Australia
September 30, 2013

Northern grain growers’ most pressing local production constraints will be addressed under new research projects to be funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

The GRDC has called for tenders for projects investigating key local research, development and extension (RD&E) issues, including improved varieties, maximising yields and better meeting market requirements.

GRDC northern regional panel chairman James Clark said the tender information was outlined in the GRDC External Investment Plan 2014-15, which details a range of research projects that meet the GRDC’s investment themes of meeting market requirements; improving crop yield; crop protection; advancing profitable farming systems; improving the farm resource base; and building skills and capacity.

“The External Investment Plan 2014-15 provides an opportunity for prospective research partners to work with the GRDC to ensure that Australian grain growers have knowledge of and access to practices that enable them to increase farm profitability,” Mr Clark said.

“Tenders have been called for a number of projects specific to the northern region, which meet these objectives and respond to the immediate needs of Queensland and northern NSW grain growers.”

Northern specific research projects will include:

• High yielding cereal agronomy in the northern grains region – identifying site-specific soil and agronomic challenges and managing the risks associated with the increased inputs needed to maximise yields.
• Eliminating grain defects in chickpeas – downgrading of chickpeas due to grain defects can cost a grower $50-80 per tonne on receival; this project will identify genetic variability and map the incidence of seed markings by running field trials to examine the potential role of environmental triggers.
• Tactical crop agronomy for sorghum and maize in the northern region – this project will address the need for better tactical agronomy packages for sorghum that incorporate local information and assist in maximising yields.
• Northern region agribusiness trial extension network – this project will enhance local RD&E activities between growers, advisers and agribusiness based around agronomic trials in targeted areas of the GRDC’s Northern Region.

Mr Clark said that in addition to these projects, the GRDC External Investment Plan 2014-15 outlined longer-term and nation-wide investments to be made by the GRDC.

The GRDC External Investment Plan 2014-15 is available at www.grdc.com.au/Investment-Plan