THE Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) Western Regional Panel – comprising WA growers and grains industry representatives – will conduct three separate spring tours of the WA grainbelt in September.

GRDC board members and management will also be represented on the tours.

The annual GRDC Western Regional Panel spring tours give growers a chance to speak face-to-face with GRDC representatives.

GRDC Western Regional Panel chairman, Peter Roberts, said the panel was responsible for helping to shape the GRDC’s research, development and extension (RD&E) investment portfolio at a regional and national level.

“Ongoing and effective consultation by the panel helps to ensure that GRDC investments deliver the best possible value to WA growers, who face constant and evolving production pressures,” he said.

“We recognise that things never stand still and aim to be pre-emptive and ensure that GRDC RD&E activities deliver on the expectations of growers and anticipate emerging issues.

“I encourage growers to take this opportunity and speak with GRDC representatives to find out more about the organisation and its investments.

“Discussions with growers are carried out in an informal atmosphere and open and honest feedback is encouraged.”

Mr Roberts said GRDC representatives would bring growers up-to-date with changes at the GRDC which had resulted in decentralised RD&E activities and the establishment of regional headquarters.

“Growers will have the chance to meet some of the new local staff who are based in the GRDC’s Perth office,” he said.

The GRDC Western Regional Panel spring tour of WA’s Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) will take place from September 6 to 8, taking in districts including Mingenew, Nabawa, Northampton, Ajana and Yuna.

A tour of the central grainbelt will be held from September 12 to 14, with some of the areas to be visited including Cunderdin, Shackleton, Merredin, Kununoppin, Koorda, Cadoux, Wongan Hills and Miling.

The central Great Southern region will be the focus of the third tour from September 27 to 29, which plans to travel through Woodanilling, Katanning, Kojonup, Boyup Brook, Frankland, Broomehill/Tambellup and Gnowangerup.

Mr Roberts said in addition to the GRDC Western Regional Panel spring tours, other ways that the GRDC consulted with growers included the GRDC’s presence at field days and events and ‘open meetings’ held as part of its Regional Cropping Solutions Network (RCSN) initiative.

More information: GRDC panel support officer, Rachel Lowther, [email protected] or 0472 515 079.