GRDC
Growers’ Report
2013–14
The Grains Research and Development Corporation is a statutory authority established to plan
and invest in research, development and extension (RD&E) for the Australian grains industry.
Its primary objective is to drive the discovery, development and delivery of world-class innovation to
enhance the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Australian grain growers and benefit the
industry and the wider community.
Its primary business activity is the allocation and management of investment in grains RD&E.
GRDC Vision
A profitable and sustainable Australian grains industry, valued by the wider community.
GRDC Mission
Create value by driving the discovery, development and delivery of world-class innovation in the
Australian grains industry.
GRDC Values
We are committed and passionate about the Australian grains industry.
We value creativity and innovation.
We build strong relationships and partnerships based on mutual trust and respect.
We act ethically and with integrity.
We are transparent and accountable to our stakeholders.
Contents
Report from the Chair and the Managing Director
1
Reports from the GRDC regions
3
Investment highlights
16
The GRDC team
46
TELEPHONE: 02 6166 4500 FACSIMILE: 02 6166 4599 EMAIL: grdc@grdc.com.au INTERNET:
www.grdc.com.au
Report from the Chair and the Managing
Director
An overview of the achievements of the grains industry and the GRDC in 2013–14, and a
glimpse of the year ahead.
Total grains production in Australia increased by 11 percent in 2013–14. Although a dry
season in Queensland and northern New South Wales resulted in a disappointing finish to
the winter season, a record harvest in the west and strong performance in South Australia
contributed to the second largest Australian winter crop on record.
The fact that Australia continues to grow increasing amounts of grain from a relatively
consistent area of land sown is due to the innovation and tenacity of Australia’s grain
growers, supported by the GRDC investments outlined in this report.
While increasing productivity is important, the GRDC is also focused on ensuring that
growers are maximising their profitability. Across Australia, costs for grain-producing farms
continued to rise in 2013–14, increasing by around 5 percent. The GRDC is supporting
growers by providing the tools to design and manage farming systems with the flexibility to
adapt and respond, manage risk and generate profit.
Grains industry production
In 2013–14, total grains production in Australia was 46.4 million tonnes, with an estimated
gross value of production of $15.4 billion.
Total winter crop production increased by 17 percent to 44 million tonnes. In Western
Australia, winter crop production increased by 55 percent to a record 17.2 million tonnes,
reflecting favourable spring growing conditions in the central and southern parts of the
state. In South Australia, winter crop production increased by 31 percent to around 8.6
million tonnes, the third highest level of production on record. Victorian winter crop
production increased by 2 percent to 7.1 million tonnes. In contrast, due to dry seasonal
conditions, winter crop production declined by 14 percent to 9.3 million tonnes in New
South Wales and by 20 percent to 1.6 million tonnes in Queensland.
Overall, summer crop production declined by 35 percent to 1.6 million tonnes. Significantly,
sorghum production fell by 36 percent to around 1.3 million tonnes, due to a 17 percent fall
in the area planted, as a result of continuing dry conditions.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
1
Total grain production by state, 2009–10 to 2013–14 (million tonnes)
Source: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences Australian Crop Report, September 2014.
Where your research dollars were invested in 2013–14
GRDC performance
The GRDC is in a strong financial position. An increase in revenue in 2013–14, largely due to
the record growing season and firm prices, resulted in an operating surplus of $24.7 million,
further contributing to the GRDC’s available reserves.
A key measure of how successfully the GRDC is performing is the Grower Survey. The 2014
survey was the first to ask growers how satisfied they were with GRDC performance—the
average score given was 6.9 out of 10 points. Importantly, of the 1,200 growers surveyed,
the majority (76 percent) remain comfortable or extremely comfortable with paying the
R&D levy, and 82 percent believe that the GRDC is addressing threats to long-term
sustainability of their farms.
The GRDC is also successfully meeting the key performance indicators that keep its annual
operations in line with the targets of its five-year strategic R&D plan. During 2013–14, 939
research, development and extension (RD&E) projects were funded by the GRDC, ranging
from short-term solution based projects to strategic, long-term initiatives that will deliver
step-change breakthroughs for complex problems, such as herbicide resistance and frost, in
the future.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
The National Variety Trials (NVT) program now has over 630 trial sites at more than 300
locations, delivering independent crop variety analysis for 10 grain crops. Results of the
2014 Grower Survey showed that 89 percent of growers were aware of the NVT program,
43 percent accessed NVT data and 95 percent of those who accessed the data considered
that it helped with variety decisions.
GRDC-funded investments in public programs and private companies resulted in the
release of 18 new crop varieties in 2013–14. Newly released varieties will give growers more
options for higher yielding crops and more profitable rotation options for their farming
systems.
How the GRDC is funded
The quality and extent of Australian grains research, extension and education are envied
throughout the world. The unique method of combining public and industry research
funding, with regional input and national coordination, provides scientific and management
breakthroughs for grain growers. This translates into productivity gains essential in maintaining
competitiveness in world markets.
Depending on seasonal conditions, the grains industry invests around $160 million in research,
development and extension (RD&E) through the GRDC each year. This is funded by a
combination of:


growers paying a levy on the net farm gate value of grain produced
the Australian Government matching the growers’ contribution, based on a sliding scale
related to the market value of the various grains.
The statutory levy rate is 0.693 percent for maize and 0.99 percent for 24 leviable crops:
wheat; coarse grains—barley, oats, sorghum, triticale, millets/panicums, cereal rye and
canary seed; pulses—lupins, field peas, chickpeas, faba beans, vetch, peanuts, mung
beans, navy beans, pigeon peas, soybeans, cowpeas and lentils; and oilseeds—canola,
sunflower, safflower and linseed.
The Australian Government matches the levy income up to a maximum of 0.50 percent of
the gross value of grains production, such that the government contribution does not
exceed grower levies. In effect, the government contributes around 30 percent to
40 percent of total GRDC revenue.
In 2013–14, this system raised more than $180 million, which was invested back into the
industry via the funding of more than 900 research projects.
GRDC partnerships
The Grains Industry National Research, Development and Extension Strategy (Grains Industry
National RD&E Strategy) has enabled the GRDC to make more strategic, long-term
investments with research partners.
In 2013–14, the GRDC announced a bilateral agreement with Curtin University to create the
Centre for Crop and Disease Management. This five-year investment will provide a high
level of focus and national coordination that will speed up delivery of good quality results to
growers. The centre will carry out R&D to sustainably reduce the impact of important grain
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
3
diseases and ultimately provide solutions to critical factors impacting on farm business
resilience, including drought.
Another major achievement was the launch of the Australian Grains Genebank at Horsham,
a joint investment between the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary
Industries and the GRDC. The genebank will centralise crop genetic resource services within
a national system for the first time. It will also ensure that Australia's genetic resources are
properly preserved into the future, helping to provide a level of security around food
production for centuries to come.
Internationally, the GRDC continues to build on its long-term relationships, including the
formal strategic alliances with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
(CIMMYT) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
to deliver benefits to Australian grain growers and farmers in the developing world. The
GRDC is also expanding the CIMMYT–Australia–ICARDA Germplasm Evaluation (CAIGE)
program to include additional crops of importance to the Australian grains industry, to
ensure that plant breeders have long-term, targeted access to germplasm.
An exciting new international collaboration has been developed through a partnership
between the GRDC, the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries and
the United States eXtension Foundation. A pilot system has been developed to support
knowledge extension through virtual communities. The eXtensionAUS website allows
advisers and growers easy access to advice from cropping experts across Australia. With its
ability to foster collaboration among subject matter experts, eXtensionAUS could become
a powerful platform for innovation, connecting growers and their advisers to the latest and
best research.
The year ahead
The GRDC is firmly focused on ensuring that growers get maximum returns on their
investment in R&D, leading, in turn, to food production and economic benefits for the
wider Australian community.
The Australian grains industry is in a strong position. Grain growers’ confidence in the
industry’s future has risen significantly: 93 percent of 2014 Grower Survey respondents
believe the industry is in fair, good or extremely good shape.
However, there is no doubt that significant challenges lie ahead, threatening our capacity
to increase production and on-farm profits. The GRDC is developing specific initiatives to
find solutions to key issues such as herbicide resistance, frost and disease through R&D.
The continued development of bilateral agreements and strategic partnerships with private
enterprise and international entities will ensure that Australian growers can access new
technologies and maintain a competitive edge. Next year, the GRDC will announce more
4
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
strategic, long-term bilateral agreements with key research partners to improve RD&E
delivery and build the nation's R&D capacity under the Grains Industry National RD&E
Strategy.
At a corporate level we are also ensuring that the GRDC is efficient, effective and well
positioned to meet the needs of growers and research partners. The GRDC has grown
significantly since its creation almost 25 years ago, to become one of the major funding
contributors to grains research in Australia. Today, the GRDC facilitates over 40 percent of
Australia’s total spend on grains R&D.
Given the significant level of change seen in the industry over the past decade, the GRDC
Board believes that now is the right time to ensure that the corporation will be ready to
make the most of future opportunities in a global agricultural commodity and research
environment. The Board will consider the recommendations resulting from an industry-led
review of the GRDC's governance framework to ensure that the best framework is in place
to meet the challenges of the next 25 years.
Richard Clark
Chair
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
John Harvey
Managing Director
5
How the GRDC meets your priorities
The GRDC’s role is to invest in R&D and related activities, across a portfolio spanning
temperate and tropical cereals, coarse grains, pulses and oilseeds, to benefit Australian
grain growers, industry and the wider community. This involves:



investigating and evaluating the requirements for R&D in the grains industry
coordinating and funding R&D activities
helping with the dissemination, adoption and commercialisation of the results of R&D.
To ensure that its investments meet the needs of its stakeholders, the GRDC follows a
strategic approach with consultation at every stage.
A five-year strategic R&D plan underpins the GRDC’s investment process. The plan is
designed to achieve a balanced portfolio of investments that address the short-, mediumand long-term R&D priorities of the Australian grains industry. It also describes the
performance indicators that will be used to measure the impact of the strategies.
Each year, the strategic priorities are translated into immediate objectives through the
annual operational plan and investment plans, taking in up-to-date information on the
industry’s changing needs.
The GRDC learns about the priorities of the grains industry through the knowledge and
networks of its Board and regional advisory panel members, and through interactions with:





Grain Producers Australia, grower groups, grower representative organisations and
individual growers
Regional Cropping Solutions networks and Grower Solutions Groups
agribusiness reference groups, and advisers and others who provide goods and services
to growers
other parties in the grains value chain, from plant breeders to marketers
RD&E providers and scientists working in relevant areas of research and innovation.
The GRDC’s investment decisions are also informed by the goals of the Grains Industry
National RD&E Strategy and R&D priorities set out by the Australian Government.
The GRDC’s Strategic R&D Plan 2012–17 commenced in July 2012. It is based on six key
themes that growers identified as priorities:






