Insight into farming with strict environmental controls

How United Kingdom grain growers are coping with the challenges of a highly regulated environment will be one the broader topics addressed at the 2020 Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Grains Research Update in Wagga Wagga next month.

Leading international agricultural consultant Keith Norman, from the UK, will speak on the subject as one of the keynote speakers at the Update being held at Charles Sturt University on February 18 and 19.

Mr Norman is an independent consultant who previously worked as Velcourt’s technical director. He supported the leading farming company’s UK team of 45 farm managers in crop production technology, and managed its in-house research and development activity for 30 years.

Named Farm Adviser of the Year in the UK’s Farmers Weekly Awards in 2013, he has worked on various overseas farming activities in Spain, France, Germany, Zambia, Russia and the Ukraine.

GRDC Grower Relations Manager – North, Richard Holzknecht, said Mr Norman would offer insights into how regulatory controls could impact growers’ freedom to operate in modern farming systems.

“Keith will explain how UK growers have adapted and are operating in a practical way within that regulatory framework,” Mr Holzknecht said.

“He will also discuss the expected impact of climate change on grain farming in the UK and in Europe, and changes growers are subsequently making to their strategies and farming systems.”

Mr Norman will also speak at GRDC Grains Research Update event in Corowa on February 20.

Other key presenters at Wagga include Professor Tim Reeves from the University of Melbourne, who will explain how intensive cropping has exacerbated herbicide resistance and organic carbon depletion. He will share what is being revealed by the search for more sustainable and profitable farming systems.

Peter Hayman, the Principal Scientist in Climate Applications with the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), will discuss how growers can continue to adapt to lower rainfall and increasingly variable weather patterns.

Roberto Busi, from the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI), will talk about new herbicides and tips to prolong their efficacy, and Steve Marcroft, Marcroft Grains Pathology, will discuss the latest strategies in canola disease control.

The two-day annual event in Wagga includes more than 25 concurrent sessions on important issues impacting on grower profitability – ranging from crop agronomy, nutrition management and pest control through to drought, frost and soil constraints.

Mr Holzknecht said Update topics were selected by local planning committees and included regionally relevant, rigorously-tested research that was farm-ready and had the potential to bolster growers’ bottom lines.

“The GRDC invests in research on behalf of growers that is designed to deliver real farm profitability gains and assist in overcoming constraints and positioning the industry well for the future,” Mr Holzknecht said.

“Communicating outcomes from this research, along with innovative developments in agricultural technology and updates on topical issues like climate variability, is a critical part of our role and responsibility to growers, advisers and industry stakeholders.”

The GRDC Grains Research Updates will be held across NSW at:

• Wagga Wagga – February 18 and 19 at Joyes Hall, Charles Sturt University
• Corowa – February 20 at Corowa RSL Club
• Dubbo – February 25 and 26 at Dubbo RSL
• Nyngan – February 27 at Nyngan RSL and Civic Club
• Barellan – March 10 at Barellan and District War Memorial Club
• Lake Cargelligo – March 11 at Lake Cargelligo Bowling Club
• Gulargambone – March 12 at 28 Bourbah Street
• Bellata – March 13 at Bellata War Memorial Hall.

Each GRDC Update has a regionally-tailored program that has been developed to reflect each area’s needs and issues. For a full program for each Update or to register go to https://grdc.com.au/events/list.

Contact Details

Contact

Toni Somes, GRDC
Toni.somes@grdc.com.au
0436 622 645