On-farm insights at forum

GROWERS and agronomists with a vested interested in future research were engaged participants at the final round of Northern Grower Alliance Local Research Group meetings for this year.

NGA chief executive officer Richard Daniel said those working in the paddock were a vital link in the research equation and played an important role helping grower groups, like NGA, identify and prioritise issues for feedback to the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

"Growers and agronomists are sometimes much closer to the issues than us,” he said.

“They have a keen understanding of what is working in the paddock and what production constraints still present major challenges. Which is why their input is so critical to direct future research investments," he said.

The NGA is a Grains

❝Growers and agronomists have a keen understanding of what is working... — Richard Daniel

Research and Development Corporation investment and does on-ground trial work to validate and regionalise research outcomes on the Darling Downs, the Liverpool Plains and in the Walgett, Moree/Narrabri, Mungindi/Balonne and Goondiwindi regions.

Their recent round of end-of-season meetings to consult with growers and agronomists were held in Dalby, Gunnedah, Walgett, Moree, Thallon and Goondiwindi.

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED KNOWLEDGE: Goondiwindi’s Andrew Arthur from Arthur Agriculture and agronomist Leigh Norton from B&W Rural provided valuable insights on seasonal issues.

David Kelly from Goondiwindi compared notes with Doug McDougall from Total Ag.

Goondiwindi grain grower Jack Williamson caught up with agronomist Stuart Thorn.