Managing weeds was the focus of Hart Field-Site Group's first mini event for 2020, replacing its annual field day in a new approach to adapt to this year's COVID-19 restrictions.
About 70 farmers, advisors and industry representatives were in attendance to view the trial site and hear from research and industry experts on five topics including; new herbicides for managing ryegrass in cereals; controlling broadleaf weeds and ryegrass in lentils, and seed decay research trials.
Hart chair Ryan Wood said the group was continuing to look for innovative ways to share the high-quality research Hart had built its reputation on over the past 39 years.
"It has certainly been a challenging year," he said.
"The Hart board has worked hard to find alternative ways to deliver our program; ways that meet the needs of our members while also meeting public gathering restrictions related to COVID-19.
Still to come on the Hart calendar is the next mini event, the half-day Managing Varieties on October 20.
The Hart trial site is also available to visit by appointment outside of the planned events for those wanting to see how the trials are performing.
Self-guided tours are particularly encouraged and to simplify the process for visitors, each trial has been signposted with a QR code which can be simply scanned on a smartphone or tablet and data specific to that particular trial will pop up instantly.
Stock Journal's Vanessa Binks went along to the event to capture the action.