BIRCHIP Cropping Group (BCG) and the Victorian government have launched a new project designed to increase uptake of cutting edge grains technology in the grower community.
The $1.1 million project is designed to better research and development with extension and features a $550,000 investment from both BCG and the State government over three years.
It will look at areas such as crop nutrition, cropping systems and herbicide management among other areas.
Victorian Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh said should the pilot project be successful, it had the potential to be rolled out across other areas.
He said the idea was to ensure research and development initiatives had a tangible benefit in the paddock.
“We are helping our state’s farmers become more productive and profitable through targeted research, development and extension partnerships in the $61.4 million Growing Food and Fibre initiative, along with partnerships such as this, where we can work together for best outcomes for Victorian farmers.”
Mr Walsh said as part of the pilot project, BCG would conduct regular, tailored activities to help growers to adopt technologies and management practices that improve farm performance.
BCG Board Chairman Caroline Welsh said the partnership with the Victorian Government was an exciting new opportunity to accelerate productivity growth in the grains industry.
“This project will help achieve that by providing growers with the support and information they need to adopt the latest productivity-enhancing technologies and management practices.”
Gregor Heard
National grains writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media.
National grains writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media.
