from the ground up · 2016. 8. 31. · rcsn annual report 2013–14 2 western region. from the...

FROM THE GROUND UP

ANNUAL REPORTREGIONAL CROPPING SOLUTIONS NETWORKS2013–14

WESTERN REGION

2RCSN Annual Report 2013–14Western Region

From the Ground Up — Western Region

Annual Report: Regional Cropping Solutions Networks, 2013–14

This report outlines some of the local research, development and extension (RD&E) priorities identified by the grain grower, adviser and researcher members of the GRDC Regional Cropping Solutions Networks (RCSN), operating across the western grain-growing region of Australia.

Authors

Cameron Weeks, RCSN coordinator/facilitator, Geraldton

Julianne Hill, RCSN coordinator, Brunswick

Sally Thomson, RCSN facilitator, Woodanilling

Acknowledgements

Grateful acknowledgement is given for the ideas and time committed to the RCSN initiative by network members.

Note

The information presented in this document is current and correct as at May 2014. However, as time progresses information about each of the issues discussed will change as the issue progresses through the RD&E process. This report aims to provide an indicative view of RD&E priorities in the western grain-growing region, rather than absolute information.

Title: From the ground up — Western Region Annual Report: Regional Cropping Solutions Networks, 2013–14

ISBN: 978-1-921779-71-8

Published September 2014. Copyright © Grains Research and Development Corporation 2014

This book is copyright. Except as permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth) and subsequent amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of the copyright owner.

Enquiries and additional copies: Grains Research and Development Corporation Ground Cover Direct W: www.grdc.com.au/bookshop E: [email protected] T: + 61 02 6166 4500 F: +61 02 6166 4599

Editorial coordination, additional writing and editing: Lucy Kealey, Kealey Clark P/LDesign and production: coretext.com.au

Disclaimer: All surveys, research, forecasts, communications documents and recommendations made in reports, studies or projects are made in good faith on the basis of information available to the consultants at the time; and achievement of objectives, projections or forecasts set out in such reports or documents will depend among other things on the actions of the client, over which the consultant has no control. Notwithstanding anything contained therein, neither the consulting organisation nor its servants or agents will, except as the law may require, be liable for any loss or other consequences (whether or not due to the negligence of the Consultants, their servants or agents) arising out of the services rendered by the Consultants.

CAUTION: RESEARCH ON UNREGISTERED AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL USE. Any research with unregistered agricultural chemicals or of unregistered products reported in this document does not constitute a recommendation for that particular use by the authors or the authors’ organisations. All pesticide applications must accord with the currently registered label for that particular pesticide, crop, pest and region.


Welcome Letter

WELCOME LETTER

Dear Western Region Grower,

I am proud to present the research, development and extension (RD&E) priorities that have been identified by GRDC’s Regional Cropping Solutions Networks (RCSNs) for the western grain-growing region. The top three RD&E priorities for the GRDC western region are frost, weeds and non-wetting soils, and the GRDC has committed significant investment to these priorities on behalf of growers.

The GRDC invested in the RCSN initiative in 2011, with the primary aim of identifying local RD&E priorities. There are five RCSNs across the western region, which have been divided on the basis of port zones. They are Albany, Esperance, Geraldton and two in the Kwinana port zone (Kwinana East and Kwinana West). The RCSNs consist of a mix of over 70 growers and industry professionals who meet formally twice per year to discuss RD&E priorities.

The GRDC also provides the funding for RCSNs to implement fast track projects. These are projects that address local priorities and are typically completed within 12 months or less. In 2013–14, the GRDC contracted more than $750,000 to fast track projects. This represents a five-fold increase in local project funding compared to 2011–12, when $150,000 was invested through the old the Agribusiness Trial Extension Projects.

The GRDC invests in the RD&E priorities that address issues restricting the profitability of grain-growing businesses. This report lists those priorities, as well as identifying national and local research that has been implemented to address the issues.

If you would like to discuss any content within the report please contact Peter Roberts, chair of the GRDC Western Regional Panel ([email protected] or 0428 389 060).

I would like to thank all members of the RCSNs, and facilitators Julianne Hill, Sally Thomson and Cameron Weeks for their commitment, and I look forward to continuing to work with you all.

Yours Sincerely

Darren Hughes

Regional Grower Services Manager – West


Contents

CONTENTS

Welcome letter .......................................................................................................................................................... 3

1. Executive summary .............................................................................................................................................. 5

2. Managing grains RD&E ........................................................................................................................................ 6

3. Grower-driven decision making ........................................................................................................................ 11Port-based zones .................................................................................................................................................... 11RCSN facilitators...................................................................................................................................................... 12Local representatives............................................................................................................................................... 13

Albany RCSN ...................................................................................................................................................... 14Esperance RCSN ................................................................................................................................................ 16Geraldton RCSN ................................................................................................................................................. 18Kwinana East RCSN ........................................................................................................................................... 20Kwinana West RCSN .......................................................................................................................................... 22

4. Issues to action ................................................................................................................................................... 24Priority issues........................................................................................................................................................... 24National and local action ......................................................................................................................................... 25

Appendices .............................................................................................................................................................29A. A logical approach to identifying RD&E needs .................................................................................................. 29B. Previous GRDC investments related to top priority issues ................................................................................ 31

LIST OF TABLESTable 1. The steps of the standard investment decision process .......................................................................... 10Table 2: Albany Port Zone Regional Cropping Solutions Network members ........................................................ 14Table 3. Esperance Port Zone Regional Cropping Solutions Network members .................................................. 16Table 4. Geraldton Port Zone Regional Cropping Solutions Network members ................................................... 18Table 5. Kwinana East Port Zone Regional Cropping Solutions Network members ............................................. 20Table 6. Kwinana West Port Zone Regional Cropping Solutions Network members ............................................ 22Table 7. Top priority issues identified by each RCSN – updated May 2014 .......................................................... 24Table 8. GRDC investments that will address top priority RCSN issues and be of benefit to WA growers through projects in WA and interstate ........................................................................................... 26Table 9. Albany RCSN – Summary of projects and issues addressed by fast track projects .............................. 27Table 10. Esperance RCSN – Summary of projects and issues addressed by fast track projects ...................... 27Table 11. Geraldton RCSN – Summary of projects and issues addressed by fast track projects ........................ 28Table 12. Kwinana East RCSN – Summary of projects and issues addressed by fast track projects .................. 28Table 13. Kwinana West RCSN – Summary of projects and issues addressed by fast track projects ................ 28Table B1. GRDC investments made prior to the 2014–15 that address top priority issues ................................... 31


1. Executive summary

The past 12 months has seen the Regional Cropping Solutions Networks (RCSNs) mature and evolve into a strong and vital part of the GRDC issues-identification process for the western grain-growing region.

Since the inception of the RCSN initiative in 2011, the five networks in Western Australia have provided the GRDC with information about the highest-ranking issues that each network believes are affecting the profitability and sustainability of farmers within its zone. Each year, the networks assess the issues raised and, following a structured process, prepare information about what change in practices could address the issues, what barriers to change exist and what research, development or extension (RD&E) activity could overcome the barriers. The information resulting from this process is given to the GRDC for consideration in the investment planning cycle.

The priority issues identified by the RCSNs for 2013–14 were similar to those identified in the 2012–13 year, showing that the assessment process is a strong and rigorous approach. However, of note is the increasing importance of crop rotations, farm business profitability and precision agriculture/variable rate technology.

Following is the list of priority issues in the GRDC western region for 2013–14:

� weed management (5 zones);

� rotations (5 zones);

� frost (4 zones);

� non-wetting soils (4 zones);

� soil acidity and/or sodicity (4 zones);

� farm business profitability (4 zones);

� lack of decision-support tools that combine economic, physical and technical data (4 zones);

� precision agriculture and variable rate technology (4 zones); and

� water use efficiency (3 zones).

The release of the GRDC External Investment Plan 2014–15 proved to be a milestone for the RCSNs. The plan proposed numerous large projects, requiring significant investment, which clearly address high-priority issues identified by the RCSNs. The initiation of these projects is a major outcome of RCSN efforts so far, and provides overwhelming evidence that the GRDC is making significant investments as a result of what growers and professionals ‘on the ground’ are saying.

The GRDC also invests in fast track projects—short-term projects that have been identified by the RCSNs as necessary to deliver a practice change on priority issues within 12 months. The fast track projects have been a successful way to address local issues and have seen substantial co-investment from grower groups, consultants and research organisations.

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY


2. Managing grains RD&E

2. MANAGING GRAINS RD&E

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) was established under an Act of Parliament in 1990. Its charter is to plan, facilitate and oversee the investment of funds in research, development and extension (RD&E) to improve the production, sustainability and ultimately the profitability of the Australian grains industry. The GRDC manages more than $160 million dollars, via levies and the Australian Government matches the levy up to a limit of 0.5 per cent of the three-year rolling average of the gross value of production across the 25 leviable crops.

The investment of funds into RD&E is a complex and rigorous process that starts with the grain grower. At the ground level, farmers can contribute to the development of grains RD&E by:

� participating in and contributing to discussions at GRDC grower events and grower updates;

� discussing issues and making suggestions and comments directly to representatives on the GRDC Regional Cropping Solutions Networks and Grower Solutions Groups;

� discussing issues and making suggestions and comments directly to representatives on the GRDC regional panels;

� making comments and suggestions about RD&E on the GRDC website (www.grdc.com.au/About-Us/Contribute); and

� making comments and suggestions about RD&E through social media by following the GRDC on Facebook and Twitter.

