The Riverine Research Centre (RRC) is a partnership between Riverine Plains Inc and FAR Australia. The centre is located at Yarrawonga in Victoria and was established to provide a focal point for local and national research in the Victorian/NSW border region.

As a dedicated crop research site, the RRC is host to a number of small plot research trials annually. Since its establishment in 2016, the RRC has hosted  germplasm evaluations, fungicide trials, early sown wheat management trials, time of sowing, nutrition and row spacing trials, as well as commercial trial work.

Spring Field Day

On Tuesday 24 September over 130 people attended the Riverine Plains Inc and FAR Australia field day at the Riverine Research Centre (RRC) at Yarrawonga.

Kat Fuhrmann (FAR Australia) spoke on fungal diseases and management, including Ramularia Leaf Spot, an emerging barley disease.

Barley variety and management trials are a feature of the RRC this year, and Kenton Porker (SARDI) spoke on potential barley varieties, including longer season and dual-purpose types, for the Riverine Plains region.

Michael Straight (FAR Australia) also spoke on the Riverine Plains Inc funded time of sowing trials sown from late March – early May. The trials, now in their second year, are providing valuable data for the Riverine Plains region about optimum sowing dates for spring and winter wheat varieties and management. Working in

collaboration with FAR Australia, the trials will again form the basis of a rapid results service to Riverine Plains Inc members on variety performance in the region, with results available within 10 days of harvest.

Michael and Kenton also spoke on Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Managing Early Sown Wheat project trials, which have featured at the RRC site for the past 3 years.

The day finished with a panel session with Michael Straight, Kenton Porker, Jamie Cummins (Yarrawonga) and Matt Coffey (Elders), addressing a range of  issues relevant to the season.