THE AUSTRALIAN grains industry is well known for its innovation and ability to adapt to the challenges thrown up by our nation’s notoriously variable climate, but the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) does not want to rest on its laurels.
The statutory body, responsible for research and development in the grains industry, is confident a number of projects it has on the boil will deliver real benefits to the production sector.
Under the watchful eye of new managing director Steve Jefferies, the GRDC will continue its regional-based system, with the nation broken up into northern, southern and western zones.
There has been a push to bolster the regional focus of the organisation, highlighted by the opening of the Adelaide regional office for the southern zone last month.
The GRDC says the Adelaide office will initially house five staff, with a view towards expansion over time.
The organisation is upbeat that with further productivity gains it can continue to push Australia’s total average grain production well above the 40 million tonne mark.
Productivity gains in the grains sector have hovered at a tick under two per cent over the past 40 years, well above the rates in other sectors of Australian industry.
The feat is particularly impressive when it is considered that there have been frequent years of negative productivity, caused by catastrophic drought.
The GRDC lists better varieties, improved agronomy, more efficient equipment and decision-making as drivers of productivity gains in cropping systems.
In recent years, these productivity gains have slowed somewhat, partially due to a run of dry years, however, the GRDC says the industry is well positioned to regain its momentum in terms of productivity growth.
Weed management is a critical focus at present, with research released by the GRDC showing nationally the damage done by problem weeds in cropping systems is a tick under $3.3 billion dollars and problems with herbicide resistance emerging.
Managing herbicide resistance is a major priority, while stopping the spread of noxious weeds, particularly the long distance migration which has occurred over the past 20 years with more contractors and more farmers owning blocks many kilometres apart.
Other research priorities include finding new crop types for farmers to use in their rotation to boost diversity.
The GRDC says it is pleased to see its research leading to management changes, with feedback from farmer surveys showing a large number are using GRDC research to help with their management decisions.