At the decision-making level, grain growers have the opportunity to represent their industry as members of regional groups or networks, as appointed members of regional panels, and ultimately on the board of the GRDC.

The GRDC investment planning process is designed to ensure that the GRDC levy is managed so it can be the best investment a grower can make to improve their business. Additionally, the GRDC must ensure accountability for all monies invested.

Local networks

There are many avenues of information used by the GRDC to guide its planning and investment of RD&E funds. Grower groups or networks have been established in the three grain-growing regions of Australia (Figure 1, page 8). The groups and networks make suggestions and provide feedback to regional panels to help set priorities for RD&E. The groups and networks also have access to some direct funds to address immediate local research priorities in the short term.

The RD&E priorities identified by the groups or networks, and the related actions and investments by the GRDC, will be presented annually in the report From the Ground Up. An edition of the report will be produced for each of the GRDC regions — northern, southern and western.

The format of each group or network differs between regions, based on historical RD&E management, industry structures and grower needs.

Northern region

There are four GRDC grower solutions groups (GSGs) in the northern grain-growing region of Australia. The first group established, in 2007, was the Northern Grain Alliance and successive groups have followed this model.

Each group has 40 to 60 members, as well as a steering committee and a local consultative committee and/or board, which are made up of local growers, advisers and researchers. The groups meet annually to ensure effective collaboration across the regions and with the larger GRDC northern investments.

On a more regular basis, the GSGs address immediate local research priorities by instigating projects of one to three years’ duration. The projects focus on emerging issues that require a fast response and ultimately deliver information on the best way to manage problems at farm level. They provide essential on-ground linkages between growers, agronomists and researchers to identify local issues and research priorities that can be further investigated by the GSGs or fed into the GRDC’s larger three to eight-year regional



investments, under themes such as Protecting Your Crop, Advancing Profitable Farming Systems and Improving Your Farm Resource Base (Figure 2, page 9).

Western and southern regions

There are nine GRDC Regional Cropping Solutions Networks (RCSNs) across the western and southern grain-growing regions of Australia. Each network comprises up to 16 members representing farmers, agronomists, agribusiness and researchers, and includes a representative of the relevant GRDC regional panel; each is coordinated by an independent facilitator. The RCSNs were established in the western region in 2011 and the southern region in 2012.

The RCSN initiative was developed to provide a vital role in the GRDC’s effort to understand and address priority issues in each region. The initiative was also seen as a way for the GRDC to work with growers to reduce the time it takes for new varieties, practices and technologies to be adopted.

The RCSN initiative grew out of feedback from major stakeholders of the GRDC indicating that:

� growers want more effective delivery of RD&E that drives growth in their productivity, profitability and sustainability;

� growers continue to face a broad spectrum of demands on their time and resources;

� the grains industry operates in the context of increasing consolidation of public sector resources, most critically in development and extension services;

� Australia’s competitiveness in global grain markets will increase if the time between development, field testing and ultimate adoption is accelerated; and

� the GRDC’s delivery of development and extension must continue to adapt to changing physical and operational environments to meet the priorities of stakeholders.

The development of the RCSN initiative was aligned closely with the vision of the Primary Industries Ministerial Council. This vision included a national restructuring of RD&E resources, which aims to foster greater cooperation between the Commonwealth and the states, avoiding unnecessary duplication, and maximising benefits from the investment in research, development and extension.

The objectives of the RCSN initiative are to:

1. Create and manage knowledge.

2. Build regional development and extension capacity among growers and advisers.

3. Proactively respond to regional industry issues in a timely manner.

4. Provide enduring links between growers, advisers and the GRDC.

The primary goal of the RCSNs is to provide region-specific feedback to the GRDC regional panels on relevant issues affecting growers, to assist the panel prioritise issues for consideration of RD&E (Figure 1, page 8). The RCSNs develop a sound understanding of the GRDC’s current research investments and determine where there are gaps in current RD&E, with a specific focus on regional issues. The local knowledge of the RCSNs helps build essential on-ground linkages between growers, farming systems groups, agribusiness and researchers.

As well as influencing investment at a regional and national scale, the RCSNs have the ability to determine and facilitate fast track projects, where significant local issues can be addressed in a short timeframe with a relatively small budget.

The RCSN initiative complements the National Grains Industry RD&E Strategy, with its aim to plan and design local research and activities of greatest benefit.

Regional panels

The GSGs and RCSNs provide information and recommendations on priority issues to the GRDC’s regional panels.

Recognising variations in environment, conditions and issues across the nation, the GRDC established three regional panels based on grain-growing regions. These regional panels represent the northern, southern and western grain-growing regions of Australia, to ensure the different market and production realities are considered and reflected in the investment program. Each region has distinctive features that warrant focused planning and research management in plant breeding, farming systems, soil, grain storage and handling, product development, market opportunities and technology marketing.

The regional panels consider information gained from their own structure and interaction with GSGs and RCSNs, as well as information provided by communication with grower groups, government research and extension agencies, private research and extension organisations, and industry organisations.

The regional panel members are appointed by the board of the GRDC, and comprise grain growers, agronomists, agribusiness representatives, researchers and GRDC executive managers. The role of each panel is to:



� identify and monitor regional and national grains industry issues that are relevant to the region;

� interact with grower groups, research advisery committees and other interested parties in the region to exchange information;

� identify and develop priorities for RD&E investment and with recommendations to the National Panel;

� keep growers and advisers in the region informed about the GRDC’s strategic direction, investment portfolio and research projects; and

� assist staff in monitoring the effectiveness of the investment portfolio.

The regional panels work with a National Panel, to ensure that GRDC investments are directed towards the interests of all grains industry

stakeholders and to deliver relevant products and services in each grain-growing region.

The National Panel is composed of the chairs of the three regional panels, the Managing Director of the GRDC and the GRDC’s executive managers. The National Panel:

� addresses national RD&E priorities across the GRDC’s investment portfolio and makes recommendations to the Board; and

� assists the Board of GRDC to maintain links with grain growers, the Australian Government, state and territory governments and research partners.

The GRDC is guided by constant two-way communication with growers

through its panels and grower networks

FIGURE 1 Grower involvement in the GRDC decision-making process for RD&E investments.

Grain Orana Alliance

Northern Grower Alliance

Central Queensland Cropping Solutions

Coastal Cropping Solutions

Low Rainfall Zone RCSN

Medium

Rainfall Zone RCSN

High Rainfall Zone RCSN

Irrigation Zone RCSN

Albany Port Zone RCSN

Esperance Port Zone RCSN

Geraldton Port Zone RCSN

Kwinana Port East Zone RCSN

Kwinana Port W

est Zone RCSN

GRDCNORTHERNREGIONAL

PANEL

GRDCSOUTHERNREGIONAL

PANEL

GRAIN GROWERS

GRDC NATIONAL PANEL

GRDCWESTERNREGIONAL

PANEL



Research themes

To ensure that RD&E funds are used efficiently, bring optimal benefit to the grains industry and achieve the greatest return to growers, the GRDC organises its RD&E across six strategic themes (Figure 2).

1. Meeting market requirements is about uncovering market opportunities and developing the crops, varieties and production methods to meet them.

2. Improving crop yield is about higher potential yields, better tolerance of drought and more of the right grain for a given area and seasonal conditions.

3. Protecting your crop is about defending the crop’s yield and quality against losses from pests, weeds and disease, and doing it sustainably and efficiently.

4. Advancing profitable farming systems generates the knowledge and tools for farmers to plan strategically and respond tactically to markets, climate, seasons and risks.

5. Improving your farm resource base is about protecting, managing and enhancing the natural assets farmers use.

6. Building skills and capacity is about better leadership, research capability and adoption of research outcomes.

Investment processesThe investment of funds in grains RD&E involves a complex and rigorous investment planning process to ensure the best possible investment of grower levies and government funds. The investment process involves formal and informal analysis of each issue, as well as analysis of trends, current activities (including international), opportunities and threats around priority issues. This helps the GRDC make fully informed decisions about how to invest RD&E funds.

There are several types of investment processes used by the GRDC, recognising that issues raised by growers will vary in many ways, and one process alone may not be suitable.

Fast track investment process

In the southern and western grain-growing regions, the fast track process provides a means for in-season and small-scale projects to be carried out at a local level on an issue that would benefit from immediate investigation, such as the impact or management of a crop disease. The budgets for fast track projects are generally small but the projects only require minimal administration, and they are managed by the regional panel or local RCSN.

One to three-year projects

In the northern region, the GSGs address immediate local research priorities by instigating projects of one to three years’ duration. The projects focus on emerging issues that require a fast response and ultimately deliver information on the best way to manage problems at farm level.

Standard investment process

The standard investment process is the predominant method by which most RD&E projects in the grains industry gain funding. A decision to award funding is made after identifying and assessing issues nation-wide and, after consideration of all issues, deciding what issues best serve the ongoing profitability and sustainability of the grains industry. Details of this process are presented in Table 1.

The RCSNs participate in the standard investment process by submitting their collated priority issues to the GRDC in March and August of each year, as part of the GRDC’s annual investment planning cycle.

