New South Wales, Australia
August 18, 2014

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) have a common purpose in maximising returns to grain growers and ensuring the region has the research skills and capacity required to take it forward into the future.

This close working partnership has existed between the two organisations for many years and has underpinned the delivery of comprehensive and meaningful research and extension outcomes to industry.

This year, for the first time, that partnership will extend to the Commonwealth Bank AgQuip field days when the GRDC and NSW DPI will join forces to host a Showcase barbeque breakfast giving grain growers an opportunity to hear the latest in summer and winter crop information from some of the region’s leading research authorities.

GRDC Northern Panel chairman James Clark (pictured) said the GRDC was committed to forging a strong long-term collaboration between government, the scientific community, a network of research agronomists and growers as a means of encouraging a robust, resilient industry.

“Building industry capacity and capability to 2030 will be critical if we want to continue raising the bar in production, best practice management across the farming system and farm profitability,” Mr Clark said.

“Effective industry partnerships, both public and private, are an ideal way to drive meaningful research and extension programs while retaining our research and agronomy professionals in the labs and out in the paddocks.”

The GRDC/NSW DPI complimentary barbeque breakfast is being held on Wednesday August 20 at 7:30am at site I/24 and all growers are invited to attend.

Breakfast guests must bring the invitation flyer with them to present at the entrance - centre Grid Gate 11. A copy can be downloaded and printed from www.grdc.com.au/Event-AgQuipBreakfast.

The speaker line-up includes GRDC Northern Panel chairman James Clark, NSW DPI Northern Cropping Systems Manager at the Tamworth Agricultural Institute Dr Guy McMullen, Leader Northern Dryland Cropping Systems with NSW DPI, Loretta Serafin, NSW DPI cereal plant pathologist Dr Steven Simpfendorfer, NSW DPI research and development agronomist Kathi Hertel and NSW DPI plant pathologist Joop van Leur.

Topics include an update on summer crop conditions and issues, cereal disease update, mungbean and soybean agronomy and crop virus issues in 2014.

The GRDC will be onsite at I/24 for the duration of AgQuip and welcomes growers to drop in for coffee, to discuss any relevant issues or attain advice on the use of GRDC’s range of GrowNotes, apps or other extension initiatives.

Growers planning on attending the breakfast should RSVP Monday August 18 to Liz Tydd 02 67 63 1454  liz.tydd@dpi.nsw.gov.au or Sharon O’Keeffe 0409 279 328 sharon.okeeffe@grdc.com.au.

Website: http://www.grdc.com.au

Published: August 18, 2014