Understanding how artificial intelligence is helping to grow farming, advances in spray technology and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on-farm, are some of the key topics at an event for central Victorian grain growers in February.
The Grains Research and Development Corporation's (GRDC) Grains Research Update returns to Bendigo on Tuesday, 25 February and Wednesday, 26 February.
The premier grains industry event will be headlined by well-known agronomist and practice change expert Cam Nicholson talking about GHG emissions on-farm and what growers and advisers need to know.
While CSIRO intelligent agricultural systems specialist Jonathan Richetti will explore how AI can help utilise farm data and drive grower profits.
Canadian spray application guru Tom Wolf is on the program to share learnings from North American farming systems when it comes to nozzle selection and spray technology.
For in-person attendees there will be many networking opportunities including a sundowner on Wednesday evening. Online participation will involve a free livestream of presentations from the main hall, with the opportunity for registered participants to submit questions during the presentations.
Dimboola, Victoria agricultural extension consultant and GRDC Southern Panel Deputy Chair Pru Cook said the Updates were an invaluable networking opportunity for growers, advisers and researchers to engage and discuss key issues for the coming season.
"It builds relationships that mean a grower or adviser can phone up a researcher in the future and have an in-depth chat about an issue they're experiencing," she said.
"This year's event includes highly relevant presentations on blackleg fungicide resistance in canola crops, redefining optimum flowering times of wheat, and barley for future climates."
Ms Cook said she was also looking forward to social science expert Courtney Bailey's presentation on community attitudes to food production and how agriculture can build trust with the Australian public.
GRDC captures input from growers and industry via the National Grower Network to shape GRDC's RD&E investments. The Grains Research Updates complete the circle by providing science-based knowledge back to industry.
GRDC Grower Relations Manager – South Tim Bateman said this year's Update program included the latest information on how growers and advisers could manage dry conditions similar to the 2024 growing season.
"Presentations such as Dr Kenton Porker's talk on achieving water limited yield frontiers in challenging seasons, and Professor James Hunt's update on nitrogen banking in a dry season will both be very useful," he said.
"These highlight how GRDC Updates allow growers and advisers to share their observations of the season, hear how the conditions impacted others, and learn how to adapt on-farm practices and strategies for the future."
Crowds of growers, advisers and researchers are expected to gather once again for Victoria's leading grains RD&E knowledge-sharing event – the GRDC Grains Research Update – Bendigo. Photo: Nick Hallum
Other highlights of the Bendigo program include:
- Can agronomic management improve soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in medium and low rainfall cropping systems, with Roger Armstrong, Agriculture Victoria.
- A deeper understanding of nitrogen cycling and losses, with Rob Norton, Norton Agronomic.
- Valuing soil and plant testing information for agronomic decisions, with Rick Llewellyn, CSIRO.
- Nutrition management for high rainfall crops at risk of waterlogging, with Malcolm McCaskill, Agriculture Victoria.
Mr Bateman said the GRDC Grains Research Update in Bendigo is likely to bring together 300 or more attendees in person, offering plenty of opportunities for learning, asking questions and building personal networks.
"The Updates attract a great mix of people from early-career researchers, agronomists, leading growers and GRDC representatives, and everyone is there to discuss, learn and share," he said.
"It ensures our industry is well connected, and this builds resilience."
Following the Bendigo event, growers and advisers from the Victorian High Rainfall Zone will be able to focus on more local issues at a Grains Research Update to be held at Skipton on 27 February 2025. This four-hour local update will be more of a town hall event for growers and advisers to address issues, ask questions and network with peers in a smaller group setting.
GRDC Grains Research Updates in Victoria are organised by ORM with the support and involvement of many research and industry organisations and individuals.