Intensive investment process

An intensive process of assessment may also be undertaken to determine the investment required to address an issue. This process entails a thorough investment analysis which is not required for every issue. It is generally used for longer-term investments (greater than three years), where people outside GRDC may have insight, tools and/or capabilities to add to the rigour of the investment analysis. This may apply where the final project might be complex, or the planned response is more important than the speed of the response.

FIGURE 2 GRDC focuses its RD&E investment on six strategic themes.

ImprovingCrop Yield

Building Skillsand Capacity

ImprovingYour FarmResource

Base

ProtectingYour Crop

Meeting MarketRequirements

AdvancingProfitableFarmingSystems

YOURGRDC WORKING

WITH YOU



TABLE 1 The steps of the GRDC standard investment decision process.

What How When

1. Identify priorities Investment priorities are identified through interaction with growers, advisers and other industry participants, through regional grower networks and groups, and grower events; in consultation with regional panels, Grain Producers Australia, researchers, farming organisations and the national agribusiness reference group; and consideration of the Australian Government’s national Research Priorities and Rural R&D Priorities

Throughout the year

2. Plan investments GRDC managers and regional panel members discuss issues and projects that address gaps in investment strategies and priorities identified by stakeholders.Indicative budgets across the six GRDC themes are established and new projects to address gaps in investment strategies are proposed. The proposals are ranked by regional panels with input from GRDC managers. The GRDC National Panel recommends a high-level budget of investment proposals grouped by theme, which form the basis of the GRDC External Investment Plan. Recommendations for funds allocation are provided to the GRDC Board, GPA and state farming organisations for comment.

July–August

3. Call for tenders Project proposals that are suitable for competitive tender are published. Tenders are evaluated against specific selection criteria to determine the preferred research partner(s). In any one year, about half of the new investments are directly negotiated with a research provider because of limited expertise in a research area and/or a need for ongoing access to co-owned intellectual property.

August–September

4. Award contracts Contracts are awarded for projects for the next financial year. September onwards

5. Review process Progress on development of new investments is reviewed and strategic gaps are addressed. February–March

6. Assess progress Project progress is reported on an annual basis, in March, and progress payments are made after assessment of the report.Final reports are submitted in September following completion of the project.Project findings are communicated to grain growers and other industry members.

March for annual reportsSeptember for final reports

Full details of the GRDC investment process and timetable can be found at www.grdc.com.au/About-Us/Investment-Process

David Hall (DAFWA) talks to growers at the Precision Agriculture day at Hopetoun, WA, which was initiated and co-funded by the Esperance RCSN.

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3. Grower-driven decision making

Five Regional Cropping Solutions Networks (RCSNs) were established in Western Australia in 2011 to be part of the process that helps guide the GRDC to invest funds in research, development and extension (RD&E). The RCSNs provide an on-ground perspective for identifying local priority issues and network members contribute to the RD&E decision-making process by working together to:

� identify and track regional issues facing growers in the western grain-growing region of Australia – issue identification can be through the networks, feedback, observation or experience;

� provide on-the-ground insights into priority issues requiring industry research and development attention;

� trap intelligence on regional grain production constraints and opportunities;

� provide support and advice to the GRDC’s Western Regional Panel on regional issues; and

� drive, with the GRDC Western Regional Panel, the fast track projects that are aimed at improving grain growers’ productivity, profitability and sustainability.

Port-based zones

The RCSNs zones were formed to bring together people who work in the same production environment, in terms of climate and organisational factors. The established CBH delivery port zones in Western Australia were the basis for the RCSNs zones, that is Albany, Esperance, Geraldton and Kwinana, with the latter being divided into Kwinana East and Kwinana West (Figure 3) for the purpose of the RCSNs.

3. GROWER-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING

PERTH

Geraldton

Esperance

Albany

KWINANA WEST PORT ZONE

KWINANA EAST PORT ZONE

ALBANY PORT ZONE

ESPERANCE PORT ZONE

FIGURE 3 The five zones established for each Regional Cropping Solutions Network in Western Australia.

GERALDTONPORT ZONE

1. Cameron Weeks, RCSN coordinator/facilitatorPlanfarm Pty Ltd, Geraldton08 9964 1170 | 0427 006 [email protected]

2. Julianne Hill, RCSN coordinatorPO Box 89, Brunswick, WA, 622408 9726 1307 | 0447 261 [email protected]

3. Sally Thomson, RCSN facilitator until July 2014

1 2 3



RCSN facilitators

Each RCSN has a facilitator and/or coordinator to ensure the effective operation of the network, and that maximum benefit is gained from the input of network members. The role of the RCSN facilitator/coordinator is to:

� facilitate interactive meetings with the RCSN to draw out priority issues, identify practice changes required to address these issues, determine what is preventing such practice change currently (for example, lack of motivation, knowledge or technologies) and then what activities are needed to achieve the desired practice change;

� work with regional farming systems groups and local advisers to contribute to and support the identification and prioritisation of local production issues;

� establish, link, support and develop a regional development and extension network of regional farming systems groups, local agribusiness and research and development organisations;

� establish fast track projects which focus on high priority local issues, as identified by each RCSN, where progress can be made with a short-term, targeted and relatively small investment;

� establish and maintain, in conjunction with the GRDC, a regional industry RD&E database of GRDC fast track project activities and results;

� provide an effective interface between the local networks and the GRDC;

� provide feedback to the GRDC and the Western Regional Panel on emerging issues and current attitudes and activities within the region, which are relevant to local production issues and the needs of the networks; and

� provide assistance on any other relevant matters as required by the GRDC.

More information on the RCSN initiative, the facilitators and committee members can be found at www.grdc.com.au/director/about/

stakeholder_engagement/rcsg.cfm

Julianne Hill and Sally Thomson are contracted by Southern DiRT (a grower group based in Kojonup) to jointly facilitate the RCSNs for the Albany, Esperance, Kwinana East and Kwinana West port zones. Planfarm consultant Cameron Weeks leads the effort for the Geraldton Port Zone RSCN.



Local representatives

The members of each RCSN are selected to provide geographic coverage (Figure 4) and to contribute to a skill set required for the network. Currently, appointments are made by the recommendation of other RCSN members or through word of mouth, and approved by the GRDC. There have been a number of new additions to the original networks since October 2011, as members have identified skills gaps or geographical gaps in the make-up of their network. The profile of the RCSN initiative has grown and it is delivering value to regional areas. As a result, more people want to join the RCSNs than when the networks first started.

The facilitators of the western region RCSNs have developed a roles and responsibilities information sheet for prospective members. The members of the RCSNs contribute to the RD&E decision-making process by:

� identifying and prioritising of local production issues;

� identifying the key questions, i.e. research, development, extension, around the priority production issues for the local region;

� assisting in developing the key question(s) as defined above i.e. helping to define the issue and the response;

� liaising with industry partners and other growers to provide direction and ideas to ensure that regional priorities are addressed;

� being a key contact point for the zone coordinator and regularly communicate to ensure project goals are met and that they address the key issues;

� supporting the GRDC in delivering the desired outcomes to growers and the GRDC;

� representing the GRDC Regional Cropping Solutions Network at events and stakeholder meetings;

� providing feedback to the GRDC, its Western Regional Panel and the regional manager – West via the zone coordinator on emerging issues and current attitudes and activities within the region which are relevant to local production issues and the needs of the networks;

� electing representative(s) from the zone to sit on the National Variety Trials committee; and

� establishing and maintaining, in conjunction with the GRDC, an industry database of regional RD&E project activities and results.

The following sections introduce the current members of each RCSN and the activities of each network for the 2013–14 year.

FIGURE 4 The five RCSN zones and distribution of RCSN members within the zones.

PERTH

Geraldton

Esperance

Albany

Koorda



ALBANY PORT ZONE

ESPERANCE PORT ZONE

GERALDTONPORT ZONE

Wongan Hills

Northam

Corrigin

Merredin

Lake Grace

Southern Cross

RCSN members

Katanning

FIGURE 4 The five RCSN zones and distribution of RCSN members within the zones.

PERTH

Geraldton

Esperance

Albany

Koorda



ALBANY PORT ZONE

ESPERANCE PORT ZONE

GERALDTONPORT ZONE

Wongan Hills

Northam

Corrigin

Merredin

Lake Grace

Southern Cross

RCSN members

Katanning



ALBANY RCSN The Albany Port Zone RCSN has met six times since October 2011 at Katanning, Mount Barker, Lake Grace, Borden, Nyabing and Perth. There are 12 members of the Albany RCSN (Table 2), with some member succession occurring gradually since the network was established. Albany RCSN meetings are also attended by GRDC Western Regional Panel members Bill Ryan or Susan Hall.

2013–14 activities

The first meeting for the Albany RCSN in 2013–14 was 28 August 2013, at the Gibson Soak in Gibson. The focus for the meeting was:

� a GRDC update by Bill Ryan, Western Regional Panel member, including how the GRDC is using RCSN information and a summary of the key investment areas in the western region;

� further analysis of priority issues/practice changes that were identified at the previous meeting;

� the GRDC frost strategy, presented by Juan Juttner of GRDC, including what is being invested and in what areas, what’s in the pipeline, and the RCSN views on frost investment needs and opportunities;

� identification by RCSN members of key gaps in the frost strategy, and suggestions of activities and recommendations for the GRDC to consider; and

� identification of fast track projects for 2014–15.

