Researchers at the IA Watson Grains Research Centre are looking forward to welcoming growers and people from across the farming community to the centre’s annual field day tomorrow, Wednesday.
Visitors to the field day will hear about and see the current research and future programs at the centre.
Grain growers will learn what varieties are in the pipeline for their farming in the years ahead.The field day has been restructured, with a program of more relevance to growers, said one of the organisers, associate professor Richard Heath.
“The field day will start at 9am with information sessions around two of our key research areas, followed by an opportunity to visit trials, see how research equipment works and interact one on one with various University and other researchers.”
Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) will be releasing new varieties and growers will have the opportunity to talk to the
researchers and later visit the trial areas of particular interest to them.
The grains research centre is recognised nationally and internationally for its work which includes development of some iconic Australian wheat varieties.
The Centre has an enviable history of research and breeding with many iconic wheat cultivars such as Sunco and Sunvale originating from the breeding program based there.
“In recent years a significant new stage of infrastructure investment by Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) the Wheat Research Foundation (WRF) and the University of Sydney has secured a centre of excellence for grains research for many decades to come” said associate professor Heath.
“The University now has 13 full time and five part time staff based at Narrabri with a continually growing research program.
“This year we have 15 PhD, Masters and Honours students using trials at the IA Watson Centre.
“We have more research and breeding than ever before with trials on site from University of Sydney, AGT, Kalyx, Longreach Plant Breeders, CSIRO, NSWDPI and Austgrains.
“There is 130ha of, or 108,000 two metre by six metre plots sown at the IA Watson Centre this year.
“The GRDC is the major and crucial supporter of the research carried out at the IA Watson Centre by the University of Sydney, with nine separate projects and four full time positions funded to the tune of $2.6 million per year.
“A further $1 million of research annually is funded by other bodies such as the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and international agencies, such as The Generation Challenge program and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
The IA Watson Centre also hosts research, pre-breeding and breeding from many other providers. “Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) has a significant presence at the Centre and the University would like to thank and acknowledge AGT for their support of the field day’ said associate professor Heath.