Riverine Plains celebrates World Soil Day with innovative soil management project

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4 December, 2023

Word Count: 549

 

Drought is an inevitable part of farming in Australia and Riverine Plains are aiming to help farmers improve their drought resilience though a significant project that is taking research from small plot trials and testing it on farms across Southern NSW.

The project’s efforts coincide with World Soil Day on 5th December 2023, emphasising the critical role of soil management in ensuring sustainable farming practices and the preservation of agricultural ecosystems for future generations.

“This World Soil Day, we want to shine a spotlight on soil management across Southern NSW, and this project is just one example of the work we are doing to help farmers sustainably manage this vital asset,” said Dr Sara Hely, Chief Operating Officer of Riverine Plains.

Some of the biggest soil management challenges farmers face in the region is maintaining moisture, carbon and nutrients in their soil. Dr Sara Hely explained the new project is looking to address these challenges and is focused on strategies to manage soil and available water to ensure farmers are better able to cope with drought.

“Droughts are unpredictable in their timing and duration, and this project focuses on increased plant diversity, early sowing and nitrogen-banking as key strategies that can help farming businesses manage drought, compared with conventional farming practices,” said Dr Hely.

“Previous small-scale field trials in NSW, has identified three strategies to increase profitability and productivity by increasing soil moisture and the prevention of carbon and nutrient loss under drought conditions,” added Dr Hely.

The demonstrations aim to show how diversity, early sowing and nitrogen-banking can be applied across a number of different soil types, environments, and land uses on commercial farms.

The project consists of 12 demonstration trials across Southern NSW, with sites located at Boomanoomana, Rand, Howlong, Mulwala, Holbrook, Corinella, Condobolin, Yarrabandai, Galong, Springvale, Temora and Tocumwal.

This is the first collaboration between Riverine Plains, Farming Systems Group Alliance, CSIRO and NSW DPI that integrates both the adoption and the validation of research at the farm level.

Dr John Kirkegaard, Chief Research Scientist, with CSIRO said his vision was to create a linked project such as this, and establishing local trials in collaboration with local farming systems groups so that management strategies tried and tested by researchers could now be validated on-farm with growers and advisors.

“This project represents an opportunity in farming systems research to learn directly from the experiences of farmers, leading to much boarder and effective adoption of this research for a more sustainable grains industry in the long-term”, added Dr Kirkegaard.

Results from the trials will be shared with growers at field days, online, through the Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs, and other agencies.

The project, Improved drought resilience through optimal management of soil and water, is led by Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub based at Charles Sturt University, in partnership with Riverine Plains, and in collaboration with CSIRO and Dr John Kirkegaard, NSW Department of Primary Industries, and farming systems groups, FarmLink Research, Central West Farming Systems, and Southern Growers.

To learn more about the project, email sara@riverineplains.org.au or visit the Riverine Plains website www.riverineplains.org.au

This project is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes Grants Program and is co-funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

For more World Soil Day information and events.

ENDS….

Riverine Plains Inc is an independent farming systems group specialising in farmer driven research and extension across north-east Victoria and southern New South Wales. For more information, or to become a member, please visit www.riverineplains.org.au

More information or interview:

Claudia Powell, Riverine Plains Communications Manager on (03) 5744 1713 or email claudia@riverineplains.org.au

The Riverine Plains GrainGrowers Ladies Luncheon

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Riverine Plains is hosting a Ladies Luncheon on Saturday 14 October 2023 at St Leonard’s Vineyard, Wahgunyah, in celebration of International Rural Women’s Day.

The day is being held in conjunction with partner GrainGrowers and features award-winning ABC Journalist, Sally Sara, as well as GrainGrowers CEO, Shona Gawel.

Riverine Plains Chief Operating Officer, Dr Sara Hely, said that the day is all about celebrating the positive influence and contributions of women in agriculture and our regional communities.

“Women play such an important role in local businesses and farming, as well as in their communities, and our Ladies Luncheon is all about recognising and celebrating the everyday, and often unheralded, contributions women make to rural life.

“The day is a chance to celebrate and have fun over a delicious meal in a great location, and we are also aiming to inspire local women to think about their next challenge or ‘what’s possible’ moment, by hearing from some truly inspirational speakers,” Dr Hely said.

Riverine Plains is extremely excited to have ABC journalist, writer and author, Sally Sara join us to share stories from her career, as well as her experiences as a foreign correspondent reporting from countries including Iraq, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone.

