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Canola field day to put Wagga in the global spotlight

Grain Central September 11, 2023

The International Rapeseed Congress in Sydney will be preceded by a canola field day at Wagga Wagga on September 22. Photo: Matthew Dunn, NSW DPI

CANOLA trials, disease-management tactics, farming systems insights and key data from the National Variety Trials will be on offer to growers and agronomists as part of a field day being held in Wagga Wagga on September 22.

It is being held in conjunction with the International Rapeseed Congress 2023 (IRC-2023) and is expected to attract more than 120 international and Australian canola researchers and industry experts, alongside local growers.

Hosted by the NSW Department of Primary Industries with the support of the Grains Research and Development Corporation, the event will be held at the NSW DPI Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute.

NSW DPI Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute director Deb Slinger said canola was one of NSW’ most important crops, and favourable seasonal conditions in southern regions of the state had bolstered production this year.

“In NSW our production of canola is worth over $800 million, a significant contributor to our economy,” Ms Slinger said.

“Hosting a field day with GRDC as part of the IRC-2023 is a valuable way to showcase current and past canola research that has helped position the Australian industry where it is today and continues to drive improvements for our sector.”

GRDC NVT manager of operations Ben O’Connor said the field day was an excellent opportunity for growers to directly engage with canola industry experts and to hear the latest research and development.

“Between 2019 and 2022, GRDC made investments, including with partners like NSW DPI, of more than $30M into canola0research projects focused on improving yield and understanding yield drivers and this has really help drive improvements on farm,” Mr O’Connor said.

“GRDC has also supported the industry by investing in an extensive range of canola projects to improve knowledge and management of weeds and pests, diseases, soils, farming systems, herbicide use and tolerance, as well as improvements in nutrient and water use efficiency.

“It is really valuable to see how these gains are delivering and as GRDC’s NVT team we are looking forward to the field day to discuss our canola trials with growers, advisers, and breeders coming from around Australia and overseas.”

As part of the field day NSW DPI will also launch the Canola in Australia: 21st Century Progress publication, which has been updated from the 1999 edition to demonstrate the development of the canola industry in Australia over the past 24 years.

GRDC has also contributed to the publication.

The canola field day precedes the IRC-2023 which is being held in Sydney this year and is a part of a broader tour being held in Wagga Wagga that also includes a visit to Australia’s newest oilseed crushing plant.

Source: GRDC

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