AS GROWERS across the state welcome the recent rains to boost their crops, more than 25 high school students are also paying close attention to the weather forecasts.
As entrants in agricultural research organisation Peracto SA's annual crop competition, the students are learning about how climate and their decisions on variety choice, seeding rate, and fertiliser regimes can impact crop development and yield.
In its second year, the competition offers a hands-on crop management experience for eight teams of between three and five students from Balaklava High School, Urrbrae Agricultural High School and Jamestown High School, as well as five University of Adelaide teams.
Peracto SA managing director Richard Porter said the company saw the competition as an ideal opportunity to engage high school and university students in an interactive program.
"The students are able to come out to the field, and experience what impact the decisions they made in the classroom have had, making a stronger connection with their work," he said.
"While Peracto SA staff practically manage the plots, the decisions are left to the students. They need to make choices on variety, seeding rate, and fertiliser program and herbicide and fungicide treatments, in line with a real-life cropping situation.
"It's a unique hands-on opportunity for students to gain insight into the complex world of cropping. We have a weather station on-site which incorporates soil moisture sensing and rainfall recording and the data is sent to participants fortnightly. This way, any variations can be made to the program as needed."
Students will visit the site at Roseworthy during the growing season, with a field day to be held in September.
"The judging is based on objective measurements with entrants judged on grain yield, quality and ultimately gross margin," Mr Porter said.
"Peracto SA is eager to ensure the future of agriculture in SA and we see this as a good and fun opportunity to promote ongoing learning in broadacre cropping to the next generation."
* Details: Richard Porter 08 8365 7070
