ABOUT 600 growers, agronomists, farm advisers and researchers gathered in Perth this week for Western Australia’s premier grains research forum.
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Grains Research Update in Perth plays an important role in enabling these industry stakeholders to connect and share knowledge to further the State’s thriving export-focused grain industry, worth more than $6 billion per annum.
It was held as a face-to-face event and was highly successful despite the significant logistical challenges posed by the need to adapt to changing COVID-19 safety guidelines.
GRDC senior regional manager – west, Peter Bird, said the health and wellbeing of attendees was the top priority of update organisers and the GRDC and event coordinator, the Grain Industry Association of WA, had developed plans in line with government guidelines to help manage the risk.
Mr Bird said that despite these challenges, the GRDC’s commitment to extension and communication had never been stronger.
“We need to continue to think ‘outside the box’ to provide event programs that deliver for growers within COVID-19 constraints and which are backed up by the GRDC’s quality online and print resources,” Mr Bird said.
“In fact, the 2021 Grains Research Update, Perth, is more accessible than ever before as all presentations were recorded and will be available online.”
Perth GRDC Grains Research Update Gallery:
Grower Group Alliance program broker Mark Holland and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) media adviser Megan Broad.
GRDC Western Region Panel chair and Mingenew/Dongara grower Darrin Lee, DPIRD soil science and crop nutrition portfolio manager Chris Gazey and GRDC senior regional manager – west, Peter Bird.
Wheatbelt Ag’s Sam Bald, Narembeen, GRDC Kwinana East port zone grower network member and Bruce Rock grower Darren Kilminster, and Bruce Rock grower Kit Leake.
GRDC Western Region Panel member and Binnu grower Rohan Ford and InterGrain marketing officer Bonnie Jupp.
GRDC Western Region Panel member and Mingenew/Dongara grower Darrin Lee, CBH Group director and Latham grower Brian McAlpine and Kondinin Group research manager and Farming Ahead editor Ben White.
Daybreak Cropping operations manager – WA, Troy Bungey, Perth, WAFarmers grains section president and Esperance grower Mic Fels and South East Premium Wheat Growers Association president and Grass Patch/Varley grower, Danny Sanderson.
Artesian director, AgriFood, Robert Williams, and GRDC acting head of business development Fernando Felquer.
GRDC Geraldton port zone Grower Network member and Mullewa grower John Flannagan, and Bayer Crop Science business development manager Hugh Trenorden.
BASF area manager Murray McCartney, Geraldton, and Farm Weekly journalist Shannon Beattie.
GRDC grower relations manager – west, Rachel Asquith, Centre for Crop and Disease Management research scientist Silke Jacques and Planfarm consultant Richard Quinlan, all of Perth.
Carbon Ag Solutions’ Bradley Wisewould, Kwinana, and GRDC Western Region Panel member, Coorow grower and Summit Fertilizers area manager, Juliet McDonald.
Independent Consultants Australia Network’s (ICAN) Mark Congreve and GRDC grower relations manager – west, Jo Wheeler.
GRDC Kwinana West port zone grower network member and Quairading grower, Ben Wilson, ADAMA Australia market development manager WA, Bevan Addison, and ADAMA Australia portfolio manager, Matthew Sherriff.
CBH Group chief external relations officer Brianna Peake, WA Grains Group (WAGG) chair and Pingrup grower Doug Smith, centre, and WAGG vice chair and Coorow grower Alastair Falconer.
Source: GRDC
For further information go to the GRDC’s past events webpage or 2021 Update papers.
The Perth event is to be followed by regional GRDC Grains Research Updates in WA including at:
- Albany Zone, at Albany Entertainment Centre – March 3
- Kwinana East Zone, at Cummins Theatre, Merredin – March 12
- Geraldton Zone, at Geraldton Yacht Club – March 17.
- Esperance Zone – July. Details yet to be confirmed.
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