The second meeting of the Albany RCSN took place as part of a combined RCSN meeting held in Perth on 26 February 2014, following the GRDC Agribusiness Crop Updates.

Throughout the year, RCSN members provided feedback to the RCSN facilitators on various items and issues as required, for example on the development of fast track projects.

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The Albany Port Zone RCSN members at Nyabing in August 2013.

TABLE 2 Albany Port Zone Regional Cropping Solutions Network members.

Member Occupation Location

Mark Pearce Farmer Lake Grace

Jeremy Lemon DAFWA Albany

Steve Curtin Consultant Lake Grace

James Eyres Farmer/consultant Kojonup

Trent Parsons Farmer Jerramungup

Fiona Martin ANZ Nyabing

Daniel McDougall Farmer Datatine

Scott Smith Farmer South Stirling

Brent Pritchard Consultant Albany

Stuart Witham Farmer/agronomist Tambellup

Susan Hall GRDC GRDC

Simon Hill Farmer Mindarabin



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GROWER EXPERIENCES SHARED IN NON-WETTING SOILS BOOKLET

A new case study booklet is available outlining options that Western Australian farmers have adopted to deal with non-wetting soils and advice on developing strategies to manage these soils.

The Regional Cropping Solutions Networks (RCSNs) in WA have recognised that non-wetting soils limit yield and the area affected is increasing in extent and/or severity across the state’s grain-growing regions.

In particular, the Kwinana West and Albany port zone RCSNs are keen to increase farmer knowledge about methods to address non-wetting soils, and want to see extension of these methods to farmers in WA.

To help achieve this, these RCSNs initiated two non-wetting soils bus tours and a booklet, which features most of the farmers visited during the tours.

Combatting non-wetting soils is available at www.grdc.com.au/GRDC-Booklet-CombattingNonWettingSoils

Bus trip participants at South Stirling.

From the network …The Albany Port Zone is

a diverse and varied area. Annual rainfall ranges from 180 to 680 millimetres across the region. Most areas within the zone are generally considered to be in a reliable rainfall area, although there have been some very tough seasonal conditions in the past decade or so. There is a wide range of soil types, varying between paddocks and across the region.

Cropping systems are varied. There are three main crops – wheat, canola and barley – however most areas in the zone have the seasonal conditions and rainfall to be able to try different options in their farm business. A profitable grain legume is the main crop option that is lacking due to the soil types typically found throughout the zone.

Land use ranges from high-intensity grazing to blue gum plantations to marginal cropping country. Management systems are also varied, from older farming families

in established areas through to first-generation farmers on new country in some areas. The scale of operations varies, with large enterprises often found in the lower rainfall areas.

Growers in different areas respond to the high seasonal variability. Most farmers use past experience in relation to the risks they take in their farming operations. Growers in the northern part of the zone tend to reduce spending after being burnt with poor seasons, but in the southern areas growers are more willing to try new things.

Esperance Port Zone RCSN members at their February 2013 meeting.

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ESPERANCE RCSNThe Esperance Port Zone RCSN has met six times since October 2011, at Ravensthorpe, Esperance, Lake King, Hopetoun, Gibson and Perth. There are 17 members of the Esperance RCSN (Table 3), with some member succession occurring throughout the year. Esperance RCSN meetings are also attended by GRDC Western Regional Panel member Bill Ryan.


The first meeting of the Esperance RCSN for 2013–14 was 28 August 2013 at the Gibson Soak in Gibson. The focus for the meeting was:

� a GRDC update by Bill Ryan, Western Regional Panel member, including how the GRDC is using RCSN information and a summary of the key investment areas in the western region;

� further analysis of priority issues/practice changes that were identified at the previous meeting;

� a water use efficiency (WUE) panel session, with the following presenters:

� Richard Richards, CSIRO research breeder high performance wheat;

� Bill Bowden, DAFWA soils and nutrition;

� Patricia Flynn, DEPI soil scientist;

� Kevin Young, DAFWA wheat breeding;

� David Hall, DAFWA soils researcher;

� Juan Juttner, GRDC Senior Manager, Theme Integration and Strategies.

� identification by RCSN members of key gaps in WUE research, and suggestions of activities and recommendations for GRDC to consider; and


The second meeting of the Esperance RCSN took place as part of a combined RCSN meeting held in Perth on 26 February 2014, following the GRDC Agribusiness Crop Updates.

Throughout the year, RCSN members provided feedback to the RCSN facilitators on various items and issues as required, for example on the development of fast track projects.

TABLE 3 Esperance Port Zone Regional Cropping Solutions Network members.


Eric Nankivell Consultant Esperance

Andy Duncan Farmer West River

Ben Curtis DAFWA Esperance

Quenten Knight Consultant Esperance

Stott Redman Farmer Hopetoun

Mick Fels Farmer Wittenoom Hills

Doc Fetherstonehaugh Farmer Munglinup

Ben Hyde Farmer Varley

Anna-Lisa Newman Farmer Holt Rock

Chris Reichstein Farmer Condingup

Steve Baker Rabobank Esperance

Craig Brown Consultant Hyden

Jenny Chambers Farmer Mt Madden

Leon Bowman Farmer Grass Patch

Andrew Heinrich Consultant Esperance

Bill Ryan GRDC GRDC

David Campbell Farmer Gibson



From the network …The region has moved

from 20 to 30 per cent cropping across the zone, to 70 to 100 per cent cropping. There is a lot more canola sown in the area. The Esperance area is a pretty new area, with first, second and third generations farming the land. Farmers in the region are technology hungry; ready to embrace change. The age demographic is definitely lower than the central wheatbelt.

Esperance region farmers don’t see themselves as part of the typical WA Wheatbelt – they have unique soil types and the country is “younger”.

The region is unique in that it gets so much unpredictable, and often summer, rain. Rainfall has been extremely variable, leading to issues with harvest, disease, staining and sprouting. Boron soils and high pH means that this area of WA is more like many cropping areas of South Australia.

The average farm size is also larger than other parts of WA. There are

large-scale or corporate-sized family farms – eight per cent of farmers from the Esperance Port Zone produce 15 per cent of the state’s grain. Productivity is probably higher than the state average, which leads to more technology uptake and better efficiencies.

Logistics, planning and time management are often critical. There are many innovators in the zone who are driven by the opportunity to increase profit, and relevant new technology is picked up quickly.

SHOVEL GIVEN THE BOOT FOR MOISTURE MEASURING

Rain gauges and the shovel are being superseded by high-tech, real-time soil

moisture measuring technology on the Varley property of Anna-Lisa and Craig Newman.

Anna-Lisa is a member of the GRDC’s Esperance Regional Cropping Solutions Network (RCSN), which is conducting joint soil-moisture probe and Yield Prophet® trials with the Albany RCSN.

The Newmans have one of 12 Yield Prophet® trial sites set up on their property on a loamy duplex soil type.

The site includes a soil-moisture probe and weather station that measure and record – in real time – actual soil moisture content, soil temperature and electrical conductivity, humidity, and any frosts or heat shocks. It is also undergoing Yield Prophet® analysis.

Anna-Lisa says they have been regularly logging into the online server that holds this data to check plant-available water and crop yield predictions for their own site and at other trial sites that match the soil types on their Varley and Lake King properties.

“Up to this year, we have been using rain gauges and a shovel to assess the moisture profile of our soils, and making our own basic yield predictions using water use efficiency calculations,” she says.

“We did compare our soil moisture calculations with the Lake Grace Yield Prophet® site occasionally last year, which was great.”

But this year, having their own Yield Prophet® site, soil coring results and soil water analysis mean the Newmans have more accurate data to consider when making sowing and nitrogen application decisions.

“In-season yield predictions are a valuable tool, helping us to keep our nitrogen expenses as conservative as possible,” Anna-Lisa says.

“In coming months, these predictions will be a vital part of our grain marketing and forward-sales plans. For lower-rainfall areas, this is going to be a helpful risk-management tool.

“Through Yield Prophet® there is also scope to consider flowering dates and frost risk, which we will pursue as we head into spring.”

The Newmans are finding that weather condition reports generated at the trial site are effective in helping to pinpoint lower-risk spraying times.

Anna-Lisa says by harvest, data from the site is expected to provide an accurate assessment of plant-available water capacity for a representative soil type on the property.

Anna-Lisa says the ability to regularly record soil moisture data and in-season rainfall is set to build a good understanding of soil – and potentially its limitations – on the property.



GERALDTON RCSNThe Geraldton Port Zone RCSN has met six times since 2011, with all meetings taking place at Geraldton. There are 15 members of the Geraldton RCSN (Table 4), with some member succession occuring throughout the year. Geraldton RCSN meetings are also attended by GRDC Western Regional Panel member Paul Kelly.


The first meeting of the Geraldton RCSN in 2013–14 was on 25 September 2013 at Geraldton. The focus of the meeting was to:

� gain a better understanding of the GRDC investment cycle and links to RCSN priorities (Darren Hughes);

� analyse the next tier of priority issues and practice changes (following early 2013 efforts on top priorities);

� update on the current fast track project on the development of radish best management practices (BMPs) by Grant Thompson, a local agronomist in the Geraldton zone; and

� identify fast track projects for 2014–15.

The second meeting of the Geraldton RCSN took place as part of a combined RCSN meeting held in Perth on 26 February 2014, following the GRDC Agribusiness Crop Updates.

