The significant contribution summer grain crops make to the profitability of Australian farming systems will be centre stage at the 2019 Australian Summer Grains Conference from July 8 to 10 on the Gold Coast.
Queensland grain grower Brendan Taylor, who is also vice chairman of the conference committee, said the event at the RACV Royal Pines Resort was a “must attend” for growers of the five summer grains – sorghum, maize, sunflower, mungbean and soybean.
“The Australian Summer Grains Conference brings together all aspects of the summer grains industry from growers, researchers, marketers, crushers and customers from across the nation,” Mr Taylor said.
“It is also an invaluable opportunity for growers to get the latest information on topics such as breeding, farming systems and markets from both local and international speakers.”
The Warra-based grower explained it was also a chance for growers to catch up with others from different regions and share on-farm experiences.
“We can’t underestimate the importance of sharing and comparing notes on what happens in the paddock; growers learning from other growers is a very real and informative way of improving our collective knowledge,” Mr Taylor said.
This year’s Australian Summer Grains Conference has the theme of ‘Enduring Farm Profitability’ and includes an exceptional line-up of international and Australian speakers.
Topics on the program include the latest innovations in grain production, crop protection and marketing, agronomy, farming practices and farm business management.
Key speakers include:
- Paul Higgins, futurist and strategist, who will talk on Arid Environment Farming – the future of water in the Australian farming landscape.
- Victor Campanelli, from Brazil’s Paschoal and Campanelli Group, which is one of the country’s largest beef cattle feedlotters slaughtering about 60,000 head annually. The business also produces a large quantity of wet grain silage for its stock operation.
- Fred Bellow from University of Illinois who will present on corn and soybean success.
- Rafael Cano from Stoller Brazil who will discuss biological solutions for crop protection.
- Australian producers including Oscar Pearse, Bryce Camm, Luke Bradley and James Hayllor, along with many well-known researchers and agronomists.
The event will finish with the annual Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Conference Gala and Industry Awards Dinner on July 10. Coveted industry awards, including the Zoe McInnes Memorial Agronomist of the Year Award, the Ben Coleman Memorial Farmer, the Rising Star Award, Women in Agriculture Award and the Elders Innovation in Technology Awards for both farmer and industry, will be presented on the night.
