Grain growers will have an opportunity to compare early and main season maturity wheat and barley trials, as well as hybrid wheat and new release bread wheat and durum varieties at the Tosari Crop Research Centre field day at Pampas on October 1.
This will continue the series of field days hosted at the 748ha research farm on the Condamine River, south west of Toowoomba. The grains industry owned farm was purchased in 2017 and is operated by Queensland Crop Research Ltd (QCR Ltd) on behalf of Australian grain growers.
QCR Ltd chairman and Goondiwindi grain grower Tom Woods said work was underway to develop the farm into a world-class grains applied research, development, extension (RD&E) and training facility.
"The research farm is in its infancy and while research work has continued thanks to our irrigation capacity, the current dry season has had an impact on trials," Mr Woods said.
"But as growers, researchers and agronomists we know you can also learn a lot by continuing to run research trials during tough years."
Mr Woods said industry's response to having a grower-owned research farm located on the Darling Downs had been "very positive" and growers already recognised the centre as being a significant and important resources in terms of on-going, grass-roots driven RD&E.
The farm is one of Australia's largest cropping research stations and offers researchers the capability and capacity to run efficient short and long-term trials. It also has significant on-farm water storage, along with bore and river irrigation options which has allowed research work to continue during the current dry period.
"This field day is an opportunity for growers to come and see this farm, which they have a financial stake in, and hear firsthand the results from research work being done here," Mr Woods said.
"Tosari Crop Research Centre is open to public and private organisations of research and development activities which will benefit growers and its location – close to established scientific institutions in Toowoomba and Warwick – means researchers can do both summer and winter farming trials."
On offer at the October field day will be information and trial sites showcasing:
- Grains Research and Development Corporation's (GRDC) National Variety Trials in early and main season wheat and barley. Breeding companies will be available to answer questions.
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries with the latest Desi and Kabuli chickpea germplasm.
- Crown rot resistant and tolerant lines will be presented by the University of Sydney, CSIRO and the University of Southern Queensland. This is also a GRDC project.
- Hybrid wheat lines and hybrid production will be demonstrated by the University of Sydney.
- Australian Grain Technologies and Longreach Plant Breeders have plots of new releases of bread wheat and durum.
- VNET Precision Farming will have their JD MaxEmerge demonstration planter on display and be on hand to answer grower questions.
- New and improved Weedit from Croplands. Plus updates on new nozzle technologies to support the 2,4D management strategies for summer.
The Tosari Crop Research Centre field day is on:
- When: October 1 from 8am until midday
- Where: Yarramalong Road, 1149 Millmerran-Leyburn Road, Tummaville. Parking on Yarramalong Road.
Morning tea and lunch provided by Brookstead State school P&C.
QCR Ltd directors will also be on hand for the event. The current board includes Goondiwindi grain grower Tom Woods, former GRDC Northern Regional Panel Chairman James Clark, southern New South Wales grain grower Murray Scholz, Elders Northern Zone Technical Services Manager Maree Crawford and grain grower John Sheppard, Iredale, Toowoomba.
