The I.A. Watson Grains Research Centre, an internationally recognised hub for northern and Australian grains research, will present the achievements of its programs and future research directions at the annual field day on Wednesday.
“We look forward to welcoming visitors to the day” said associate professor Richard Heath.
“We have planned a completely new format for the day this year.
“The aim is make the day more relevant and interesting for growers. They will hear about the research in the morning and then choose which areas interest them most, visit those trial plots and speak to researchers about them.”
Associate professor Heath said in addition to a restructure of the field day format, the event had been brought forward this year to enable more growers to attend.
The day’s program will focus on two key topics, Crown Rot and water use efficiency in the context of drought and heat tolerance for crops.
“We aim to impart more relevant agronomic and crop physiology information directly to growers” he said.
“Presentations will give an idea how all the research links, how we relate to research and commercial partners, to give a good understanding as to how the research connects and what the results will ultimately mean for growers.
“Growers will be able to hear presentations in the morning and after lunch see the trials they have been hearing about.
“We will have a bus loop in operation, running around the farm every two hours, so growers can visit the plots which are of particular interest” associate professsor Heath said.
“Growers will be able to see what they want to see, and talk one on one with researchers at the plots and ask questions.”