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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Applications now open for 2023 Riverine Plains Scholarship Program

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Riverine Plains Inc invites tertiary students working towards a degree or diploma in agriculture, agribusiness or engineering to apply for one of five scholarships being offered by the group in 2023.

The 2023 Riverine Plains Scholarship Program includes the Alvan Blanch Australia, Corteva Agriscience, Hanrahan Family and Uncle Tobys Scholarships.

While each of the 2023 scholarships have a slightly different focus, they are designed to either support students in their agriculture-related studies or encourage talented young people to live and work in the Riverine Plains region.

Riverine Plains has been helping support students since the John Hanrahan Scholarship was established in honour of the late John Hanrahan from Coreen, in 2018.

The Hanrahan Family Scholarship (in memory of John Hanrahan) is now coming in to its fifth year and has so far has provided financial support, work experience and other opportunities to local students Mitchell Priestly (2019), Sophie Hanna and Lachlan Quibell (2020), Jessica Ryan (2021) and James White (2022).

The Scholarship came full circle last year when Riverine Plains employed former scholar, Sophie Hanna, as a Livestock Project Officer, which shows the power of scholarships to create local connections and bring young people back to the region.

In 2023, the Hanrahan Family Scholarship will continue its focus on recognising and encouraging agricultural excellence through its support of a second-year agriculture or agribusiness degree or diploma student from the Riverine Plains.

Riverine Plains is also excited to announce a new scholarship partnership with Alvan Blanch Australia. This includes two new scholarships which aim to attract and encourage students with an interest in engineering or crop production to bring their knowledge and skills to the Riverine Plains region post-study.

The Corteva Agriscience Scholarship was established in 2022 with a plant breeding and agronomy focus. The 2023 scholarship aims to support a second or third year student enrolled in an agriculture or agribusiness degree or diploma course, or who is undertaking another course of study that demonstrates a passion for agriculture (i.e law, sustainability).

The Uncle Tobys Scholarship was established in 2021 to support future leaders in agriculture. Students enrolled in an agriculture or agribusiness degree or diploma course, especially those with an interest in oats, are eligible to apply in 2023.

Applications for the 2023 Alvan Blanch Australia, Corteva Agriscience, Hanrahan Family, and Uncle Tobys Scholarships close 22 June, 2023.

Each scholarship includes a bursary of $5,000, access to work experience, networking and mentoring opportunities with either Riverine Plains or its scholarship partners.

Further information on eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found at https://riverineplains.org.au/donations-and-scholarships/

Alvan Blanch Australia invests in new scholarships, Riverine Plains Innovation Conference

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Alvan Blanch Australia invests in new scholarships, Riverine Plains Innovation Conference

Riverine Plains is excited to announce a new partnership with Alvan Blanch Australia. The partnership includes two new scholarships which aim to attract and encourage people into agriculture in the Riverine Plains region.

The new scholarships are unique for Riverine Plains because they support people from a non-farming background to consider agriculture as a career. They are designed to encourage students with an interest in engineering or crop production, to bring their knowledge and skills to the Riverine Plains region post-study.

Riverine Plains is thrilled that Alvan Blanch Australia, who are most well known in the region for their supply of grain drying equipment to farmers, are investing in the young people who will one day help farmers innovate and improve their businesses.

Two scholarships are being offered by Alvan Blanch Australia, which both include a $5000 bursary as well as work experience and mentoring opportunities. Engineering students majoring in agricultural or mechanical engineering, as well as agriculture students interested in crop production, are eligible to apply.

Alvan Blanch Australia Director, Jim Duncan, explained that the company was keen to encourage young people into the industry that they have worked in for so many years and gained so much satisfaction from.

”Young people are the future of farming and we need to ensure we keep talent in the community through nurturing, mentoring and training to ensure that knowledge is grown and experience gained,” said Mr Duncan.

Alvan Blanch Australia will also be a Platinum Partner for the Riverine Plains 2023 Innovation Conference, to be held on 26 July, 2023. The Conference theme is “Putting farmers first – driving decisions using data” and will have a focus on ag-tech and carbon.

Applications for the Alvan Blanch Australia Scholarships, along with the Hanrahan Family, Corteva AgriScience and Uncle Tobys Scholarships, are open from 22 March–22 June 2023. More information is available from www.riverineplains.org.au/donations-and-scholarships/

More information about the Innovation Conference will also shortly be available from riverineplains.org.au .

