Geraldton port zone grain growers will gather in Mullewa next month to hear industry experts present the latest research and development outcomes that can be used to guide on-farm decision making.
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is holding a regional Grains Research Update at the Mullewa Sports Club on Friday, February 22, hosted by the Mullewa Dryland Farmers Initiative and the Mingenew Irwin Group.
GRDC grower relations manager – west, Jo Wheeler, said information to be presented at the Update was tailored to address key issues relevant to growers in the port zone, and was aimed at informing their tactical decisions for 2019 and beyond.
"Just as the production issues that face growers are constantly evolving, research and development (R&D) is responding to these issues each year, and new R&D results can help to build the long-term profitability of grain producing enterprises," Ms Wheeler said.
"The GRDC Grains Research Update, Geraldton Zone, will give local growers the opportunity to find out about key R&D outcomes that are relevant to them.
"Many of the R&D results have been generated from investments made by the GRDC on behalf of growers."
A number of the Mullewa presentations will focus on weed issues, including an address on ‘Precision weed control – current technology and promises of things to come’, co-presented by Guillaume Jourdain, chief executive officer of French technology startup company Bilberry, and Northampton grower Ben Cripps.
Thanks to specially developed artificial intelligence algorithms, Bilberry technology can detect green weeds in green crops at 60 kilometres per hour, day and night.
University of Sydney associate professor and director of weed research, Michael Walsh, will speak about a recently developed ‘targeted tillage machine’ for weed control, and Planfarm consultant Peter Newman, who is also western region extension agronomist for the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI), will address the topic ‘Seed Terminator and Seed Destructor – how did they perform in the paddock in 2018?’
ADAMA Australia market development manager Bevan Addison will speak about managing weeds in lupin crops.
Other presentations at the Update will include:
- Counting canola – how much can we reduce harvest losses? – Peter Newman, Planfarm;
- Management of Sclerotinia – Sarita Bennett, Centre for Crop and Disease Management, and Ravjit Khangura, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD);
- Managing soil constraints: sodic and heavy soils – panel with Debbie Gillam, Mingenew Irwin Group, Mingenew grower Ben McTaggart and Wayne Parker, DPIRD;
- Using pastures to strengthen mixed farming systems – Adrian Rossi, DPIRD;
- Multi-peril crop insurance: a grower’s perspective – Latham grower Dylan Hirsch;
- Tactical management of nitrogen in wheat and barley crops – Dion Nicol, DPIRD;
- Innovation in motion (seed singulation planter and other ideas) – Tammin grower Brad Jones
- Growing barley in the Geraldton zone – Geoff Fosbery, ConsultAg.
The GRDC Grains Research Update, Geraldton Zone, will be from 8.45am to 4.30pm, with catering provided. The event will be followed by a sundowner, until 6pm, sponsored by Grain Growers Limited.
