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September ?, 2010
Growers voice priorities during GRDC tour
Break crops, non-wetting soils, drought and frost were among the key issues voiced
by grain growers in the Midlands and north-eastern grainbelt during the Grains
Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) western panel spring tour.
GRDC western panellists, joined by GRDC board members Graeme Robertson and
Jenny Goddard, visited districts in a range of rainfall zones to meet growers,
researchers and agronomists, and inspect local research and development activities.
Farming districts toured included Badgingarra, Miling, Calingiri, Wongan Hills,
Cadoux, Bencubbin, and Maya, where the Liebe Group spring field day was held.
GRDC western panel chairman Neil Young said a key priority raised by growers
across the districts was the need for new legume and canola varieties better suited to
their farming systems.
“The GRDC recognises grower frustration at a lack of suitable break crop options in
WA, including problems with lupin production due to increasing difficulties controlling
weeds in-crop,” he said.
“The GRDC is funding work at the University of Western Australia (UWA) aiming to
develop glyphosate tolerant lupins which would assist growers to deal with weed
control issues.
“Additional work, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food Western
Australia (DAFWA) and funded by the GRDC, is using existing chemistry in new
methods to control wild radish and looks most promising.”
Mr Young said problems with non-wetting soils were a major production barrier for
growers in many districts toured, as well as water and nutrient leaching issues in
more western districts.
“Growers consulted during the GRDC spring tour want a better understanding of soil
amelioration practices such as spading, which are currently being employed by some
farmers in an attempt to improve non-wetting soils,” he said.
“Although we don’t yet have the answers as to how to best deal with water
repellency, the GRDC is investing significant funding in to a new five-year project
researching non-wetting soils, led by Stephen Davies, of DAFWA.”
Mr Young said growers met during the GRDC spring tour told panel members about
problems with soil variability, and the need to better understand their soils to be able
to match inputs to profit potential.
GRDC PO Box 5367, Kingston ACT 2604; 02 6166 4500; fax 02 6166 4599
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“The need to better target inputs is increasingly important given the sharp rise in
fertiliser and chemical prices in recent years,” he said.
Other soil issues facing growers in the regions included sub-soil acidity and a need
for increased understanding of the long-term impact of stubble retention systems.
Mr Young said GRDC western panel members viewed first-hand the effects of an
extremely dry season in parts of the Midlands and north-eastern grainbelt.
“Growers in these districts, some of whom had received only 85-100mm so far this
year, want new cereal and legume varieties with better tolerance to drought and
frost, and more accurate long-term weather forecasting systems,” he said.
“A season like this reinforces the GRDC’s decision to contribute substantial funds to
the new Managed Environment Facility at Merredin, which will help breed crops more
suited to really tough seasons.”
Mr Young said the GRDC western panel spring tour was an important part of the
GRDC’s investment planning process.
“The annual tour is one of the ways that growers can access GRDC western panel
members and let them know about barriers to production on their farms, and how
targeted research can help address these issues,” he said.
CAPTION: Stephen Davies, of the Department of Agriculture and Food Western
Australia (DAFWA), explains a GRDC funded non-wetting soils trial at Badgingarra to
GRDC western panel members, GRDC board members, grower members of the
West Midlands Group and consultants.
CAPTION: GRDC western panel chairman Neil Young, left, with Moora Miling
Pasture Improvement Group members Tony White and Terry Reynolds, both of
Miling.
CAPTION: GRDC western panel members, GRDC board members and growers
discuss seasonal conditions and research priorities next to a paddock of Mace wheat
on the farm of Bencubbin farmer Nick Gillett.
CAPTION: Bencubbin grower Nick Gillett, left, speaks with GRDC western panel
chairman Neil Young.
Contact: Natalie Lee
Cox Inall Communications
08 9864 2034; 0427 189 827
GRDC PO Box 5367, Kingston ACT 2604; 02 6166 4500; fax 02 6166 4599