Integrated Farming Systems Portfolio Manager: Dr David Ferris The integrated farming systems (IFS) team undertakes applied R&D to improve crop management practices for the major grain crops grown in WA. Research activities include wheat, barley, canola and oat agronomy, early and dry seeding technologies, tactical break-crop and pasture-based cropping systems, seasonal forecasting and nitrogen fixation studies. Our team is also actively building research capacity in crop protection and agronomy, and providing biometric support across R&D portfolios. In 2015–16, $7.8 million was invested in R&D through the integrated farming system portfolio by engaging 44 staff on 15 projects across all cropping regions from Geraldton to Esperance. The new knowledge, practices and decision support trial we have delivered help to underpin productivity gains across the grains industry. In 2014/15, the gross value of agricultural production (GVAP) for wheat ($2.7 billion), barley ($889 million) and canola ($866 million), collectively contributed 56% of the total value of agricultural production in the state (ABARES). In 2016, around 7.5 million hectares have been sown and projections are for a record harvest of around 17.2 million tonnes. The central plank of the IFS portfolio is agronomy of wheat, barley, canola, oats and pulses. A key focus includes developing regionally relevant management packages based on trials to evaluate genotype-by-environment-by-management inputs: particularly sowing rate and time, nitrogen fertiliser rate and timing. Agronomic research on specific crops is supported by innovative research on new cropping systems, such as dry and early sown crops (including field peas); new technologies, such as twin and summer sowing of pastures, and collaborative activities across portfolios to build knowledge on the underlying dynamics of farming systems. Just some of the practical ways in trial the IFS team supports growers with new knowledge include: expansion of the MyCrop diagnostic tool to include individual apps for wheat, barley, canola, oat and pulses; development of the Flower Power tool to predict wheat flowering time and the risk of frost or heat stress; and distribution of the canola seed rate calculator to 2500 industry associates and 4500 grain growers.
Integrated Farming Systems Portfolio Manager: Dr David Ferris The integrated farming systems (IFS) team undertakes applied R&D to improve crop management practices for the major grain crops grown in WA. Research activities include wheat, barley, canola and oat agronomy, early and dry seeding technologies, tactical break-crop and pasture-based cropping systems, seasonal forecasting and nitrogen fixation studies. Our team is also actively building research capacity in crop protection and agronomy, and providing biometric support across R&D portfolios. In 2015–16, $7.8 million was invested in R&D through the integrated farming system portfolio by engaging 44 staff on 15 projects across all cropping regions from Geraldton to Esperance. The new knowledge, practices and decision support we have delivered help to underpin productivity gains across the grains industry. In 2014/15, the gross value of agricultural production (GVAP) for wheat ($2.7 billion), barley ($889 million) and canola ($866 million), collectively contributed 56% of the total value of agricultural production in the state (ABARES). In 2016, around 7.5 million hectares have been sown and projections are for a record harvest of around 17.2 million tonnes. The central plank of the IFS portfolio is agronomy of wheat, barley, canola, oats and pulses. A key focus includes developing regionally relevant management packages based on trials to evaluate genotype-by-environment-by-management inputs: particularly sowing rate and time, nitrogen fertiliser rate and timing. Agronomic research on specific crops is supported by innovative research on new cropping systems, such as dry and early sown crops (including field peas); new technologies, such as twin and summer sowing of pastures, and collaborative activities across portfolios to build knowledge on the underlying dynamics of farming systems. Just some of the practical ways in the IFS team supports growers with new knowledge include: expansion of the MyCrop diagnostic tool to include individual apps for wheat, barley, canola, oat and pulses; development of the Flower Power tool to predict wheat flowering time and the risk of frost or heat stress; and distribution of the canola seed rate calculator to 2500 industry associates and 4500 grain growers. trial trial
DAFWA_GrainsHighlights_Final%20Word%20Accessible%20version_Feb2017.docx