Organisations interested in partnering with Riverine Plains to provide a scholarship opportunity are invited to contact Catherine Marriott on 03 5744 1713.

Youth in Ag Dinner, 24 March at The Sebel

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Riverine Plains is hosting a Youth in Ag Dinner at The Sebel, Yarrawonga, on Friday 24 March, 2023.

Riverine Plains Project Officer and event organiser, Ms Rhiannan McPhee, said that the dinner was a great opportunity for young farmers, students and industry professionals to get together and connect with like-minded people in agriculture.

“We had terrific feedback about last year’s event and the night was such a huge success that we knew we had to run another one this year,” said Ms McPhee.

Riverine Plains is investing in the future of youth and agriculture in the region and this event will have a focus on networking to establish strong connections across the industry.

“As well as providing members and non-members with opportunities to connect in the community, it’s also going to be a really fun night that we are all really looking forward to,” added Ms McPhee.

Riverine Plains will also be introducing the 2022 John Hanrahan Scholarship, Uncle Tobys Scholarship and Corteva Agriscience Scholarship recipients at the dinner.

The event is supported by Riverine Plains Youth in Ag Partners, Elders and Corteva Agriscience.

“Elders and Corteva Agriscience have shown great belief and confidence in our vision for the Youth in Ag Dinner and we are extremely grateful for the support of both organisations in enabling the event to go ahead,” said Ms McPhee.

Lach Boyd, Elders Riverina Area Manager, said that Elders has been a great supporter of the Riverine Plains group for a number of years.

“We are always eager to support the next generation of agricultural professionals coming through the system, so when the opportunity arose to partner with Riverine Plains’ Youth in Ag program we jumped at the chance — we’ve also had huge interest from emerging leaders within the Elders team across Victoria and NSW, who are all very excited to attend the event,” he added.

Corteva Agriscience Australia and New Zealand Marketing Director, Dan Dixon, said that Riverine Plains support for growers in the region has always been important for agriculture and for Corteva Agriscience.

 “Our focus on sustainable agricultural solutions aims to support the current and future generations of growers and advisors — we know that Riverine Plains shares this vision and we are proud to support the Youth in Ag partnership for this vital agricultural region” he said.

The Riverine Plains Youth in Ag dinner will be held from 6–11pm on Friday 24 March, 2023 at The Sebel, Yarrawonga. Tickets cost $50 (Riverine Plains members $40 via a discount code) and includes a complimentary drink from Squires Winery, two course dinner and entertainment. Ticket sales close 5pm, 14 March, 2023.

Riverine Plains is passionate about the next generation and are pleased to be hosting events that youth in our region are excited to attend.

“This is the first of several events in the Riverine Plains 2023 Youth in Ag program, with a Youth in Ag Mentoring Lunch and Field Tour also being planned, so keep an eye out for details in the near future,” added Ms McPhee.

Tickets to the Riverine Plains Youth in Ag Dinner can be purchased here

 

Sophie Hanna joins the Riverine Plains team as Livestock Project Officer

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Riverine Plains Inc recently welcomed Sophie Hanna as the group’s new Livestock Officer. Sophie is a former John Hanrahan Scholar and recently completed a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of Melbourne.

Sophie’s appointment is especially significant as it makes a full circle of Sophie’s journey from John Hanrahan Scholar to full-time employee.

Since receiving the John Hanrahan Scholarship in 2019, Sophie has spent many work experience hours with Riverine Plains and has gained an appreciation of the type of research and extension work the group is involved with, as well as the challenges facing local farmers.

Riverine Plains is thrilled that the Scholarship was able to play a role in Sophie’s return to the region — this highlights how such opportunities can benefit both young people in their early career and the farming community more widely.

The John Hanrahan Scholarship was established to support and encourage local agriculture students. Sophie believes the Scholarship was a game-changer.

“The opportunities to gain work experience with the Riverine Plains team, attend field days and webinars, and extend my connections through the scholarship were invaluable and have been excellent platforms for kicking-starting my career post-university,” said Ms Hanna.

Riverine Plains has been increasing its focus on livestock production systems and Sophie’s role will advance this further.

