Investment

This project forms part of the broader SARDI and GRDC bilateral regional agronomy research effort and will employ a research agronomist based at the Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (SA) Port Lincoln regional office in the Eyre Peninsula region of SA. The agronomist will work closely with a range of industry stakeholders in addressing regional issues and opportunities. A key output of the research project will be the development of sustainable management strategies that enable growers to sustainably control a range of crop diseases. The research agronomist will also work closely with the rest of the bilateral team to ensure that the research findings from their work are communicated to industry. A further key output of this project is to develop the skills and capabilities of the Research Agronomist (LEP), to enable them to be of significant benefit to SARDI, GRDC collaborating research agencies, the grains industry sector, agribusiness, chemical companies, farming system groups and growers in the field of agronomic research. The Research Agronomist (LEP) will work with the rest of the SARDI/GRDC bilateral project team, GRDC, related groups within SARDI and other agencies, to develop their skills in research, agronomy, farming systems and especially in field pathology related issues. This will improve the capacity of the R&D sector of the industry to address and overcome critical limitations and research gaps in the profitability and sustainability of southern Australian farming systems. Guided by a literature review, this project will identify at least three field crop diseases where improvements in management are possible and then instigate a range of field experiments and paddock surveys to produce a range of integrated disease management strategies aimed at improving the efficacy of current best management practice. An example of how an improved knowledge of agronomy and the need to develop new strategies in line with changes in farming practice may come about from the high incidence of aerial blackleg observed in recent years. This is thought to have arisen as a result of a trend towards earlier sowing of canola, which has led to the canola plant being more physically developed by the time blackleg spores are released in early winter, hence the disease attacks a different part of the plant to where it has traditionally. Possible management strategies could involve investigating differing varietal development characteristics that lead to the plant flowering in a preferred window that reduces the risk to the more difficult to control aerial blackleg infection.