Online Tool for Northern Growers30-Jun-2014

FACILITATING communication between growers and the research community is a key priority for the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) northern panel.

It’s important on a number of fronts – it gives growers access to the latest research data and recommendations on industry best practice which, in turn, is critical to boosting yield potential and farm profitability. Just as importantly, feedback from growers and advisors on agronomic and varietal issues helps develop a clear path forward for future research priorities and strategic direction as well as helping identify extension requirements.

With the northern grains region stretching from Dubbo in Central NSW to the top of Queensland, including some of the most diverse cropping environments in Australia, regular interaction with leading researchers is vital. This ensures that GRDC-funded research is regionally focussed and delivers local solutions to northern growers.

GRDC actively listens to and values the feedback from growers and advisors. It’s helped shape the organisation’s investment in grains research, development and extension over the past 20 years which has generated a mass of information from research data and findings, most of which remains relevant today. These outcomes have traditionally been communicated to industry via media and annual GRDC events like the GRDC Updates for Growers and Advisors.

While these remain fundamental communication channels, the digital age has provided us with new technologies like digital publishing and mobile applications which enables GRDC to communicate important research information more often and more effectively.

As a direct result of grower demand for more accessible and usable information, the GRDC unveiled a new initiative this year in the form of GrowNotes on a range of summer and winter crops that are widely grown in the northern region. GrowNotes provides an overview of each crop, information on a range of farm best practice, results of northern region trials, best-practice recommendations and links to additional research and trial information for further study.

They will be regularly updated as new research and agronomic information come to light and growers and agronomists provide feedback.
The GRDC northern region panel looks forward to continuing to listen and facilitate dialogue between all sectors of the industry and in the process, helping drive a dynamic and profitable future for all stakeholders.

Jules Dixon is GRDC northern region panellist.
Queensland Country Life

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