The latest in grains research and trials was presented to growers in the Mid North and Clare Valley in Auburn today.
GRDC held the update which included presentations from Peter Newman (Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative), Glenn Fitzgerald (DEDJTR, Agriculture Research Division), Christine Walela (SARDI), James Hunt (CSIRO Agriculture) and Ken Solly (Solly Business Services).
A range of topics were presented to the growers who had an opportunity to ask further questions about the research and trials.
The forum ‘informed decisions – driving change’ saw about 60 growers take the opportunity to attend.
Bill Long, GRDC, said it was an opportunity for the organisation to bring the research ‘back to the farm’.
He said from the $190m research investment, largely funded by the levy farmers pay and government dollars, it was important they brought the results back to the growers.
“(what is being presented) It is a balance between what we are doing now and what we can do in the future,” Mr Long said.
From weed seed management to early sowing and managing yourself when things aren’t going well, were the topics discussed.
Mr Long said research into herbicide resistance – with Peter Newman – was interesting and many things were being done at a practical level.
“There is some great research going on, they are practical things that farmers can adopt,” he said.
James Hunt’s presentation on early sowing talked about results from 2015 and a summary of two years of trials.
Mr Long said the presentations talked about the here and now, what growers could do into the future – adapting to the surrounds.
“This allows growers to make sure they have full confidence in what seed they have purchased and then being able to do something with an early rain.”
“I reckon it’s a good thing, there’s some good stuff coming out (of research), we are talking the here and now and what they can do today and how we might cope in the future,” Mr Long said.