meeting market requirements
improving crop yield
protecting your crop
advancing profitable farming systems
improving your farm resource base
building skills and capacity.
The strategic themes position us to optimise the relevance and effectiveness of our
investments and ensure that growers achieve the best possible return on their contribution to
the GRDC.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
1
GRDC financials at a glance
2013–14
2012–13
2011–12
2010–11
2009–10
$118.2m
$97.7m
$104.5m
$74.1m
GRDC overview
Grower R&D levies
collected
$120.2m
▲
Australian Government
contribution
$68.6m
▲
$62.8m
$55.9m
$53.4m
$50.1m
Interest, royalties and other
income
$20.3m
▲
$15.4m
$23.9m
$17.6m
$19.6m
Total revenue
$209.1m
▲
$196.4m
$177.5m
$175.5m
$143.8m
R&D expenditure
$165.4m
▲
$159.2m
$150.2m
$140.7m
$116.8m
$18.7m
▲
$15.8m
$13.9m
$12.6m
$12.0m
$0.3m
▼
$3.0m
$1.0m
$0.8m
$4.6m
$184.4m
▲
$178.0m
$165.1m
$154.1m
$133.4m
$24.7m
▲
$18.4m
$12.3m
$20.8m
$9.8m
Total assets
$267.7m
▲
$265.3m
$230.7m
$206.0m
$176.7m
Total equity
$203.8m
▲
$180.6m
$162.2m
$149.3m
$128.5m
939
▲
920
896
868
822
19,101
–
19,101
20,960
21,144
20,989
Estimated gross value of
productionc
$15,413m
▲
$13,622m
$12,237m
$11,964m
$8,573m
Total grain production—
summer and winter crops
(‘000 tonnes)e
46,361
▲
41,700
49,687
44,629
37,502
Employee, supplier and
depreciation expenses
Asset revaluations
Total expenditure
Operating surplus/(deficit)
Total projectsa
Grains industry profile
Estimated number of grain
farmsb
a
Projects that received funding during the financial year. Figures for 2009–10 to 2012–13 restate the numbers of
projects shown in previous reports to focus on projects that received funding during the financial year.
b
ABARES estimates for the number of broadacre farms planting at least 100 hectares for grain, oilseed or pulse
production. No updated estimate for 2013–14 was available at the time of publication.
c
ABARES estimates for the gross value of production of grains and oilseeds, excluding rice—from the June 2014
Agricultural Commodities report.
d
ABARES estimates for total summer and winter crop production, excluding cotton seed and rice—from the June 2014
Australian Crop Report and the June 2014 Agricultural Commodities report.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Sources of research levies in 2013–14
Reserves, R&D payments and revenue ($m)
R&D investments by theme in 2013–14
R&D investments by region in 2013–14
Income in 2013–14
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Expenditure and investments in 2013–14
3
2014 Grower Survey
Every two years, the GRDC seeks feedback from growers to assess its performance and
track the adoption of new technology and practices. The latest survey was conducted in
2014 by independent consulting firm Down To Earth Research. A total of 1,200 growers
took part, from 13 agroecological zones across the three grain-growing regions.
Confidence
Australian grain growers’ confidence in their industry is strong and getting stronger. In
2014, 38% believe the industry is in good to extremely good shape, while 45% think it is in
fair shape—the best result since 2005. This optimism is reflected in a significant increase in
the proportion of grains enterprises that are expanding.
One reason for confidence is the belief that grains industry R&D is effective. Overall, 73% of
growers have felt a direct benefit from grains R&D in the past five years (62% of that group
consider the GRDC played a role). In addition, 82% believe that R&D is addressing longterm sustainability threats fairly to very well—the best result since 2004.
Sustainable farming
Grain growers are innovative and flexible in adopting new practices to improve the
productivity and profitability of their farms, and to ensure their longer term sustainability.
Most growers are now more confident than they were five years ago in handling weeds,
insect pests and diseases. The adoption of integrated management systems has become
more widespread, particularly for integrated weed management, which is now applied by
82% of growers. Of the survey respondents with crop protection problems, 72% said that
GRDC information had assisted them; this equates to two-thirds of all growers.
While the proportion of growers using chemicals more extensively has increased slightly,
growers are alert to the risks of herbicide resistance, and 92% are acting to delay or
manage it. Further work may be needed on options for managing fungicide resistance and
biosecurity, issues that only 53% of growers are tackling on farm.
Adoption of precision agriculture methods has been expanding since 2005, and 9 out of 10
grain enterprises are now using at least one method. GPS guidance and yield monitoring
are most common, but uptake has steadily increased for controlled traffic and variable rate
application methods, to reach 34% and 25% respectively.
A very high 94% of growers are improving the condition and productive capacity of their
soils. In the past two years, 11% have changed their practices to improve soil health, and
13% have started using crop rotations. The proportion of growers using nutrient budgeting
has significantly increased, to 68%.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
1
There have also been significant increases in the proportions of growers who believe that
climate change is or will be a threat to their businesses, to 41%, and growers who have
adopted new practices to manage climate variability, to 59%.
Farm business management is an area that may need attention, as there has been a
significant increase in the proportion of grains enterprises without a formal business plan or
budget. Of those who do have a business plan, 65% say it has improved profitability.
New varieties
In 2014, new grain varieties met the expectations of 70% of growers fairly to very well. This
result was consistent across the three regions.
Of the growers who accessed National Variety Trials information, 95% found that it helped
them to choose varieties. The NVT Online website was used by 31% of growers.
The proportion of growers choosing varieties that attract end point royalties increased only
slightly, but the proportion of that group who believe those varieties deliver additional
value increased significantly, and most would grow those varieties again.
GRDC performance
It is pleasing to report that 19% of growers rated the GRDC’s performance as ‘very high’—
the best result in 10 years—while 79% rated our performance fairly or very highly.
The proportion of growers who accessed information from the GRDC in relation to
changing their farming practices rose to 95%. The information typically came from Ground
Cover (mentioned by 84%) or supplements and fact sheets (69%).
Ground Cover remains the most highly regarded source of GRDC information, and the
proportion of growers who value it ‘a lot’ has trended steadily upwards since 2010.
Future investments
Most growers regard R&D investment as critical for their farm businesses and believe that
the GRDC should be involved in a broad spectrum of R&D areas. Crop protection, herbicide
resistance management, soil health, and new crop varieties are the highest priorities for
growers in 2014. The survey feedback will inform our RD&E investment planning for 2014–
15 and the longer term.
While almost all growers are aware of the GRDC, there has been a slight drop in knowledge
of the GRDC’s role. To ensure that all growers are able to benefit from our work, we will
focus on effectively branding GRDC outputs and reaching growers in all locations.
We value growers’ participation in the survey, and look forward to using the results to
improve the way we meet your business needs. To access the full report visit
www.grdc.com.au/Grower-Survey-Results.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
REPORTS FROM THE GRDC REGIONS
Stretching from Dubbo in central New South Wales to the top of Queensland, the GRDC
Northern Region ranges from temperate to tropical climates and has the greatest diversity
of crops and farming systems in the nation. To deliver a responsive and focused research
agenda for such a diverse region, the GRDC engages with local growers and industry
through the Northern Regional Panel.
Over the past year, more than 400 growers and advisers were directly contacted through
the Northern Region’s Grower Solutions Group projects and had the opportunity to put
forward their local issues. The Northern Regional Panel also received feedback from more
than a thousand registrants at GRDC updates, and through industry meetings, panel tours
and ongoing discussions with researchers.
The panel’s role is to strategically design research, development and extension (RD&E)
investments and ensure that they will deliver against the regional priorities identified by the
panel through industry engagement. Working within the GRDC’s themes of investment,
the panel helps to set short-, medium- and long-term strategies for delivery of research
outcomes to the Northern Region. This helps to ensure that the results of GRDC
investments in RD&E reflect the needs of growers and industry.
The Northern Panel continues to be driven by the aim of putting dollars back in growers’
pockets by ensuring that their R&D levy is the best investment they make each year and
that the results of R&D are extended to them so that they can make the best decisions at a
paddock level.
Investment priorities
The Northern Regional Panel looks at research priorities for three distinct timeframes:
 1–3 years—This timeframe covers the panel’s investment in the region’s four Grower
Solutions Groups. These groups look at emerging production issues that require an
immediate response. This investment window also covers all of the region’s investment
in extension and communication activities, including GRDC updates, issue-based
workshops, and products such as Ground Cover and GrowNotes.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
3


