for soil nutrition in the Moree district; optimising sorghum profitability in northern NSW; differences in grain sorghum variety reactions to heat stress and environment; farming systems research; ascochyta blight management in 2015 chickpea crops; quality defects in chickpeas; and the latest in weeds research and barnyard grass management.

An exceptional line-up of speakers will present including renowned NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) cereal plant pathologist Dr Steven Simpfendorfer, Leader Northern Dryland Cropping Systems with NSW DPI, Loretta Serafin, CSIRO senior farming systems scientist Dr Lindsay Bell, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation’s (QAAFI) Dr Mike Bell, Northern Grower Alliance chief executive officer Richard Daniel, CSIRO principal research professor Dr Scott Chapman and NSW DPI’s Dr Jenny Wood.

The Coonamble Update will be held the following day, Wednesday July 29 at the Bowling Club from 9am to 3pm.

It will address a number of regionally relevant topics including summer and winter forage crop options and their likely fit within central west farming systems; managing the yield gap to optimise yield potential and water use efficiency; a major new farming systems project that addresses constraints to performance and efficiency; herbicide resistance management; the safe and effective use of residual herbicides; soil testing to optimise crop nutrition; and managing high level phosphine resistance in on-farm storage.

The similarly impressive program of speakers includes Dr Lindsay Bell, Agripath director Simon Fritsch, Dr Mike Bell, Grain Orana Alliance chief executive officer Maurie Street, Richard Daniel and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) senior development agronomist (Postharvest Grain Protection) Philip Burrill.

The cost of attendance is $30 per person and $20 for a second person from the same farm on the same registration. Morning tea, lunch and proceedings are provided. Registration at both workshops is 8:30am for a 9am start.

To RSVP/register or for further information or the agenda contact Update facilitator John Cameron or Erica McKay on 02 9482 4930, e-mail northernupdates@icanrural.com.au or visit http://www.icanrural.com.au
 

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

Published: June 24, 2015