Australia
January 15, 2015
- GRDC Grains Research Update in Wagga Wagga on February 17-18
- Focus on emerging systems and new decisions
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) will next month host a major forum in Wagga Wagga to support the grains industry in southern and central west New South Wales through the 2015 cropping season and beyond.
The GRDC Grains Research Update, entitled Emerging systems – new decisions, will be attended by agronomists, consultants, researchers, growers and other grains industry personnel committed to ensuring the State’s grains sector remains productive and profitable well into the future.
To be held at Charles Sturt University on February 17 and 18, the Update will feature a line-up of expert speakers from throughout Australia and overseas who will provide insights into research developments and advice about progressing cropping enterprises.
GRDC Southern Regional Panel chair Keith Pengilley (pictured) says the annual two-day Update is the region’s premier grains research, development and extension (RD&E) forum.
“This year’s event will showcase innovative thinking, products and practices, and will offer valuable advice on opportunities to improve NSW farming systems,” Mr Pengilley said.
Headlining the event will be Malcolm Morrison, a research scientist for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, who will discuss innovations that underpin yield improvements in the Canadian canola industry.
Dr Morrison, who is also a Fellow and past president of the Canadian Society of Agronomy, will inform the audience of the latest state-of-the-art innovations from Canadian science, targeting canola productivity.
Another keynote speaker will be Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI) communications leader Peter Newman, from Geraldton in Western Australia. He will provide a status report on the “war on herbicide resistance” and will focus on where the battle is being won with non-herbicide approaches and research that is promising new tactics.
The Update program will offer a wide range of timely topics and issues and will provide maximum choice for attendees to construct their own preferred learning path over the two days.
Relevant agronomic issues to be covered on day one include frost which will be discussed by a panel of experts, improving herbicide use efficiency through new technology, pastures for purpose, applied nitrogen versus break crops, barley’s place in southern NSW farming systems, strategic tillage, the outcomes of sowing early in 2014 and combining correct soil characteristics and Yield Prophet® for better decisions.
Other day one topics include the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), optimising grain yield and grazing potential of dual purpose crops, sclerotinia and blackleg diseases in canola, the impact of crop residues on summer fallow weeds, the latest products and services from the commercial sector, as well as emerging research by GRDC-funded students.
Day two will feature another two keynote speakers. Victorian Wimmera grain grower Andrew Weidemann, the face of a Crown Lager national television advertisement, will provide insights into his own farm quality assurance commitment and the market opportunities that are potentially threatened by poor stewardship and poor in-paddock decisions, while respected agronomic adviser Harm van Rees will question if leading farmers have closed the yield gap to such an extent that agronomy will struggle to impact on productivity.
Among other subjects to be addressed on day two are new developments with in-crop herbicide research, beet western yellows virus, a focus on canola, pushing the production barriers, the latest messages from soil biology research, pulse developments, new directions in weed management RD&E and the impact of rotation options on resistant ryegrass seed banks and nitrogen nutrition.
Also on day two, a panel of experts will field questions on a range of pests, and information will be delivered on Variety Specific Agronomy Packages (VSAP) trial results and other local research.
For a detailed program and to register for the event please visit www.orm.com.au or www.grdc.com.au/GRDC-Update-Dates or by contacting ORM on 03 5441 6176 or email admin@orm.com.au.
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