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Call for grain sector stakeholders to help extend valuable frost R&D information

GRDC is seeking expressions of interest from individuals and organisations interested in working closely with lead frost extension facilitators who will be appointed in each GRDC region (west, north and south).
Photo: GRDC

Grower groups, advisers, researchers and people involved in agribusiness have been encouraged to put up their hands to assist in the delivery of frost research outcomes to Australian grain growers.

The GRDC is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from individuals and organisations interested in working closely with lead frost extension facilitators expected to be appointed in each GRDC region (west, north and south).

GRDC senior manager extension and communication, Luke Gaynor, says the successful respondents to the EOI will assist the facilitators to communicate and extend applied management options for mitigating frost.

Working together

"A collaborative approach will be required, enabling broad participation, geographic coverage and grower reach to identify and address local grower needs," Mr Gaynor says.

A separate GRDC request for tender is seeking applications for the lead facilitator positions, and these positions should be appointed in mid-2020.

Frost impact

Mr Gaynor says the financial and emotional impacts of frost to grain growers of winter grain crops are significant and well known.

"For wheat alone, it is estimated that frost causes national losses of at least $400 million per year," he says.

"The overall objective of the new investment is to provide growers in frost-prone areas with the knowledge, confidence and ability to implement the latest, best management practices to minimise the impact of frost on their profitability.

"It will continue to extend and apply local relevance to the known research outcomes of the GRDC's considerable frost investment portfolio."

A new approach

Mr Gaynor says the latest investment will involve practical and flexible approaches to communicating management options - and activities will vary depending on the needs of the growers in each sub-region and opportunities to raise awareness of frost-related issues.

He says the investment had been identified as a result of analysis by the GRDC revealing that immediate opportunities exist in further extending existing proven research outcomes relating to frost.

"However, in addition to frost extension, the GRDC continues to have a strong focus on identifying new areas of future research and development and this investment will facilitate discussion that will help inform these approaches," he says.

More information about the EOIs is available on the GRDC website and details of the separate request for tender for the lead facilitator positions is also on the website.

EOI proposals must be sent by email to tenders@grdc.com.au by 5pm AEST on Tuesday, June 30.

GRDC Research Code: PROC-9176202

More Information: Luke Gaynor, GRDC senior manager extension and communication, 0436 665 367, luke.gaynor@grdc.com.au

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