NSW Department of Primary Industries Research Agronomist Rick Graham, left, Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, Agronomy and Crop Protection Leader Narelle Moore and Northern Tablelands Local Lands Services Agronomist Karl Andersson.
Thursday, 13 August 2020
THE region’s croppers and graziers are being given new insight to help increase their yields during the colder months, with Northern Tablelands MP and Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall visiting an innovative trial at the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ Glen Innes Agricultural Research and Advisory Station yesterday.
Mr Marshall said the study into the best dual-purpose ‘graze and grain’ cereal options had the potential to increase winter grain production for growers.
“Grazing is the mainstay agricultural activity on the Northern Tablelands and this research will help producers consider both grazing and grain production as an integral part of their farming system,” Mr Marshall said.
“The research station is trialling 20 winter crop varieties across wheat, barley, triticale and oats, with the aim to provide more grazing cereal options that also deliver grain production.
“Integrating the right dual-purpose cropping options into existing livestock-based production increases grower profitability and gives farming businesses a more diverse and resilient operating base.
“Our local producers have experienced very challenging drought conditions over the past few years, so this type of research is geared to helping their businesses recover sooner.
“There’ll be some field days next month where local farmers can come and see the trial first-hand and learn from the experts about what varieties would work best on their properties.”
The project is part of the Grains Agronomy and Pathology Project, a 10-year, $130 million strategic partnership between the NSW Government and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
Mr Marshall said researchers were also investigating opportunities for grain production to intensify and shift east into higher rainfall zones of NSW.
“The data that will be collected and analysed is critical to giving farmers a better understanding of opportunities to expand and increase profitability, but also the risks that come with dual purpose cropping in the region,” Mr Marshall said.
Similar trials are being conducted at the Tamworth Agricultural Institute to benefit growers in the North West Slopes region.
The Northern Tablelands and North West Local Land Services are partnering in this project to determine early feed value, with feed quality testing conducted at the NSW DPI Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute.