GRDC Grains Research Update (Dubbo)

The 2-day GRDC Grains Research Update at Dubbo is on again in February 2021. This is a cornerstone event for the grains industry in central west NSW. If you are involved in the production side of the grains industry, this is an event that you cannot afford to miss. Come along and hear the latest grains research information, share ideas and update your knowledge.

The Dubbo GRDC Grains Research Update in 2021 is a COVID-safe event. To ensure we comply with COVID-19 regulations, the event will run slightly differently than previous years. Instead of concurrent sessions, topics will be rotated between two rooms to allow enough people to attend under social distancing guidelines.

Day 1 - Thursday 25 February 2021

9am registration for a 10am start, finish by 5pm

Topics

Barley markets, risk, seasons and disease

• Barley 2030 opportunities - Vietnam, India and other markets. Mary Raynes (AEGIC)
• Forewarned is forearmed.  Having better conversations with growers on seasonal forecasts and climate risks for more profitable decision making. Peter Hayman (SARDI)
• Cereal disease bingo! Learnings from 2020 and planning for 2021. Steven Simpfendorfer (NSW DPI)

Weeds

• Ryegrass - blowouts at seeding in 2020 and management for 2021. Peter Boutsalis (Plant Science Consulting) and John Broster (CSU)
  • Causes of poor results - resistance vs environment/dose rate
  • Paraquat stewardship
  • Optimising glyphosate performance (tank mixes, AMS, formulation, resistance, adjuvants, timing, application, stress).
• Experience fitting new pre-emergent herbicides into farming systems and managing them for longevity. Chris Preston (University of Adelaide) and Greg Condon (Grassroots Agronomy/WeedSmart)
• Weeds discussion. Led by Campbell Muldoon (MPAC Pty Ltd), Peter Boutsalis (Plant Science Consulting), John Broster (CSU), Chris Preston (University of Adelaide) and Greg Condon (Grassroots Agronomy/WeedSmart)
  • How could we have better managed 2020? Key learnings from blowouts
  • Messaging for growers on integrating pre-ems into farming systems.

Canola

• Managing upper canopy blackleg and sclerotinia in lower and medium rainfall western canola crops. Maurie Street (GOA)
• Optimising canola establishment Colin McMaster (NSW DPI) & Maurie Street (GOA)
  • Factors affecting establishment
  • Growing high vigour seed
  • Optimising P nutrition and placement
  • Seed testing
• Grazing cattle on dual purpose crops - managing health risks. Jeff McCormick (CSU) and Paul Cusack (Central Veterinary Services)
  • Adaptation periods for cattle on canola and practices to mitigate risk
  • Managing rumen pH depression on cereals
  • Supplements

Day 2 - Friday 26 February 2021

Sessions - 8am registration for an 8:30am start, finish by 2:40pm

Russian wheat aphid, heat tolerance in cereals and Soil Constraint ID

• Satellites and other useful data sources that are ready for immediate benefit for on-farm decision making. Tim Neale (Data Farming)
• ConstraintID – a free web-based tool to identify areas where soil constraints are most likely to be limiting crop yields. Yash Dang (UQ)
• Heat tolerance in cereals - best performing lines, new material, mechanisms of tolerance and in season recommendations. Rebecca Thistlethwaite (University of Sydney)
• Russian wheat aphid update – thresholds, yield impact & decision making. Maarten van Helden (SARDI)

Farming systems & soils

• The potential role of companionand intercropping systems in Australian grain farming. Should we be considering them? Andrew Fletcher (CSIRO)
• Ameliorating soils for sodicity - deep ripping and soil amendment research.  Engineering challenges; yield responses to ripping, gypsum and organic matter placement in constrained soils. Chris Guppy (UNE) and Ehsan Tavakkoli (NSW DPI)

Pulses

• A new chickpea desi variety 'CBA Captain' for NSW and SQld in 2021. Kristy Hobson (NSW DPI)
• Impact of Ascochyta on chickpea when disease occurs at different growth stages. Kevin Moore (NSW DPI) & Leigh Jenkins (NSW DPI)
• Viral diseases in fababean, chickpeas, lentil and lupins – impacts, vectors/causes and management strategies for 2021.  Joop van Leur & Zorica Duric (NSW DPI)
• Agronomic strategies to optimise pulse productivity in 2021. Discussion led by Leigh Jenkins (NSW DPI) & Garry Lane (LaneGrain)

Registration*: Cost: $100 per person per day ($200 for 2-days). (Cheques payable to ICAN Pty. Ltd.). Lunch, morning tea/afternoon tea and proceedings provided.

* As we will be operating under COVID-safe guidelines, registration is essential.  We may not be able to accept walk-ins on the day.

(Agenda subject to change)