Final opportunity to view trials at the Riverine Research Centre before harvest
You are invited to an informal evening hosted by Nick Poole and Michael Straight (FAR Australia) at the Riverine Research Centre on Thursday 20 October from 6pm to approximately 7.30pm. The evening will allow growers and industry representatives a final look at the trials before harvest as well as provide an opportunity to discuss varieties and any other issues.
Location:
5769 Benalla-Yarrawonga Road, Yarrawonga, approximately 3km south of Yarrawonga (between Katamatite-Yarrawonga Road & Dodds Road) at the crest of the hill. Enter via the gate on the south side of the house (signage provided).
-36.045450, 45.995347
Changing of the guard for Riverine Plains Inc
Riverine Plains Inc is pleased to announce that Ian Trevethan of Howlong was elected the new chair of the group at the Annual General Meeting held recently at Mulwala. Ian replaces John Bruce of Barooga, who has chaired the group for the past two and a half years.
Outgoing chair, John Bruce says he is pleased to be able to hand over the chairmanship to someone as capable and well regarded as Ian.
‘Ian runs a diverse farming enterprise with his family, based at Howlong in Southern NSW. He has also been chair of Riverine Plains Inc’s Research sub-committee for the past 2 years and was on the general committee before that” said John.
“With his farming expertise and working knowledge of Riverine Plains Inc, Ian is particularly well placed to lead the group into its next phase of growth in farming systems research and extension” he added.
Ian will be supported by the Riverine Plains Executive and General Committees, who along with Executive Officer Fiona Hart and staff members, Kate Coffey, Dr Cassandra Schefe and Michelle Pardy, will continue to coordinate the group’s activities and publications and provide the direction for Riverine Plains Inc’s research work.
‘Farming can be a really complex business and Riverine Plains Inc plays an important role in providing timely information to the region’s grain and mixed farmers” said Ian.
‘As chair, I’m looking forward to working with the committee and our farmer members to ensure that Riverine Plains Inc keeps on meeting their needs as well as the expectations of our sponsors and research partners’ he said.
Ian also expressed his appreciation to outgoing committee members Charlotte Aves (Dookie), Damien McKinley (Dookie), Michelle Pardy (Barooga) and Nick Ennis (Balldale) and welcomed new committee member Eric Nankivell (Albury).
He also congratulated outgoing chair John Bruce on his steady leadership through a significant period of change for the group. John remains on the committee as the immediate past chair.The following office bearers were elected.
Chair: Ian Trevethan, Howlong
Deputy Chair: Adrian Clancy, Splitters Creek
Immediate Past Chair: John Bruce, Barooga
Treasurer: Barry Membrey, Albury
Research Subcommittee Chair: Peter Campbell, Henty
Extensions Subcommittee Chair: Adrian Clancy, Splitters Creek
Public Officer: John Bruce
Committee:
Lisa Castleman, Wagga Wagga
Paul Gontier, Shepparton
Adam Inchbold, Yarrawonga
Fiona Marshall, Mulwala
Eric Nankivell, Albury
Clare Robinson, Thurgoona
Andrew Russell, Browns Plains
Curt Severin, Brocklesby
Jo Slattery, Chiltern
Brad Stillard, Barooga
Executive Support will continue to be provided by Dale Grey, Agriculture Victoria.
Stubble Project October Paddock Walks
Looking forward to seeing you at the October round of the GRDC-funded Stubble Project Paddock Walks, where we will be discussing the disease status of the crops and how crops have responded to N under the wet conditions.
Due to unforeseen circumstances Nick Poole will not be able to attend the Coreen and Henty paddock walks on Tuesday 11th, but will attend the Yarrawonga and Dookie paddock walks on the 13th October.
Tuesday 11th October:
Coreen 10 – 12pm at Tomlinson Ag’s property, 781 Emu Park Road, Coreen (between Bull Plain Road and Federation Way).
Henty 2 – 4pm at Peter Campbell’s property, Munyabla-Munyaplah Road, Henty (near Munyabla silos)
Thursday 13th October:
Yarrawonga 10 – 12pm at Telewonga Pty Ltd, Telford – Yarrawonga Road, Yarrawonga (between Dodds and Beatties rd)
Dookie 1.30 – 3.30pm at the Ludeman Brothers property, Tungamah Boundary Road, Dookie (at the creek between Boxwood and Harmer Road)
For more information contact Cassie Schefe, 0419 238 798, extension@riverineplains.com.au
Spring Field Day and official launch of Riverine Research Centre
The regions’ grain farmers are invited to Riverine Plains Inc’s upcoming Spring Field Day, which is being held in conjunction with FAR Australia, on Tuesday 13th of September. The Field Day, which has a nitrogen focus, will take place at the new Riverine Research Centre, located south of Yarrawonga.
“Nitrogen management is always topical in spring, however this season it is particularly important because farmers have probably experienced application delays as well as nitrogen losses due to waterlogging and leaching” said Riverine Plains Extension officer Dr Cassandra Schefe.
“With this in mind, the day’s discussions of trial results and general nitrogen management strategies will be focussed around the conditions we’ve been experiencing” she said.
Michael Straight and Nick Poole from FAR Australia will also be involved in the nitrogen discussions. They will also discuss the latest results from the nitrous oxide project trials which are being conducted in conjunction with research colleagues from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). This research is being undertaken as part of the Management strategies for improved productivity and reduced nitrous oxide emissions project and is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture as part of its Action on the Ground program.
Riverine Plains Inc has several nitrogen trials currently underway at the Centre, including nitrogen timing trials, nitrogen source trials, and trials evaluating NDVI technology as a method for determining crop nitrogen requirements. Preliminary results from these trials will be presented on the day.
The field day will also feature a walk-through of the other trials being conducted at the Riverine Research Centre. These include trials of new winter wheat germplasm, fungicides, plant growth regulators, liquid fertiliser compatibility and row spacing for early sown wheat and barley.
The Field Day is the first event to be held at the Riverine Research Centre, which is a new collaboration between Riverine Plains Inc and FAR Australia. The official launch of the centre will follow the field day. A free BBQ lunch is also included.
The Field Day will commence at 9:30am at the Riverine Research Centre at 5769 Benalla-Yarrawonga Road, 3km south of Yarrawonga.
For more information please contact Cassie on 0419 238 798.
Annual General Meeting
Members and supporters of Riverine Plains Inc are invited to the group’s Annual General Meeting to be held on Monday 10 October 2016 at 4.30pm at the Riverine Plains Inc Office, Shop 4, 97/103 Melbourne Street, Mulwala.
- Click here for the agenda.
- Click here for the Special Resolution to amend the Riverine Plains Inc Constitution.
- Click here to download the Committee Nomination Form.
The Riverine Research Centre – Researching Profitable Farming Practices
Riverine Plains Inc and FAR Australia are excited to announce the establishment of the Riverine Research Centre. This exciting collaboration provides a new, independent focal point for regional and national research projects in the Victorian/NSW border region.
“The Riverine Research Centre is a dedicated crop research site near Yarrawonga that will host a number of small plot research trials annually” explained Riverine Plains Inc chairman and Barooga farmer, John Bruce.
“In establishing the Riverine Research Centre, we have created a key site for national and local crop research projects and we expect that this will provide for more targeted and efficient investment into local grains research, development and extension” he said.
“Given the site is host to several separate trials, the Riverine Research Centre will also act as a hub for Riverine Plains Inc and FAR Australia to conduct field days, paddock walks and information days throughout the growing season. This will mean greater access to local research and new technologies for growers, sponsors and the wider industry” he added.
Riverine Plains Inc has had a long association with Nick Poole and FAR Australia, through an extensive history of collaborative research and extension.
“In continuing our partnership through the Riverine Research Centre, we have created an independent, relevant and quality grains research centre” said Nick Poole, Managing Director of FAR Australia.
“Our aim is to primarily conduct research which investigates profitable and innovative farming systems practices for the local area. This research may be linked to a particular grower funded project or as a result of collaboration with industry” he said.
“We also want to make it easier for farmers, advisers and the wider industry to access this research and by having a central site we will be able to deliver our research findings more efficiently” he added.
There are a number of research trials established at the Riverine Research Centre for the 2016 season. This includes research on new winter wheat germplasm, SDHI fungicides, plant growth regulators, liquid fertiliser compatibility and row spacing for early sown wheat and barley.
“The high quality of field research undertaken at the centre, combined with the Riverine Plains Inc focus farm network, gives us the opportunity to improve adoption and enables us to act as a conduit between research and the higher profitability of our farming systems. Both Riverine Plains and FAR Australia believe that the Riverine Research Centre is an exciting opportunity that will also attract further research investment to the region, benefitting growers and the wider industry” concluded Mr Poole.
The Riverine Research Centre will host its first official field day on Tuesday 13 September. Riverine Plains Inc and FAR Australia will show local farmers, advisers, members, sponsors and friends around the site on this day.
Take your social media skills to the next level
Come and look at the different social media tools you can use in agriculture or business in a practical skills session which will cover getting set-up, started off and getting the best from platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Explore social media and mobile technology use in agriculture, with Professor Lisa Given of the School of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University, in partnership with the Graham Centre. Discuss your perceptions of mobile technology and how it fits into your work, including what apps you use.
Date: Thursday 8 September 2016
Time: 11am – 2pm (lunch provided)
Where: Riverine Plains Inc, Shop 4, 97-103 Melbourne Street Mulwala NSW 2647
Cost: FREE
RSVP: Monday 5 September to Fiona Hart on 03 5744 1713 or email info@riverineplains.com.au
Riverine Plains international agricultural study tour to South America
Twenty grain growers from north east Victoria and the Southern Riverina are set to visit Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil for a 14 day agricultural study tour leaving on the 28th August. The study tour has been organised by Riverine Plains Inc and supported by the Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) through their Grower and Advisor Development Program.
The South America Agricultural Study Tour has a focus on no-till cropping systems and will allow growers to learn more about farming systems in similar climatic zones.
No-till farming systems offer many benefits, however these systems also present many challenges for farmers, particularly in terms of dealing with large volumes of stubble. Now that stubble management has become such a critical part of our cropping systems, this tour provides a fantastic opportunity to learn how no-till systems have evolved in different countries.
The tour incorporates a wide range of farm visits, leading research facilities, no-till specialists and agricultural commodity businesses.
The tour will also provide participants with a better understanding of the size and scope of the grains industry in South America, along with several examples of how the value chain is completely controlled by growers.
Forming new ideas and learning new methods from others is a key part of success in farming businesses. By being exposed to ideas from half a world away, these tour participants will come away with a fresh perspective on no-till farming while also bringing new concepts home to explore on their own farms.
South America is also a key player in the international grain market and the tour provides an opportunity for members to better understand the production issues and the marketing and export frameworks in the region. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to foster international networks between growers, advisors and researchers.
The tour will be led by Jermony Nolan Travel and Tours. Jeromy has been working in the travel industry since 1986 and has specially planned the tour around the group’s learning objectives.
Riverine Plains Inc is very grateful to the GRDC for supporting the study tour and look forward to sharing the key learnings from the study tour both during the trip and upon their return.
Precision Agriculture: Making ‘Big Data’ pay
A workshop in Mulwala later this month will help grain farmers turn data into profit.The free half-day ‘Making Big Data Pay’ workshop will be hosted by local farming systems group, Riverine Plains Inc, and will feature Andrew Whitlock, of Precision Agriculture. “Advances in GPS and other precision agriculture technologies means that farmers are able to measure and collect an enormous amount of data about their crops and soils” says Dr Cassandra Schefe, Riverine Plains Inc Extension Officer.
“But data without context can be meaningless, so the challenge is to turn stored data into quality information that can be used to make profitable decisions” she said.
“This workshop has been designed to help farmers better understand the process and technology behind precision agriculture and to provide further information for those considering taking the next step” she said.
“Andrew will cover yield and NDVI mapping and will also provide an update on the practical steps growers can take to incorporate variable rate management on their own farms. He will specifically discuss the variable rate application of lime, gypsum and phosphorus as well as opportunities for variable rate nitrogen” she added.
There will also be a discussion on how strategic drainage can be used to minimise the risks of waterlogging.
The “Making Big Data Pay” workshop will be held at the Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort on Tuesday 16th August from 12pm to 4pm.
This free workshop is supported by Riverine Plains Inc and Murray Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme. Places are limited so for more information or to RSVP, please contact Fiona Hart before August 12th at info@riverineplains.com.au or phone 03 5744 1713.
ABN 95 443 809 873
