GRDC took panel members on a spring tour of northern research sites in Tamworth, Tranghi, Narrabri, and Kandobelen. Growers say weeds are their biggest problem and want more research into soil biology, root diseases, and nematodes. Regional nodes coordinate 3 to 8 year research investments across seven priority areas with state departments, CSIRO, and universities.
Chapters
This is the first tour of the.
New panel, so it was a real.
Opportunity to do some team building and that's why the whole panel's gone on this tour.
And really the purpose of it was to show them some of the key R and D sites we have in the north. Growers have said basically weeds are still their major issue. They're worried about nutrition. They certainly think they know or have under control pretty well everything that's above the ground at the moment. They believe their agronomy's picked up.
You know, we've discussed the yield gap.
With them, you know, that's of concern. But they think the next real step forward for them is understanding better what is going on underneath the ground. So how are we going with our.
Root diseases, with our pests such as.
Nematodes, with our nutrition and, you know, with soil biology? They believe that's the next step and they're certainly indicating that's where they want to see us increase our investment and.
Probably increase our communication and extension in that area.
The nodes that we have in the.
Northern region are absolutely critical.
So the ones we've visited on this being Tamworth, Tranghi, Narrabri, Kandobelen, they're key because that's where that 3 to 8 research ends up and that's where growers.
Can see the research in their local area. They can see it being further developed.
And they can then go and take it out and it can be validated.
Even further across the region with our grower solutions groups.
So these regional nodes are absolutely critical.
To how we deliver research to growers in their environment.
You know, the seven key areas in the three to eight year investment window are key really for growers going forward.
It's a key area where we've worked with researchers traditionally the state government, the.
CSIRO and the universities and more and more.
With GRDC having a real focus on.
Those seven investment areas now it's much easier going to a university or a.
State department and saying, we want you to operate as a key leader in this area.
This is an area we want you to focus on. And they've been able to, as we have, consolidate their investment and focus their.
Investment on particular areas so they become.
More specialised and doing higher level research.
Which is really going to answer the question of the growers today, but also into the future.
