Growers have say on GRDC

WA grain growers are offered a new way to have their voices heard on the production issues affecting their profitability.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation invites growers and industry people to attend meetings, starting this month, held twice-yearly in each port zone.

GRDC western regional panel chairman Peter Roberts said the issues raised at the open Regional Cropping Solutions Network meetings would be fed into subsequent meetings of RCSNs and the western regional panel.

Mr Roberts said WA's five RCSNs identified issues critical to ensuring the prosperity of the grains industry in their areas and initiated local projects, while the panel helped to develop and prioritise the GRDC's research, development and extension investment portfolio at a local, regional and national level.

"Due to the success of its initial investment in the RCSN concept, the GRDC is further strengthening the RCSN consultation process to capture as many local grower issues as possible," he said.

Mr Roberts said the open RCSN meetings would add to the ways the GRDC consulted with WA growers, which also included annual spring tours and attendance at field days and events.

"We want to hear from as many producers as possible to ensure their levies are targeted at the issues of greatest importance to them," he said.

"The open meetings will further increase consultation with growers, ground truth the GRDC's issues identification process and help identify local activities and research required in each port zone."

GRDC RCSN co-ordinator Julianne Hill said people attending the meetings could express their ideas, hear from re- searchers leading local GRDC-RCSN projects and speak with GRDC western regional panel members and RCSN representatives.

"Those who can't attend have the opportunity to submit their ideas by no later than one week before their local meeting by visiting www.rcsn.net.au ," she said.

The first meeting was held at the Lake King Gold Club on June 24 and a project update on early seeding as delivered.

The remaining meetings run from 6pm to 8pm, with a sausage sizzle beforehand at 5pm, except the Mingenew meeting which would be held from 2pm to 5pm and concluded by a sausage sizzle.

·July 21 - Dowerin Community Club (Kwinana East port zone) - project update: Understanding map layers for VRT.

·July 22 - Bruce Rock Shire Hall (Kwinana East port zone) - project update: Improving spray fallow techniques.

·July 28: Ferngrove Vineyard, Frankland River (Albany port zone) - project update: Control methods for snails and slugs.

·August 13: Mingenew Recreation Centre (Geraldton port zone) - project update: Early seeding; farm advisory board.

For more details contact Ms Hill on regionalcroppingsolutions@ gmail.com or 0447 261 607.