3–8 years—This timeframe covers the many traditional, ongoing areas of investment
that the GRDC has with state government departments and universities. The panel has
categorised its investments within this timeframe into the following 10 investment
areas, and has made a strategic budget allocation to each: Cereal Agronomy; Pulse
Agronomy; Oilseed Agronomy; Farming Systems; Entomology and Pests; Pathology;
Weeds; Soils; Nutrition; and Environment and Climate.
8+ years—This timeframe covers the panel’s continuing investments in breeding and
pre-breeding programs. The benefits of this longer term investment strategy can be
seen in the recent improved varieties of crops such as chickpeas, mungbeans and
soybeans, and the rapid uptake by wheat-breeding companies of germplasm developed
by the current crown rot initiative.
This structure allows the panel to look at its investments as part of an integrated portfolio
of both national and regional investments in RD&E.
Capacity building
The development of a clear regional plan for RD&E capacity and capability requirements
over the next 20 years has enabled the GRDC and its partners to finalise some very
significant capacity-building investments.
The development of the plan and a regional investment process has allowed the GRDC to
jointly invest with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and
the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (QDAFF) in the building
of a network of regional R&D nodes. The network will have nodes in each state, at Emerald,
Darling Downs, Goondiwindi and Kingaroy in Queensland, and Narrabri, Tamworth and
Trangie in New South Wales. Each node will have a combination of research agronomists
and technical staff and the necessary equipment to conduct detailed trials. By allowing the
region’s key researchers to efficiently conduct trials across the Northern Region, the
network will greatly improve researchers’ ability to address regional issues.
The plan also allowed the GRDC, NSW DPI and QDAFF to contract what is clearly the
largest single investment in research capacity building in the Northern Region. Eighteen
new postdoctoral positions will be created across the region and filled over the next three
years. These positions will target key succession-planning issues that will arise in the years
to come, and will aim to build research capacity in key areas. Part of the agreement
between the partners is that these positions will have a clear career pathway to permanent
employment within the region.
Delivering the latest research to growers
The GRDC, in partnership with industry, is continually striving to raise the bar for grains
production and deliver meaningful, tangible research benefits to growers. GrowNotes, an
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
entirely new initiative for the Northern Region, is a direct response to grower calls for more
accessible and interpreted information.
Presented as an online flipbook, each set of GrowNotes provides an overview of a crop and
a range of farm practice reference notes for that crop, and backs them up with Northern
Region trial results and best practice recommendations, so growers can make informed
farm management decisions. The reference notes are digital documents, available online,
so they can be used with e-publishing technology that makes information easy to find and
navigate.
In addition to the comprehensive reference notes, expressed in plain English, GrowNotes
modules include links to original research and trial information for further study. The
modules will be updated at least annually so that the most current research is integrated
into the recommendations and growers can be sure that they are following the most
up-to-date advice.
GrowNotes are currently available for wheat, barley, chickpeas, faba beans, sorghum and
sunflowers and will continue to be developed for all the most important grain crops for the
Northern Region.
Spring tours
The Northern Panel split into two groups for its spring tours in 2014.
Central Queensland
A group made up of panellists Keith Harris, John Sheppard and Jack Williamson, Panel
Support Officer David Lord, GRDC Board member Kim Halbert and GRDC Senior Manager
Products and Services Kyle Thoms visited trial sites at nine grower properties across Central
Queensland, at Emerald, Capella, Clermont, Gindie, Orion, Theodore, Banana, Biloela,
Jambin, and Emerald Agricultural College.
The tour participants had a great opportunity to talk with growers while inspecting
National Variety Trials, nutrition, pulse agronomy and farming systems trials. They valued
the interaction between growers, advisers and researchers while comparing differences in
climate, farming systems, skills and capacity between Central Queensland and other parts
of the Northern Region.
Northern New South Wales and Southern Queensland
A group made up of panellists James Clark, Will Martel and Rob Taylor, GRDC Board
member Rob Lewis, GRDC Senior Manager Extension and Training Darren Hughes, GRDC
Program Manager Farm Practices—Sytems Jan Edwards, and GRDC Manager Online
Communities Pru Cook visited a diverse range of agroecological zones from the North
Coast of New South Wales, through the Eastern Darling Downs, Queensland, to Inland
Burnett, Queensland.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
5
The tour participants visited the new Coastal Grower Solutions project, and valued meeting
with growers involved in the North Coast New South Wales, Inland Burnett and Coastal
Burnett nodes of the project. They were able to visit the founding Grower Solutions Group
for northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, the Northern Grower Alliance,
which was a great opportunity to appreciate the potential that such organisations can have
in identifying and addressing short-term research problems locally.
The tour participants were also fortunate to visit key research facilities at Kingaroy and
Gatton and to inspect a range of longer term research projects conducted by the University
of Queensland, the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, QDAFF and
CSIRO.
Panellists
The 2013–15 panel members have expertise from across the Northern Region, in
production, commercial and research agronomy, and plant breeding.
I am a grain grower from the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. My fellow panel members
are Loretta Serafin (Deputy Chair), an agronomist from Tamworth, New South Wales; Keith
Harris, a crop consultant from Liverpool Plains, New South Wales; Will Martel, a grower
from Wellington, New South Wales; Rob Taylor, a grower from Macalister, Queensland;
John Sheppard, a wheat breeder from Toowoomba, Queensland; Penny Heuston, an
agronomist from Warren, New South Wales; Kelly Becker, a grower and agronomist from
Theodore, Queensland; Jules Dixon, a research manager from Avalon, New South Wales;
Jack Williamson, a grower and agronomist from Moree, New South Wales; and Steve
Thomas, GRDC Executive Manager Commercial, from Canberra, Australian Capital
Territory.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Consultation with individual growers, grower groups, advisers and researchers, to
determine their RD&E priorities, continues to be a core focus of the GRDC Southern
Regional Panel.
The panel proactively works to identify on-farm, capacity and market issues impacting
growers, which are fed back to the GRDC for investment consideration. In 2013–14,
members of the panel attended 201 meetings, events, conferences and workshops and
reported to the GRDC on any issues arising.
Having panel members spread broadly over the Southern Region ensures that we maintain
a sound understanding of industry issues and research priorities.
Regional Cropping Solutions
The 11 Southern Regional Panel members are now supported by a network of 42 growers,
advisers and researchers within four Regional Cropping Solutions networks (RCSNs)
covering the region’s high-rainfall, irrigation, medium-rainfall and low-rainfall zones. RCSN
members are spread right across the southern cropping region, making our footprint of
engagement with industry the largest it ever has been.
The RCSN initiative, launched in 2012, is integral to the panel’s capacity for issues
identification, and has been responsible for an enhanced appreciation of region-specific
challenges faced by growers.
The RCSNs provide the panel with intelligence from across the region on crop production
issues. This has greatly enhanced the GRDC’s ability to respond in a timely and appropriate
manner to local cropping issues, and to fast-track funding for RD&E projects aimed at
improving grain growers’ productivity, profitability and sustainability.
So far, 10 fast-track projects instigated by the RCSNs have been completed in the Southern
Region. These projects have looked at issues such as slug control and snail baiting, and
have enabled herbicide resistance surveys to be carried out. The RCSNs have also assisted
the panel in defining strategic issues that have shaped GRDC investments.
In 2013, 15 new investments were made in direct response to issues identified by the
RCSNs, while their identification of another 16 issues informed broader GRDC investments.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
7
Building regional capacity
Initially, the RCSNs were particularly focused on aspects of crop protection and profitable
farming systems, but now their role is evolving and their attention is also turning to areas
such as building skills and capacity in the grains industry. The networks are keen to see
funding directed to fostering the knowledge and expertise of our growers, researchers and
advisers.
The Southern Regional Panel worked extensively with the GRDC, the Victorian Department
of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) and NSW DPI to develop agreements to
support the employment of nine new specialist research agronomists over the next five
years, as well as a further nine graduate research agronomists as part of the DEPI graduate
program.
This initiative is fundamental to ensure that applied research and validation is regionally
relevant. The new research agronomists will be the critical link between basic research and
farming systems groups. They will also represent the GRDC’s ongoing commitment to
supporting the grains sector and providing job security. We are excited to have been
involved in this process and look forward to their work.
Communication
The GRDC delivers 27 updates in the Southern Region each year: 14 research updates for
growers, three research updates for advisers, six farm business updates for growers, and
four farm business updates for advisers. The planning of all update programs involves
extensive industry consultation through state steering committees and local grower ‘topic
pin-pointing’ networks. Each program is developed to deliver the most relevant and timely
research.
Southern Regional Panel members help shape the delivery of the updates through
participation in the steering committees and the topic pin-pointing processes, and chair
update sessions. This system of consultation has proven to be effective: 96 percent of
attendees at 2014 GRDC updates assessed that the ‘balance between the new topics and
the familiar/important topics was about right’.
Communication products developed and distributed in the Southern Region during the
year included 96 media releases, 72 media alerts, 27 radio panel segments and Panel Beat
columns, six feature magazine articles, and 12 multimedia products (media releases
incorporating a YouTube video).
The Southern Regional Panel has also been proactive in targeting issues-based
communication with a focus on practice change through the GDRC science writing project.
The outputs have included feature articles; short articles called Paddock Practices;
YouTube clips; social media postings; items in the GRDC’s flagship publication, Ground
Cover; and project reports published on the GRDC website. As well as focusing on the
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
results of GRDC-funded research that demonstrate best-practice crop management, the
subject matter covered issues that emerged as the season progressed, such as beet
western yellows virus, frost damage, diamondback moth and options for water-stressed
crops.
Spring tours
The annual spring tour was again a highlight for panel members. Over the first week of
September, the panel toured parts of Victoria, South Australia and southern and central
New South Wales to assess future research priorities, agronomic issues and cropping
challenges confronting grain growers, researchers, farming systems groups, advisers,
growers and policy decision makers.
The tours provided panel members with critical insights into the RD&E needs and requirements of
the southern cropping industry.
Each touring group focused on a designated agroecological zone: low-rainfall zone; medium-rainfall
zone; and high-rainfall zone/irrigation.
The low-rainfall zone tour comprised visits to the Mid North and Eyre Peninsula regions of South
Australia. The medium-rainfall zone tour incorporated the Lower North and South East regions of
South Australia and western Victoria. The high-rainfall zone/irrigation tour commenced in southern
New South Wales and concluded in the North East region of Tasmania.
The itineraries for the 2013–14 panel tours involved considerable input from the GRDC’s RCSN
facilitators, who also travelled with panel members throughout the regions.
At the conclusion of the tours, panel members came together to discuss their observations,
findings and suggested actions.
Retained stubble
Farming systems groups across the Southern Region are laying the foundations for a suite
of local development and extension projects under the GRDC’s major new initiative to
address challenges associated with stubble retention.
The Maintaining Profitable Farming Systems with Retained Stubble initiative involves
farming systems groups in Victoria, South Australia and southern and central New South
Wales collaborating with research organisations and agribusiness. Over the next five years,
they will be closely looking at stubble retention issues encountered by growers, including
pests, diseases, weeds, nutrition and the physical aspects of sowing and establishing crops
in heavy residues.
A review of existing knowledge of the benefits and challenges associated with retaining
crop stubbles in the southern cropping region was completed in 2013–14, through the
Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The GRDC
commissioned the review to identify gaps in what is known about the impact of stubble
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
9
retention in southern cropping systems, and to ensure that appropriate RD&E initiatives are
put in place to fill the voids in knowledge and validation, leading to more consistent results
for growers.
Some of the gaps identified during the review related to:
 the structure and quantity of stubble
 crop establishment
 sowing and guidance equipment
 weed control
 pests
 soil organic carbon and nutrients
 cost–benefit analysis.
These issues will be addressed under the new GRDC stubble retention initiative in the
Southern Region.
GRDC investment themes
Each of the GRDC’s six investment themes is supported by a team comprising a
coordinator, regional panel members from all three grain-growing regions, GRDC
managers and, when required, specialist contractors. The work done by the theme teams
not only provides direct links from Southern Regional Panel members to GRDC staff and
panel members from other regions, but also provides great support for addressing the
issues presented through the Southern Regional Panel and RCSNs.
In 2013–14, the Southern Regional Panel members were continually impressed by GRDC
staff members’ knowledge of how GRDC investments fit within the Grains Industry National
Research, Development and Extension Strategy and how we can work to deliver regionally
specific research to benefit Australian growers. Ultimately, together, we have worked to
ensure that our issues are included in each GRDC investment round, and we thank all
involved for their hard work and effort in this process.
Panellists
The Southern Regional Panel members offer not only a broad cross-section of expertise
and experience, but also a broad geographical representation.
I am from the Northern Midlands of Tasmania. Our members from New South Wales are
Chris Blanchard (Deputy Chair) from Wagga Wagga; Neil Fettel, from Condobolin; Geoff
McLeod, from Finley; and John Minogue, from Barmedman. Susan Findlay Tickner is from
Warracknabeal and Rob Sonogan is from Swan Hill, both in north-west Victoria. South
Australia is represented by Richard Konzag, from the Lower North; Bill Long, from Yorke
Peninsula; and Mark Stanley, from Eyre Peninsula.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
The Southern Regional Panel’s GRDC representative is Stuart Kearns, Executive Manager
Grower Services. While not a member of the panel, Andrew Rice, GRDC Manager Grower
Services South, regularly attends meetings and provides additional linkages between the
GRDC and RCSNs. Panel support is provided by Belinda Cay and Rebecca Jeisman.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
11
Western Australian growers have experienced mixed fortunes this year, with prolonged dry
and hot conditions in a number of areas curtailing production potential. As this report goes
to print, the outlook is more positive in other districts. Hopefully this will translate into as
many growers as possible achieving good tonnages at harvest time.
The RD&E in which the GRDC invests aims to help growers get the most from the seasons
they face—poor or favourable—by helping them maximise productivity and profitability.
To achieve this, prioritising investment to reflect local grower needs and ensuring it is
designed to ‘hit the paddock’ is vitally important and a key focus for the GRDC’s Western
Regional Panel.
The GRDC’s RCSNs, which have operated in Western Australia in recent seasons, are
playing an important role in validating priorities determined by the panel. The panel also
invests limited discretionary funding into short-term, low-cost activities identified by the
RCSNs to overcome barriers and create desired practice change.
Regional Cropping Solutions
Western Australia’s five RCSNs consist of a mix of growers and industry professionals who
meet formally twice each year to discuss priority issues. The RCSN initiative provides
essential on-ground linkages between growers, farming systems groups, agribusiness and
researchers, and helps the GRDC to plan and design local activities of greatest benefit.
High-priority issues in common across Western Australia’s port zones include:
 weed management
 frost
 a need for decision support tools that combine economic, physical and technical data
 non-wetting soils
 rotations
 soil acidity
 water use efficiency.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
In 2013–14, the GRDC increased its investment in Western Australia RCSN projects to
$750,000. The projects include:
 lime incorporation trials in the central grain belt, to help answer the question of
whether growers can get a quicker ‘payback’ and more effective results from
incorporating lime at depth, compared with traditional top-dressing
 a lime trial in the south-eastern grain belt to investigate substituting lime for part of
growers’ phosphorus and nitrogen fertiliser investment
 a project in the Albany port zone to identify the most profitable grain or pasture
legumes that growers in this region can use in their crop rotations
 a project in the Esperance port zone looking at nitrogen dynamics in controlled traffic
farming systems (where crop zones and traffic zones are separated permanently),
which will feed results into a broader GRDC-funded soil compaction project led by the
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA), at Geraldton.
Spring tours
The Western Regional Panel and staff embarked on three spring tours, traversing various
parts of the Western Australian grain belt, in September and October 2014.
The first tour met with growers, researchers and consultants in the southern cropping
region of Western Australia from 8 to 10 September. It was followed by a tour of the
eastern grain belt from 22 to 24 September and a tour of the northern grain belt from 1 to 3
October.
The tours provided the panel with important information about growers’ pressing
production issues and priorities for RD&E. In October, at the conclusion of the tours, panel
members met to discuss their observations, findings and suggested actions and feed the
results into the GRDC investment process.
Frost
The number one priority for the Western Regional Panel continues to be research into frost,
which can have a devastating impact on farmers and their equity.
Work has started in earnest on research projects being conducted as part of the GRDC’s
National Frost Initiative, in which the GRDC is investing $3 million annually over five years.
In addition to continuing to fund vital genetic research on frost tolerance, the GRDC is
investing in research looking at potential agronomic solutions to frost.
Following promising results from RCSN-funded trials, the GRDC is further investigating the
effect of stubble loads on the impact that frost has on grain crops. Other trials are looking
at the influence of stubble architecture and wider row spacings. Even crop row orientation
is being investigated: are crops sown north-south versus east-west more susceptible to
frost because of the way in which sunlight penetrates the crop row?
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
13
The GRDC’s frost initiative is also looking at environmental factors. We do not fully
understand the physics of frost in the landscape, including how frost forms and where it is
going to hit. There is a major effort under way to try to improve knowledge in this area.
In 2013–14, Western Australian growers were updated on new projects and previous
research outcomes during the well-attended GRDC Pre-Seeding Frost Workshops. Initiated
by RCSNs, the workshops also provided growers with practical pre-seeding management
strategies.
Farm business update
Another key Western Australian event initiated by the RCSNs was the GRDC Farm Business
Update for Growers and Advisers held in February 2014 at Merredin, in the central grain
belt.
This well-attended pilot event was organised after the Kwinana East RCSN identified
improved business skills, better knowledge of profit drivers and risk management as big
priorities for growers in the eastern grain belt.
The update attendees heard from some of Australia’s leading agribusiness professionals,
who offered a comprehensive overview of current and future business challenges and
opportunities for Western Australian growers and advisers.
The farm business update was held in addition to agribusiness crop updates and regional
crop updates supported by the GRDC and DAFWA. These events deliver cutting-edge
information to growers and advisers.
Soil constraints
In 2014, the GRDC announced major collaborative research which aims to develop and
deliver solutions for a range of soil constraints limiting productive grain cropping in
Western Australia.
Soil Constraints—West is focusing on non-wetting soils, subsoil constraints, soil
compaction and soil acidity. The GRDC is investing about $14.8 million in new research
aimed at addressing these significant issues over the next five years. DAFWA, CSIRO and
Murdoch University are co-funding about $18.2 million.
Soil Constraints—West was developed following consultation with Western Australian grain
growers, through the Western Regional Panel and the RCSNs.
The new research is in addition to the GRDC’s already substantial Western Region
investment in other areas of soil research, including soil nutrition, soil carbon and soil
health. As well as conducting new research and extending results to farmers, there will be a
strong focus on training the next generation of researchers.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Coordination between the four Soil Constraints—West projects is being facilitated by a new
steering committee. Chaired by scientist Robert Belford, the committee includes
representatives from each of Western Australia’s five RCSNs and a Western Regional Panel
member. This will help ensure that the research is regionally relevant and there is a twoway flow of information between researchers and growers.
Weeds
Weeds and herbicide resistance continue to be major investment priorities for the GRDC.
At the agribusiness crop updates in 2013–14, it was announced that the world’s first
populations of glyphosate-resistant wild radish had been found in Western Australia.
Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI) research confirmed glyphosate resistance
in three populations of wild radish from different locations in Western Australia’s far
northern grain belt. The populations were identified by PhD student Mike Ashworth, a
recipient of a Grains Industry Research Scholarship from the GRDC.
This finding and other herbicide resistance ‘firsts’ highlight the importance of the GRDC’s
continued investment focus on weed management research. A major component of this
investment is the GRDC’s ongoing partnership with AHRI, based at the University of
Western Australia. The GRDC and AHRI support the industry-led initiative WeedSmart, to
help farmers fight herbicide resistance.
Through the RCSN initiative, the GRDC has also invested in regionally based research and
extension projects looking at weed and herbicide management options for growers.
Panellists
The 2013–15 Western Regional Panel boasts a dynamic and broad mix of expertise from the
Western Australian grains industry. Recently joining the panel, as a result of two casual
vacancies, are Darrin Lee and Gemma Walker. Darrin Lee is a grower from north-east
Mingenew. Gemma Walker is a grower from Esperance. The new members will join
scientists Mike Ewing (Deputy Chair) and Bill Ryan; growers John Even, Shauna Stone and
Paul Kelly; consultant Chris Wilkins; research extension specialist Susan Hall; and the GRDC
Executive Manager Research Programs, Brondwen MacLean.
At the time of going to print, the position of GRDC Manager Grower Services West is
vacant, as previous manager Darren Hughes has taken up the position of GRDC Senior
Manager Extension and Training. Julia Easton, the Panel Support Officer, is acting in the
manager’s position.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
15
INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
THE GRDC INVESTMENT PROCESS
GPA = Grain Producers Australia, RCS = Regional Cropping Solutions.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Step 1—Identification of priorities
Throughout the year, the GRDC improves its understanding of grains industry research,
development and extension (RD&E) priorities for the year ahead. Potential issues are
identified through:
 interaction with growers, advisers and other industry participants, through Regional
Cropping Solutions network activities such as grower updates, adviser updates, forums
and field days

consultation with the GRDC regional panels, Grain Producers Australia (GPA),
researchers, state farming organisations and the national and regional agribusiness
reference groups

evidence from project reviews, project progress reports and survey results

identification of gaps in the investment strategies underlying each of the GRDC’s six
themes

consideration of the Australian Government’s research priorities.
All priorities are looked at as potential areas for investment in future investment cycles.
Initial suggested high-level resource allocation for the year ahead of the current financial
year is reported to GPA, in the form of a draft stakeholder report. Final resource allocations
at the theme level are recommended to the GRDC Board in April of the following calendar
year.
Step 2—Investment Planning Week
In July/August, GRDC managers and regional panel members meet to discuss issues and
investment areas that address gaps in investment strategies and the priorities identified
through engagement with stakeholders.
GRDC managers then develop ‘mini prospectus’ proposals for new RD&E projects and
existing projects that are due to be reviewed for further investment. The mini prospectus
outlines the project’s aims, deliverables and approximate budgets. Each proposal is
categorised as a national investment or a regional investment, and the appropriate
procurement method (open tender, limited tender, multistage tender or direct negotiation)
is identified.
The proposals are ranked by GRDC managers, taking into account the relevant five-year
strategic R&D plan. The GRDC’s National Panel makes recommendations for resource
allocation to frame a high-level budget. Based on procurement recommendations made
during Investment Planning Week, the annual external investment plan (for the next
financial year) is formulated.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
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Step 3—Call for tenders
The external investment plan is released in August. Investment proposals identified as
suitable for competitive tender are published in the plan, which is posted on the GRDC’s
website during the period of call for tenders. Tenders are evaluated against specific
selection criteria to determine the preferred provider(s).
About half of the total new investments in any given year go to tender. Other projects are
directly negotiated, particularly where there is limited expertise in a research area and/or
there is a need for ongoing access to co-owned intellectual property.
The GRDC usually invests in partnership with the organisations that will deliver the RD&E.
This means that most project investment is a combination of GRDC funding and research
provider investment.
Step 4—Contracting
The contracting of projects for the next financial year begins after the Board gives
preliminary approval to theme allocations in September.
Step 5—Status, progress and gap review meeting
In March, GRDC managers and regional panel members meet to review and formalise the
investments for the forthcoming financial year. During this meeting:
 Progress on the status and development of new investments agreed to during
Investment Planning Week is reviewed.