Sophie’s experiences growing up and working on a beef cattle grazing farm in the Upper Murray means that she understands the industry and this makes her really well-placed to help Riverine Plains deliver projects that can improve our members’ livestock operations.

Last year, Sophie completed an Honours year at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, where she further developed her knowledge of soil science and investigated the influence of lime application on the mineralisation of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in acid soils.

Sophie is particularly interested in livestock production, soil science and genetics and is keen to employ these interests to help farmers advance their production systems.

“I am very much looking forward to getting out onto farms and meeting with livestock producers to discuss production constraints and help address priority issues for the region,” she said.

“I’m also really excited to work with farmers to learn more about their needs and then provide the information and resources that can help drive their productivity and enhance efficiency,” she added.

Sophie is based at the group’s Mulwala Office and can be contacted on 03 5744 1713 or by emailing sophie@riverineplains.org.au.

Applications for the 2023 John Hanrahan Scholarship open 15 March, with further information available at www.riverineplains.org.au

Sykesy’s Buraja Meeting is back for 2023!

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Sykesy's Buraja MeetingBuraja is back!

Riverine Plains is excited to host Sykesy’s Buraja Meeting on Wednesday 1 February, 2023.

After a few years of COVID disruptions and a difficult and wet season, this long-standing community event is an opportunity for grain and mixed farmers to discuss the 2022 season and the key issues for 2023.

There will be some short presentations and an agronomist panel, with plenty of time for discussions and questions.

A BBQ lunch is provided.

Wednesday 1 February 2023

Buraja Recreational Ground Hall

8:30 am – 1pm

REGISTER HERE: Sykesy’s Buraja Meeting 2023

Riverine Plains 2023 Events Calendar now available!

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The Riverine Plains Events Calendar – 2023 is now available!

Please note that dates and locations may change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Please click here to download the (printable) pdf.

2022 John Hanrahan, Uncle Tobys and Corteva Agriscience Scholarship Recipients

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Pulse Agronomy Field Day review (Bundalong)

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Pulse Agronomy Field Day – key messages from the Bundalong Field Day

Disease and harvestability were the hot topics at the GRDC, FAR Australia and Brill Ag Pulse Agronomy Field Day, on 28 October at Bundalong.  The wet conditions in Daysdale resulted in just the one field day being delivered in Bundalong, however results to date from both trial sites were presented. 

The day was well received by 35 local agronomists and farmers from the region. Speakers included Ben Morris and Tom Price (FAR Australia) and Rohan Brill (Brill Ag). 

Discussions highlighted the outbreak of chocolate spot, particularly in the past few weeks, even with robust fungicide programs in place.  The outbreak of chocolate spot, coupled with waterlogged conditions have reduced yield expectations for faba bean crops in the region.  Harvesting beans will also be challenging, because the crops have fallen over (lodged).  The group discussed whether to windrow beans; this may have several advantages, however one of the main disadvantages includes rainfall soon after windrowing, which could lead to mould developing in the rows. 

The GRDC’s Pulse Agronomy investment is designed to close the economic yield gap and maximise the farming system benefits from grain legume production.  In the low disease year of 2021, there were yield responses at Buraja (2021 NSW site) to fungicide in PBA Bendoc, but not in PBA Amberley, which reflects difference in genetic resistance to disease.  At the Bundalong site, disease levels were low and there were no yield responses to the application of fungicide in PBA Samira in 2021.  The 2022 season  has been the opposite, and the trials will provide some good information on best bet fungicide programs.    

Despite some disappointment in disease levels in commercial faba bean crops, most agronomists were pragmatic about the benefits faba beans will provide the farming system. There was an estimated 15-17 t/ha of above ground biomass in the best trial plots, which potentially (with good nodulation) could fix 350-400 kg/ha nitrogen and boost grain crops for the next 2-3 seasons.  

The key points for growing a hyper yielding faba bean crop are: well applied inoculant, good plant density, variety selection, a robust fungicide program and sowing early enough to grow sufficient biomass (14t/ha) at harvest. 

Source: FAR Australia, FIELD DAY -BUNDALONG HANDOUT, Friday 14th October 2022. 

The Field Day Booklet can be sourced at: 

221014_Bundalong-Pulse-Field-Day-Booklet_FINAL.pdf (faraustralia.com.au) 

221014_Daysdale-Pulse-Field-Day-Booklet_FINAL.pdf (faraustralia.com.au)