Growers, agronomists, farm advisers, researchers and end-users are encouraged to share their insights into the cropping challenges and opportunities of the New South Wales' northern rivers region this week.
GRDC Northern Region Panel members will be in the area on a three-day fact-finding tour from January 29-31 to meet with locals and help identify and prioritise potential grains research, development and extension (RD&E) opportunities.
The GRDC is one of the country's leading research organisations and invests on behalf of Australian growers in RD&E that delivers improvements in grain production, sustainability and profitability.
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Seeking grower feedback
Twice a year, GRDC's advisory panel, which comprises growers, agronomists, researchers and GRDC staff, visits crop growing regions of NSW and Queensland to hear directly from growers and others involved in the industry.
This week's 11-member panel tour - led by grower and GRDC Northern Panel Chair John Minogue - is scheduled to visit researchers at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, before touring the coastal cropping areas of Grafton, Casino and Murwillumbah.
Mr Minogue says the bi-annual tours play a critical role in relaying information back to the GRDC about challenges facing growers, along with their feedback on current research needs and priorities.
"It is important we create these opportunities to engage directly with growers," he says.
"We are on a 'mission to listen' next week to develop an in-depth understanding of the regional constraints and opportunities growers see as priorities in the northern rivers area."
It is important we create these opportunities to engage directly with growers.
"Understanding grower's concerns and challenges is vital so we can fulfil our responsibility of ensuring their levy-funded investments deliver paddock-ready solutions to production constraints, help reduce production costs and importantly improve farm profitability," Mr Minogue says.
"The GRDC Panel and staff use information gathered on tour to help refine GRDC's RD&E investments - because at the end of the day we share a common goal of creating enduring profitability for the grains sector."
Regional focus
GRDC Senior Regional Manager - North, Gillian Meppem, says the northern rivers region had been chosen for the tour this season for several reasons.
"It is a few years since the GRDC visited the area and, while it is relatively small in terms of grain production, it is important and local growers have developed innovative and diverse farming systems," Ms Meppem says.
"We know there has been an increase in crops such as soybean, which has been amplified by strong prices. The region has also benefitted from the establishment of some very successful processors and end-users.
"However, the GRDC is conscious northern rivers' growers are currently experiencing a particularly dry time and that has reduced plantings.
"But the region is also one of the few places in New South Wales with crop in the ground this season."
Growers, agronomists, advisers, researchers and grain end-users are invited to join panel members at locations during the tour. For more information contact Brianna Robins on Brianna.Robins@grdc.com.au.
Where will they be - tour itinerary
January 30:
- 7.30-9am: Grower breakfast at Grafton Primary Industries Institute, Junction Hill.
- 10am-midday: Visit to Mara Global Foods at Shannon Brook
- 12.30-3pm: Grower lunch at Joe and Paul Fleming's property at South Codrington
- 3.40-4.40pm: Visit to Wayne Roger's property at Pimlico
January 31:
- 8-10am: Grain and cane grower breakfast at Dave and Joe Grippo's property at Condong.
On tour will be GRDC Northern Region Panel members John Minogue (Panel Chair), Arthur Gearon (Deputy Chair), Roger Bolte, Roy Hamilton, Dr Tony Hamilton, Andrew McFadyen, Peter McKenzie, Graham Spackman, Bruce Watson and Dr Jo White and Dr Steve Jefferies (GRDC Managing Director).
GRDC northern staff accompanying the tour include Gillian Meppem (Senior Regional Manager), Brianna Robbins (Contract Support), Chris Murphy (Business Development and Commercialisation Manager), Vicki Green (Crop Protection Manager) and Toni Somes (Communications Manager).
More information: Brianna Robins, Brianna.Robins@grdc.com.au, or Toni Somes, GRDC Communications Manager - North, 0436 622 645, toni.somes@grdc.com.au