Centre for eCommerce and Communications
Online Farm Trials
Knowledge | Technology | Smarter farming
The issue…..why this project?
• Quality information is essential for guiding
change and improving grain growing
practices.
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To increase crop production and quality
Reduce costs
Improve financial and environmental sustainability
• Vast resources of cropping research data
and knowledge have been created and
compiled over decades through investment
by GRDC and other funding sources.
• GRDC recognises new ways of connecting
knowledge to the user are needed.
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Online Farm Trials Research Project
Eg. NVT, Better Fertiliser Decisions,
GrowNotes
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How does this project help?
• Knowledge – National cropping trial research data
• Technology – Digitisation, data management systems and
online tools/applications improve flow, accessibility and
assessment of trial research data.
• Smarter farming – decision making assisted by access to the
latest knowledge and information.
Unlocking knowledge benefits
from past and current grain
research
Online Farm Trials Research Project
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Project objectives
• Create an interactive online grain research
information repository using innovative
technology
• Improve access to, and interpretation of,
grain research knowledge for the benefit
of growers, researchers and the wider
grains industry
Online Farm Trials Research Project
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Online Farm Trials framework
Farm trials
Annual research
reports
Other online
research resources
(eg. NVT, Better
Fertiliser Decisions,
GrowNotes)
Individual trial
project report
documents
Trial data
Online Farm
Trials website
and application
Trial data
summaries
Data downloads
External data (eg.
soils maps,
climate data)
Links to other
relevant
information
Researcher
details
User
Grower, agronomist,
researcher, grower groups
Online Farm Trials Research Project
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The team – collaboration is the key
Project team
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Grains Research and Development
Corporation (GRDC)
Federation University Australia
Nicon Rural Services
International Plant Nutrition Institute
Partners and collaborators
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Grower groups
Crop research programs and organisations
Ag publishing groups
Agricultural advisors/consultants
University researchers
Government departments/staff/researchers
Online Farm Trials Research Project
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Growers
Field researchers
Scientists
Programmers
Agronomists
Consultants
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Pilot projects – guiding development
Grower groups providing
data and assisting with
development of the
technology
Northern
Grower
Alliance
Liebe
Group
Also input from:
• Kondinin Group (WA)
• Birchip Cropping Group
(VIC)
Online Farm Trials Research Project
Southern
Farming
Systems
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Some trial stats – the resource
Just for the three pilot groups
• Almost 1,300 trial projects
• Approx. 11,700 treatment tests
• Approx. 1,100 variety types
350
SFS trials x crop type
289
Number of trials
300
250
200
152
151
150
100
50
66
39
7 10 3
1
14 4
32 30
3
3
1
4
Number of trials
0
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
SFS trials x type
443
Crop type
87
97
83
22
15
3
1
11
3
21
15
8
Trial type
Online Farm Trials Research Project
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Online Farm Trials features
• Direct online access to trial research data in digital form.
• Linkages to other relevant online data and information.
• Interactive online maps of trial sites and other spatial data
• Online national digital library of farm trial research
reports and documents.
• Analytical/decision tool for growers, agronomists and
researchers.
• Increased awareness, networking and collaboration on
farm trial research at a national scale.
Online Farm Trials Research Project
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Farm trials on the web – www.farmtrials.com.au
Online Farm Trials Research Project
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Thank you
Acknowledgements
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Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)
Cam Nicholson – Nicon Rural Services
Rob Norton – International Plant Nutrition Institute
Southern Farming Systems
Liebe Group
Northern Grower Alliance
Kondinin Group
Online Farm Trials Research Project – www.farmtrials.com.au
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The Online Farm Trials application
Online Farm Trials Research Project
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Search or filter
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Fungicide search
Online Farm Trials Research Project
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Fungicide search- Refine to 2010-2012
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Trend/Scatterplot
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Yield charts
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Search “Faba bean variety trial”
Online Farm Trials Research Project
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View Faba Bean Variety trends
Online Farm Trials Research Project
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Faba Bean Variety trends
Online Farm Trials Research Project
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Filter by crop type and focus –
“Nutrition” + “Barley”
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Nutrition + Barley
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View trial details
Online Farm Trials Research Project
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View trial details
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View trial details
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View trial details
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View trial details
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