We are also thrilled to have GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel speak on her experiences as a woman in agriculture and some of the turns her journey has taken.

“The Australian grains industry has a multitude of opportunities and there’s so many waiting for you,” she said.

“My advice to any aspiring female leaders in ag is to always be yourself – it can be hard to be comfortable in your own skin, but it truly is where you’ll be your best,” she added.

There will also be a panel featuring Sally Sara, Shona Gawel and Riverine Plains Chair and local farmer Fiona Marshall.

The Riverine Plains Ladies Luncheon will be held on Saturday 14 October from 12 noon to 4pm at St Leonard’s Vineyard, Wahgunyah and all are welcome.

Tickets are $90 ($45 for Riverine Plains members) and include canapes, a two-course meal, drinks, bus pick up and drop off from Albury, Yarrawonga, Rutherglen and Benalla. More information about the Ladies Luncheon, including ticket purchases, is available here . Ticket sales close 30 September, 2023.

This project is also supported by funding by FRRR, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Riverine Plains announces new CEO, Pip Grant

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Riverine Plains announces new CEO, Pip Grant

Riverine Plains is pleased to announce that Pip Grant has been appointed as its new CEO.

“Pip Grant comes with years of experience specialising in bringing innovation into, and growing organisations,” said Riverine Plains Board Chair, Fiona Marshall.

“We are thrilled to have been able to attract such a high-calibre leader and Pip brings skills which are beautifully suited to fulfil the needs of the organisation as we grow it into the next phase,” she said.

Pip was the inaugural convenor of EvokeAg, now the pre-eminent agtech conference in the Asia-Pacific region, while her most recent position has seen her working in the soil carbon sector, a space Riverine Plains knows is increasingly important to members.

“The Riverine Plains team has worked hard to build a strong organisation with increasing membership, increasing partner and collaborator investment and wonderful staff morale,” Mrs Marshall said.

“We are looking forward to having Pip start with us to ensure the growth in impact and engagement continues and we are confident that the organisation will be in very safe hands under Pip’s leadership.

“We are also immensely conscious of losing our inspirational CEO, Catherine Marriott — we wish her all the very best and thank her for the contribution she has made to Riverine Plains and agriculture in the region more broadly,” added Mrs Marshall.

Ms Grant is eager to make a meaningful contribution to the future of Riverine Plains, working with its members, partners and research collaborators.

Pip Grant will begin her role at the Mulwala office on 18 September. During the transitional period, Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Sara Hely, will serve as the acting CEO, ensuring the smooth operation of Riverine Plains.

Riverine Plains Innovation Expo just around the corner

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Riverine Plains are excited to invite farmers, agribusinesses, agricultural students, and researchers to the 2023 Riverine Plains Innovation Expo, which will be held at Mulwala from 24 – 25 August 2023.

The theme, Putting farmers first – driving decisions using data, focuses on the increasingly important role that data plays in farming businesses.

Riverine Plains’ CEO, Catherine Marriott, described the Innovation Expo as a fantastic opportunity for farmers, researchers and advisors, as well as young people starting out in agriculture, to learn more about the challenges and opportunities currently occurring across global markets.

“The Innovation Expo will focus on using on-farm data, which is already being collected in large amounts by farmers, to increase productivity and profitability, while also addressing the importance of data capture to maintain access, particularly into premium markets,” said Ms Marriott.

“We’ll also explore how farmers can collect and use new types of data, or better use the data they already have, to prepare themselves and their businesses for inevitable market changes in the short to medium term,” she added.

The Innovation Expo will begin with the Riverine Plains Alvan Blanch Australia Innovation Conference on Thursday 24 August.

Keynote conference speakers, including Alexandra Gartmann, Chair of the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council and Nigel Hart, Managing Director GRDC, will discuss data and the use of new technologies, including data-sharing with end-users, artificial intelligence and privacy.

Brad Egan, 2022 Young Farmer of the Year, will share his experiences of using data for agricultural innovation, profitability and sustainability.

The farmer and supply chain panel sessions will enable farmers to ask questions and get into detail about better meeting supply chain requirements, new technologies to make data collection and reporting easier, as well as how to use data to make better decisions.

