With the northern grains industry facing fresh challenges to farm profitability, industry gathered to hear the latest information to guide on-farm decision making at the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Update in Goondiwindi recently.
Topics discussed at the 2020 Grains Research Update included a fall armyworm update, grain production in a changing climate, understanding maximum residue limits and trade issues, fertiliser decisions, herbicide resistance management, optimising cereal yield, cereal pathology after the drought, and maintaining wheat yield and quality under high temperatures.
The Updates are premiere events on the northern grains industry calendar, bringing together some of Australia's leading grain research scientists, agronomists, consultants and growers.
GRDC Grower Relations Manager – North, Susan McDonnell, said topics had been selected by local planning committees to ensure they were regionally relevant, credible and science-based new information, practical and ready for on-farm adoption with the potential to make a tangible difference to growers' bottom lines.
"It's important that we continue to lift the bar on production and profitability for the grains industry and the GRDC is investing in research on behalf of growers to ensure that happens," she said.
"It is equally important to communicate the progress and outcomes of these research projects, which tackle productivity constraints and break new ground in agricultural technology.
"The Updates are the ideal forum for learning, sharing ideas and networking, all of which are critical to successful and effective change."
"The mood of attendees at the Goondiwindi Update last week was buoyant following recent rain, but we are all aware more rain is needed to ensure a sustainable seasonal improvement and to allow some of these research lessons to be implemented at paddock level."
Social photos from the event are available. Captions below:
Pic 1: AgForce regional manager Lauren Young, Booligar, Dirranbandi, with Tom Crothers, Nufarm, St George, and agronomist Tessa Dimond from Meremley Agricultural Services, St George, at the Goondiwindi GRDC Update last week.
Pic 2: Experienced agronomist Rob Long from Delta Ag with Jenny Brooks from Crown Analytical at the Goondiwindi event.
Pic 3: Grain grower Peter Jackson, Inverness, Gurley and Paul McIntosh, Pulse Australia, Toowoomba, caught up at the annual Goondiwindi Grains Research Update.
Pic 4: Researcher Chris Munnings, CSIRO, Canberra, and Scott Campbell, Elders, Toowoomba, at the two-day Update.
Pic 5: Jan Edwards, Incitec Pivot, Toowoomba, with grain grower Lisa Minogue, Barmedman, NSW.
Pic 6: John Rochecouste, GRDC, Toowoomba, with the 2020 GRDC Seed of Light award winner, Paul McIntosh, and Linda McDougall, GRDC, Toowoomba, at the Grains Research Update in Goondiwindi.
Pic 7: Kym McIntyre, Biosecurity Queensland, with Hugh Reardon-Smith, Nutrien, Pittsworth, and Melina Miles, DAF, Toowoomba, at the GRDC Update.
Pic 8: Lawrie Price from Northern Grower Alliance, Toowoomba, with Lindsay Bell, CSIRO, Toowoomba, and Phil Glover, Sumitomo Chemical, Gunnedah, and Branko Duric, NGA, Tamworth.
Pic 9: Nikki Seymour, DAF, Toowoomba, caught up with Richard Holzknecht, GRDC, Toowoomba, at the Goondiwindi GRDC Update recently.
Pic 10: Some of the team from DAF Queensland – from left, Rod Collins, Biloela, with Darren Aisthorpe, Emerald, and David Lawrence, Toowoomba.
Pic 11: UQ lecturer Alwyn Williams, Gatton, with post doctorate student Kylie Wenham, Gatton, and Connar McLaren, agronomy technical officer, UQ, Gatton.
Pic 12: Seed Force team Tanya Hayes, Tamworth and Todd Jones, Toowoomba, were flying their industry flag at the Goondiwindi GRDC Grains Research Update.
