Improving farm business profitability and sustainability will be a key focus of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) display at this year’s Dowerin Machinery Field Days.
Grain growers can learn more about the new strategic soils research and development collaboration between DPIRD and the Grains Research and Development Corporation, which aims to enhance water and nutrient efficiency in WA grains production.
Research scientists will also stop by to talk about the Australian Plant Phenomics Network, which has recently established a WA node based at DPIRD and The University of Western Australia, to provide digital tools for measuring crop production using visible, multispectral and hyperspectral images collected with UAV or ground-based platforms.
DPIRD crop science and grain protection manager Bob French said the tools would give researchers the ability to collect data on crop traits that had previously been too difficult or laborious to measure in the field.
“This will advance our understanding of how crops perform under real-world conditions as well as facilitating more rapid breeding progress when coupled with modern genetic technologies,” Dr French said.
The carbon farming and bioenergy display will have information on how farmers can access these emerging industries. DPIRD staff will be on hand to discuss local case studies and what to consider in starting a carbon farming project.
The livestock display will feature management information and resources, including the upgraded lambing planner app, and give an overview of research projects underway.
Development officer Jeana Pritchard said the FEED365 project was looking at re-designing livestock forage systems for grazing all year round in mediterranean environments.
“This can enable producers to increase livestock returns by grazing quality forage for longer which decreases supplementary feeding costs,” Ms Pritchard said.
“The MLA Genetic Resource Flock, based at the department’s Katanning Research Station, continues to play an important role in the development of Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs), which assist producers in selecting sheep with traits that improve productivity and efficiency.
“Scientists also recently begun investigating the relationships between feed intake, body composition and methane emissions.”
Biosecurity remains a key component of the display, with livestock producers having the opportunity to talk to DPIRD staff about the national rollout of sheep and goat electronic identification (eID) and go in the draw to win a bag of eID tags.
The regional digital solutions team will be discussing digital connectivity in regional WA, including completed and in-progress mobile and broadband projects across WA.
Visitors can also find out more about the Australian Agronomy Conference, which brings together professionals, researchers, and experts in the field of agronomy from around the country and will be held in Albany from 21 to 24 October 2024.
The Dowerin Machinery Field Days will be held 28-29 August 2024. The DPIRD shed is located along Uberin Street, Dowerin.
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