Grains research update held at Bellata

The Grains Research and Development Corporation hosted an update session at the Bellata War Memorial Hall, and it was a chance for locals to connect and discuss the latest farm-ready information to improve profit with researchers, agronomists, and growers.

Speakers and topics on the agenda included agronomy consultant and director of CropFacts Harm van Rees with a presentation on glyphosate.

Glyphosate is regarded as the most effective broad-spectrum weed control and is the active ingredient in popular products such as Roundup.

Jono Baird from the Department of Primary Industries spoke about the relative performance of different farming systems of the future for Northern NSW.

Richard Daniel of the Northern Grower Alliance discussed fallow efficiency and the impact of stubble height, crop type and plant population.

Herbicides for winter crop systems was a topic covered by Mark Congreve of Independent Consultants Australia Network and he was joined by Outlook Ag agronomist Drew Penberthy to discuss optimising the performance of winter crop residual herbicides.

Steven Simpfendorfer of NSW DPI focused on cereal disease, and Loretta Serafi, also from NSW DPI, gave a presentation on the topic of sorghum row configuration and the impact on soil water at harvest and yield.

Matt Gardner from AMPS Research and Gurley grower Mike Smith hosted a discussion on VR technology to match varietal flowering windows to frost risk across the landscape.

“The updates have been running for in excess of 27 years; they are the GRDC’s premier outreach function,” said John Cameron, consultant director of Independent Consultants Australia Network and the Northern Region Grains Research Update coordinator.

“They’re really set up to showcase what’s new, what’s coming out of the research pipeline and what’s ready to be taken up when it comes to on-farm management decisions.”

Mr Cameron said one of the session’s highlights was the discussion hosted by Harm van Rees.

“We had an excellent presentation this morning from probably one of the most senior consultants in the whole country – Harm van Rees.

“He was one of the pivotal members from the Virtue Cropping Group in Victoria and runs a business called CropFacts near Bendigo.

“And he has recently won on a GRDC award.

“He’s travelled the world looking at issues around glyphosate and sustainability in our farming systems and social licence issues.

“We need glyphosate to farm in this country – it’s a very arid climate, and it is one of the key-enabling tools that helps us improve water use efficiency.”

Mr Cameron said the GRDC update sessions were also a fantastic opportunity for people in the agricultural industry to connect face-to-face, ask questions and share knowledge.

“We have the researchers in the room, we have the key agronomist and we’ve got the key growers in the room, they’re all talking and it’s one big love-in.

“The networking that happens … It’s fabulous. Growers and agronomists in a room – that’s always a good, a worthwhile meeting and a good return on investment.”

Organisers and attendees thanked Bellata community members who helped to host such a successful event.