Throughout the year, members provided feedback to the RCSN facilitator on various items and issues as required, for example on the development of fast track projects.

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Geraldton Port Zone RCSN members, September, 2012.

TABLE 4 Geraldton Port Zone Regional Cropping Solutions Network members.


Cameron Weeks Facilitator/consultant Geraldton

Andrew Sandison Consultant/agronomist Geraldton

Richard Quinlan Agronomist Geraldton

Chris Pinkney Consultant/agronomist Geraldton

Craig Topham Agronomist Geraldton

Peter Norris Agronomist Geraldton

Rob Grima DAFWA Geraldton

Tony Rosser Reseller/agronomist Geraldton

Luigi Moreschi Fertiliser agronomist Dongara

Dale Pearse Agri-bank manager Geraldton

Anne Wilkins Grower group EO Badgingarra

Karl Suckling Farmer Northampton

Glen Thomas Farmer Mullewa

John Koric Farmer Mingenew

Michael O’Callaghan Farmer Coorow

Mark Appleyard Farmer Moonyoonooka

John Flanagan Farmer Pindar/Mullewa

Paul Kelly Farmer/GRDC GRDC



MAPPING EFFECTIVE VRT STRATEGIES

Over the next year, new research will provide Western Australian growers with information to compare the cost effectiveness of purchasing different information

layers for variable rate technology (VRT) zone application maps.

The ‘Understanding map layers for VRT’ project is an initiative of several Regional Cropping Solutions Networks (RCSN), with the research being conducted by the Kondinin Group.

Ben White, general manager of research for the Kondinin Group, said the project was identified as a priority by growers in the areas covered by the Kwinana West and Geraldton RCSN zones.

“There are a number of mapping layers available, and with some costing significantly more than others, the challenge for growers is a lack of comparative information about the return on investment from purchasing different layers,” he said.

“This project looks to clarify the benefits, drawbacks and considerations each information layer can provide in determining application zone maps for inputs including lime, phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium, if applicable.”

Seeding the RCSN precision agriculture site at Dowerin – the

trial will help determine the cost-effectiveness of different mapping

layers available for VRT.

From the network …The Geraldton Port

Zone covers high to low rainfall regions (approximately 500 millimetres down to 275mm average annual rainfall). There is a wide range of soil types within the zone. Cropping dominates agricultural production in the region, with approximately 50 per cent of farms having no livestock.

Farms are typically large, with farm size on average increasing from high to low rainfall. Data from the

2012 Planfarm–Bankwest survey shows that the average high-rainfall farm consisted of 4036 cropping hectares, medium rainfall 4834 cropping hectares and low rainfall 6053 cropping hectares.

Farming systems vary from high to low rainfall, with diversity dropping as rainfall decreases. Wheat is the dominant crop type followed by canola, lupins and barley.

Recent seasons have been extremely variable. Severe droughts in 2006 and 2007 set back the vast majority

of businesses but thankfully the years since have been quite good, with 2008 and 2011 particularly profitable. Unfortunately, the very-low-rainfall areas in the north and north-east parts of the region had two very poor years in 2012 and 2013.

Typically, farmers in the region are progressive, with new technologies such as seeding up and back, variable-rate technology (VRT), Roundup Ready® canola, mouldboard ploughing, spading, windrow burning and chaff carts being widely adopted.



KWINANA EAST RCSNThe Kwinana East Port Zone RCSN has met eight times since October 2011, at Merredin, Koorda, Nungarin, Muntadgin, Westonia, Kellerberrin, Cunderdin and Perth.

There are 17 members of the Kwinana East RCSN (Table 5). Kwinana East RCSN meetings are also attended by GRDC Western Regional Panel member Shauna Stone.


The first meeting of the Kwinana East RCSN for 2013–14 was on 31 July 2013 at the Ettamogah Pub in Cunderdin. The focus for the meeting was:

� a GRDC update by Darren Hughes, GRDC, including use of the RCSN information to date and a summary of the key investment areas in the GRDC western region;

� a weather forecasting presentation by Neil Bennett, Bureau of Meterology, relating to the top priority for the Kwinana West RCSN; discussion included data and tools under development; and the RCSN’s views on investment needs and opportunities around weather forecasting;

� the GRDC frost strategy, presented by the GRDC’s Juan Juttner, including what is being invested and in what areas; what’s in the pipeline; and the RCSN views on frost investment needs and opportunities; and


The second meeting of the Kwinana East RCSN took place as part of a combined RCSN meeting held in Perth on 26 February 2014, following the GRDC Agribusiness Crop Updates.

Throughout the year, members provided feedback to the RCSN facilitators on various items and issues as required, for example, on the development of fast track projects.

Kwinana East Port Zone RCSN members at Cunderdin in July 2013.

TABLE 5 Kwinana East Port Zone Regional Cropping Solutions Network members.


Mick Caughey Farmer Merredin

Damen Maddock Farmer Mukinbudin

Matt Steber Farmer Doodlakine

Caroline Peek DAFWA Merredin

Ty Kirby Farmer Beacon

Nick Gillett Farmer Bencubbin

Ryan Meldrum Rabobank Merredin

Scott Dixon Farmer Kellerberrin

Dave Stead Consultant York

Clint Della Bosca Farmer Bodallin

Stuart Yandle Farmer Narembeen

Shauna Stone GRDC GRDC

Dave Watson Consultant Northam

Bob Nixon Farmer Kalannie

Ryan Forsyth Farmer Kellerberrin

Ty Henning Consultant Cadoux

Darren Kilminster Farmer Bruce Rock

Ian Maddock Farmer Moorine Rock

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TESTING LIME IN THE EASTERN GRAINBELT

The incorporation of lime appears to be paying off for some farmers through increased production, and research is underway this season to explore the economics of

ameliorating subsoil constraints in the eastern central grainbelt of Western Australia.

Short-term projects to determine economic rates and incorporation methods for lime in this region are being funded by the GRDC and conducted by Tek Ag at Koorda, and Synergy Consulting at Nungarin.

The GRDC’s Kwinana East Regional Cropping Solutions Network (RCSN) identified the need for locally based trials to provide confidence that certain rates of application and practices will work on eastern central grainbelt farms.

Tek Ag director/agronomist Tyrone Henning says Wodjil sandy loams at the Koorda site have good characteristics for water-holding capacity and nutrient exchange, so they don’t suffer from non-wetting and leaching, but there are some production constraints ranging from low pH and high aluminium concentration.

“We’re aiming to provide growers with information to help them determine how much ameliorant should be applied, what the impact will be on their soil pH, what type of machine would be best to incorporate it, and how much that will cost them,” he said.

Machinery that is easy to access and commonly found on eastern

grainbelt farms is being used to test different methods of

lime incorporation in an RCSN-instigated trial at Nungarin.

From the network …Water-deficient and

marginal cropping are the key characteristics of the Kwinana East Port Zone. Water is the most limiting factor of farming and impacts on what is supplied to the market.

There is a strong correlation between production and profit. Good nutrient uptake occurs from good strong soil types; generally the production system is quite

simple. Major soil constraints are boron, aluminium and sodic soils.

Farmers need to keep focusing on what is important in the farming business and not relate it only to yield. Locals wouldn’t live anywhere else – saying the region is a great place to be, the community is unbelievable, there are great sporting facilities and everyone pulls together, although the communities are shrinking, which is a worry.

Skilled labour is a problem – farmers can’t look at new machinery too

much, due to cost, so they need to fix up their gear and there isn’t the skilled labour to do it. It is hard to get mechanics, welders and other tradespeople to come to the region to live and work. Banking people and other services are leaving due to education for their children, which is a huge drain on the community. Overall, residents of the region are well-connected, resilient people. The ‘average-performing’ farm businesses are being weeded out; although maybe the industry is just going through ‘that time’ again.



KWINANA WEST RCSNThe Kwinana West Port Zone RCSN has met six times since October 2011, at Northam, Brookton, South Perth, Kwinana, Cunderdin and Perth.

There are 14 members of the Kwinana West RCSN (Table 6). Kwinana West RCSN meetings are also attended by GRDC Western Regional Panel member John Even and GRDC regional grower services manager Darren Hughes.


The first meeting for the Kwinana West RCSN in 2013–14 was 30 July 2013, at the Ettamogah Pub in Cunderdin. The focus for the meeting was similar to the Kwinana East meeting (which was held the following day) to take advantage of guest speakers. The focus for the meeting was:

� a GRDC update by Darren Hughes, GRDC, including use of the RCSN information to date and a summary of the key investment areas in the GRDC western region;

� a weather forecasting presentation by Neil Bennett, Bureau of Meteorology, relating to the top priority for Kwinana West; discussion included data and tools under development; and the RCSN views on investment needs and opportunities around weather forecasting;

� the GRDC frost strategy, presented by Juan Juttner of GRDC, including what is being invested and in what areas; what’s in the pipeline; and the RCSN views on frost investment needs and opportunities; and


The second meeting of the Kwinana West RCSN took place as part of a combined RCSN meeting held in Perth on 26 February, following the GRDC Agribusiness Crop Updates.

Throughout the year, members provided feedback to the RCSN facilitators on various items and issues as required, for example on the development of fast track projects.

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Kwinana West Port Zone RCSN members in Perth in February 2014.

TABLE 6 Kwinana West Port Zone Regional Cropping Solutions Network members.


