Upcoming events

What’s happening in the Riverine Plains

Keep up-to-date with field days, workshops and events taking place in the Riverine Plains.

2012

GRDC Grower Update hosted by Riverine Plains Inc
Date:           Thursday 1 March 2012
Time:           9am - 3pm
Location:     Corowa RSL Club, 30 Betterment Pardade Corowa. Refer flyer/registration form below for full details.

GRDC Update 2012 (456 KB)

Riverine Plains Inc Annual General Meeting
Date:          Thursday 1 March 2012
Time:          3.15pm
Location:    Corowa RSL Club, 30 Betterment Parade Corowa.

Link to GRDC Diary Dates

http://www.grdc.com.au/director/events/diarydates

Past Events 2011

Yield Mapping Workshop October 2011
20 farmers took the opportunity to attend a pre-harvest Yield Mapping Workshop at Mulwala on 21 October. Attendees had the opportunity to work in a small group with Giuseppe Cuteri, who helped develop both the Case and New Holland mapping systems and is experienced in both teaching and troubleshooting these systems.

Spring Field Day September 2011
Farmers had the opportunity to view trials investigating improving water use efficiency at the Spring Field Day held at the Riverine Plains Trial Site at Coreen on 6 September 2011. Group discussion took place on seasonal issues including crop establishment, disease management and nutrition and seed bed utilization. The field day was well attended by 90 farmers and agribusiness representatives.

Soil Carbon Workshop August 2011
Farmers were challenged by the practicalities of building soil carbon at a workshop held on 31 August 2011. The 30 farmers in attendance heard about the concept of growing soil humus as a 'crop' to increase their economic productivity under cereals and in a mixed cropping/pasture rotation. The group then visited two farms to see first-hand the issues of putting the theory into practice.

In Season Update August 2011
More than 70 farmers and agribusiness professionals attended the Riverine Plains In-Season Update held at Mulwala on 4 August. Speakers delivered valuable information on the issues most likely to cause concern during the rest of the growing season. Topics covered included a project comparison of row spacings under drill and tyned seeding systems and how this affects crop structure, water use efficiency and yield of wheat and canola. Information about strategies for mouse control was provided as well as a farmer talk on a low capital based farming operation. Ideas on worldwide pesticide application and regulation were presented as well as a seasonal outlook and current yield predictions.

Pre-emergent Herbicide Paddock Walk July 2011
23 farmers attended a paddock walk on 27 July with well known research scientist Dr Chris Preston from the University of Adelaide where they inspected the Riverine Plains Inc Integrated Weed Management trial site at Bundalong and discussed pre-emergent chemistry and management issues including stubble, weed control and other agronomic challenges. The site at Bundalong is part of a national trial program and having a site locally is critical for growers to gain confidence in pre emergent herbicides.

Farming Business Beyond 2011 July 2011
Riverine Plains Inc in conjunction with Platinum Sponsors National Australia Bank (NAB) Agribusiness and RSM Bird Cameron held a Farming Business Beyond 2011 seminar at Corowa on 5 July 2010. 90 people attended the interactive workshop designed to drive agricultural businesses into the future. Topics included a global economic overview, steps you can take to ensure you keep more of the income you receive, economic forces that will impact your farming business and a commodity price outlook.

Integrated Weed Management Workshops March 2011
Associate Professor Dr Chris Preston from the University of Adelaide and specialist weed management consultant Andrew Storrie from Agronomo Consulting presented workshops at Morven and Mulwala on 21 and 22 March. The workshops delivered information on the practical implementation of weed management strategies to combat resistance and helped equip growers to better identify and manage the cropping weed challenges they face.

Summer Forage Field Day March 2011
Farmers looked at the summer forage trial at Tungamah on 16 March. The trial is part of a Grain & Graze 2 project researching crops grown for changing weather conditions. The 'Forages for a new climate' project is trialling both traditional crops and more tropical species on a dryland basis while varying sowing and irrigation timing, fertiliser regimes, crop selection, and length and timing of grazing to get better results.

Stubble Management Workshops March 2011
Over 100 farmers attended two workshops to hear one of Australia's leading exponents of No-Till Agriculture, Bill Crabtree. The workshops were held at Rand and Mulwala on 15 March and covered topics such as the value and challenge of thick stubbles, the risks and rewards of keeping all stubble, reducing stubble loads with machinery and when burning is an option.

Precision Agriculture Workshops February/March 2011
SPAA - Precision Agriculture Association and Riverine Plains Inc presented three different Precision Agriculture Workshops on 28 February and 1 March. The workshops were designed to help improve adoption of Precision Agriculture and to demonstrate the benefits and show that it is not that difficult.

GRDC/Riverine Plains Inc Farmer Update February 2011
The 2011 year got off to a roaring start as 160 farmers, researchers and agribusiness representatives gathered at Corowa to attend the GRDC Farmer Update hosted by Riverine Plains Inc at Corowa on Thursday 17 February 2011. Copies of the papers are available below: