GRAIN growers in the state's South East, Riverland and Murraylands districts will have the opportunity to have their say on where their levies are invested, at upcoming meetings held by GRDC.
Australian growers pay levies on 25 grain crops to support industry research and development, with GRDC tasked with investing the funds appropriately on behalf of industry.
National Grower Network meetings will be held at Coonalpyn (June 26), Naracoorte (June 27), Loxton (June 28) and Bowhill (June 29). The meetings will help GRDC develop locally-relevant RD&E investments.
Lameroo grain grower and GRDC Southern Panel member Lou Flohr said NGN forums were a great opportunity for growers to speak directly to GRDC staff and have a say.
"The NGN forums are the most direct way growers can tell GRDC what issues they are observing and experiencing on their farms, and what RD&E they think is required to improve their farm business," she said.
"Plus, when we all get together there is a great synergy where new ideas can be generated.
"The experts invited to speak at the NGN forums are also identified based on the interests of local growers - so growers also get to hear some of the most recent research updates relevant to their region."
Trengove Consulting's Sam Trengove will feature at the Coonalpyn forum, speaking about powdery mildew resistance development, the impact of varietal resistance on mildew development and what fungicide products work, including new permitted actives.
He will also provide an update on recent sands amelioration research, soil pH mapping and subsurface acidity management.
Southern Farming Systems' Ashley Amourgis will speak on recovery strategies for waterlogged crops at the Naracoorte event, with Elders agronomist Adam Hancock discussing nitrogen strategies to mitigate yield loss from waterlogging.
The Loxton and Bowhill events will feature Barry Mudge Consulting's Barry Mudge who will present on the new GRDC risk initiative which considers nitrogen management risk and reward, plus making risky decisions.
WeedSmart's Chris Davey will discuss how to tackle hard-to-manage weeds using herbicide, mechanical and cultural tactics.
GRDC's consultation process has proven fruitful previously, with growers from SA's Upper South East identifying the need to fill knowledge gaps relating to the agronomic management of recently ameliorated soils.
As a result, GRDC invested in research with the Mackillop Farm Management Group in 2022 to characterise soils and conduct trials and pit demonstrations in the region, and to share results via extension activities.
GRDC grower relation manager - south Courtney Ramsey also noted the large number of NGN investments in the pipeline thanks to the ideas generated by growers.
"We're in the process now of contracting spray workshops in the Mid North of SA, a stripper front project and a lentil check project for the upper Eyre Peninsula," she said.
"It's exciting for us, and for growers who attend and contribute via our NGN forums, to see grower ideas translate directly into projects and then into improved knowledge that growers can put into practice in their own farming systems.
"I encourage growers who haven't been to an NGN before to come. Not only do you get to help guide how we invest, but we also have experts speaking about local issues of interest too."
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