Brad Millsteed Farmer Watheroo

Tony White Farmer Miling

Ben Whisson Consultant Kulin

Wayne Davies Farmer Greenhills

Helen Lethlean Farmer/agronomist Dandaragan

Graeme McConnell Consultant Northam

Dave Cameron Consultant Moora

Felicity Astbury Farmer Wickepin

Jason Haywood Farmer Goomalling

Kent Stone Agronomist Quairading

John Even GRDC GRDC

Andrew Todd Farmer Dowerin

Trevor Syme Farmer Jennacubbine

Gary Lang Farmer Wickepin

Roger Newman Farmer Cuballing

Kari-Lee Falconer DAFWA Moora

Jemma Sadler Farmer Wongan Hills



From the network …There are quite a few weed issues around the Kwinana West Zone,

with herbicide resistance in wild radish and annual ryegrass being a major concern. There are not many sheep in the zone compared with about 20 years ago, when only about 50 per cent of the zone was in crop. Now the northern area would be about 80 per cent crop, but the southern side is more like 50 per cent crop. There has been a shift to hay making and canola in the southern part of zone – very few are 100 per cent cropping.

Some areas of the zone are classified as medium to high rainfall, but are probably treated as low–medium areas. The southern parts of the zone probably align

more with wheatbelt farmers rather than Upper Great Southern. Frost is an issue in these parts.

The businesses are described as mixed farming, but the focus is on the cropping side for an income-driver. Arability reduces some cropping area. Saline areas are being made more profitable through use for stock, with sheep getting many farms through some years.

More reliable rainfall and cropping systems in this part of the state mean the potential is there for higher yields but these are not always achieved. The per hectare cost is higher in this zone due to high land costs and inputs, partly due to the perception of it being a reliable rainfall area, which isn’t always right. Infrastructure in the northern area of the zone is lacking due to the higher area of cropping.

The Kwinana West Zone is a

profitable area overall, with good

social and physical infrastructure in

towns. People in the zone have had

the confidence kicked out of them

over the past couple of years; people

are starting to buy machinery again

with reasonable seasons – they are

keen on technology! Return on

investment is generally less in this

zone than other zones, but profitability

is generally better, due to less risk

based on rainfall reliability. About

90 per cent of farmers probably use

agronomists or/advisers. But they

also believe that they get heaps of

value out of neighbours and other

farmers – being in a car with a few

blokes is a good way of learning!

Grower groups are good where they

exist, but don’t cover the whole area.

MODELLING PREDICTS VARIED NITROGEN RESPONSES

Results from technology installed at sites across the Western Australian grainbelt indicate that nitrogen fertiliser ‘top-ups’ applied during the 2014 late winter could have variable yield benefits, depending on location.

“Analysis of sites hosting new soil moisture probes suggests that potential yield benefits range from nil to more than 0.5 tonnes per hectare,” Frank D’Emden of Precision Agronomics Australia said.

As part of the project ‘Plant-available water (PAW) information and tools for better crop management decisions’, instigated by several Regional Cropping Solutions Networks, Mr D’Emden installed the 12 soil moisture probes with basic weather sensors in 2014.

The probes trace growing season soil moisture levels every 10 centimetres down the profile in the root zone.

Frank D’Emden presents results from a RCSN field trial in which soil moisture levels were monitored for the purpose of making better crop

management decisions.

TABLE 7 Top priority issues identified by each RCSN – updated May 2014.

Issue Albany zone Esperance zone Geraldton zone Kwinana east zone Kwinana west zone

Weed management/herbicide resistance √ √ √ √ √

Rotations (both non-legume and legume, and crop and pasture) √ √ √ √ √

Frost √ √ – √ √

Non-wetting soils √ √ √ – √

Soil acidity and/or sodicity – √ √ √ √

Farm business profitability √ √ – √ √

Lack of analysis tools to help forecast yield, e.g. Yield Prophet®, weather forecasting √ √ √ – √

“Usability” of precision agriculture and variable rate technology √ √ √ – √

Water use efficiency (including time of sowing) √ √ – √

Wheat pre-harvest sprouting √ – – – –


4. Issues to action

After several years of identifying issues important to farmers in the western grain-growing region, the RCSNs are beginning to see some reward for effort.

The achievements of the RCSNs for the period September 2011 to May 2014 include:

� the investment of $1,192,000 by the GRDC in 36 fast track projects, across all five port zones, to create practice change within 12 months;

� a minimum of two meetings per group per year, with guest speakers, including GRDC staff, who have participated in meetings upon request to provide expertise on high priority topics;

� providing issues, practice changes and suggested activities to the GRDC Western Regional Panel;

� the RCSN Annual Report for Industry 2012–13; and

� the first combined Regional Cropping Solutions Network meeting, in February 2014.

The 2012–13 RCSN annual report for the western region has been widely used

as a reference tool by government and industry as a guide for grower thinking.

Priority issues

The key role of the RCSNs is to “identify the critical needs to ensure prosperity of the grains industry in your zone”. Identification of these needs is typically drawn from members’ networks, feedback, observation and/or experience.

In 2013–14, the RSCNs used a program logic approach to conduct a thorough assessment of the issues they reported or suggested to be important to grain growing in Western Australia. The assessment included an analysis known as a ‘MAKAT’ (see Appendix A), which is the predominant planning tool used by the GRDC for its annual investment planning process. The program logic process ensures that the GRDC receives adequate information from the RCSNs to be able to understand and address each issue raised by the networks.

Each RCSN identified the top priority issues for its particular zone (Table 7). It is interesting to see that many of the issues were identified by each of the five RCSNs as a top priority. Appendix A details the program logic methodology used to describe each issue.

4. ISSUES TO ACTION


4. Issues to action

National and local action

The release of the GRDC External Investment Plan 2014–15 proved to be somewhat of a milestone for the western region RCSNs.

The plan documents the GRDC’s investment priorities for the coming year and publicises opportunities for researchers to undertake work on priority issues. The plan is compiled after an intensive process of planning and analysis, of which the RCSNs are becoming an integral part.

From the RD&E opportunities published in the 2014–15 content of the plan, it was apparent that the efforts of the RCSNs had indeed been fed ‘up the chain’. Many of the large and very significant projects, in terms of investment, being planned by the GRDC clearly addressed many of the top priority issues identified by the RCSNs (Table 8).

The new projects are the major outcomes of RCSN efforts thus far, providing overwhelming evidence that the GRDC is indeed making

significant investments as a result of what growers and professionals ‘on the ground’ are saying.

An alternative investment pathway for the GRDC is the fast track project. Each RCSN is allocated a small amount of funds annually to use for short-term, high-priority projects specific to its zone.

The fast track projects have been well received locally and, in a number of instances, have delivered state-wide benefits. A significant factor of success has been the ownership and ‘buy-in’ from local farmers and professionals. This has led to great leverage (that is, substantial in-kind contributions from groups, consultants, research bodies and DAFWA) plus genuine interest in the findings.

The RCSN fast track projects initiated in the 2013–14 period are listed in Tables 9 to 13.

The GRDC is making significant investments as a result of what growers and professionals

‘on the ground’ are saying.

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Craig Brown (Synergy Consulting) is looking at the short and medium-term implications of substituting macronutrient dollars into lime applications with a new project funded through the Esperance Port Zone RCSN.

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Fiona Hobley (host farmer) spreads stubble to emulate heavy stubble loads at the Albany Port Zone RCSN frost trial site at Nyabing.

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Grant Thompson at the Geraldton RCSN radish trial in 2013.

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The Kwinana East RCSN project on summer weed control provided solid evidence for wheatbelt farmers on what the impact of summer-germinating grasses have on the subsequent crop in relation to soil moisture, yield and nitrogen effects.

Seeding the Kwinana West RCSN-initiated project on variable rate technology (to develop cost-effective zone maps) on the Todds’ property near Dowerin.

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4. Issues to action

TABLE 8 GRDC investments that will address top priority RCSN issues and be of benefit to WA growers through projects in WA and interstate.

IssueNumnber of zones with issue rated as a high priority

GRDC investments – what, where, who and how much

Weed management, herbicide resistance and summer weeds

5

New investment (National $7,111,000, Western region $2,550,000, Total $9,661,000 over 5 years)• ‘Reduced herbicide usage through application technology’ (National, 5 years) • ‘Improving IWM practice of emerging weeds in the southern and western regions’

(Western region, 4 years, University of Adelaide)• ‘Improving grower knowledge of herbicide tolerance and weed competitiveness of crop

cultivars.’ (Western region, 5 years)• ‘Increased grower and adviser awareness of herbicide resistance risks and

management – WEEDSMART Phase III’ (National, 3 years)

Frost

4

New investment (National $5,960,000, Western region $5,810,000, Total $11,770,000 over 5 years)• ‘Farming systems to improve crop tolerance to frost’ (Western region, 5 years)• ‘Climate, modelling and spatial temperature measurement and prediction tools to

assist growers, advisers and extension specialists manage frost risk at a farm scale’ (National, 5 years)

• ‘Assessing forecast and management options for mitigation frost and heat stress in the southern and western grains regions’ (Western region, 5 years)

• ‘Benchmarking and field validation of transgenic frost tolerance wheat lines’ (Western region, 5 years)

• ‘National Frost Initiative – management, coordination, communication and extension’ (National, 5 years)

• ‘Screening for increased wheat reproductive frost tolerance’ (National, 5 years)

Non-wetting soils4

New investment (Western region $6,900,000 over 5 years)• ‘Non-wetting soils – knowledge, tools and capacity’ (Western region, 5 years, DAFWA,

CSIRO and Murdoch)

Soil and subsoil constraints

4

New investment (Western region, $5,615,000 over 5 years)• ‘Subsoil constraints – understanding and management’ (Western region, 5 years,

DAFWA)• ‘Minimising the impact of soil compaction on crop yield’ (Western region, 5 years,

DAFWA)

Soil acidity and/or sodicity3

New investment (Western region, $1,600,000 over 5 years)• ‘Soil acidity is limiting grain yield’ (Western region, 5 years, DAFWA)

Water use efficiency (including time of sowing)

3

New investment (National $5,000,000, Western region $12,790,000, Total $17,790,000 over 4 years)• ‘The national paddock survey initiative’ (National, 4 years, Birchip Cropping Group)• ‘Tactical wheat agronomy in the West’ (Western region, 5 years, DAFWA)• ‘Validation of water-use efficiency traits in winter cereals’ (Western region, 5 years)• ‘Increasing yield and reducing risk through early sowing’ (National, 3 years)• ‘Farm structural and capital investment to allow early seeding in a dry climate’

(Western region, 3 years)

Lack of analysis tools to help forecast yield, e.g. Yield Prophet®, weather forecasting

3

New investment (National $1,300,000, Western region $550,000, Total $1,850,000 over 5 years)• ‘Improving tool accuracy – linking seasonal forecasting with crop input decisions’

(Western region, 5 years)• ‘Improving accuracy of forecasting for decision making’ (National, 3 years)

Business profit drivers, risk management and management skills

3

New investment (National $1,305,000, Western region $180,000, Total $1,555,000 over 5 years)• ‘The components of risk in farm profit’ (National, 1 year)• ‘The integration of technical data and profit drivers for more informed decisions’

(National, 3 years)

Rotations (both non-legume and legume)

2

New projects (National $90,000 in 2014–15)• ‘A review of GRDC crop rotation, break crop and sequencing investments’

(National, 1 year, $90,000, NSW DPI)

Note: Numerous investment/projects will address several of the top priority issues (i.e. there are cross-issue benefits). There are also other investments made previously by the GRDC that address these priority issues – see appendices for details.


4. Issues to action

TABLE 10 Esperance RCSN – summary of projects and issues addressed by fast track projects.

Year Project Issue addressed Contractor Key findings

2013–14 GRDC Pre-seeding Frost Workshops

Frost limits yield – either through lost yield if there is a frost event or opportunity cost of not sowing earlier if there isn’t

ConsultAg with supervisor Garren Knell

Two (per zone) half day pre-seeding frost workshops for growers in the Central and Southern wheatbelt to update growers on latest frost research and best bet management tools.Combined with Esperance, Kwinana West, Kwinana East and Albany RCSNs

2013–14 Plant Available Water (PAW) Information and Tools for better crop management decisions for Esperance and Albany RCSN Zone consultants and growers

WUE is not being achieved due to soil type variation

Precision Agronomics Australia (PAA)

The aims of this project are to develop better and more user-friendly reports from the previously installed sites, as well as install Yield Prophet® sites and soil moisture probes on some of the soil type gaps that were not addressed during the RCSN project that was conducted in the 2012–13 year.Combined with Albany RCSN

2013–14 Soil moisture monitoring – an evaluation of current techniques and technologies and their application to current yield models

Information that could be useful for making decisions is often fragmented, hard to access and/or interpret

Ben White, Kondinin Group

A comparison of the range of soil moisture monitoring techniques will be evaluated for their application, factors affecting accuracy and constraints in a yield modelling context.

2013–14 Soil constraints and management options are poorly understood

Farmers use cropping techniques and practices that maintain/improve soil structure and increase the profitability of cropping previously difficult soils

Elisa Spengler, RAIN

This project aims to document ‘farmer’ trials and machinery innovations and examine the responses and results of the various amelioration/disturbance methods used.

2013–14 CTF benefits – what are the nitrogen dynamics?

Farmers are not using PA and/or VRT to its full potential

Nigel Metz, SEPWA

That farmers and advisers in the Esperance Port Zone will better understand the influence of CTF on nitrogen-cycling and soil compaction across soil types and rainfall zones.

2013–14 EDRS Field Day – Spatial Agronomy

Farmers are not using PA and/or VRT to its full potential

Nigel Metz, SEPWA

Primary focus to introduce the PA concept as a wider agronomy and paddock management concept.

2013–14 Short and medium-term analysis of macronutrient dollar substitution into lime

Soil sodicity and acidity limit nutrient availability

Craig Brown, Synergy

To continue assessing the short and medium-term implications of substituting macronutrient dollar budgets into lime applications.

TABLE 9 Albany RCSN – summary of projects and issues addressed by fast track projects.Year Project Issue addressed Contractor Key findings

2013–14 Plant-available-water (PAW) information and tools for better crop management decisions for Esperance and Albany RCSN Zone consultants and growers

Farmers find it difficult to access/digest/value information to make informed in-season tactical decisions

Precision Agronomics Australia (PAA)

Project aims include developing better and more user-friendly reports from the previously installed sites, as well as install Yield Prophet® sites and soil moisture probes on some of the soil type gaps that were not addressed during the 2012/13 RCSN project.Combined with Esperance RCSN 2012-2013

2013–14 Rotation renewal: profitable legume phase options

Lack of legume options to include as part of a profitable rotation

Stirlings to Coast, with supervisor Jeremy Lemon (DAFWA)

This project aims to demonstrate the viability of legume phase options in cropping rotations with appropriate agronomic management packages.




Two (per zone) half-day pre-seeding frost workshops for growers in the Central and Southern wheatbelt to update growers on latest frost research and best-bet management tools.Combined with Esperance, Kwinana West, Kwinana East and Albany RCSNs

TABLE 13 Kwinana West RCSN – summary of projects and issues addressed by fast track projects.


2013–14 Variable rate technology – how best to develop zone maps

Matching inputs to soil types

Ben White, Kondinin Group

Project underway in 2014 growing season addressing the confusion amongst growers as to how best to develop cost effective zone maps. Including when to use EM38?Joint project with Geraldton RCSN




Two (per zone) half-day pre-seeding frost workshops for growers in the Central and Southern wheatbelt to update growers on latest frost research the best bet management tools.Combined with Esperance, Kwinana West, Kwinana East and Albany RCSNs

2013–14 Understanding and managing spatial variation in stored soil moisture for better crop management decisions

Understand and manage stored soil moisture

Frank D’Emden, Precision Agronomics Australia (PAA)

This project will extend the process of using soil moisture probe data in conjunction with Yield Prophet® simulations to assist with production decisions for different soil types (with differing PAWC), with a particular focus on top-up nitrogen.Combined with Kwinana East RCSN


4. Issues to action

TABLE 11 Geraldton RCSN – summary of projects and issues addressed by fast track projects.


2013–14 Variable rate technology – how best to develop zone maps?

Variable rate technology – how best to develop zone maps?

Kondinin Group Project underway in 2014. Addressing the confusion amongst growers as to how best to develop cost effective zone maps, including when to use EM38.

2013–14 Increasing profitability through the utilisation of combined technologies to target input strategies to productive capacity of soils

Management of seasonal and soil variability

Agrarian Management Project underway in 2014 growing season. Aiming to have growers appropriately using VRT, nutrition and yield modelling to better target cropping inputs.

2013–14 Soil probes for cheap and accurate pH testing

Subsoil pH Planfarm Project underway in 2014 growing season.

TABLE 12 Kwinana East RCSN – summary of projects and issues addressed by fast track projects.


2013–14 Farm Business Updates Understand profitability constraints

ORM 1-day event held in Merredin with capacity attendance of 180 growers and consultants.

2013–14 GRDC Pre-seeding Frost Workshops Frost limits yield – either through lost yield if there is a frost event or opportunity cost of not sowing earlier if there isn’t


Two (per zone) half-day pre-seeding frost workshops for growers in the Central and Southern wheatbelt to update growers on latest frost research the best-bet management tools.Combined with Esperance, Kwinana West, Kwinana East and Albany RCSNs

2013–14 Determining economic rates and incorporation methods for lime in the eastern wheatbelt of WA

Active management of pH and sodicity of soil

Ty Henning, TekAg

This work will look at varying rates of lime, and different methods of incorporation on Wodjil soils in the Eastern Central Wheatbelt of Western Australia.

2013–14 Developing and testing innovative, practical and reliable methods for incorporating lime into acidic sandplain top and subsoils in the eastern wheatbelt

Active management of pH and sodicity of soil

Travis Hollins, Caldo Holdings

The trial objective is to establish a farmer-scale demonstration site at Nungarin on a Wodjil soil type investigating cheap, cost-effective methodology to effectively incorporate lime to depth.

2013–14 Measuring the impact of different timings of summer weed control in the Kwinana East Port Zone


Aidan Sinnott, Precision Agronomics Australia (PAA)

The objective is to determine the most cost-effective time of summer spraying for the farmers of the eastern wheatbelt and the impact of summer germinating grasses on the subsequent crop in relation to soil moisture, yield and nitrogen effects.