Farmer panelists include Nick Ennis from Lawson Grains, Anna Toland from Toland Merino, Brad Egan, Broden Holland and Emma Ayliffe from Summit Ag, while the supply-chain panel discussion features Rohan Jarvis from New Edge Microbials, Keryn McLean from Bayer, Mark Allen from Thera Capital Management, Dwain Duxson from Farm Tender and Chris Stevens from Kellogg’s Australia.

The Riverine Plains New Edge Microbials Gala Fundraising Dinner follows the Innovation Conference, with comedian Jean Kittson providing the entertainment.

The Riverine Plains Alvan Blanch Australia Farm Tour on Friday 25 August will take a practical look at how farmers are employing new technologies such as drones, weed-detecting technology and grain dryers to make better and more sustainable farming decisions.

“The farm tour is all about finding innovative solutions to everyday problems and we’re excited to demonstrate a range of new technologies, tools and sustainable practices that can make a real difference to farming businesses,” said Ms Marriott.

Riverine Plains Innovation Expo program and ticketing information is available at https://riverineplains.org.au/innovation-expo-2023/

“With an incredible line up of speakers across both days of the Innovation Expo Riverine Plains are so excited for farmers, researchers, industry and students to join us to connect, exchange ideas and share learnings that can inspire and drive change in agriculture,” concluded Ms Marriott.

Riverine Plains Cultivate & Connect event supports Youth in Ag

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GRDC sponsors student tickets for Riverine Plains Innovation Expo

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Tertiary students working towards a degree, diploma or certificate in an agriculture-related field are invited to apply for one of 20 Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) sponsored tickets to the 2023 Riverine Plains Innovation Expo.

The Innovation Expo will be held at Mulwala from 24 – 25 August 2023, with the theme Putting farmers first – driving decisions using data focusing on the increasingly important role that data plays in farming businesses.

The Innovation Expo is a fantastic opportunity for farmers, researchers and advisors, as well as students and young people starting out in agriculture, to learn more about the challenges and opportunities created by changes currently occurring across global markets.

Farmers collect a lot of data and the Expo will cover the use of  data to increase productive and profit performance, as well as the importance of data capture to maintain access, particularly into premium markets. This is especially important because data capture will also likely impact farmers’ access to financial and insurance products in the future.

The Innovation Expo aims to explore the ways farmers can prepare themselves and their businesses for these inevitable market changes, either through collecting and using new types of data, or by better using the data they already have.

There are 20 GRDC sponsored tickets available for agriculture students, valued at $500 each, which provide full-event access to the event including the Innovation Conference, Gala Fundraising Dinner and Farm Tour. Sponsored tickets will be allocated on a first in, first served basis.

The Innovation Expo gets underway with the Riverine Plains Alvan Blanch Australia Innovation Conference on Thursday 24 August.

High-calibre speakers, including Alexandra Gartmann, Chair of the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council and Nigel Hart, Managing Director GRDC will discuss data and the use of new technologies, including data-sharing with end-users, artificial intelligence and privacy.

Brad Egan, 2022 Young Farmer of the Year, will share his experiences of using data for agricultural innovation, profitability and sustainability.

There will also be a farmer panel discussion on how farmers are collecting and using data to make more informed decisions. Panellists includes Nick Ennis from Lawson Grains, Anna Toland from Toland Merino, Brad Egan, Broden Holland and Emma Ayliffe from Summit Ag.

A supply-chain panel discussion, featuring Rohan Jarvis from New Edge Microbials, Keryn McLean from Bayer, Mark Allen from Thera Capital Management, Dwain Duxson from Farm Tender and Chris Stevens from Kellogg’s Australia will provide further insights into how markets are driving data collection.

The Riverine Plains New Edge Microbials Gala Fundraising Dinner will be held on the evening of Thursday 24 August, with renowned comedian Jean Kittson providing the entertainment.

The Riverine Plains Alvan Blanch Australia Farm Tour will be held on Friday 25 August and takes a practical look at how farmers are employing new technologies such as drones, weed-detecting technology and grain dryers to make better and more sustainable farming decisions.

Riverine Plains Innovation Expo program and ticketing information, as well as applications for GRDC sponsored student tickets, are available here.

Riverine Plains thanks GRDC for their generous investment in the future of the region through their support of students attending the Innovation Expo.

 

Riverine Plains Youth in Ag Program: Cultivate & Connect

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On Thursday 27 July, Riverine Plains will host the Cultivate & Connect event as part of the 2023 Riverine Plains Youth in Ag Program.

The day will include a farm visit and agribusiness tour, as well as a mentoring workshop and lunch at The Pavilion Restaurant (Buller Wines), Rutherglen.

Cultivate & Connect has been planned with youth in mind and is designed to showcase new products and practices across the region, as well as provide opportunities for networking and learning.

Riverine Plains Project Officer and Cultivate & Connect organiser, Rhiannan McPhee, said that the event follows the successful Youth in Ag Dinner, which saw 85 young people across the region come together for a night of networking and fun.

“At Riverine Plains, we are passionate about the next generation and Cultivate & Connect will maintain the Youth in Ag Program’s focus on establishing strong connections across the industry through learning and networking,” she added.

The day will include a visit to a Yarrawonga farm and will feature insightful discussions with the owners and their agronomist, as well as a trial site visit. Following this, the group will head to Baker Seeds in Rutherglen for a facility tour.

A gourmet lunch at Buller Wines’ The Pavillion Restaurant will provide networking opportunities with peers and industry experts.

This will be followed by a structured mentoring session and panel discussion with an experienced group of industry experts, including Rabobank’s Head of Client Sustainability, Crawford Taylor, the Chair of the Victorian Agriculture & Climate Change Council, Alexandra Gartmann, Elder’s State General Manager of Victoria/Riverina, Brendan Rinaldi, as well as the Member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell.

Cultivate & Connect provides a great opportunity to connect with young people in the region who have an interest in agriculture.

The cost is $40 for members and $60 for non-members (includes bus transfer from Yarrawonga, Albury or Corowa). Tickets sales close Thursday 6 July at 5pm. More information about the program and mentors is available here.

The Riverine Plains Youth in Ag Program is supported by Program partners Corteva Agriscience and Elders Rural Services, Elders Shepparton, Elders Yarrawonga and Elders Albury.

Riverine Plains Innovation Expo, 24 – 25 August

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Putting farmers first – driving decisions using data

Riverine Plains will host its annual Innovation Expo at Mulwala from 24 – 25 August 2023.

The theme Putting farmers first – driving decisions using data will focus on the increasingly important role that data plays in farming businesses.

Riverine Plains’ CEO Catherine Marriott emphasises that embracing data-driven decisions is key to sustainable farming, as not only is profitability and productivity important, increasingly our markets are requiring environmental transparency to enable access.

“Farmers are already collecting a wide range of data and the Expo will help ensure farmers focus on using this data to maximise profitability and market access, as well as ensuring the required data is being captured” she said.

“We know production data can provide invaluable insights into our farming systems — from crop yields and soil mapping to individual livestock performance, these data gems can unveil what’s thriving, what needs tweaking, and how we can maximise profitability,” said Ms Marriott.

“However, overseas and domestic markets are also changing in response to consumer and government pressures, so our farm data might be just as critical in gaining access to commodity or carbon markets in the future, as well as banking and insurance services,” she added.

The Innovation Expo will get underway with the Riverine Plains Alvan Blanch Australia Innovation Conference on Thursday 24 August.

The Conference will bring high calibre speakers such as Alexandra Gartmann, Chair of the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council and Nigel Hart, Managing Director GRDC to set the broader scene around data and the use of new technologies, data-sharing with end-users, artificial intelligence and privacy.

The Conference will also feature Alison Kelly and Dale Grey from Agriculture Victoria and there will be a farmer panel discussion on how farmers are collecting and using data to make more informed decisions. A supply chain panel discussion will provide further insights into how markets are driving data collection and use.

Alvan Blanch Australia’s Jane Godson is looking forward to the two-day event.

“We are thrilled to be a Platinum Partner of the Innovation Expo 2023 — it provides us with an exceptional platform to showcase our cutting-edge agricultural machinery and innovative solutions, while also reinforcing our commitment to driving progress and sustainability in agriculture in the Riverine Plains,” said Jane.

Renowned comedian Jean Kittson will provide the entertainment at the Riverine Plains New Edge Microbials Gala Fundraising Dinner. There will also be a charity auction to raise funds for the Riverine Plains Scholarship Program, live music and dancing.

The Riverine Plains Alvan Blanch Australia Farm Tour will be held on Friday 25 August and will take a practical look at how farmers are employing technologies such as drones, weed-detecting technology and grain dryers to make better and more sustainable farming decisions.

Ticketing and further information about the Innovation Expo is available from https://riverineplains.org.au/innovation-expo-2023/

Youth in Ag Dinner a success!

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