The resources being contributed to each project by the research partner(s) are assessed.

Progress in the contracting of projects is reviewed.

Actual investment that will occur in the next financial year is refined in line with the
high-level budget.

Investments and refinements to budget are reflected in the drafts of the annual
operational plan and stakeholder report.

Strategic gaps are assessed, along with priorities for investment identified through
engagement with stakeholders, to scope potential investments for later financial years.
Step 6—Assessment of reports
Also in March, annual progress reports on continuing investments are received and
assessed by GRDC managers, in terms of both the project’s status against contract
milestones and the quality of the report. The assessment process identifies issues for GRDC
managers to follow up.
Payments are made to research partners for projects that have good quality progress
reports and are on track to meet milestones and achieve contract outputs.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Final reports are assessed for quality of reporting and achievement of contract milestones
and outputs at the end of each project (this usually occurs in September).
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
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Theme 1—Meeting market requirements
Role
This theme describes the framework for the GRDC’s investments in grain quality and
functionality to help growers maintain and expand access to markets.
Australia’s domestic and international customers seek a consistent supply of grain that is
both:


a quality product that is compliant with statutory and customer-specific requirements
a functional product that performs reliably for the desired end use.
To deliver highest value to growers, the GRDC must understand the requirements and the
dynamics of current domestic and export markets for feed and food grains, and those of
likely future markets.
Through the ‘Meeting market requirements’ theme, the GRDC interacts closely with
participants in the Australian grains value chain to better understand market requirements,
particularly for quality and functionality, to enable growers to maintain or increase access to
current markets, and secure access to new higher valued markets.
Outcomes
The aspirational outcome of Theme 1—Meeting market requirements is:
Australian grain growers maintain and increase access to current and future grain
markets by aligning on-farm production practices with quality and functionality
requirements.
To achieve this long-term goal, the GRDC is pursuing four intermediate outcomes over the life
of the Strategic R&D Plan 2012–17:




Understanding market opportunities for Australian grain
Crop and variety selection aligned with market requirements
Crop production aligned with market requirements
Grain harvest and storage practices aligned with market requirements.
Funds invested in 2013–14
The GRDC invested $16.75 million through Theme 1—Meeting market requirements in
2013–14, and research partners provided significant co-investment.
Wheat characteristics for noodle production
In 2013–14, the GRDC supported a project to capture and analyse information about the
economic value that millers in two of Australia’s key export markets, Japan and Korea,
place on the functional characteristics of wheat for use in noodle production.
The project involved the development and use of new market research tools to better
understand the choices made by flour millers when they purchase wheat. The tools also
allow values or price points to be applied to individual functional properties, including those
that may not normally be specified in wheat contracts—for example, the price flour millers
are prepared to pay for a preferred flour colour. Based on computer-assisted personal
interviews, the research approach represents a significant new development in survey
methods and the modelling of the choices of small sample groups.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
The findings showed that the Japanese flour milling industry is focused on wheat quality
attributes that influence the performance of noodle flour. The highest priorities included
noodle texture elasticity, noodle texture firmness, protein content, uniformity of shipment
and noodle colour stability.
In Korea, the market was less concerned about noodle properties and more focused on
price, production efficiency and supply specifications. Priorities were protein content, flour
ash, price, wheat grade, uniformity of shipment, flour milling yield and viscograph peak
height.
In both countries, the research showed that buyers place significant monetary value on the
characteristics that they prefer, and clearly demonstrated the potential to improve
marketing of Australian noodle wheats into Japan and Korea by focusing on consistency of
supply and the characteristics important to millers.
Stored-grain pests
In collaboration with the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (PBCRC), the
GRDC is working with industry to investigate options to improve the efficiency of grain
storage through best practice management of stored-grain pests. The cooperative
partnerships available through the PBCRC give researchers the opportunity to conduct
research and test findings under commercial conditions, providing insight into the best
ways to implement research outcomes in commercial operations.
The projects in the stored-grain initiative are located at five industry ‘impact sites’, selected
for their differing geography and infrastructure, at Temora, New South Wales; Dalby West,
Queensland; Bowmans, South Australia; and Kwinana and Mingenew, Western Australia.
Six R&D investment areas are active at the sites:
 use of aeration systems in larger grower storages, focusing on maintaining grain quality
and the benefits of measuring air-flow rates
 use of low oxygen (nitrogen) atmospheres for the control of storage pests, focusing on
new knowledge on rates of desorption of air from grain under nitrogen; specific insect
responses; effects on grain quality; and how advances in nitrogen generation
technology may reduce cost barriers to deployment
 knowledge of the ecology of key storage insect pests, based on an understanding of
where insect pests are coming from throughout the year and how to best deploy
management strategies for their control
 development of a new generation of products to control grain storage pests such as red
flour beetle, lesser grain borer and grain weevils
 fumigation with phosphine, building on knowledge gained from the modelling of
phosphine fumigant through grain bunkers to inform both the concentration of
fumigant and the duration of the fumigation
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
21

fumigation with sulphuryl fluoride as a ‘break fumigant’ at bulk handling facilities in
eastern Australia, including demonstrating dosage regimes and protocols for the use of
sulphuryl fluoride to control strongly phosphine-resistant pest populations.
Late maturity alpha-amylase
Late maturity alpha-amylase (LMA) is a genetic defect of wheat which, when triggered, can
result in grain with a low Falling Number that fails receival and export specifications,
affecting financial returns for growers and prospects for export markets. Due to the risk of
downgrading in quality at receival, LMA was recently included in the wheat variety
classification process.
LMA is difficult to phenotype and, because it can be caused by a range of genetic
combinations, the incidence and severity of its expression have been almost impossible to
predict. All Australian wheat-breeding programs (and many overseas programs) currently
carry the defect in at least 20 percent of their breeding backgrounds. Effective tools for the
management of LMA are needed to ensure that growers and the wider Australian grains
industry are not exposed to undue risk, now and in the longer term.
Using more than 2,000 advanced lines from Australian breeding programs, GRDCsupported research has improved understanding of the effects of differing temperature and
moisture stress levels on LMA expression, under field conditions. Progress is also being
made towards the identification of candidate genes and diagnostic markers for known LMA
quantitative trait loci (QTL), and relationships between LMA characteristics and grain
quality attributes are being examined.
In 2013–14, the GRDC licensed the right to use technology for detection of LMA in wheat to
the University of Adelaide, with a sublicence to the South Australian Research and
Development Institute to produce, maintain, store and distribute antibodies to the
University of Adelaide and to Australian breeders to test for the defect. From 1 July 2014,
the research project will no longer include germplasm screening for breeding programs.
The project will deliver LMA phenotypes, marker information and results of studies of
mechanisms and environmental interactions to breeders, for application in their programs.
Data on advanced lines will be analysed against the field risk model and used to support
new wheat variety classifications and improvements to the LMA screening protocol.
Black point
Research has shown that there is wide genetic variation for the grain defect black point,
and good resistance is already present in cultivars that are well adapted to most Australian
production environments.
In 2013–14, the GRDC supported work to achieve a better understanding of the genotype–
environment interactions that result in the appearance of black point symptoms. Results so
far indicate that biotic stressors and humidity do not significantly increase black point, but
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
there is a strong correlation between high levels of black point and rainfall immediately
after flowering.
By more precisely characterising the environmental factors that favour development of
black point, the project will potentially lead to more reliable screening for the defect. The
project also aims to deliver information, resistant germplasm and, through collaboration
with the Australian Wheat and Barley Molecular Marker Program, molecular selection tools
to assist breeders to develop new varieties with improved black point resistance. Black
point ratings for wheat varieties will be made available to growers through sowing guides.
Case study—Pilot Malting Australia
Barley growers rely on the availability of new, improved malting varieties to increase farm
profitability. However, the development of a new malting barley variety can take up to 10
years, and another four or five years may be required to progress that variety through the
accreditation process and have it accepted by processors in the export market.
The current accreditation process for malting barley is time consuming, economically
demanding and technically challenging, partly because of the large quantities of grain
required to conduct a single commercial malting experiment. Pilot Malting Australia is a
national program that aims to develop a malting barley variety accreditation process that
will reduce the new variety approval process by up to two years.
The program operates from a state-of-the art pilot malting plant at Edith Cowan University in
Western Australia. The plant is designed to simulate commercial malting practice, but uses
batch sizes of 100 kilograms rather than the 50 tonnes or more required by commercial
testing facilities.
Pilot Malting Australia is working to:




develop pilot malting protocols for malting barley accreditation that replicate
commercial practice but are more efficient and less expensive
provide a cost-effective intermediate step to allow barley-breeding companies to assess
and prioritise lines that show potential to progress to commercial-scale accreditation trials
deliver technical marketing support for companies selling Australian malting barley
create educational opportunities for customers of Australian malting barley and malt.
In addition, the program will provide a means to better understand the technical
performance of Australian malting barley varieties as they are processed via the different
commercial malting regimes used within the export and domestic sectors of the market. This
will help to identify malting-quality barley varieties that will deliver better returns to both
growers and the wider industry.
What’s in the RD&E pipeline for 2014–15?


New and ongoing investments to deliver new options for managing stored-grain insects.
A strategic approach to investment in solving the LMA issue, which will ultimately provide
short-, medium- and long-term solutions that give Australian grains a significant trade
advantage.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
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Theme 2—Improving crop yield
Role
This theme describes the genetic approaches and associated tools and technologies that
can be applied to produce varieties with increased water-limited yield potential (WLYP).
The WLYP of a variety is the maximum yield attainable when the variety is grown under
average, rain-fed conditions without the limiting impacts of nutrient deficiency, soil toxicity,
weed competition, insect damage and disease.
Although the actual yield that is captured on farm depends on a grower’s ability to manage
the biotic and abiotic factors that contribute to yield losses (and the cost limitations of
management practices), WLYP is genetically determined.
Plant breeders aim to continually improve the WLYP of crops through new varieties. However,
for many crops, continued improvements in genetic yield potential and stability are
becoming harder to realise.
The ‘Improving crop yield’ theme focuses on the delivery of new crop varieties with
demonstrable improvements in genetic yield potential and yield stability. Given the wide
range of farming environments and crop choice, targets will be crop specific and region
specific.
Outcomes
The aspirational outcome of Theme 2—Improving crop yield is:
Cereal, pulse and oilseed varieties with significant, sustained and stable improvements in
water-limited yield potential over current elite varieties in key agroecological zones and
across a range of seasons.
To achieve this long-term goal, the GRDC is pursuing three intermediate outcomes over the
life of the Strategic R&D Plan 2012–17:



