SAGIT funding
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The South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT) will this year fund 22 research projects in topics including crop nutrition, soil health, herbicide use and improving weed control with a total value of $2.3 million.
The trust chose the 22 projects out of 45 applications.
SAGIT chairman Michael Treloar said the trust had been excited by the quality and quantity of applications.
“These new projects will provide some excellent outcomes for growers with a real mix of extension, communication and scientific projects,” he said.
Nidera appointment
NIDERA, the former Dutch-owned business, now a subsidiary of the Chinese state owned enterprise Cofco, has appointed a new chief executive.
Dierk Overheu will start in the role on June 1, taking over from Ton van der Laan.
Nidera is best known in Australia through its Nidera Australia, formerly PentAg Nidera, business which has a strong presence in the Queensland grain accumulation market in particular.
More Canadian durum
Canadian farmers will swing out of milling wheat and canola and into durum wheat this season, according to the North American nation’s official forecaster StatsCan.
In its April report, StatsCan forecast there will be 5 per cent more durum wheat planted, but 6pc less spring wheat and 4pc less canola.
Canadian farmers are also chasing the high prices on offer in the pulse market at present, with lentil plantings also tipped to be on the rise.
GRDC new office
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has opened an office dedicated to its southern region in Adelaide.
The office, located at the National Wine Centre of Australia building in Adelaide, will service the three states that comprise the GRDC’s southern region – South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.
At present five staff are working out of the office, with the potential for more.
One of those staff is newly appointed southern grower services manager Craig Ruchs.
Mr Ruchs returns to Australia for the role after working internationally in research and development (R&D).
He will be responsible for the regional adaptation of GRDC-funded R&D activities.
Support for CBH rejection
CBH says results from an independent grower survey shows it made the right decision in rejection the Australian Grain Champions (AGC) proposal to corporatise the business.
The survey showed 78 per cent of CBH grower members supported the CBH board’s decision to reject the AGC offer.
CBH Group chief executive Andy Crane said the results closely mirrored polls taken during grower consultation after AGC announced its plan.