2013–14 Understanding and managing spatial variation in stored soil moisture for better crop management decisions


Frank D’Emden, Precision Agronomics Australia (PAA)

This project will extend the process of using soil moisture probe data in conjunction with Yield Prophet® simulations to assist with production decisions for different soil types (with differing PAWC), with a particular focus on top-up nitrogen.Combined with Kwinana West RCSN


Appendices

A. A logical approach to identifying RD&E needs

A key role of the RCSNs is to “identify the critical needs to ensure prosperity of the grains industry in your zone”. Identification of these needs is typically drawn from member’s networks, feedback, observation and/or experience.

In 2012, each RCSN better focused their efforts by participating in a structured ‘program logic’ approach that is also used widely within the GRDC. This approach ensures that the GRDC receives adequate information to be able to understand and address each issue that grain growers believe is important to their industry and their region.

Program logic requires the network to take an issue of concern to grain growers, and visualise what farming or the industry would look like if that issue was not a problem. This picture is the desired outcome.

The members of the RCSN are then asked to think about what needs to change in terms of farm management, practice or techniques for the issue to be addressed – these are called practice changes. A practice change was described to the RCSN as “what they will see being done differently once an issue has been addressed”. This allows members to visualise what practices they believe can realistically be adopted by various stakeholders (growers, consultants, industry and government) in an ideal, yet commercial environment.

Once the practice change has been identified, network members were asked to identify “what is stopping growers from adopting the practice change”. Is it motivation, ability, knowledge, ability or tools?

This process is called the MAKAT process and it provides a structured way to identify what is/are the biggest hurdles to overcoming an issue. Is it:

� Motivation?

� Attitude?

� Knowledge?

� Ability?

� Tools?

The information generated during this process helps understand and identify the key activities in the areas of research, development and/or extension that are required to help achieve the desired practice change.

For example, there could be a lack of motivation to adopt a particular practice change because the practice presents logistical challenges which, in the grower’s mind, outweighs the benefit. The MAKAT process gives a clear understanding of where a shift is needed, in this case, motivation, and then ultimately, the process helps determine what activities (research, development or extension) need to be undertaken to get the shift.

The concept of the program logic process used by the GRDC is depicted in Figure A1. Overall, the process allows critical needs to be addressed, ensuring the prosperity of the grains industry.

While the program logic process challenged the natural thinking styles of many RCSN members, it proved to be very successful because it stopped the members diving straight into ‘solution mode’,

APPENDICES

FIGURE A1 The program logic process used by the RCSNs identifies the practice changes, resources and actions that are required to address priority issues.

Achievement of the desired outcome

Requires a change in practice (what people do)

Which requires resources (money, time, expertise)

Which is created by activities that engage people (trials, field days, workshops,

seminars, farm walks, case studies)

Which requires a change in • Motivation • Attitude • Knowledge • Ability • Tools

without having first considered the desired outcome or assessing barriers to change more explicitly.

To date, the process has enabled each RCSN to generate:

� a list of key issues;

� prioritised practice changes required to address each key issue; and

� a MAKAT completed for each of the top priority practice changes, as well as key activities (RD&E) identified to create change (which is a work in progress).

The information from the MAKATs that have been completed for specific issues are collated by the RCSN facilitators and supplied to the GRDC, via the Western Regional Panel and regional staff, to contribute to the formulation of the GRDC’s annual investment program.

DEFINITIONS USED IN PROGRAM LOGICProvided by Cam Nicholson, Consultant, Nicon Rural Services, May 2013

Term Definition

Outcome • The change that occurs from adopting a practice• The result of changing practice• The impact of changing practice• The effect of changing practice• The change in the current state

Time is an important consideration for outcomes:• Aspirational outcome (typically a 20 to 50-year timeframe)• Outcome (typically a 10 to 20-year timeframe)• Intermediate outcome (typically a 5 to 10-year time frame)

Practice • An action • A behaviour • A process • The use of a tool or technology • A social structure

In program logic, this level of consideration is often referred to as practice change, suggesting there is a need to change from one type of practice (possibly doing nothing) to another. However, in some circumstances the appropriate actions may already be practiced, so it may be important to ensure this practice is maintained.A practice statement should contain:1. The target audience2. An action (verb/adverb which is what you want done)3. A subject or description of what you want them to do.e.g. Growers regularly monitoring crops (and pasture) for potentially damaging insects and beneficial species

target audience = growersaction = regular monitoringsubject = crops and pastures for potentially damaging insects and beneficial species

MAKAT (colloq) The things that have to happen between activities and practice change (for people who don’t like KASA – knowledge, attitudes, skills and aspiration).

Motivation • The reason(s) for action• What compels action (e.g. need, desire, hope, ambition, competition etc)• The stimulus or incentive• The circumstances that trigger action

Attitude • A way of thinking or doing• A state of mind• A personal point of view (opinion or perception) that shapes behaviour• A perspective

Knowledge • Information in the hands of the user• Information they need to know to adopt a practice• Understanding information• Adding value to information (data)

Ability • The capability to do something you want• The capacity to apply knowledge• Competency• Expertise• Skill• Experience

Technology/tools • A tool to achieve a practice change• A methodology to achieve a desired outcome• A process• The application of a process


Appendices


Appendices

B. Previous GRDC investments related to top priority issues

Section 4 (page 24) of this report outlines the GRDC investments resulting from the External Investment Plan 2014–15 that address the top priority issues identified by the RCSNs in 2013-14. There are many investments made by the GRDC prior to the 2014–15 that also address these key issues, which are summarised in Table B1.

TABLE B1 GRDC investments made prior to 2014–15 that address top priority issues.

Issue GRDC investments – what, where, who & how much Project code

Weed management, herbicide resistance and summer weeds

Existing projects (budget in 2014–15) – (National $1,218,000, Western Region $1,398,000, $2,616,000 Total)

‘Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative – Phase 4’ (Western Region, ends 2014–15, University of WA) UWA00146

‘National Coordination of Weeds Research’ (National, ends 2014–15, $80,000 in 2014–15, Rural Directions Pty Ltd)

RDP00011

‘Mechanical weed seed termination at harvest’ (National, ends 2014–15, University of South Australia) USA00010

‘Development of new non-chemical weed control technologies (National, ends 2015–16, University of Melbourne)

UM00053

‘Genetically improving wheat's ability to outcompete weeds’ (National and Western Region, ends 2018–19, CSIRO)

CSP00182

‘New Chemistry Options for Wild Radish Control’ (Western Region, ends 2014–15, University of WA) UWA00155

‘Integrating Crop Protection Training and Extension of IWM and Foliar Disease Training’ (National, ends 2015–16)

TBA

‘Impact of weeds on Australian grain production and adoption of no-till cropping practices’ (National, ends 2014–15, CSIRO)

CSA00043

‘Extending chemical usefulness’ (National, ends 2016–17, Plant Health Australia) PHA00011

‘Molecular control of wild radish using SP11 protein’ (Western Region, ends 2014–15, CSIRO) CSP00181

‘National coordination of weeds research & support of Australian Glyphosate Sustainability working group’ (National, ends 2017–18)

ARN00001

FrostExisting projects (National $700,000, Western Region $350,000, $1,050,000 total budget in 2014–15)

‘Australian National Frost Program – Coordination and Phenotyping’ (National, ends 2015–16, University of Adelaide)

UA00136

‘Determining yield under frost – one degree at a time’ (Western Region, ends 2017–18, DAFWA) DAW00234

‘Maintaining yield stability of wheat under spring frosts.’ (National and Western Region, ends 2016–17, CSIRO)

CSP00180

‘Frost Situation Analysis’ (National, ends 2014–15, University of Queensland) UQ00071

Non-wetting soilsExisting projects (Western Region, $650,000 in 2014–15)

‘Novel solutions for managing non-wetting soils’ (Western Region, ends 2014–15, CSIRO) CSP00139

‘Delivering agronomic strategies for water repellent soils in Western Australia’ (Western Region, ends 2014–15, DAFWA)

DAW00204

Business profitabilityExisting projects (National $155,000, Western Region $180,000, Total $335,000 in 2014–15)

‘Practical Financial Figures for Farm Business Management’ (National, ends 2016–17) APR00001

‘GRDC Farm Business Management Initiative’ (Western Region, ends 2015–16) ORM00009

Rotations, break crops, legumesExisting projects (Western Region $2,440,000, in 2014–15)

‘Putting the Focus on Profitable Break Crop and Pasture Sequences in WA’ (Western Region, ends 2014–15 DAW00213, DAFWA)

DAW00213

‘Tactical break crop agronomy in Western Australia’ (Western Region, ends 2017–18, DAFWA) DAW00227

‘National integration of crop sequence strategies and tactics’ (Western Region, ends 2014–15, CSIRO) CSA00029

GRDC, PO Box 5367, Kingston ACT 2604 T 02 6166 4500 F 02 6166 4599

Regional Cropping Solutions Network Contact Details

Cameron Weeks RCSN coordinator/facilitator – Geraldton Port Zone 0427 006 [email protected]

Julianne HillRCSN coordinator – Albany, Esperance, Kwinana East and Kwinana West Port Zones0447 261 [email protected]

Peter RobertsChair GRDC Western Regional Panel0428 389 [email protected]

from the ground up · 2016. 8. 31. · rcsn annual report 2013–14 2 western region. from the...

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