Genetic yield potential and stability improvement of cereal varieties
Genetic yield potential and stability improvement of pulse varieties
Genetic yield potential and stability improvement of oilseed varieties.
Funds invested in 2013–14
The GRDC invested $44.04 million through Theme 2—Improving crop yield in 2013–14, and
research partners provided significant co-investment.
Flowering behaviour
The GRDC supports a range of projects to improve understanding of the effects of
particular genes on grain yield and quality, to assist breeders to focus on the lines most
likely to produce superior varieties, enhancing the efficiency of breeding programs and the
delivery of new cropping options to growers. Plant phenology, particularly flowering
behaviour, is one important area of this research.
The GRDC is investing in work to assess how the genes that shape flowering have
contributed to successful adaptation to Australian conditions in the past, and to develop
genetic resources that combine altered flowering behaviours with existing favourable
traits. This genetic material will contribute to the production of future varieties suited to
particular Australian growing conditions.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Frost tolerance is one area in which the ability to adapt phenology offers potential for
significant improvement in returns for growers. GRDC-supported research has shown that
the genes that control flowering behaviour are a potential source of frost resistance. Genes
that influence phenology have a large impact on frost tolerance during the vegetative
growth phase.
Phenology genes also influence a range of yield components, including productive tiller
numbers, spike length, grain numbers and grain size. These are key traits in the context of
frost damage, since sporadic frosts will have different impacts on crops that vary for these
yield components.
In addition to opening up new management options for current challenges, the ability to
select varieties for optimal flowering behaviour will be critical to the Australian grains
industry’s response to the global trend towards warmer climates and changing rainfall
patterns.
Barley options for acid soils
Soil acidity is the largest soil constraint limiting sustainable crop production in Australia. In
the Western Australian grain belt, about two-thirds of soils are either acid or at risk of soil
acidification.
Barley is particularly sensitive to acid soils. Improving barley’s tolerance of acidity could
significantly enhance crop productivity, extend barley growing to areas with marginal soils,
and make barley a viable rotation crop for growers on acid soils. GRDC-supported research
has demonstrated that a genetic solution, in combination with lime application, will provide
the most efficient approach to enhance barley productivity in acid soils.
Work is being undertaken to identify new genetic sources of acid soil tolerance and new
germplasm with improved tolerance. More than 1,000 barley lines have been tested in
glasshouse and field conditions, and new germplasm and molecular marker tools have been
delivered to barley-breeding programs.
As a result of this work, Litmus , a new barley variety bred specifically for acid soil
environments, was released to growers in 2013–14. In independent agronomic trials,
Litmus produced yields the same as or higher than the best yielding standard variety,
Hindmarsh , in 77 percent of trials on sites with acid subsoils and 70 percent of trials on
sites with neutral subsoils. Litmus is also competitive with standard wheat varieties on
acidic, sandy-textured soils. By delivering yields similar to or greater than the yields of
standard varieties in areas where soils are acidic or at high risk of becoming so, Litmus
offers a valuable new cropping option, particularly in rotation with wheat, for growers in
Western Australia.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
25
Next-generation molecular marker technology
The GRDC has longstanding and diverse investments in research involving genetic tools to
simplify the discovery and selection of desirable crop traits and the subsequent transfer of
those traits into cultivated varieties. A very important gain has recently been made in this
area, with the development of a group of molecular markers that can ‘see’, compare and
select differences in the genetic make-up of material.
Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), known as ‘snips’, are the basis of a technology
platform that is accelerating research in trait characterisation and gene discovery. A SNP
marker reveals a subtle difference in DNA sequence between wheat lines, allowing
researchers and breeders to compare the genetic make-ups of different breeding materials.
A GRDC-supported project has recently devised and released two sets of SNP markers—
one comprising 9,000 markers, the other 90,000—that are particularly relevant to
Australian wheat breeding. The larger set includes about 9,000 markers to interrogate
genetic diversity in durum wheat, so it is applicable to both bread wheat and durum
varieties.
Whereas previously SNP markers had to be developed individually for each trait of interest,
the sets are packaged in ‘chips’ that can be deployed collectively across a wide set of traits.
The chips can be used to scan all DNA of a wheat variety and analyse even minuscule
genetic variations, determine the genetic origin of important plant traits and select for
those traits.
The project has also demonstrated that there is a commercial market for advanced
molecular diagnostic tools for agricultural crop species. All 50,000 units of the 90,000 SNP
chip were sold out on the day of its launch.
Water-limited yield stability
Wheat genotypes with narrower lateral root distribution and higher root length density at
depth can gain improved access to deep soil moisture late in the season, when water use
efficiency for grain production is most needed. GRDC-supported research has identified
molecular markers and QTL for the genetic regions that control seminal root angle and
number in wheat seedlings.
GRDC-supported research has also shown that crops with the ‘stay-green’ phenotype retain
green leaf area longer after flowering than senescent genotypes. This can prolong the
plant’s carbon assimilation during the grain-filling period, producing greater grain weight
and yield. There is also evidence that stay-green is related to a favourable root architecture,
allowing improved soil moisture access late in the season. Molecular markers and QTL have
been identified for key stay-green traits, including maximum leaf greenness and timing and
rate of senescence.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
In 2013–14, the GRDC funded a project to incorporate the previously identified root
architecture and stay-green traits into elite wheat cultivars adapted for each of Australia’s
grain-growing regions. This work will lead to the development of elite stay-green wheat
cultivars, with validated significant improvements in yield under terminal moisture stress,
for growers in northern and central New South Wales and western Victorian wheat
cropping areas.
Case study—Managed environment facilities
The GRDC’s three managed environment facilities (MEFs), at Narrabri and Yanco in
New South Wales and Merredin in Western Australia, were established in 2010, to fill an
important R&D gap in effective pre-breeding for improved water use efficiency in grain
crops for the Australian environment. They provide realistic environments for measuring and
characterising plant traits capable of reducing the yield gap between on-farm production
and physiological yield potential under water-limited conditions.
The MEFs were designed to control some important variables, such as rainfall, that would
normally raise the ‘noise’ level of data collection in the field, which in turn would prevent
accurate statistical interpretation of the data. In a MEF, watering can be managed to
achieve target average long-term patterns which are representative of typical graingrowing regions. The MEF set-up also allows for accounting for soil and climate variables.
Traits characterised in glasshouses do not always perform according to expectations in the
field, either because of inappropriate genetic backgrounds or because the trait does not
behave consistently under environmental variables. In contrast to glasshouse environments,
the MEFs, while providing for consistency in certain environmental factors, allow the plants to
show their whole genetic potential in otherwise real field conditions.
The MEFs create an essential link between the glasshouse and the paddock, providing a
comprehensive discovery, testing and trait delivery platform. By bringing together
researchers working on a breadth of traits and novel phenotyping methods, the MEFs
achieve a high level of synergy that cannot be achieved in dispersed individual trials.
While the main purpose of the MEFs is to validate water productivity traits, the sites have also
been used to develop and apply new methodologies, such as improved imaging apparatus
for high-throughput phenotyping in the field and real-time irrigation management software
to attain desired soil moisture profiles.
What’s in the RD&E pipeline for 2014–15?






Establishment of the National Frost Initiative to address research priorities identified by
Regional Cropping Solutions networks.
The second phase of the National Brassica Germplasm Improvement Program.
Importation of wild chickpea lines to be used in breeding and pre-breeding programs to
develop chickpea varieties with improved traits for Australian conditions.
Development of germplasm and molecular tools to enable Australian breeding programs
to improve acid soils tolerance in barley.
Development of a database of genotypes for key wheat phenology genes.
Development of a method for quantifying head loss in barley, and identification of
genetic variation for this trait.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
27
Theme 3—Protecting your crop
Role
This theme aims to develop cost-effective control options that prevent pests, weeds and
diseases from causing crop yield and quality losses, and increase growers’ profit.
Existing control measures for pests, weeds and diseases require ongoing review in light of:



potential and actual incursions of exotic pests
changes in regulation of pesticide use and access
the need to

reduce the cost and increase the speed of delivery of resistant and tolerant varieties

manage herbicide and pesticide resistance

provide ongoing stewardship of gene technology and pesticide products to support
long-term access.
The ‘Protecting your crop’ theme develops the cultural, chemical and genetic options
available to manage key pests, weeds and diseases in each region. Management options
need to take into account cost-effectiveness, resilience of control strategies and flexibility to
fit different farming systems.
Outcomes
The aspirational outcome of Theme 3—Protecting your crop is:
Australian grain growers managing their farms to maximise profit and reduce risk by
adopting effective, sustainable and efficient control of weeds, pests and diseases.
To achieve this long-term goal, the GRDC is pursuing seven intermediate outcomes over the
life of the Strategic R&D Plan 2012–17:







Effective, sustainable and efficient management of weeds
Effective, sustainable and efficient management of vertebrate and invertebrate pests
Effective, sustainable and efficient management of cereal rusts
Effective, sustainable and efficient management of cereal (non-rust), pulse and oilseed
fungal pathogens
Effective, sustainable and efficient management of nematodes
Effective, sustainable and efficient management of viruses and bacteria
Biosecurity and pesticide stewardship.
Funds invested in 2013–14
The GRDC invested $34.45 million through Theme 3—Protecting your crop in 2013–14, and
research partners provided significant co-investment.
Paddock insect pests
Pest mites are a significant threat to the establishment of grain crops. Over the past
decade, some species have become more problematic as farming practices have changed,
while others are proving difficult to control because of insecticide resistance.
The recent emergence of resistance to synthetic pyrethroids in the redlegged earth mite is
of particular concern to the Australian grains industry. In 2013–14, the GRDC invested in a
project using field surveillance, population genetics and fitness studies to:
 improve understanding of mite predators and their sensitivities to chemicals, and
resistance fitness costs and movement patterns among mites
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14


map resistance to synthetic pyrethroids nationally, and develop models to predict the
spread of resistance and the likelihood of resistance to other chemical groups
develop mite monitoring and resistance management guidelines.
The project is also investigating new chemical products for mite control. An extensive
search of possible new chemical modes of action was conducted, and 10 possible
candidates, representing more than six different chemical classes, were trialled in 2013–14.
Another set of GRDC-supported experiments seeks to gain better insight into how pests are
distributed within paddocks and within plants. For example, in glasshouse experiments
using canola plants and winged cabbage aphids, the project has identified certain growth
stages at which the aphids are most attracted to the plants, and demonstrated that the
aphids colonise the underside of the leaves in the lower portion of the canopy. Paddock
trials using the same species confirmed that there was significant localised clustering of
aphids at field edges and in the presence of wild radish.
Another aspect of the project is investigating how crop plants reflect light in response to
pest infestations. Working with redlegged earth mite and diamondback moth, also in
canola crops, the project has identified a change in how plants reflect light when under
stress from pests. This reflectance response can be recognised by a multispectral camera,
raising the potential for the use of remote sensing technologies to detect when and where
pests are becoming established within a paddock.
Herbicide resistance
Herbicide resistance is an increasing problem across the mixed farming areas of southern
Australia. However, few extensive surveys have been performed to assess levels of
herbicide resistance, and the impacts of management strategies and cropping rotations on
weed dynamics both above ground and in the weed seed bank have not been well
characterised. In 2013–14, the GRDC supported a project to improve understanding of, and
management strategies for, herbicide resistance across the Southern Region.
Extensive random surveys are being conducted to collect weed seed in croplands. The seed
collected will be tested for resistance to key herbicide families. The survey data will provide
useful information on the spread of herbicide-resistant weeds, including annual ryegrass,
barley grass, brome grass, fleabane, Indian hedge mustard, wild radish and windmill grass.
The project also involves greenhouse trials to evaluate novel chemistry for weed
management, and field experiments to study the efficacy of various management practices
for managing weeds and their impact on weed seed bank dynamics over the longer term.
Field trials are taking place in high-, medium- and low-rainfall zones across
New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria, in collaboration with farming systems
groups.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
29
Better information about the distribution of key weed types and the spread of herbicide
resistance will result in better prediction of, and planning for, future developments of
herbicide resistance across southern Australia. New and effective strategies for weed
management will be communicated to growers and advisers through field demonstration
trials, grower updates, and reports.
Phytophthora root rot
Of the diseases that cause significant losses in chickpeas, phytophthora root rot is the most
destructive, accounting for around a third of total losses. The GRDC is supporting a project
that combines pathology, breeding and genomic expertise to provide a defence against
losses from phytophthora for chickpea growers in the Northern Region.
Better understanding the phytophthora pathogen is an important part of the project. In
2013–14, soils from selected paddocks in northern New South Wales and southern
Queensland were sampled and tested by ‘baiting’ the pathogen with chickpea plants. The
results will be used to construct a map of the geographical distribution of the pathogen.
The research will also measure variability within the pathogen population, so that the
resistance levels of potential new germplasm can be screened against all levels of
pathogenicity present in the population.
Also in 2013–14, the project confirmed a high level of resistance to phytophthora in lines
derived from a wild relative of chickpeas, in both glasshouse and field experiments. Work is
under way to incorporate that high level of genetic resistance into chickpea-breeding lines
adapted to conditions in the Northern Region.
The project aims to deliver chickpea varieties with improved phytophthora resistance along
with the evidence base for integrated disease management strategies. As well as securing
more stable yields for chickpeas and increased profitability for growers, this will underpin
the possible expansion of the chickpea industry in the Northern Region and, potentially,
other parts of Australia.
Rhizoctonia bare patch
The fungal root disease rhizoctonia bare patch is a significant cause of losses in wheat and
barley crops in Australia. The fungus is adapted to dry conditions and occurs mainly in the
low- to medium-rainfall regions of southern Australia. Losses may be as high as 50 percent
in badly diseased paddocks where inoculums levels are high and seasonal conditions are
conducive to the disease.
The GRDC has invested in research into a range of control options for rhizoctonia, leading
to better understanding of the importance of factors such as crop rotations, soil nitrogen
and disease suppressive soils. The potential yield benefits of newly registered fungicide
seed treatments for suppressing rhizoctonia in wheat and barley were confirmed by GRDCsupported research in 2013.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Another avenue of GRDC-supported research is investigating the potential for banded
application of liquid fertilisers to further improve yields. ‘Banding’ involves placing fungicide
below the seed, to protect the seminal roots, and/or above the seed, to protect the crown
roots. Trials conducted over three years in South Australia have confirmed the potential
yield benefits, and shown that split application of fungicide, with half applied below the
seed and half applied on the soil surface, produces the biggest and most consistent
responses.
Case study—Minor use chemicals for the grains industry
Access to chemical-based pest management options for minor uses in the grains industry is
becoming increasingly problematic. To maximise returns on product development costs,
manufacturers are focusing their resources on key commodity–problem combinations,
overlooking less significant pests and diseases, smaller acreage crops, new crops and new
management innovations. This situation is compounded by increasingly demanding
regulatory and liability requirements removing or limiting access to existing options.
The GRDC’s registration of minor use chemicals project seeks to secure access for affected
grain growers to suitable pest management solutions not currently covered by chemical
registrants. The project aims to achieve regulatory approvals for needed minor uses through
an ongoing consultation process involving all relevant grains industry stakeholders. The
outcomes include an industry plan for minor uses based upon a prioritisation process, timely
submissions to the regulator and communication of results.
The project considers pesticide (herbicide, fungicide or insecticide) use in minor crops or
minor uses in major crops. The project team identifies pesticides considered by industry to be
essential for continued sustainable production of crops, then seeks to have them registered
or permitted for use. It collaborates with state departments of agriculture, independent
advisers and the chemical industry to obtain the information necessary for registration or use
permits for nominated chemicals, in cooperation with the Australian Pesticides and
Veterinary Medicines Authority.
In 2013–14, 23 applications were prepared and 15 permits were issued as a result of the
project team’s activities. The permits covered both minor use (new and renewals) and
emergency use situations in cereals, oilseeds and pulses. Crops covered included barley,
faba beans, lentils, mungbeans, peanuts, sunflower and soybean.
What’s in the RD&E pipeline for 2014–15?





