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Author: Sue Neales

10 results found:
  • Research aims to expand lentils’ geographic range
    Research aims to expand lentils’ geographic range
    Author: Sue Neales, 2022-06-13T09:00:00+10:00

    GRDC has recently invested in two new five-year breeding and selection projects involving lentils – one to improve the ability of lentils to grow on acidic soils in Australia, and the other to boost the yield stability of lentils growing in higher-temperature regions. GRDC oilseeds and pulses manager Dr Francis Ogbonnaya says that while commercial lentil varieties have been introduced, selected and improved to grow well in Australia’s southern, medium-rainfall cropping zones such as Victoria’s Wimmera and South Australia’s Eyre and Yorke peninsulas, grain growers in NSW and Western Australia are much more restricted in the choice of legumes they can grow in their crop rotations.

  • No-till advocate seeks next big yield advance
    No-till advocate seeks next big yield advance
    Author: Sue Neales, 2022-03-17T09:00:00+11:00

    While central NSW grower Paul Adam is a dedicated minimum-tillage grower, he is willing to consider cultivating paddocks in areas that might benefit from it. Paul says his focus is now on maintaining as much soil moisture as possible, while also remaining sustainable.

  • How flexible thinking turned the profitability key
    How flexible thinking turned the profitability key
    Author: Sue Neales, 2022-03-09T09:00:00+11:00

    Central NSW grain grower Paul Adam was a keen advocate of no-till farming, with the Nuffield scholar touring the globe in 2011 to study cost efficiencies in minimum tillage cropping systems. But a decade on, he has adjusted his thinking and focus to put profitability over process.

  • Cropping’s quiet achiever establishes a foothold
    Cropping’s quiet achiever establishes a foothold
    Author: Sue Neales, 2022-02-18T09:00:00+11:00

    In the past 30 years vetch has become an established part of Australia’s cropping landscape. It is one of those crops every Australian farmer has heard of but would not always recognise. A specialist vetch breeder and agronomist, Stuart Nagel of SARDI believes vetch is, in many ways, the quiet achiever of the cropping world – a versatile annual legume that has several potential purposes or markets.

  • Agtech start-up a helping hand for growers
    Agtech start-up a helping hand for growers
    Author: Sue Neales, 2022-02-17T09:00:00+11:00

    A new agtech company, DataFarming, helps Australian farmers become more tech-savvy and digitally equipped. Their philosophy is to keep agtech simple, effective, low cost and easy to use, leading to widespread adoption.

  • Capital fund at the forefront of industry advancement
    Capital fund at the forefront of industry advancement
    Author: Sue Neales, 2022-02-16T09:00:00+11:00

    How does GRDC’s part-owned venture capital fund GrainInnovate work, and are growers getting value for their investment?

  • Versatile vetch builds system agility
    Versatile vetch builds system agility
    Author: Sue Neales, 2022-01-18T09:00:00+11:00

    In the past 30 years vetch has become an established part of Australia’s cropping landscape, especially in dryland mallee areas such as south-eastern Western Australia around Esperance, all across South Australia, in Victoria’s Mallee and central regions, and in New South Wales’ Riverina and central west cropping zones. Grower Charlie Williams, owner of one of Victoria’s biggest hay and stockfeed grain producers, is one of the crop's most loyal advocates.

  • Project management a valuable farm business skill
    Project management a valuable farm business skill
    Author: Sue Neales, 2021-08-23T09:00:00+10:00

    Logistics and planning expert Stephen MacPherson believes the secret to success, whether in farming or the corporate world, lies with better understanding the principles of project planning and operations management. Taking part in a recent GRDC Farm Business Update webinar, Mr MacPherson outlined the way he would like more growers to think and approach their businesses, with the likely consequences for better yield outcomes, business efficiencies and profits.

  • The benefits of building a business case
    The benefits of building a business case
    Author: Sue Neales, 2021-04-29T09:00:00+10:00

    Central to the success of key farm decision-making is the requirement to prepare a business case to back new directions or investments. Birchip grower Tim McClelland has to get approval from a farm management board for big-ticket purchases.

  • Fair versus equal: the farm succession juggle
    Fair versus equal: the farm succession juggle
    Author: Sue Neales, 2020-08-16T00:00:00+10:00

    Farm management experts say succession planning should be taken seriously to avoid problems in the future.

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