GRDC National Grower Network

GRDC’s National Grower Network (NGN) is the community of growers and grains industry stakeholders across Australia’s growing regions who GRDC directly engages with to assist in developing locally relevant research development and extension (RD&E) investments.

Purpose

The NGN was established to:

support meaningful engagement with grain growers
improve understanding of local issues
assist in the development of investments that are locally relevant and have on-farm impact.

The NGN helps to capture ideas, issues, constraints and opportunities for RD&E to enhance grower profitability. To achieve this, we will engage with stakeholders through forums that are open to all growers, advisers, researchers and industry parties.

Engagement opportunities

NGN engagement opportunities can be categorised into two distinct formats:

GRDC National Grower Network Forums: These forums are approximately 3-4 hours and include discussion of grower issues (facilitated by GRDC’s Grower Relations Managers) and presentations addressing local issues or delivering regionally relevant research. NGN Forums may also be combined with other events, such as GRDC Grains Research Updates and field days.
Industry Forums: We recognises the value of growers’ and grains industry stakeholders’ time and where possible, we will partner with industry stakeholders to leverage existing engagement opportunities.

For upcoming GRDC National Grower Network Forums in your region, please visit our events page. You can subscribe to receive notifications of upcoming events.

If you are interested in finding out more about our National Grower Network Forums or would like to be involved in an existing industry event, contact our Grower Relations Managers:

Northern region

Graeme Sandral, Grower Relations Manager – North, 0409 226 235, graeme.sandral@grdc.com.au

Vicki Green, Grower Relations Manager – North, 0429 046 007, vicki.green@grdc.com.au

Bec Raymond, Grower Relations Manager – North, rebecca.raymond@grdc.com.au

Bob Ford, Grower Relations Manager - North, 0428 950 015, bob.ford@grdc.com.au

Southern region

Courtney Ramsey, Grower Relations Manager – South, 0428 274 018, courtney.ramsey@grdc.com.au

Rebekah Starick, Grower Relations Manager – South, 0458 441 278, rebekah.starick@grdc.com.au

Tim Bateman, Grower Relations Manager – South, 0447 526 191, tim.bateman@grdc.com.au

Western region

Jo Wheeler, Grower Relations Manager – West, 0438 292 167, jo.wheeler@grdc.com.au

Berin Gibbons, Grower Relations Manager – West, 0407 249 821, berin.gibbons@grdc.com.au

Luke Dawson, Grower Relations Manager – West, 0492 124 645, luke.dawson@grdc.com.au

NGN Opportunities and Constraints (OC) Register

The National Opportunities and Constraints (OC) Register captures all issues and constraints raised by attendees at NGN forums nationally.

The register provides a repository for priority issues raised in each subregion including background to provide context. This information is utilised to inform GRDCs investment portfolio. The register also provides a feedback summary of GRDC investments and resources related to each of the issues.

View the national OC register.

NGN investments

View RD&E investments that have been developed in direct response to short-term opportunities identified at NGN forums. View the investment listing page.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I have to wait for a GRDC Grower Forum in my area to raise an issue or opportunity with GRDC?

2. What happens to the issues I raise? What does GRDC do with the information?

GRDC uses the information captured from Grower Forums to understand and inform current and future RD&E investment. Industry insights into the area, impact, cost and frequency of occurrence of problems or constraints helps ensure research is tailored to meet grower needs.

GRDC is also committed to providing feedback on the issues, opportunities and constraints that are identified as key local priorities. We will let you know about relevant existing RD&E investments or new investments developed in response to local concerns, as well as why we might not progress a particular topic to a new investment.

Information will be communicated back to you via email, through local forums and via information on this website.

3. How does GRDC prioritise issues?

If you attend our GRDC Grower Forums you will have an opportunity to raise issues and constraints for your region and vote to identify priorities. The priority issues will be entered into a publicly available GRDC National Opportunities and Constraints Register. GRDC Panel members will also assist staff to identify priorities for investment considering existing projects, research gaps, return on investment and other factors.

4. How do I find out what investments GRDC has related to a particular issue?

5. How can I find out what trials are happening in my area?

6. How can I find out about workshops, field days and activities in my region?

7. How long will it take the issue I raised to be considered?

GRDC undertakes rigorous analysis to ensure we are investing in RD&E that will have a positive impact on grower profitability. We consider factors such as the size and scope of the issue, level of investment and the type of response required and how it fits with other RD&E investments, as well as our RD&E Investment Strategy and RD&E Plan 2023-28.

So it’s hard to put a standard time-frame on how long it will take, but you can follow up with our Grower Relations Managers anytime to understand whether an issue is being considered or how an investment is progressing.

8. How can I find out if an issue I raised is being considered for RD&E investment?

GRDC is committed to providing feedback directly to you after the Grower Forums about resources and investments related to the issues raised. We will also report back the following forum in your area to highlight any investment responses that resulted. We are currently working other ways to publicly share feedback and RD&E investments which have been developed in response to grower, adviser and researcher raised issues, opportunities and constraints.

9. What does partnering with GRDC mean for industry? Who do I get in touch with?

If you are hosting or involved with a grains industry event and you think GRDC being involved would add value please give us a call. Our Grower Relations Managers can provide an overview of current investments in your area, participate and facilitate discussion or actively listen to the concerns and opportunities for RD&E investments of your members or event attendees.

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