A ‘push notification’ system which will allow growers and advisers to access information
about, and report on, weeds, pests and diseases in real time.
Work testing the use of split fungicide application to manage rhizoctonia under disc
sowing systems.
Updates to the online weed management manual and mini-manual, to extend
information on weed management tactics to growers and advisers.
Research to improve surveillance for biosecurity threats and existing pests and
pathogens.
A project to provide information on potential yield losses across different varietal
resistance ratings for a range of nematodes and foliar and crown diseases.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
31
Theme 4—Advancing profitable farming systems
Role
This theme aims to provide growers and their advisers with the tools to design and manage a
farming system with the flexibility to adapt and respond; manage risk; and generate profit.
The ‘Advancing profitable farming systems’ theme:



ensures that research results from the other themes are integrated on farm
undertakes production agronomy research for systems development
provides an important conduit for identifying on-farm production constraints and
opportunities to inform activities in other themes.
The investment strategies for this theme differ across agroecological zones and farming
systems, and are a combination of:


applied farming systems research to overcome major, widespread regional constraints
short-term development and extension activities to improve technologies or practices for
a target group of growers in an agroecological zone.
Outcomes
The aspirational outcome of Theme 4—Advancing profitable farming systems is:
Australian grain growers managing farming systems that are able to respond and adapt
to changing environment and market conditions to reduce risk and deliver an increase in
profitability.
To achieve this long-term goal, the GRDC is pursuing three intermediate outcomes over the
life of the Strategic R&D Plan 2012–17:



Knowing what is important (key business drivers)
Planning strategically (building system benefits and rotations)
Responding tactically (individual crop agronomy).
Funds invested in 2013–14
The GRDC invested $37.90 million through Theme 4—Advancing profitable farming systems in
2013–14, and research partners provided significant co-investment.
Closing the yield gap
Recent research indicates that in the Northern Region improvements in yield of between 50
percent and 100 percent are possible for chickpeas, sorghum and wheat produced on good
soil types under good farming systems and best practice farm management. The GRDC is
investing in a project to help growers in the region to improve their crop production and the
profitability of their farms by providing them with tools to understand and reduce the yield
gap.
The project commenced in 2013–14, with research to establish attainable yield targets for
chickpeas, sorghum and wheat in six areas of the region. Data was collected from research
trials and variety trials and from actual yield records of well-managed farms. This provided
detailed information on the water use efficiency of crops in various parts of the region,
which was combined with rainfall information to calculate attainable crop yields. Yields
were also modelled using the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM).
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
The attainable yield results were compared to average yields for the seven years from 2005
to 2011, as measured by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, to estimate the yield gaps. The
findings demonstrate that in most cases even a partial closing of the yield gap has potential
to substantially improve yields and more than double farm profitability.
Further research, including workshops with growers and advisers, is now being undertaken
to develop approaches to close the yield gap, focusing on:
 farming systems and practices that optimise moisture storage and build healthy soil
 optimal fertiliser use and nutrient management
 control of weeds and pests and management of diseases
 strategic management of crop choices
 timeliness of operations
 good management of machinery and labour
 good business management and appropriate finance.
An extension and evaluation plan has been drafted, as the basis for ongoing work with
growers, grower groups and agronomists, to collect, analyse and validate data on the
economics of closing the yield gap and deliver information to help growers improve their
farm performance.
No-till stubble retention
Modern no-till stubble retention (NTSR) cropping systems may be underutilised in mediumand high-rainfall areas, particularly if growers have not had access to local, evidence-based
information on the performance of NTSR.
The Riverine Plains, which covers the southern portion of the New South Wales–Victoria
slopes and the Victorian high-rainfall grain-growing region, is one example. Evidence shows
that greater use of NTSR in the Riverine Plains may deliver benefits to growers of at least
$50 per hectare of additional income and $60 per hectare of reduced costs per year,
through improved production and reduced inputs. By promoting more efficient use of
water and nitrogen, NTSR would also deliver environmental benefits, such as reduced
emissions, while improving soil quality characteristics.
In 2013–14, the GRDC supported a project to investigate, demonstrate and extend cultural
practices to assist growers to adopt NTSR in medium- and high-rainfall environments. As
well as increasing the adoption of NTSR systems generally, the project aims to produce
guidelines specific to the Riverine Plains.
Over five years, the project will include trials on small plots, demonstrations on large
blocks, and paddock-scale sensing work. Discussion groups will be established around each
of the four properties hosting trials, to provide growers with opportunities to follow the
trials at a local level, while strengthening networks that will help the region to respond to
future challenges.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
33
Broadleaf species in cropping sequences
The GRDC is supporting a project that is working with growers and advisers in the Southern
Region to re-evaluate the full value of integrating broadleaf species in the cereal cropping
sequence.
By examining various combinations of genotype, environment and management
approaches across lower rainfall, high-rainfall and irrigated cropping zones, the research
aims to produce:
 whole-of-rotation economic analyses that provide information on income stability
along with risk profiles and comparisons of the impacts of various grain price and
fertiliser cost scenarios
 extension packages that provide practical guidance to help growers decide when it is
best to use broadleaf options, based on soil water, available nitrogen, weeds, disease
status and timing, taking into account seasonal conditions and commodity prices.
The project has demonstrated the benefits of break crops for productivity, weed
management, reduced incidence of disease, and improved availability of nitrogen and soil
water.
It is also providing substantial evidence of the potential of break crops to increase the
profitability of crop sequences. For example, over the years between 2011 and 2013,
comparing sequences with a break crop followed by two wheat crops against continuous
wheat, the top eight sequences with the highest cumulative gross margins involved either
canola or legume pulse crops. If the economic data is considered in terms of profit:input
cost ratios, the top eight sequences again include break crops in the first year, but also
include brown manure legumes.
Lodging in irrigated wheat
The GRDC is supporting research to identify agronomic practices which, in combination
with resistant cultivars, will help growers in the Northern Region to eliminate lodging in
their irrigated wheat crops.
In 2013–14, field trials were conducted on more than 40 commercial wheat varieties. A
subset of 15 ‘best bet’ cultivars was also tested, using different agronomic treatments
involving plant growth regulators and canopy management techniques.
In most of the experiments, lodging occurred late in the season and had only a mild impact
on yield, because of unusually warm winter weather that caused varieties to flower early,
reducing both yield potential and lodging risk.
In contrast to the previous year’s results, the canopy management technique of applying
nitrogen in crop did not always perform significantly better than applying high levels of
nitrogen at sowing. Results for in-crop nitrogen application under furrow irrigation
highlighted the importance of effectively incorporating the nitrogen fertiliser after
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
application, indicating that furrow irrigation growers may be best advised to ‘water-run’
nitrogen application.
The results of testing with plant growth regulators were similar to those of the previous
year. Plant growth regulators tended to increase yield significantly in crops with high
nitrogen application at sowing but produced inconsistent results in conjunction with in-crop
nitrogen application.
Trial results were communicated to growers at field walks, and lodging scores from the
2012 and 2013 experiments were used to update the New South Wales and Queensland
variety guides for 2014.
Case study—Profitable break crops and pastures in Western Australia
Break crops—such as canola, field peas, lupins and oats—bring benefits to cereal rotations in
terms of nutrition, disease, weed control and improved soil structure and biology. Some, such
as canola, can be very profitable crops in their own right.
Considerable work has been done in identifying and promoting suitable crop and pasture
species for use as break crops in Western Australia. However, recent figures show that break
crops constitute less than 10 percent of the state’s grain production. Wheat continues to
dominate, and growers tend to grow cereals continuously, or rely on pasture and fallow
phases to manage weeds, conserve moisture and build soil fertility.
A GRDC-supported project is working to document the sustainability and profitability of crop
and pasture sequences in Western Australia, and to increase understanding of the potential
biological and economic benefits of the use of break crops.
Since 2010, the project has monitored the impacts of crop sequences on weeds, diseases
and nutrients in 184 focus paddocks. The findings will be compiled with results of other crop
sequence trials to develop information and tools to assist wheat growers to make effective,
profitable use of break crops.
The project team is collaborating with growers and researchers to test designs for new
decision support tools, such as a ‘traffic light’ system for comparing crop constraints, and the
use of existing decision support tools, such as Yield Prophet, for planning rotations. Local
knowledge hubs have been formed to enable the rapid transfer of information between
growers, consultants and research providers.
What’s in the RD&E pipeline for 2014–15?



The national paddock survey, which will collect intensive paddock-based datasets for
use in conjunction with simulation modelling to compare actual crop yields with
predicted water-limited potential yields.
Evaluation of farming systems to identify sources of significant reduction in wheat
damage caused by frost in the frost-prone environments of the Southern and Western
regions.
A review of GRDC investments in crop rotation, break crops and crop sequencing, to
identify gaps and guide future research, development and extension investment.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
35
Theme 5—Improving your farm resource base
Role
This theme is focused on protecting and enhancing the farm’s soil, water, habitat and
atmospheric resources to maintain production performance under a variable climate and to
demonstrate to consumers and the wider community the sustainable nature of Australian
grains production.
Australian grain growers operate in a variable climate and will be significantly affected by
climate change. In addition, growers will need to react to Australian Government and
international policies, programs and market expectations set in response to climate
change—for example, in relation to greenhouse gas emissions.
These impacts need to be understood so that the industry can minimise risk and maximise
opportunities. The issues of climate variability and change need to be factored into both
seasonal and longer term farm business decisions.
Within the context of a changing climate, soil, water, habitat and atmospheric resources
need to be improved across the environment in which the industry operates. Soil carbon is
declining in many grains catchments, as is soil pH. Although water consumption by
agriculture is being reduced and becoming more efficient, water quality in some key
catchments requires further management. Native vegetation communities have become
highly fragmented, affecting both biodiversity balance and the potential for exploitation as
habitat for beneficial organisms.
In addition, as consumers are becoming more interested in how the food they buy is
produced, the grains industry needs to be able to communicate its commitment to good
stewardship. The ‘Improving your farm resource base’ theme assists growers, across the
industry and as individual producers, to demonstrate that they are using chemicals and
fertiliser wisely and caring for the land.
Outcomes
The aspirational outcome of Theme 5—Improving your farm resource base is:
Grain growers are valued for adopting practices that improve regional habitat, soil,
water and atmosphere resources in a changing climate.
To achieve this long-term goal, the GRDC is pursuing five intermediate outcomes over the life
of the Strategic R&D Plan 2012–17:





Understanding and adapting to climate variability
Improving soil health
Managing water use on dryland and irrigated grain farms
Understanding and valuing biodiversity
Communication of sustainable production methods.
Funds invested in 2013–14
The GRDC invested $11.51 million through Theme 5—Improving your farm resource base in
2013–14, and research partners provided significant co-investment.
Nitrogen losses from surface fertiliser
The GRDC invested in research to provide an evidence base for fertiliser decisions in the
Northern Region. Over two years, the project conducted 19 field experiments to quantify
and compare the ammonia losses arising from in-crop application of a range of fertiliser
options—including urea, liquid nitrogen products and crystalline ammonium sulphate (a by36
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
product of steel production)—in paddocks on medium to heavy cracking clay soils in northwestern New South Wales.
The results provided useful information to assist growers to make fertiliser choices for their
soils and farming systems. For example, in three out of four trials on bare fallowed soils
without naturally occurring lime at the surface, nitrogen loss from ammonium sulphate was
about half that from urea, urea ammonium nitrate or green urea products. However, in two
trials on bare fallowed soils with lime, nitrogen loss from ammonium sulphate far exceeded
that from urea. The experiments also demonstrated that, overall, nitrogen loss is generally
not as severe as previously believed.
These results are being communicated to growers, and should increase confidence in
applying nitrogen fertilisers to the soil surface, and increase uptake of the benefits of split
application.
Life cycle assessments of farming systems
While pressure for agricultural industries to be responsive to climate change drivers is
increasing internationally, current knowledge about greenhouse gas emissions from
Australian grains production, at a regionally applicable scale, is limited.
In 2013–14, the GRDC supported a project to develop a picture of the emissions profile and
opportunities to modify that profile in an economically viable way for grain-growing
systems in New South Wales, based on life cycle assessment. Life cycle assessment is an
analysis of the environmental impacts of a production process, from beginning to end, and
is conducted according to an international standard method.
The project aims to develop life cycle assessments for:
 wheat–wheat and chickpea–wheat cropping, in the area from Moree to Walgett
 sorghum–wheat cropping, in the area from East Moree to Liverpool Plains
 wheat–wheat and canola–wheat cropping, in the Wagga Wagga area
 high-input and low-input cropping systems, in a southern area wheat–wheat cropping
system.
The assessments will consider greenhouse gas emissions at all stages of the life cycle of a
tonne of grain, from the use of fossil fuels to produce fertiliser and chemical inputs before
they reach the farm, to the burning or rotting of crop residues after harvest.
Preliminary results have identified ways for many growers to reduce emissions without an
additional cost burden, through practice and system change. Extension materials will be
prepared to communicate this information to growers and their advisers.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
37
Perennials in crop–livestock systems
The EverCrop project was established by the Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research
Centre, with investment support from the GRDC, to understand and promote the role that
perennials can play in mixed farming systems in southern Australia.
The project aims to achieve increased profitability, resilience and environmental outcomes
in Australian cropping regions, through:
 new systems that integrate perennials into cropping systems
 greater understanding of the constraints to adoption of perennial-based systems
 better decision making by growers and their advisers, assisted by new tools and
approaches for analysing mixed farming systems that include perennial options.
EverCrop integrates field experimentation, on-farm trialling, farmer participatory research,
farm case studies, soil–plant–climate biophysical modelling and whole-farm bioeconomic
analysis. Field activities are conducted in three contrasting agroecological zones: uniform
rainfall, in southern New South Wales; medium rainfall, in the northern wheat belt of
Western Australia; and low rainfall, in the Mallee region of South Australia and Victoria.
Farmers and advisers are closely involved in the R&D process, to ensure that the benefits
and constraints of perennial options in the whole-farm management context are well
understood. User evaluations and on-farm demonstration trials are used to validate new
technologies and practices, and to quantify less tangible benefits such as impacts on the
natural resource base or labour and machinery requirements.
In 2013–14, EverCrop delivered results directly to more than 1,100 farmers and advisers. A
suite of decision support tools has been made available to help farmers compare and
predict the potential performance of perennial options over the long term, for a range of
seasons and different soils.
Disease-suppressive soils
The GRDC is investing in a range of research to identify and characterise disease
suppressive soils, and to improve understanding of the organisms and mechanisms that
contribute to the suppression of crop diseases.
In the high-rainfall environment of the southern part of the Western Region, the
considerable potential for growth in grains production is inhibited by the increasing severity
of root diseases such as crown rot, rhizoctonia and take-all, and root-lesion nematodes. A
GRDC-supported project aims to refine methods for assessing and validating the
suppression of these stressors in soils; and to identify factors which may contribute to the
development and persistence of suppression.
A range of sites and soils identified as being potentially suppressive are being tested. In
2013, the project confirmed that seven test sites were suppressive for rhizoctonia and three
were suppressive for crown rot. The microbial attributes of the suppressive sites,
38
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
particularly nematode communities, are being examined. Crop rotation histories, inputs
and other available data for those sites are also being studied, to determine how
management practices foster suppression.
Further work, based in the Northern Region, is exploring the potential of naturally occurring
soil organisms to suppress root-lesion nematodes, which cause losses of approximately
$250 million per year to the grains industry across Australia. The project aims to provide an
understanding of the biological, chemical and biochemical characteristics associated with
soils that are suppressive to root-lesion nematodes, and to identify relevant soil
management practices to enhance disease suppression.
The project has surveyed over 100 soils to measure the presence of natural enemies of rootlesion nematodes, such as Pasteuria bacteria, nematode-trapping fungi and predatory
nematodes. The results are being analysed along with information on the characteristics
and crop/management histories of the sampled soils to understand which soils and
practices support the desirable organisms.
Other aspects of this work include investigating the mechanisms (such as food sources and
moisture) that affect differences in suppressiveness at varying depths in the soil; and
monitoring how the addition of organic matter affects suppressiveness over several
seasons, under various cropping regimes.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
39
Case study—Grain and Graze
The GRDC has a longstanding investment in the Grain and Graze program, in partnership
with farmers, grower groups, universities, natural resource management bodies, state
agencies, CSIRO and agribusiness, to facilitate and increase the adoption of improved land
management practices in mixed farming enterprises.
The second phase of the program, Grain and Graze 2, ran from 2010 to 2013. Its aim was to
build the capacity of farmers and their advisers to improve the production and
management of whole-farm biomass and other farm practices to reduce soil erosion,
enhance soil carbon, and improve productivity.
The program established relevant local targets and projects for seven regions: Eastern South
Australia, Eyre Peninsula, Northern New South Wales/Southern Queensland, Southern New
South Wales, Northern Victoria, Southern Victoria, and Western Australia.
Nearly 1,300 activities—such as demonstrations, trials, field days, paddock walks, workshops
and publication of articles and fact sheets—were conducted around Australia. Around
19,000 farmers and advisers were involved with or had contact with project activities, while
around 60,000 heard of and/or accessed material about Grain and Graze 2.
Based on information reported by farmers, some significant improvements were achieved
during the program. For example, the area of:



