A recruitment drive is underway for new regional agronomists to bolster grains research as part of a major commitment by SARDI and the GRDC.
The agronomists will deliver high quality, locally relevant research in the major cropping regions of SA and provide a vital link with regional graingrowers and agribusinesses.
Four regional agronomists will be based in Port Lincoln, Clare, Loxton and Waite, while two agronomists are already in place at Port Lincoln/Minnipa and Naracoorte.
Mariano Cossani is the agronomist for the EP and Amanda Pearce is the agronomist for the South East.
In the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula, the agronomists’ focus will be on weed management, and in the Upper EP, they will be working with national initiatives to better manage heat and frost risks.
The focus in the Mallee will be on overcoming constraints to crop and pasture growth on sandy soils, while in the SE they will be working on the integration of grazing and cropping systems.
The regional agronomist program is being funded as part of the $50 million SARDI/GRDC bilateral agreement.
GRDC southern regional panel chair Keith Pengilley said the appointment of new agronomists in SA was a ‘win-win’ for the state’s growers.
“The new roles will not only increase research capacity within the SA grains industry, but will improve the delivery of research and development activities targeted to areas of identified priority need,” he said.
“Our agreement with the SA government underlines the GRDC’s ongoing commitment to investing in R&D and extension to create enduring profitability for Australian graingrowers.”
SARDI acting executive director Kathy Ophel-Keller said the new regional agronomist roles would be critical in boosting research targeted to the priorities of key SA cropping regions.
“They will be instrumental in delivering the benefits of national research initiatives, and tailoring the outcomes to the state’s cropping regions,” she said.
“The research will assist graingrowers to reduce risk and increase profitability.”
The SA grains industry generates $4.6 billion or 28 per cent of the state’s gross food revenue.
