Successful GRDC grains forum held in Perth

Date: 17 Mar 2021

About 600 growers, agronomists, farm advisers and researchers gathered in Perth in February for Western Australia’s premier grains research forum.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Grains Research Update in Perth plays an important role in enabling these industry stakeholders to connect and share knowledge to further the State’s thriving export-focused grain industry, worth more than $6 billion per annum.

It was held as a face-to-face event and was highly successful despite the significant logistical challenges posed by the need to adapt to changing COVID-19 safety guidelines.

GRDC senior regional manager – west, Peter Bird, said the health and wellbeing of attendees was the top priority of Update organisers and the GRDC and event coordinator, the Grain Industry Association of WA, had developed plans in line with government guidelines to help manage the risk.

Mr Bird said that despite these challenges, the GRDC’s commitment to extension and communication had never been stronger.

“We need to continue to think ‘outside the box’ to provide event programs that deliver for growers within COVID-19 constraints and which are backed up by the GRDC’s quality online and print resources,” Mr Bird said.

“In fact, the 2021 Grains Research Update, Perth, is more accessible than ever before as all presentations were recorded and will be available online.”

If you missed the Perth event, or want to recap a vital piece of information, go to the GRDC’s past events webpage or for 2021 Update papers click here.

The Perth event was followed by Regional GRDC Grains Research Updates in WA at:

  • Albany Zone, at Albany Entertainment Centre – March 3
  • Kwinana East Zone, at Cummins Theatre, Merredin – March 12
  • Geraldton Zone, at Geraldton Yacht Club – March 17.

Details for the Esperance Zone event in July are yet to be confirmed.

Social photos from the GRDC Grains Research Update, Perth:

At the Perth GRU
GRDC Western Region Panel chair and Mingenew/Dongara grower Darrin Lee, left, DPIRD soil science and crop nutrition portfolio manager Chris Gazey and GRDC senior regional manager – west, Peter Bird.
Perth GRU photo 2
Sam Bald, left, of Wheatbelt Ag, Narembeen, GRDC Kwinana East port zone Grower Network member and Bruce Rock grower Darren Kilminster and Bruce Rock grower Kit Leake.
Perth GRU photo 3
GRDC Western Region Panel member and Mingenew/Dongara grower Darrin Lee, left, CBH Group director and Latham grower Brian McAlpine and Kondinin Group research manager and Farming Ahead editor Ben White.
Perth GRU photo 4
Daybreak Cropping operations manager – WA, Troy Bungey, left, of Perth, WAFarmers grains section president and Esperance grower Mic Fels and Danny Sanderson, South East Premium Wheat Growers Association president and Grass Patch / Varley grower.
Perth GRU photo 5
GRDC Geraldton port zone Grower Network member, and Mullewa grower John Flannagan, left, and Bayer Crop Science business development manager Hugh Trenorden.
Perth GRU photo 6
Bradley Wisewould, of Carbon Ag Solutions, Kwinana, and Juliet McDonald, GRDC Western Region Panel member, Coorow grower and Summit Fertilizers area manager.
Perth GRU photo 7
Mark Congreve, of Independent Consultants Australia Network (ICAN) and GRDC grower relations manager – west, Jo Wheeler.