stubble retained for ground cover increased by more than 1.6 million hectares
farmland grazed to control weeds increased by around 922,000 hectares
native vegetation managed on farm reached 434,500 hectares.
In total, 9,700 farmers, representing 25.9 million hectares of land, said that they had changed
their land management practices in response to Grain and Graze 2 information.
The third phase, Grain and Graze 3, commenced in January 2014. The new phase will build
on previous learnings in the areas of grazing crops and stubble; fodder, crop and pasture
rotations; and risk management.
What’s in the RD&E pipeline for 2014–15?

40
A number of key investments in work on improving the chemical, physical and biological
health of Australian soils, consistent with the National Soil RD&E Strategy developed under
the National Primary Industries RD&E Framework, focusing on:

subsoil constraints

non-wetting soils

soil compaction

controlled traffic farming.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Theme 6—Building skills and capacity
Role
This theme is focused on generating leadership, innovation and education in the grains
sector.
To compete and succeed internationally, the Australian grains industry needs a highly skilled
and motivated workforce, including growers, advisers, researchers and managers. The
industry has identified several critical challenges:
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the grains industry and farming are becoming increasingly complex, with many types
and sources of information that growers need to make decisions
the number of appropriately skilled researchers and advisers being trained to replace the
current generation is inadequate—this is compounded by a large number of
experienced people reaching retirement age
agricultural careers are not traditionally attractive to potential candidates
the grains industry lacks a whole-of-industry approach to building skills and capacity
growers are time-poor and face succession-planning changes
the uptake of technology often requires substantial technical support.
Through the ‘Building skills and capacity’ theme, the GRDC has identified opportunities to
focus its investment to address these challenges.
Outcomes
The aspirational outcome of Theme 6—Building skills and capacity is:
A dynamic Australian grains industry with the skills and capacity to continuously innovate.
To achieve this long-term goal, the GRDC is pursuing four intermediate outcomes over the life
of the Strategic R&D Plan 2012–17:


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Grains industry leadership and communication
Capacity building in the extension sector
Capacity building in the R&D sector
Capacity building for grain growers.
Funds invested in 2013–14
The GRDC invested $7.66 million through Theme 6—Building skills and capacity in 2013–14,
and research partners provided significant co-investment.
Industry leadership and communication
The GRDC invests in a range of activities aimed at supporting current and potential future
members of the Australian grains industry to lead, learn, change, innovate and advance the
industry.
The GRDC’s Grains Industry Conference Support program provides sponsorship
assistance to organisations wishing to conduct a conference, workshop or seminar that
directly benefits the Australian grains industry. In 2013–14, the program supported 32
events across a range of locations, including capital cities and regional centres.
The Australian Rural Leadership Program offers rural leaders a range of learning
opportunities around Australia and overseas. It aims to produce a network of informed,
capable and ethical leaders who are able to work collaboratively to advance the interests of
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
41
their industries and communities and rural Australia in general. In 2013–14, the GRDC
supported two participants from Victoria.
The Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarships program gives Australian primary producers
the opportunity to travel overseas to study research topics relevant to their farming
operations. In 2013–14, the GRDC supported scholarships for four grain growers: one from
northern New South Wales and three from Western Australia.
Managed by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, the Horizon
Scholarship program provides financial support, professional development and industry
placements for undergraduates studying agriculture. In 2013–14, the GRDC supported six
Horizon Scholars as they started their degrees.
The Art4Agriculture Young Farming Champions program is a professional development
program for young people in agricultural industries around Australia. As well as developing
their own skills and knowledge, the young leaders work with students in their local schools
to improve understanding of modern farming practices and promote careers in agriculture.
The GRDC became a partner in the program and supported four participants in 2013–14.
The GRDC is a partner in the Primary Industry Centre for Science Education, which aims
to increase the number of professionals in agribusiness and agricultural research by
attracting students into tertiary-level primary industry science courses. The centre delivers
high school science classroom activities, teachers’ professional development programs,
teaching resources, student camps and industry placement programs.
The GRDC is also a partner in the National Youth Science Forum, which encourages
students in years 11 and 12 to enter science- or engineering-based university courses and
associated careers. The forum includes intensive residential programs, follow-up seminars
and visits to university campuses and industry sites around Australia.
Capacity building for the R&D sector
The GRDC invests directly or through partnerships with other organisations to increase the
capacity of the R&D sector to meet the needs of the Australian grains industry.
The GRDC offers scholarships for honours and postgraduate studies, to encourage
students in disciplines that contribute to the research, development and extension (RD&E)
priorities of the GRDC and the Australian grains industry. In 2013–14, the GRDC supported
22 PhD scholars and 18 undergraduate honours scholars.
GRDC Travel Awards are granted to researchers and students within the Australian grains
industry who wish to travel to participate in events or activities that align with the GRDC’s
objectives and demonstrate benefit to the Australian grains industry. In 2013–14, the GRDC
granted 21 applications to travel to destinations in Australia or overseas.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences manages the
Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture to encourage and
advance the careers of young scientists. The GRDC sponsors an award for grains industry
research. In 2013–14, the winner of the GRDC award was Jonathon Plett, from the
University of Western Sydney, whose research focused on whether chickpea plants bred to
be disease resistant are also able to take advantage of beneficial microbes in the soil.
The CSIRO Plant Industry Summer Student Program is tailored for second- and thirdyear university students with an interest in pursuing research careers relevant to plantbased industries. Participants have the opportunity to work alongside research scientists at
CSIRO Plant Industry sites, learn new approaches and understand the importance of
scientific research in the context of the delivery of practical outcomes. In 2013–14, the
GRDC supported eight of the 20 students who took part.
Capacity building for advisers
Professional extension providers working in agriculture and natural resource management
are important allies in the GRDC’s efforts to achieve positive practice change in the grains
industry. The GRDC supports opportunities for such providers to maintain or build their
knowledge and skills.
The GRDC funds technology adoption workshops for researchers and extension workers,
which provide training with a particular emphasis on grower and adviser interaction.
Participants are shown new ways to structure their activities based on proven principles of
persuasion and attitudinal change. The program was rated very highly by participants in
2013–14.
The GRDC’s adviser updates provide targeted information to agribusiness people to assist
them to provide the best and latest advice to grain growers. The updates are presented at
two-day events in each grain-growing region. The 2013–14 updates also included a trial of
webstreaming technology that enabled participants to take part in sessions online. The
events attracted more than 1,910 participants in 2013–14.
Capacity building for grain growers
The GRDC provides support, training opportunities and resources to help grain growers
access additional skills and new knowledge and apply them to their farm enterprises.
GRDC Industry Development Awards are offered to Australian grain growers or groups
working directly with growers, to support study tours, travel or training. The aim is to
develop new skills, build relationships and acquire new information that will contribute to
the sustainability and profitability of the grains industry. In 2013–14, the GRDC granted 19
awards.
For more than a decade, the GRDC has been delivering the outcomes of GRDC-supported
research directly to growers through its grower research update seminars. The seminars
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
43
are presented at regional centres. In some cases, they are delivered in conjunction with
grower groups. Across the three grain-growing regions, 32 grower updates were held and
collectively attracted more than 2,120 participants in 2013–14.
Case study—Horizon Scholarship program
Tiffany Hunt, from Warialda in northern New South Wales, was one of the first Horizon Scholars
sponsored by the GRDC. Tiffany completed her Bachelor of Rural Sciences at the University of
New England in 2013, and says a career in agronomy is the most likely direction she will take.
As part of her Horizon Scholarship, Tiffany was given the opportunity to experience farming
systems around Australia. An industry placement provided the opportunity to work with the
grower-led, Victorian-based extension group Southern Farming Systems, helping with
research for the national Grain and Graze program. She used this experience as the basis for
an honours project, experimenting with dual-purpose cropping and sowing times on the New
South Wales Northern Tablelands.
Tiffany also spent time in Western Australia, visiting growers and grower-based agronomy
groups to learn more about their production systems as part of a GRDC-sponsored tour.
Having come from an area with a summer-dominant rainfall pattern, she enjoyed
experiencing production systems under winter-dominant rainfall, and observing how Western
Australian growers cope with rainfall variability.
Tiffany says that one of the most beneficial aspects of the Horizon Scholarship, particularly in
her first two years, was the support of mentors from her university and industry, whose
direction helped her stay on track with her studies. Professional development workshops also
provided opportunities for networking with industry experts and with other young people
enthusiastic about the future of agriculture.
The aim of the Horizon Scholarship program is to encourage high-calibre undergraduate
students to pursue careers in agriculture, developing the next generation of industry leaders
from diverse fields of study. The program provides a $5,000 bursary to support academic
pursuits and expands the perspectives of students, while building leadership and advocacy
skills for Australia’s primary industries.
The GRDC has directly supported 11 participants on the program.
What’s in the RD&E pipeline for 2014–15?
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44
A project that will enable school children and their families to understand the role and
importance of grain production in Australia, through a range of school-based and
community education programs, including assessment of current grains industry
education resources and development of a new suite of resources.
Development and implementation of a strategy for better GRDC engagement,
networking and professional development with scholarship recipients, to contribute
further to their professional development and provide them with opportunities to transfer
their knowledge and participate more broadly within the grains sector.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Commercialisation
In many cases, the benefits of GRDC research investments can be most efficiently delivered
to growers through commercial channels.
Usually the GRDC is only one of a number of organisations investing in the development of
new technologies by public and/or private organisations. Investment partnerships are
desirable and necessary because they reduce the risk to the GRDC in the funding of new
technologies, and because partner organisations can bring benefits in addition to financial
resources and research capacity, such as market knowledge, commercial expertise,
infrastructure and access to complementary technologies.
Commercialisation strategy
The GRDC achieves its objectives in commercialising research outputs through:
 analysing returns on investments to ensure that the GRDC is investing in areas that
maximise return to growers
 leveraging capital and expertise from co-investors, to maximise opportunities to bring
technology to the marketplace
 adequately protecting intellectual property, to protect the GRDC’s investments and
leverage co-investment from third parties
 accessing technologies owned by third parties for evaluation and use in Australia
 developing appropriate paths to market for each new technology
 managing the GRDC’s commercial investments and partnerships.
The GRDC’s first aim in delivering outputs from its research portfolio is to provide benefits
to growers.
Outcomes
Outstanding examples of commercialisation outcomes in 2013–14 include:
 Eighteen new crop varieties were released: one durum wheat, one peanut, one lentil,
two chickpea, three barley, two common vetch, one woolly-pod vetch, one lupin, one
oat, one triticale, three field peas, and one mungbean.
 The GRDC licensed the right to use the technology for detecting the LMA grain defect
in wheat to the University of Adelaide, which will test breeding lines for Australian
wheat-breeding programs on a cost-recovery basis.
 Eight new plant breeder’s rights applications were lodged.
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
45
The GRDC Team
How the GRDC works with you
Capturing information at the front line of grain production places the GRDC in the best
position to invest in the most valuable research, development and extension (RD&E) where
and when it is most needed. Working closely with grain growers and their advisers also helps
to ensure that research outcomes are effectively converted to on-farm practices, varieties
and products that meet the industry’s needs.
Panels
Our system of advisory panels is a well-established channel of communication between the
grains industry and the GRDC, and attracts committed and experienced participants from
across the value chain in each of Australia’s grain-growing regions.
The three regional panels include growers, agribusiness people, researchers and GRDC
executive managers. Each regional panel:
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identifies and monitors grains industry issues that are relevant to the region
exchanges information with grower groups and other interested parties in the region
identifies priorities for RD&E investment and recommends them to the National Panel
keeps growers and advisers informed about the GRDC’s strategic direction, investment
portfolio and research projects
assists GRDC staff to monitor the effectiveness of the investment portfolio.
The National Panel is made up of the chairs of the regional panels and the members of the
GRDC Senior Leadership Group. The National Panel:


