Dry season options on menu at Henty grain growers’ breakfast

image of susan mcdonnell
GRDC Grower Relations Manager – North, Susan McDonnell, is inviting southern NSW growers and farm advisers along to the GRDC-NSW DPI Grower Breakfast Forum at Henty Machinery Field Days. Photo: GRDC

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and New South Wales NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will turn up the heat on drought options for grain growers during a barbecue breakfast at this month’s Henty Machinery Field Days.

Drought and heat tolerance in canola, along with drought and supplementary feeding decision making, the latest research into dual purpose crops and information about new research investigating subsoil constraints in southern NSW will be among the topics discussed during presentations by some of the Australia’s leading researchers.

The complimentary GRDC-NSW DPI Grower Breakfast Forum will be held on Wednesday, September 18, at the new GRDC site at P722 and P723 from 8.30am.

GRDC Grower Relations Manager – North, Susan McDonnell, said the breakfast offered growers and farm advisers practical information as dry conditions prevailed across much of the region.

“The GRDC and NSW DPI are keenly aware of the challenges currently facing growers and understand they need information in a very timely way,” Mrs McDonnell said.

“This breakfast event is about bringing key researchers to growers so they can hear the latest information about current issues with the potential to impact farm profitability.

“I would strongly encourage growers and their advisers to come along and hear the information and ask questions, so they can make informed decisions in a complex season about things like whether to grain or graze crops.”

The breakfast presentations will feature:

  • Canola heat and drought tolerance – NSW DPI canola physiologist Rajneet Uppal
  • Dual purpose crops – NSW DPI technical specialist Peter Matthews
  • Drought and supplementary feeding – NSW DPI livestock officer Geoff Casburn
  • Subsoil constraints – NSW DPI research scientist Ehsan Tavakkoli.

NSW DPI Southern Cropping Director Deb Slinger said researchers would draw on their expertise in the field to deliver practical, seasonally relevant information to growers and agronomists.

“We have had some challenging seasons and offering growers and advisers access to this research aims to put them in the best possible position to make informed decisions on-farm,” Mrs Slinger said.

“NSW DPI researchers will be available to explain how to use tools we have developed to support decision making during dry times, including the Drought and Supplementary Feed Calculator app.”

The GRDC-NSW DPI Grower Breakfast Forum is open to all involved in the grains industry.

When: Wednesday, September, 18 from 8.30am to 10.30am

Where: Henty Field Days, GRDC site, P722 and P723

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