Grain experts share insights

A GRAINS research update at Campbell Town last week showcased the latest advancements in grain cropping and farming.

Organised by Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) the annual event serves as a platform for farmers and stakeholders involved with grains to keep informed with developments in the industry.

This year’s update featured a diverse range of topics aimed at improving agricultural and business practices and crop yields.

Among the highlights were sessions on herbicide management for faba beans, strategies for improving farm drainage, optimising barley yields, and value adding business advice.

Speakers from across the country were in attendance including Jason Brand from Agriculture Victoria, Reuben Wells from Ag Logic, Naomi Palombi from RMCG, Jon Midwood from TechCrop Services and Rob Henry from Macquarie Oil Company.

Jason Brand from Agriculture Victoria kicked off the event with a presentation on herbicide management specific to faba beans.

He discussed key traits to look for in Tasmania when growing beans including disease management, disease resistance and the value in selecting the appropriate bean varietiy for the environment and its conditions.

When it comes to growing beans in Tasmania, Mr Brand said getting the big things right is crucial. 

He said soil amelioration, inoculation and nutrition, sowing time and rates, row spacing and direction are important things to consider. 

“If you want to grow a good bean crop you’ve got to get your soil right,” he said.

Mr Brand discussed how different sowing times effect the beans and stating that early is generally best.

“Generally in Victoria we have to sow in April but given the longer season in Tasmania there might be an opportunity to slot them in in that spring sowing window,” he said.

“Tasmanians might have a unique opportunity to look at those things.”

He also said there are some really good options for weed control in beans in Tasmania and encouraged growers to experiment with what works best for their land.

Rueben Wells, owner of Ag Logic who is heavily involved in drainage design made a presentation on the critical issue of farm drainage. 

He discussed how waterlogging can severely impact plant health and productivity. 

“Plants need air around their roots to function.”

“Severe water logging stress can lead to plant death or cause death of roots, creating an point of entry for disease.”

His presentation outlined methods for diagnosing drainage issues, such as using advanced technologies like LiDAR (Light detection and ranging) and drones for effective designs. He added that choosing the right drainage method and using the right equipment is essential.

Later in the update Jon Midwood from TechCrop Services explored strategies in optimising barley yields and drew on insights from the hyper yielding crops project.

His discussion stressed the role of nitrogen in enhancing soil fertility post-cropping, offering practical tips to farmers aiming to maximise their barley yields.

Rob Henry from Macquarie Oil Company shifted focus at the end of the day to speak about the canola industry and Tasmania’s strong position in the industry.

He highlighted the fit for canola in rotation cropping.

He also talked about how the oil company plans to value add to the Tasmanian crop including pelletising canola meal for the dairy industry (considered to be a premium ingredient for dairy and beef cattle), taking throughput up to 25,000 tonnes canola seed, and producing food-grade canola oil.

To enhance the day’s discussion, Naomi Palombi from RMCG led an interactive conversation about business risks and building resilience in businesses. 

She spoke about how important it is for business owners to know their financials and economics as well as they understand their daily farm operations.

Her session encouraged the audience to maintain farm records and develop business strategies to navigate challenges and track if they are achieving their goals.

“Work on the business as much as you work in the business, know your strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities.”

Overall, the event was met with positive reactions from participants ranging from landholders and growers to seed management companies and agronomists, many who say they will be back again next year.