addresses national RD&E priorities across the GRDC’s investment portfolio and makes
recommendations to the Board
assists the Board to maintain links with grain growers, the Australian Government, state
and territory governments and research partners.
Except for the GRDC managers, panel members are contracted to carry out their role and
are not employees of the GRDC.
Networks
The GRDC’s Regional Cropping Solutions networks in the Southern and Western regions, and
the Grower Solutions Groups in the Northern Region, are made up of grain growers,
consultants and researchers. These networks identify local cropping issues and help to
determine how best to tackle them. They also play an influential role in assisting the GRDC to
fast-track RD&E that will improve growers’ productivity, profitability and sustainability.
The regional networks are supported by dedicated facilitators who, along with the GRDC’s
grower services managers, promote communication between the GRDC, growers and other
industry participants and assist the GRDC to respond effectively to local issues.
Industry representation
The GRDC works with Grain Producers Australia (GPA), the grains industry’s ‘representative
organisation’ under the Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989. GPA is a
not-for-profit, membership-based company that exists to foster an innovative, profitable,
globally competitive and environmentally sustainable grains industry. GPA has a formal role
in overseeing the GRDC’s investment strategies and performance, for example by attending
consultation meetings with the GRDC, assessing the GRDC’s performance against industry
expectations, and providing advice to the Minister for Agriculture.
Personal communication
We welcome opportunities to communicate directly with growers and their advisers about
the directions of our investments, the quality of our products and services, or any aspect of
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
our performance in meeting growers’ RD&E needs. Please feel free to contact us by mail,
phone or email, through the GRDC website, Facebook or Twitter, or face to face at GRDC
updates, conferences or field days. We look forward to hearing from you.
Organisation
The GRDC’s organisational structure is designed to most effectively apply the
organisation’s resources to achieve its operational and strategic outcomes set out in the
Strategic R&D Plan 2012–17.
GRDC structure as at 30 September 2014
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
47
Board at 30 September 2014
Richard Clark
Chair (Non-executive)
Richard was appointed as Chair for a three-year period
commencing on 1 October 2013. Richard runs an intensive
1,340 hectare grain enterprise, focusing on summer and
winter cereals, pulses, and oilseeds, at Tulloona, New South
Wales. He has extensive experience as a director and
chairman of organisations in the agricultural sector and the
grains industry in particular.
John Harvey
Managing Director
(Executive)
John joined the GRDC in November 1997 as Program
Manager Farming Systems. He became Manager R&D
Programs in 2001, Executive Manager Varieties in 2005 and
Managing Director in March 2011. John’s background is in
agricultural extension and research, development and
extension management. He previously worked with the
Queensland Department of Primary Industries.
Richard Brimblecombe
Director (Non-executive)
Richard is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
of Quantum Power Limited, a company in the renewable
energy sector. He has significant experience in the
development, evaluation and execution of R&D strategy.
Jeremy Burdon
Director (Non-executive)
Jeremy has an international reputation in evolutionary biology,
particularly the application of molecular technologies to crop
production. Since 2012, Jeremy has held a CSIRO Fellow
position in which he is developing new approaches for the
application of evolutionary principles to farming systems.
Jenny Goddard
Director (Non-executive)
Jenny runs her own business as an economic consultant. She
has 24 years of experience as an economic policy adviser to
the Australian Government, and an extensive understanding
of government policies, processes and administration.
Kim Halbert
Deputy Chair (Nonexecutive)
Kim is a grain producer in the Mid West region of Western
Australia, where he undertakes numerous production trials
and innovative farming practices. He has experience in the
management and conservation of natural resources and a
strong interest in the marketing of grain.
Robert Lewis
Director (Non-executive)
Robert has a background in research, research management,
public and private sector policy and governance, intellectual
property management, and commercialisation. He was Chief
Executive Officer/Executive Director of the South Australian
Research and Development Institute from 1992 to 2010.
Sharon Starick
Director (Non-executive)
Sharon is a grain and pig producer in the Mallee region of
South Australia. Her extensive knowledge of sustainable
primary production was developed through her own on-farm
practices and participation in Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc.
and the South Australian No-Till Farmers Association.
John Woods
Director (Non-executive)
John runs a cropping enterprise in northern New South Wales
and southern Queensland, where he participates in summer
crop R&D trials and applies innovative techniques. He has
experience in technology transfer and extension of R&D, and
a strong interest in economic policy that affects agriculture.
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
GRDC organisational chart at 30 September 2014
Executive Assistant
Wynette Neil (Pt)
Managing Director
John Harvey
Manager Grower Services
Alan Umbers (T)
Administrative Coordinator
Executive Manager Regional
Grower Services
Caroline Pearson (Pt)
Stuart Kearns
Administrative Coordinator
Claire Shannon (T)
Senior Manager Products and Services
Kyle Thoms
Publishing Manager
Maureen Cribb
Communications Facilitator
Ngaire Breen
Business Coordinator
Robyn Hodgkin
Manager Delivery Platforms
Tom McCue
Webmaster
Nikki Watson
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
49
Senior Manager Extension and Training
Darren Hughes
Manager Online Communities
Prudence Cook
Manager Grower Services North
Sharon O’Keeffe
Manager Grower Services South
Andrew Rice
Manager Grower Services West
Vacant
Communication Manager
Kylie Dunstan (Pt)
Communications Coordinator
Maressa Carey
Administrative Coordinator
Merrilyn Baulman
Senior Manager Theme Integration and
Strategies
Juan Juttner
Executive Manager
Research Programs
Brondwen MacLean (A)
Program Manager Foundation Programs
Tom Giles
Program Manager Capacity Building
Kathleen Allen
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Senior Manager Natural Resources
Martin Blumenthal
Project Manager (0.6)
Program Manager (0.4) Resource
Management
Tanya Robinson
Administrative Coordinator
Tom Riethmuller
Administrative Coordinator
Deborah Hourigan (T)
Senior Manager Plant Health
Ken Young (A)
Program Manager Plant Health
Technologies
Jeevan Khurana (T)
Program Manager Plant Health
Surveillance and Mitigation
Sharyn Taylor
Program Manager Protection Traits
Omid Ansari (A)
Project Manager Plant Pests
Tom Langley
Administrative Coordinator
Teneille England
Senior Manager Farm Practices
Peter Morrison
Program Manager Agronomy
Vacant
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
51
Program Manager Farming Systems
Jan Edwards
Project Manager Farm Practices
Alexandra Murray
Administrative Coordinator
Teri-Ann Fewson
Senior Manager Crop Genetics
Francis Ogbonnaya (A)
Program Manager Yield Traits
Jorge Mayer
Project Manager Traits
Lauren du Fall (T)
Project Manager Quality Traits
Clare Johnson
Administrative Coordinator
Wendy Bosci
Administrative Coordinator
Merrilyn Baulman
Senior Manager Intellectual Property
Executive Manager
Commercial
Jody Higgins (P)
Steve Thomas
Intellectual Property Officer
Bettina Garrett (A)
Senior Manger Business Management
Andreas Betzner
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Manager Business Development
Ron Osmond
Manager Business Development
Gavin Clydesdale
Manager Business Development
Vacant
Administrative Coordinator
Tiana Peneha (T)
Manager Market Requirements
Paul Meibusch
General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary
Cathie Warburton
Commencing 1 October 2014
Corporate Lawyer
Executive Manager
Corporate Services
James Macintyre
Tanya Howitt
Legal Counsel
Su-Ann Burke
Board Support Officer
Mary Dalton (Casual)
Section Head Business Services and
Innovation
Leanne Campbell
Strategic Planning and Reporting
Zoltan Lukacs
Manager IT
Bob Watson
Network Support Officer
Brendan Lawler
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
53
System Administrator
Kris Bade (T)
Information Officer
Paul Alexander
Manager Business Cycle and
Improvement
Vacant
Compliance Officer
Catherine Wells
Impact, Business and Portfolio Analysis
Vincent Fernandes
Section Head Finance and Audit
Danielle Jakubowski (Pt)
Kate Ward (Pt - T)
Senior Accountant
Nino Divito
Accountant—Reporting
Johan Pienaar
Accounts Payable Officer
Diana Barry
Contract Payments Officer
Carmen Jiang
Contracts Coordinator
Klaudia Skazlic
Contracts Coordinator Assistant
Vacant
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Section Head People and Place
Anissa LeMaitre
Human Resources Officer
Jo Copeland
Commencing 10 November 2014
Receptionist
Michelle Priest (Pt)
Sara Gordon (Pt)
Pt = Part Time
A = Acting
T = Temporary
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
55
Advisory panels
National Panel
John Harvey, Managing Director
02 6166 4500
Steve Thomas, Executive
Manager Commercial
john.harvey@grdc.com.au
02 6166 4500
steve.thomas@grdc.com.au
Tanya Howitt, Executive Manager
Corporate Services
02 6166 4500
Stuart Kearns, Executive
Manager Regional Grower
Services
tanya.howitt@grdc.com.au
02 6166 4500
stuart.kearns@grdc.com.au
Brondwen MacLean, Executive
Manager Research Programs
James Clark, Northern Regional
Panel Chair
02 6166 4500
0427 545 212
brondwen.maclean@grdc.com.au
colane@bigpond.com
Keith Pengilley, Southern
Regional Panel Chair
Peter Roberts, Western Regional
Panel Chair
0448 015 539
0428 389 060
kgpengilley@gmail.com
kpeterroberts@gmail.com
Northern Regional Panel
James Clark, Chair
Loretta Serafin, Deputy Chair
0427 545 212
colane@bigpond.com
loretta.serafin@industry.nsw.gov.au
Kelly Becker
Jules Dixon
kbecker19@bluemaxx.com.au
juliannedixon@bigpond.com
Keith Harris
Penny Heuston
kharris@romanipastoral.com.au
pennyheuston@bigpond.com
William Martel
John Sheppard
wandgmartel@bigpond.com
moorkulla@gmail.com
Rob Taylor
Steve Thomas
currfarm@ozxpress.com.au
steve.thomas@grdc.com.au
Jack Williamson
Panel Support Officer
jack.williamson1@bigpond.com
David Lord
0422 082 105
northernpanel@gmail.com
Southern Regional Panel
56
Keith Pengilley, Chair
Chris Blanchard, Deputy Chair
0448 015 539
kgpengilley@gmail.com
cblanchard@csu.edu.au
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
Neil Fettell
Susan Findlay Tickner
fettells@esat.net.au
susanfindlaytickner@gmail.com
Stuart Kearns
Richard Konzag
stuart.kearns@grdc.com.au
richard.konzag@gmail.com
Bill Long
Geoff McLeod
bill@agconsulting.com.au
geoffrey.mcleod@bigpond.com
John Minogue
Rob Sonogan
jlminogue@bigpond.com
sonoganrob@gmail.com
Mark Stanley
Panel Support Officer
mark@regionalconnections.com.au
(Strategy, issues and communication)
Belinda Cay
0423 295 576
belinda.cay@agcommunicators.com.au
Panel Support Officer
(Events, meetings and calendar)
Rebecca Jeisman
0438 683 436
rebecca.jeisman@agcommunicators.c
om.au
Western Regional Panel
Peter Roberts, Chair
Mike Ewing, Deputy Chair
0428 389 060
kpeterroberts@gmail.com
mike.ewing25@gmail.com
John Even
Susan Hall
johneven@bigpond.com
susanhall@iinet.net.au
Paul Kelly
Darrin Lee
paulsuekelly@westnet.com.au
blighleefarms@bigpond.com.au
Brondwen MacLean
Bill Ryan
brondwen.maclean@grdc.com.au
wryan@iinet.net.au
Shauna Stone
Gemma Walker
shauna@wn.com.au
hamiltondowns@hotmail.com
Chris Wilkins
Acting Manager Grower
Services West & Panel Support
Officer
cwilkins@synergyco.com.au
Julia Easton
0403 311 395
drjuliaeaston@gmail.com
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14
57
GRDC Grower Survey
The Grower Survey helps the GRDC to assess and improve its performance, particularly in terms of
ensuring that research outcomes are being communicated effectively to growers. The surveys obtain
detailed feedback from 1,200 growers across Australia, covering the GRDC’s three production
regions and key agroecological zones.
The survey results presented in the table below reflect the GRDC’s track record of achievement
against selected key performance indicators since 2010.
Key performance indicator
Proportion of growers surveyed (%)
2010
2012
2013
2014
Growers rating GRDC performance very or fairly high
69
75
79
79
Growers directly benefiting from grains R&D activities
generally in the past five years
67
76
76
73
Growers directly benefiting from GRDC activities or
initiatives
55
67
63
62
Growers confident that grains R&D is addressing
threats to long-term sustainability of their farm
70
78
77
82
Growers feeling that new grain varieties met
expectations
57
60
68
70
Growers aware of regional panels
60
68
68
67
Growers having direct contact with regional panel
members
23
27
28
26
Growers rating the value of regional panels as very or
fairly high amongst growers having direct contact
71
74
77
76
-
–
–
6.9:10
Growers satisfied with GRDC performance a
a This measure was introduced in 2014.
Note: No Grower Survey was conducted in 2011.
GRDC location and contact details
Level 4, 4 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
Phone: 02 6166 4500
PO Box 5367
KINGSTON ACT 2604
Email: grdc@grdc.com.au
58
Fax: 02 6166 4599
Website: www.grdc.com.au
GRDC Growers’ Report 2013–14