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2020 Vision- Young agricultural leaders tour the Eyre Peninsula
On Sunday 24 August eight young agricultural leaders from the region set off from the Birchip air strip for a six day industry tour of the Eyre Peninsula. The group, made up of five farmers, an agronomist, a banker and BCG’s Claire Browne, flew in a twin engine plane to South Australia courtesy of funding received from GRDC.
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Industry tour participants (L to R): Rachel Boyle, Adam Roll, Josh Pearse, Mick Brady, |
In Adelaide the group toured the Waite Institute, the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics and Coopers Brewery. The group was exposed to research into new cereal varieties, DNA mapping and learnt about a new soil available phosphorus test called DGT. At Coopers, Australia’s largest producer of malt extract, the group viewed the brewing process and before conducting some quality control that involved tasting a few of Coopers fine ales and stouts!
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The group having a tour of the Waite |
The production line at Coopers Brewery |
Canola crop that was inspected by the |
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While in Port Lincoln, an early morning fishing trip was had where the harvesting of farmed tuna from an ocean ring was witnessed. The afternoon took the group on a farm tour near Cummins on the southern Eyre Peninsula where the rainfall reaches 500-625mm. The farmers in the Cummins region expect 4-5t/ha crops but on the flip side they have large input expenses for fertilizer due to nitrogen leaching and phosphorus being tied up and they also have higher chemical costs as they are trying to overcome resistant ryegrass, an eye opening experience for all in the group. Tuna harvesting off the coast of Port Lincoln. |
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Back on the plane the group headed for Kimba and Buckleboo. Here the group was lucky enough to visit a number of farms. The soil types were variable ranging from heavy grey soils to light sand. The group learnt about the practice of delving soil where clay from 1.6 metres deep is brought to the surface and spread over sand to improve soil fertility. The group also saw a paddock where the farmer had sown field peas and canola together, this mixing of peas with canola was done to allow the peas to climb up the canola stem and make harvesting the peas easier. It also wasn't unusual in the region to have paddocks sown to cereals for ten years, barley was used as a break crop in these years to compete with grasses while peas and canola are rarely used due to the high risk.
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The liquid seeder owned by the |
The group looks at the row spacing trial |
The lookout at the Minnipa |
The trips final destination was Minnipa, the home of the Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC). The facility covers 3500 acres and in the recent drier years has concentrated on responsive farming methods. The group were shown around and exposed to a number of trials that are being conducted at the site including a wide row spacing trial and a trial comparing sowing direction (east west and north south). One trial that caught the eye of a number of the participants was the NVT (National Variety Trial) of wheat and barley. The most impressive wheat variety was Axe, a short season variety that may be a variety of the future. Hindmarsh was the stand out barley variety in the trial.
Overall the trip was a valuable experience for all involved, BCG's Claire Browne said "it was not only educational but it gave the group an opportunity to meet other young people that have a vested interst in agriculture and its future."
The Industry Tour was proudly supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
For information about 2020 Vision and upcoming activities click here.