Southern region pulse crop growers are being well resourced ahead of the 2020 season, with a series of webinar recordings now available through the GRDC.

The recordings, which enable growers to hear from leading industry experts - at their convenience - have been made available following a recent series of short online webinars provided as part of the GRDC Southern Region Pulse Extension Project.

The Growing Pulses in 2020 webinars, co-ordinated and facilitated by Birchip Cropping Group (BCG), cover a wide range of topics.

These include tips about pulse inoculation and nodulation, presented by Ross Ballard, of the South Australian Research and Development Institute.

Michael Moodie, of Frontier Farming Systems, looks at growing pulses on sandy soils.

Francois Darcas, of AgriOz Exports, provides insights to pulse markets in 2020.

Dominie Wright, of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, discusses pulse diseases and diagnostics.

And there is a webinar focusing specifically on pre-emergent herbicide use that is presented by Tony Craddock, of Rural Directions, and David Keetch, of Nufarm.

Armed with knowledge

GRDC Grower Relations Manager - South, Tom Blake, says through the latest webinar series, the GRDC is supporting new and established pulse growers by providing them with information and advice to underpin successful production.

"This format allows growers and other industry personnel to conveniently tune in from their homes or offices," he says.

"And if they missed the live webinars, they can now view and download the recordings on the GRDC YouTube channel.

Research efforts

The GRDC Southern Region Pulse Extension Project 'Building capacity, skills and knowledge for the pulse industry in the southern region: Supporting expansion of high value pulses into new areas and ensuring sustained profitability of all key pulse crops' began in 2017 and is delivered by a consortium of organisations involved in the pulse industry.

Its objective is to increase the knowledge of growers and advisers about sustainable pulse production, leading to improved farming systems and grower profitability.

The Southern Region Pulse Extension Project is being conducted in collaboration with the Southern Region Pulse Agronomy Project 'Understanding the implications of new traits on adaptation, crop physiology and management of pulses in the southern region', which is led by GRDC research partners Agriculture Victoria and the South Australian Research and Development Institute, the research division of Primary Industries and Regions SA.

GRDC Research Codes: BWD9175825, DAV00150

More Information: Claire Pickles, BCG, 0429 922 780; Tom Blake, GRDC, 0418 863 186