A series of harvester workshops scheduled across the WA grainbelt in September will bring together harvester specialists, industry experts and researchers to give grain growers the latest advice ahead of this season’s harvest.

The GRDC Harvester Set-up Workshops are planned across five dates and locations and will be hosted by the Facey Group in collaboration with local host growers and grower groups:

• 10 September, Ongerup
• 11 September, Wagin
• 12 September, Yealering
• 13 September, Bencubbin
• 16 September, Scaddan

Outgoing Western Panel Chair Darrin Lee said the upcoming workshops would provide practical, independent information to growers, giving them the confidence to make changes on-farm.

“These workshops bring a range of Australian and international harvest specialists, including industry experts and researchers, onto farms throughout the WA grainbelt to deliver the latest in effective harvester set up,” Mr Lee said.

“Growers are aware that fine-tuning harvest machinery set-up is a critical part of maximising on-farm profitability at the end of the growing season.

“GRDC’s harvester setup workshops have been incredibly well attended in recent years, both due to the calibre of topics and presenters, and also signalling that growers are keen to make efficiency gains and see more money in the bank at harvest.”

Outgoing GRDC western panel chair Darrin Lee said growers are aware that fine-tuning harvest machinery set-up is a critical part of maximising on-farm profitability. Photo: GRDC

A 2022 GRDC National Grower Network project in WA found that harvest losses in canola for growers who owned drop trays were $32.70 per hectare less than those who did not own drop trays.

Of the total losses measured, it was suggested that up to half could be recovered with adjustments to harvester settings, machinery sensor calibrations and equipment modifications.

GRDC grower relations manager – west, Jo Wheeler, said findings from previous GRDC harvest loss projects confirmed that measuring the grain thrown out of their harvesters is one of the single biggest things growers can do to put more profit in their pockets at harvest.

“This GRDC investment brings together grower groups and industry specialists to support growers with machinery decisions to mitigate losses, share insights gained from previous projects and identify continued research needs in this area,” Ms Wheeler said.

“In addition to covering harvest losses, the workshops will provide a deep dive into the range of issues that comprise harvest operations; capacity and efficiency, weed seed control and preventing harvester fires.

“These events provide expert advice to growers in an independent, whole-of-industry forum – with presenters required to only speak to technology types without providing product-specific information – which is an essential part of GRDC’s role to invest in research, development and extension on behalf of grain growers.”

The program includes:

• Understanding the impact of harvest loss, how to measure it, how to change your harvester to reduce losses, grain storage
• How to set-up for effective harvest weed seed control (HWSC) using mills systems, chaff decks and chaff lining
• Reducing the risk of harvester fires
• Improving harvester capacity and efficiency
• Managing harvest operations, productivity and economics.

To register for these free events, growers can visit the GRDC website or contact innovation@faceygroup.org.au.